WO2008018659A1

WO2008018659A1 - Spikes for golf shoes

Info

Publication number: WO2008018659A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/005594
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sang Hwan Lim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-06
Filing date: 2006-12-20
Publication date: 2008-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2009-01-06

Abstract

The present invention relates to spikes for golf shoes, and particularly, the spikes are characterized by integratedly bending a plurality of protruded parts in radial shape on the circumference of metal- made bodies having a disk shape, and by integratedly protruding a plurality of rotation prevention projections on upper sides of the bodies, and at this time, the V-shaped protruded parts have inclined angles further widened to an outer side as going toward a lower part, and the rotation prevention projections are protruded in at least more than 3, then bolt head insertion grooves are formed on the circumference of bolt through holes while tension portions bent in arc shape toward a lower part are curved on the center of the bodies, and unfastening prevention units are disposed between head parts of bolts and the lower sides of the bodies contacted with the head parts of the bolts. Therefore, it is possible to realize semipermanent life as reducing wear, and and to minimize scars on the grass. Moreover, it can easily remove dirt on the tangled grass as preventing sliding caused by the grass tangled with spikes themselves under wet environment, and can maintain a stable stance without a golfer's feet sliding during swing actions while the golfer can do powerful swing actions with little force, and especially, it is available to remarkably improve production costs of the spikes themselves.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [Invention Title]

SPIKES FOR GOLF SHOES [Technical Field]

The present invention generally relates to spikes for golf shoes, and more specifically, to spikes for golf shoes made of metal plates with almost no wear by using stepped press molds, which can be usable semipermanently, reduce wear in case of swing actions on rubber mats in golf practice ranges as minimizing scars on the grass of golf courses to realize environment- friendly property, and can prevent sliding caused by the grass tangled with the spikes themselves under wet conditions as easily removing dirt on the tangled grass, then also maintain a stable stance by preventing the user's feet from sliding during the swing actions while the golf shoes are fixed on the ground as enabling the user to do powerful swing actions with little force. Moreover, it is possible to prevent bolts from being loosened even though the user moves in golf shoes, thereby preventing the spikes themselves from being separated from the bottom pieces of the golf shoes, and particularly, it can tremendously enhance production costs of products through reduction in material costs and labor costs thanks to improvement of productivity of the spikes themselves. [Background Art]

Generally, it is known that the golf shoes should provide stability to the wearer. Thus, the golf shoes are equipped with devices for stably fixing a person who plays golf to the ground during golf, by excluding causes which make a walk of the person who enjoys golfing unstable or make the person slip down while moving or hitting a ball within a golf course.

Accordingly, in case of the bottom pieces of general golf shoes, cone- shaped metal spikes are fixed thereto and deeply stuck in the grass, so that a golfer can play golf in stable position without slipping down.

However, though such cone-shaped metal spikes can increase grounding effect on the earth by being inserted into the ground deeply, the effect may rapidly decrease if protruded parts of the spikes are worn out, and durability gets deteriorated while causing a problem that it is hard to manage the grass in the golf course owing to scars on the grass when the golfer walks or does swing actions on the green of the golf course.

Besides, due to this problem, it is prohibited to use metal-made spikes for golf shoes in a lot of golf coursess.

Meanwhile, recently, spikes themselves for golf shoes are used through injection molding by using synthetic resin materials in order to solve this problem of the cone-shaped spikes. In this case, like shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a spike comprises a nut(2) inserted into a bottom piece(l) of a golf shoe, and a spike body(3) made of a synthetic resin material as being equipped with a bolt through hole(32) screw-coupled with a lower-sided central part of the nut(2), and a plurality of long blade-shaped protruded parts(31) for preventing sliding are integratedly and downwardly protruded from a lower side of the spike body(3).

But, if a golfer wears golf shoes mounted with spikes made of synthetic resin materials for a long time, the protruded parts(31) having a long wing shape may be easily worn away, thus the spike body(3) united with the protruded parts should be replaced, which gives a lot of economical burdens to the user. Also, since the protruded parts(31) themselves are protruded in right-angled direction from the lower side of the spike body(3), the grass is inserted into spaces formed between these protruded parts, causing scars on the grass during swing actions. Particularly, the grass may be tangled with the end of the protruded parts under wet environment such as when it rails or is foggy, causing the golfer to slide since the protruded parts are not fixed well with the ground, and moreover dirt on the tangled grass may be not easily removed.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, spikes for golf shoes and golf shoes mounted with the spikes have been developed in the prior art and issued as a domestic registration utility model No. 20-337437. In this case, like shown in FIR. 3, a spike for a golf shoe itself is made of a zirconia or duralumin material, and a coupling hole(41) for coupling with a bottom piece of the golf shoe is disposed in a central part, and an upper side is combined in contact with the bottom piece of the golf shoe while more than one triangular pyramid-shaped protruded part(42) is equipped on a lower side. At this time, plural sliding prevention projections(43) are comprised on the upper side.

Thus, since the spike for the golf shoe is manufactured by using the zirconia or duralumin material which is a special ceramic material strong against wear, it can resolve disadvantages that the prior metal-made spike for a golf shoe damages the green as resolving, to some extent, inconvenience of frequently changing a plastic-made spike for a golf shoe caused by frequent wear of the spike.

However, such a spike for a golf shoe using the zirconia or duralumin material has to be manufactured by using a die casting method, resulting in a lot of material costs as well as a large increase of production costs of a product owing to usage of expensive die casting production equipment. Especially, because protruded parts protruded from a lower side of the spike for the golf shoe are in triangular pyramid shape, the protruded parts deeply go into the ground, which can increase grounding effect with the earth, but the effect dramatically deteriorates if the protruded parts of the spike are abraded. Furthermore, durability is weak and scars may be generated on the grass when the golfer walks on the grass or does swing actions, causing a problem of difficult maintenance of the grass in the golf course.

Besides, since unfastening prevention units are not equipped between all of the prior spikes and bolts which fix the spikes to the bottom piece of golf shoes, the spikes repeatedly go in and out toward the bottom piece of the golf shoes due to the golfer's weight applied when the golfer moves or does the swing actions while the spikes are combined by the bolts with the bottom piece of the golf shoes made of rubber. As a result, coupling power between the bolts and nuts inserted into the bottom piece deteriorates, so that the bolts can be released from the nuts, causing a problem that some of the spikes themselves are separated from the bottom piece of the golf shoes.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

[Technical Solution]

In order to solve various problems of the prior art, the present invention has the following objects: first, it is possible to semipermanently use spikes for golf shoes by manufacturing the spikes made of a metal plate with little wear by using relatively inexpensive stepped press molds", second, it can reduce wear when a golfer does swing actions on a rubber mat like in a golf practice range as minimizing scars on the grass of a golf course, thereby being environment-friendly", third, protruded parts bent in radial shape to lower parts from the outer circumference of bodies are widened to an outer side, thereby easily removing dirt on the tangled grass as preventing sliding caused by the spikes themselves tangled with the grass under wet conditions; fourth, it is possible to prevent the golfer's feet from sliding when the golfer does the swing actions by fixing the golf shoes to the earth, thereby maintaining a stable stance while the golfer can does powerful swing actions with little power! fifth, it can remarkably improve production costs of a product by reducing material costs and labor costs through the improvement of productivity in the spikes themselves; and sixth, unfastening prevention units are formed between head parts of bolts and lower sides of the spikes or rotation prevention projections and tension portions are formed in the spikes themselves, thereby perfectly preventing spike bodies themselves from being automatically separated from the golf shoes.

So as to solve such the objects, spikes for golf shoes of the present invention are characterized by integratedly bending a plurality of protruded parts disposed in radial shape toward lower parts from the circumference of metal-made bodies having a disk shape, forming bolt through holes coupled with nuts installed on bottom pieces of the golf shoes in central parts of the bodies, and by integratedly protruding a plurality of rotation prevention projections on upper sides of the bodies. On this occasion, the protruded parts are in "V" shape, and have inclined angles further widened to an outer side as going toward a lower part, then the rotation prevention projections are protruded in at least more than 3.

Likewise, bolt head insertion grooves are formed on the circumference of the bolt through holes on the lower sides of the bodies, and when necessary, tension portions bent in arc shape toward the lower parts from the central parts of the bodies are further curved.

And, unfastening prevention units are further comprised between head parts of the bolts and the lower sides of the bodies contacted with the head parts of the bolts.

At this moment, as the unfastening prevention units, numerous suspending grooves are formed in radial shape at certain angles in the head parts of the bolts and a plurality of suspending projections are protruded in the bolt head insertion grooves or on the lower sides of the bodies contacted with the heads of the bolts, or washers are installed between the head parts of the bolts and the lower sides of the bodies or the bolt head insertion grooves.

[Advantageous Effects] [Description of Drawings]

The advantages of the invention wil become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a prior spike for a golf shoe manufactured by a synthetic resin material;

Fig. 2 is an expanded sectional view illustrating an essential part of an installed state of a prior synthetic resin-made spike;

Fig. 3(a)(b)illustrates a lower side and a side of a prior spike for a golf shoe made of a duralumin material;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a plane and a lower side in accordance with one embodiment of a metal-made spike of the present invent ion;

Fig. 5 is an expanded sectional view illustrating an essential part of an installed state in accordance with one embodiment of the present invent ion;

Fig. 6 is an expanded sectional view illustrating an essential part of an installed state in accordance with another embodiment of the present invent ion;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrating an essential part of an installed state in accordance with another embodiment of the present inventoin;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a lower side of a golf shoe showing an installed state of a spike in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 9 is an expanded sectional view illustrating an essential part showing an installed state of washers as unfastening prevention units in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and [Best Mode] [Mode for Invention]

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view in accordance with one embodiment of a metal-made spike of the present invention, Fig. 5 shows an expanded sectional view illustrating an essential part of an installed state in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 6 shows an expanded sectional view illustrating an essential part of an installed state in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 7 shows a sectional view illustrating an essential part of an installed state in accordance with another embodiment of the present inventoin, Fig. 8 shows a perspective view illustrating a lower side of a golf shoe showing an installed state of a spike in accordance with the present invention, and Fig. 9 shows an expanded sectional view illustrating an essential part showing an installed state of washers as unfastening prevention units in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

According to spikes for golf shoes of the present invention, the spikes for golf shoes for detachably coupling with nuts(2) inserted into a bottom piece(l) of a golf shoe through bolts(3), being characterized by integratedly bending a plurality of protruded parts(51) while the protruded parts are disposed in radial shape toward lower parts from the circumference of metal- made bodies(5) having a disk shape, forming bolt through holes(52) in central parts of the bodies(5), and by integratedly protruding a plurality of rotation prevention project ions(53) on upper sides of the bodies(5).

On this occasion, the protruded parts(51) are in "V" shape, and have inclined angles further widened to an outer side as going toward a lower part, so that the grass and soil are not put in spaces between the protruded parts(51) and the lower sides of the bodies(5).

Also, the rotation prevention projections(53) are protruded in at least more than 3, thus these rotation prevention projections(53) are put into the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe when the spikes themselves are fixed to the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe by using the bolts(3), thereby maintaining firmly fixed states without rotation in any state during golf swing actions.

Furthermore, bolt head insertion grooves(54) are additionally installed on the circumference of the bolt through holes(52) on the lower sides of the bodies(5), preventing head parts of the bolts(3) from being largely protruded from the lower sides of the bodies(5) when the spikes themselves are fixed to the bottom pieced) of the golf shoe.

Besides, when necessary, tension portions(55) bent in arc shape toward the lower parts from the central parts of the bodies(5) are further curved to make the bolts(3) and the nuts(2) maintain a stronger coupled state by elastic power of the tension portions(55) when the spikes themselves are fixed to the bottom pieced) of the golf shoe with the use of the bolts(3).

Moreover, unfastening prevention units(6) are further formed or comprised between the head parts of the bolts(3) and the lower sides of the bodies(5) contacted with the head parts of the bolts(3).

At this moment, as the unfastening prevention units(6), numerous suspending grooves(62) are formed in radial shape at certain angles in the head parts of the bolts(3) and a plurality of suspending projections(61) are protruded in the bolt head insertion grooves(54) or on the lower sides of the bodies(5) contacted with the heads of the bolts(3), or washers(63) are installed between the head parts of the bolts(3) and the lower sides of the bodies or the bolt head insertion grooves(54).

The effect of the spikes for golf shoes in accordance with the present invention configured like above will be described as follows.

First, like shown in Fig. 4(5?), the spikes for golf shoes of the present invention mainly comprise disk-type bodies(5) where bolt through holes(52) are punched on the center by using metal plates, a plurality of protruded parts(51) bent in radial shape toward lower parts from the circumference of the bodies(5), and a plurality of rotation prevention projections(53) protruded to upper sides of the bodies(5). In this case, the spikes for golf shoes themselves are manufactured through a method of sequentially bending and cutting metal plate bodies by using relatively inexpensive stepped sequential press molds rather than using die casting molds or injection molds. Thus, compared to the prior method of manufacturing synthetic resin or zirconia or duralumin materials through injection molds or die casting, it is possible to reduce material costs as well as labor costs and production equipment costs, thereby tremendously cutting down production costs of a product itself.

Also, compared to the synthetic resin or zirconia or duralumin materials, metal materials consisting of special steel or steel plates or stainless steel relatively strong against wear and intensity are used, which can realize semipermanent duration.

Meanwhile, the plurality of the protruded parts(51) bent in radial shape toward the lower parts from the circumference of the metal-made bodies(5) having a disk shape have inclined angles further widened to an outer side as going toward the lower parts on the bodies(5) themselves in "V" shape while the protruded parts are maintained in plate body shape like the bodies(5).

So, unlike the prior spikes having long blade-shaped protruded parts or a cone or triangular pyramid shape, the protruded parts(51) of the present invention can maintain the plate body shape of the same thickness as the bodies(5), and are in "V" shape, then are bent in a type of being widened to the outer side toward the lower parts from the circumference of the bodies(5), giving minimum damage to the grass by the protruded parts(51) themselves. And, since the grass and soil are not put in spaces between the lower sides of the bodies(5) and the protruded parts(51), it is available to prevent some of the grass from being damaged after swing actions.

Furthermore, a golfer's feet do not slide thanks to the radial-shaped protruded parts(51) which maintain an inserted state into the grass during golf swing actions, thus the golfer can do more improved swing actions with little force as well as stably maintain a golf stance, and also a clogging phenomenon that the grass is tangled with the end of the protruded parts(51) does not occur even in web conditions such as when it rails or is foggy. In addition, the tangled grass is less generated than before, and the tangled grass may be easily eliminated though some of the grass are tangled.

Meanwhile, in the metal spikes of the present invention, since the plurality of the rotation prevention projections(53)(that is, more than 3 projections) are integratedly protruded on upper sides of the bodies(5), the rotation prevention projections(53) are put into the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe like shown in Fig. 5 when the spike itself is fixed to the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe like shown in Fig. 8 by inserting the bolts(3) via the bolt through holes(52) pierced on the center of the bodies(5) and by coupling the inserted bolts(3) with the nuts(2) inserted into the bottom ρiece(l) of the golf shoe. Accordingly, spikes themselves can be perfectly fixed to the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe, thereby maintaining a firmly fixed state without rotation of the spikes themselves in any state during golf swing actions.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the spikes themselves from being separated from the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe caused by the bolts(3) released from the nuts(2), in case the spikes themselves are rotated on the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe due to pressure applied when a golfer plays golf or moves in golf shoes.

In the meantime, if the bolt through holes(52) only are pierced on the center of the bodies(5), head parts of the bolts(3) may be protruded on lower sides of the bodies(5) when the spikes are fixed to the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe through the bolts(3) and nuts(2), which can deteriorate sliding prevention effect because some of the grass located between the protruded parts(51) bent on the circumference of the bodies(5) are directly contacted with the head parts of the bolts(3) if the golfer stands on the grass in a golf course in golf shoes.

So, in the present invention, bolt head insertion grooves(54) are additionally formed like shown in Fig. 6 on the circumference of the bolt through holes(52) on the lower sides of the bodies(5), thereby forming sufficient spaces between the lower sides of the bodies(5) and the radial- shaped protruded parts(51) since the head parts of the bolts(3) can be inserted into the head insertion grooves(54) without being largely protruded on the lower sides of the bodies(5) when the spikes themselves are fixed to the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the grass located between the protruded parts(51) bent in radial shape on the circumference of the bodies(5) from being first contacted with the head parts of the bolts(3) before being contacted with the lower sides of the bodies(5) when the golfer stands on the grass in the golf course in golf shoes, which can increase sliding prevention effect through the protruded parts(51).

In addition, if the spikes are fixed to the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe through a method of coupling the bolts(3) with the nuts(2) inserted into the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe by inserting the bolts(3) via the bolt through holes(52) pierced on the center while the bodies(5) are formed in flat board shape, elastic power is not generated from the bodies(5) themselves even though the bolts(3) are coupled with the nuts(2) with strong power. Thus, there is a risk of deteriorating coupling power between the bolts(3) and the nuts(2).

So, like shown in Fig. 7, the present invention further comprises tension portions(55) bent in arc shape toward lower parts from central parts of the bodies(5), thereby maintaining a stronger coupled state between the bolts(3) and the nuts(2) by elastic power of the tension portions(55) when the spikes themselves are fixed to the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe by using the bolts(3). Accordingly, the coupled state between the bolts(3) and the nuts(2) is maintained even though any impulsive force is applied from the outside, preventing the spikes themselves from being separated from the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe regardless of a user's intention.

Also, though the at least more than 3 rotation prevention project ions(53) and the tension portions(55) are selectively or simultaneously formed in an upper part of the bodies(5) like stated so far, weight may be applied to the spikes themselves when the golfer does swing actions or moves in golf shoes. Thus, there is a probability that coupling power between the bolts(3) and the nuts(2) inserted into the bottom piece(l) deteriorates as some of the spikes go in and out toward the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe.

Therefore, in the present invention, unfastening prevention units(6) are further formed or installed between the head parts of the bolts(3) and the lower sides of the bodies(5) directly contacted with the head units of the bolts93), preventing the bolts(3) from being released.

Namely, the unfastening prevention units(6) are equipped by forming numerous suspending grooves(62) in radial shape at certain angles in the head parts of the bolts(3) and protruding a plurality of suspending projections(61) in the bolt head insertion grooves(54) or on the lower sides of the bodies(5) contacted with the heads of the bolts(3), or like shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, spring-type washers(63) are additionally installed between the head parts of the bolts(3) and the lower sides of the bodies(5) or the bolt head insertion grooves(54).

Accordingly, when the golfer moves in golf shoes or does swing actions, if the suspending project ions(61) and the suspending grooves(62) are configured as the unfastening prevention units(6), the plurality of the suspending projections(61) formed in the bolt head insertion grooves(54) or on the lower sides of the bodies(5) are maintained in inserted state without being fully taken out of some of the numerous suspending grooves(62) formed in radial shape in the head parts of the bolts(3), even though some of the spikes go into the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe owing to weight applied to the spikes themselves. As a result, the bolts(3) are not released from the nuts(2), thereby preventing the spikes themselves from being separated from the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe. And, if the spring-type washers(63) are equipped as the unfastening prevention units(6), transformation equivalent to the quantity of movement of the spikes themselves, which move to the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe as much as distance equivalent to the weight, occurs from the spring-type washers(63) themselves having elastic power, and the washers(63) themselves are not released by maintaining coupling power of the bolts(3) by frictional forces generated between the head parts of the bolts(3) and the lower sides of the bodies(5) or the bolt head insertion grooves(54), thereby perfectly preventing the spikes themselves from being separated from the bottom piece(l) of the golf shoe caused by the released bolts(3).

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. [Industrial Applicability] [Sequence List Text]

1: bottom piece 2: nuts

3: bolts 5: bodies

6: unfastening prevention units 51: protruded parts

52: bolt through holes 53: rotation prevention projections

54: bolt head insertion grooves 55: tension portions

61: suspending projections 62: suspending grooves

63: washers

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim 1]

Spikes for golf shoes for detachably combining with nuts inserted into a bottom piece of a golf shoe through bolts, being characterized by integratedly bending a plurality of protruded parts while the protruded parts are toward lower parts from the circumference of metal-made bodies having a disk shape, forming bolt through holescoupled with nuts installed on bottom pieces of the golf shoes in central parts of the bodies, and by integratedly protruding a plurality of rotation prevention projections on upper sides of the bodies [Claim 2]

The spikes of claim 1, wherein the protruded parts have inclined angles further widened to an outer side as going toward a lower part. [Claim 3]

The spikes of claim 2, wherein the protruded parts are in "V" shape. [Claim 4]

The spikes of claim 1, wherein the rotation prevention projections are protruded in at least more than 3. [Claim 5]

The spikes of claim 1, wherein bolt head insertion grooves are additionally formed on the circumference of the bolt through holes on the lower sides of the bodies. [Claim 6]

The spikes of claim 1, wherein tension portions bent in arc shape toward the lower parts from the central parts of the bodies are further curved. [Claim 7]

The spikes of claim 5, wherein unfastening prevention units are further comprised by forming numerous suspending grooves in radial shape at certain angles in the head parts of the bolts and protruding a plurality of suspending projections in the bolt head insertion grooves or on the lower sides of the bodies contacted with the heads of the bolts. [Claim 8]

The spikes of claim 5, wherein unfastening prevention units are further comprised by additionally installing washers between the head units of the bolts and the lower sides of the bodies or the bolt head insertion grooves.