Inventors:
William J. Bowerman - Eugene OR
Stanley L. James - Eugene OR
Dennis E. Vixie - Eugene OR
International Classification:
A43B 500
A43B 1304
A43C 1500
Abstract:
An athletic shoe is described with an outer sole having a laterally elongated matetarsal cleat of resilient material molded integral with such outer sole. The metatarsal cleat extends laterally across the entire width of the toe portion of the sole in a position immediately behind the heads of the metatarsal bones of the wearer's foot. In one embodiment the metatarsal cleat is in the form of a curved chevron including two wing shaped side portions each having curved front and rear surfaces to provide good longitudinal traction and self-cleaning action under wet condition. In additon, the chevron cleat is provided with two end portions and an intermediate porton having straight edges extending longitudinally to provide greater lateral traction. A plurality of other cleats of different shape and smaller ground engaging surface area than the metatarsal cleat are also molded integral with the outer sole. These other cleats are of a straight sided polygon shape, such as a hexagon or square, and are of the same height as the metatarsal cleat.