US20030196354A1 - Climbing shoe with hooking teeth on the heel - Google Patents

Abstract

A climbing shoe with a hooking teeth heel that wraps around the heel part of the climbing shoe and is connected to the upper portion. The hooking teeth are made of multiple lateral ridges that will improve the grip of the foot during heel maneuvers.

Description

BACKGROUND
• 1. Field of Invention[0001]
• The invention relates to a rock-climbing shoe with hooking teeth on the heel that will assist rock-climbers in their climb by increasing the grip of the heel on rock surfaces in heel maneuvers.[0002]
• 2. Description of Prior Art[0003]
• Rock-climbers need a heel that can grip rock surfaces when they are climbing. Rock climbers must often use the heel of their foot to grip the rock surface when they are climbing. Although the toe part of the shoe is most often used to support the rock-climber, a foothold may be too high for the rock-climber to use his toes. In these instances, a rock climber must maneuver to the next foothold by using the heel part of his foot to hook onto a rock surface.[0004]
• In the heel maneuver, a rock climber must: lift and extend his leg above his waist; grip the rock surface with his heel; and push off of his heel to the next foothold or handhold. While in this maneuver, a rock climber may support a substantial portion of his weight with the heel of his foot. During this maneuver, the rock-climber must rely on the grip of his heel on the rock surface. If the heel slips, the rock-climber may fall from his climb.[0005]
• Traditional rock-climbing shoes consist of a sole connected to an upper portion. The upper portion covers the sides (or “flash”) and heel of the foot. The sole is usually made of rubber and covers the entire bottom surface of the rock-climber's foot. The upper portion is usually made of fabric or leather and is substantially smooth.[0006]
• In a heel maneuver, the rock-climber needs to maintain a foothold by using the outside surfaces of his heel on a rock-surface. During the heel maneuver, the rock-climber may apply a substantial portion of his weight on the heel. If the rock-climber's heel slips off the rock surface during the heel maneuver, the rock-climber can lose his grip and fall. Thus, a heel with gripping properties is beneficial during heel maneuvers.[0007]
• The traditional rock-climbing shoe is not effective in heel maneuvers because the upper portion covering the heel is substantially smooth with no gripping properties and does not bite into a rock surface. Thus, a rock-climber may slip during a heel maneuver. Consequently, the design of the traditional rock-climbing shoe presents problems unique to rock-climbers: slipping during heel maneuvers.[0008]
• There is a need for a climbing shoe with hooking teeth on the heel to provide improved grip during heel maneuvers.[0009]
• The hooking teeth on the heel will have lateral ridges that can bite into a rock surface and improve the grip of the heel during heel maneuvers. The hooking teeth is comprised of multiple ridges protruding from the heel and angled upwards. The upward angle of the ridges will allow the heel to bite into a rock surface during a heel-maneuver. Rock-climbing shoes with hooking teeth on the heel will give the rock-climber additional safety and confidence in rock-climbing by increasing the grip and stability during heel maneuvers.[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A rock-climbing shoe with a hooking teeth heel fulfills the objectives of a rock-climbing shoe that will provide improved grip during heel maneuvers.[0011]
• The rock-climbing shoe with a hooking teeth heel includes an upper portion, a sole and a heel part.[0012]
• The upper portion is made of various materials and conforms to the shape of the foot. The upper portion varies in size according to the size the wearer's foot. The upper portion covers the flash sides of the wearer's foot.[0013]
• The sole is made of rubber and covers the bottom of the foot and is attached to the upper portion. The sole varies in size according to the size of the wearer's foot.[0014]
• The heel part is made of rubber and is attached to the sole and upper portion. The heel part covers the heel and Achilles' tendon area of the foot. The heel part wraps around the heel. The heel part has multiple lateral ridges angled upward that protrude out from the heel.[0015]
• The rock-climbing shoe with a hooking teeth heel is further described with detail in the appended figures, description and claims.[0016]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is an exterior side view of the climbing shoe.[0017]
• FIG. 2 is an exterior offset side view of the heel part.[0018]
• FIG. 3 is an exterior rear view of the heel part.[0019]
• FIG. 4 is a representative diagram of the heel part in use during a heel maneuver on a rock surface.[0020]
• FIG. 5 is a representative drawing of a rock-climber engaged in a heel maneuver.[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, a[0022]climbing shoe10 includes an upper portion11 and a sole12 attached to the upper portion11. There is an opening15 in theshoe10 to allow a foot to enter. Theheel part13 is at the rear of theclimbing shoe10 and is connected to the sole12 and the upper portion11. The hookingteeth14 are connected to theheel part13. The hookingteeth14 cover the exterior of theheel part13. The hookingteeth14 is set at substantially the same lateral angle as the sole12.
• Referring to the exterior side view of FIG. 1, the upper portion[0023]11 can include any material commonly used for shoes, such as leather, nylon and cotton fabrics. There is an opening15 at the top for a foot to enter. The heel of the foot would rest in theheel part13 of theshoe10. The bottom of theshoe10 is covered by a sole12. The sole12 can be made of rubber polymer. The sole12 is substantially flat and covers the bottom of the foot. Theheel part13 can be made of rubber. The hookingteeth14 is attached to thetoe part13 of theclimbing shoe10 and wraps around theheel part13. The hookingteeth14 are set at substantially the same angle as the sole12.
• Referring to the exterior offset side view of FIG. 2, the hooking[0024]teeth14 is located around theheel part13 of theshoe10. Theheel part13 covers the rear of theshoe10. The hookingteeth14 is connected to thetoe part13 and wraps around theheel part13. The hookingteeth14 cover the rear area between the sole12 and theopening15.
• Referring to the exterior rear view of FIG. 3, the hooking[0025]teeth14 are set at substantially the same angle as the sole12. Theheel part13 covers the rear area between theopening15 and the sole12. Theheel part13 has hookingteeth14 made up of multiple lateral ridges. The hookingteeth14 are connected to thetoe part13 and wraps around theheel part13. The hookingteeth14 cover the rear area between the sole12 and theopening15.
• Referring to the representative diagram of the heel part in use during a heel maneuver on a rock surface of FIG. 4, the hooking[0026]teeth14 are set at an angle to bit into arock surface16. During a heel maneuver, theheel part13 is pressed against therock surface16. The lateral ridges of the hookingteeth14 and the sole12 faces upward.
• Referring to the representative drawing of a rock-climber engaged in a heel maneuver of FIG. 5, the rock climber must extend his foot to grip the[0027]rock surface16 with theheel part13.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
• [0028]10 climbing shoe
• [0029]11 upper portion
• [0030]12 sole
• [0031]13 heel part
• [0032]14 hooking teeth
• [0033]15 opening
• [0034]16 representative rock surface

Claims (16)

What is claimed:

1. A climbing shoe comprising:

a) an upper portion;

b) a sole attached to the upper portion; and

c) a heel part, wherein the exterior of the heel part has lateral ridges.

2. The climbing shoe ofclaim 1, wherein the heel part covers the rear of the foot and is connected to the upper portion.

3. The climbing shoe ofclaim 2, wherein the heel part is made of a rubber polymer.

4. The climbing shoe ofclaim 3, wherein the heel part has multiple lateral ridges.

5. A climbing shoe comprising:

a) an upper portion;

b) a sole attached to the upper portion;

c) a heel part; and

d) a hooking teeth on the heel part.

6. The climbing shoe ofclaim 5, wherein the heel part wraps around the heel of the climbing shoe.

7. The climbing shoe ofclaim 6, wherein the hooking teeth is made of ridges protruding outward a width ‘w’; in one embodiment the ‘w’ of the hooking teeth is 3 millimeters.

8. The climbing shoe ofclaim 7, wherein the hooking teeth is set at a horizontal angle and covers the sides of the foot.

9. The climbing shoe ofclaim 8, wherein the hooking teeth is made of rubber.

10. A climbing shoe comprising:

a) an upper portion;

b) a sole attached to the upper portion;

c) a heel part; and

d) multiple ridges around the exterior of the heel part.

11. The climbing shoe ofclaim 12, wherein the heel part wraps around the rear of the climbing shoe.

12. The climbing shoe ofclaim 13, wherein heel part covers the sides of the foot.

13. The climbing shoe ofclaim 14, wherein the multiple ridges extend laterally to cover the heel of the foot.

14. The climbing shoe ofclaim 13, wherein the multiple ridges are made of a hard rubber polymer.

15. The climbing shoe ofclaim 14, wherein the multiple ridges are patterned to grip various rock surfaces.

16. The climbing shoe ofclaim 15, wherein the multiple ridges are angled upward to bite into rock surfaces.

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