Would These Shoes Have Saved Tiger’s Knee?

There aren’t too many interesting golf shoe inventions, but this is one. Check out the golf shoe design disclosed in a patent application that recently published as 20090165336 titled “Magnetic Swivel Sports Shoes.”

Wow, think those spikes may do a little damage to the greens? Substitute regular golf cleats and they may have something.

The application describes the invention as:

A shoe that relates to safety of the participants’ when sports shoes with cleats are employed, e.g. golf, football, and soccer. Knee, ankle, & hip injuries are brought about by abrupt leg turns after the foot is planted and the participant’s knee continues to move in a separate direction. A principle objective of the present invention is also to enhance the participants’ performance. The primary objective, however, is to minimize the frequency and/or seriousness of knee, ankle, and hip injuries brought about by knee and leg turns after the foot is planted on the playing surface. This invention will permit the foot to rotate under magnetic control when enough pressure is exerted by the participant’s body.

The application goes on to explain:

[0001] The invention relates to safety of the participants’ when sports shoes with cleats are employed, e.g. golf, football, and soccer. Knee, ankle, & hip injuries are brought about by abrupt leg turns after the foot is planted and the participant’s knee continues to move in a separate direction.

[0002] Most sport shoes are structured toward a firm implanting of the foot into the playing surface to preclude the participants slipping. The ultimate purpose of the sports shoe is to enhance the participant’s performance.

[0003] A principle objective of the present invention is also to enhance the participants’ performance. The primary objective, however, is to minimize the frequency and/or seriousness of knee, ankle, and hip injuries brought about by knee and leg turns after the foot is planted on the playing surface. This invention will permit the foot to rotate when enough pressure is exerted by the participant’s body. An analogy can be made to ice hockey where the shoe can rotate since the shoe is not implanted into the ice.

[0004] A derivative of this invention is that it may enhance a participants’ performance by permitting more flexible turns, e.g. the likely enhancement of a golfer’s ability to move effortlessly will lengthen their shots.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] This invention will permit the user to avoid or reduce potential knee injuries by reducing the resistance brought about by abrupt leg turns when shoe cleats are implanted. Further, this invention will likely enhance a golfer’s ability to lengthen their shots.

[0006] Technical Features of Magnetic Shoes:

[0007] 1. A circular magnetic plate with cleats (the assembly) would attach to the shoe or sports shoe which would rotate in a circular motion up to 360 degrees. Magnetized friction discs could be substituted for an actual magnet with use of a thin metal plate.

[0008] 2. The assembly would attach to a metal plate built into the shoe (This would cover the ball area of the foot.). A heel without cleats would be necessary to preclude interruption of the user’s rotation.

[0009] 3. The assembly can be adjusted to a desired degree of rotation by changing the magnetic strength of the assembly.

[0010] 4. The cleats would screw into the magnetic swivel plate to create the assembly.

[0011] 5. The sports shoe would have a circular hole in the outer tier of the sole. This would permit the assembly to attach to the shoe through its magnetic attraction to the metal plate in the shoe and conform to the bottom of the sole of the shoe.

[0012] 6. The heel does not include an assembly or cleats. A smooth heel is provided to preclude competing rotation with the foot assembly. Further, a slightly elevated and tapered (from back to front) heel is provided to remind the athlete to keep his foot pressure on the ball of his foot.

Interesting invention, but I am not sure those shoes would help my game (and how much would they weigh).

David Dawsey   – The Golf Shoe Invention Lawyer

PS – click here to check out another interesting golf shoe invention