Shoe spike

Claim 2

In combination with a shoe having a downwardly disposed earth-engaging surface, an anti-fouling shoe spike structure carried by said shoe and having an elongate vertical earth-engaging spike depending from the earth-engaging surface of the shoe, said spike having upper and lower portions, and a soil repelling barrier being located thereon adjacent said upper portion are joined, with the lower portion free of barrier material, said barrier having a diametrical width transverse to said spike less than the length of said spike structure; means for constraining said barrier to remain adjacent said upper portion with said lower portion remaining bare at all times during use, said barrier being structured to permit substantially free movement of earth upwardly relative to said earth-engaging surface and said spike and circumferentially and radially about the spike, said barrier resisting retention of damp earth on and about said spike.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said barrier is in the form of a movable mechanical solid element projecting radially outwardly from said spike structure.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said barrier is in the form of an upwardly open bell-shaped washer projecting radially outwardly from said spike structure.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said washer is composed of a non-wetting resinous material having sufficiently low adhesion with earth so that earth urged into engagement therewith by forces sufficient to compact the earth does not adhere to said washer.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said spike has a reduced shank forming an outwardly open groove and said barrier is in the form of a mechanical element loosely encircling said shank and limited in movement relative to said spike by the shoulders of said groove.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said spike has a reduced shank formed by an outwardly open groove and said barrier is a washer-like part loosely encircling said shank and limited in movement relative to said spike between the shoulders of said groove.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said barrier is a flexible washer-like part that is movable relative to said spike.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said barrier is a washer-like part that is substantially freely rotatable relative to the spike and said earth-engaging surface.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said barrier is a washer-like part that is radially shiftable relative to the spike and is axially movable relative to said earth-engaging surface.

Claim 11

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said barrier is a washer-like part that is shiftable radially and axially relative to the spike and is movable relative to said earth-engaging surface.

Claim 12

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said washer is rotatable and is both axially and radially shiftable relative to the spike and is movable relative to said earth-engaging surface.

Claim 13

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said barrier is established of a non-wetting resinous material having sufficiently low adhesion with damp earth so that damp earth urged into engagement therewith by forces sufficient to compact the earth does not adhere to said barrier.

Claim 14

The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said non-wetting resinous material is selected from the group consisting of nylon, Teflon, polyethelene, and synthetic rubber.

Claim 15

The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein said barrier is a body of non-wetting material held between said upper and lower portions of said spike and having an external concave surface that tapers downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom end of the spike.

Claim 16

An anti-fouling spike structure for mounting on a shoe having a downwardly disposed earth-engaging surface, said anti-fouling spike structure comprising an elongate vertical earth-engaging spike at the lower end thereof, said spike having upper and lower portions, means at the upper portion thereof for attachment of the spike to said shoe, and a soil-repelling barrier being located thereon adjacent said upper portion, said barrier having a diametrical width transverse to said spike less than the length of said spike structure; means for constraining said barrier to remain entirely between said upper portion with said lower portion remaining bare at all times during use, said barrier being constructed to permit substantially free movement of earth that is urged upwardly relative to said spike on and about said lower portion out of contact with said barrier until it reaches said upper portion where it engages said barrier as said spike presses into the earth when attached to said shoe both circumferentially and radially about the spike, said barrier resisting retention of earth and debris on said barrier and about said spike.

Claim 17

An anti-fouling spike structure for mounting on a shoe having a downwardly disposed earth-engaging surface, said anti-fouling spike structure comprising an elongate vertical earth-engaging spike at the lower end thereof, said spike having upper and lower portions, means at the upper portion thereof for attachment of the spike to said shoe, and a soil-repelling barrier being located thereon adjacent said upper portion, said barrier having a diametrical width transverse to said spike less than the length of said spike structure; means for constraining said barrier to remain entirely between said upper portion with said lower portion remaining bare at all times during use, said barrier being constructed to permit substantially free movement of earth that is urged upwardly relative to said spike on and about said lower portion out of contact with said barrier until it reaches said upper portion where it engages said barrier as said spike presses into the earth when attached to said shoe both circumferentially and radially about the spike, said barrier resisting retention of earth and debris on said barrier and about said spike.

Claim 18

The combination set forth in claim 15 wherein said barrier is in the form of an upwardly open bell-shaped washer projecting radially outwardly from said spike structure.

Claim 19

The combination set forth in claim 15 in which said spike has a reduced shank forming an outwardly open groove and said barrier is in the form of a mechanical element encircling said shank and held movably about said shank between the shoulders thereof in limited spaced relationship relative to the upper end of said spike.

Claim 20

The spike structure defined in claim 15 wherein said barrier comprises a body of non-wetting material encircling said spike structure adjacent said upper portion thereof and having an external surface that is exposed to damp soil and debris when said spike is pressed into the earth and that resists retention of soil and debris when withdrawn from the earth.