Sole for a sports shoe or boot

Claim 2

A sole for a sports shoe comprising: fixing protrusions which project from the underside of the sole, each fixing protrusion comprising a shoulder facing towards the underside of the sole; a sleeve member adapted to be fitted on to each fixing protrusion and comprising a wall portion which in the fixed position is disposed around said fixing protrusion, said wall portion having at least one opening therein, and a latching means disposed movably in said at least one opening and adapted in an operative position to engage behind said shoulder on the respective fixing protrusion, with a portion of said latching means still projecting outwardly of said opening; and a ground engaging projection member adapted to be fitted over each said sleeve member and in frictional engagement with said outwardly projecting portion of said latching means.

Claim 3

A sole as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said latching means comprises a latching member pivotally mounted to said sleeve member.

Claim 4

A sole as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said latching means is formed integrally with said sleeve member and is disposed outside the inside surface of said wall portion of the sleeve member, in a rest position of the latching means.

Claim 5

A sole as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve member has two oppositely disposed said latching means.

Claim 6

A sole as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said fixing protrusion projects from the bottom surface of a shallow depression in the underside of the sole, and wherein an edge portion of the respective projection member fits into the respective depression when fitted over the respective sleeve member.

Claim 7

A sole as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said projection member is provided with gripping means on the exterior thereof, for applying a tool for pulling off the projection member.

Claim 8

In a sports shoe, a sole comprising: a plurality of mounting protrusions projecting from the underneath surface of the sole, each mounting protrusion having a shoulder portion which faces towards the underneath surface of the sole and which is at least substantially normal to the direction of projection of the respective mounting protrusion; a sleeve member adapted to be fitted over each said mounting protrusion, each sleeve member comprising a peripheral wall portion having first and second openings therethrough and respective latching members disposed movably in each of said openings and movable between an inoperative position in which the latching means are disposed at least substantially outside the inside surface of said wall portion and an operative position of projecting inwardly of said inside surface, thereby latchingly to engage with said shoulder on the respective fixing protrusion, with a portion of the latching means still projecting outwardly of the respective openings; and a cap member adapted to be fitted over each said sleeve member thereby to provide a gripping projection member on the sole, the cap member being in frictional engagement with said outwardly projecting portions of said latching means thereby to hold said latching means in latching engagement with said shoulder.

Claim 9

In a sports shoe, a sole comprising: a plurality of mounting protrusions projecting from the underneath surface of the sole, each mounting protrusion having a shoulder portion which faces towards the underneath surface of the sole and which is at least substantially normal to the direction of projection of the respective mounting protrusion; a sleeve member adapted to be fitted over each said mounting protrusion, each sleeve member comprising a peripheral wall portion having first and second openings therethrough and respective latching members disposed movably in each of said openings and movable between an inoperative position in which the latching means are disposed at least substantially outside the inside surface of said wall portion and an operative position of projecting inwardly of said inside surface, thereby latchingly to engage with said shoulder on the respective fixing protrusion, with a portion of the latching means still projecting outwardly of the respective openings; and a cap member adapted to be fitted over each said sleeve member thereby to provide a gripping projection member on the sole, the cap member being in frictional engagement with said outwardly projecting portions of said latching means thereby to hold said latching means in latching engagement with said shoulder.

Claim 10

A sports shoe as set forth in claim 7 wherein each said fixing protrusion has a rounded end portion at an end thereof remote from the underneath surface of the sole.

Claim 11

A sports shoe as set forth in claim 7 wherein each said fixing protrusion is encircled by a depression adapted to receive an adjoining edge portion of the respective projection member, thereby to enhance lateral location of said projection member relative to said sole.

Claim 12

A sports shoe as set forth in claim 7 wherein each said latching means comprises a limb portion having a first end integrally formed with an edge of the respective opening in the wall portion of the sleeve member, and a second end, and a latching portion on said second end, defining a generally hook-like configuration adapted to engage behind said shoulder portion.