Article Of Footwear With Interlocking Cleat Member and Raised Base

• US 20130031807A1
• Filed: 08/03/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Gerber, Clifford B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,898,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/134
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/22 Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/161 characterised by the attachment to the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/164 having a circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/167 frusto-conical or cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/168 with resilient means, e.g. shock absorbing means

Abstract

A cleat member for an article of footwear is configured to associate with a raised base on a sole of the article of footwear. The raised base includes an angled face with a plurality of protruding portions extending outwards from the angled face. An underside of the cleat member is provided with an indentation that corresponds to the angled face of the raised base. A plurality of recessed portions are disposed along the indentation on the underside of the cleat member and are configured to associate with the plurality of protruding portions on the angled face of the raised base. The plurality of recessed portions and the plurality of protruding portions have coincident shapes so that the protruding portions fit with the recessed portions. With this configuration, the cleat member and sole are configured with an interlocking arrangement that resists loosening when the article of footwear is used on a ground surface.

Claims

1. A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising:

at least one raised base disposed in the sole, the raised base including a fastener receiving portion and an angled face;

the angled face including a plurality of protruding portions extending out from the angled face;

at least one cleat member including a fastening portion configured to associate with the fastener receiving portion of said at least one raised base;

the cleat member further including an indentation along an underside of the cleat member, the indentation including a plurality of recessed portions extending into the cleat member; and

wherein the plurality of protruding portions are configured to fit within the plurality of recessed portions.

2. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the indentation on the cleat member is configured to correspond to the angled face of the raised base.

3. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of recessed portions and the plurality of protruding portions have coincident shapes.

4. The sole according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of recessed portions have a concave shape and the plurality of protruding portions have a convex shape.

5. The sole according to claim 4, wherein plurality of recessed portions and the plurality of protruding portions have semi-spherical shapes.

6. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the angled face is associated with an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

7. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the sole further includes at least one platform extending above a bottom surface of the sole;

and

wherein said at least one raised base is disposed on said at least one platform.

8. An article of footwear, the article of footwear comprising:

an upper;

a sole, the sole further comprising;

a plurality of raised bases disposed in the sole, each raised base including a fastener receiving portion and an angled face;

the angled face including a plurality of protruding portions extending out from the angled face;

a plurality of cleat members, each cleat member including a fastening portion configured to associate with the fastener receiving portion of one of the plurality of raised bases;

each cleat member further including an indentation along an underside of the cleat member, the indentation including a plurality of recessed portions extending into the cleat member; and

wherein the plurality of protruding portions are configured to fit within the plurality of recessed portions.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the sole further includes a plurality of platforms extending above a bottom surface of the sole;

and

wherein the plurality of raised bases are disposed on the plurality of platforms.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein each raised base and platform are configured as a receptacle assembly;

and

wherein the receptacle assembly is disposed within the sole.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein each raised base and platform are integrally formed with the sole.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the indentation on each cleat member is configured to correspond to the angled face of each raised base.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of recessed portions and the plurality of protruding portions have coincident shapes.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of recessed portions have a concave shape and the plurality of protruding portions have a convex shape.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein plurality of recessed portions and the plurality of protruding portions have semi-spherical shapes.

16. A cleat member for an article of footwear, the cleat member comprising:

a fastening portion, the fastening portion configured to be associated with a fastener receiving portion disposed on a raised based on a sole of the article of footwear;

an indentation disposed along an underside of the cleat member, the indentation configured to correspond to the angled face of the raised base;

a plurality of recessed portions disposed with the indentation, the plurality of recessed portions configured to associate with a plurality of protruding portions disposed on the angled face of the raised based; and

wherein the plurality of protruding portions are configured to fit within the plurality of recessed portions.

17. The cleat member according to claim 16, wherein the cleat member further includes a body having a ground-engaging portion disposed at a distal end of the cleat member;

wherein the fastening portion protrudes outward from the body at a proximal end of the cleat member; and

wherein a lip is disposed around an outer periphery of the body adjacent to the proximal end of the cleat member.

18. The cleat member according to claim 17, wherein the lip of the cleat member is configured to flare outwards when the cleat member engages the protruding portions on the raised base of the sole.

19. The cleat member according to claim 16, wherein an audible indicia is associated with an engagement of the cleat member with the raised base such that the plurality of protruding portions are aligned with the plurality of recessed portions.

20. The cleat member according to claim 16, wherein the cleat member further includes at least one grasping portion configured to be associated with a tool for fastening the cleat member to the sole of the article of footwear.