Interchangeable Cleat System For Footwear

• US 20130047465A1
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Auger, Perry W., Caine, Andrew, Cavaliere, Sergio
• Granted Patent: US 8,997,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/66
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/223 Profiled soles
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/16 Studs or cleats for football or like boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/161 characterised by the attachment to the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/162 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/167 frusto-conical or cylindrical

Abstract

An interchangeable cleat system for an article of footwear includes an outer sole member with a plurality of fixed cleat members and a plurality of removable cleat members. The spacing between the removable cleat members and the fixed cleat members may be approximately constant in at least one portion of the article of footwear. The differences in height between the removable cleat members and the fixed cleat members may be approximately constant within a portion of the outer sole member. The cleat system can include at least three sets of cleat members that can be interchanged over different portions of the outer sole member.

Claims

1. An outer sole member for an article of footwear, comprising:

a cleat system including a plurality of fixed cleat members and a plurality of removable cleat members;

the plurality of fixed cleat members including a first group of fixed cleat members disposed in a first portion of the outer sole member and a second group of fixed cleat members disposed in a second portion of the outer sole member;

the plurality of removable cleat members including a first group of removable cleat members disposed in the first portion of the outer sole member and a second group of removable cleat members disposed in the second portion of the outer sole member;

the first group of fixed cleat members having a first height and the first group of removable cleat members having a second height;

the second group of fixed cleat members having a third height and the second group of removable cleat members having a fourth height; and

wherein the difference between the first height and the second height is approximately equal to the difference between the third height and the fourth height.

2. The sole member according to claim 1, wherein the first height has a value of approximately 9 mm and wherein the second height has a value of approximately 11 mm.

3. The sole member according to claim 1, wherein the third height has a value of approximately 11 mm and the fourth height has a value of approximately 13 mm.

4. The sole member according to claim 1, wherein the second height and the third height are approximately equal.

5. The sole member according to claim 1, wherein the first height is approximately 9 mm and the second height is approximately 13 mm.

6. The sole member according to claim 1, wherein the third height is approximately 11 mm and the fourth height is approximately 15 mm.

7. A kit of parts, comprising:

An outer sole member, the outer sole member including a plurality of fixed cleat members and a plurality of cleat receiving portions for receiving removable cleat members;

a first set of removable cleat members associated with a first height;

a second set of removable cleat members associated with a second height;

a third set of removable cleat members associated with a third height; and

wherein the difference between the first height and the second height is approximately equal to the difference between the second height and the third height.

8. The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the first height is approximately 11 mm, the second height is approximately 13 mm and the third height is approximately 15 mm.

9. The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the difference between the first height and the second height is greater than 1 mm.

10. The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the difference between the first height and the second height is approximately 2 mm.

11. The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the first set of removable cleat members is configured to insert into cleat receiving portions in the forefoot.

12. The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the second set of removable cleat members is configured to insert into cleat receiving portions in the forefoot and the heel.

13. The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the third set of removable cleat members is configured to insert into cleat receiving portions in the heel.

14. An outer sole member for an article of footwear, comprising:

a cleat system including a plurality of fixed cleat members and a plurality of removable cleat members;

the plurality of fixed cleat members having a ridge-like shape, wherein a majority of the plurality of fixed cleat members are disposed on an outer peripheral region of the outer sole member;

the plurality of removable cleat members having a conical tapered shape, wherein a majority of the plurality of removable cleat members are disposed on the outer peripheral region of the outer sole member; and

wherein the spacing between each removable cleat member and a corresponding closest fixed cleat member is approximately constant.

15. The outer sole member according to claim 14, wherein the distance spacing between each removable cleat member and the corresponding closest fixed cleat member is approximately in the range between 0.4 to 2 base diameters of a removable cleat member.

16. The outer sole member according to claim 14, wherein a first difference in height between each fixed cleat member in a forefoot portion of the outer sole member and each removable cleat member in the forefoot portion is approximately equal to a second difference in height, wherein the second difference in height is a difference between each fixed cleat member in a heel portion of the outer sole member and each removable cleat member in the heel portion.

17. The outer sole member according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the fixed cleat members is disposed in a central region of the outer sole member, wherein the central region is disposed inwardly of the outer peripheral region.

18. The outer sole member according to claim 14, wherein a first group of fixed cleat members of the plurality of fixed cleat members is associated with a first height, a second group of fixed cleat members is associated with a second height, a first group of removable cleat members is associated with a third height and a second group of removable cleat members is associated with a fourth height.

19. The outer sole member according to claim 18, wherein the first height is approximately 9 mm, the second height is approximately 11 mm, the third height is approximately 11 mm and the fourth height is approximately 13 mm.

20. The outer sole member according to claim 18, wherein the first height is approximately 9 mm, the second height is approximately 13 mm, the third height is approximately 11 mm and the fourth height is approximately 15 mm.