Indexable shoe cleat with improved traction

• US 6,834,446 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2002
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Softspikes Incorporated (Medalist Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Softspikes Incorporated (Medalist Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: McMullin, Faris W.
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US10/228,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 361/34, 36/67.R, 36/67.A, 36/67.B, 36/67.D, 36/59.A, 361/27, D 2/962
• US Class Current: 36/134
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/001 Golf shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/162 characterised by the shape

Abstract

A shoe cleat with improved traction includes at least one dynamic traction element and at least one static traction element extending from a hub, where the traction elements are asymmetrically positioned about a central axis of the hub. The dynamic traction element is configured to deflect toward the shoe sole when the shoe to which the cleat is secured engages a ground surface, whereas the static traction element is configured to substantially resist flexing when the shoe engages the ground surface. The asymmetrical arrangement of traction elements on the hub facilitates the indexing of the shoe cleat with respect to the shoe sole to provide a variety of forms of enhanced traction for the shoe for different applications.

Claims

1. A cleat securable to a sole of a shoe for providing traction for the shoe on a ground surface, the cleat comprising:

a hub with an exposed surface facing away from the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe;

at least one dynamic traction element extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed surface of the hub, the dynamic traction element being configured to deflect toward the shoe sole when the shoe to which the cleat is secured engages the ground surface; and

at least one static traction element extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed surface of the hub, the static traction element being configured to substantially resist flexing when the shoe to which the cleat is secured engages the ground surface;

wherein the traction elements are asymmetrically positioned about a central axis of the hub to facilitate different orientations of the traction elements with respect to the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe.

2. The cleat of claim 1, wherein the dynamic traction element is greater in longitudinal dimension than the static traction element.

3. The cleat of claim 1, wherein at least one set of adjacently positioned dynamic traction elements extend from the hub and at least one set of adjacently positioned static traction elements extend from the hub.

4. The cleat of claim 1, further comprising a cleat connector extending from a surface of the hub opposing the exposed surface, wherein the cleat connector is configured to releasably secure the cleat to the shoe to align the traction elements in a selected orientation with respect to the shoe sole.

5. The cleat of claim 1, wherein the dynamic traction element includes at least one protrusion extending from an outer surface of the dynamic traction element to engage and trap grass blades between the protrusion and the shoe sole when the shoe to which the cleat is secured engages a turf surface and the dynamic traction element is deflected toward the shoe sole.

6. A shoe for providing traction on a ground surface, the shoe comprising:

a sole; and

at least one cleat secured to the shoe sole, the cleat comprising;

a hub with an exposed surface facing away from the shoe sole;

at least one dynamic traction element extending from the shoe sole, the dynamic traction element being configured to deflect toward the shoe sole when the shoe engages the ground surface; and

at least one static traction element extending from the hub in a direction away from the shoe sole, the static traction element being configured to substantially resist flexing when the shoe engages the ground surface;

wherein the traction elements are asymmetrically positioned about a central axis of the hub.

7. The shoe of claim 6, wherein the dynamic traction element is greater in longitudinal dimension than the static traction element.

8. The shoe of claim 6, wherein at least one set of adjacently positioned dynamic traction elements extend from the hub and at least one set of adjacently positioned static traction elements extend from the hub.

9. The shoe of claim 6, further comprising:

a receptacle disposed in the shoe sole; and

a cleat connector extending from a surface of the hub opposing the exposed surface, wherein the cleat connector releasably engages with the receptacle to connect the cleat to the shoe and align the traction elements in a selected orientation with respect to the shoe sole.

10. The shoe of claim 6, wherein the dynamic traction element includes at least one protrusion extending from an outer surface of the dynamic traction element to engage and trap grass blades between the protrusion and the shoe sole when the shoe engages a turf surface and the dynamic traction element is deflected toward the shoe sole.

11. The shoe of claim 6, wherein a plurality of cleats are secured to the shoe sole in a selected manner to permit different orientations of at least two cleats with respect to the shoe sole.

12. A cleat securable to a sole of a shoe for providing traction for the shoe on a ground surface, the cleat comprising:

a hub with an exposed surface facing away from the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe;

at least one dynamic traction element extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed surface of the hub, the dynamic traction element being configured to deflect toward the shoe sole when the shoe to which the cleat is secured engages the ground surface; and

at least one static traction element extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed surface of the hub, the static traction element being configured to substantially resist flexing when the shoe to which the cleat is secured engages the ground surface;

wherein the traction elements are asymmetrically positioned about a central axis of the hub to facilitate different orientations of the traction elements with respect to the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe.