Shoe cleat
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A cleat securable to the sole of a shoe for providing traction for the shoe on a ground surface, the cleat comprising:
- a hub with an exposed bottom surface facing away from the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe;
a plurality of traction elements extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed bottom surface of the hub;
a cleat connector member provided in an upper surface of the hub facing oppositely of the exposed bottom surface, wherein said connector is securable to a shoe connector member; and
at least one resiliently flexible web having a distal edge extending radially outward from said hub and a convex generally upward facing surface disposed proximate the shoe sole, said web extending along and between at least two of said traction elements in a position to prevent debris and grass from collecting between the at least two traction elements and the sole of the shoe and to impart lateral support to said traction elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved cleat for an athletic shoe provides for: enhanced strength and wear-resistance for the cleat traction element; and/or prevention of grass, mud and other debris from agglomerating and clogging the cleat. A resiliently flexible web is connected between adjacent traction elements to absorb the lateral and torsional forces tending to weaken the junctions between the cleat hub and the traction elements. The web is extended from the hub to prevent debris from entering the space between the shoe sole and the traction elements as well as between the traction elements themselves.
155 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A cleat securable to the sole of a shoe for providing traction for the shoe on a ground surface, the cleat comprising:
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a hub with an exposed bottom surface facing away from the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe; a plurality of traction elements extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed bottom surface of the hub; a cleat connector member provided in an upper surface of the hub facing oppositely of the exposed bottom surface, wherein said connector is securable to a shoe connector member; and at least one resiliently flexible web having a distal edge extending radially outward from said hub and a convex generally upward facing surface disposed proximate the shoe sole, said web extending along and between at least two of said traction elements in a position to prevent debris and grass from collecting between the at least two traction elements and the sole of the shoe and to impart lateral support to said traction elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A cleat securable to the sole of a shoe for providing traction for the shoe on a ground surface, the cleat comprising:
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a hub with an exposed bottom surface facing away from the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe; a plurality of traction elements, each having a proximal end secured to said hub and a distal end extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed bottom surface of the hub; a cleat connector member provided in an upper surface of the hub facing oppositely of the exposed bottom surface, wherein said connector is securable to a shoe connector member; means for preventing debris and grass from collecting between at least two adjacent ones of said traction elements and between those traction elements and the sole of the shoe; and wherein said means comprises at least one resiliently flexible web extending outwardly from said hub and connected between at least two adjacent ones of said traction elements. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of providing traction for a shoe on a ground surface utilizing a cleat secured to a sole of the shoe, the cleat including a hub with an exposed surface facing away from the shoe sole, a plurality of traction elements extending from the hub in a direction away from the hub exposed surface, and a cleat connector extending from a surface of the hub opposing the exposed surface, said method comprising the step of (a) preventing debris and grass from collecting between the traction elements and the sole of the shoe while imparting lateral support to said traction elements
where step (a) includes extending a resiliently flexible web structure between adjacent traction elements, said resiliently flexible web structure having a convex generally upward facing surface disposed proximate the shoe sole.
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19. An athletic shoe comprising:
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a shoe sole having a plurality of sole connectors; a plurality of cleats removably securable to the shoe sole for providing traction for the shoe on a ground surface, at least some of said cleats comprising; a hub with an exposed bottom surface facing away from said sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe; a plurality of traction elements extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed bottom surface of the hub; a cleat connector member provided in an upper surface of the hub facing said sole, wherein said cleat connector is securable to a respective sole connector; at least one web extending outwardly between at least two of said traction elements and positioned to prevent debris and grass from collecting between the two traction elements and the sole of the shoe and to impart lateral support to said traction elements; and wherein said cleat includes a plurality of said webs, each web includes a convex surface facing toward said sole and each web extending from said hub and connected between a respective pair of said traction elements to prevent debris and grass from collecting between the respective pair of traction elements and the sole of the shoe and to impart lateral support to the respective pair of traction elements. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An athletic shoe comprising:
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a shoe sole having a plurality of sole connectors; a plurality of cleats removably securable to the shoe sole for providing traction for the shoe on a ground surface, at least some of said cleats comprising; a hub with an exposed bottom surface facing away from the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe; a plurality of traction elements, each having a proximal end secured to said hub and a distal end extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed bottom surface of the hub; a cleat connector member provided in an upper surface of the hub facing said shoe sole, wherein said connector is securable to a respective sole connector; means for preventing debris and grass from collecting between at least two adjacent ones of said traction elements and between those traction elements and the sole of the shoe, said means comprising at least one resiliently flexible web extending outwardly from said hub and connected between at least two adjacent ones of said traction elements; and wherein said web includes a convex generally upwardly facing surface disposed proximate the shoe sole, wherein said convex surface includes an apex residing in contact with or closely proximate said sole when the web is unstressed.
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Specification