Replaceable shoe cleat

• US 7,774,958 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: T-Pop Golf, LLC
• Original Assignee: T-Pop Golf, LLC
• Inventors: Carruthers, Stephen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US11/716,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20080222924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 36/67.R, 36/67.D, 361/27, 361/34
• US Class Current: 36/134
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/161 characterised by the attachment to the sole

Abstract

A replaceable shoe cleat is provided having a receptacle element and a detachable cleat element. The receptacle element is adapted to be located within a sole of a shoe. The receptacle element has at least one detent receiving portion. The detachable cleat element is capable of insertion into the receptacle element. The detachable cleat element has a frame with at least one resilient detent portion. The cleat element has a movable lock element coupled with and movable relative to the frame. The resilient detent portion is adapted to enter the at least one detent receiving portion when the cleat element is located in the receptacle element. The movable lock element is movable relative to the frame to lock the at least one resilient detent portion relative to the frame.

Claims

1. A replaceable shoe cleat comprising:

a receptacle element adapted to be located within a sole of a shoe, the receptacle element having at least one detent receiving portion; and

a detachable cleat element for insertion into the receptacle element, the detachable cleat element having a frame with at least one resilient detent portion adapted to enter the at least one detent receiving portion when the cleat element is located in the receptacle element, and having a movable lock element coupled with and movable relative to the frame to lock the at least one resilient detent portion relative to the frame.

2. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 1, wherein the frame of the detachable cleat element defines a receptacle opening for housing the movable lock element, the lock element having an outer surface substantially flush with an exterior surface of the frame when the lock element is in a lock position.

3. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 2, wherein the frame has one or more grooves formed therein providing access through the top surface of the cleat element for engagement of a lifting surface of the movable lock element, and wherein lifting the movable lock element effects movement thereof from the locked position to an unlocked position.

4. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 1, wherein

the receptacle element comprises an inner sidewall defining a receiving opening and a cavity below the inner sidewall having a width greater than the receiving opening;

and

the detachable cleat element comprises a receptacle opening housing the lock element in a first position, the at least one resilient detent portion extending outward from a periphery of the cleat element;

wherein the at least one resilient detent portion and the receptacle opening for housing the locking element are aligned with the receiving opening for insertion of the cleat element.

5. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 4, wherein the movable lock element is manually movable relative to the frame, the lock element being pushed through the receptacle opening to lock the lock element in a second position, the lock element being configured to detachably secure the cleat element in the receptacle element by trapping the at least one resilient detent portion in the cavity.

6. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 4, wherein the inner sidewall of the receptacle element is non-cylindrical and defines the receiving opening to correspond in size and shape to the at least one resilient detent portion to prevent rotation of the cleat element within the receptacle element.

7. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 4, wherein the cleat element defines one or more gripping elements for engaging the ground.

8. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 4, wherein the lock element has a general pin shape, with a head located exterior to the receptacle opening when the lock element is coupled to the frame, and has another portion distal from the head for engagement of the at least one resilient detent portion.

9. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 5, wherein the at least one resilient detent portion of the detachable cleat element is inserted into the receptacle element until an engagement section of the at least one resilient detent portion extends into the lower cavity of the receptacle element and an underside of the detachable cleat element is substantially flush with a sole plate of the shoe.

10. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 9, wherein the lock element is pushed through the receptacle opening to outwardly expand the at least one detent portion into the lower cavity and against an engagement surface of the receptacle element until a protrusion of the lock element passes through the at least one resilient detent portion for detachably securing the detachable cleat element within the receptacle element.

11. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 9, wherein the lock element is detachably secured within the receptacle opening by the at least one resilient detent portion.

12. A replaceable shoe cleat comprising:

a receptacle element adapted for being located within a sole of a shoe, the receptacle element having a first lock receiving portion formed therein;

a detachable cleat element adapted for insertion into the receptacle element, the detachable cleat element having a first lock portion configured to engage the first lock receiving portion, the first lock portion including a second lock receiving portion; and

a manual locking element for insertion into the detachable cleat element, the manual locking element having a second lock portion for engaging the second lock receiving portion;

wherein the manual locking element locks the first lock portion within the first lock receiving portion.

13. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 12, wherein the first lock portion comprises a resilient leg portion and an engagement portion projecting from the leg portion.

14. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 13, wherein said detachable cleat element is inserted into the receptacle element such that the first lock portion is located in the receptacle element, the engagement portion of the first lock portion extends into the first lock receiving portion, and an underside of the detachable cleat element is substantially flush with a sole plate of the shoe.

15. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 13, wherein the manual locking element is pushed through a receptacle opening in the detachable cleat element to outwardly expand the first lock portion into the first lock receiving portion and against an engagement surface of the receptacle element until the second lock portion defined on the manual locking element passes through the first lock portion into the second lock receiving portion thereby detachably securing the detachable cleat element within the receptacle element by trapping the engagement portion of the first lock portion in the first lock receiving portion.

16. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 15, wherein the manual locking element is detachably secured within the receptacle opening in the detachable cleat element by the first lock portion bias against the manual locking element.

17. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 13, wherein one or more grooves are provided on a top surface of the cleat element providing an access surface for engagement of a lifting surface of the manual locking element wherein the manual locking element can be levered into an unlocked position allowing the cleat element to be removed from the receptacle element.

18. The replaceable shoe cleat of claim 12, wherein the detachable cleat element defines one or more gripping elements for engaging the ground.

19. A method of attaching a detachable shoe cleat to a shoe comprising:

inserting a detachable cleat element into a receptacle so that a first lock portion of the cleat element engages a first lock receiving portion of the receptacle, the cleat element defining one or more gripping elements thereon for engaging the ground; and

engaging a second lock receiving portion located on the first lock portion with a second lock portion of a manual locking element so that the first lock portion is locked within the first lock receiving portion.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the detachable cleat element is inserted into the receptacle such that an engagement portion of the first lock portion engages the first lock receiving portion and an underside of the detachable cleat element is substantially flush with a sole plate of the shoe.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the manual locking element is pushed through a receptacle opening in the detachable cleat element to outwardly expand the first lock portion into the first lock receiving portion and against an engagement surface of the receptacle until the second lock portion defined on the manual locking element passes through the first lock portion into the second lock receiving portion thereby detachably securing the detachable cleat element within the receptacle by trapping an engagement portion of the first lock portion in the first lock receiving portion.