Indexable shoe cleat with improved traction

Abstract

A shoe cleat with improved traction includes a hub with an exposed surface facing away from the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe, at least one traction element extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed surface of the hub, and a cleat connector extending from a surface of the hub opposing the exposed surface and securable within a receptacle of the shoe. The cleat connector is positioned on the hub such that the radial distance defined between the hub perimeter and a central axis of the cleat connector differs at varying locations along the hub perimeter in order to facilitate different orientations of the hub with respect to the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe.

1 . An indexable 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 surface facing away from the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe;    at least one traction element extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed surface of the hub; and    a cleat connector extending from a surface of the hub opposing the exposed surface and securable within a receptacle of the shoe;    wherein the cleat connector is positioned on the hub such that the radial distance defined between the hub perimeter and a central axis of the cleat connector differs at varying locations along the hub perimeter in order to facilitate different orientations of the hub with respect to the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe.    
   
   
       2 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein the hub includes an irregular geometric configuration.  
   
   
       3 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein the hub includes a generally fan-shaped configuration including opposing wider first and narrower rounded end portions, the wider end portion being arcuately longer and having a radius of curvature that is greater than the radius of curvature of the arcuately shorter and narrower end portion.  
   
   
       4 . The cleat of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 elongated ribs extending from the exposed surface of the hub.    
   
   
       5 . The cleat of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 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 a way 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.    
   
   
       6 . The cleat of  claim 5 , wherein the dynamic traction element is greater in longitudinal dimension and projects vertically farther from the hub than the static traction element.  
   
   
       7 . The cleat of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 at least one set of dynamic traction elements consecutively aligned along a first peripheral portion of the hub; and    at least one set of static traction elements consecutively aligned along a second peripheral portion of the hub.    
   
   
       8 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein the cleat connector includes a threaded member that is secured within the receptacle by inserting the threaded member within the receptacle and twisting the cleat connector to a locked position with respect to the receptacle.  
   
   
       9 . A shoe for providing traction on a ground surface, the shoe comprising: 
 a sole including at least at least one receptacle; and    at least one cleat secured to the shoe sole via the receptacle, 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 traction element extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed surface of the hub; and  
 a cleat connector extending from a surface of the hub opposing the exposed surface and securable within the receptacle;  
   wherein the cleat connector is positioned on the hub such that the radial distance defined between the hub perimeter and a central axis of the cleat connector differs at varying locations along the hub perimeter in order to facilitate different orientations of the hub with respect to the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe.    
   
   
       10 . The shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the hub includes an irregular geometric configuration.  
   
   
       11 . The shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the hub includes a fan-shaped configuration including opposing wider and narrower rounded peripheral end portions, the wider end portion having a radius of curvature and arcuate length that are greater than the radius of curvature and arcuate length of the narrower end portion.  
   
   
       12 . The shoe of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 elongated ribs extending from the exposed surface of the hub.    
   
   
       13 . The shoe of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 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 a way 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.    
   
   
       14 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the dynamic traction element is greater in longitudinal dimension than the static traction element.  
   
   
       15 . The shoe of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 at least one set of dynamic traction elements consecutively aligned along a first peripheral portion of the hub; and    at least one set of static traction elements consecutively aligned along a second peripheral portion of the hub.    
   
   
       16 . The shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the cleat connector includes a threaded member that is secured within the receptacle by inserting the threaded member within the receptacle and twisting the cleat connector to a locked position with respect to the receptacle.  
   
   
       17 . 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, at least one traction element extending from the hub in a direction a way from the hub exposed surface, and a cleat connector extending from a surface of the hub opposing the exposed surface and positioned on the hub such that the radial distance defined between the hub perimeter and a central axis of the cleat connector differs at varying locations along the hub perimeter, the method comprising: 
 (a) securing the cleat connector within a receptacle of the shoe sole to attach the cleat to the shoe and selectively orient the hub with respect to the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hub includes an irregular geometric configuration.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hub includes a fan-shaped configuration including opposing wider and narrower rounded end portions, the wider end portion having a radius of curvature and arcuate length that are greater than the radius of curvature and arcuate length of the narrower end, and (a) includes: 
 (a.1) securing the cleat connector within the receptacle to selectively orient one of the first and second rounded peripheral portions with respect to a peripheral portion of the shoe sole.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cleat further includes at least one dynamic traction element and at least one static traction element extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed surface of the hub, and the method further comprises: 
 (b) forcing the shoe against the ground surface; and    (c) in response to the forcing of the shoe against the ground surface, resiliently deflecting the dynamic traction element from an initial position toward the shoe sole while the static traction element substantially resists flexing.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 (d) removing the shoe from the ground surface; and    (e) in response to removal of the shoe from the ground surface, deflecting the traction element back to the initial position.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the dynamic traction element is greater in longitudinal dimension than the static traction element.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the cleat further includes at least one set of dynamic traction elements consecutively aligned along a first peripheral portion of the hub and at least one set of static traction elements consecutively aligned along a second peripheral portion of the hub.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cleat wherein the cleat connector includes a threaded member, and (a) further comprises: 
 (a.1) securing the cleat connector within the receptacle by inserting the threaded member within the receptacle and twisting the cleat connector to a locked position with respect to the receptacle.