Removable Footwear Cleat with Cushioning

Abstract

A removable cleat for footwear. The cleat includes a disc with opposing faces. A shoe coupling element is attached to one face of the disc. The other disc face supports a cushioning layer. Traction elements are supported by the cushioning layer. When a user steps on a surface wearing a shoe outfitted with these cleats, the resilience of the cushioning layer at once both lessens the impact of the traction elements on the ground surface and lessens the reaction force on the user's foot transmitted through the shoe's outsole. The user's comfort is thereby enhanced.

1 . A removable cleat for a shoe for a user, the cleat comprising: 
 a disc including opposing first and second faces;    a shoe attachment element attached to the first face of the disc;    a cushioning layer; and    at least one traction element, wherein the cushioning layer is located between the second face of the disc and the at least one traction element.    
   
   
       2 . A cleat according to  claim 1 , further including a plurality of cleat wrench attachment structures, the structures attached to the second face of the disc.  
   
   
       3 . A cleat according to  claim 2 , wherein the cleat wrench attachment structures are generally cylindrical and extend through the cushioning layer.  
   
   
       4 . A cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning layer is bonded to the second face of the disc.  
   
   
       5 . A cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein the traction element is bonded to the cushioning layer.  
   
   
       6 . A cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning layer includes at least one cutout.  
   
   
       7 . A cleat according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one traction element is positioned to substantially prevent the cushioning layer from contacting a ground surface, when the cleat installed in a shoe.  
   
   
       8 . A cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of traction elements directly engage the cushioning layer.  
   
   
       9 . A cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein the second face of the disc further includes a raised portion to serve as a wear indicator.  
   
   
       10 . A cleat according to  claim 9 , wherein the raised portion of the disc face differs in color from the at least one traction element.  
   
   
       11 . A cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein the durometer of the cushioning layer ranges from Shore 10A to Shore 50A.  
   
   
       12 . A cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein the durometer of the at least one traction element is in the range from Shore 60A to Shore 98A.  
   
   
       13 . A cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein the difference in durometer of the at least one traction element and a portion of the cushioning layer ranges from about 20 to about 70 on the Shore scale.  
   
   
       14 . A cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein the durometer of the cushioning layer is less than the durometer of the at least one traction element and the durometer of the cushioning layer is less than the durometer of the disc.  
   
   
       15 . A removable cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning layer is more resilient that both the at least one traction element and the disc.  
   
   
       16 . A cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one traction element includes: 
 a hub,    at least one spoke connected to the hub, and    a specified traction element connected to the spoke at a spoke end distal to the hub.    
   
   
       17 . A cleat according to  claim 14 , wherein the specified traction element connected to the spoke is shaped as a tooth.  
   
   
       18 . A cleat according to  claim 14 , wherein the specified traction element connected to the spoke is generally frusto-conical in shape.  
   
   
       19 . A cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning layer further includes a debris skirt such that when the cleat is securely attached to footwear, the debris skirt substantially prevents debris from moving towards the shoe attachment element.  
   
   
       20 . A removable cleat according to  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the debris skirt compresses when the cleat is securely attached to footwear.  
   
   
       21 . A removable cleat according to  claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the debris skirt folds when the cleat is securely attached to footwear.  
   
   
       22 . A removable cleat for a shoe for a user, the cleat comprising: 
 a disc including opposing first and second faces;    a shoe attachment element attached to the first face of the disc; and    at least one traction element directly engaging the second face of disc, the second face of the disc including a center, wherein the traction element includes cushioning material inserted into slots formed in a face of the at least one traction element.    
   
   
       23 . A cleat according to  claim 22 , wherein the face of the at least one traction element including cushioning material generally faces the center of the disc.  
   
   
       24 . A cleat according to  claim 22 , wherein the face of the at least one traction element that includes cushioning material generally faces away from the center of the disc.  
   
   
       25 . A removable cleat for a shoe for a user, the cleat comprising: 
 a disc including opposing first and second faces;    a shoe attachment element attached to the first face of the disc;    an intermediate layer; and    at least one traction element, wherein the intermediate layer is located between the second face of the disc and the at least one traction element and the intermediate layer is softer than both the at least one traction element and the disc.    
   
   
       26 . A removable cleat according to  claim 25 , wherein the intermediate layer is more resilient that both the at least one traction element and the disc.  
   
   
       27 . A removable cleat for footwear, the cleat comprising: 
 a disc including opposing first and second faces;    a shoe attachment element connected to the first face of the disc;    a cushioning layer;    a traction element for providing traction on a surface;    a connector for mechanically attaching the traction element to at least one of the disc and the shoe attachment element,    wherein the cushioning layer is located between the disc and the at least one traction element.    
   
   
       28 . A removable cleat according to  claim 27 , wherein the connector is a press-fit coupler.  
   
   
       29 . A removable cleat according to  claim 27 , wherein the connector is a rivet.  
   
   
       30 . A removable cleat according to  claim 27 , wherein the connector includes a coupler that rotates to attach the traction element to the disc.  
   
   
       31 . A removable cleat according to  claim 27 , wherein the connector is part of the traction element.  
   
   
       32 . A removable cleat according to  claim 27 , wherein the traction element is further attached to the disc with a non-mechanical connection.  
   
   
       33 . A removable cleat according to  claim 32 , wherein the traction element folds over between the non-mechanical connection and the mechanical connection.  
   
   
       34 . A removable cleat according to  claim 32 , wherein the traction element includes a male connector and the disc includes a female connector.  
   
   
       35 . A removable cleat according to  claim 32 , wherein the traction element includes a female connector and the disc includes a male connector.