Mounting Connector for a Cleat

Abstract

A mounting connector for a cleat includes a noncircular and/or asymmetrical base and a cleat engagement member. The noncircular base may define a perimeter having a truncated edge which renders the base asymmetrical about the axis of the cleat engagement member. The system may further include a cleat configured to mate with the cleat engagement member. The base positions the cleat engagement member (and thus the cleat and/or the cleat center axis) at a maximum distance from the shoe's center of rotation. This, in turn, provides a wider performance track, improving the stability of the shoe.

1 . A mounting connector for a traction cleat used with an athletic shoe comprising:
 a noncircular base; and   a cleat engagement member extending distally from the base, wherein the cleat engagement member comprises a central axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the base, wherein the base extends asymmetrically about the central axis of the cleat engagement member.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting connector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base comprises a generally planar element having a ground-facing surface and a shoe-facing surface; and   the cleat engagement member comprises a threaded socket extending distally from the base.   
     
     
         3 . The mounting connector of  claim 2 , wherein the receptacle includes multiple threads configured to define a single start position and a single final position during cleat insertion. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting connector of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a peripheral edge defined by a substantially straight edge portion and a generally arcuate edge portion. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting connector of  claim 1 , wherein the base is in the form of a polygon. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting connector of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises:
 a circular edge segment defining a generally arcuate edge; and   a truncated edge segment defining a substantially straight edge extending between ends of the circular edge segment.   
     
     
         7 . The mounting connector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base comprises a truncated segment defining a truncated edge and a non-truncated segment defining a non-truncated edge; and   a radius measured from the central axis of the cleat engagement member to a point along the truncated edge differs from a radius measured from the central axis to a point along the non-truncated edge.   
     
     
         8 . The mounting connector of  claim 7 , wherein the radius measured from the cleat engagement member central axis to a point along the truncated edge is up to about 15% less than the radius measured from the cleat engagement member central axis to a point along the non-truncated edge. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting connector of  claim 7 , wherein the radius measured from the cleat engagement member central axis to a point along the truncated edge is about 3 mm less than the radius measured from the cleat engagement member central axis to a point along the non-truncated edge. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting connector of  claim 7 , wherein the radius measured from the central axis to a point along the truncated edge is approximately 2.0 mm to about 3.50 mm less than the radius measured from the central axis to a point along the non-truncated edge. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting connector of  claim 10 , wherein the radius measured from the central axis to a point along the truncated edge is approximately 2.75 mm less than the radius measured from the central axis to a point along the non-truncated edge. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting connector of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the radius measured from the central axis to a point along the truncated edge is approximately 8.25 mm; and   the radius measured from the central axis to a point along the non-truncated edge is approximately 11 mm.   
     
     
         13 . The mounting connector  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a plurality of apertures angularly spaced about the base and disposed between the cleat engagement member and the edges of the base. 
     
     
         14 . A mounting connector for traction cleat used with an athletic shoe comprising:
 a noncircular, substantially planar base comprising a truncated segment defining a truncated perimetral edge, and a non-truncated segment defining a non-truncated perimetral edge; and   a cleat engagement member extending distally from the base, wherein the cleat engagement member comprises a central axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the base, wherein the base extends asymmetrically about the axis of the cleat engagement member such that a diameter intersecting the central axis and measured in a direction substantially parallel to the truncated edge is greater than a diameter intersecting the central axis and measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the truncated edge,   and wherein the central axis is positioned closer to the truncated edge than the non-truncated edge.   
     
     
         15 . A wide performance track system for an athletic shoe comprising:
 a shoe outsole including a peripheral edge; and   a mounting connector adapted to connect to a cleat including:
 a base having a peripheral edge, and 
 a cleat engagement member extending distally from the base, wherein the cleat engagement member comprises a central axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the base, 
   wherein the base extends asymmetrically about the axis of the cleat engagement member such that the central axis is positioned closer to one portion of the base peripheral edge than to other portions of the base peripheral edge.   
     
     
         16 . The track system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the base comprises a truncated segment defining a truncated edge, and a non-truncated segment defining a non-truncated edge;   wherein a radius measured from the central axis of the cleat engagement member to a point along the truncated edge is less than a radius measured from the central axis central axis to a point along the non-truncated edge; and   the mounting connector is secured within the outsole such that the truncated edge is oriented proximate the outsole peripheral edge.   
     
     
         17 . The track system of  claim 15 , wherein the base comprises a generally planar element having a ground-facing surface and a shoe-facing surface. 
     
     
         18 . The track system of  claim 15 , wherein the cleat engagement member comprises a threaded socket extending distally from the base. 
     
     
         19 . The track system of  claim 15 , wherein the base is in the form of a polygon. 
     
     
         20 . The track system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the base comprises a truncated segment defining a truncated edge and a non-truncated segment defining a non-truncated edge; and   the radius measured from the central axis of the cleat engagement member to a point along the truncated edge is up to about 15% less than the radius measured from the central axis to a point along the non-truncated edge.   
     
     
         21 . The track system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the base comprises a truncated segment defining a truncated edge and a non-truncated segment defining a non-truncated edge; and   the radius measured from the central axis to a point along the truncated edge is approximately 2.0 mm to about 3.50 mm less than the radius measured from the central axis to a point along the non-truncated edge.   
     
     
         22 . The track system of  claim 21 , wherein the radius measured from the central axis to a point along the truncated edge is approximately 2.75 mm less than the radius measured from the central axis to a point along the non-truncated edge. 
     
     
         23 . A method of stabilizing the performance track of an outsole including mounting connectors adapted to mate with cleats, the method comprising:
 (a) positioning a mounting connector in an outsole having a peripheral edge, wherein the mounting connector comprises:
 a base having a peripheral edge defining a truncated portion; and 
 a cleat engagement member extending distally from the base, wherein the cleat engagement member comprises a central axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the base, 
 wherein the base extends asymmetrically about the axis of the cleat engagement member such that the central axis is positioned closer to the truncated portion of the base peripheral edge than to other portions of the base peripheral edge; and 
   (b) securing the mounting connector within the outsole such that truncated portion of the base peripheral edge faces the outsole peripheral edge.   
     
     
         24 . A shoe cleat assembly for providing traction to an athletic shoe on a ground surface, the cleat assembly comprising:
 a shoe outsole including an outboard peripheral edge;   a mounting connector coupled to shoe outsole, the mounting connector comprising:
 an asymmetrical base comprising a shoe-facing surface and a ground-facing surface, and 
 a cleat engagement member oriented substantially perpendicular to and extending distally from the ground-facing surface of the base, the cleat engagement member defining an central axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the base, 
 wherein the base extends asymmetrically about the central axis of the cleat engagement member; and 
   a cleat operable to removably connect to the mounting connector, wherein the cleat comprises a hub including a traction element and a connector configured to mate with the cleat engagement member in response to mutual engagement between the cleat engagement member and the connector.   
     
     
         25 . The cleat assembly of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the asymmetrical base comprises:
 a circular edge segment defining a generally arcuate edge, and 
 a truncated edge segment defining a substantially straight edge extending between ends of the circular edge segment; and 
   wherein a radius measured from the central axis of the cleat engagement member to a point along the substantially straight edge is less than a radial dimension measured from the cleat engagement member central axis to a point on the generally arcuate edge.   
     
     
         26 . The cleat assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the mounting connector is secured within the outsole to position the substantially straight edge proximate and substantially parallel to the outsole peripheral edge. 
     
     
         27 . The cleat assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the cleat comprises:
 a hub having a shoe-facing surface and a ground-facing surface;   a plurality of traction elements cantilevered to the hub and extending distally from the ground-facing surface.   
     
     
         28 . The cleat assembly of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the cleat engagement member comprises a substantially annular socket;   the cleat connector releasably secures the cleat to the mounting connector to align the traction elements in a predetermined orientation with respect to the outsole.   
     
     
         29 . The cleat assembly of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the plurality of traction elements comprise a plurality of static traction elements and a plurality of dynamic traction elements;   the hub defines a perimeter;   the dynamic traction elements are generally aligned in a set along a first half of the hub perimeter;   the static traction elements are generally aligned in a set along the remaining half of the hub perimeter; and   the cleat connector positions the static traction elements toward the outsole edge.   
     
     
         30 . The cleat assembly of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the asymmetrical base comprises a polygon including a first, truncated edge portion facing the outsole peripheral edge and a second, non-truncated edge portion; and   wherein a radius measured from the cleat engagement member central axis to a point along the truncated edge is less than a radius measured from the cleat engagement member central axis to a point on the non-truncated edge.   
     
     
         31 . A traction cleat system for a shoe, the cleat system comprising:
 a mounting connector operable to removably secure a cleat to a shoe, the mounting connector including:
 a substantially planar base comprising a shoe-facing surface, a ground-facing surface, and a peripheral base edge, and 
 a socket extending from the exterior-facing surface of base, the socket including a central socket axis oriented perpendicular to the base, 
 wherein the base extends asymmetrically about the socket axis; and 
   a cleat comprising:
 a plurality of traction elements, and 
 a connector operable to releasably engage the socket such that the traction elements are positioned in a predetermined orientation with respect to socket. 
   
     
     
         32 . The traction cleat system of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the base includes a truncated segment defining a truncated edge; and   a first diameter of the base measured in a direction generally perpendicular to truncated edge and intersecting the socket axis is less than a second diameter of the base measured in a direction oriented generally parallel to the truncated edge and intersecting the socket axis.   
     
     
         33 . The cleat system of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the mounting connector further comprises a plurality of apertures angularly spaced along the base and positioned between the socket and the peripheral base edge; and   the apertures are configured to optimize positional stability of the connector in the shoe.   
     
     
         34 . The cleat system of  claim 31  further comprising an outsole having an outboard peripheral edge, wherein the mounting connector base is encapsulated within the outsole to position the truncated edge toward the outsole peripheral edge. 
     
     
         35 . The cleat system of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the system comprises a plurality of mounting connectors;   each mounting connector comprises a base extending asymmetrically from the central axis of the socket; and   each of the bases include a truncated edge and are encapsulated within to the outsole to position the truncated edge toward the outsole peripheral edge.   
     
     
         36 . The cleat system of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of traction elements is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of static traction elements and a plurality of dynamic traction elements. 
     
     
         37 . The cleat system of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the plurality of traction elements comprise a plurality of static traction elements and a plurality of dynamic traction elements;   the cleat further comprises hub defining a perimeter;   the dynamic traction elements are disposed along a first half of the hub perimeter;   the static traction elements are disposed along a second half of the hub perimeter; and   the cleat connector positions the static traction elements toward the outsole edge.