Adjustable Traction System and Method for Footwear

Abstract

Tractional characteristics of athletic shoe cleats are adjustable by selectively blocking and unblocking the amount of flexure of dynamic traction elements on the cleat. Blocking is achieved as a function of rotational starting locations during cleat attachment to an outsole receptacle by placing material or recesses in the outsole at different final rotational positions of the tractional elements. Alternatively, adjustability is obtained by attaching and angularly positioning a separate member, such as a ring, on the cleat with segments of the member positioned or not to block traction element flexure.

1 . An adjustable traction-producing combination comprising:
 a cleat for attachment at the exposed bottom surface of an outsole of an athletic shoe, said cleat including at least one dynamic traction element adapted for flexure upwardly toward the outsole under the weight of the wearer of the shoe;   a traction adjustment member provided to permit selective relative movement between said cleat and said member for restricting said flexure when angularly aligned with said traction element.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said cleat includes a cleat connector adapted to rotationally engage a shoe connector in the shoe outsole about a longitudinal axis, and wherein said traction adjustment member is a raised segment on the shoe outsole. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein said outsole has a recess segment defined in said bottom surface for receiving said traction element when angularly aligned therewith to permit maximization of said flexure. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 3  wherein said outsole has a plane segment that is neither raised nor recessed for abutting the traction element when angularly aligned therewith to permit an intermediate amount of said flexure. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein said outsole has a plane segment that for abutting the traction element when angularly aligned therewith to permit said flexure. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said traction adjustment member is a member selectively attachable to said cleat to engage said traction element and restrict said flexure. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said cleat further comprises:
 a plurality of said dynamic traction elements angularly spaced about said cleat and adapted for flexure upwardly toward the outsole under the weight of the wearer of the shoe; and   a plurality of said traction adjustment members angularly spaced and movable relative to said cleat for restricting said flexure for a respective traction element when angularly aligned therewith.   
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein said cleat includes a cleat connector adapted to rotationally engage a shoe connector in the shoe outsole about a longitudinal axis, and wherein said traction adjustment members are angularly spaced raised segments on the shoe outsole. 
     
     
         9 . The combination according to  claim 8  wherein said cleat connector includes plural alternative angular starting locations for rotationally engaging the shoe connector, each starting location determining a respective final rotational position for said cleat relative to said outsole, and wherein for at least one final rotational position at least one of said traction elements is angularly aligned with at least one of said raised segments, and wherein for at least a second final rotational position said at least one of said traction elements is angularly aligned with a space between two of said raised segments. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 8  wherein said outsole has a plurality of angularly spaced recess segments defined in said bottom surface for receiving respective traction elements when angularly aligned therewith to permit maximization of said flexure. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 10  wherein said outsole has a plurality of plane segments that are neither raised nor recessed for abutting respective traction elements when angularly aligned therewith to permit an intermediate amount of said flexure. 
     
     
         12 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein said cleat connector includes at least first, second and third alternative angular starting locations for rotationally engaging the shoe connector for determining a respective first, second and third respective final rotational positions for said cleat relative to said outsole, and wherein in said first final rotational position at least one of said traction elements is angularly aligned with a first of said raised segments, in said second final rotational position said least one of said traction elements is angularly aligned with a first of said recessed segments, and in said third final rotational position said at least one of said traction elements is angularly aligned with a first of said plane segments. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein said traction adjustment members are members selectively attachable to said cleat to engage respective traction elements and restrict said flexure. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein said cleat includes a cleat connector adapted to rotationally engage a shoe connector in the shoe outsole about a rotation axis, wherein said traction adjustment members are provided in angularly spaced relation on a ring adapted to be mounted concentrically about said axis. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14  wherein said ring is rotatable about said axis to selectively alternatively position said traction adjustment members in angular alignment with either said traction elements or spaces between said traction elements. 
     
     
         16 . A method of providing adjustable traction with a cleat adapted for attachment at the exposed bottom surface of an outsole of an athletic shoe, said cleat including at least one dynamic traction element adapted for flexure upwardly toward the outsole under the weight of the wearer of the shoe, said method comprising:
 selectively aligning said traction element with a traction adjustment member to permit said traction adjustment member to impede said flexure.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said cleat is attached to said outsole by means of a stem connector rotatable about a rotation axis, wherein said traction adjustment member is a raised structure on said outsole, and wherein said step of aligning comprises rotating said cleat about said axis until said traction element and said traction adjustment member are angularly aligned. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said traction adjustment member is part of a structure separable from said cleat and said outsole and selectively attachable to said cleat, and wherein said step of aligning includes positioning said traction element and said traction adjustment member in angular alignment. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said cleat includes a plurality of said dynamic traction elements angularly spaced about said cleat and adapted for flexure upwardly toward the outsole under the weight of the wearer of the shoe, wherein said structure includes plural spaced traction adjustment members, and wherein said step of aligning comprises:
 selectively securing said structure to said cleat such that said traction adjustment members are in contact with respective traction elements to impede said flexure.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said cleat is attached to said outsole by means of a stem connector rotatable about a longitudinal axis, wherein said structure is a ring adapted to be mounted concentrically about said cleat connector, wherein said plurality of traction adjustment members are provided in angularly spaced relation about said axis on said ring, and wherein said step of aligning includes angularly positioning said ring about said axis such that each traction adjustment member is in angular alignment with a respective traction element. 
     
     
         21 . An athletic shoe comprising:
 a shoe having an outsole with an exposed bottom surface in which at least one shoe connector mounted;   a cleat having a cleat connector adapted for attachment to the shoe connector, said cleat including at least one dynamic traction element adapted for flexure upwardly toward the outsole under the weight of the wearer of the shoe;   a traction adjustment member capable of selective movement relative to said cleat for restricting said flexure when angularly aligned with said traction element.   
     
     
         22 . The athletic shoe of  claim 21  wherein said traction adjustment member is a raised segment on the shoe outsole. 
     
     
         23 . The athletic shoe of  claim 21  wherein said cleat further comprises:
 a plurality of said dynamic traction elements angularly spaced about said axis adapted for flexure upwardly toward the outsole under the weight of the wearer of the shoe;   a plurality of said traction adjustment members angularly spaced about said axis and movable relative to said cleat for restricting said flexure for a respective traction element when angularly aligned therewith;   wherein said traction adjustment members are members selectively attachable to said cleat to engage respective traction elements and restrict said flexure and are provided in angularly spaced relation on a ring adapted to be mounted concentrically about said cleat connector.