Replaceable Traction Cleat for Footwear

Abstract

Adjustable traction is provided in a traction cleat by selectively restricting or not the amount of flexure permitted for a dynamic traction element on the cleat. Restricting flexure is alternatively achieved by an adjustably positionable ring or by rotating the cleat to align the dynamic element with different shoe sole topographical features. A dual locking post is provided to reduce the surface area required on the cleat hub for locking structures. The cleat is formed in a two shot molding process that permits elongations of the dynamic traction elements without sacrificing the integrity of the cleat structure.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A traction cleat for use with an athletic shoe comprising:
 a hub;   at least one resiliently flexible dynamic traction element extending from said hub and arranged to resiliently flex in response of application of force thereto to determine, at least in part, the nature and amount of traction provided by the cleat; and   adjustment means for selectively adjusting the amount of flexure permitted for said dynamic element.   
     
     
         10 . The traction cleat of  claim 9  wherein said adjustment means comprises an adjustment member movably attached to said cleat between at least first and second positions, said adjustment member including a flexure impeding element configured and positioned to interfere with flexure of said dynamic traction element in said first position but not in said second position. 
     
     
         11 . The traction cleat according to  claim 10  wherein said adjustment member is a ring configured to attach to said hub in said first and second positions, wherein said first and second positions are rotational positions relative to said hub, wherein said flexure impeding element is a projection from said ring, and wherein in said first position said projection is rotationally aligned with said dynamic traction element. 
     
     
         12 . The traction cleat according to  claim 9  wherein said shoe has a sole having at least two different topographical features on a bottom exposed surface thereof, wherein said adjustment means comprises means for selectively rotating said cleat between at least a first and a second predetermined orientations relative to said sole, and wherein said dynamic traction element is configured and positioned to be aligned with a different one of said topographical features is said first and second predetermined orientations. 
     
     
         13 . The traction cleat according to  claim 12  wherein at least one of said topographical features is a raised flexure impeding element projecting from the sole and positioned to at least partially limit flexure of the dynamic traction element in said first orientation of said cleat. 
     
     
         14 . The traction cleat according to  claim 12  wherein at least one of said topographical features is a recess in the sole and positioned to enhance flexure of said dynamic traction element when rotationally aligned with the recess. 
     
     
         15 . A locking post structure for a cleat of the type having a hub, a cleat connection member on a top surface of the hub and at least one traction element extending from a bottom surface of the hub, wherein the cleat connection member is configured to rotatably engage a receptacle connection member secured in a shoe sole and having an annular array of locking teeth, said locking structure comprising:
 a plurality of dual locking posts extending from a top surface of said hub in an annular array arranged to be disposed concentrically with said annular array of locking teeth, each dual locking post having a locking surface arranged to radially face said locking teeth and including:
 first and second post sections joined by an angularly centered recess; 
 said post sections including respective interior ramp segments that converge to form said recess and respective exterior ramp segments; 
 wherein the interior and exterior ramp segments of each post section converge to define an apex arranged to radially face said locking teeth; 
 wherein the posts are positionally arranged such that, during rotational engagement of the cleat connection member and the receptacle connection member, at least one of said locking teeth contacts and moves along the exterior ramp segment of at least one of said post sections and, upon passing an adjacent apex, moves into and is retained in the recess adjacent said one post section; and 
 wherein said interior ramp segments have a steeper slope than said exterior ramp segments. 
   
     
     
         16 . The structure of  claim 15  wherein said cleat includes a plurality of dynamic traction elements extending from the bottom surface of said hub at respective angularly spaced locations, and wherein said dual locking posts are disposed at angularly spaced locations on the top surface of the hub intermediate the angularly spaced locations of the dynamic traction elements. 
     
     
         17 . A connecting and locking system for a removable shoe cleat, comprising:
 a shoe mounted receptacle having:
 a receptacle longitudinal axis; 
 an annular array of receptacle locking structures disposed concentrically about said receptacle axis; and 
 an opening disposed concentrically about said receptacle axis and having a receptacle connector therein; 
   a shoe cleat having:
 a longitudinal cleat axis; 
 a hub having a top surface and a bottom surface, 
 a ground engaging traction element secured to said bottom surface; 
 a cleat connector secured to said top surface for rotational attachment to the receptacle connector about said receptacle axis and said cleat axis; and 
 an annular array of plural cleat locking structures secured to said top surface and disposed concentrically about said cleat axis; 
   wherein each of said plural cleat locking structures includes:
 a dual locking post extending from said top surface and having a locking surface arranged to radially face at least one of said receptacle locking structures, said locking surface including first and second post sections joined by an angularly centered recess, said post sections including respective interior ramp segments that converge to form said recess and respective exterior ramp segments; 
 wherein the interior and exterior ramp segments of each post section converge to define an apex arranged to radially face said at least one of said receptacle locking structures; 
 wherein the posts are positionally arranged such that, during rotational attachment of the cleat connector and the receptacle connector, said at least one of said receptacle locking structures contacts and moves along the exterior ramp segment of at least one of said post sections and, upon passing an adjacent apex, moves into and is retained in the recess adjacent said one post section. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said interior ramp segments have a steeper slope than said exterior ramp segments. 
     
     
         19 . An integral traction cleat formed in a two shot mold process comprising:
 a first molded shot component comprising a first polymer material and including:
 a hub having top and bottom surfaces: 
 an attachment member projecting from said top surface for rotatably attaching the cleat to a receptacle in a shoe; 
 a locking structure projecting from said top surface for cooperating with locking means secured to said receptacle; and 
 a plurality of static traction elements projecting from said bottom surface; 
   a second molded shot component comprising a second polymer material that is softer and more flexible than said first polymer material and is chemically and mechanically bonded to said first component, said second component comprising a plurality of dynamic traction elements extending radially outward and downward from below said hub and having proximal ends disposed radially inward of the hub periphery.   
     
     
         20 . The structure of  claim 15  further comprising:
 at least one resiliently flexible dynamic traction element extending from said hub and arranged to resiliently flex in response of application of force thereto to determine, at least in part, the nature and amount of traction provided by the cleat; and 
 adjustment means for selectively adjusting the amount of flexure permitted for said dynamic element. 
 
     
     
         21 . The traction cleat of  claim 20  wherein said adjustment means comprises an adjustment member movably attached to said cleat between at least first and second positions, said adjustment member including a flexure impeding element configured and positioned to interfere with flexure of said dynamic traction element in said first position but not in said second position. 
     
     
         22 . The traction cleat according to  claim 21  wherein said adjustment member is a ring configured to attach to said hub in said first and second positions, wherein said first and second positions are rotational positions relative to said hub, wherein said flexure impeding element is a projection from said ring, and wherein in said first position said projection is rotationally aligned with said dynamic traction element. 
     
     
         23 . The traction cleat according to  claim 21  wherein said shoe has a sole having at least two different topographical features on a bottom exposed surface thereof, wherein said adjustment means comprises means for selectively rotating said cleat between at least a first and a second predetermined orientations relative to said sole, and wherein said dynamic traction element is configured and positioned to be aligned with a different one of said topographical features is said first and second predetermined orientations. 
     
     
         24 . The traction cleat according to  claim 23  wherein at least one of said topographical features is a raised flexure impeding element projecting from the sole and positioned to at least partially limit flexure of the dynamic traction element in said first orientation of said cleat. 
     
     
         25 . The traction cleat according to  claim 24  wherein at least one of said topographical features is a recess in the sole and positioned to enhance flexure of said dynamic traction element when rotationally aligned with the recess. 
     
     
         26 . A method of providing adjustable traction in an athletic shoe having a traction cleat of the type comprising a dynamic traction element that resiliently flexes in response to forces applied thereto to determine the nature and amount of traction provided by the cleat, said method comprising the steps of:
 manually adjusting the amount of flexure permitted for said dynamic traction element to a predetermined amount;   wherein the cleat is rotatable to plural specific orientations relative to a sole of the shoe, and wherein the step of manually adjusting includes:   providing a series of at least two different topographical features on a bottom exposed surface of said sole, and   selectively rotating said cleat between at least a first and a second of said specific orientations to selectively align said dynamic traction element with different topographical features.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the step of providing includes providing one of said topographical features as a raised flexure-impeding element projecting from the sole to at least partially limit flexure of the dynamic traction element when it is rotationally aligned with the flexure-impeding element in said first specific orientation of said cleat. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising providing no topographical feature in rotational alignment with said dynamic traction element in said second specific orientation of said cleat.