U.S. patent application number 09/812795 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-09 for wear-indicating exchangeable golf cleat.
Invention is credited to Peabody, Steven R..
Application Number | 20010011429 09/812795 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23860828 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010011429 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Peabody, Steven R. |
August 9, 2001 |
Wear-indicating exchangeable golf cleat
Abstract
An exchangeable two-part polymeric golf cleat. The first part
includes that portion of the cleat which contains the threaded stem
for insertion into the outer sole of the shoe, at least a portion
of the central hub, and a plurality of cantilevered projection
traction elements. The second part includes the remainder (if any)
of the central hub and a plurality of cantilevered projection
traction elements. The first and second parts are of distinctly
different colors. When different materials are used in the two
parts, it is preferable that the first part have a harder durometer
than the second part. The user of the cleat may determine when the
traction element has been worn down to such an extent that adequate
traction will soon no longer be provided. This determination can be
made by visually observing the distinct color of the first portion
visible in the traction element.
Inventors: |
Peabody, Steven R.;
(Zionsville, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RICHARD L HUFF
19304 OLNEY MILL ROAD
OLNEY
MD
20832
|
Family ID: |
23860828 |
Appl. No.: |
09/812795 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09812795 |
Mar 21, 2001 |
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09468689 |
Dec 20, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/134 ; 36/127;
36/67D |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29D 35/12 20130101;
A43C 13/04 20130101; A43B 5/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/134 ;
36/67.00D; 36/127 |
International
Class: |
A43B 005/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of making a polymeric wear-indicating exchangeable golf
cleat which comprises an insert which fits into an outer sole of a
golf shoe, a main body, and a plurality of projection traction
elements, said cleat comprising a first part and a second part,
which method comprises: A) injection molding the first part of the
cleat comprising the insert, at least a portion of the main body,
and that portion of the projection traction elements which contains
distal ends of the projection traction elements which would not
supply adequate traction by the cleat upon contact with a walking
surface, thus creating a surface of the first part of the cleat
which will contact the second part of the cleat and b) injection
molding the second part of the cleat comprising any remainder of
the main body and the remainder of the projection traction
elements, which remainder of the projection traction elements being
capable of supplying adequate traction by the cleat upon contact
with a walking surface, which remainder of the projection traction
elements have inwardly facing surfaces and outwardly facing
surfaces, the first and second parts being of distinctly different
colors, said process being carried out in such a way that the
projection traction elements of the first part of the cleat lie
along the outwardly facing surfaces of the projection elements of
the second part of the cleat.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cleat is made using a process
of two-shot injection molding.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first part and the second
part are first separately molded and then bonded together.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first part and the second
part are made of the same polymeric material.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first part and the second
part are made of different polymeric material.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first part is made of a higher
durometer polymeric material than is the second part.
7. In a polymeric wear-indicating exchangeable golf cleat
comprising an insert which fits into an outer sole of a golf shoe,
a main body, and a plurality of projection traction elements, the
improvement wherein the cleat comprises first and second parts, A)
the first part comprising the insert, at least a portion of the
main body, and that portion of the projection traction elements
which contains distal ends of the projection traction elements
which would not supply adequate traction by the cleat upon contact
with a walking surface, B) the second part comprising any remainder
of the main body and the remainder of the projection traction
elements, which remainder of the projection traction elements being
capable of supplying adequate traction by the cleat upon contact
with a walking surface, which remainder of the projection traction
elements have inwardly facing surfaces and outwardly facing
surfaces, said first part and said second part of the cleat being
of distinctly different colors, and the projection traction
elements of the first part of the cleat lie along the outwardly
facing surfaces of the projection traction elements of the second
part of the cleat.
8. The golf cleat of claim 7, wherein the first part and the second
part have two different durometers, the first part being harder
than the second part.
9. The golf cleat of claim 7, wherein a chemical bonding agent
binds the first part to the second part.
10. A method of determining whether a golf cleat of claim 7 having
a walking surface is worn to the point at which it should be
exchanged, which method comprises visually observing the walking
surface of the golf cleat of claim 7 to see if the distinctly
different color of the first part of the cleat appears on the
walking surface.
11. A method of estimating the useful wear life of the golf cleat
of claim 7, having a walking surface, which method comprises
visually observing the outwardly facing surface of the cleat of
claim 7 and noting the distance between the distinctly different
color of the first part of the cleat and the walking surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending
U.S. application Ser. No. 09/468,689.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The field of this invention is that of exchangeable golf
cleats which can be visually inspected for wear due to the fact
that they are made of materials which differ distinctly in
color.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Polymeric exchangeable golf cleats are known in the art.
Also known are such cleats which have a stud or insert which fits
into an outer sole of a golf shoe, a main body or hub, and a
plurality of cantilevered projection traction elements extending
from the main body.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,923 to McMullin discloses such a cleat
wherein the main body is convex downwardly so as to provide a
weight-bearing portion when the cleats are worn on hard surfaces.
This configuration decreases wear of the projection traction
elements.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,843 to Curley, Jr. discloses such a
cleat wherein the projection traction elements are capable of
horizontally engaging turf in order to provide secure footing.
[0008] The prior art is also aware of golf cleats which are made of
at least two different polymeric materials.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,059 to Singer et al discloses a golf
cleat which has an insert for fitting into the sole of a shoe, a
polymeric body comprising a central core made of relatively soft
material which is surrounded by a harder surrounding disk
portion.
[0010] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,023,860 and 6,167,641 to McMullin disclose
golf cleats which are made up of an insert which fits into the sole
of a shoe, a main body or hub, and a plurality of cantilevered
traction elements which engage the walking surface. The cleats may
be made of two or more different polymeric materials. There is no
indication that there is any significance in the placement of the
juncture of the separate materials.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,386 To Singer discloses a cleat for a
golf shoe which has an insert for fitting into the sole of a shoe
and a body which is constructed of two different polymeric
materials. An outer portion is made of a material having a first
durometer and a central portion is made of a material having a
second durometer. The two different portions make up downwardly
extending protrusions, the ends of which contact the walking
surface.
[0012] The prior art is also aware of golf cleats which are made of
different polymeric materials which are of different durometers and
different colors.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,260 to McNeill discloses a golf cleat
containing an insert which fits into an outer sole of a golf shoe
and a body having an outer layer of a soft polymeric material
having one color and an inner, harder base material having a color
which contrasts to that of the outer layer. This cleat may have a
base or hub having projections disposed around the outer
circumference of the hub. In this cleat, as the outer layer wears
away, the inner base becomes externally visible (or an original
visible spot becomes larger) so as to indicate the need of
replacing the cleat. The inner base is initially visible in the hub
portion of a new cleat and the area of visibility increases as the
outer layer wears away. The inner base area in the projections
becomes visible as the soft outer layer wears away. There is no
recognition in this patent as to the degree of wearing away which
is required before there is a need for replacing the cleat. Those
skilled in the art are not informed as to the size of the color
spot in the hub which is required before replacement of the cleat
is required. Nor are those skilled in the art taught how far along
the projections the harder polymeric material should be placed in
order to provide a meaningful indication as to the erosion of the
projections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] As seen from a review of the above-discussed prior art,
regardless of the configuration of the cleat or the materials from
which the cleat is made, it is inevitable that the cleat will wear
down and require replacement. When the traction element wears down
to the point where mainly vertical traction elements are eroded and
mainly horizontal surfaces contact the walking surfaces, there is a
loss of traction which may affect the user's play. Ideally, the
cleats are changed prior to the erosion of the cleats to this
degree. Many golfers are made aware of the need to change cleats
only by the adverse loss of traction which affects their golf game.
Other, more conscientious, golfers visually inspect the cleats to
determine the amount of wear. Unless there is a comparable new
cleat at hand, this visual determination is difficult to make.
Consequently, many golfers wear cleats which have lost their
ability to supply adequate traction. Golfers using prior art cleats
made of polymers of contrasting colors must rely on the observation
of the size of a central spot of color in the main body of the
cleat or the appearance of a spot of contrasting color at the
walking surface of the cleat. There is no indication in the prior
art as to what the size of the spot of color in the main body of
the cleat must be so as to bring about replacement of the cleat
just before adequate traction is no longer provided. Nor is there
any indication in the prior art as to how far down the traction
element the inner base of polymer having a contrasting color must
go in order to give a visual indication in the cleat just before
adequate traction is no longer provided.
[0015] The present invention is intended to provide a golf cleat
which contains an insert which fits into an outer sole of a golf
shoe, a main body or hub, and a plurality of cantilevered
projection traction elements disposed around the circumference of
the main body, which traction elements contact a walking surface.
The cleat is made of two parts. The first part comprises the
insert, at least a portion of the main body, and that portion of
the traction elements which would not supply adequate traction to
the cleat. The second part comprises any remainder of the main body
and the remainder of the traction elements. The first and second
parts are made of polymeric materials of distinctly different
colors and are so positioned that when the cleat wears down to a
point where the traction elements no longer supply adequate
traction to the cleat, the first part of the cleat appears at the
walking surface of the cleat and can be readily seen. Also, the
first part of the cleat lies along the outside surface of the
second part of the cleat so that a user can easily determine by
visual inspection how much wear is left in the cleat before
replacement is necessary.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0016] FIG. 1 is an elevational top perspective view of the first
part of a cleat.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an elevational bottom perspective view of the
first part of a cleat.
[0018] FIG. 3 is an elevational top perspective view of the second
part of a cleat.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an elevational top perspective view of an entire
cleat.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the entire
cleat.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The invention will now be described with reference to the
above drawing. Like numerals refer to like features throughout the
description. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a two-shot injection
mold is prepared so that the first molding step produces the first
part 2 of the cleat 4. The two-shot injection molding is known in
the art, as see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,996,329 to Holland et al.,
4,059,384 to Holland et al., 4,632,267 to Fowles et al., 4,681,412
to Lemelson, 4,881,705 to Kraus, 5,098,769 to Nakai et al.,
5,647,713 to Gee et al., and 5,663,210 to Sugimota et al. More
particularly, two-shot injection of plastics having distinct colors
is known through U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,460,534 to Boehm et al. and
5,845,365 to Howie, Jr.
[0022] In making the cleats 4 of this invention, the first part 2
of the cleat 4 is made by injection molding a material having a
first color into a first section of a two-shot injection mold. The
first section of the mold produces the first part 2 of the cleat 4,
which contains a threaded stem or insert 6 portion for attachment
to the outer sole of a golf shoe, at least a portion of a central
main body or hub 8, and that portion 10 of the traction element 12
which fails to provide adequate traction to the cleat 4. The first
part 2 of the cleat 4 is prepared from a moldable polymeric
material such as rubber, polyurethane, or polypropylene. The mold
is then injected with the second part 14 of the cleat 4.
[0023] With reference to FIG. 3, following the first molding step,
the mold is operated so as to expose the distal surface 16, i.e.,
that surface which will be away from the golf shoe, of the first
part 2 of the cleat 4 to the inlet port for the second polymeric
material. The mold is then injected with the second part 14 of the
cleat 4.
[0024] The second polymeric material has a color which is
distinctly different from the color of the first part 2 of the
cleat 4. The material of the second part 14 of the cleat 4 may be
the same as or different from the polymeric material of the first
part 2 of the cleat. 4. When the materials are different, it is
preferred that the first part 2 of the cleat 4 be made from a
polymeric material which has a harder durometer than the second
part 14. U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,059 to Singer et al is incorporated by
reference for its description of suitable durometers.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it is seen that the method of
this invention is suitable for the production of two-part golf
cleats 4 having an insert 6 for attaching the cleat 4, to the sole
of a shoe, a main body 8 having a circumference, and a plurality of
cantilevered projection traction elements 12 disposed around the
circumference. Cleats having an insert for attaching the cleat to a
shoe, a main body having a circumference, and a plurality of
cantilevered projection elements are known to the art, as see U.S.
Pat. Des. 385,988, Des. 389,299, Des. 401,046, Des. 404,192, Des.
406,447, Des. 408,122, Des. 415,340. The principles of the present
invention may be readily incorporated into the above-mentioned
prior art golf cleats.
[0026] The golf cleats of the above-mentioned prior art and the
golf cleat 4 shown in the Figures of the present invention have
threaded stems 6, main bodies 8 having circumferences, and
cantilevered traction elements 12 disposed about the
circumferences. These traction elements 12 provide traction on
walking surfaces. The traction elements 12 are so configured with
the remainder of the cleat 4 that they are more perpendicular than
parallel to the soles of the shoes. When a traction element 12
wears down, the surface 18 of the traction element 12 touching the
walking surface becomes more parallel than perpendicular to the
shoe sole and the cleat 4 no longer provides adequate traction. The
present invention allows the user to visually determine when the
cleats 4 are worn down to the point just prior to the changing of
the sole/traction element 12 disposition from mainly perpendicular
to mainly parallel. Also, the present invention allows the user to
visually inspect the cleat 4 to determine how much effective
traction remains in the cleat 4.
[0027] The point 20 in the traction element 12 where the first part
2 and the second part 14 meet is a point 20 just distal to a point
at which the cleat 4, or a one-piece cleat having the same design,
would rapidly begin to lose traction. The method for determining
the point 20 at which the first 2 and second 14 parts will meet is
carried out by using a one-piece cleat having the same design as
the two-part cleat 4 of the present invention. A laser cut is made
every 0.005 inches starting at the distal end 18 of the cleat. Each
time a cut is made, a record is made of the size and shape of the
traction element and the coefficient of friction of the cleat is
measured using a variety of walking surfaces. When the coefficient
of friction begins to decrease rapidly, indicating that the
disposition of the traction element has passed from mainly
perpendicular to mainly parallel, the size and shape of the
traction element at the previous cut is taken as the point 20 at
which the first part 2 and the second part 14 should meet.
[0028] The first part 2 and the second part 14 of the cleat 4 of
this invention are held together in a variety of ways. When the
cleat 4 is prepared by two-shot injection molding, no bonding agent
is required as undercuts present in the two parts 2 14 help keep
the two parts 2 14 together. Alternatively, a bonding agent may be
incorporated into one or both of the polymeric materials. As a
further alternative, the first part 2 and the second part 14 may be
separately molded and then be chemically bonded or sealed using
radio frequency or sonic weld methods which are known in the
art.
[0029] As seen from the above description, the cleats 4 of the
present invention are made of two parts 2 14 of distinctly
different colors. Possible color combinations are black and red,
black and white, red and yellow, and red and clear. These two parts
2 14 are bound together just distal to that point at which the
coefficient of friction begins to decrease rapidly, indicating a
change in the disposition of the traction element 12 from mainly
perpendicular to mainly parallel to the shoe sole. By the use of
these cleats 4, the user can visually determine the ideal time to
replace worn cleats 4. The user can view the end 18 of the traction
element 12 which contacts a walking surface to see if the second
part 14 has worn sufficiently to allow the different colored first
part 2 to appear. As seen from the Figures, the first part 2 of the
traction element 12 lies outside the second part 14 of the traction
element 12 for nearly the entire length of the first part 4. This
allows the user to visually inspect the cleat 4 to see how much
wear is left in the cleat 4 before it should be replaced.
[0030] Although the invention has been described and illustrated in
detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of
illustration and example, and is not to be taken by way of
limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be
limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
* * * * *