U.S. patent application number 15/708283 was filed with the patent office on 2018-01-04 for traction cleat and receptacle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Pride Manufacturing Company, LLC. Invention is credited to John Robert Burt, Lee P. Shuttleworth.
Application Number | 20180000199 15/708283 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56366551 |
Filed Date | 2018-01-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180000199 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burt; John Robert ; et
al. |
January 4, 2018 |
TRACTION CLEAT AND RECEPTACLE
Abstract
In traction cleat and receptacle system in a shoe outsole,
unauthorized cleats are prevented from connection to a receptacle
by a projection in the receptacle cavity and a recess in the cleat
attachment stem for receiving the projection. A locking arrangement
includes an annular array of twelve locking teeth on a boss
surrounding the receptacle cavity, wherein every fourth tooth has a
steeper side angle to in cooperate with mating cleat locking posts.
A cylindrical shroud prevents the locking posts from damaging the
outsole material during cleat rotation.
Inventors: |
Burt; John Robert;
(Chandler, AZ) ; Shuttleworth; Lee P.;
(Birmingham, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pride Manufacturing Company, LLC |
Brentwood |
TN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56366551 |
Appl. No.: |
15/708283 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14995366 |
Jan 14, 2016 |
9795190 |
|
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15708283 |
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62103338 |
Jan 14, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 15/16 20130101;
A43C 15/162 20130101; A43C 15/161 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43C 15/16 20060101
A43C015/16 |
Claims
1. An engagement system comprising: a receptacle having an
attachment axis mounted in a shoe sole; a replaceable traction
cleat having a cleat rotation axis configured to rotationally
attach in an insertion direction to said receptacle; an engagement
stem projecting from said cleat; a cavity defined in said
receptacle and configured to rotationally receive and engage said
stem with said rotation axis and said attachment axis disposed
coaxially; means for preventing an unauthorized traction cleat from
being rotationally attached to the receptacle, said means
comprising: a projection member within said cavity, said projection
member extending from a proximal end wall of the receptacle cavity
and disposed concentrically about said attachment axis; a recess
defined in a distal end of said stem disposed concentrically about
said rotational axis and configured to receive said projection
member without interference when said cavity rotationally receives
and engages said stem; wherein said projection member within said
cavity blocks cleats having engagement stems without a recess
defined therein from being rotationally received and engaged in
said cavity.
2. The engagement system of claim 1, wherein said projection member
is a right at least partially conical member having a longitudinal
axis disposed on the cavity rotation axis.
3. The engagement system of claim 2, wherein said recess has a
configuration that is at least partially conical to receive said
projection member.
4. The engagement system of claim 1, wherein said cleat further
comprises a hub having a perimetric edge surrounding said rotation
axis, a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein said stem
extends from said top surface disposed concentrically about said
axis.
5. The engagement system of claim 1, wherein said receptacle
further comprises a hollow generally cylindrical boss surrounding
and defining said cavity, and wherein the cylindrical boss has a
threaded interior cavity wall configured to receive and threadedly
engage the stem.
6. The engagement system of claim 5, wherein said receptacle has an
axial length of about 4.0 millimeters.
7. The engagement system of claim 1, wherein the receptacle cavity
has an axial length, and wherein the projection member is at least
one-half the axial length of the cavity.
8. The engagement system of claim 7, wherein the projection member
is a truncated cone member having a base, and wherein the truncated
cone member tapers from its base at a convergence angle in the
range of approximately 14 to 20 degrees.
9. The engagement system of claim 7, wherein the projection member
has a height above an interior surface of the proximal end wall of
the receptacle cavity in the range of about 1.70 to about 1.95
millimeters.
10. The engagement system of claim 1, wherein the recess defined in
the distal end of the stem extends axially at least about 1.0
millimeter or more into the distal end of the stem.
11. A replaceable cleat for use with a receptacle mounted in a
shoe, the receptacle having a cavity defined therein with a
projection member extending into said cavity, said cleat
comprising: at least one traction element; and an engagement stem
having a distal end with a recess defined and extending axially in
the stem to a length of at least one millimeter, wherein the recess
in said engagement stem is configured to be received in and engaged
by the receptacle cavity, and wherein said recess is further
configured for receiving the cavity projection member without
interference when the cavity receives and engages said stem,
whereby said cavity projection member blocks cleats having
engagement stems without a recess defined therein from being
received and engaged in said cavity.
12. The replaceable cleat of claim 11, wherein said recess has a
frustoconical configuration.
13. The replaceable cleat of claim 11, further comprising: a hub
having a perimetric edge surrounding a rotation axis, a top surface
and a bottom surface, wherein said stem extends from said top
surface disposed concentrically about said axis; and wherein said
at least one traction element comprises: a plurality of angularly
spaced dynamic traction elements, each being arcuately configured
in a direction transverse of said axis and including a proximal
section extending outward and slightly downward from a respective
location substantially at said perimetric edge, and a distal
section extending substantially downwardly from said proximal
section, said distal section terminating in a turf-engaging end,
wherein each of said dynamic traction elements is sufficiently
flexible relative to said hub as to be pivotally flexible in an
upward direction about said perimetric edge, and wherein each of
said dynamic traction elements is positioned in angularly spaced
pairs with angular spacing between pairs greater than angular
spacing between elements within each pair.
14. The replaceable cleat of claim 13, wherein said angularly
spaced pairs consists of three equiangular spaced pairs of traction
elements.
15. The replaceable cleat of claim 11, further comprising: a hub
having a perimetric edge surrounding a rotation axis, a top surface
and a bottom surface, wherein said stem extends from said top
surface disposed concentrically about said axis; and wherein said
at least one traction element comprises a plurality of said
traction elements extending from said hub, at least some of said
traction elements being sufficiently flexible relative to said hub
as to be pivotable about said perimetric edge.
16. A replaceable cleat for engaging a receptacle mounted in a shoe
in locking relation, the receptacle having a cavity defined therein
with a projection member extending into said cavity, said cleat
comprising: a hub having a perimetric edge surrounding a rotation
axis, a top surface and a bottom surface; an engagement stem
extending from said top surface configured to be received in and
engaged by the receptacle; a recess defined in a distal end of said
engagement stem disposed concentrically about said rotational axis
and configured to receive the projection member without
interference when said cavity rotationally receives and engages
said stem; and a plurality of angularly spaced dynamic traction
elements extending in a cantilevered manner from said perimetric
edge; wherein said recess has a frustoconical configuration,
wherein the recess defined in the distal end of the stem extends
axially at least about 1.0 millimeter or more into the distal end
of the stem, and wherein each of said plurality of angularly spaced
dynamic traction elements is pivotably flexible in an upward
direction about said perimetric edge when subjected to weight of a
person wearing a shoe in which the cleat is installed.
17. The replaceable cleat of claim 16, wherein each of said
plurality of angularly spaced dynamic traction elements includes a
proximal section extending in an angularly arcuate orientation
outward and arcuately downward from the perimetric edge of said
hub.
18. The replaceable cleat of claim 17, wherein said proximal
section of each of said plurality of angularly spaced dynamic
traction elements smoothly arcuately transitions both angularly and
downwardly into a distal section that turns almost vertically
downward while maintaining its angular outward curvature.
19. The replaceable cleat of claim 18, wherein said proximal
section of each of said plurality of angularly spaced dynamic
traction elements subtends an angle in a vertical plane with the
top surface of said hub of approximately 30 degrees, and the distal
section of each element subtends an angle in the vertical plane of
approximately 80 degrees.
20. The replaceable cleat of claim 18, wherein said distal section
of each of said plurality of angularly spaced dynamic traction
elements terminates in a turf-engaging edge which frictionally
traverses turf to provide traction, and wherein the arcuate
configuration of each of said plurality of angularly spaced dynamic
traction elements provides for longer opposed concave and convex
edges extending along an entire length of said elements, thereby
providing greater radial lengths along sides of the traction
elements.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/995,366, filed Jan. 14, 2016, which claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/103,338, filed Jan.
14, 2015, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in
their entireties.
ADDITIONAL SUBJECT MATTER INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
[0002] The subject matter disclosed and/or claimed in the following
patent documents is expressly incorporated by reference herein in
its entirety:
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,371 (Curley), issued Mar. 30, 1999, for
"Footwear Cleat";
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 7,107,708 (Kelly et al), issued Sep. 19, 2006,
for "Studded Footwear";
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,213 (Kelly et al), issued Nov. 21, 2006,
for "Studded Footwear";
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 8,245,422 (Krikorian et al), issued Aug. 21,
2012, for "Athletic Shoe Cleat with Dynamic Traction and Method of
Making and Using Same";
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 8,544,195 (Burt et al), issued Oct. 1, 2013,
for "Method and Apparatus For Interconnecting Traction Cleats and
Receptacles";
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 8,631,591 (Krikorian et al), issued Jan. 21,
2014, for "Replaceable Traction cleat For Footwear";
[0009] US Patent Application Pub. No. 2009/0211118 (Krikorian et
al), published Aug. 27, 2009, for "Traction Cleat For Field
Sports"; and
[0010] US Patent Application Pub. No. 2014/0165423 (Burt et al),
published Jun. 19, 2014, for "Traction Cleat and Receptacle".
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention pertains generally to replacement
traction cleat systems for athletic shoes and, more particularly,
to improvements in connection and locking arrangements between
cleats and their shoe-mounted receptacles in such systems.
[0012] Terminology--It is to be understood that, unless otherwise
stated or contextually evident, as used herein: [0013] The terms
"upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "vertical", "horizontal", etc.,
are used for convenience to refer to the orientation of a cleat and
receptacle when attached to a shoe sole resting on the ground and
are not intended to otherwise limit the structures described and
claimed. [0014] The terms "axial", "axially", "longitudinal",
"longitudinally", "coaxial", etc., refer to dimensions extending
parallel to the axis about which a cleat is rotated in the
receptacle and substantially perpendicular to the shoe outsole.
[0015] The terms "radial", "radially", "lateral", `laterally",
etc., refer to dimensions extending perpendicularly from the cleat
and receptacle rotational axes and substantially parallel to the
shoe sole. [0016] The terms "angle", "angular", "rotationally",
etc., unless otherwise stated refer to rotation dimensions about
the cleat and receptacle rotational axes. [0017] The terms
"attach", "attachment", etc., pertain to a longitudinal engagement
between the cleat and receptacle that prevents inadvertent axial
displacement of the cleat relative to the receptacle. [0018] The
terms "lock", "locking", etc., pertain to preventing inadvertent
rotational movement between the attached cleat and receptacle.
BACKGROUND
[0019] Replacement traction cleats typically include attachment
stems that are configured to be received and engaged in cavities in
receptacles embedded or otherwise mounted in the outsole of an
athletic shoe such as a golf shoe, football shoe, etc. In some
cases the engagement stem may be provided on the receptacle and
received in a cavity defined in the cleat. In either case, the
engagement is typically achieved by rotation of the cleat relative
to the receptacle until the cleat and receptacle are locked firmly
in place, although mutual engagement without rotation, albeit less
desirable, has been suggested in the prior art. In rotational
engagement systems the stem and cavity may be threaded, or the
rotational engagement may be achieved without threading such as
disclosed in the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 8,544,195 (Burt et
al).
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] In some instances, because of functional, safety or business
considerations, it is desirable to assure that only authorized
cleats (i.e., cleats with particular structural or functional
features, or made by a particular manufacturer, etc.) can be used
with a particular receptacle. It is one object of the present
invention to provide a cleat and receptacle system that prevents
unauthorized cleats from being used with a particular receptacle
structure. In one embodiment, wherein the receptacle, mounted in a
shoe outsole, has a cavity adapted to rotationally receive and
engage (threadedly or otherwise) an engagement stem on a cleat, a
projection member extends from the interior end wall (i.e.,
proximal end wall) of the receptacle cavity. Authorized cleats have
a stem with a recess defined in its distal end and configured to
receive the receptacle projection member during rotational
engagement and thereby permit the cleat stem to be rotationally
received and engaged in the receptacle cavity. Unauthorized cleats,
not having the stem recess, have their stems impeded or blocked by
the receptacle projection member from being inserted into and
engaged by the receptacle cavity. For cleat-receptacle systems
where the cavity is on the cleat and the stem is on the receptacle,
the projection member may be in the cleat cavity and the recess
defined in the receptacle stem.
[0021] It is also desirable for some applications to have the total
height (i.e., the axial length) of the receptacle be as short as
possible in order, for example, to permit the receptacle to be
mounted in a shoe having a relatively thin outsole. It is
important, however, that in reducing the height of the receptacle
one does not sacrifice its strength, its ability to retain a cleat
therein, and/or its ability to be retained in the outsole when
subjected to forces during use. Another object of the invention is
to provide a receptacle structure that is short in axial length and
constructed so as to resist rupture, resist releasing an engaged
cleat and/or resist being torn from a relatively thin outsole. In
an embodiment of the present invention the axial length of a
receptacle is only 4.0 millimeters.
[0022] Another object of the invention is to provide an improved
locking arrangement to prevent inadvertent removal of a cleat from
a receptacle. Specifically, there is disclosed in the above
referenced US Patent Application Pub. No. 2014/0165423 (Burt et al)
a locking arrangement of the FAST TWIST.RTM. type in which an
annular array of angularly spaced locking posts on the cleat hub
engage respective locking teeth or stubs projecting radially from
the outer surface of a cylindrical boss on the receptacle that
surrounds the receptacle cavity. As another feature of the present
invention the configurations/locations of the locking posts and
locking teeth are modified, and the number of locking teeth is
increased to enhance the locking function. Specifically, in one
embodiment, twelve locking stubs or teeth are disposed in an
annular array on the radially outer surface of the cylindrical boss
surrounding the receptacle cavity. Instead of all these locking
teeth having the same configuration, three of them (i.e., every
fourth tooth in the array) may differ from the other nine, and the
trailing edge surface (as considered in the insertion rotation
direction) of the three different teeth is provided with a steeper
angle so that, in cooperation with the cleat locking posts, reverse
rotation of the cleat is more effectively resisted.
[0023] In some prior locking systems using the aforementioned FAST
TWIST.RTM. arrangement, when rotating a cleat, the locking posts on
the cleat are forced radially outward by the receptacle locking
stubs or teeth and into contact with the material of the outsole in
which the receptacle is embedded. Contact with the outsole material
can help in the retention of the cleat in the receptacle, but it
can be detrimental to the outsole, resulting in loosening the
mounting of the cleat therein, and can also make the degree of
cleat retention in the receptacle dependent upon the particular
material used for the outsole. Another object of the invention is
to prevent the locking posts on the cleat from bearing against the
outsole material as the cleat is rotated in the receptacle cavity
during insertion and removal of the cleat. In order to achieve
this, an annular wall, or shroud, is concentrically disposed about
and spaced radially outward from the outer wall of the receptacle
boss. The shroud is radially positioned such that the locking posts
are located radially inward of the shroud, and as the posts ride
over the locking teeth and are forced outwardly, the posts make
contact with the receptacle shroud, not the outsole material, so
that the retention force is predictable and not dependent on
different outsole materials.
[0024] Another object of the invention is to provide a modified
configuration of the dynamic traction elements of a cleat to
increase the cleat tractional effect. Specifically, the dynamic
traction elements have a curvature both angularly about the cleat
rotation axis and axially (i.e., downwardly), and are uniquely
arranged in three pairs that are angularly spaced along the base
periphery. The angular spacing of the two traction elements in each
pair is considerably less than the spacing between the pairs. The
arcuate dynamic traction elements extend in a cantilevered manner
from the cleat hub and are pivotally flexible in an upward
direction about the hub perimetric edge when subjected to the
weight of a typical person wearing a shoe in which the cleat is
installed. When the traction elements are thusly flexed and spread,
the turf-engaging end edges frictionally traverse the turf or other
underlying surface to provide one form of traction. In addition,
grass blades tend to be trapped between the upper surface of the
traction elements and the sole of the wearer's shoe. Further, the
arcuate concave and convex edges extending along the entire length
of the traction element horizontally engage grass blades as the
traction element moves through grass, in either a lateral or
rotational direction.
[0025] The aforesaid objects, and others that will be evident from
the disclosure herein, are achieved individually and in
combination, and it is not intended that the present invention be
construed as requiring two or more of the objects to be combined
unless required by the claims attached hereto.
[0026] The above and still further features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the
definitions, descriptions and descriptive figures of specific
embodiments thereof set forth herein. In the detailed description
below, like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized
to designate like components and elements, and like terms are used
to refer to similar or corresponding elements in the several
embodiments. While these descriptions go into specific details of
the invention, it should be understood that variations may and do
exist and would be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of
the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 is a view in perspective from below, showing the
engagement side, of a receptacle configured in accordance with a
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a top view in plan of the receptacle of FIG.
1.
[0029] FIG. 3. is a bottom view in plan of the receptacle of FIG.
1.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a portion of the receptacle
enclosed in the detail circle of FIG. 3.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view in section of the receptacle
if FIG. 1.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a view in perspective from above of a cleat
according to the present invention configured to engage a
receptacle of the type shown in FIG. 1.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a bottom view in plan of the cleat of FIG. 6.
[0034] FIG. 8 is a top view in plan of the base portion of the
cleat of FIG. 6.
[0035] FIG. 9 is a view in perspective of the cleat base portion of
FIG. 8.
[0036] FIG. 10 is a top view in plan of another example of a base
portion of a cleat.
[0037] FIG. 11 is a top view in plan of yet another example of a
base portion of a cleat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1-9 in greater detail, there is
illustrated a receptacle 10 (FIGS. 1-5) configured to receive,
engage and securely lock in place the cleat 40 (FIGS. 6-9).
Receptacle 10 includes a base plate 11 having a bottom surface 12
and a top surface 13. The base plate 11, as illustrated, may be
generally rectangular with slightly rounded (i.e., large radius of
curvature) opposed long side edges and more rounded (i.e., smaller
radius of curvature) opposed shorter side edges; however, the base
plate configuration itself is not of itself a feature of the
invention and can be otherwise configured, symmetrically or
asymmetrically about receptacle attachment axis A. When cleat 40 is
installed in receptacle 30, cleat axis B and receptacle axis A are
coaxially positioned.
[0039] The radially outer portions of base 11 proximate each short
side edge have two mounting slots 14 defined longitudinally
therethrough (i.e., through the thickness of the base plate) for
securing the receptacle in a shoe outsole. Mounting or embedding of
the receptacle in a shoe outsole is effected by methods well known
in the art and may include molding or otherwise forming the outsole
material around and through the mounting slots 14. A generally
cylindrical hollow boss 24 projects downwardly (as viewed when the
receptacle is mounted in a shoe outsole) from bottom surface 12,
centrally on the base 11, and circumferentially defines a hollow
generally cylindrical interior cavity 25 disposed concentrically
about the receptacle longitudinal axis A. The distal end 26 of the
boss is open to provide access for cleat 40 to the cavity. The
interior cylindrical wall of the cavity is threaded at 27 with a
three-start thread configured to receive and threadedly engage a
stem 50 of cleat 40. One of the three engagement threads may have a
wider threadform than the other two, allowing it to align with a
correspondingly wider threadform on the cleat stem to thereby
establish a unique or single starting position for rotational
engagement between the cleat and receptacle as is commonly provided
when it is desired to have a predetermined final rotational
position of the cleat in the receptacle.
[0040] A projection member 29 extends within cavity 25 from the
proximal end wall of the cavity toward the open distal cavity end.
Projection member 29, as illustrated, may be a right frustoconical
member having a central longitudinal axis located coaxially with
receptacle axis A, with its base at the proximal end wall of the
cavity and tapering toward the distal open cavity end. The axial
length of projection member 29 is typically at least one-half the
axial length of cavity 25 but not so long as to extend beyond the
open cavity end. The shape and positon of the projection can vary
significantly, the limitation being that it must cooperatively
function with a recess 51 in the stem 50 of cleat 40 in the manner
described below.
[0041] By way of example, the truncated cone member 29 may taper
from its base at a convergence angle in the range of approximately
14.degree. (i.e., 7.degree. relative to the receptacle axis A) to
20.degree. (i.e., 10.degree. relative to the receptacle axis). The
height of the truncated cone above the interior surface of the
bottom wall of the receptacle cavity is preferably in the range of
1.70 mm to 1.95 mm.
[0042] Twelve equally angularly spaced locking stubs or teeth 23,
23a, are disposed in a continuous annular array on the radially
outer surface of the cylindrical boss 24. These locking teeth
project radially outward from boss 24 and have an axial height
slightly shorter, or substantially equal to, the axial length of
the boss. Instead of all these teeth having the same configuration,
the configuration of three of them (i.e., teeth 23a, every fourth
tooth in the array) differs from that of the other nine teeth 23.
Specifically, as the locking posts 60 of an inserted cleat 40 pass
these locking teeth during rotational insertion of the cleat in the
receptacle, the posts 60 are forced past the locking teeth 23, 23a
along mutually resiliently engaging or contacting surfaces until,
in the final rotational position, each locking post 60 resides and
is retained in a predetermined rotational position relative to
respective locking teeth. In order to enhance retention by
increasing the resistance to reverse rotation of the cleat, the
trailing edge surface 35 (as considered in the insertion direction)
of the three different locking teeth 23a is provided with a steeper
angle than the leading edge surface of locking teeth 23a, and both
the leading and trailing edge surfaces of teeth 23, so that reverse
rotation (i.e., in the disengagement direction) is may be more
effectively impeded. For example, trailing edge surface 35 may
subtend an angle of 20.degree..+-.5.degree. with a radius extending
from axis A, whereas the leading edge surface of tooth 23a, and
both the leading and trailing edge surfaces of teeth 23, would
typically subtend a shallower angle that varies smoothly along its
angular length between 40.degree. and 60.degree.. For this
embodiment the radially outward extent of all twelve locking teeth
23, 23a from the outer periphery of boss 24 is the same.
[0043] A relatively thin annular shroud wall 28 is disposed
concentrically about axis A, spaced radially outward from locking
teeth 23, 23a, and defining an annular space 19 between the shroud
and locking teeth for receiving the locking posts 60 of cleat 40.
The axial length or height of shroud 28 is typically slightly
shorter than the height of boss 24 but preferably equal to the
axial length of locking posts 60. The shroud protects against the
cleat locking posts being forced into and damaging the outsole
material by locking teeth 23, 23a during rotation of the cleat in
annular space 19. As noted above, during such rotation the cleat
locking posts are repetitively forced radially outward by
successive receptacle locking teeth. The shroud 28 is radially
positioned and configured such that, as the locking posts ride over
the locking teeth and are forced outwardly, the posts make contact
with the receptacle shroud and not the surrounding outsole
material. Shroud 28 may be rigid or slightly flexible; importantly,
however, the shroud does not move past and damage the outsole
material during rotation of the cleat.
[0044] Receptacle 10 can be fabricated to have an axial length or
height as short as four millimeters, and is particularly suited for
being molded into outsoles molded from TPU (thermoplastic
polyurethane) and rubber when the thickness of the bottom wall of
the receptacle is on the order of 0.75 mm thick and the height of
the frustoconical projection member 29 is on the order of 1.95
mm.
[0045] It will be appreciated that the base plate 11 need not be
generally rectangular but can have various configurations dependent
on functional, positional and structural considerations. For
example, the base plate may have a circular shape which permits six
mounting slots 14 to be provided in angularly spaced relation
around the entire base for more secure mounting in the outsole
material than provided the four mounting slots 14 in the baseplate
of the receptacle shown in FIG. 1. In other words, the outsole
material would fill two additional slots in a receptacle having a
circular base to provide for stronger bonding. In addition, the
base plate may have its edge notched or otherwise marked to
designate proper positional alignment of the receptacle in an
outsole mold during manufacture.
[0046] Referring more specifically to FIGS. 6-9, cleat 40 has a
threaded attachment stem 50 projecting axially from the top surface
of its hub 41 and disposed concentrically about cleat longitudinal
axis B for attachment to receptacle 10 described above. The thread
on the stem is a three-start outer thread suitable for engaging the
three-start interior thread 27 in cavity 25 of the receptacle. The
cleat hub 41 is generally circular, also concentrically about axis
B, and is defined within an annular perimetric edge 43. The distal
insertion end of stem 50 has an axially extending recess 51 defined
therein. Recess 51 is configured to receive projection member 29
when stem 50 is inserted in cavity 25 for threaded engagement with
the receptacle 10. Specifically, as illustrated, recess 51 may be
coaxially disposed with axis B and may have a right frustoconical
configuration with its wider open end at the stem distal end and
its narrower proximal or interior end at the base of the recess.
Recess 51 is extends axially at least 1.0 mm into the distal end of
stem 50, and typically extends at least 1.5 mm or more, depending
on the length of projection member 29.
[0047] It will be appreciated that a cleat without a stem recess 51
cannot be inserted into and engage the cavity 25 of receptacle 10.
Specifically, when cavity 25 rotationally receives and engages
(threadedly or otherwise) stem 50 on an authorized cleat 40,
projection member 29 extends unimpeded into stem recess 51 and
permits cleat to receptacle engagement. Unauthorized cleats, not
having the stem recess, have their stems blocked by the receptacle
projection member 29 from being inserted into and engaged by the
receptacle cavity. For cleat-receptacle systems where the cavity is
on the cleat and the stem is on the receptacle, the projection
member is in the cleat cavity and the recess is defined in the
receptacle stem.
[0048] The configurations of the cavity projection member 29 and
the accommodating stem recess 51 can vary considerably, with the
limitations being that the cavity projection member 29 must not
interfere with engagement of the stem 50 in the cavity. For
example, the recess boundary configuration need not match the
periphery of the projection member; rather, the recess
configuration is required only to permit the projection member to
be unimpededly received therein during and after rotational
engagement of the cleat and receptacle. Thus, a conical projection
member will serve the intended function with any recess
configuration large enough, diametrically and lengthwise, to fully
receive the projection member and permit the cleat to be connected
to the receptacle. For example, a recess having a cylindrical
configuration of sufficient size, positioned as necessary, may
function to accommodate the frustoconical projection member.
Likewise, the projection member need not be conical or
frustoconical; it may have a regular or irregular shape as long as
it can be properly received in the cavity recess to permit
engagement of an authorized cleat with the receptacle, but block
engagement of an unauthorized cleat with the receptacle. It should
also be noted that the projection member need not be concentrically
disposed about or even located on the rotation axes of the cleat
and receptacle, as long as it can be properly received in the
cavity recess to permit engagement of an authorized cleat with the
receptacle, but block engagement of an unauthorized cleat with the
receptacle.
[0049] A plurality of angularly spaced dynamic traction elements 53
of cleat 40 have proximal ends secured at or near edge 43 and
extend outward and downward therefrom. The dynamic traction
elements 53 are uniquely arranged in three pairs that are angularly
spaced equally along circumferential periphery of the base. The
angular spacing between the two traction elements 53 in each pair
is considerably less than the angular spacing between pairs. The
dynamic traction elements 53 extend in a cantilevered manner from
the cleat hub and are arcuately configured in both downward and
angular directions. Specifically, each traction element 53 includes
a proximal section extending in an angularly arcuate orientation
outward and arcuately downward from the hub peripheral edge 43. The
proximal section smoothly arcuately transitions, both angularly and
downwardly, into a distal section that turns almost vertically
downward while maintaining the angular outward curvature. The
distal end of each traction element 53 terminates in a
turf-engaging edge 55. In one embodiment the proximal section of
each traction element 53 subtends an angle in a vertical plane with
the top surface 42 of hub 41 of approximately 30.degree., and the
distal section of each element subtends an angle in that plane of
approximately 80.degree.. The angular spacing between the three
pairs of traction elements is 120.degree. on center, with the
spacing from each element to the closest element in the next
adjacent pair being in the range of 0.degree. to 80.degree.. The
angular spacing between traction elements in any one pair can vary
with the angular thickness of the elements and by design choice but
typically varies over the arcuate radial lengths of the arcuate
radial lengths between 10.degree. and 30.degree.. An important
aspect of traction elements 53 is that, for a cleat with given
total diameter, the opposed concave and convex sides of the element
are longer than the sides of conventional dynamic traction elements
that extend substantially straight radially outward. In other
words, the curvature of the traction elements 53 permits longer
element sides to exist within a given cleat diameter.
[0050] Dynamic traction elements 53 are flexible relative to the
hub to achieve three degrees of dynamic traction. Specifically,
under the weight of a typical person wearing a shoe in which cleat
40 is installed, each traction element 53 pivotally flexes in an
upward direction about the hub perimetric edge 43, and spreads
radially outward such that turf-engagement edge 55 is forceful
extended along the turf. When the traction elements spread, the
turf-engaging edges 55 frictionally traverse the turf or other
underlying surface to provide one form of traction. In addition,
grass blades tend to be trapped between the upper surface of the
traction elements and the sole of the wearer's shoe when the
traction elements pivotally flex upwardly. Finally, the radially
arcuate configuration of each traction element provides for the
longer opposed concave and convex edges extending along the entire
length of the element, thereby, as described above, providing
greater radial lengths along the element sides than is present in
dynamic traction elements having no radial curvature. Those longer
edges therefore resiliently engage more grass blades as the
elements moves through grass in either a lateral or rotational
direction to provide still another degree of traction.
[0051] Three locking posts 60 are disposed in angularly spaced
relationship in an annular array located concentrically about the
cleat axis B. Each locking post 60 has a radially inward facing
surface including three angularly spaced protrusions 61, 62, 63
projecting radially inward. A radially outward recess 64 is
disposed between protrusions 61 and 62, and another radially
outward recess 65 is disposed between protrusions 62 and 63. The
locking posts 60 extend perpendicularly upward (i.e., axially) from
the top surface 42 of hub 41. The top surface of the locking posts
60 slopes slightly (i.e., increases in axial height) from the
leading end proximate protrusion 63 to the trailing end proximate
protrusion 61. That top surface abuts the bottom surface of cleat
base plate 12 (FIG. 1) in annular space 19 interiorly of shroud 28
as the cleat is tightened in the receptacle. Surface 12 of the base
plate in space 19 may be correspondingly ramped to cooperate with
the sloping top surface 60 during such tightening. The axial height
of the posts, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, may nominally
be approximately three millimeters, and the radial thickness of the
posts is approximately between one and two millimeters.
[0052] Recess 65 in each group of locking posts 60 is configured to
cooperate with the differently configured every fourth locking
tooth 23a (FIG. 1) to aid in resisting rotation between the cleat
and receptacle in the removal direction. Specifically, the trailing
edge 69 (i.e., trailing in the insertion rotation direction) of
recess 65 in each locking post 60 has a steeper slope than the
opposite wall in that recess to match the steep slope on the
trailing edge 35 of the three differently configured locking teeth
23a (FIG. 1). When the cleat is fully inserted and locked into the
receptacle, the steeper sloping surfaces abut and strongly resist
removal rotation.
[0053] More specifically, the radially outward facing terminus of
each locking tooth 23 is slightly convex with a small radius of
curvature about receptacle axis A; in tooth 23a the terminus is
flattened. The nadir of recess 64 of each locking post 60 is
slightly concave with a radius of curvature about cleat axis B; the
nadir of recess 65 is flattened. The radially outward terminus of
each locking tooth 23, 23a is at a radial distance from receptacle
axis A that is slightly greater (e.g., by approximately one
millimeter) than the radial distance of the terminus of each
protrusion 61, 62, 63 of each post 60 from cleat axis B. This
results in an interfering engagement between these termini when
they are angularly (i.e., rotationally) aligned. The locking posts
60 are somewhat rigid but sufficiently flexible to be able to bend
slightly radially about their bases as the posts rotationally pass
the locking teeth during insertion of the cleat in the receptacle.
The relatively shallow sloping leading ends of the post protrusions
and shallow sloping leading end walls of the teeth facilitate
rotation as these surfaces engage and gradually force locking post
flexure during insertion rotation. Once the locking posts pass the
teeth and reside in angular alignment with the recesses between the
stubs, the posts return to their nominal shapes. When cleat stem is
fully rotationally inserted in the receptacle cavity, the stem
distal end fully receives projection member 29 in recess 51 and
substantially abuts the closed end of the cavity 25, and
substantially the entire axial lengths of the locking posts 60 are
inserted in annular space 19. It is in this final insertion
position that the steeper angled trailing ends of the locking post
projections and locking teeth fully abut along their axial lengths
and preclude mutual rotation between the cleat and receptacle in a
direction opposite to the insertion direction.
[0054] It should be noted that the features of the cleat in FIG. 6
are mutually exclusive. In particular, it is possible to provide
the projection member without the specific illustrated posts 60;
instead, other locking post constructions, such as disclosed in the
patent documents incorporated by reference hereinabove, may be used
as desired or as deemed practical. Likewise, it is possible to use
the specific locking post 60 configuration without the projection
member and receiving recess; such an arrangement would permit the
cleat to be inserted into a receptacle that does not necessarily
have a projection member yet it would lockingly engage the
receptacle.
[0055] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate respective alternative locking
arrangements on a cleat that permit the illustrated cleats to
engage the receptacles described above as well as prior FAST
TWIST.RTM. receptacles. Specifically, instead of locking posts
being in three groups of three, six individual locking posts 70
(FIGS. 10) and 80, 80a (FIG. 11) are provided in equiangular spaced
relation. In the FIG. 11 embodiment there are two different locking
post structures 80, 80a provided, one type 80 being substantially
the same as posts 70 and also as described in the above-referenced
U.S. Pat. No. 7,107,708 (Kelly et al, incorporated by reference)
and illustrated in FIG. 11 thereof. The other post type 80a is
generally similar, at least functionally, to the middle protrusion
62 (FIG. 6 herein) of the three angularly spaced protrusions
extending radially inward in locking post 60, but is a stand alone
locking post as opposed to being part of a group of three
projections. Specifically, the trailing edge (in the insertion
rotation direction) of locking post 80a has a steeper slope than
its leading edge to match the steep slope on the trailing edge of
the three differently configured locking teeth in the receptacle
shown in FIG. 1. When the cleat is fully inserted and locked into
the receptacle, the steeper sloping surfaces in the cleat and
receptacle abut and strongly resist removal rotation. In order to
assure this abutment, one selects the starting position of the
threaded engagement between the cleat and receptacle, as well as
the timing of this engagement.
[0056] It will be appreciated that instead of alternating three
locking posts 80 and three locking posts 80a, only one locking post
80a can be used with five locking posts 80. Such an arrangement
assures that a cleat can be locked in the proper rotational
orientation relative to the receptacle when a specific angular
orientation is desired.
[0057] Although particular embodiments of a receptacle and cleat
and their engagements have been described, other configurations may
be employed. For example, although a three-start thread is
described and illustrated, two start threads may be used. In
addition, a key-in feature mat be provided to assure a defined
starting, and resulting final, rotational position of a cleat
relative to the receptacle during cleat insertion. The
configuration
[0058] Having described preferred embodiments of new and improved
traction cleat and receptacle and various novel components thereof,
it is believed that other modifications, variations and changes
will be suggested to those skilled in the art in view of the
teachings set forth herein. It is therefore to be understood that
all such variations, modifications and changes are believed to fall
within the scope of the present invention as defined by the
appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they
are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for
purposes of limitation.
* * * * *