Patent Application
20080072459
Referring now to the drawings, an improved cleat assembly (also referred to as “cleat”) is indicated generally by the reference numeral 100. The cleat assembly 100 comprises three components: a locking component 101, which is adapted for interlocking to an open receptacle on an athletic shoe, preferably a golf shoe (the attaching mechanism of the shoe is not shown but examples of the shoe and receptacle pattern are presented in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,708,426 and 6,474,003, both of which are herein referenced in their entirety); an outer component 102 having substantially rigid means (discussed later) for engaging the turf; and an inner component 103, which includes resilient means for gripping the turf. The inner component 103 having a connecting element 104 that penetrates through the outer component 102 to friction fit within the locking component 101 to form the single cleat assembly 100. The outer and inner components 102 and 103 are preferably fabricated from a pliable thermoplastic urethane having a Shore A hardness in the range of 80 to 100 with 98 preferred. The locking component 101 is preferably made of a firm thermoplastic or nylon with a hardness of about 70D.
As is illustrated in
The locking component 101 has a generally circular disk 106 with a bottom surface 107 and a flat top surface 108, and a round opening 109 defined approximately in the center of the disk 106 for receiving in a friction fit the connecting element 104 of the inner component 103. Locking component 101 further has a cylindrically shaped insertion element 110 that contains a spiraling thread 111 for screwing into one of the open receptacles of the golf shoe. A golf cleat tool (several versions are well known in the industry and therefore not shown) is usually preferred for installing and removing of the cleat assembly 100 in the shoe receptacle. Once inserted into the receptacle, the cleat assembly 100 is rotated clockwise about a centerline of the insertion element 110 through to an angle of approximately 60 degrees wherein it is locked into position. The locking component 101 also includes a plurality of flexible lock tongues 105 that extend in a spaced manner outwardly about the outer edge of a bottom surface 107 of the disk 106. The original shape of each lock tongue 105 includes a cam surface 105a and a non-cam vertical surface 105b. When the cleat 100 is initially being screwed into the shoe receptacle, the lock tongues 105 are of a dimension and size that they just clear a side rib in the shoe receptacle (not shown). After cleat 100 has been rotated a slight amount further, then the lower edge of the locking component 101 is just above the upper rim of the shoe receptacle, and the lock tongues 105 are then deformed by a cam action provided by the lock tongue cam surfaces 105a which “ride” over projections that are in the shoe receptacle. Upon being further turned, the lock tongues 105 pass by the projections in the receptacle until a tight fit is achieved; they then restore themselves (to some extent) to their original shape. Each expendable tongue 105 will pass against, be deformed by, and pass over a number of receptacle projections. The interference between projections in the receptacle and the lock tongues 105 holds the cleat 100 in place during shoe use. When the insertion element 110 has been fully rotated, these lock tongues 105 re-extend themselves into appropriate pockets disposed in the shoe receptacle. The construction of these receptacles conforms to the dimensions of the lock tongues 105. The geometric construction and locking action provided by this interaction requires one to apply greater torque to remove the cleat assembly 100 than to install it.
The outer component 102 has a generally circular base 114 with a rectangular slot 115 passing through the center of the base 114 (the function for which will be discussed later). A plurality of posts 120, preferably four, are spaced equally about and project away from the top surface 118 of the base 114 so as to provide for rigid attachment to the turf. The posts 120 are relatively rigid and a notch 113 is defined in a distal end of each post 120. The shape at the distal end of each post 120 is relatively flat or blunted. The exterior wall surfaces 119 are generally perpendicular to the plane of the top surface 118 and do not extend beyond the exterior perimeter of the base 114. Extending away from the top surface 118 of the base 114 are two oval shaped tool sheaths 135 which are at a distance apart so as to accommodate the insertion of a standard golf cleat tool. The cleat tool has a pair of prongs that can be inserted into a circular hole 136 of each sheath 135 and when rotated clock-wise the cleat will be fastened to the shoe or if rotated counter-clockwise the cleat will be removed. A bottom face 117 of the base 114 has a recess 116 that is of a size and dimension to friction fit over the outer perimeter of the circular disk 106 of the locking component 101.
A major improvement provided by the present invention is the construction of the inner component 103. This component includes a plate 124 having flat bottom face 125 of a size and shape for fitting into the rectangular slot 115 of the outer component 102, such that the inner component 103 is integrally secured within the outer component 102. The top face 127 is of a circular shape from which a plurality of arcuately shaped resilient legs 128, preferably four, extend outward in a radial direction for increase gripping of the turf. Each leg 128 has a wing-shaped spoiler 129 for extra strength and to aid in the debris removing and also to help prevent a build-up of turf that often clogs cleat assemble 100. Extending downward from the bottom of the inner component is the connecting element 104 having a cylindrical body of a size and shape configured to friction-fit through the round opening 109 of the locking component 101 to secure all components into a unitary cleat assembly 100. A slotted groove 134 is formed in the insertion end of the connecting component 104 to aid in the friction-fitting of the components 103, and 101. A lip 135 is located at the insertion end to secure the components when the connection component 104 is fully extended through the cleat assembly 100.
It is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive other applications, modifications and/or changes in the invention described above. Any such applications, modifications or changes which fall within the purview of the description are intended to be illustrative and not intended to be limitative. The scope of the invention is limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
