This invention relates generally to a sole structure for an article of footwear, and, in particular, to a sole structure for an article of footwear having a pivoting cleat assembly.
Athletes in many sports, including, for example, football, soccer, and lacrosse, use cleated footwear. Conventional cleated athletic footwear includes two primary elements, an upper and a sole. The upper is often formed of leather, synthetic materials, or a combination thereof, and comfortably secures the footwear to the foot, while providing ventilation and protection from the elements. The sole forms the ground-contacting element of footwear and is usually fashioned from a durable, wear resistant material that includes a plurality of cleats. The cleats extend from a lower surface of the sole and serve to engage the ground, thereby increasing traction for the user. Often times, the cleats are formed of one-piece construction with the sole. Alternatively, the cleats are removably secured to the sole, such as by a threaded member extending from the cleat that is received by a threaded member in the sole. In either case, the cleat is fixed with respect to the rest of the shoe when in use.
When a user running with cleated footwear turns or cuts, their leg is angled medially (referred to as inversion) or laterally (referred to as eversion) with respect to the ground. When cutting or turning, the user's cleats on both the lateral and medial side of known cleated footwear may remain engaged with the ground. In such a case, the sole and upper remain aligned with the cleats, while the user's leg is angled with respect to the sole, upper and cleats. This divergence between the footwear and the user's leg can result in injury, such as ankle and knee injuries. In cases where the user turns or cuts and both cleats do not remain engaged with the ground, the cleats on the side to which the leg is angled are engaged with the ground to a greater extent than the cleats on the opposite side. This results in decreased traction for the user. It would be desirable to provide cleated footwear that reduces the chance of injury to a user, and provides more even traction for cleats on both the lateral and medial sides of the footwear when the user's leg is angled to either side.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sole structure for an article of footwear with a pivoted cleat assembly that reduces or overcomes some or all of the difficulties inherent in prior known devices. Particular objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following disclosure of the invention and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments.
The principles of the invention may be used to advantage to provide a sole structure for an article of footwear that allows the cleats on the article of footwear to remain engaged with the ground while the user's leg is at a neutral angle with respect to the sole of the article of footwear.
In accordance with a first aspect, a sole structure for an article of footwear includes a sole, and at least one cleat assembly pivotally connected to the sole such that a medial portion and a lateral portion of the cleat assembly can move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the sole.
In accordance with another aspect, a sole structure for an article of footwear includes a sole and at least one recess formed in the sole. At least one cleat assembly is mounted to the sole for pivotal movement with respect to the sole. A portion of each cleat assembly is received in a corresponding recess when the cleat assembly pivots. Each cleat assembly includes a base member pivotally secured to the sole, a first cleat secured to a lateral area of the base member, and a second cleat secured to a medial area of the base member.
In accordance with a further aspect, an article of footwear includes an upper, and a sole secured to the upper. At least one cleat assembly is pivotally connected to the sole such that a medial end and a lateral end of the cleat assembly move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the sole.
In accordance with yet another aspect, an article of footwear includes an upper and a sole secured to the upper. At least one recess is formed in the sole. At least one cleat assembly is mounted to the sole for pivotal movement with respect to the sole. A portion of each cleat assembly is received in a corresponding recess when the cleat assembly pivots. Each cleat assembly includes a base member pivotally secured to the sole, a first cleat secured to a lateral area of the base member, and a second cleat secured to a medial area of the base member.
Substantial advantage is achieved by providing a sole structure for an article of footwear with a pivoting cleat assembly. In particular, providing a pivoting cleat assembly can help maintain the cleats in contact with the ground when the user's leg is angled toward the medial or lateral side, while maintaining the user's leg at a neutral angle with respect to the sole of the article of footwear. This is highly advantageous since such a pivoting cleat assembly can reduce the chance of injury to a user's leg. Further, such a pivoting cleat assembly can increase traction for the user.
These and additional features and advantages of the invention disclosed herein will be further understood from the following detailed disclosure of certain preferred embodiments.
The figures referred to above are not drawn necessarily to scale and should be understood to present a representation of the invention, illustrative of the principles involved. Some features of the sole structure having a pivoting cleat assembly depicted in the drawings have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate explanation and understanding. The same reference numbers are used in the drawings for similar or identical components and features shown in various alternative embodiments. A sole structure having a pivoting cleat assembly as disclosed herein, would have configurations and components determined, in part, by the intended application and environment in which it is used.
The present invention may be embodied in various forms. A preferred embodiment of an article of footwear 10 having a sole structure with a pivoting cleat assembly is shown in
Footwear 10 includes an upper 16 and a sole structure 18 secured to upper 16. Sole structure 18, seen more clearly in
It is to be appreciated that although the illustrated embodiment shows four cleat assemblies pivotally secured to sole 20, any number of cleat assemblies 22 may be pivotally secured to, and secured at any position along, sole 20. In addition, although sole structure 18 as depicted here shows only pivotable cleat assemblies 22 secured to sole 20, it is to be appreciated that one or more pivoting cleat assemblies 22 may be mixed with one or more non-pivoting, or fixed, cleat assemblies (not shown) on sole 20.
Cleat assembly 22 is formed of a base member 24 and a plurality of cleats 26 secured to base member 24. In the illustrated embodiment, each cleat assembly 22 has two cleats 26, with one positioned on lateral side 14 and the other positioned on medial side 12 of base member 24. It is to be appreciated that any number of cleats may be secured to base member 24. As illustrated herein, cleats 26 are of unitary, that is, one-piece, construction with sole 20. It is to be appreciated that in other preferred embodiments, cleats 26 may be releasably secured to sole 20. Cleats 26 could include a male threaded extension that is received by a female threaded aperture in sole 20 (not shown). Other means for releasably securing cleats 26 to sole 20 will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure. Releasably securing cleats 26 to sole 10 would enable cleats 26 to be replaced when worn. Base member 24 and cleats 26 may be formed of nylon, rubber, or any other suitable material.
Each cleat assembly 22 is pivotally secured to sole 20 so as to pivot, or rock, with respect to sole 20 toward medial side 12 and lateral side 14 such that medial and lateral ends of each cleat assembly 22 will move upwardly and downwardly with respect to sole 20. Each cleat assembly 22 pivots about an axis L. Each axis L extends generally from heel portion 15 toward toe portion 11 of footwear 10. The axes L generally lie along a line C extending generally longitudinally along a center of sole 20.
A plurality of recesses 28 is formed in lower surface 29 of sole 20. As seen in
As seen in
In the illustrated embodiment, recess 28 has a substantially rectangular configuration, while medial portion 32 and lateral portion 36 of base member 24 each have a substantially triangular cross-section. In another embodiment, as illustrated in
In the embodiments illustrated herein, the depth of recess 28 restricts the amount that cleat assembly 22 can pivot with respect to sole 20. The greater the amount that cleat assembly 22 pivots, the greater the degree to which a user's leg 30 can be angled with respect to the ground and still realize the benefits of the present invention. The degree to which cleat assembly 22 pivots can be customized based on any number of factors, including, for example, the particular sport being engaged in by the user.
In another preferred embodiment, as illustrated in
One preferred embodiment of the pivotal attachment of cleat assembly 22 to sole 20 is illustrated in
Another preferred embodiment of the pivotal attachment of cleat assembly 22 to sole 20 is illustrated in
Yet another preferred embodiment of the pivotal attachment of cleat assembly 22 to sole 20 is illustrated in
In light of the foregoing disclosure of the invention and description of the preferred embodiments, those skilled in this area of technology will readily understand that various modifications and adaptations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. All such modifications and adaptations are intended to be covered by the following claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20050172518 A1 | Aug 2005 | US |