Traction cleat system and apparatus for athletic shoe, and athletic shoe including same

A traction cleat assembly for a golf shoe, the golf shoe including an outsole having defined therein a plurality of cleat receptacles, said traction cleat assembly comprising:

• a connection stem configured to be received in one of the plurality of cleat receptacles to affix the traction cleat assembly to the outsole;
• a major hub joined to the connection stem, the major hub comprising:
• a hub body having a hub top surface adjacent the connection stem, opposite the hub top surface the hub body having a hub bottom surface, the hub body having a body periphery spaced apart from a major axis in the radial direction, the body periphery defined by intersection of a hub outer wall with at least one of the hub top surface and the hub bottom surface, the hub bottom surface perpendicular to the major axis;
• a plurality of traction elements extending downward from the hub body at the body periphery, the plurality of traction elements spaced about the body periphery, the body periphery subdivided by the plurality of traction elements, the body periphery comprising a plurality of body peripheral segments each defined between adjacent of the plurality of traction elements;
• a minor recess defined in the bottom surface, the minor recess having a minor recess axis coextensive with the major axis, the minor recess having a minor recess periphery spaced apart in the radial direction from the minor recess axis, the minor recess having a minor recess cross-sectional shape defined by the minor recess periphery, the minor recess isolated from communication with an external environment by mated sealing engagement of the hub bottom surface with a removable cover;
• the removable cover comprising:
• a one-piece structure having a cover top surface spaced from a cover bottom surface of said one-piece structure, the cover top surface disposed in opposition to the cover bottom surface;
• the removable cover having a cover major periphery defined by a continuous cover outer wall spaced apart from the major axis, the cover outer wall parallel to the major axis, the cover outer wall extending from intersection with the cover top surface to intersection with the cover bottom surface;
• a plurality of keeper arms spaced about the cover major periphery, the plurality of keeper arms extending upward from the cover major periphery at corresponding of the plurality of body peripheral segments to engage the hub body to affix the removable cover to the hub body, the plurality of keeper arms in positive engagement with at least one of the following:
• corresponding of the plurality of body peripheral segments and the hub top surface;
• a minor filling projection extending upward from the cover top surface, the minor filling projection having a minor projection axis coextensive with the major axis, the minor filling projection having a projection minor periphery spaced apart in the radial direction from the minor projection axis, the minor filling projection having a minor projection cross-sectional shape identical to the minor recess cross-sectional shape;
• and
• cooperation of the plurality of keeper arms with the hub body forming therebetween a corresponding plurality of interference fits:
• capturing the removable cover in fixed position against the hub bottom surface, drawing the cover top surface against the hub bottom surface in mated sealing engagement therebetween, and
• drawing the minor filling projection into the minor recess in mated relationship therewith.