Shoe cleat connector
OwnerFaris W. McMullininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shoe cleat connector for use with a receptacle attached to a shoe includes a substratum having a plurality of independent posts extending therefrom, with a retaining member disposed at a distal end and extending radially from each post. The receptacle includes a cavity with cantilevered fingers disposed near the periphery of the cavity. Each retaining member of the cleat connector includes a peripherally contoured series of adjacent planar surfaces that successively engage a corresponding cantilevered finger when the retaining members are inserted and rotated within the receptacle cavity, which results in the cleat connector being secured within the receptacle.
Claims26
A cleat having a connector adapted for attachment to a receptacle mounted on a shoe sole, said cleat comprising:
- a base including first and second oppositely facing surfaces, said first surface being adapted to face said shoe sole and having said connector disposed thereon, said second surface having at least one traction element secured thereto;
- wherein said connector comprises:
- a plurality of posts extending axially from the first surface generally toward said shoe sole, said posts terminating at respective distal ends axially spaced from the first surface and transversely from each other;
- and
- a plurality of retaining members disposed at the distal ends of and extending generally radially from respective posts, wherein each retaining member includes a peripherally contoured series of adjacent and substantially planar retaining surfaces that are configured to be received in an opening and retained within a cavity of the receptacle.
A cleat connector for attachment to a receptacle disposed on a shoe comprising:
- a base including a first surface to attach the base to the receptacle and a second surface to attach a traction element to the base;
- and
- a retaining member coupled to the base a selected distance from the first surface, wherein the retaining member includes a peripherally contoured series of adjacent and substantially planar retaining surfaces selectively dimensioned and aligned to be received and retained within a cavity of the receptacle.
A method of installing a cleat connector into a receptacle attached to a shoe, wherein the cleat connector includes a base with a first surface to attach the base to the receptacle and a second surface to attach a traction element to the base, a plurality of posts extending transversely from the first surface and terminating at distal ends separated from each other, and a retaining member disposed at the distal end of and extending radially from each post, the method comprising:
- (a) facilitating the insertion of each retaining member into a cavity formed in the receptacle;
- and
- (b) facilitating the rotation of the retaining members to engage a locking mechanism within the cavity so as to secure the cleat connector to the receptacle.
A cleat connector for attachment to a receptacle disposed on a shoe, the receptacle including a cavity and a plurality of locking members disposed within the cavity, the cleat connector comprising:
- a means for supporting a cleat;
- and
- a plurality of means for securing the means for supporting to the receptacle, wherein each means for securing is securable within the cavity and includes a series of adjacent means for successively engaging a corresponding locking member when each means for securing is inserted into the cavity.
A rotationally attachable cleat for footwear having first and second sides and a longitudinal axis oriented generally vertically in use, said cleat comprising:
- a ground engaging member at said first side;
- and
- an attachment structure at the second side including at least two spaced radially extending retaining members configured to be axially inserted through corresponding openings in a cleat receptacle to permit rotation of the retaining members within the receptacle, each retaining member including a radially outward facing engagement surface comprising a plurality of flat planar facets intersecting at angularly spaced linear junctions extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.
A rotationally attachable cleat for footwear having first and second sides and a longitudinal axis oriented generally vertically in use, said cleat comprising:
- a ground engaging member at said first side;
- an attachment structure at the second side including at least two spaced radially extending retaining members configured to be axially inserted through corresponding openings in a cleat receptacle to permit rotation of the retaining members within the receptacle, wherein each retaining member includes a radially outward facing engagement surface comprising a plurality of flat planar facets intersecting at angularly spaced linear junctions extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis;
- and
- flexure means for permitting said retaining members to be resiliently displaced in at least a radially inward direction in response to lateral forces applied thereto during insertion of said retaining members into said openings in a cleat receptacle.
A method of attaching a cleat to a shoe-mounted receptacle of the type having a cavity and a plurality of arcuate openings for permitting axial insertion of cleat retaining members into the receptacle cavity and subsequent rotation of the inserted retaining members within the cavity, said method comprising the step of:
- permitting radially inward resilient flexure of said retaining members during insertion thereof through the cavity openings to facilitate passage of said retaining members into the cavity and rotation of the retaining members with respective cavity openings.
A method of attaching a cleat to a shoe-mounted receptacle of the type having a cavity and a plurality of arcuate openings for permitting axial insertion of cleat retaining members into the receptacle cavity and subsequent rotation of the inserted retaining members within the cavity, said method comprising the step of:
- providing the outward facing engagement surface of each retaining member with plural facets intersecting at linear junctions to permit the junctions to contact and move along the peripheral arcuate edge of a cavity opening during insertion of the retaining members into the cavity to facilitate alignment of all of the retaining members with respective cavity openings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.