Cleat assembly
A cleat assembly for a shoe comprising an anchor for anchoring to the shoe, a cleat, a first biasing member circumscribing the anchor and engaged with the cleat, and a second biasing member biasing the first biasing member. The second biasing member can directly engage the first biasing member or a bushing that circumscribes the anchor. So constructed, the cleat assembly provides multiple degrees of freedom. That is, the cleat assembly provides effective axial shock absorbance coupled with 360° tilting of the cleat for enhancing a user's ability to suddenly change direction when wearing a shoe equipped with the cleat assembly, thereby minimizing stress and impact on muscles, joints and ligaments and enhancing the performance of athletes wearing such shoes.
1. A cleat assembly for a shoe comprising:
an anchor for anchoring to the shoe;
a retaining post having a detent, wherein the retaining post is pivotally connected to the anchor;
a cleat having an inner race for receiving the detent and allowing axial movement of the cleat; and
a first biasing member circumscribing the anchor and biasing the retaining post.
2. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cleat circumscribes the anchor, and a second biasing member.
3. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first biasing member has an overall diameter less than an overall diameter of the cleat.
4. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bushing circumscribing the anchor.
5. The cleat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the bushing is between the anchor and a second biasing member.
6. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second biasing member circumscribing the retaining post.
7. The cleat assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second biasing member has a spring constant from about 571 lbs/in to 1143 lbs/in.
8. The cleat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the bushing engages the anchor.
9. The cleat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first biasing member circumscribes the bushing.
10. The cleat assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first biasing member is adjacent the bushing.
11. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first biasing member is an annular biasing member.
12. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first biasing member is between the anchor and the cleat.
13. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first biasing member has a bending stiffness coefficient of about 0.67 in·lbs/deg to 1.33 in·lbs/deg.
14. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first biasing member provides a bending force independent of a second biasing member providing a biasing force along an axial direction of the anchor.
15. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second biasing member engaging the retaining post.
16. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a shroud extending from the cleat.
17. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a deformable member extending from the cleat for preventing or expelling debris away from the cleat assembly.
18. The cleat assembly of claim 17 , wherein the deformable member is a shroud, an expandable elastomer, a bellows, and/or a seal.
19. A shoe having a sole and the cleat assembly according to claim 1 secured to the sole.
20. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining post includes a fastener comprising a ball and socket joint.
21. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining post includes an annular flange.
22. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining post includes a post and the second biasing member circumscribes the post.
23. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second biasing member completely housed within the cleat.
24. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second biasing member between the cleat and the first biasing member.
25. The cleat assembly of claim 24 , wherein the second biasing member is a compression spring.
26. The cleat assembly of claim 25 , wherein the anchor, and the second biasing member are housed within the cleat.
27. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cleat sliding engages the retaining post.
28. A cleat assembly for a shoe comprising:
an anchor for anchoring to the shoe;
a retaining post having a detent, wherein the retaining post is pivotally connected to the anchor;
a cleat having an inner race for receiving the detent;
a first biasing member circumscribing the anchor and biasing the retaining post; and
a second biasing member engaging the retaining post.