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 cleat;
a first biasing member circumscribing the anchor and engaged with the cleat; and
a second biasing member biasing the first biasing member.
2. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises:
a main body;
a fastener extending from a proximal end of the main body; and
a substantially planar bottom about a distal end of the main body, wherein the substantially planar bottom extends radially outwardly from the main body.
3. The cleat assembly of claim 2 , wherein the substantially planar bottom is completely housed within the cleat.
4. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cleat circumscribes the anchor, the first biasing member, and the second biasing member.
5. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cleat includes an inner race for receiving the first biasing member.
6. The cleat assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first biasing member is press-fittingly engaged with the inner race.
7. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bushing circumscribing the anchor.
8. The cleat assembly of claim 7 , wherein the bushing slidingly engages the anchor.
9. The cleat assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first biasing member circumscribes the bushing.
10. The cleat assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first biasing member is connected to 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 completely housed within 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 the second biasing member providing a biasing force along an axial direction of the anchor.
15. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second biasing member directly engages the first biasing member.
16. The cleat assembly of claim 7 , wherein the second biasing member directly engages the bushing.
17. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second biasing member circumscribes the anchor.
18. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second biasing member has a spring constant from about 571 lbs/in to 1143 lbs/in.
19. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the anchor, the first biasing member, and the second biasing member are housed within the cleat.
20. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first biasing member is an elastomer and the second biasing member is a spring.
21. A shoe having a sole and the cleat assembly according to claim 1 secured to the sole.
22. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a shroud extending from the cleat.
23. The cleat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a deformable member between the cleat and a fastener of the anchor for preventing or expelling debris away from the cleat assembly.
24. The cleat assembly of claim 23 , wherein the deformable member is a shroud, an expandable elastomer, a bellows, and/or a seal.