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:
a fastener for anchoring to the shoe;
a retaining post connected to the fastener;
a cleat having an inner race for receiving the retaining post; and
a biasing member circumscribing the fastener, wherein the cleat tilts relative to the biasing member.
2 . The cleat assembly for a shoe of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member biases the cleat.
3 . The cleat assembly for a shoe of claim 1 , further comprising a second biasing member adjacent the retaining post.
4 . The cleat assembly for a shoe of claim 1 , further comprising a second biasing member carried by the cleat.
5 . The cleat assembly for a shoe of claim 1 , wherein the retaining post is movable relative to the biasing member.
6 . The cleat assembly for a shoe of claim 1 , wherein the retaining post pivots relative to the biasing member.
7 . A cleat assembly comprising:
a cleat for engaging a ground surface;
a fastener operatively engaged with the cleat and that has an end for engaging a sole of a shoe;
a concave recess, the fastener including a section having a complementary convex shape that pivotably engages with the concave recess in response to a shear force;
one or more elastomeric elements that engages with the cleat to control the degree of deformation or deflection of the cleat in response to a lateral shear force and to restore the cleat to its neutral position once the force is removed; and
a retaining post operatively connected to and housed within the cleat.
8 . The cleat assembly of claim 7 , wherein the one or more elastomeric elements are configured and/or disposed to directionally control the deformation or deflection of the cleat.
9 . The cleat assembly of claim 7 , wherein the elastomeric element comprises a ring disposed around the fastener.
10 . The cleat assembly for a shoe of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member contacts the cleat.
11 . The cleat assembly for a shoe of claim 1 , wherein the retaining post is encased within the cleat.
12 . A cleat assembly comprising:
a cleat that includes an inner race;
a fastener operatively engaged with the cleat and that has an end for engaging a sole of a shoe;
a concave recess, the fastener including a section having a complementary convex shape that pivotably engages with the concave recess in response to a shear force; and
one or more elastomeric elements that engages with the cleat to control the degree of deformation or deflection of the cleat in response to a lateral shear force and to restore the cleat to its neutral position once the force is removed.
13 . The cleat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the one or more elastomeric elements are configured and/or disposed to directionally control the deformation or deflection of the cleat.
14 . The cleat assembly of claim 12 , wherein the elastomeric element comprises a ring disposed around the fastener.
15 . The cleat assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a retaining post operatively connected to the cleat.
16 . The cleat assembly of claim 15 , wherein the retaining post is housed within the cleat.