Abstract:
This application is directed towards an article of footwear for deeply and quickly penetrating a turf surface, such as a soccer, rugby or football shoe. The article of footwear includes a cleat having fluted sides, which creates a channel for moving turf materials in a direction different from the direction of penetration for faster and deeper cleat penetration and better traction. The application also is directed towards an individual cleat for a shoe, wherein the cleat has fluted sides.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to an article of footwear having a cleat thereon and the cleat attached thereto.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In a variety of sports, traction on a playing field is improved by wearing a cleated shoe. Many spiked shoes, such as those metal and plastic spikes made for golf shoes, provide only surface traction and do not penetrate deeply into turf surfaces for traction, so as not to cause damage to delicate golf courses and greens. A golf shoe of this type may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,059 to Singer et al. For running sports and sports played in a variety of weather conditions, such as football, rugby and soccer, where surface traction alone will not provide adequate traction, cleated shoes have been developed to penetrate more deeply than the surface traction provided by golf shoes. Slippery turf conditions may be caused by the weather, the type of turf, and the particular activity being performed on the turf surface. For each of these slippery conditions, traction is enhanced when cleats can penetrate deeply and quickly into a turf surface.  
         [0003]     To solve this problem, many cleats have been created in a conical shape, with a smaller surface area at a tip so that the smaller surface area can penetrate the surface more easily. However, as the cleat pushes down into a grass or synthetic turf, the turf is compacted underneath the cleat or is forced away from the sloped sides of the cleat. As the dirt compacts, resistance to the penetration of the cleat is created thus inhibiting the cleat from quickly and deeply penetrating the turf.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention is directed towards an article of footwear including a cleat having fluted sides. The fluted sides provide a channel for moving turf materials in a direction different from the direction of penetration for faster and deeper cleat penetration and better traction.  
         [0005]     Another aspect of the invention is an individual cleat for a shoe, wherein the cleat has fluted sides.  
         [0006]     Further embodiments, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of the various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES  
       [0007]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a partial cross-sectional view of a conical shaped cleat penetrating a turf surface.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a cleat of the present invention penetrating a turf surface.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a cleated shoe of the present invention  
         [0011]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cleat of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4B  is a top plan view of the cleat of  FIG. 4A .  
         [0013]      FIG. 4C  is a side plan view of the cleat of  FIG. 4A .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4D  is a cross-sectional view of the cleat of  FIG. 4A  taken along line D-D of  FIG. 4B .  
         [0015]      FIG. 5-8  are top plan views of alternate embodiments of cleats of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cleat of the present invention.  FIG. 9B  is a side plan view of the cleat of  FIG. 9A .  FIG. 9C  is a top plan view of the cleat of  FIG. 9A .  FIG. 9D  is a cross-sectional view of the cleat of  FIG. 9A  taken along line D-D of  FIG. 9C . 
     
    
       [0017]     The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing in which an element first appears is typically indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     The present invention is directed toward a cleated shoe, particularly a cleated shoe designed for deep and fast penetration into a turf surface, such as would be necessary in shoes for football, rugby or soccer. Many sports are played on a variety of turf surfaces, both natural, synthetic and combination of natural and synthetic turf surfaces. Some non-exclusive examples of turf surfaces include any type of natural grass, Astroturf, FIELD TURF, and those turf surfaces particularly used in professional or collegiate football, soccer or rugby fields.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates the manner in which a conventional conical cleat  101  of a shoe  100  penetrates a turf surface  103 . Arrows  104  illustrate the direction of the force and the way the soil or other material that form the turf surface  103  are compacted as the cleat  101  is pushed downward. As the soil or other material compacts, it creates a resistance to the cleat pushing further downward, thus slowing or limiting the ability of the cleat to embed in the turf surface.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cleat  201  of a shoe  200  according to the present invention penetrating a turf surface  103 . Cleat  201  includes fluting  206  that channels at least some soil or other turf materials generally in the direction of arrows  208 , moving soil or other turf materials without as much compacting as with conventional cleat  101 . As such, cleat  201  penetrates the turf surface deeper and faster to increase traction of shoe  200 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates a shoe  300 , including an upper  310  and a sole  312 , attached to the upper, and at least three cleats  301 , such as the cleats described or otherwise disclosed herein. Shoe  300  illustrates the general environment for which any cleat of the present invention may be suitable. Shoe  300  may have any number of cleats  301  disposed anywhere on sole  312 . Each of cleats  301  may be permanent or may be detachable. If cleat  301  is permanent, it may be formed integrally with sole  312 , formed integrally with an intermediate element (not shown) of a sole  312 , or formed separately and subsequently permanently attached to sole  312  or an intermediate element thereof.  
         [0022]      FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate a cleat  401  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Cleat  401  includes a head  413  which is generally a conical frustum, or a three-dimensional cone which has had the point cut off. Head  413  of cleat  401 , has a generally circular base end  414  and a tip end  416 . Base end  414  of head  413  abuts a sole of a shoe, such as sole  312  of shoe  300  of  FIG. 3 , and tip end  416  is capable of penetrating a turf surface. Head  413  also has sloping sides  418 . Sloping sides  418  have fluting  406  therein. Fluting  406  are grooves or channels formed in an otherwise conical frustum that spiral around the cleat  401  as it extends from tip end  416  towards base end  414  of head  413 . As best shown in  FIG. 4B , cleat  401  has three fluted regions  406   a ,  406   b  and  406   c , which form circumferentially-spaced spirals around sloping sides  418  of cleat  401 .  
         [0023]     The base end  414  has a first surface area which is larger than a second surface area of the tip end  416 , such that the tip end  416  may easily enter a turf surface. The first surface area of base end  414  may be about one-half inch to about three-quarters inch in diameter, which is generally smaller than a base of a typical golf spike. The second surface area of tip end  416  may be about one-quarter inch to about one-half inch in diameter. Tip end  416  is generally flat, but may be slightly curved towards the sloping sides  418  of head  413 .  
         [0024]     The surface area of tip end  416  is made even smaller where fluting  406  extending through to the tip end  416  has formed cut outs  422  in the tip end  416 , which otherwise would be a circular end to a conical frustum. As such, tip end  416  is generally Y-shaped. Although the surface area of tip end  416  is sufficiently reduced to allow for the turf penetration as discussed above, it is not reduced enough to penetrate the skin of a player. As shown in  FIG. 4D , cleat  401  includes a length L, that is the distance between the tip end  416  and base end  414 . Fluting  406  is deepest at the tip end  416  and gradually becomes more shallow as fluting  406  spirals along length L towards the base end  414 , so as to provide a channel to move soil or other turf materials while cleat  401  is penetrating the turf surface.  
         [0025]     A detachable cleat  401  may also include a fastener for coupling cleat  401  to a sole of a shoe, such as sole  312  of shoe  300  of  FIG. 3 . An example of such a fastener is a post  421 , as seen in  FIGS. 4C and 4D . Post  421  has a first end  424  embedded within head  413  of cleat  401  and a second end  425  that extends from base end  414  of head  413 . Post  421  includes an exterior surface with a first set of threads  426 . Threads  426  correspond to and are capable of engaging a second set of threads (not shown) which are formed on an interior surface of a recess formed in a sole of a shoe, such as sole  312  of shoe  300  of  FIG. 3 . Other fasteners may include, but are not limited to clips, pins, retaining rings, rivets, brads, brackets, or another fastener apparent to one skilled in the art.  
         [0026]     In one embodiment, such a sole recess (not shown), may include an insert (not shown) when the material that a sole is made of is flexible or not strong enough to support the force of the traction created by cleat  401 . Post  421  is generally a strong and inflexible material, including but not limited to metals, such as steel, stainless steel, nickel, copper, chromium, iron, brass, bronze, aluminum, titanium, magnesium or a combination or an alloy thereof, so as to maintain its connection with a sole of a shoe. However, post  421  may also be made of a strong thermoplastic material, including but not limited to nylon or silicone. Head  413  of cleat  401  may be made from a metal or plastic material that, preferably, will not chip, break or crush. Such materials may be, but are not limited to, metal or thermoplastic materials, such as a material including thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or PEBAX. Head  413  and/or post  421 , if made of a thermoplastic material, may be injection molded, blow molded, thermoformed, or formed by another method for molding thermoplastics that would be apparent to one skilled in the art. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4A-4D , an injection molded TPU head  413  is formed over and around a first end  424  of a steel post  421 . In an alternate embodiment, post  421  may be subsequently screwed into a previously formed head  413  via formed threads or another bore formed therein.  
         [0027]     In one embodiment, a detachable cleat  401  may also include notches  428  in head  413 . Notches  428  engage a connecting tool (not shown) used to fasten and unfasten cleat  401  to a sole of a shoe, such as sole  312  of shoe  300 . Cleat  401 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-4D , includes three circumferentially-spaced notches  428  along sloping sides  418  of head  413 . Thus, a connecting tool, would have three prongs which engage notches  428  to aid in turning and tightening post  421  into a recess of a sole of a shoe. In alternate embodiments, cleat  401  may have greater or fewer number of notches  428 , as would appropriately correspond to a connecting tool. Further, cleat  401  has notches  428  which are generally triangular ridges which become deeper as they extend in a direction away from tip end  416  and towards base end  414 . Notches  428  may be shaped differently such as a circular well in head  413  or another shape as would be apparent to one skilled in the art, provided that it corresponds to an similarly shaped connecting tool.  
         [0028]     Length L of cleat  401  from  FIG. 4D  is significantly long enough to embed deeply into a turf surface for good traction. For example, a length between about one-half to one inch is suitable for most applications. However, since NCAA rules presently require cleats no longer than one-half inch, cleat  401  may be shorter than one-half inch, such as about three-eighths inch, but longer than the length of a typical golf spike, which will not embed deeply into a turf surface, but merely provide surface traction.  
         [0029]     As discussed above,  FIG. 4B  illustrates how three fluted regions,  406   a .  406   b  and  406   c  form a Y-shaped tip end  416 . However, alternate embodiments may have a different shaped tip end and more or less fluted regions.  FIGS. 5-8  illustrate some, but not all, of these alternate embodiments. In particular,  FIG. 5  illustrates a cleat  501  having a head  513  with three fluted regions  506   a ,  506   b  and  506   c , which form straight rather than curved cut outs  522  to form a triangular-shaped tip end  516 . Similarly,  FIG. 6  illustrates a cleat  601  having a head  613  with four fluted regions  606   a ,  606   b ,  606   c  and  606   d  which form four straight cut outs  622  to form a diamond-shaped tip end  616 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a cleat  701  having a head  713  with four fluted regions  706   a ,  706   b ,  706   c  and  706   d  which form four right angle curved cut outs  722  to form a plus (+)-shaped tip end  716 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a cleat  801  having a head  813  with four fluted regions  806   a ,  806   b ,  806   c  and  806   d  which form four curved cut outs  822 , similar to cut outs  422  of  FIGS. 4A-4D , to form a four pointed star-shaped tip end  816 . These alternative embodiments are merely illustrative examples of the possible shapes of a tip end according to further embodiments of the present invention, when the number and cut outs of fluted regions are altered.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 9A-9D  show an alternative embodiment of a cleat  901 . Cleat  901  is shaped and functions similarly to cleat  401  of  FIGS. 4A-4D , including a head  913  and a fastener, post  921 . However, head  913  is made of two different materials instead of just one material, as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4D . In particular, head  913  includes a plastic portion  938  and a metal portion  940 . The plastic portion  938  may be a thermoplastic material, such as TPU or PEBAX. Metal portion  940  may be made from a metal, such as steel, stainless steel, nickel, copper, chromium, iron, brass, bronze, aluminum, titanium, magnesium or a combination or an alloy thereof.  
         [0031]     Having metal portion  940  and plastic portion  938  provides cleat  901  with the combination of strength and durability of a metal part with the lightweight of a thermoplastic part. Metal portion  940  includes a tip portion  942 , which has a first end  942   a  that defines a tip end  916  of head  913 . Tip portion  942  also includes sides which define a portion  918   a  of sloping sides  918  and cut outs  922  formed by fluting  906 . Tip portion  942  also includes a second end  942   b , which is flush with a first end  938   a  of plastic portion  938 . A metallic tip portion  942  gives cleat  901  exceptional durability, in that the tip end  916  most often contacts not only the turf of playing surfaces, but also concrete and other walking surfaces. Second end  942   b  of tip portion  942  engages a first end  944   a  of an extension portion  944 . Extension portion  944  extends through a center of head  913  of cleat  901 , providing support and strength to cleat  901 . Extension portion  944  includes a second end  944   b  which engages a first end  946   a  of a fastening portion  946 . Fastening portion  946  also includes a second end  946   b , which extends from a base end  914  of head  913 . Fastening portion  946  defines post  921  and includes an outer surface with a first set of threads  926 . Threads  926  correspond to and are capable of engaging a second set of threads (not shown) which are formed on an interior surface of a recess formed in a sole of a shoe, such as sole  312  of shoe  300  of  FIG. 3 . Having metal portion  940  extend through the length of cleat  901  also ensures that cleat  901  fastens securely to a sole of a shoe in that post  921  is part of metal portion  940  that is secured within the entire length of cleat  901 . As with cleat  401 , discussed above, a metal tipped cleat, such as cleat  901 , may be permanently attached or detachable with a sole and may utilize any type of fastening means.  
         [0032]     While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.  
         [0033]     Additionally, all references cited herein, including issued U.S. patents, or any other references, are each entirely incorporated by reference herein, including all data, tables, figures, and text presented in the cited references.