Patent ID: 7428790

Claim:
A universal cleat suitable for use with a plurality of different athletic shoes, each different shoe having uniquely shaped generally triangular recesses in the sole each for receiving a cleat, each recess having a threaded opening therein for receiving a retaining screw to hold a cleat in place and each recess having a recess perimeter, the cleat comprising: (a) a generally triangular base having two straight sides of equal length with a substantially flat bottom, the dimensions of the substantially flat bottom being sized to fit within each uniquely shaped recess perimeter, vertices of said triangular base being rounded; (b) a grip projecting substantially perpendicularly from the base; (c) an oblong shaped mounting hole recessed within the base for receiving the retaining screw; and (d) a metal insert positioned inside the base around the oblong shaped mounting hole, wherein the area of the base is smaller than the areas of each of the recesses so that in the absence of the retaining fastener a cleat can wiggle in a recess, and wherein the ratio of a length of the mounting hole to a width of the mounting hole is from about 8:7 to about 10:7.