Wear-indicating exchangeable golf cleat

Abstract

An exchangeable two-part polymeric golf cleat. The first part includes that portion of the cleat which contains the threaded stem for insertion into the outer sole of the shoe, at least a portion of the central hub, and a plurality of cantilevered projection traction elements. The second part includes the remainder (if any) of the central hub and a plurality of cantilevered projection traction elements. The first and second parts are of distinctly different colors. When different materials are used in the two parts, it is preferable that the first part have a harder durometer than the second part. The user of the cleat may determine when the traction element has been worn down to such an extent that adequate traction will soon no longer be provided. This determination can be made by visually observing the distinct color of the first portion visible in the traction element.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of making a polymeric wear-indicating exchangeable golf cleat which comprises an insert which fits into an outer sole of a golf shoe, a main body, and a plurality of projection traction elements, said cleat comprising a first part and a second part, which method comprises: 
 A) injection molding the first part of the cleat comprising the insert, at least a portion of the main body, and that portion of the projection traction elements which contains distal ends of the projection traction elements which would not supply adequate traction by the cleat upon contact with a walking surface, thus creating a surface of the first part of the cleat which will contact the second part of the cleat and    b) injection molding the second part of the cleat comprising any remainder of the main body and the remainder of the projection traction elements, which remainder of the projection traction elements being capable of supplying adequate traction by the cleat upon contact with a walking surface, which remainder of the projection traction elements have inwardly facing surfaces and outwardly facing surfaces, the first and second parts being of distinctly different colors, said process being carried out in such a way that the projection traction elements of the first part of the cleat lie along the outwardly facing surfaces of the projection elements of the second part of the cleat.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the cleat is made using a process of two-shot injection molding.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the first part and the second part are first separately molded and then bonded together.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the first part and the second part are made of the same polymeric material.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the first part and the second part are made of different polymeric material.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 5    wherein the first part is made of a higher durometer polymeric material than is the second part.  
     
     
         7 . In a polymeric wear-indicating exchangeable golf cleat comprising an insert which fits into an outer sole of a golf shoe, a main body, and a plurality of projection traction elements, the improvement wherein the cleat comprises first and second parts, 
 A) the first part comprising the insert, at least a portion of the main body, and that portion of the projection traction elements which contains distal ends of the projection traction elements which would not supply adequate traction by the cleat upon contact with a walking surface,    B) the second part comprising any remainder of the main body and the remainder of the projection traction elements, which remainder of the projection traction elements being capable of supplying adequate traction by the cleat upon contact with a walking surface, which remainder of the projection traction elements have inwardly facing surfaces and outwardly facing surfaces,    said first part and said second part of the cleat being of distinctly different colors, and the projection traction elements of the first part of the cleat lie along the outwardly facing surfaces of the projection traction elements of the second part of the cleat.    
     
     
         8 . The golf cleat of    claim 7   , wherein the first part and the second part have two different durometers, the first part being harder than the second part.  
     
     
         9 . The golf cleat of    claim 7   , wherein a chemical bonding agent binds the first part to the second part.  
     
     
         10 . A method of determining whether a golf cleat of    claim 7    having a walking surface is worn to the point at which it should be exchanged, which method comprises visually observing the walking surface of the golf cleat of    claim 7    to see if the distinctly different color of the first part of the cleat appears on the walking surface.  
     
     
         11 . A method of estimating the useful wear life of the golf cleat of    claim 7   , having a walking surface, which method comprises visually observing the outwardly facing surface of the cleat of    claim 7    and noting the distance between the distinctly different color of the first part of the cleat and the walking surface.