Interchangeable durometer coupling ring cleat

Abstract

A removable cleat is described. A ground-engaging element is composed of a first material, and has a vertical axis, a lower ground engaging end, and an upper end. A coupling element is composed of a second material, and has a vertical axis, a lower end connected to the upper end of the ground-engaging element, and an upper end having an attaching structure for removably attaching the upper end to a shoe. One material is relatively harder and more rigid, permitting the cleat to withstand forces accompanying a non-slipping engagement. The other material is relatively softer and more pliant, permitting the cleat to absorb a shock produced when the shoe strikes a surface, thereby diminishing the shock transmitted to the encased foot.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A removable cleat comprising: 
 (a) a ground-engaging element composed of a first material having a vertical axis, a lower ground engaging end, and an upper end;    (b) a coupling element composed of a second material and having a vertical axis, a lower end connected to the upper end of the ground-engaging element, and an upper end having an attaching structure for removably attaching the upper end to a shoe;    wherein: 
 (i) one material is relatively harder and more rigid, permitting the cleat to withstand forces accompanying a non-slipping engagement, and  
 (ii) the other material is relatively softer and more pliant, permitting the cleat to absorb a shock produced when the shoe strikes a surface, thereby diminishing the shock transmitted to the encased foot.  
   
     
     
         2 . A removable cleat according to  claim 1 , wherein the ground-engaging element and the coupling element are inseparable.  
     
     
         3 . A removable cleat as in  claim 1 , wherein the ground-engaging element upper end has an engaging structure and the coupling element has a receiving structure; wherein the engaging structure and the receiving structure are adapted to removably attach the ground-engaging element and the coupling element.  
     
     
         4 . A removable cleat as in  claim 1 , wherein the first material is softer than the second material.  
     
     
         5 . A removable cleat as in  claim 4 , wherein the first material is natural rubber, thermoplastic, soft polyvinyl-chloride, soft polyurethane, or soft plastic.  
     
     
         6 . A removable cleat as in  claim 4 , wherein the second material is nylon, acetal, hard polyurethane, hard plastic, or metal.  
     
     
         7 . A removable cleat as in  claim 1 , wherein the first material is harder than the second material.  
     
     
         8 . A removable cleat as in  claim 7 , wherein the first material is acetal, hard polyurethane, hard plastic, or metal.  
     
     
         9 . A removable cleat as in  claim 7 , wherein the second material is natural rubber, thermoplastic, soft polyvinyl-chloride, soft polyurethane, or soft plastic.  
     
     
         10 . A removable cleat as in  claim 1 , wherein the first material has a distinguishing appearance relative to the second material.  
     
     
         11 . A removable cleat as in  claim 10 , wherein the distinguishing appearance between the first and second material is that each material retains a distinctive color.  
     
     
         12 . A removable cleat as in  claim 10 , wherein as the ground-engaging element wears away, the coupling element becomes more visible.  
     
     
         13 . A removable cleat as in  claim 1 , wherein the ground engaging element has an outer circumference and plurality of projections arranged around the outer circumference.  
     
     
         14 . A removable cleat as in  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the coupling element contains a ledge around its circumference conformed to the shape of the ground-engaging projections.  
     
     
         15 . A removable cleat comprising: 
 (a.) a ground-engaging element of a first material having a vertical cylindrical axis, a lower ground-engaging end, and an upper end having an engaging structure for removably attaching the ground-engaging element to a receiving structure on the sole of a shoe;    (b.) a coupling element of a second material concentric with the vertical cylindrical axis of the ground-engaging element, and having an upper end and a lower end such that the lower end is in contact with the ground-engaging element and the upper end is in contact with the sole of the shoe when the cleat is attached to the shoe;    wherein: 
 (i) one material is harder and more rigid, permitting the cleat to withstand the forces accompanying a non-slipping engagement; and  
 (ii) one material is softer and more pliant, permitting the cleat to absorb the shock produced when the shoe strikes a surface, thereby diminishing the shock transmitted to the encased foot.  
   
     
     
         16 . A removable cleat according to  claim 15 , wherein the ground-engaging element and the coupling element are inseparable.  
     
     
         17 . A removable cleat as in  claim 15 , wherein the ground-engaging element upper end has an engaging structure and the coupling element has a receiving structure; wherein the engaging structure and the receiving structure are adapted to removably attach the ground-engaging element and the coupling element.  
     
     
         18 . A removable cleat as in  claim 15 , wherein the first material is softer than the second material.  
     
     
         19 . A removable cleat as in  claim 18 , wherein the first material is natural rubber, thermoplastic, soft polyvinyl-chloride, soft polyurethane, or soft plastic.  
     
     
         20 . A removable cleat as in  claim 8 , wherein the second material is nylon, acetal, hard polyurethane, hard plastic, or metal.  
     
     
         21 . A removable cleat as in  claim 15 , wherein the first material is harder than the second material.  
     
     
         22 . A removable cleat as in  claim 21  wherein the first material is acetal, hard polyurethane, hard plastic or metal.  
     
     
         23 . A removable cleat as in  claim 21 , wherein the second material is natural rubber, thermoplastic, soft polyvinyl-chloride, soft polyurethane, or soft plastic.  
     
     
         24 . A removable cleat as in  claim 15 , wherein the first material has a distinguishing appearance relative to the second material.  
     
     
         26 . A removable cleat as in  claim 24 , wherein the distinguishing appearance between the first and second material is that each material retains a distinctive color.  
     
     
         27 . A removable cleat as in  claim 24 , wherein as the ground-engaging element wears away, the coupling element becomes more visible.  
     
     
         28 . A removable cleat as in  claim 15 , wherein the ground engaging element has an outer circumference and plurality of projections arranged around the outer circumference.  
     
     
         29 . A removable cleat as in  claim 15 , wherein the lower end of the coupling element contains a ledge around its circumference conformed to the shape of the ground-engaging projections.