Cleat and system therefor

Abstract

A cleat is disclosed that can be inserted into and locked into a receptacle in a shoe bottom as locking members engage portions of the receptacle in the shoe bottom. The cleat can be easily removed from the receptacle with minimal force, by pushing a pin inward to disengage locking members, freeing the cleat from the locking engagement allowing for removal of the cleat from the shoe bottom.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cleat comprising: 
 a body, the body terminating in at least one spike at an end;    at least one locking member moveable in the body, at least a portion of the at least one locking member configured for extending beyond the body when the at least one locking member is forced outward; and    a pin extending at least partially into the body and slideable in the body, the pin moveable between a first position, where the at least one locking member is forced outward and the at least a portion of the at least one locking member extends beyond the body, and a second position, where the at least one locking member is movable inward in the body.    
     
     
         2 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a stem portion and at least one arm extending from the stem portion, the end of the at least one arm defining the at least one spike.  
     
     
         3 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein the stem portion includes a chamber extending therein, the chamber including an open end and a closed end, a first portion for accommodating the pin, and at least one second portion for accommodating the at least one locking member.  
     
     
         4 . The cleat of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the chamber is in communication with the at least one second portion of the chamber.  
     
     
         5 . The cleat of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion of the chamber is substantially perpendicular with respect to the at least one second portion of the chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The cleat of  claim 3 , additionally comprising: a spring intermediate the pin and the closed end of the chamber.  
     
     
         7 . The cleat of  claim 6 , wherein the spring is biased to force the pin outward.  
     
     
         8 . The cleat of  claim 7 , wherein the pin includes and outwardly extending collar and the stem portion includes a lip extending into the chamber, the lip for preventing outward movement of the collar.  
     
     
         9 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein at least one spike includes a plurality of spikes.  
     
     
         10 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking member includes a plurality of locking members.  
     
     
         11 . The cleat of  claim 10 , wherein the locking members include ball bearings.  
     
     
         12 . The cleat of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one second portion of the chamber includes a plurality of second portions.  
     
     
         13 . The cleat of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one arm includes a plurality of arms.  
     
     
         14 . The cleat of  claim 13 , additionally comprising: an auxiliary member configured for seating proximate to the body within the plurality of arms, the auxiliary member including a plurality of spikes.  
     
     
         15 . A system for retaining a removable cleat comprising: 
 a receptacle, the receptacle including at least one receiving portion; and    a cleat, the cleat comprising: 
 a body configured for receipt in the receptacle, the body terminating in at least one spike at an end;  
 at least one locking member moveable in the body, at least a portion of the at least one locking member configured for engaging the receiving portion of the receptacle when the at least one locking member is forced outward; and  
 a pin extending at least partially into the body and slideable in the body, the pin moveable between a first position, where the at least one locking member is forced outward, and a second position, where the at least one locking member is movable inward in the body.  
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the body includes a stem portion and at least one arm extending from the stem portion, the end of the at least one arm defining the at least one spike.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the stem portion includes a chamber extending therein, the chamber including an open end and a closed end, a first portion for accommodating the pin, and at least one second portion for accommodating the at least one locking member.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first portion of the chamber is in communication with the at least one second portion of the chamber.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first portion of the chamber is substantially perpendicular with respect to the at least one second portion of the chamber.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , additionally comprising: a spring intermediate the pin and the closed end of the chamber.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the spring is biased to force the pin outward.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the pin includes and outwardly extending collar and the stem portion includes a lip extending into the chamber, the lip for preventing outward movement of the collar.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one spike includes a plurality of spikes.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one locking member includes a plurality of locking members.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the locking members include ball bearings.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one second portion of the chamber includes a plurality of second portions.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one arm includes a plurality of arms.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , additionally comprising: an auxiliary member configured for seating proximate to the body within the plurality of arms, the auxiliary member including a plurality of spikes.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the receptacle is configured for receipt in a shoe bottom.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one receiving portion includes at least one groove.