Indexable shoe cleat with improved traction

Abstract

A shoe cleat with improved traction includes at least one dynamic traction element and at least one static traction element extending from a hub, where the traction elements are asymmetrically positioned about a central axis of the hub. The dynamic traction element is configured to deflect toward the shoe sole when the shoe to which the cleat is secured engages a ground surface, whereas the static traction element is configured to substantially resist flexing when the shoe engages the ground surface. The asymmetrical arrangement of traction elements on the hub facilitates the indexing of the shoe cleat with respect to the shoe sole to provide a variety of forms of enhanced traction for the shoe for different applications.

1 . A method of providing traction for a shoe on a ground surface utilizing a cleat secured to a sole of the shoe, the cleat including a hub with an exposed surface facing away from the shoe sole, at least one dynamic traction element and at least one static traction element extending from the hub in a direction away from the hub exposed surface, the traction elements being asymmetrically aligned about a central axis of the hub, the method comprising: 
 (a) securing the cleat to the shoe sole such that the dynamic and static traction elements are aligned in a selected axially asymmetric orientation with respect to a central axis of the cleat and to the shoe sole;    (b) forcing the shoe against the ground surface; and    (c) in response to the forcing of the shoe against the ground surface, resiliently deflecting the dynamic traction element from an initial position toward the shoe sole while the static traction element substantially resists flexing.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (d) removing the shoe from the ground surface; and    (e) in response to removal of the shoe from the ground surface, resiliently deflecting the traction element back to the initial position.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic traction element is greater in longitudinal dimension than the static traction element.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one set of adjacently positioned dynamic traction elements extend from the hub and at least one set of adjacently positioned static traction elements extend from the hub.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cleat further includes a cleat connector extending from a surface of the hub opposing the exposed surface, the shoe sole includes a receptacle, and the method further comprises: 
 (d) securing the cleat connector to the receptacle in a suitable manner to align the traction elements in the selected orientation with respect to the shoe sole.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic traction element includes at least one protrusion extending from an outer surface of the dynamic traction element, and the method further comprises: 
 (d) engaging and trapping grass blades between the protrusion and the shoe sole when the dynamic traction element deflects toward the shoe sole.    
   
   
       7 . For a shoe traction cleat of the kind have plural dynamic traction elements which resiliently flex relatively easily in response weight applied to the cleat via the shoe, and a plurality of static traction elements which are substantially more resistant to flexure in response to said weight, a method of providing specific position-dependent tractional characteristics comprising the step of (a) orienting said traction elements asymmetrically relative to an axis of the cleat about which the cleat is attachable to the shoe.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the cleat includes a hub from which the traction elements depend, wherein step (a) includes depending said traction elements from the hub at respective angularly spaced element locations about said axis and proximate the hub periphery.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said hub is generally circular and said axis extends perpendicularly through its center, and wherein step (a) further includes positioning at least three of said static traction elements at three angularly successive element locations.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein step (a) includes providing said dynamic traction elements with a greater length so as to project further from said hub than said static traction elements  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein step (a) includes providing more of one of said static and dynamic traction elements than the other.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein step (a) comprises providing more of said dynamic traction elements.  
   
   
       13 . A cleat securable to a sole of a shoe for providing traction for the shoe on a ground surface, the cleat comprising: 
 a hub having a periphery and an exposed surface facing away from the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe;    a plurality of dynamic traction elements extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed surface of the hub, the dynamic traction elements being configured to deflect toward the shoe sole when the shoe to which the cleat is secured engages the ground surface; and    a plurality of static traction elements extending from the hub in a direction away from the exposed surface of the hub, the static traction element being configured to substantially resist flexing when the shoe to which the cleat is secured engages the ground surface;    wherein the traction elements are asymmetrically positioned about a central axis of the hub to facilitate different orientations of the traction elements with respect to the shoe sole when the cleat is differently rotationally positioned about said axis.    
   
   
       14 . The cleat of  claim 13  wherein said traction elements extend from the hub at respective angularly spaced element locations about said axis and proximate the hub periphery.  
   
   
       15 . The cleat of  claim 14 , wherein the dynamic traction elements are greater in longitudinal dimension than the static traction elements.  
   
   
       16 . The cleat of  claim 14 , wherein at least one set of adjacently positioned static traction elements extend from the hub at successive angular spaced element locations.  
   
   
       17 . The cleat of  claim 14 , wherein at least one set of adjacently positioned dynamic traction elements extend from the hub at successive angular spaced element locations.