Traction member for shoe

Abstract

A traction member, such as a shoe cleat, for a shoe is described. According to one exemplary embodiment, a cleat securable to the sole of a shoe can include a hub with an exposed surface facing away from a shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe. The cleat can further include a first group of large traction elements and a second group of small traction elements. The first group of large traction elements can be circumferentially-spaced about a periphery of the hub and with each large traction element extending downward and radially outward away from the exposed surface of the hub. The second group of small traction elements can be spaced-apart on and extend downward away from the exposed surface of the hub. The large traction elements can terminate at respective foot portions extending downward away from the hub by a first distance and the small traction elements can terminate at respective foot portions extending downward away from the hub by a second distance less than the first distance. The foot portion of each large traction element can include a generally downward facing surface that is sloped in a circumferential direction relative to the hub.

1 . A cleat securable to the sole of a shoe, the cleat comprising:
 a hub with an exposed surface facing away from a shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe; and   a first group of large traction elements circumferentially-spaced about a periphery of the hub and each extending downward and radially outward away from the exposed surface of the hub; and   a second group of small traction elements spaced-apart on and extending downward away from the exposed surface of the hub;   wherein the large traction elements terminate at respective foot portions extending downward away from the hub by a first distance and the small traction elements terminate at respective foot portions extending downward away from the hub by a second distance less than the second distance, and   wherein the foot portion of each large traction element comprises a generally downward facing surface that is sloped in a circumferential direction relative to the hub.   
     
     
         2 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein the small traction elements are interspersed between the traction elements of the first group about the periphery of the hub. 
     
     
         3 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein the small traction elements are spaced-apart about an interior portion of the exposed surface of the hub inwardly spaced from the periphery of the hub. 
     
     
         4 . The cleat of  claim 3 , wherein each small traction element is radially aligned with a respective large traction element. 
     
     
         5 . The cleat of  claim 3 , wherein the small traction elements are arranged in a generally circular configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein the large traction elements have a first shape and the small traction elements have a second shape substantially different than the first shape. 
     
     
         7 . The cleat of  claim 6 , wherein a cross-sectional area of each foot portion of the large traction elements is greater than a cross-sectional area of each foot portion of the small traction elements. 
     
     
         8 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein the large traction elements are resiliently flexible and have a first range of flexibility, and the small traction elements are resiliently flexible and have a second range of flexibility, and wherein the first range of flexibility is greater than the second range of flexibility, thereby allowing the large traction elements to resiliently deform under predetermined conditions to permit at least some of the small traction elements to primarily contact and engage a surface. 
     
     
         9 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein the first group of large traction elements comprises three large traction elements. 
     
     
         10 . The cleat of  claim 1 , wherein the first group of large traction elements comprises six large traction elements. 
     
     
         11 . A cleat securable to the sole of a shoe, the cleat comprising:
 a hub having a central axis and an exposed surface facing away from the shoe sole when the cleat is secured to the shoe; and   at least one traction element extending downward and radially outward away from the exposed surface of the hub, wherein the at least one traction element has an elongate cross-sectional shape taken along a plane parallel to the exposed surface of the hub and curved about the central axis of the hub, and wherein the at least one traction element comprises a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, the leading edge portion having a first thickness and a first height, and the trailing edge portion having a second thickness and a second height, wherein the first thickness is less than the second thickness and the first height is less than the second height.   
     
     
         12 . The cleat of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one traction element comprises an arm portion extending from the hub and terminating in a foot portion, wherein a downwardly facing surface of the arm portion has a substantially curved convex shape. 
     
     
         13 . The cleat of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one traction element terminates at a foot portion away from the hub, and wherein a cross-section of the foot portion is generally kidney or teardrop shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The cleat of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one traction element comprises an arm portion extending from the hub and terminating in a foot portion, the foot portion comprising a raised element having a plurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions defining transverse grooves between the protrusions. 
     
     
         15 . The cleat of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one traction element comprises a wear indicator. 
     
     
         16 . The cleat of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one traction element comprises a plurality of traction elements circumferentially spaced about a periphery of the hub. 
     
     
         17 . The cleat of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of traction elements is oriented to extend from the leading edge portion to the trailing edge portion in one circumferential direction about the hub. 
     
     
         18 . The cleat of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one traction element is a first traction element, the cleat further comprising at least a second traction element extending downward from the exposed surface of the hub, wherein the second traction element has a shape that is different than the shape of the first traction element and a height that is less than a height of the first traction element. 
     
     
         19 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole having a bottom surface in which a bore is defined; and   a cleat comprising a fastener portion at least partially received within the bore and a traction portion having (i) a hub with an exposed surface facing generally away from the sole and (ii) a plurality of traction elements extending from the hub and away from the sole;   wherein the plurality of traction elements comprises:
 (i) a first set of traction elements circumferentially-spaced about a periphery of the hub and extending generally downward and outward from the hub, wherein each traction element of the first set of traction elements has a generally elongate shape curved about a central axis of the hub and a first height and a foot portion sloped in a circumferential direction with respect to the hub; and 
 (ii) a second set of traction elements extending generally downward from the hub, the traction elements of the second set of traction elements each having a second height less than the first height.