Buttress for Removable Cleats

Abstract

A shoe sole for receiving at least one cleat has at least one cleat receptacle, and at least one buttress forming a protrusion on the bottom of the shoe sole. The buttress may be adjacent to the receptacle. The buttress may be configured to support an outer edge of a cleat mounted in the receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe sole for receiving at least one cleat comprising:
 at least one cleat receptacle, and   at least one buttress forming a protrusion on the bottom of the shoe sole adjacent the receptacle, the buttress being configured to support an outer edge of a cleat mounted in the receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe sole of  claim 1 , wherein the buttress supports at least a single leg of the cleat. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe sole of  claim 2 , wherein the buttress is configured so that it contacts an outer edge of the leg. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe sole of  claim 2 , wherein the buttress is in constant contact with the cleat when it is mounted in the receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe sole of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is surrounded by the at least one buttress. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe sole of  claim 1 , further comprising a cleat mounted in the receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe sole of  claim 1 , wherein the buttress interlocks with the cleat 
     
     
         8 . The shoe sole of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has an acute angular apex facing the sole. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe sole of  claim 1 , wherein the buttress has a concave surface with a focal point located in the interior of the cleat receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe sole of  claim 9 , wherein the focal point is at the center of the cleat receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe sole of  claim 1 , wherein the buttress is substantially in the shape of a ring. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe sole of  claim 11 , wherein an inner diameter of the buttress is equal to an outer diameter of a cleat so as to come in close contact with the cleat. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe sole of  claim 12 , wherein a diameter at the apex of the buttress is greater than an outer diameter of the cleat. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe sole of  claim 1 , comprising two or more buttresses equidistant of each other. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe sole of  claim 8 , wherein an orthogonal projection on the sole of the apex is within the buttress. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe sole of  claim 8 , wherein an orthogonal projection on the sole of the apex is beside the buttress. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe sole of  claim 8 , wherein an orthogonal projection on the sole of the apex is along a side of the buttress facing the cleat socket. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe sole of  claim 8 , wherein the apex has a height equal to a greatest height of the cleat. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe sole of  claim 8 , wherein the apex has a height smaller than a greatest height of the cleat. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe sole of  claim 1 , wherein the buttress is integral to the sole. 
     
     
         21 . A shoe comprising the sole of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . A shoe sole for receiving at least one cleat comprising:
 at least one cleat receptacle, and   at least one buttress forming a protrusion on the bottom of the shoe sole adjacent the receptacle, the buttress being configured to prevent a cleat mounted in the receptacle from being dislodged from the receptacle.   
     
     
         23 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , wherein the buttress protects the cleat. 
     
     
         24 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , wherein the buttress is spaced around the cleat. 
     
     
         25 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , wherein at least one buttress is lined up with a leg of the cleat. 
     
     
         26 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , wherein the buttress supports at least a single leg of the cleat. 
     
     
         27 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , wherein the receptacle is surrounded by the at least one buttress. 
     
     
         28 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , further comprising a cleat mounted in the receptacle. 
     
     
         29 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , wherein the buttress interlocks with the cleat 
     
     
         30 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , wherein the protrusion has an acute angular apex facing the sole. 
     
     
         31 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , wherein the buttress has a concave surface with a focal point located in the interior of the cleat receptacle. 
     
     
         32 . The shoe sole of  claim 31 , wherein the focal point is at the center of the cleat receptacle. 
     
     
         33 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , wherein the buttress is substantially in the shape of a ring. 
     
     
         34 . The shoe sole of  claim 33 , comprising two or more buttresses equidistant of each other. 
     
     
         35 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , wherein the apex has a height equal to a greatest height of the cleat. 
     
     
         36 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , wherein the apex has a height smaller than a greatest height of the cleat. 
     
     
         37 . The shoe sole of  claim 22 , wherein the buttress is integral to the sole. 
     
     
         38 . A shoe comprising the sole of  claim 22 . 
     
     
         39 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole having a traction surface;   a receptacle disposed in the sole; and   a cleat having at least one traction projection extending from a base and an engagement projection for connecting with the receptacle, the base having an exterior circumferential surface having a first shape;   wherein the sole includes a ring protruding from the traction surface and positioned around the receptacle, the ring having an interior circumferential surface having a second shape, such that the second shape complements the first shape.   
     
     
         40 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole having a traction surface;   a receptacle disposed in the sole; and   a cleat having at least one traction projection extending from a base and an engagement projection for connecting with the receptacle, the base having an exterior circumferential surface having a first shape;   wherein the sole includes a plurality of protection elements protruding from the traction surface and spaced equidistantly around the receptacle, each of the protection elements having an inner surface adjacent the receptacle, the inner surfaces each having a second shape that complements the first shape.