US20140259796A1 - Footwear including a universal cleat assembly - Google Patents
Footwear including a universal cleat assembly Download PDFInfo
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- US20140259796A1 US20140259796A1 US13/836,694 US201313836694A US2014259796A1 US 20140259796 A1 US20140259796 A1 US 20140259796A1 US 201313836694 A US201313836694 A US 201313836694A US 2014259796 A1 US2014259796 A1 US 2014259796A1
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- openings
- outsole
- pair
- footwear
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43C—FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
- A43C15/00—Non-skid devices or attachments
- A43C15/02—Non-skid devices or attachments attached to the sole
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
- A43B5/14—Shoes for cyclists
Definitions
- Cycling shoes come in many sizes and shapes and are designed to maintain contact between the bottom of the shoe and the bicycle pedal. The design of the shoe depends on the type and intensity of cycling. Besides maintaining contact with the pedal, cycling shoes are also designed to enhance the power transfer between a cyclist's legs and the pedals.
- Conventional cycling shoes are designed to work with clipless pedal systems that temporarily connect the cycling shoe to the pedal using a twist lock configuration similar to ski and snowboard binding systems. These systems employ a cleat attached to the bottom of the cycling shoe and a matching fitting on the pedal.
- clipless pedals There are two basic types of clipless pedals, road pedals and mountain biking pedals.
- the mountain biking pedals use a smaller cleat that is recessed within the outsole of the shoe to allow for walking, hiking or running when the user is not on the bicycle.
- Road pedals use a wider cleat that protrudes from the bottom of the shoe making walking or other activities difficult when the cyclist is not on their bicycle.
- Clipless bicycle cleat assemblies typically include a plate that is seated in the outsole of the shoe, a cleat and a spacer.
- the plate includes one pair or two pairs of threaded holes that align with openings in the outsole.
- the spacer and the cleat each have corresponding holes that are aligned with one of the pairs of holes in the plate.
- Fasteners are then inserted through the aligned holes in the spacer and the cleat and are threaded into one of the pairs of threaded holes in the plate to secure the cleat to the bottom of the outsole. After the cleat is secured in the proper location on the bottom of the outsole, the cyclist's shoe is clipped into the fitting on the pedal.
- the present article of footwear includes a universal, clipless bicycle cleat assembly where a cleat assembly is secured to a designated position on an outsole of a shoe by inserting fasteners from the inside of the shoe into engagement with the cleat assembly to allow for efficient and precise positioning of the cleat assembly relative to a bicycle pedal and for minimizing damage to the cleat assembly during standing, walking or other activity by a user.
- the present article of footwear includes an outsole including an upper surface, a bottom surface and an opening, and a midsole including an upper surface, a bottom surface and an opening, where the upper surface has a recessed area, the bottom surface of the midsole is connected to the upper surface of the outsole and the opening of the midsole is aligned with the opening of the outsole.
- a support plate defines a recessed area having a pair of elongated openings, where the support plate is configured to fit in the recessed area of the midsole such that the pair of elongated openings are aligned with the openings in the midsole and the outsole.
- a fastening plate includes a pair of non-threaded openings and is configured to be seated in the recessed area of the support plate, where the non-threaded openings are aligned with the elongated openings of the support plate and the openings of the midsole and the outsole. Also, an upper is attached to the midsole and a cleat assembly is removably connected to a designated position on the outsole by inserting threaded ends of a pair of fasteners through the non-threaded openings of the fastening plate, the elongated openings of the support plate, the openings of the midsole and the outsole and into threaded engagement with the cleat assembly.
- the present article of footwear includes an outsole including an upper surface, a bottom surface and an opening, and a support plate defines a recessed area having a pair of elongated openings, where the support plate is configured to fit in a recessed area of the outsole such that the pair of elongated openings are aligned with the opening in the outsole.
- a fastening plate includes a first pair of non-threaded openings and a second pair of threaded openings, and is configured to be seated in the recessed area of the support plate, where one of the first pair and second pair of openings is aligned with the elongated openings of the support plate and the opening of the outsole.
- an upper is attached to the outsole and a cleat assembly is removably connected to a designated position on the outsole by either: inserting threaded ends of a pair of fasteners through the first pair of openings of the fastening plate, the elongated openings of the support plate, the opening of the outsole and into threaded engagement with the cleat assembly, or inserting the threaded ends of the pair of fasteners through the cleat assembly, the opening in the outsole, the elongated openings of the support plate and into threaded engagement with the second pair of openings of the fastening plate.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present article of footwear.
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the outsole of the article of footwear of shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 4A is a bottom view of the midsole of the article of footwear shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 4B is a top view of the midsole of FIG. 4A .
- FIG. 5A is a bottom view of the support plate of the article of footwear shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 5B is a top view of the support plate of FIG. 5A .
- FIG. 6A is a top view of the cleat plate of the article of footwear shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 6B is a bottom view of the support plate of FIG. 6A .
- FIG. 7A is a top view of the cleat of the article of footwear shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 7B is a bottom view of the cleat of FIG. 6A
- FIG. 8A is a top view of the spacer of the article of footwear shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 8B is a bottom view of the spacer of FIG. 8A .
- FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the present article of footwear.
- the present article of footwear includes a universal, clipless bicycle cleat assembly where the position of the cleat assembly on the article of footwear is adjusted by inserting fasteners from the inside of the shoe into engagement with the cleat assembly to allow for efficient and precise positioning of the cleat assembly relative to a bicycle pedal and for minimizing damage to the cleat assembly during standing, walking or other activity by a user.
- the present article of footwear or shoe 20 includes an upper 22 attached to an outsole 24 by stitching, adhesive or glue or other suitable connection method. As shown in FIG. 2 , at least parts of a forefoot portion 26 and a heel portion 28 of the outsole 24 include an upper peripheral lip 30 . It should be appreciated that the upper lip 30 may extend around part of the periphery of the outsole 24 or about the entire periphery. In the illustrated embodiment, the forefoot and rear portions 26 , 28 of the outsole 24 include a durable material, such as Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), to provide stiffness and rigidity to the shoe 20 for withstanding impact on different terrains and on bicycle pedals.
- EVA Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
- a central gripping portion 32 of the outsole 24 includes a relatively soft gripping material, such as rubber, for enabling the shoe 20 to grip an underlying surface when a user is walking on the shoe or stopped on rough terrain, or to inhibit slipping of the shoe on a pedal.
- the gripping portion 32 includes inverted diamond-shaped recesses 34 that are configured to assist in gripping a surface of a bicycle pedal and other underlying surfaces such as the ground, rocks and the like.
- An opposing upper surface 36 of the outsole 24 is generally planar or flat.
- the outsole 24 further defines a plurality of lateral openings 38 and an opening 40 in the forefoot portion 26 for attaching the present cleat assembly as described below.
- a midsole 42 is attached to the upper surface 36 of the outsole 24 using an adhesive or glue, or other suitable attachment method.
- the midsole 42 and the outsole 24 may be co-molded or press molded as a single integral unit.
- a bottom wall 44 of the midsole 42 includes generally V-shaped lugs 46 that have a size and shape corresponding to the lateral openings 38 defined by the outsole 24 .
- the midsole 42 is preferably made with an EVA or other durable material that will withstand the repeated impact between the lugs 46 and the bottom wall 44 , and the ground or underlying surface.
- the midsole 42 includes a base portion 48 including the bottom wall 44 and a peripheral wall 50 that extends upwardly from the bottom wall.
- the midsole 42 and more specifically, the wall 50 has a size and shape corresponding to an inner surface 52 of the upper lip 30 of the outsole 24 so that the midsole fits within the upper lip for attachment to the upper surface 36 of the outsole.
- a forefoot portion 54 of the midsole 42 defines an opening 56 that aligns with the cleat assembly opening 40 in the outsole 24 .
- An upper surface 58 of the midsole 42 includes a recessed area 60 that extends from the forefoot portion 54 to a heel portion 62 of the midsole.
- a support plate 64 is seated in the recessed area 60 of the midsole 42 (see FIGS. 2 , 5 A and 5 B).
- the support plate 64 has a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the recessed area 60 and may be attached to the midsole 42 using an adhesive, glue or other suitable attachment medium or method.
- the support plate 64 is primarily made with a durable plastic material (forming the body 66 of the support plate) that is co-molded with a metal shank 68 .
- the shank 68 is preferably made of stainless steel to help prevent corrosion and rusting, but may also be made with any other suitable material or combination of materials. Since the shank 68 is co-molded with the body 66 , it is not readily removable from the support plate 64 . This construction enhances the rigidity and support provided by the shank 68 as part of the support plate 64 .
- the body 66 of the support plate 64 includes a wall 70 that extends downwardly from a bottom surface 72 of the support plate 64 , and has a shape that corresponds to the openings 56 and 40 of the midsole 42 and the outsole 24 .
- an upper surface 78 of the support plate 64 includes a recessed area 80 for receiving a fastening plate 98 as described below.
- the recessed area 80 includes elongated, oblong openings or through-holes 82 for adjusting the location of the cleat assembly 96 on the shoe 20 .
- a rear portion 84 of the support plate 64 includes several tread or dimpled areas 86 for enhancing the connection between adjacent components of the shoe.
- the support plate 64 is preferably made with a solid, durable plastic that provides sufficient support to the cleat assembly 96 as well provide rigidity to the shoe 20 . It should be appreciated that the support plate 64 may be made entirely with metal or other suitable materials.
- a bottom member 88 is attached to a bottom surface 90 of the upper 22 by stitching or other suitable connection method and includes an opening 92 that corresponds to and aligns with the shank 68 of the support plate 64 .
- An access flap 94 is integrally, hingedly formed with the bottom member 88 to enable a user to pivot or fold back the flap against the bottom member to access the fastening plate 98 from the inside of the shoe 20 . Specifically, the access flap 94 moves or pivots between an open position (see FIG. 2 ) where a user can access the cleat assembly 96 and a closed position where the flap covers the cleat assembly.
- a bottom surface 97 of the bottom member 88 is attached to at least a portion of the top surface of the midsole 42 by stitching, adhesive or other suitable attachment method for securing the upper 22 to the midsole.
- the present cleat assembly 96 includes the fastening plate 98 , a cleat or coupler 100 , a spacer 102 seated within the coupler and fasteners 104 having threaded ends 105 ( FIG. 2 ) that extend through the fastening plate and are secured to the spacer.
- the configuration of the present cleat assembly 96 enables the adjustment of the location of the cleat assembly from inside of the shoe 20 thereby allowing the user to adjust the position of the cleat assembly while the cleat assembly is attached to a bicycle pedal to ensure the proper positioning of the shoe on the pedal.
- the cleat assembly 96 is also designed to reduce damage to the cleat assembly when the user is standing, walking or running on the shoe.
- the fastening plate 98 has a generally rectangular configuration with opposing indents 106 .
- the indents 106 have a size and shape that correspond to protrusions 108 ( FIG. 5B ) formed in the support plate 64 that extend into the recessed area 80 of the shank 68 .
- the protrusions 108 align with and extend into the indents 106 to guide the proper insertion of the fastening plate 98 into the recessed area 80 and also minimize movement of the fastening plate within that recessed area.
- the fastening plate 98 is made of stainless steel to provide strength, rigidity and durability to the shoe 20 and also to reduce rust and corrosion over time. It should be appreciated that the fastening plate 98 may be made of any suitable metal, such as aluminum, or other suitable materials or combination of materials.
- the fastening plate 106 includes two pairs of openings or through-holes.
- a first pair of openings 110 includes threads for allowing fasteners of conventional cleat assemblies to be inserted through the cleat from outside of the shoe and secured to the fastening plate.
- the second pair of openings 112 does not include threads and allows the fasteners 104 to be inserted through the openings and seated in the fastening plate 98 such that an upper surface 114 of each fastener fits in recessed portions 115 of the openings and is flush with an upper or top surface 116 of the fastening plate.
- the fastening plate 98 may be rotated to align the first pair of openings 110 or the second pair of openings 112 with the openings 82 in the shank 68 for adjusting the positioning of the cleat assembly 96 relative to the outsole 24 depending on whether the present cleat assembly or a conventional cleat assembly is being used on the shoe. Additionally, to minimize debris and moisture entering the shoe 20 , a seal member, such as a rubber gasket 118 , having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of the fastening plate 98 is inserted between the fastening plate and the shank 68 .
- the rubber gasket 118 includes a pair of openings 120 that are aligned with the first or second pair of openings 110 , 112 of the fastening plate 98 depending on which of the openings are being used by a user.
- the cleat or coupler 100 includes an oblong opening 122 that has a size and shape to correspond with both the first or second pair of openings 110 , 112 of the fastening plate 98 . As shown in FIGS. 2 , 7 A and 7 B, the opening 122 in the cleat 100 is aligned with the elongated openings 82 in the shank 68 so that the fasteners 104 may be inserted through the fastening plate 98 , the shank 68 and the outsole 24 and the cleat 100 .
- the cleat 100 includes an upper surface 124 and a bottom surface 126 .
- the upper surface 124 includes a plurality of teeth 128 (see FIG.
- the opposing or bottom surface 126 of the cleat 100 defines an oval recessed area 130 for receiving the spacer 102 . It should be appreciated that the cleat 100 is preferably made of stainless steel but may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials.
- the spacer 102 includes a pair of threaded holes or openings 132 that are aligned with the openings 122 in the cleat 100 and the shank 68 .
- the spacer 102 has a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the recessed area 130 in the cleat 100 such that the spacer is seated in the recessed area and receives the threaded ends of the fasteners 104 for securing the cleat to a bottom surface 134 ( FIG. 3 ) of the outsole 24 .
- the spacer 102 is preferably made of stainless steel but may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials. It should also be appreciated that the spacer 102 and the recessed area 130 of the cleat 100 may be any suitable size and shape.
- a footbed 136 having a designated thickness based on desired cushioning and comfort levels for a user is inserted into the shoe 20 and placed over the bottom member 88 to provide support and comfort to a user's foot.
- the footbed 136 is removable from the interior of the shoe 20 so that a user can access the cleat assembly 96 as described above. It should be appreciated that the footbed 136 may be made out of EVA or any suitable material.
- the present cleat assembly 96 is attached to the shoe 20 by moving the access flap 94 of the bottom member 88 from the closed position to the open position ( FIG. 2 ) and inserting the fastening plate 98 into the recessed area 80 of the support plate 64 .
- a user then reaches inside the shoe 20 and inserts the fasteners 104 through the non-threaded, second pair of openings 112 of the fastening plate 98 until the heads of the fasteners 104 are seated within the recessed portions 115 of the openings 112 .
- the threaded ends 105 of the fasteners 104 extend through the openings 112 in the fastening plate 98 , the openings 82 in the support plate 64 (i.e., the shank 68 ), and the openings 122 in the cleat 100 and are threaded with or connected to the threaded openings 132 of the spacer 102 .
- a tool such as a cleat tightener 138 ( FIG. 1 ) or a screwdriver, which has an end that mates with a shaped recess 140 formed in the heads of the fasteners 104 , to tighten the fasteners.
- the user rotates the tool 138 and thereby the fasteners 104 in a clockwise direction, which causes the threaded ends 105 of the fasteners to threadingly engage the openings 132 of the spacer 102 and tighten the cleat 100 against the bottom surface 134 of the outsole 24 .
- the tool 138 is removed from the fastener head and the access flap 94 is moved to the closed position to cover the cleat assembly 96 .
- the footbed 136 is re-inserted in the shoe 20 and the user may now insert their foot into the shoe for use during riding, standing, walking, running or other activity.
- the above operations are reversed if the user wants to move the location of the cleat assembly 96 (i.e., the cleat 100 ) relative to the pedal or remove the cleat assembly from the shoe 20 for repair or replacement.
- a front portion 142 of the upper 22 includes a tool opening 144 for allowing access to the fasteners 100 by the tool 138 .
- the tool opening 144 in the upper 22 makes it easier for a user to insert the tool 138 in the shaped recesses 140 of the fastener heads for tightening the cleat assembly 96 to the outsole 24 since space inside the shoe 20 is limited.
- a cover 146 is movably connected to the upper 22 and moves between an open position (see FIG. 1 ), which allows access to the tool opening, and a closed position, which covers the tool opening 144 to inhibit water and other substances from entering the interior of the shoe 20 .
- a suitable connector (not shown), such as a hook and loop fastener or snap connector, is placed on the cover 146 and near the tool opening 144 to temporarily, securely hold the cover against the upper 22 for closing and sealing the tool opening.
- a suitable connector such as a hook and loop fastener or snap connector, is placed on the cover 146 and near the tool opening 144 to temporarily, securely hold the cover against the upper 22 for closing and sealing the tool opening.
- the tool opening 144 may be any suitable size or shape and may be in any suitable location on the upper 22 .
- the first pair of openings 110 of the fastening plate 98 includes threads such that a conventional cleat assembly may be used on the shoe 20 .
- the fasteners 104 are inserted from outside of the shoe 20 and through the cleat 100 and into the threaded openings 110 on the fastening plate 98 .
- the fastening plate 98 allows for both conventional cleat assemblies and cleat assemblies defined by the present invention to be secured to the outsole 24 of the shoe 20 . This provides greater flexibility and enables users to only need one pair of cycling shoes as opposed to different pairs of cycling shoes having different cleat assemblies.
- the wall 70 surrounding the shank 68 includes two support ears 200 located on opposing sides of the shank.
- the support ears 200 of the cleat attachment area 76 of the outsole 24 extend outwardly towards the sides of the shoe 20 .
- conventional bicycle shoe outsoles are typically made entirely of EVA or another relatively hard material, the cleat assembly attachment areas on the conventional outsoles vary based on tolerances. Thus, such attachment areas are inconsistent amongst different cycling shoes thereby varying the ease with which the cleat assemblies are attached to a pedal.
- the shoe 20 and more particularly, the support ears 200 in the cleat attachment area 76 of the shoe expand the size of the attachment area to account for such variances and material tolerances such that the present shoe 20 can be consistently and easily connected to a bicycle pedal.
- the support ears 200 may be any suitable size or shape and may extend to the sides of the shoe 20 or to any portion therebetween.
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Abstract
Description
- Cycling shoes come in many sizes and shapes and are designed to maintain contact between the bottom of the shoe and the bicycle pedal. The design of the shoe depends on the type and intensity of cycling. Besides maintaining contact with the pedal, cycling shoes are also designed to enhance the power transfer between a cyclist's legs and the pedals.
- Conventional cycling shoes are designed to work with clipless pedal systems that temporarily connect the cycling shoe to the pedal using a twist lock configuration similar to ski and snowboard binding systems. These systems employ a cleat attached to the bottom of the cycling shoe and a matching fitting on the pedal. There are two basic types of clipless pedals, road pedals and mountain biking pedals. The mountain biking pedals use a smaller cleat that is recessed within the outsole of the shoe to allow for walking, hiking or running when the user is not on the bicycle. Road pedals use a wider cleat that protrudes from the bottom of the shoe making walking or other activities difficult when the cyclist is not on their bicycle.
- Clipless bicycle cleat assemblies typically include a plate that is seated in the outsole of the shoe, a cleat and a spacer. The plate includes one pair or two pairs of threaded holes that align with openings in the outsole. The spacer and the cleat each have corresponding holes that are aligned with one of the pairs of holes in the plate. Fasteners are then inserted through the aligned holes in the spacer and the cleat and are threaded into one of the pairs of threaded holes in the plate to secure the cleat to the bottom of the outsole. After the cleat is secured in the proper location on the bottom of the outsole, the cyclist's shoe is clipped into the fitting on the pedal.
- Although the road cycle shoes are difficult to walk in, cyclists still tend to walk on these shoes to get to and from their bike and/or support themselves when stopped. As a result, the pressure of the rider's weight tends to be centered on the cleat which pushes the cleat and cleat fasteners upward into the plate. Over time, this upward pressure wears against the threads of the threaded holes of the plate and eventually strips the holes so that the fasteners can no longer securely fasten the cleat to the shoe.
- Accordingly, there is a need for an improved cycling shoe that secures a cleat to a shoe and that is durable to withstand the forces on the cleat resulting from cycling and walking on the shoe.
- The present article of footwear includes a universal, clipless bicycle cleat assembly where a cleat assembly is secured to a designated position on an outsole of a shoe by inserting fasteners from the inside of the shoe into engagement with the cleat assembly to allow for efficient and precise positioning of the cleat assembly relative to a bicycle pedal and for minimizing damage to the cleat assembly during standing, walking or other activity by a user.
- In an embodiment, the present article of footwear includes an outsole including an upper surface, a bottom surface and an opening, and a midsole including an upper surface, a bottom surface and an opening, where the upper surface has a recessed area, the bottom surface of the midsole is connected to the upper surface of the outsole and the opening of the midsole is aligned with the opening of the outsole. A support plate defines a recessed area having a pair of elongated openings, where the support plate is configured to fit in the recessed area of the midsole such that the pair of elongated openings are aligned with the openings in the midsole and the outsole. A fastening plate includes a pair of non-threaded openings and is configured to be seated in the recessed area of the support plate, where the non-threaded openings are aligned with the elongated openings of the support plate and the openings of the midsole and the outsole. Also, an upper is attached to the midsole and a cleat assembly is removably connected to a designated position on the outsole by inserting threaded ends of a pair of fasteners through the non-threaded openings of the fastening plate, the elongated openings of the support plate, the openings of the midsole and the outsole and into threaded engagement with the cleat assembly.
- In another embodiment, the present article of footwear includes an outsole including an upper surface, a bottom surface and an opening, and a support plate defines a recessed area having a pair of elongated openings, where the support plate is configured to fit in a recessed area of the outsole such that the pair of elongated openings are aligned with the opening in the outsole. A fastening plate includes a first pair of non-threaded openings and a second pair of threaded openings, and is configured to be seated in the recessed area of the support plate, where one of the first pair and second pair of openings is aligned with the elongated openings of the support plate and the opening of the outsole. Also, an upper is attached to the outsole and a cleat assembly is removably connected to a designated position on the outsole by either: inserting threaded ends of a pair of fasteners through the first pair of openings of the fastening plate, the elongated openings of the support plate, the opening of the outsole and into threaded engagement with the cleat assembly, or inserting the threaded ends of the pair of fasteners through the cleat assembly, the opening in the outsole, the elongated openings of the support plate and into threaded engagement with the second pair of openings of the fastening plate.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present article of footwear. -
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the outsole of the article of footwear of shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 4A is a bottom view of the midsole of the article of footwear shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 4B is a top view of the midsole ofFIG. 4A . -
FIG. 5A is a bottom view of the support plate of the article of footwear shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 5B is a top view of the support plate ofFIG. 5A . -
FIG. 6A is a top view of the cleat plate of the article of footwear shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 6B is a bottom view of the support plate ofFIG. 6A . -
FIG. 7A is a top view of the cleat of the article of footwear shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 7B is a bottom view of the cleat ofFIG. 6A -
FIG. 8A is a top view of the spacer of the article of footwear shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 8B is a bottom view of the spacer ofFIG. 8A . -
FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the present article of footwear. - Referring now to
FIGS. 1-8B , the present article of footwear includes a universal, clipless bicycle cleat assembly where the position of the cleat assembly on the article of footwear is adjusted by inserting fasteners from the inside of the shoe into engagement with the cleat assembly to allow for efficient and precise positioning of the cleat assembly relative to a bicycle pedal and for minimizing damage to the cleat assembly during standing, walking or other activity by a user. - The present article of footwear or
shoe 20 includes an upper 22 attached to anoutsole 24 by stitching, adhesive or glue or other suitable connection method. As shown inFIG. 2 , at least parts of aforefoot portion 26 and aheel portion 28 of theoutsole 24 include an upperperipheral lip 30. It should be appreciated that theupper lip 30 may extend around part of the periphery of theoutsole 24 or about the entire periphery. In the illustrated embodiment, the forefoot andrear portions outsole 24 include a durable material, such as Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), to provide stiffness and rigidity to theshoe 20 for withstanding impact on different terrains and on bicycle pedals. Acentral gripping portion 32 of theoutsole 24 includes a relatively soft gripping material, such as rubber, for enabling theshoe 20 to grip an underlying surface when a user is walking on the shoe or stopped on rough terrain, or to inhibit slipping of the shoe on a pedal. The grippingportion 32 includes inverted diamond-shaped recesses 34 that are configured to assist in gripping a surface of a bicycle pedal and other underlying surfaces such as the ground, rocks and the like. An opposingupper surface 36 of theoutsole 24 is generally planar or flat. Theoutsole 24 further defines a plurality oflateral openings 38 and anopening 40 in theforefoot portion 26 for attaching the present cleat assembly as described below. - A
midsole 42 is attached to theupper surface 36 of theoutsole 24 using an adhesive or glue, or other suitable attachment method. Alternatively, themidsole 42 and theoutsole 24 may be co-molded or press molded as a single integral unit. In the illustrated embodiment, abottom wall 44 of themidsole 42 includes generally V-shapedlugs 46 that have a size and shape corresponding to thelateral openings 38 defined by theoutsole 24. Themidsole 42 is preferably made with an EVA or other durable material that will withstand the repeated impact between thelugs 46 and thebottom wall 44, and the ground or underlying surface. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 4B , themidsole 42 includes abase portion 48 including thebottom wall 44 and aperipheral wall 50 that extends upwardly from the bottom wall. Themidsole 42, and more specifically, thewall 50 has a size and shape corresponding to aninner surface 52 of theupper lip 30 of theoutsole 24 so that the midsole fits within the upper lip for attachment to theupper surface 36 of the outsole. As shown inFIGS. 2 , 4A and 4B, aforefoot portion 54 of themidsole 42 defines anopening 56 that aligns with the cleat assembly opening 40 in theoutsole 24. Anupper surface 58 of themidsole 42 includes a recessedarea 60 that extends from theforefoot portion 54 to aheel portion 62 of the midsole. - To enhance the rigidity of the
present shoe 20, asupport plate 64 is seated in the recessedarea 60 of the midsole 42 (seeFIGS. 2 , 5A and 5B). Thesupport plate 64 has a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the recessedarea 60 and may be attached to themidsole 42 using an adhesive, glue or other suitable attachment medium or method. In the illustrated embodiment, thesupport plate 64 is primarily made with a durable plastic material (forming thebody 66 of the support plate) that is co-molded with ametal shank 68. Theshank 68 is preferably made of stainless steel to help prevent corrosion and rusting, but may also be made with any other suitable material or combination of materials. Since theshank 68 is co-molded with thebody 66, it is not readily removable from thesupport plate 64. This construction enhances the rigidity and support provided by theshank 68 as part of thesupport plate 64. - As shown in
FIG. 5A , thebody 66 of thesupport plate 64 includes awall 70 that extends downwardly from abottom surface 72 of thesupport plate 64, and has a shape that corresponds to theopenings midsole 42 and theoutsole 24. As shown inFIG. 5B , anupper surface 78 of thesupport plate 64 includes a recessedarea 80 for receiving afastening plate 98 as described below. The recessedarea 80 includes elongated, oblong openings or through-holes 82 for adjusting the location of thecleat assembly 96 on theshoe 20. Arear portion 84 of thesupport plate 64 includes several tread ordimpled areas 86 for enhancing the connection between adjacent components of the shoe. As described above, thesupport plate 64 is preferably made with a solid, durable plastic that provides sufficient support to thecleat assembly 96 as well provide rigidity to theshoe 20. It should be appreciated that thesupport plate 64 may be made entirely with metal or other suitable materials. - Referring now to
FIG. 2 , abottom member 88 is attached to abottom surface 90 of the upper 22 by stitching or other suitable connection method and includes anopening 92 that corresponds to and aligns with theshank 68 of thesupport plate 64. Anaccess flap 94 is integrally, hingedly formed with thebottom member 88 to enable a user to pivot or fold back the flap against the bottom member to access thefastening plate 98 from the inside of theshoe 20. Specifically, theaccess flap 94 moves or pivots between an open position (seeFIG. 2 ) where a user can access thecleat assembly 96 and a closed position where the flap covers the cleat assembly. A bottom surface 97 of thebottom member 88 is attached to at least a portion of the top surface of themidsole 42 by stitching, adhesive or other suitable attachment method for securing the upper 22 to the midsole. - Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6A-8B, the
present cleat assembly 96 includes thefastening plate 98, a cleat orcoupler 100, aspacer 102 seated within the coupler andfasteners 104 having threaded ends 105 (FIG. 2 ) that extend through the fastening plate and are secured to the spacer. The configuration of thepresent cleat assembly 96 enables the adjustment of the location of the cleat assembly from inside of theshoe 20 thereby allowing the user to adjust the position of the cleat assembly while the cleat assembly is attached to a bicycle pedal to ensure the proper positioning of the shoe on the pedal. Thecleat assembly 96 is also designed to reduce damage to the cleat assembly when the user is standing, walking or running on the shoe. - As shown in
FIGS. 6A and 6B , thefastening plate 98 has a generally rectangular configuration with opposingindents 106. Theindents 106 have a size and shape that correspond to protrusions 108 (FIG. 5B ) formed in thesupport plate 64 that extend into the recessedarea 80 of theshank 68. When thefastening plate 98 is inserted into the recessedarea 80, theprotrusions 108 align with and extend into theindents 106 to guide the proper insertion of thefastening plate 98 into the recessedarea 80 and also minimize movement of the fastening plate within that recessed area. In an embodiment, thefastening plate 98 is made of stainless steel to provide strength, rigidity and durability to theshoe 20 and also to reduce rust and corrosion over time. It should be appreciated that thefastening plate 98 may be made of any suitable metal, such as aluminum, or other suitable materials or combination of materials. - In the illustrated embodiment, the
fastening plate 106 includes two pairs of openings or through-holes. A first pair ofopenings 110 includes threads for allowing fasteners of conventional cleat assemblies to be inserted through the cleat from outside of the shoe and secured to the fastening plate. The second pair ofopenings 112 does not include threads and allows thefasteners 104 to be inserted through the openings and seated in thefastening plate 98 such that anupper surface 114 of each fastener fits in recessedportions 115 of the openings and is flush with an upper ortop surface 116 of the fastening plate. Thefastening plate 98 may be rotated to align the first pair ofopenings 110 or the second pair ofopenings 112 with theopenings 82 in theshank 68 for adjusting the positioning of thecleat assembly 96 relative to theoutsole 24 depending on whether the present cleat assembly or a conventional cleat assembly is being used on the shoe. Additionally, to minimize debris and moisture entering theshoe 20, a seal member, such as arubber gasket 118, having a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of thefastening plate 98 is inserted between the fastening plate and theshank 68. Therubber gasket 118 includes a pair ofopenings 120 that are aligned with the first or second pair ofopenings fastening plate 98 depending on which of the openings are being used by a user. - The cleat or
coupler 100 includes anoblong opening 122 that has a size and shape to correspond with both the first or second pair ofopenings fastening plate 98. As shown inFIGS. 2 , 7A and 7B, theopening 122 in thecleat 100 is aligned with theelongated openings 82 in theshank 68 so that thefasteners 104 may be inserted through thefastening plate 98, theshank 68 and theoutsole 24 and thecleat 100. Thecleat 100 includes anupper surface 124 and abottom surface 126. Theupper surface 124 includes a plurality of teeth 128 (seeFIG. 7B ) that engage and grip thebottom surface 72 of thesupport plate 64, and more specifically, theshank 68, for holding thecleat 100 in position on theoutsole 24. The opposing orbottom surface 126 of thecleat 100 defines an oval recessedarea 130 for receiving thespacer 102. It should be appreciated that thecleat 100 is preferably made of stainless steel but may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials. - Referring to
FIGS. 8A and 8B , thespacer 102 includes a pair of threaded holes oropenings 132 that are aligned with theopenings 122 in thecleat 100 and theshank 68. Thespacer 102 has a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the recessedarea 130 in thecleat 100 such that the spacer is seated in the recessed area and receives the threaded ends of thefasteners 104 for securing the cleat to a bottom surface 134 (FIG. 3 ) of theoutsole 24. Thespacer 102 is preferably made of stainless steel but may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials. It should also be appreciated that thespacer 102 and the recessedarea 130 of thecleat 100 may be any suitable size and shape. - A
footbed 136 having a designated thickness based on desired cushioning and comfort levels for a user is inserted into theshoe 20 and placed over thebottom member 88 to provide support and comfort to a user's foot. Thefootbed 136 is removable from the interior of theshoe 20 so that a user can access thecleat assembly 96 as described above. It should be appreciated that thefootbed 136 may be made out of EVA or any suitable material. - In the illustrated embodiment, the
present cleat assembly 96 is attached to theshoe 20 by moving theaccess flap 94 of thebottom member 88 from the closed position to the open position (FIG. 2 ) and inserting thefastening plate 98 into the recessedarea 80 of thesupport plate 64. A user then reaches inside theshoe 20 and inserts thefasteners 104 through the non-threaded, second pair ofopenings 112 of thefastening plate 98 until the heads of thefasteners 104 are seated within the recessedportions 115 of theopenings 112. The threaded ends 105 of thefasteners 104 extend through theopenings 112 in thefastening plate 98, theopenings 82 in the support plate 64 (i.e., the shank 68), and theopenings 122 in thecleat 100 and are threaded with or connected to the threadedopenings 132 of thespacer 102. Once the location of thecleat 100 is set on theoutsole 24, the user uses a tool such as a cleat tightener 138 (FIG. 1 ) or a screwdriver, which has an end that mates with ashaped recess 140 formed in the heads of thefasteners 104, to tighten the fasteners. The user rotates thetool 138 and thereby thefasteners 104 in a clockwise direction, which causes the threaded ends 105 of the fasteners to threadingly engage theopenings 132 of thespacer 102 and tighten thecleat 100 against thebottom surface 134 of theoutsole 24. When thecleat 100 is secured in the desired position on theoutsole 24, thetool 138 is removed from the fastener head and theaccess flap 94 is moved to the closed position to cover thecleat assembly 96. Thefootbed 136 is re-inserted in theshoe 20 and the user may now insert their foot into the shoe for use during riding, standing, walking, running or other activity. The above operations are reversed if the user wants to move the location of the cleat assembly 96 (i.e., the cleat 100) relative to the pedal or remove the cleat assembly from theshoe 20 for repair or replacement. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , afront portion 142 of the upper 22 includes atool opening 144 for allowing access to thefasteners 100 by thetool 138. Thetool opening 144 in the upper 22 makes it easier for a user to insert thetool 138 in the shapedrecesses 140 of the fastener heads for tightening thecleat assembly 96 to theoutsole 24 since space inside theshoe 20 is limited. Acover 146 is movably connected to the upper 22 and moves between an open position (seeFIG. 1 ), which allows access to the tool opening, and a closed position, which covers thetool opening 144 to inhibit water and other substances from entering the interior of theshoe 20. In an embodiment, a suitable connector (not shown), such as a hook and loop fastener or snap connector, is placed on thecover 146 and near thetool opening 144 to temporarily, securely hold the cover against the upper 22 for closing and sealing the tool opening. It should be appreciated that thetool opening 144 may be any suitable size or shape and may be in any suitable location on the upper 22. - As discussed above, the first pair of
openings 110 of thefastening plate 98 includes threads such that a conventional cleat assembly may be used on theshoe 20. With conventional cleat assemblies, thefasteners 104 are inserted from outside of theshoe 20 and through thecleat 100 and into the threadedopenings 110 on thefastening plate 98. Thus, thefastening plate 98 allows for both conventional cleat assemblies and cleat assemblies defined by the present invention to be secured to theoutsole 24 of theshoe 20. This provides greater flexibility and enables users to only need one pair of cycling shoes as opposed to different pairs of cycling shoes having different cleat assemblies. - Referring now to
FIG. 9 , in another embodiment of the present article of footwear, thewall 70 surrounding theshank 68 includes twosupport ears 200 located on opposing sides of the shank. Thesupport ears 200 of thecleat attachment area 76 of theoutsole 24 extend outwardly towards the sides of theshoe 20. Because conventional bicycle shoe outsoles are typically made entirely of EVA or another relatively hard material, the cleat assembly attachment areas on the conventional outsoles vary based on tolerances. Thus, such attachment areas are inconsistent amongst different cycling shoes thereby varying the ease with which the cleat assemblies are attached to a pedal. In the present embodiment, theshoe 20, and more particularly, thesupport ears 200 in thecleat attachment area 76 of the shoe expand the size of the attachment area to account for such variances and material tolerances such that thepresent shoe 20 can be consistently and easily connected to a bicycle pedal. It should be appreciated that thesupport ears 200 may be any suitable size or shape and may extend to the sides of theshoe 20 or to any portion therebetween. - While a particular embodiment of the present article of footwear has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects.
Claims (20)
Priority Applications (1)
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US13/836,694 US20140259796A1 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2013-03-15 | Footwear including a universal cleat assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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US13/836,694 US20140259796A1 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2013-03-15 | Footwear including a universal cleat assembly |
Publications (1)
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US20140259796A1 true US20140259796A1 (en) | 2014-09-18 |
Family
ID=51520744
Family Applications (1)
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US13/836,694 Abandoned US20140259796A1 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2013-03-15 | Footwear including a universal cleat assembly |
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US (1) | US20140259796A1 (en) |
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US20160309840A1 (en) * | 2015-04-23 | 2016-10-27 | Action Sports Equipment, Inc. | Article of footwear with concave portion |
USD795563S1 (en) * | 2016-08-15 | 2017-08-29 | Nike, Inc. | Shoe upper |
USD904752S1 (en) * | 2019-06-13 | 2020-12-15 | Nike, Inc. | Shoe |
DE102019123639A1 (en) * | 2019-09-04 | 2021-03-04 | Dieter Schillinger | CLUTCH ELEMENT AND SPORT SHOE WITH SUCH A CLUTCH ELEMENT |
USD927167S1 (en) | 2020-02-28 | 2021-08-10 | Nike, Inc. | Shoe |
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US20220039510A1 (en) * | 2020-08-10 | 2022-02-10 | Crank Brothers, Inc. | Mountain bike shoe sole with improved access for the pedal |
WO2022040629A1 (en) * | 2020-08-21 | 2022-02-24 | The Regents Of The University Of Colorado, A Body Corporate | Dual purpose running and cycling shoe |
US20230371656A1 (en) * | 2022-05-18 | 2023-11-23 | Shimano Inc. | Shoe sole |
USD1007110S1 (en) | 2022-03-23 | 2023-12-12 | Mountain Origins Design LLC | Footwear |
USD1007825S1 (en) | 2022-03-23 | 2023-12-19 | Mountain Origins Design LLC | Footwear |
USD1007826S1 (en) | 2022-03-23 | 2023-12-19 | Mountain Origins Design LLC | Footwear |
USD1008611S1 (en) | 2022-03-23 | 2023-12-26 | Mountain Origins Design LLC | Footwear |
USD1010303S1 (en) * | 2020-12-08 | 2024-01-09 | J. Choo Limited | Fashion ornament |
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US9596906B2 (en) * | 2015-04-23 | 2017-03-21 | Action Sports Equipment, Inc. | Article of footwear with concave portion |
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DE102019123639A1 (en) * | 2019-09-04 | 2021-03-04 | Dieter Schillinger | CLUTCH ELEMENT AND SPORT SHOE WITH SUCH A CLUTCH ELEMENT |
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US20220039510A1 (en) * | 2020-08-10 | 2022-02-10 | Crank Brothers, Inc. | Mountain bike shoe sole with improved access for the pedal |
US11638460B2 (en) * | 2020-08-10 | 2023-05-02 | Crank Brothers, Inc. | Mountain bike shoe sole with improved access for the pedal |
WO2022040629A1 (en) * | 2020-08-21 | 2022-02-24 | The Regents Of The University Of Colorado, A Body Corporate | Dual purpose running and cycling shoe |
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USD1008611S1 (en) | 2022-03-23 | 2023-12-26 | Mountain Origins Design LLC | Footwear |
US20230371656A1 (en) * | 2022-05-18 | 2023-11-23 | Shimano Inc. | Shoe sole |
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