US2986825A - Baseball shoe safety cleat - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1961 A. B. MOORE BASEBALL SHOE SAFETY CLEAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1959 FIG.5

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United States Patent 2,986,825 BASEBALL SHOE SAFETY CLEAT Albert B. Moore, Falls Village, Conn. Filed Feb. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 792,388 4 Claims. (Cl. 36-59) This invention relates generally to improvements in shoe cleats, more particularly cleats designed for use by baseball players, although not restricted to such use.

The shoe cleats which are almost universally used by baseball players at the present time have the ground engaging spikes positioned in a triangular arrangement with two of the spikes spaced far apart and each located adjacent to one side edge of the shoe and a third spike disposed on the longitudinal center of the shoe and forwardly of the two laterally spaced spikes. As used hereinafter, the term conventional clea is intended to denote the aforementioned triangularly arranged spikes. The later-ally positioned spikes have an appreciable width and relatively narrow or small thickness and the width or side faces of the spikes are directed in a transverse .direction across the shoe sole. This arrangement of :the outside of the transversely spaced spikes, or what :might be described as the sideways traction spikes, creates :a hazard for the player in the action of sliding by reason of the fact that during the execution of the slide when the players foot and leg are at a sharp angle to the ground surface, the outside or sideways traction spike nearest to the ground digs into the earth and checks the sliding movement of the foot, thereby imposing a sudden and violent sideways bending pressure on the player's ankle which frequently results in severe injury by fracturing or breaking the ankle.

In running on a base path, which has a hard packed surface, the player must occasionally execute a slide and to safely accomplish this maneuver with conventional cleats is a tricky and hard to learn feat. Under certain conditions even the most expert players are unable to keep the peripheral sideways traction spikes of the conventional cleats from digging into the hard packed earth and consequently injuring their ankles, sometimes very severely. These injuries grow greater in proportion to the lack of experience, capabilities and age.

In the light of the foregoing, it is a particular object of the present invention to provide a new and improved cleat structure having spikes disposed in a different arrangement from that of the present conventional cleat and whereby to reduce the angle in which the shoe may slide along the ground before the sideways traction spikes engage or grab into the earth, whereby to reduce the twist or strain applied to the players ankle which might otherwise result in the production of a strain or break.

The invention has more especially for an object to provide a new and improved safety cleat structure wherein the blade-like spikes are disposed with the outside spikes arranged in a plane extending transversely of the players shoe sole and with a sideways traction spike placed centrally of the sole and in a plane extending longitudinally thereof whereby the outside spike will cut into the earth to tend to slow down the sliding of the player before the centrally positioned sideways traction spike effects a more positive checking of the slide.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and novel shoe cleat structure which is designed to add to or give the player more traction under all playing circumstances, that is, to give such improved or better traction at the heel, at the ball of the foot and at the toe of the shoe while the player is running, particularly where he is running on turf or soft earth.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a ice new and novel form of shoe cleat which provides a wide supporting base of particular advantage to a player when running or walking on hard surfaces, such as concrete or wood, whereby to prevent possibility of the player turning his ankle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of shoe cleat which is extremely flexible so as to allow for maximum flexibility or pliability of the front sole of the shoe and at the same time also provide improved traction at all times.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved combined sole and shoe cleat construction wherein the body portion of the cleat is molded or otherwise embedded in the shoe sole as distinguished from the conventional practice of securing the cleat to the hoe sole surface by 'means of rivets.

The invention will 'be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an action illustration of a position assumed by a players foot during execution of a slide play, showing the action of a sideways traction spike of a conventional cleat where sideways pressure on the player's ankle begins at a wide angle between the shoe sole and the ground and which may result in subjecting the players angle to sufficient strain to result in injury thereto;

FIG. 2 is an action illustration of the position permitted to be assumed by a players foot during execution of a slide play and showing the action of a cleat constructed in accordance with the present invention, where the sideways traction spike is so located as to permit a smaller angle between the players shoe and the ground, thereby reducing the sideways pressure on the players ankle and eliminating the possibility of injury to the same;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of a shoe sole showing applied thereto front and rear or toe and heel cleats constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view in plan of a second embodiment of the cleat structure showing the employment of four blade-like spikes;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank of material from which the spikes and body of the cleat of the preceding figure are formed;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the blank for the third embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the blank for the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a fifth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the blank for the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the invention, which embodiment is illustrated in the action illustration forming FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a detail view showing in cross section a shoe sole having a cleat partially embedded therein, which cleat may represent any one of the several embodiments hereinbefore referred to;

vposed on the ankle of the player.

spike blades 39.

FIG. 14 illustrates the invention as combined in onepiece sole and heel plates which are adapted for application to the sole and heel surface of a shoe.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1, as hereinbefore stated, is an action illustration depictingthe wide angle assumed by a sliding players foot, relative to the ground surface when the player is wearing a shoe equipped With a conventional type of cleat. Here the shoe is designated and the conventional type of cleat is generally designated 12 and as is well known, this conventional type of cleat comprises a substantially triangular steel plate 14 havingfixed thereto at each of the three corners of'the triangular plate the relatively wide blade-like spikes '16-, 1 8 and 20. The spikes 16 and 18 are positioned adjacent the outer side edges of the shoe sole 22 and they are positioned so that the wide faces thereof are directed transversely or crossways of the shoe sole. The 'side blade-like spike 20 has its side edges directed transversely ofgthe sole, or in other .words, lies in a plane'which is transversely. of the shoe while the planes of the blades 16 and 18 are more nearly longitudinally directed with respect to the shoe sole. With this type of cleat, when the player executes a sliding play the outer sideways traction spike 16digs into the earth while there is a relatively wide angle betweenthe ground surface 24 and the face of the shoe sole, the broken line 25 here designating an extension of the sole face to illustrate the wide angle referred to. Thus, as is clearly shown, a severe sideways bending pressure is applied to the players ankle which may have serious results.

In FIG. 2 the sole 26 of the players shoe '27 is shown as having applied thereto an improved safety cleat constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention which safety cleat is generally designated28. Due to the placement of the outermost blade spikes 29 of this cleat adjacent to the outer side edges ofthe sole in a plane extending transversely of the sole andthe central disposition of the sideways traction spike blade 30 on the longitudinal center of the sole, it will be seen that the angle between the soleline 31 and the surface of the earth 32 ,isgreatly reduced at the time that the sideways traction spike makes contact with the earths surface, thereby reducing the pressure im- The description of this particular cleat 28 will hereinafter be more particularly set forth, it being understood that this cleat, while illustrated in detail in FIG. 12, is representative of the action of all of the different embodiments of the safety cleat about to be described.

The present cleat in its different embodiments may be stamped, molded or otherwise formed from a single sheet of steel or other suitable material.

In FIG. 3, which shows two of the improved cleats applied to the bottom of a sole 33, a first embodiment of the cleat structure is illustrated applied to the sole at the toe portion or under the ball of the foot, which first embodiment is generally designated. 34. As is here shown and as shown in each of the other embodiments, the

general construction or formation of the cleat is in the ,form of the letter T. This cleat 34 thus comprises the longitudinal bar portion 35 analogous to the leg of the T, and the transverse or cross bar portion 36 analogous to the head of the T, which are respectively riveted to the sole as indicated at 37 and 38.

Formed integral with one longitudinal edge of the cross bar 36 and adjacent the ends thereof are the flat These spikes have their wide faces directed fore and aft with respect to the shoe sole, or in other words, they 'liein a plane extending transversely of the shoe sole.

The longitudinal bar 35 extends forwardly from the middle portion of thetransverse bar 36 and at its forward end terminates in the blade spike 40, which also 4 lies in a plane extending transversely of the shoe sole. Between the bar 36 and the forward end of the bar 35 the opposite edges of the bar 35 have formed integral therewith the two blade spikes 41 and 42. These latter spikes 41 and 42 lie in parallel planes which extend longitudinally of the shoe sole and the planes of these latter spikespass between the lateral spikes 39, as shown. The spikes 41 and 42 constitute sideways traction spikes to function in the manner described in connection with the spike 30 of the cleat 28 hereinbefore referred to.

On the heel portion of the sole 33 there is shown a modification of the cleat 34 which modified form of this cleat is generally designated 34a and embodies, in one piece, as does the cleat 34, the longitudinal bar portion 43 and the transverse bar 44.

The bar 44 carries at each of its ends the transversely directed spike blades 45 which in this form of the cleat are joined to opposite longitudinal edges of the cross bar 44 while the free end of the longitudinal bar has a transversely directed fiat spike blade 46 corresponding to the blade 49 and intermediate its ends the longitudinal bar 43 is formed with the side edge sideways traction spike blade 47.

In both of the cleats designated 34 and 3411, as well as in those hereinafter described, the cleats may be, and preferably are, formed from a single blank of metal. However, it is to be understood that while in each of several forms of the cleat, blanks have been illustrated from which the cleats may be shaped, the invention is not limited to the forming of the cleats from a cut blank as it will be obvious that it may be feasible to apply the spike blades to the T-shaped body portion as independent elements.

In the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. '4, where the cleat is generally designated 48, the longitudinal bar of the structure is designated 49 and the transverse or cross bar is designated 51 The blank from which this second embodiment is produced is generally designated 48a and as shown the transverse spike blades 51 which are integral with the transverse or cross bar 50 are in the form of rearwardly projecting portions of the-cross bar which are adapted to be bent to a right angular position with respect to the cross bar, on the lines 52.

The free end of the longitudinal bar 49 has a portion thereof which is bent to a right angular position relative to the bar-49 on the line 53 to provide the forward transversely directed spike blade 54.

The longitudinal bar 49 also has integral therewith side edge portions adapted to be bent outwardly on the lines 55 to form the longitudinal sideways traction spike blades 56. The bend lines 55 for the blades 56 are directed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal side edges of the bar. 49 so that the spikes 56 do not lie in parallel planes and do not extend exactly longitudinally of the bar 49 as do-the spikes 41 and 42. However, they are positioned approximately at right angles to the plane of the trans verse spikes 51 and 54 to provide for the sideways traction desired.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate respectively the third embodiment of the cleat and the blank from which the same may be formed and in this third embodiment the cleat is generally designated 57 while the blank for the same is designated 57a. In this third embodiment the longitudinal bar is designated 58 and the transverse or cross bar is designated 59 while the transversely extending spike blades on the cross bar 59 are designated 60. These blades, as will be readily apparent, form integralportions of the cross bar 59 and are bent to right angular relation with the same on the bend lines 61 as in the previously described embodiment.

A portion of the outer end of the longitudinal bar '58 is bent up along theline 62 toform the forward transverse spike blade 63. Atone side ofthelongitudinal bar '58 a relatively long portionof'the. sheet of .matefiali g which the blank is cut is reserved to form the long sideways traction spike 64 which is bent, as in the previous cases, along the bend line 65 to bring it into perpendicular relation with the fiat bars 58 and 59. This long sideways traction spike lies in a plane passing between the spike 60 and behind the forward transverse spike 63.

The fourth embodiment of the cleat and its blank are illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 and are designated respectively 66 and 66a. This embodiment is similar to the third embodiment in that the cross bar portion 67 has the transversely directed spike blades 68 bent on the lines 69 from the cross bar into a perpendicular relation therewith and the free end of the longitudinal bar 70 has a terminal portion thereof bent to a right angular relation therewith on the line 71 to form the transverse forward spike blade 72. One longitudinal side of the bar 70 has a long centrally divided or split sideways traction spike blade which is generally designated 73 and by reason of the split or division therein is divided into the two blade parts a. This long centrally divided blade 73 is, as in the other forms, perpendicular to the bar 70, being bent into this position along the line 74 and lies in a plane passing through the forward transverse spike blade 72 and between the lateral spike blades 68.

FIGS. and 11 designate a fifth embodiment, and show respectively the completed cleat which is designated 75 and a blank from which the same may be formed and which is generally designated 75a.

As in the other forms or embodiments, this cleat is in the form of the letter T consisting of the longitudinal bar 76 and the cross bar 77 at one end thereof and this cross bar has at each end and on one edge the spike blades 78 which form integral parts of the bar, being bent up therefrom along the lines 79 to a position in which they are perpendicular to the surface of the bar and as in the other embodiments the spikes have their widths lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal bar 76 whereby they will be disposed transversely of the shoe .sole when the cleat is applied to the latter,

The free or forward end portion of the longitudinal bar has a part bent or turned on the line 80 to provide the forward transversely extending spike blade 81.

Portions of the material from which the blank 75a is formed are cut out to provide the two sideways traction spikes or spike blades 82 which are bent on the lines 83 to a position perpendicular to thebar 76 and these blades are disposed on opposite sides of the bar 76, one being forwardly of the other, as illustrated.

Returning now to a consideration of the cleat construction illustrated in FIG. 2 and generally designated 28, this is, as previously stated, shown in perspective in FIG. 12, and, like the other embodiments, is in the form of the letter T, having the longitudinal bar 84 and the cross bar 85. Inthis construction the lateral spike blades designated 29 are fixed to the outer face of the cross bar 85, one adjacent to each end thereof, and lying in a plane which extends lengthwise of the cross bar and, therefore, extends transversely of the shoe sole 26 when the cleat is applied.

The cleat 28 has the two sideways traction spike blades 86 and 87 which are in alignment one with the other and which lie in a plane extending longitudinally of the bar 84 with the side faces of the blades directed laterally or disposed perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the spikes 29. These spike blades 86 and 87 are fixed or secured to the faces of the bars 85 and 84, respectively, the spike 86 being at the rearward part of the cleat and the spike 87 being at the forward part and being joined to the terminal transverse spike blade 88.

An extension of the present safety cleat construction resides in the combining of the cleat, in any one of the several forms described, with a shoe sole in such a way that the body of the cleat is embedded in the sole with only the spike blades projecting from the outer face thereof as illustrated by FIG. 13. In this figure, there is shown 6. in transverse section a shoe sole generally designated 89. This sole, which may be either in the form of a shoe sole or it may be in the form of a half sole, may comprise a suitable tough material of a character to be readily molded, such for example, as any one of the well known rubber or rubber and fabric compositions or a suitable plastic which would be tough, pliable and anti-abrasive, such as the material known as nylon or a plastic like polyurethane which preferably is reinforced in a suitable manner with fiberglass or steel.

The T-shaped body portion of the cleat here designated 90, and as previously stated representative of any one of the several embodiments hereinbefore described, may be molded directly in the material of the sole 89 with the lateral transversely directed spike blades 91 projecting therefrom and disposed adjacent the longitudinal sides of the sole and the other blades, such for example, as the centrally located sideways traction spike blade 92 disposed in a plane extending longitudinally of the sole and passing midway between the lateral spikes 91, as illustrated.

Such a shoe sole could be glued or stitched or by any other suitable method attached to the shoe and would be removable if and when the cleat becomes worn.

It will be seen from the foregoing and particularly upon reference to FIG. 3, that the cleat of the present invention is so designed that when it is applied to the sole in the proper manner, a longitudinal bar of the cleat will extend longitudinally of the sole and the cross bar will then, of course, extend transversely of the sole. This arrangement of the cleat allows for a greater flexibility of the sole instead of stiffening it as do the triangular cleats of the type at present in use.

As hereinbefore stated, by the centering of the sideways traction spikes in the cleats of the present invention, rather than having them at the periphery of the shoe, there is a reduction in the angle which the shoe takes with respect to the ground when the player slides along the ground, before the sideways traction spikes grab into the earth, and thus the possibility of twisting or breaking the ankle of the player is reduced, if not completely eliminated.

The provision of the safety cleat, besides radically reducing the chance of injury, especially while sliding, also adds traction under all circumstances. To properly comprehend this, one must understand the complete functions of the baseball cleats. This includes the various types of surfaces the player will encounter and the various attitudes he must assume to play efliciently and safely.

For example, when a runner is on a surface that spikes will completely embed themselves in, such as turf or soft earth, traction must be provided under all circumstances as long as the player has control of or has a chance to control his balance. The safety cleat of the present invention gives traction in all directions, namely, at the heel, the ball of the foot and the toe of the shoe. Sideways traction is eliminated in some instances in the conventional cleat. For instance, when the player is starting or running and is under full power leaning far forward, he does not use his heel cleat and eventually lifts those cleats at the ball of his feet, using only his toe spike. He is at a distinct disadvantage in attempting a change in direction when wearing the conventional cleat. As previously stated, when running on hard packed base paths, the accomplishment of the sliding maneuver with conventional cleats is a tricky and hard to learn feat. Under certain conditions even the most expert players are unable to keep the peripheral sideways traction spikes of the conventional cleats from digging into the hard packed. earth and consequently injuring their ankles. This fact. is borne out by the number of sprains, strains and in some instances broken legs which occur during each majortional cleat.

understood that the ankle is not vulnerable to injury when undue pressure is applied from the front or the rear of the foot. The muscles in the front and back of'the leg are so strong thatalthough the ankle is capable of articulation, it still is always lield in position. However, pressure'applied from either side of the ankle finds the joint very vulnerable to injury and is the type of pressure that causes most sprains and breaks. A realistic cleat design such as that of the present invention accordingly necessarily provides the greatest amount of traction while the player is in an upright position and the least amount of chance of side pressure to the ankle when in a sliding, or near sliding, position. V

In making the cleat in accordance with any of the embodiments of the present invention, the cleat, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, for application to the ball of the shoe, is made in two sections each with spikes giving vtraction in all directions. This allows for a pliable front sole to the shoe, yet tractionat all times.

FIG. 14 illustrates another manner of employing the hereinbefore described novel arrangement of spikes. In

heel plates adapted to be applied in the nature of halfsole and heel elements to the sole and heel surfaces of a conventional baseball shoe. These plates 100, 101 are preferably formed of fiberglass or other suitable tough moldable material or material which can be cast or stamped as desired, in addition to being molded.

The spikes are formed of the samematerial as the plates and are cast, molded or stamped as integral parts thereof.

It will be readily seen that the arrangement of the spikes on the sole plate 100 corresponds to the arrangement of the spikes shown in the preceding views. Each of these spikes has a substantial width and is relatively thin or sharp at its free edge, but gradually increases in thickness from the free edge to the body of the plate to which it is attached or with which it forms a part. For example, reference being had to the sole plate 100, the spike 102 is shown broken away and this spike, together with the spike 103, which is directly in line with the spoke 102 on the longitudinal center of the plate 100, forms the hereinbefore referred to sidewise traction spike. The spike 102, which, as previously stated, is broken away, is shown, like each of the other spikes, as being of increased thickness in the portion adjacent to the sole plate as indicated at 104 and in this thickened portion there is embedded a part of a reinforcement element which is generally designated 105 and which element is approximately keyshaped having the straight transverse head portion 106 and the blade 107. The transverse or head portion 106 is embedded in the body of the plate 100 and the blade portion 107 extends outwardly and is embedded in the thickened portion of the spike 104, as shown.

The numeral 108 designates the toe spike which is located in advance of the sideways traction spikes and has its width directed transversely of the sole plate.

Adjacent to the rear edge of the plate 100 are the two transversely spaced and aligned spikes 109 which are widthwise in a common plane extending across the sole plate.

The heel plate 101 carries in a manner similar to the other cleat structures or T-shaped metal plates the same arrangement of spikes in that there are the two forward spikes 110 arranged widthwise transversely of the heel plate, the intermediate sideways traction spike 111 arranged on the longitudinal center of the plate in the same manner as the spikes 102 and 103, and the rear heel spike 112 which is in a plane widthwise transversely of the heel plate.

It will be understood that each of the spikes of the heel and sole plates will be suitably reinforced in the manner illustrated in connection with the spike 102by having a strong reinforcing member shaped so that a portion thereof may be embedded in the plate and the other portion may be embedded in the body of the spike.

The heel and sole plates shown in FIG. 14 are designed to be secured by nails, rivets or in any other manner to the bottom of the players shoe and when formed of fiberglass or other suitable strong reinforced plastic, such rivets or other fastening devices can be readily driven through the plate material or if the plates are formed of another harder material they may be provided with suitable apertures to receive the proper attaching elements by which they are secured to the players shoe.

In view of the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there is provided by the present invention a new and novel shoe cleat construction which possesses ma- .terial advantages over the standard or conventional-type of cleat at present in use.

I claim:

1. A baseball shoe safety cleat having spike blades formed integral with the cleat comprising a transverse member extending across the width of a shoe and alongitudinal member integral with the transverse member and substantially perpendicular thereto to form a T- shaped cleat, the transverse member having upturned spike blades substantially perpendicular thereto along at least one edge thereof, said spike blades extending along the transverse member a distance greater than the Width of the transverse member, saidspike blades beveled inward from the ends of the transverse member such thatthe base of the spike blade has a greater length than the edge remote from the base, and the longitudinal member having at least one spike blade at least along one side thereof and a spike blade at the end thereof, each of said longitudinal member spike blades being upturned from and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal member.

2. The baseball shoe safety cleat claimed in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal member has an offset center portion, and at least one spike blade on each side of said longitudinal member with one of said spike blades intermediate said offset portion and said transverse member and the other of said spike blades intermediate saidofiset portion and the end of said longitudinal member remote from said transverse member, the spike .blades ,on the longitudinal member having beveled corners such that the base thereof has a greater length than edge remote from the base, the spike :blades on the longitudinal member being disposed in parallel planes.

3. The baseball shoe safety cleat claimed in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal member has at least two spike blades along oneside thereof.

4. The baseball shoe safety cleat claimed in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal member has a portion of each side thereof disposed at an angle to the sides of said transverse member, and at least one spike blade .on each of said portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 668,274 Woodward Feb. 19, 1901 1,087,212 Caldwell Feb. 17, 1914 1,390,698 Golden Sept. 13, 1921 1,675,885 French July 3, 1928 1,826,511 Dumas Oct. 6, 1931 2,002,864 Nichols May 28, 1935 2,268,992 Notziger Ian. 6, 1942

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