US3842520A

US3842520A - Protector cleat for heels and toes of soles of boots, shoes and the like

Info

Publication number: US3842520A
Application number: US00420939A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Heptig
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-12-03
Filing date: 1973-12-03
Publication date: 1974-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-22

Abstract

A protector cleat intended for use in the wear surfaces of heels as well as toes of soles of boots, shoes and the like and which, once inserted into the heel or sole, resists any tendency to be removed or fall out of the same. The cleat is formed of a barbed longitudinally extending shank having a head portion disposed normal to the axis thereof at one end thereof, the cleat adapted to be forcably driven into the heel or sole of the shoe with the exterior surface of the head portion engaging the wear surface of the heel or sole and protecting the portion thereof most liable to wear thus reducing the rate of wearing down of the heel or sole in which the cleat is used.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Heptig [451 Oct. 22, 1974 I I PROTECTOR CLEAT FOR HEELS AND TOES OF SOLES OF BOOTS, SHOES AND THE LIKE [76] Inventor: Paul M. Heptig, 2707 Kansas Avc.,

McKeesport, Pa. 15132 [22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 420,939

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l9,l9() 0/1900 Great Britain 36/67 C Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson [57] ABSTRACT A protector cleat intended for use in the wear surfaces of heels as well as toes of soles of boots, shoes and the like and which. once inserted into the heel or sole, resists any tendency to be removed or fall out of the same. The cleat is formed of a barbed'longitudinally extending shank having a head portion disposed normal to the axis thereof at one end thereof, the cleat adapted to be forcably driven into the heel or sole of the shoe with the exterior surface of the head portion engaging the wear surface of the heel or sole and protecting the portion thereof most liable to wear thus reducing the rate of wearing down of the heel or sole in which the cleat is used.

3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PROTECTOR CLEAT FOR HEELS AND TOES OF SOLES OF BOOTS, SHOES AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to foot apparel and protector means therefor and more particularly to a novel and improved cleat intended to be forcably driven into the heel or sole of the shoe to reduce the rate of wearing down of the heel or sole into which it is inserted.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has long been known in the art that portions of an individuals heel and sole of a shoe, boot and the like wear out at a greater rate than the remaining portions of the heel and sole, this being caused by the way an individual walks, such as by scraping portions of the sole or heel along the pavement thus inducing increased wear at such scraped portions.

This problem has long been known in the art, and as such different types of protector devices are found in the prior art and are intended for mounting in one way or another to a heel or toe portion of a shoe to reduce the wear thereof, however, such devices are not fully satisfactory as they suffer from one or more disadvantages not readily accepted by the consuming populace, such as a tendency to fall out of the heel or sole after having been inserted thereinto for a period of time, sliding relative to the heel or sole so as to project downwardly therefrom and provide a potential hazard to the person as to catching the same on the pavement to cause a tripping or stumbling movement of the person, requiring predrilled holes in the heel or sole prior to the insertion of the protective device, and/or require that the protective device be inserted into the heel or sole by a person skilled in doing so and requiring special tools and know-how to properly accomplish the desired end result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention remedies and overcomes the foregoing deficiencies and disadvantages of presently available protective devices for use with the heels and soles of boots, shoes and the like by providing a novel cleat readily inserted into the heel or sole of a shoe by being simply aligned therewith and then driven thereinto with a hammer or the like, the shank of the cleat being barbed in a manner to prevent removal or shifting of the cleat once properly driven into position such that the cleat becomes a permanent part of the sole and heel and is only removable therefrom upon the application of a direct force applied thereto specifically for the purpose of removing the same.

It is feature of the present invention to provide a protective cleat for the heel or toe of a shoe and which may be readily inserted by an individual without any special knowledge and with only requiring the use of a hammer or the like to drive the cleat into position.

A further feature of the present invention provides a cleat readily attached to a heel or sole portion of a shoe for reducing the rate of wearing down of such portion.

Among further features and advantages of the present invention is the provision of a protective cleat intended for attachment to a heel or sole of a shoe to retard the wear thereof, the cleat being relatively simple in its construction and therefore readily manufactured at a relatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods; it being devoid of moving parts and therefore unlikely to get out of order; it being rugged and durable and therefore may be guaranteed by the manufacturer to withstand many years of intended usage; it is easy to install into the heel or sole and reliable and efficient in operation after once installed; it may be installed at the factory as part of a new shoe, or it may be readily attached at any later date as an accessory item thereto; and in addition it is otherwise well adapted to perform the services required of it. These are among the features and advantages which have been borne in mind in-the production and development of the present invention.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe with a pair of cleats constructed in accordance with the present invention disposed in position preparatory to be attached to the heel and sole portions of the shoe;

FIG. 2 is a bottom elevational view of a cleat attached to a shoe heel and projecting from the wear surface thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the cleat of FIG. 2 attached to a shoe heel;

FIG. 4 is a bottom elevational view of the cleat;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a modified form of the cleat having a flat rather than a spherical exterior head surface;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the cleat of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the cleat of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a further modified form of the cleat of the invention;

FIG. 9 is bottom plan view of the cleat of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the cleat of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, a first preferred form of a cleat constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is designated generally in its entirety by the reference numeral 10 and is comprised of two component parts, namely an elongated shank portion 11 and an enlarged head portion 12. As seen in FIG. 1, the shank 11 may be of different lengths so as to accomodate different thicknesses of heels and soles of shoes, boots and the like, such as the heel l5 and sole toe portion 16 of a shoe 17 on an individuals foot 18. The cleat 10 may be manufactured out of any suitable satisfactory material having high wear and abrasion resistant characteristics, with the preferred embodiment being manufactured of any suitable metal such as iron, brass, steel or the like.

The head portion 12 may be of a circular or kidney shape configuration with the circular configuration being shown in the present drawings for purposes of i1- lustration, the head portion including a flat bottom surface 21 and a convex exterior surface 22, the edges 23 of the convex surface preferably beviled downward to project slightly outwardly of the bottom surface 21 about the circumference thereof in a manner to bite into the wear surface 19 of the heel when the cleat 10 is installed thereinto. The shank 11 is formed integrally with head portion 12 and disposed concentrically of bottom surface 21 and projects axially outwardly therefrom, the shank having a body portion 25 with a series of tandem conically shaped barbs 26 disposed therealong to provide a series of edges 27 along the shank. In addition, the bottom surface 21 of head portion 12 is provided with a series of angularly spaced apart pointed flange like members 28 formed integrally with the bottom surface and projecting outwardly therefrom in the same direction as the shank 11.

In operation, cleat 10 is oriented relative to wear surface 19 of heel 15 over the position thereon in which it is desired to insert the cleat, the point 29 of shank ll contacting the wear surface with the shank extending perpendicular thereto, after which the exterior surface 22 of head portion 12 is firmly struck with a hammer or the like to drive the shank into the body of the heel until the bottom surface 21 is in flush engagement with wear surfacel9 with edge 23 biting into the wear surface and flanges 28 engaging the heel body. The exterior surface 22 now provides a protective wear surface on the heel to reduce the rate of wearing down of the heel of the shoe during use of the same. The barbs 26 having edges 27 prevent movement or withdrawal of the cleat 10 from the heel or sole of the shoe.

In addition, there may be provided in exterior surface 22 a diametrically extending slot 30 intended for use with a driving tool or the like (not shown) which may be supplied with the cleat to assist in aligning the cleat with the wear surface and then driving the same there into.

Referring now FIGS. 5 to 7 inclusive of the drawings, there is illustrated a modified embodiment of the invention which is substantially identical to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 except that the head portion is provided with a flat exterior surface 22' rather than the previously described convex exterior surface 22. Further, the flanges 28 are disposed adjacent edge 23. The remainder of the shank and head portions are the same as previously described with regard to FIGS. l-4 and as such identical reference numerals have been applied thereto but of a higher order in order to avoid needless repetition of description.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10 inclusive of the drawings, there is illustrated yet a further modified embodiment of the invention wherein the head portion is designated by reference numeral 40 and is substantially identical to previously described head portion 12 as to including a flat bottom surface 41, a convex exterior surface 42, an outer circumferal edge 43 depending slightly outwardly of the circumference of bottom surface 41 in a manner to bite into the wear surface 19 of a heel 15 or sole l6, and a plurality of angularly disposed flanges 44 projecting outwardly of bottom surface 41. Further, a diametrically extending slot 45 may be provided in exterior surface 42 for the same reasons as slot 30 in head portion 12.

Formed integrally with head portion 40 concentric of 6 bottom surface 41 and extending axially outwardly therefrom is a shank generally designated by reference numeral 46 and having a conically shaped pointed end 47 and a cylindrically shaped base end 48. Base 48 is connected to terminal end 47 by an elongated shaft 49 having formed at longitudinally spaced intervals therealong radially extending disc like members 50 of a diameter greater than the diameter of shaft 49.

The operation of the cleat of FIGS. 840 is substantially identical as the previously described cleats in that the shank to disposed perpendicular to the surface into which it is desired to drive the cleat, after which the head portion 40 is engaged by a suitable hammer or the like to drive the cleat into the heel or sole of the shoe with the radial projections 50 engaging the interior body of the shoe heel in a manner to permanently retain the cleat in position therein against any normal forces tending to loosen or remove the cleat from such surface.

In remembering that conventional cleats are normally attached to the heels and soles of shoes and the like by the driving of tacks, nails or brads through holes in the cleats to secure the cleats to the shoe, and as such eventually result in such brads becoming loosened in the cleat and thus permitting the cleat to fall off or shift on the heel or sole to provide a hazardous situation to a person wearing the shoe having such cleat thereon in such condition, it is to be appreciated that the present invention provides a novel cleat which may be rapidly and quickly permanently attached to the heel or sole of a shoe without requiring any separate brads or the like, such attachment being in a permanent manner resisting any normal forces tending to loosen or remove the cleat from the shoe once mounted therein.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A protective type cleat intended for use with shoes, boots and the like and adapted to be driven into the wear surface of the heels and soles of such boots and shoes, the cleat comprising:

a head portion have a flat bottom surface adapted to be mounted flush with the wear surface of the heel or sole;

an exterior top wear surface on said head portion;

an outer peripheral edge extending completely about the peripheral edge of the head portion flat bottom surface and projecting slightly outwardly from the plane thereof to define a shoulder like annular rim for penetrating into the wear surface of the heel or sole when the head portion bottom surface is disposed flush thereto;

a plurality of angularly spaced apart outwardly projecting pointed flange members mounted on the head portion bottom surface and projecting outwardly therefrom in a direction normal thereto for engaging in a penetrating manner the heel or sole wear surface upon the head portion bottom surface being disposed flush thereto, there being a total of four flange members each spaced ninety degrees apart from each other, each of the flange members being spaced radially inwardly from the peripheral edge of the head portion bottom surface to define a circle concentric with said peripheral edge, each of said flange members being of a flat general configuration disposed along a radial axis of the circular head portion;

an aligning and driving slot extending diametrically through the exterior top wear surface of the head portion adapted for use in assisting in aligning the cleat with the wear surface of the heel or sole and then driving the cleat thereinto;

a cylindrical base member disposed concentric with said head portion bottom surface and formed integrally therewith and projecting axially outwardly therefrom terminating in an outer end;

an elongated cylindrical shaft member of a diameter less than the diameter of said base member being formed integrally with said base member and concentric therewith and extending axially outwardly from said base member outer end and terminating in an outer end;

a conically shaped pointed terminal member formed integrally with said outer end of said shaft member and having the base thereof formed concentric with the projecting outer end of said shaft member and having its apex defining a pointed terminal end, the diameter of the base of the conical member being substantially equal to the diameter of said conical base member; and

a series of longitudinally spaced apart radially extending disc members formed integrally with said shaft member and concentric therewith and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the diameter of each disc member being substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical base member, said disc members being disposed completely along said shaft member intermediate said outer end of said cylindrical base member and said base of said terminal conical member with the disc members engaging the interior of the wear surface of the heel or sole when the cleat is driven thereinto so as to resist any withdrawal or movementtendencies of the cleat relative to the heel or sole wear surface.

2. The protective type cleat as set forth in claim 1 wherein the head portion exterior top wear surface is flat and parallel to the head portion bottom surface.

3. The protective type cleat as set forth in claim 1 wherein the head portion exterior top wear surface is of a convex configuration projecting outwardly from the head portion bottom surface.

Claims

1. A protective type cleat intended for use with shoes, boots and the like and adapted to be driven into the wear surface of the heels and soles of such boots and shoes, the cleat comprising: a head portion have a flat bottom surface adapted to be mounted flush with the wear surface of the heel or sole; an exterior top wear surface on said head portion; an outer peripheral edge extending completely about the peripheral edge of the head portion flat bottom surface and projecting slightly outwardly from the plane thereof to define a shoulder like annular rim or penetrating into the wear surface of the heel or sole when the head portion bottom surface is disposed flush thereto; a plurality of angularly spaced apart outwardly projecting pointed flange members mounted on the head portion bottom surface and projecting outwardly therefrom in a direction normal thereto for engaging in a penetrating manner the heel or sole wear surface upon the head portion bottom surface being disposed flush thereto, there being a total of four flange members each spaced ninety degrees apart from each other, each of the flange members being spaced radially inwardly from the peripheral edge of the head portion bottom surface to define a circle concentric with said peripheral edge, each of said flange members being of a flat general configuration disposed along a radial axis of the circular head portion; an aligning and driving slot extending diametrically through the exterior top wear surface of the head portion adapted for use in assisting in aligning the cleat with the wear surface of the heel or sole and then driving the cleat thereinto; a cylindrical base member disposed concentric with said head portion bottom surface and formed integrally therewith and projecting axially outwardly therefrom terminating in an outer end; an elongated cylindrical shaft member of a diameter less than the diameter of said base member being formed integrally with said base member and concentric therewith and extending axially outwardly from said base member outer end and terminating in an outer end; a conically shaped pointed terminal member formed integrally with said outer end of said shaft member and having the base thereof formed concentric with the projecting outer end of said shaft member and having its apex defining a pointed terminal end, the diameter of the base of the conical member being substantially equal to the diameter of said conical base member; and a series of longitudinally spaced apart radially extending disc members formed integrally with said shaft member and concentric therewith and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the diameter of each disc member being substantially equal to the diameter of said cylindrical base member, said disc members being disposed completely along said shaft member intermediate said outer end of said Cylindrical base member and said base of said terminal conical member with the disc members engaging the interior of the wear surface of the heel or sole when the cleat is driven thereinto so as to resist any withdrawal or movement tendencies of the cleat relative to the heel or sole wear surface.