Abstract: A shoe having a selectively rotating cleat assembly mounted to the sole of the shoe below the ball of a wearer's foot. The rotating cleat assembly includes a core that mates with and is held in rotatable engagement by a recess in the sole of the shoe. The rotating cleat assembly is free to rotate relative to the sole when the force of impact with a playing surface is substantially normal to a central rotation axis of the cleat assembly. The rotating cleat assembly locks relative to the sole of the shoe when the force of impact with a playing surface is a predetermined angle from the central rotation axis for a given force.

Abstract: A cleat assembly for athletic shoes to reduce injuries to athletes. The cleat assembly includes a base assembly and a cleat which is releasably coupled to the base assembly in response to a predetermined force extending substantially lateral to the longitudinal axis of the cleat for reducing injuries. The cleat can be either a rotational cleat or a stationary cleat. The base assembly can be integrally formed with the sole of the athletic shoe or formed as a separate element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a directionally yieldable cleat assembly attached to an athletic shoe having an upper and a sole with a longitudinal axis. A plurality of spaced cleats are mounted to the sole so that the cleats protrude outwardly from the bottom of the sole. In one embodiment, a bumper is provided between the cleat and the sole for enabling a greater magnitude of deformation or deflection of the cleat in response to a predetermined lateral force imposed upon the cleat in a first laterally inward direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shoe than the deformation or deflection of the cleat in response to the same predetermined force imposed on the cleat in direction other than the first lateral direction. Deflection of the cleat is also minimized or eliminated in response to forces imposed on the cleats in a parallel direction to the longitudinal axis of the sole to ensure that traction for the shoe is uncompromised.