Patents Assigned to Cleats LLC
  • Patent number: 8844169
    Abstract: A traction cleat attachment system for footwear that engages with a single click. The system comprises a cleat and a receptacle. The cleat includes a central stud with screw threads spaced about the outside surface of the stud. The receptacle includes a threaded annulus on a base for receiving the central stud of the cleat. The cleat also includes a collar coaxially surrounding the central stud with splines projecting from the interior collar surface. The threaded receptacle annulus is surrounded by two sets of alternating teeth projecting from the outside surface of the annulus. The height above the receptacle base of at least a portion of each tooth in the first set of teeth is less than the height of the second set of teeth above the base. The result is that cleat splines pass in turn over a corresponding tooth of less than full height and then a full tooth upon insertion and rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventor: Armand J. Savoie
  • Patent number: 8707585
    Abstract: A removable cleat for footwear. The cleat includes a disc with opposing faces. A shoe coupling element is attached to one face of the disc. The other disc face supports a cushioning layer. Traction elements are supported by the cushioning layer. When a user steps on a surface wearing a shoe outfitted with these cleats, the resilience of the cushioning layer at once both lessens the impact of the traction elements on the ground surface and lessens the reaction force on the user's foot transmitted through the shoe's outsole. The user's comfort is thereby enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Dow, Craig Rubino, Armand J. Savoie
  • Patent number: 8615904
    Abstract: A cleat for footwear. The cleat includes a base layer that attaches to the outsole of the footwear, a cushioning layer and a traction element layer. The traction element layer is attached to the base layer solely by the cushioning layer. Each of the cleat layers provides friction with the ground when the cleat engages the ground. The durometer of the base layer and the durometer of the traction element layer are greater than the durometer of the cushioning layer. When a user steps on a surface wearing a shoe outfitted with these cleats, the resilience of the cushioning layer at once both lessens the impact of the traction elements on the ground surface and lessens the reaction force on the user's foot transmitted through the shoe's outsole. The user's comfort is thereby enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventors: Richard J. Locke, Craig H. Rubino, Armand J. Savoie
  • Patent number: 8601725
    Abstract: A removable cleat includes a plurality of projections, dividing into sets, with each set of projections made of different materials. The cleat includes a coupling element, for attachment to a shoe, and a ground contacting element. The ground contacting element contains a plurality of projections, with the projections divided into at least two sets. The projections may be disposed about the perimeter of the ground contacting element, such that each set of projections does not extend more than half the perimeter. Additionally, some of the plurality of projections may be located interior to the perimeter. Further, each set of projections may be oriented in a particular direction with respect to a plane formed by the perimeter. Each interspersed set of projections may be made of a different material, or each projection may itself be made of a different material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventors: Harris L. MacNeill, Armand J. Savoie, Jeffrey M. Dow
  • Publication number: 20130298424
    Abstract: A fraction plate and a method of use for a shoe. The traction plate is removably attachable to the outsole of a shoe to provide traction on a surface for a shoe wearer. The plate includes a flange with one or more surface-engaging elements on one face. The plate also includes two or more shoe-coupling elements. The shoe-coupling elements are inserted into corresponding receptacles in a shoe-outsole and then rotated to affix the plate to the shoe. The shoe-coupling elements may be captively attached to the plate flange or attachable to the shoe receptacle with a rotation of no more than one full revolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Cleats LLC
    Inventors: Armand J. Savoie, Wilson Yue
  • Patent number: 8316562
    Abstract: A cleat for footwear. The cleat includes a base layer that attaches to the outsole of the footwear, a cushioning layer and a traction element layer. The traction element layer is attached to the base layer solely by the cushioning layer. Each of the cleat layers provides friction with the ground when the cleat engages the ground. The durometer of the base layer and the durometer of the traction element layer are greater than the durometer of the cushioning layer. When a user steps on a surface wearing a shoe outfitted with these cleats, the resilience of the cushioning layer at once both lessens the impact of the traction elements on the ground surface and lessens the reaction force on the user's foot transmitted through the shoe's outsole. The user's comfort is thereby enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventors: Richard J. Locke, Craig H. Rubino, Armand J. Savoie
  • Patent number: 8225536
    Abstract: A removable cleat for footwear. The cleat includes a disc with opposing faces. A shoe coupling element is attached to one face of the disc. The other disc face supports a cushioning layer. Traction elements are supported by the cushioning layer. When a user steps on a surface wearing a shoe outfitted with these cleats, the resilience of the cushioning layer at once both lessens the impact of the traction elements on the ground surface and lessens the reaction force on the user's foot transmitted through the shoe's outsole. The user's comfort is thereby enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Dow, Craig H. Rubino, Armand J. Savoie
  • Patent number: 8181367
    Abstract: A removable cleat includes a plurality of projections, dividing into sets, with each set of projections made of different materials. The cleat includes a coupling element, for attachment to a shoe, and a ground contacting element. The ground contacting element contains a plurality of projections, with the projections divided into at least two sets. The projections may be disposed about the perimeter of the ground contacting element, such that each set of projections does not extend more than half the perimeter. Additionally, some of the plurality of projections may be located interior to the perimeter. Further, each set of projections may be oriented in a particular direction with respect to a plane formed by the perimeter. Each interspersed set of projections may be made of a different material, or each projection may itself be made of a different material. Further, a directional cleat may include sets of projections interspersed on different parts of the cleat, with each set made of different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventors: Harris L. MacNeill, Armand J. Savoie, Jeffrey M. Dow
  • Patent number: 7726047
    Abstract: A removable cleat includes a plurality of projections, dividing into sets, with each set of projections made of different materials. The cleat includes a coupling element, for attachment to a shoe, and a ground contacting element. The ground contacting element contains a plurality of projections, with the projections divided into at least two sets. The projections may be disposed about the perimeter of the ground contacting element, such that each set of projections does not extend more than half the perimeter. Additionally, some of the plurality of projections may be located interior to the perimeter. Further, each set of projections may be oriented in a particular direction with respect to a plane formed by the perimeter. Each interspersed set of projections may be made of a different material, or each projection may itself be made of a different material. Further, a directional cleat may include sets of projections interspersed on different parts of the cleat, with each set made of different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventors: Harris L. MacNeill, Armand J. Savoie, Jeffrey M. Dow
  • Patent number: 7654013
    Abstract: A traction plate for a shoe. The traction plate is removably attachable to the outsole of a shoe to provide traction on a surface for a shoe wearer. The plate includes a flange with one or more surface-engaging elements on one face. The plate also includes two or more shoe-coupling elements. The shoe-coupling elements are inserted into corresponding receptacles in a shoe-outsole and then rotated to affix the plate to the shoe. The shoe-coupling elements may be captively attached to the plate flange or attachable to the shoe receptacle with a rotation of no more than one full revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventors: Armand J. Savoie, Wilson Yue
  • Patent number: 7370444
    Abstract: A cleat receptacle for footwear. The cleat receptacle includes a cleat-engaging structure surrounded by a flange. The flange includes portions that are sloped with respect a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cleat-engaging structure. The receptacle is molded into a shoe outsole. Outsole material adjacent to sloped portions of the flange resists twisting of the receptacle as cleats are inserted into or removed from the receptacle. Paddle projections may be attached to the flange to further resist twisting of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventor: Armand J. Savoie
  • Patent number: D538374
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventor: Jeremiah M. Dow
  • Patent number: D545933
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventor: Jeremiah M. Dow
  • Patent number: D560891
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventor: Armand J. Savoie
  • Patent number: RE40460
    Abstract: A removable cleat for a shoe is described. The cleat includes a ground-engaging structure for engaging the ground. An attachment structure is for removably attaching the cleat to the footwear. The attachment structure has a vertical axis, a base to which the top of the ground-engaging member is attached, and multiple extensions projecting radially outward from the base. The extensions are adapted for insertion into a cleat receptacle in the shoe to engage a receptacle attachment structure within the receptacle, so that when the cleat is attached to the receptacle, each cleat extension will be securely engaged above a receptacle restraining ledge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Cleats LLC
    Inventor: Armand J. Savoie