Abstract: A removably attachable traction gear for the underside of footwear having two primary components: a retaining member and a receptacle. These two components respectively replace the common screw and threaded receptacle systems found in for affixing traction gear to the underside of shoes. A partial turn of the traction gear securely locks the gear into the receptacle. The retaining member has a three-extension design so as to make the traction gear resistant to lateral forces applied to the ground-engaging end of the cleat. Locking is achieved through use of cantilevered fingers which press in during installation of the retaining member, and which spring back out to lock with mated indentations in the extensions. During installation a dome containing insole material is compressed. Unlocking is achieved through reverse turning the retaining member to force the springs back in, and removal is aided through re-expansion of the dome. In a preferred form, the invention is utilized to attach a golf cleat to a shoe.

Abstract: A removably attachable traction gear for the underside of footwear having two primary components: a retaining member and a receptacle. These two components respectively replace the common screw and threaded receptacle systems found in for affixing traction gear to the underside of shoes. A partial turn of the traction gear securely locks the gear into the receptacle. The retaining member has a three-extension design so as to make the traction gear resistant to lateral forces applied to the ground-engaging end of the cleat. Locking is achieved through use of cantilevered fingers which press in during installation of the retaining member, and which spring back out to lock with mated indentations in the extensions. During installation a dome containing insole material is compressed. Unlocking is achieved through reverse turning the retaining member to force the springs back in, and removal is aided through re-expansion of the dome.

Abstract: The invention relates to a removably attachable cleat for shoes, and in particular, to a removable athletic shoe cleat. The cleat has a base of a strong material and an outer layer of a soft material which absorbs some of the impact force when the cleat strikes a surface. Giving the base material and the outer layer material distinctively different visual appearance also provides clear indication to a user of when the outer layer has worn away and the cleat should be replaced.

Abstract: A removably attachable traction gear for the underside of footwear having two primary components: a retaining member and a receptacle. These two components respectively replace the common screw and threaded receptacle systems found in for affixing traction gear to the underside of shoes. A partial turn of the traction gear securely locks the gear into the receptacle. The retaining member has a three-extension design so as to make the traction gear resistant to lateral forces applied to the ground-engaging end of the cleat. Locking is achieved through use of cantilevered fingers which press in during installation of the retaining member, and which spring back out to lock with mated indentations in the extensions. During installation a dome containing insole material is compressed. Unlocking is achieved through reverse turning the retaining member to force the springs back in, and removal is aided through re-expansion of the dome. In a preferred form, the invention is utilized to attach a golf cleat to a shoe.

Abstract: A process is provided for making a cleat. The cleat includes a spike member, having a tip and a base, the base being wider than the tip. The cleat also includes a washer member, having a perimeter portion and an inner portion, the perimeter and inner portions lying in separate planes. The inner portion has an aperture. The spike member is inserted through the aperture, so that spike member projects out from the lower face of the inner portion. Then material is molded around the washer member's perimeter portion, the upper face of the inner portion, and the base of the spike member, so as to hold the spike member in fixed relation to the washer member. In a preferred embodiment of the process, a barrier is placed around the lower face of the washer member's inner portion during molding, so as to prevent the material from coming into contact with the lower face of the washer member's inner portion and that portion of the spike member extending from the lower face.

Abstract: A traction cleat, in one embodiment, has a cylindrical cuff disposed concentrically around the screw or other arrangement for engaging the cleat in the receptacle. The cylindrical cuff includes one or more axially orientated splines disposed on its inner or outer surface. Such a cleat may be attached to the shoe utilizing a receptacle that, in one embodiment, has a cylindrical ring disposed concentrically around the cleat receiving portion of the receptacle. The cylindrical ring has one or more axially oriented splines disposed on one of the rings inner or outer surfaces in such a fashion as to be able to mesh with the spline or splines on the mated cleat.

Abstract: A removable traction cleat is provided having an improved skirt design providing slots that may receive a wrench for removing the cleat. In one embodiment, the spike and screw of the cleat are made of metal, while the skirt is made of plastic. In another embodiment, a metal infrastructure is encased inside the plastic skirt in order to reinforce the skirt.

Abstract: The invention relates to traction cleats for shoes, and in particular to removable golf cleats used in golf and other field sports. The removable cleat has an improved flange design providing a rigid metal surface sufficiently close to the convex side of the reinforced radial support member to effectively engage the pins of the insertion and removal wrench. In a preferred embodiment, the flange member of the cleat has a raised lip on the concave side in the areas immediately surrounding the wrench holes so that the metal at the edges of the holes protrudes towards the convex surface of the radial support member. In another embodiment, eyelets are inserted into the wrench holes and crimped over the edges of the holes.