Abstract: The present invention is directed to an outsole for use with a shoe and a shoe having an improved outsole. The outsole includes a forward portion and a rearward portion that are connected by a ball-and-socket connection that allows the portions to move freely. The outsole may include flexible members disposed between discrete pieces of the forward portion to allow these pieces to flex freely. The outsole includes a pair of stabilizer rods. The outsole may be used with a sole construction that includes a gel cushion that is adjacent a transparent window member of the outsole. The outsole has areas of extension for improving the traction and balance of the user.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a four-component releasable mounted cleat assembly for interlocking into a receptacle of an athletic shoe wherein an inner rotating component may reciprocally swivel within an outer stationary component. The outer stationary component having a plurality of rigid posts extending outward for firmly gripping turf. The inner rotating component has a plurality of resilient legs extending outward in a radial direction for rotatably gripping the turf, wherein each leg may swivel in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions about 15° in relationship to the outer stationary component. The cleat assembly has a locking component which is biasly rotated in a first direction to install it within the shoe receptacle, and a geometric construction of downwardly extending tongues causes a requirement for a greater torque remove the cleat than was necessary to install it.