Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to a removable spike for footwear, particularly for athletic or sports footwear.

Background Art.

Many types of footwear, and particularly athletic footwear, are fitted with spikes, cleats or studs in order that the wearer may maintain their footing, even when the ground is wet or slippery. This type of footwear is commonly used by golfers, cricketers, sprinters and players of all football codes, amongst others.

Traditionally, the spikes, cleats or studs (hereinafter referred to collectively as "spikes") have been of the type that comprise a screw thread for screwing the spike into a threaded bore in the sole of a shoe. In order to accommodate the threaded bore, the sole of the shoe must be quite thick. In turn, a thick sole makes the shoe heavy, less flexible, and therefore less comfortable for the wearer.

There is also an advantage to provide a spike that can be replaced, and especially a spike that can be replaced in a relatively easy manner.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Throughout this specification, the term "comprising" and its grammatical equivalents shall be taken to have an inclusive meaning unless the context of use indicates otherwise.

Object of the Invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a removable spike or cleat assembly for footwear which may overcome at least some of the abovementioned disadvantages, or provide a useful or commercial choice. In one aspect, the invention resides broadly in a removable spike or cleat assembly for footwear, said footwear including a sole, wherein said assembly comprises a spike or cleat constructed from an elastically deformable material and including one or more leg members and mounting means adapted to engage with the sole, wherein the spike or cleat is adapted to engage with a projection located on said mounting means, the engagement between the spike or cleat and the projection being achieved by rotating the spike or cleat relative to the projection and at least partially inserting the one or more leg members into one or more apertures located on the mounting means, and wherein the spike or cleat is disengaged from the mounting means by producing an elastic deformation of the one or more leg members.

The mounting means may comprise any suitable form. However, it is preferred that the mounting means comprises a base portion adapted for attachment to the footwear, and particularly the sole of the footwear, and a projection extending from the base portion. The base portion of the mounting means may be formed separately and adapted for engagement with the sole of the shoe, or may be formed integrally with the sole of the shoe. While the projection may be of any suitable configuration, it is preferred that the projection comprises a post.

In some embodiments of the invention, the mounting means may be adapted for connection to the sole in such a way that the base portion sits slightly proud of the surface of the sole. Alternatively, the sole of the shoe may be provided with one or more recesses into which the base portion may be adapted to be retained using any suitable technique. In this embodiment of the invention, the base portion may sit flush with the surface of the sole or may be slightly recessed into the surface of the sole.

The spike or cleat may be adapted to engage with the post located on the mounting means using any suitable method. However, it is preferred that the spike comprises one or more projections. In a most preferred embodiment of the invention, the spike comprises three projections.

In another embodiment of the invention, the post comprises one or more land portions. Preferably, the post comprises three land portions. These land portions are preferably placed opposite one another on the post. When the spike or cleat is engaged with the post and is rotated, the projections on the spike or cleat may slide under the land portions of the post, thus locking the spike or cleat in place.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the post may be provided with alignment means. Any suitable alignment means may be provided, although it is preferred that the alignment means are adapted to engage with complementary alignment means provided on the spike or cleat. The alignment means may comprise, for instance, a projection and recess, pair of tabs, or the like adapted to assist a user in correctly aligning the spike or cleat and the post when engaging the spike or cleat with the post.

The spike or cleat may be constructed from any suitable material, such as plastic, rubber, metal and the like. However, it is preferred that the spike or cleat is constructed from a material that is elastically deformable under pressure. In a most preferred embodiment of the invention, the spike may be constructed so as to elastically deform under manual pressure applied by the user, or by pressure applied by a tool, such as a pair of pliers. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spike or cleat may be in a non-elastically deformed state when engaged with the mounting means, hi some embodiments of the invention, the entire spike or cleat may be fabricated from an elastically deformable material, while in other embodiments of the invention, only a portion of the spike or cleat (for instance, the one or more leg members) may be fabricated from an elastically deformable material.

As previously described, the spike or cleat includes one or more leg members. The leg members may be of any suitable form, although in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the one or more leg members comprise an elongate member. Preferably, a first end of the leg member is adapted for engagement with the ground when the spike or cleat is in use. In some embodiments of the invention, the leg member may be provided with a ground-engaging portion. Any suitable ground-engaging portion may be used, such as, but not limited to, a foot. The ground-engaging portion of the leg member may be adapted to provide a user with extra stability, extra grip, or a combination of the two. In some embodiments of the present invention, a second end of the leg member may be adapted for at least partial insertion into one or more apertures located on the mounting means. Preferably, the one or more apertures are located in the base portion of the mounting means. In this embodiment of the invention, the apertures may extend fully through the base portion, or may extend only partially through the base portion. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the one or more apertures may be located in the sole of the shoe. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spike or cleat is provided with a plurality of leg members, each of said plurality of leg members adapted to engage with an aperture. The engagement between the one or more leg members and the one or more apertures prevents lateral movement of the spike or cleat.

The engagement between the leg member and the aperture may be achieved using any suitable technique. For instance, the aperture, the leg member or both may be provided with retention means (such as tabs, lands, recesses, projections, sticky, tacky or adhesive portions, Velcro or the like, or any combination thereof) such that when the leg member is inserted into the aperture, the retention means align and retain the leg member within the aperture.

Alternatively, the spike or cleat may be fabricated in such a way that the leg member has a natural bias. In this way, the natural bias of the leg member may result in the leg member gripping the edge of the aperture with sufficient force to retain the spike or cleat in place on the mounting means.

In order to make the application of manual pressure to the spike or cleat easier for the user, the spike or cleat may further comprise one or more pressure points adapted for a user's fingers or a tool. Specifically, the one or more pressure points may be located on the leg members. Preferably, the one or more pressure points may be located adjacent the ground-engaging end of each of the leg members.

Preferably, the spike or cleat comprises three leg members. Still more preferably, the three leg members are arranged equidistantly from one another on the spike or cleat. By spacing the three leg members equidistantly, the user may be provided with an evenly balanced spike or cleat. In addition, disengagement of the spike or cleat from the mounting means may be made easier by spacing the leg members equidistantly from one another.

By fabricating the spike or cleat from an elastically deformable material, the spike or cleat may be deformed during attachment to or removal from the post. The ability to manually deform the spike or cleat makes its removal or attachment simple, fast and does not require the wearer to remove the shoe to clean or replace a spike or cleat. Specifically, the one or more leg members of the spike or cleat may be deformed through the application of pressure. This application of pressure adjacent the ground- engaging end of the leg member may cause the leg member to tilt to an angle between the vertical and horizontal, thereby either disengaging the retaining means or overcoming the natural bias of the leg member. When the leg member is tilted at this angle, the spike or cleat may then be rotated out of engagement with the mounting means, or simply lifted clear of the mounting means, or a combination of the two.

The location of the mounting means on the sole of the shoe is not critical. However, the mounting means will typically be placed in positions on the sole that provide the user with the best comfort and grip. Similarly, the number of mounting means (and therefore the number of removable spike or cleat assemblies) is not critical, although a skilled addressee will understand that the number of mounting means will be determined by a desire to provide the user with the best comfort and grip. However, a skilled addressee will also understand that the number of mounting means may be limited by the size of the shoe (i.e. larger shoes may be provided with more mounting means). It is envisaged, however, that the size of the removable spike or cleat assemblies could be varied depending on the wearer (for instance, relatively large assemblies in men's shoes, and smaller assemblies in women's and children's shoes).

The sole of the shoe may be manufactured using any suitable process. However, it is preferred that the sole of the shoe is moulded from plastic, rubber or other like substance. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sole of the shoe is formed in two parts. The first part, or skeleton, may be formed of a hard material, such as, but not limited to, polyurethane, while the second part may be formed of a softer material. Typically, the skeleton will be at least partially surrounded by the second part. In use, the skeleton may comprise one or more of the mounting means integrally formed within it.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spike or cleat comprises at least one further projection for engaging with the ground when the shoe is in use.

In some embodiments of the invention, the spike or cleat may be provided with indicia adapted to indicate to a user the correct manner to disengage the spike or cleat from the mounting means. Any suitable indicia may be used, such as, but not limited to, one or more symbols (such as arrows), letters, numbers, pictures or the like, or any combination thereof. Preferably, the indicia indicate the direction in which the one or more leg members may be elastically deformed in order to disengage the spike or cleat from the mounting means.

In a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a shoe comprising at least one removable spike or cleat assembly as hereinbefore described.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the sole of a shoe including removable spikes or cleats according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a removable spike or cleat assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 illustrates an underneath view of a removable spike or cleat assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a removable spike or cleat according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates a top perspective view of a removable spike or cleat assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 illustrates mounting means according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 7-10 illustrate steps in the disengagement of a removable spike or cleat from mounting means according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Drawings.

It will be appreciated that the drawings have been provided for the purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and that the invention should not be considered to be limited solely to the features as shown in the drawings.

In Figure 1 there is shown a perspective view of a shoe sole 10 comprising a plurality of removable spike or cleat assemblies 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The sole 10 is provided with a plurality of recesses (obscured) in which the base portion 12 of the mounting means is located and retained. Each of the base portions 12 are provided with a plurality of apertures 13 into which the leg members 14 of the spike or cleats 15 are partially inserted in order to retain the spikes or cleats 15 in place on the mounting means.

Each spike or cleat 15 is provided with three leg members 14, and one end of each leg member 14 engages with an aperture 13 on the base portion 12. The other end of each leg member 14 is provided with a foot 17 adapted to engage with the ground when the shoe (not shown) is in use.

The spikes or cleats 15 also comprise a number of further projections 16 adapted to engage with the ground when the shoe (not shown) is in use. By providing a plurality of ground-engaging projections to complement the leg members 14, the spike or cleat assembly 11 provides the user with additional grip and stability.

In Figure 2, a side view of a spike or cleat assembly 11 according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The assembly 11 comprises a spike or cleat 15 and mounting means comprising a base portion 12 and a post (obscured) with which the spike or cleat 15 is engaged in use. The spike or cleat 15 comprises leg members 14 having ground-engaging feet 17 spaced apart from one another with ground-engaging projections 16 located interspaced between the leg members 14.

At the opposite end of the leg member 14 to the ground-engaging foot 17, the leg member is adapted for partial insertion into an aperture (obscured) located on the base portion 12. The leg members 14 are naturally biased such that the leg member 14 grips or contacts or abuts the edge of the aperture (obscured) and the spike or cleat 15 is retained in place on the base portion 12. When pressure pushing the leg member 14 inwardly towards the centre of the spike or cleat 15 is placed on or adjacent the foot 17, the natural bias of the leg member 14 is overcome and the leg member no longer grips the edge of the aperture (obscured). Once this occurs, the spike or cleat 15 may be disengaged from the base portion 12 and post (obscured).

Turning now to Figure 3, an underneath view of the base portion 12 is shown. In this embodiment of the invention, the base portion 12 includes a number of cutaway portions 18 through which the projections 19 on the spike 15 can be seen in engagement with the projection (obscured) on the post (obscured). An indentation 20 showing the location of the post (obscured) on the reverse side of the base portion 12 may also be seen.

In Figure 4, a spike or cleat 15 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this Figure, the ends of the leg members 14 adapted to insertion into the apertures on the base portion (not shown) may be more clearly seen. In addition, this Figure clearly shows the projections 19 that, when the spike or cleat 15 is connected to the post (not shown), engage with corresponding projections (not shown) on the post (not shown) by sliding under the post projections (not shown) as the spike is rotated into engagement with the post (not shown).

The spike or cleat 15 further comprises alignment means 21 in the form of a small projection adapted to align with a complementary recess located on an upper portion of the post (not shown). By aligning the complementary alignment means, a user can ensure that the spike or cleat 15 and the post (not shown) are correctly aligned prior to engaging one with the other. In this manner, the engagement between the two components may be more easily achieved correctly at first attempt.

In Figure 5, a perspective view of a removable spike or cleat assembly 11 is shown. In this Figure it may be clearly seen that indicia in the form of arrows 22 have been provided on the spike or cleat 15. The arrows 22 are designed to indicate to the use the manner in which the spike or cleat 15 may be disengaged from the base portion 12. Specifically, the arrows 22 indicate that applying pressure to the leg members 14 in the direction indicated (i.e. towards the centre of the spike or cleat 15) will result in disengaging the leg members 14 from the apertures 13 in the base portion 12, thereby allowing the spike or cleat 15 to be removed for cleaning, repair or replacement.

Figure 6 shows a view of the upper surface of the mounting means according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mounting means comprises a base portion 12 and a post 23 extending outwardly from the base portion 12. The post 23 is provided with three lands 24 under which the projections (not shown) on the spike or cleat (not shown) are adapted to come into sliding engagement with when the spike or cleat (not shown) is rotated into position on the post 23. The upper surface of the post 23 is provided with alignment means in the form of a small recess 25 with which the complementary alignment means on the spike or cleat (not shown) is adapted to align.

In this Figure, the apertures 13 in which the leg members (not shown) are received may also be more clearly seen.

Figure 7 illustrates a first step in the process of disengaging the spike or cleat 15 from the mounting means. In this Figure it may be seen that pressure has been applied up the end of the leg members 14 adjacent the feet 17 such that the upper end of the leg members 14 are pushed inwardly towards the centre of the spike or cleat 15. This movement results in the lower end of the leg members 14 biasing outwardly and disengaging from the apertures 13 in the base portion 12.

It is envisaged that manual pressure on the leg members 14 will be sufficient to disengage the leg members 14 from the apertures 13. However, if a user has limited strength in their hands, or if the assembly 11 is difficult to remove (for instance, because it is heavily covered in mud or dirt), it is envisaged that a user may need to use a tool (such as a pair of pliers) to exert sufficient pressure on the leg members 14.

In Figure 8, the second step in the process of disengaging the spike or cleat 15 from the mounting means is illustrated. In this step, the spike or cleat 15 has been rotated on the post (obscured) such that the projections (obscured) on the spike 15 and the lands on the post (obscured) disengage from one another. It may be seen in this Figure that the rotation of the spike or cleat 15 has resulted in the leg members 14 no longer being in alignment with the apertures 13 in the base portion 12. Once the leg members 14 have been disengaged from the apertures 13 and the projections (obscured) on the spike 15 have been disengaged from one another, the spike or cleat 15 is now ready to be removed, as shown in Figure 9.

In Figure 9, the spike or cleat 15 has now been lifted clear of the post 23, while in Figure 10 the pressure applied to the leg members 14 has been released, and the leg members have again biased to their normal, non-elastically deformed position.

Once a spike or cleat 15 has been removed from the post 23 as shown in Figure 10, the spike or cleat may be replaced (for instance, if the spike or cleat 15 has become worn or damaged), cleaned or repaired. Once the desired action has been carried out, a new spike or cleat (or the cleaned or repaired spike or cleat) may once again be engaged with the post 23 and base portion 12 by reversing the steps shown in Figures 7 to 10.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It will be understood that the present invention encompasses all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope.