Cleat for Boot Sole and the Like

The present invention relates generally to cleats or calks for use on the soles of boots and the like, and more particularly to a novel cleat or calk which provides improved gripping and longer life over prior cleats and calks.

It is a common practice to enhance the ground gripping characteristics of numerous types of footwear through the mounting of cleats, spikes or calks on their soles. The ground gripping characteristics of certain sporting event shoes, such as golf shoes, are conventionally improved by mounting conical spike-like elements on the soles. The spikes generally have threaded shanks which enable releasable threaded mounting in receptacles or anchor inserts secured to the soles in spaced patterns. Similar type spikes have been employed with mountain climbing boots and boots used by loggers, forestry workers and hunters.

A significant drawback in the use of known spike-type grip enhancing devices on boots and the like, and particularly boots such as loggers boots which undergo rigorous use on various terrains including rocks and logs, is that the spikes undergo relatively rapid wear and lose their gripping characteristics, thus requiring relatively frequent replacement or maintenance. The reduction or loss of gripping ability also greatly diminishes the safety factor expected from use of the spikes. Moreover, in the case of logging boots, a substantial number of the spikes, such as thirty or more, may be mounted on a single sole. The cost of replacement or maintenance of the spikes can therefore be quite significant.

In the case of logging boots, attempts to address the aforedescribed problems encountered with spike-type cleats or calks have included the mounting of tricounies along the edge of a sole which also has conical spike-type calks mounted thereon. The tricounies have toothed or serrated edges which dig into the wood or bark of a tree and further enhance gripping with attendant improved safety. Again, however, the use of tricounies leads to increased cost without significantly increasing the wear life of the associated spike-type calks. Accordingly, a cleat or calk having improved gripping and wear life characteristics would result in greater safety and economic efficiencies than experienced with known cleats and calks.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an improved cleat or calk for use with boot soles and the like and which results in enhanced gripping and wear life characteristics over prior cleats or calks.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide an improved cleat or calk which finds particular application with boots and the like such as worn by loggers, forestry workers and hunters and the like, and which provides improved safety on substantially all terrain surfaces at relatively modest cost.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel cleat or calk which, in various of its embodiments, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and exhibits improved gripping over prior cleats or calks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel cleat or calk having a generally cup-shaped spike member defining a plurality of pointed spike elements spaced about and projecting from a base, and wherein, in one embodiment, the spike member is adapted for mounting on a boot sole or the like so as to undergo limited pivoting to accommodate an uneven surface being traversed, and which effects self-leveling upon release from the underlying surface.

A feature of the self-leveling embodiments of the cleat or calk in accordance with the invention lies in the provision of a spring member which may be disposed between the spike member and a sole upon which the cleat is mounted, or between the spike member and the head of a mounting screw securing the spike member to a boot sole such that the spring member accommodates pivoting of the spike member and effect self-leveling after each release from an underlying uneven object or terrain.

Still another feature of the spike or calk in accordance with the invention lies in the provision of a mounting shank which, in various embodiments, cooperates with the spike member so as to facilitate releasable mounting of the calk on a boot sole or the like through a conventional anchor insert affixed to the sole, thus enabling replacement of known conical spike-type calks with improved calks of the present invention.

Further objects, advantages and features of the invention, together with the organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a boot sole having a cleat or calk constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention mounted on the sole;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, on an enlarged scale and taken partly in vertical section, of the cleat and sole shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the cleat of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of a cleat or calk in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a cleat or calk in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the cleat illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a cleat or calk in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the cleat of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of an alternative spike member which may be employed in the cleat or calk illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of still another embodiment of a cleat or calk in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the cleat or calk illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a combined side elevation and partial vertical sectional view of another embodiment of a cleat or calk in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of a cleat illustrated in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary combined elevational and vertical sectional view of another embodiment of a cleat or calk in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of another alternative embodiment of a cleat or calk in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-3, a cleat or calk in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The cleat or calk 10 is adapted for mounting on the soles of various types of footwear such as boots and the like as used by loggers, forestry workers, hunters and hikers when traversing terrain where enhanced gripping of the boot to the ground or other object, such as a log, on which the wearer is maneuvering is desirable for safety purposes. As will become apparent, the cleat or calk 10 may also find application on other types of footwear. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cleat or calk is shown as being affixed to the lower surface 12a of a boot sole, a fragmentary portion of which is indicated at 12, and includes a generally cup-shaped spike member 14 and a mounting shank portion 16.

The cup-shaped spike member 14 may be formed from a suitable metallic material such as steel or stainless steel of an appropriate thickness which lends itself to stamping and drawing operations and which may be suitably hardened and/or passivated. Alternatively, the spike member 14 may be formed from hardened steel, anodized aluminum, suitable plastic or a suitable composite material. The spike member includes a generally circular base 20 which is slightly dish-shaped or undercut so as to present a concave surface 20a toward the surface of a sole on which the cleat is to be mounted. A plurality of downwardly extending generally parallel triangular shaped spike elements, indicated at 22a, b and c, are affixed to the base 20 such that the base edges of the spike elements are equidistantly circumferentially spaced about the circular periphery of the base. The spike elements may be formed integral with the base 20, as by being initially formed generally coplanar with the base 20 and thereafter formed downwardly to depend from the circular base in generally parallel relation to the center axis of the base. The spike elements 22a-c are of equal size and define downwardly facing pointed tips 24a-c, respectively, which lie in a common plane generally parallel to the base 20 with the pointed tips angularly spaced from each other by approximately 120.degree.. The spike elements are configured to facilitate periodic sharpening of their pointed tips, if desired.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the mounting shank portion 16 of cleat 10 is securely affixed to the cup-shaped spike member 14 so as to be substantially integral therewith. To this end, the shank portion 16 includes a generally cylindrical external threaded surface 16a which terminates at its inner end in an annular shoulder surface 16b formed adjacent a reduced diameter end 16c received within a circular central opening 20b in the base 20. The cylindrical end 16c of the mounting shank is preferably fixed within the circular opening 20b in the base 20 by welding, staking, coining or any other suitable technique which secures the shank portion and spike member in fixed coaxial relation. In one embodiment of the cleat 10, the circular base 20 was formed with a diameter of approximately 0.75 inch, and with 25 the spike elements 22a-c having longitudinal lengths of approximately 0.30 inch from their pointed tips to a plane containing the peripheral edge of the base surface 20a. The shank 16 may be formed to extend approximately 0.20 inch from the plane containing the peripheral edge of the base surface 20.

To facilitate mounting of a plurality of the cleats or calks 10 on the bottom of the sole 12, the sole is provided with a plurality of selectively positioned cleat or calk mounting receptacles or anchors, as indicated at 30 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The mounting anchors 30 may be of conventional design and each includes a cylindrical internally threaded tubular sleeve or barrel portion 30a formed integral at one end with a generally annular coaxial flange 30b. A plurality of anchor elements 30c, such as four, are formed in equal angular spaced relation about the flange so as to extend in generally parallel spaced relation to the sleeve portion 30a and lie in radial planes containing the longitudinal axis of the sleeve portion. In preparing the sole 12 for mounting a plurality of cleats or calks 10 thereon, a plurality of cylindrical openings or bores 32 are formed in the sole at predetermined positions to snugly receive the sleeves 30a of a corresponding number of cleat mounting anchors 30 which then have their anchor elements pressed into the sole so as to prevent rotation of the mounting anchors. Each of the internally threaded anchor sleeves 30a is adapted for threaded engagement with the threaded shank portion 16a of a cleat or calk 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Preferably, a plurality of barbs are formed on the spike member 14 so as to embed themselves within the sole 12 during assembly of the cleat into a mounting anchor 30 and prevent inadvertent or unintended counter-rotation of the cleat in a direction to release from the mounting anchor. In the illustrated embodiment, three barbs 34a-c are formed in equal angular spaced relation about the circular base 20 intermediate the spike elements 22a-c by shearforming segments of the base at the its periphery and displacing the sheared segments from the base so that generally radial barb edges are formed.

To assist in threaded attachment of a cleat or calk 10 to a mounting anchor 30 on the boot sole 12, and enable subsequent removal, a pair of spanner holes 36a and 36b are formed in the base 20 such that their center axes lie on a common diameter and are spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive a pair of drive studs on a spanner-type wrench. In this manner a plurality of cleats or calks may be readily mounted on a boot sole or the like, and subsequently removed for sharpening or replacement.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the triangular spike elements 22a-c are formed with arcuate transverse profiles such that their outer peripheral surfaces lie in a cylindrical envelope containing the outer peripheral edge of the base 20 intermediate the spike elements as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an alternative cleat or calk, indicated at 10', which is generally similar to the cleat 10 of FIGS. 2 and 3, but includes a spike member 14' having three equal angularly spaced triangular spike elements 22'a-c formed normal to the plane of the base 20' so that inner arcuate surfaces of the spike elements lie in a cylindrical envelope containing the outer peripheral edge of the base intermediate the spike elements.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of a cleat or calk, indicated generally at 40, which includes a spike member 42 to which is affixed a threaded mounting shank 16' to enable mounting of the cleat on a boot sole or the like through threaded connection to a cleat anchor 30. The spike member 42 may be made from a suitable metallic material such as steel or stainless steel similar to the spike member 14, and includes a generally triangular planar base 44 having three downwardly depending spike elements 46a-c. The spike elements 46a-c may be formed from triangular corner portions of a triangular shaped base 44 such that the spike elements lie normal to the base 44 and define relatively sharp pointed ends 48a-c which are equally angularly spaced about the center axis of the triangular base and lie in a common plane parallel to the base. The spike elements 46a-c are preferably formed from the base 44 so as to simultaneously form corresponding reinforcing ribs or gussets 50a-c interposed between the base and each spike element.

The mounting shank 16' is similar to shank 16 and includes an externally threaded end 16'a which terminates at its inner end in a radial shoulder 16'b peripherally of a reduced diameter cylindrical end portion 16'c snugly received within a circular central opening 44b in the base 44. The cylindrical end 16'c may be welded, staked, coined or otherwise suitably affixed within the opening 44b. Alternatively, the shank 16' and spike member 42 may be formed integral as a unitary metallic calk. To assist in mounting the cleat or calk 40 into a mounting anchor 30 within a boot sole or the like, a pair of generally semi-circular recesses 54a and 54b are formed in the base 44 spaced apart sufficiently to receive a pair of drive studs on a spanner wrench in similar fashion to the spanner holes 36a,b formed in the base 20 of the cleat or calk 10. Each of the triangular spikes 46a-c is preferably formed with a barbed spike point 54a-c, respectively, which are adapted to dig into the surface of a sole on which the cleat or calk 40 is mounted so as to prevent unintended or inadvertent loosening or release of the cleat from an associated mounting anchor 30 within the boot sole.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of a cleat or calk, indicated generally at 60, in accordance with the present invention. The cleat or calk 60 includes a generally cup-shaped spike member 62 and a mounting shank 64 which are functionally similar to the aforedescribed spike member 14 and shank portion 16 of cleat 10. The spike member 62 has a generally circular planar base 66 from which is formed three downwardly extending equal angularly spaced triangular-shaped spike elements 68a-c similar to the spike elements 22a-c. The mounting shank 64 of the cleat or calk 60 is formed as a separate bolt member having a threaded shank portion 64a and a head 64b. The threaded shank 64a is snugly inserted through a circular central opening 66a in the base 66 of spike member 62 as illustrated in FIG. 7. The bolt head 64b has a suitable screwdriver slot formed at its center, such as a Phillips head cross-slot 64c. The cleat or calk 60 may be mounted on a boot sole through threaded engagement of the bolt 64 with a cleat mounting anchor 30 in similar fashion to mounting of the cleat or calk 10. If desired, one or more gripping barbs may be formed from the base 66 intermediate the spike elements 68a-c similar to the barbs 34a-c to better retain the calk 60 in releasable mounted relation on the boot sole.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative generally cup-shaped spike member 70 for use with the mounting bolt 64. The spike member 70 is similar to the spike member 62 except that its three triangular-shaped spike elements 72a-c are formed from a circular planar base 74 such that inwardly facing arcuate surfaces of the spike elements lie in a cylindrical envelope containing the circular peripheral edge of the base 74, whereas the spike elements 68a-c of the spike member 62 are formed such that their outwardly facing arcuate surfaces lie in a cylindrical envelope containing the circular peripheral edge of base 66. If desired, one or more gripping barbs may be formed from the base 70 intermediate the spike elements 72a-c similar to the barbs 34a-c to better retain the calk 70 in releasable mounted relation on the boot sole.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a further embodiment of a cleat or calk, indicated generally at 80, which includes a generally cup-shaped spike member 82 adapted to be affixed to a boot sole or the like through a mounting shank in the form of a separate and distinct mounting bolt 84 similar to mounting of the cleat or calk 60. The cup-shaped spike member 82 is similar to spike member 42 and includes a generally triangular-shaped planar base 86 from which downwardly depending triangular shaped spike elements 88a-c are formed along with integral reinforcing ribs or gussets 86a-c. The mounting bolt 86 has a threaded shank 84a adapted to be snugly inserted through a circular central opening 86d in the base 86, and has an enlarged head 84b enabling mounting of the cleat or calk 80 to a boot sole in fixed relation through a cleat anchor 30. If desired, barbs may be formed on the triangular spike elements 88a-c similar to the barbs 54a-c formed on the spike elements 46a-c.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate another embodiment of a cleat or calk, indicated generally at 100, constructed in accordance with the present invention. A feature of the cleat or calk 100 is that when mounted on the sole of a boot, it is capable of pivoting to accommodate an uneven surface engaged by the cleat, and undergoes self-leveling when released from the underlying surface. The cleat or calk 100 includes a generally cup-shaped spike member 102 and a mounting shank 104 in the form of a discrete mounting bolt. The cup-shape spike member 102 is similar to spike member 62 and includes a generally planar circular base 106 having three downwardly depending equal angularly spaced triangular spike elements 108a-c which are formed integral with or otherwise suitably affixed along base edges to the base.

The mounting bolt 104 comprises a shoulder bolt having a threaded shank 104a, a head 104b and an intermediate cylindrical portion 104c of larger diameter than the threaded shank 104a so as to define an annular shoulder surface 104d. The base 106 has a central circular opening 106a of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical portion 104c of bolt 104 so as to enable relative pivotal movement between the spike member 102 and the shoulder bolt.

Referring to FIG. 12, the cleat or calk 100 includes resilient spring means in the form of an annular resilient spring cushion 110 adapted to be interposed between the base 106 of the spike member 102 and the bottom surface 12a of a boot sole 12. The annular spring cushion 110 may take the form of a suitable resilient rubber washer-like member or a metallic spring such as a coil spring, a wave washer, or one or more Bellville type springs selectively stacked on the threaded shank 104a. Preferably, an annular metallic washer 112 is employed to directly abut the boot sole surface, with the resilient spring cushion 110 sandwiched between the washer and the base 106 of spike member 102. If desired, one or both of the annular side surfaces of the spring cushion 110 may be formed as frusto-conical surfaces such as indicated in phantom at 110a in FIG. 12.

When secured to an anchor 30 on a boot sole or the like, the cleat or calk 100 is firmly engaged against the annular spring cushion 110. The spring cushion 110 is sufficiently resilient to enable limited pivotal movement of the spike member relative to the should bolt 104 when the spike elements 108a-c engage an uneven or irregular surface, such as a rock or log, and effect self-leveling of the spike member to its normal position with the spike elements generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shoulder screw 104 when the spike member is released from the uneven surface or object which caused such rocking or pivotal movement.

FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment of a cleat or calk, indicated generally at 116, which is generally similar to the cleat or calk 100 in that calk 116 is capable of pivoting to accommodate an uneven surface engaged by the calk when mounted on the sole of a boot, and undergoes self-leveling when released from the underlying surface. The cleat or calk 116 includes a generally cup-shaped spike member 118 and a mounting shank 120 in the form of a discrete mounting bolt. The cup-shape spike member 118 is similar to spike member 102 except that spike member 118 includes a generally dish-shaped circular base 122 having three downwardly depending equal angularly spaced triangular spike elements 124a-c which are formed integral with or otherwise suitably affixed along base edges to the base 122.

The mounting bolt 120 comprises a shoulder bolt having a threaded shank 120a, a head 120b and an intermediate cylindrical portion 120c of larger diameter than the threaded shank 120a so as to define a pair of annular shoulder surfaces 120d and 120e. The base 122 has a central circular opening 122a of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical portion 120c of bolt 120 so as to enable relative pivotal movement between the spike member 118 and the shoulder bolt.

The cleat or calk 116 differs from calk 100 in that it includes self-leveling resilient spring means in the form of an annular resilient spring cushion 126 adapted to be interposed between the base 122 of the spike member 118 and the annular surface 120d of shoulder bolt 120. The annular spring cushion 126 may also take the form of a suitable resilient rubber washer-like member or a metallic spring such as a coil spring, a wave washer, or one or more Bellville type springs selectively stacked on the shoulder surface 120d. Preferably, an annular metallic washer 128 is employed to directly abut the boot sole surface and provide a bearing surface engaged by the dish-shaped base 122 of the self-leveling spiked cup member 118, with the resilient spring cushion 126 sandwiched between the head of the shoulder bolt and the base 122 of spike member 118. If desired, one or both of the annular side surfaces of the spring cushion 126 may be formed as frusto-conical surfaces such as indicated in phantom at 110ain FIG. 12. The washer 128 preferably has gripping barbs, such as indicated at 128a,b, to releasably affix the washer to the boot sole.

When secured to an anchor 30 on a boot sole or the like, the spike member 118 firmly engages the annular washer 128 in metal-to-metal relation. Instead of a weighted boot flexing on the spring cushion 126, the weight is transmitted directly to the spike member 118 through washer 128. However, the spring cushion 126 is sufficiently resilient to enable limited pivotal flexing movement of the spike member relative to the should bolt 120 when the spike elements 124a-c engage an uneven or irregular surface, such as a rock or log, and effect self-leveling of the spike member to its normal position with the spike elements generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shoulder screw when the spike member is released from the uneven surface or object which caused such rocking or pivotal movement.

By mounting the spring cushion 126 between the head of shoulder bolt 120 and the base 122 of spike member 118, a number of advantages are achieved. For example: abrasives trapped on and around the spring cushion will not wear it out as rapidly as might result from directly weighting the cushion; positive contact is made between the spike member and the bearing washer 128; the spring cushion is sheltered by the cup-shaped spike member and the mounting bolt head; and the spring cushion both normally maintains the cup against the bearing washer and enables continued cushioning when the spike member flexes or pivots off its normal neutral position without being severely pinched by the weight of boot wearer.

While the various embodiments of the cleats or calks in accordance with the invention have been described as being adapted for threaded attachment to a cleat anchor or receptacle secured within a boot sole or the like, it will be understood that the various cleats or calks may be mounted on a boot sole by alternative attachment techniques. For example, the threaded shanks may alternatively take the form of suitable cylindrical shanks sized to provide a fixed interference fit within a generally cylindrical non-threaded barrel portion 30a of a cleat or calk anchor 30. FIG. 15 illustrates a cylindrical nonthreaded shank 130 formed on a cleat or calk 132 which is otherwise generally similar to the calk or cleat 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

Also, while the various embodiments of the cleats or calks in accordance with the invention have been described as employing spike members formed with three spike elements, spike members having a number of spike elements greater than three may be desirable for some applications. However, it is believed that for uneven terrain or other non-flat surfaces, calks having three spike elements disposed at 120.degree. angularly spaced relation about the central axis of the corresponding spike member provide a desirable tripod contact effect and efficient flexing of the spike member.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, various embodiments of a cleat or calk are provided which are adapted for mounting on a boot sole or the like and each of which provides a plurality of ground engaging spike elements for each corresponding cleat anchor in the boot sole. In the illustrated embodiments, each spike member has three equal angularly spaced triangular spike elements formed about the center axis of a base such that the spike elements extend in normal relation from the base and enable mounting on the boot sole through mounting shanks. By providing a plurality of spike elements on each cleat or calk, a substantially greater number of spike elements may be provided per unit area of boot sole for a given number of cleat or calk anchors 30 than obtained with prior singular conical shaped spike elements. The greater number of spike elements provides improved safety while also providing significantly greater wear life. Conversely, significantly fewer cleats or calks of the present invention are required in comparison to prior spike-type cleats or calks on a boot sole to provide comparable gripping characteristics. By providing spring or resilient cushioned mounting of the spike members or pivotal spike members spring damped in accordance with the invention, the spike elements may undergo pivotal movement and accommodate uneven surfaces, thereby improving safety while effecting self-leveling after release of the spike elements from the uneven surface.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Various features of the invention are defined in the following claims