Directionally yieldable cleat assembly

摘要

The present invention relates to a directionally yieldable cleat assembly attached to an athletic shoe having an upper and a sole with a longitudinal axis. A plurality of spaced cleats are mounted to the sole so that the cleats protrude outwardly from the bottom of the sole. In one embodiment, a bumper is provided between the cleat and the sole for enabling a greater magnitude of deformation or deflection of the cleat in response to a predetermined lateral force imposed upon the cleat in a first laterally inward direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shoe than the deformation or deflection of the cleat in response to the same predetermined force imposed on the cleat in directions other than the first lateral direction. Deflection of the cleat is also minimized or eliminated in response to forces imposed on the cleats in a parallel direction to the longitudinal axis of the sole to ensure that traction for the shoe is uncompromised.