Adjustable Cleat Radial Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footwear cleat systems lack a secure and adjustable mechanism for rotating cleat members to optimize traction and speed in various athletic activities, as they often rely on fixed or cumbersome attachment methods that do not allow for easy adjustment of cleat orientation.
Innovation Solution
A footwear design featuring a radial locking system with radially disposed locking elements on both the cleat receiving portion and the removable cleat member, allowing for secure attachment and adjustable angular positioning of cleat members using a fastener that inserts through cavities in both components, preventing rotation and enabling various traction configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed attachment method is used for cleat members, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability for different athletic activities is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The cleat member is divided into separate components: a body portion with cavities and a base portion with locking elements. This segmentation allows the cleat to be rotated and repositioned within the sole structure while maintaining structural integrity, enabling adaptability for different athletic activities without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cleat member is designed with rotational freedom around a central axis, allowing it to dynamically adjust between fixed and rotatable states. The radial locking elements enable the cleat to be secured at different angular positions, providing versatility for various athletic movements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
2Adaptability or versatility
If a removable cleat member is used, then the adaptability is improved, but the reliability of attachment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism utilizes radial locking elements that engage in a circular pattern around the central axis of the cleat member. This radial arrangement provides uniform distribution of locking forces, ensuring secure attachment while allowing rotational adjustment to different angular positions for optimized traction in various directions
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener system combines multiple functions into a single mechanism: it secures the cleat member to the sole structure, prevents rotation during use, and maintains the cleat at the desired angular position. This integration of functions ensures reliable attachment while preserving adjustability
3Reliability
If a radial locking system is implemented, then the prevention of rotation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radial locking elements are positioned asymmetrically around the central axis of the cleat member, with specific angular spacing between elements. This asymmetric arrangement provides effective rotation prevention at discrete angular positions while keeping the locking mechanism relatively simple, avoiding the need for continuous rotation control
Data Source
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AI summary
An article of footwear (100) includes a cleat system (200) with removable cleat members (202). The removable cleat members are fastened onto cleat receiving portions (204) of a sole structure (110) using fasteners (206). The removable cleat members can be placed at various angular positions and fastened in place to maintain the angular positions. The removable cleat members can be asymmetric to allow for different operating configurations of the cleat system.