In certain sporting activities that are played on either grassy surfaces, surfaces with artificial turf, or on bare ground, participants typically wear footwear having cleats projecting from the bottom of the footwear in order to provide stability and traction. Such sports include, but are not limited to, baseball, softball, football, soccer, golf, rugby, and track and field, among others. In some cases, footwear has been customized and developed for a particular sport, for example, footwear having short sharp spikes or cleats are used for many track and field events due to the events being held primarily on bare ground or on tracks composed of hard-packed but soft surfaces, such as clay or cinders and the like. Sports that are played on similar surface types, for example, football and soccer, may have footwear that is customized to an extent for the particular sport; however, footwear for such sports played on similar surfaces can be interchangeable. Footwear developed for baseball and softball must provide the athlete with stability and traction on more than one surface, as these sports combine grassy or artificial turf playing surfaces with infields or base paths composed of dirt or clay. As such, the typical baseball or softball cleat is a relatively short, relatively wide cleat resembling the blade of a spade that is used as a tool for digging in dirt or grass. Typically, such cleats are formed from metal or a hard plastic and project radially approximately ½ inch from the sole of the shoe.
Similar versions of such cleats have, by comparison, relatively short cleats that are used by athletes playing on artificial turf surfaces. The artificial turf typically provides a uniform texture, making longer cleats unnecessary for traction. In addition, longer cleats may be prone to catch on an artificial surface, possibly resulting in injury to the athlete. Whether the cleats are short or longer, present baseball or softball-type cleats may be provided as a one to three-sided cleat; the cleats normally being spaced from each other around the perimeter of the sole of the shoe. The cleats may or may not be interchangeable as wear and tear occurs and, if interchangeable, will be provided with a screw-type or other fastener in which the cleat itself has a portion formed with threads to engage corresponding holes in the sole of the shoe or a screw may be inserted through the cleat and into the sole of the shoe to fasten the cleat to the sole. Very little innovation has taken place in baseball or softball type cleats over the years. Innovation has primarily taken the form of the utilization of softer materials for use by children participating in the sports or the shortening of cleats for use on artificial turf surfaces.