Spike Protect Cleat Covers for Athletic Shoes

1. Cleat Covers By Nilu Faiz Joseph Maiorana Joseph Schneider

2. Table of Contents

3. Problem Statement • Athletes need to wear different pairs of shoes while walking on any other surface other than a playing field; otherwise their spikes/ cleats become dull or damaged.

4. Brainstorming Consider Source of Problem • Deals with cleat shoes wearing away when walking • Friction/ contact of shoe with track field surface • Athletes’ amount of shoe usage

5. Background • Experience • Joe plays football • Joey played baseball • Knowledge from peer athletes • Conversations • Environment • Issues with track surface

6. Hypotheses To attack situation: • Impossible/difficult to change outside factors So, Improve features of cleat shoe • Design & manufacture solution to fit on bottom of athletic cleats • Solution will provide protection so cleat shoe will last longer • This device will be effective when user is not using cleats for their main purpose

7. Justifying the Problem • Surveys • random distribution (50) • peers with background to problem statement • Interviews- experts (3) • Email, in person contact • Online research • Patent searches • http://uspto.gov

8. Surveys • Do you use metal, rubber, or plastic spikes? • Metal • Rubber • Plastic • What do you use spikes/ cleats for? Check all that apply • Football • Baseball • Track & Field • Soccer • Golf • Work • Other

9. Surveys Cont’d • Do your spikes/cleats become damaged because of walking on asphalt/ sidewalks? • Yes • No • On a scale of 1-5, do you believe your performance decreases because of worn down spikes? 1 2 3 4 5 • Would you use a device that protects the spikes/cleats from becoming worn down? • Yes • No

10. Survey Results • 42 responses in accord that cleat shoes wear down to the point that it should be considered a problem • 8 responses in accord that cleat shoes are not worn down enough to be called a problem

11. Contacting Experts • Interview : in person/email • All agreed that their spikes become damaged • 2 of 3 interviewees also agree that having to bring multiple shoes to an event is annoying • These interviews prove problem statement to be valid • Provided feedback, tips helped in drafting solution

12. Sample Email of Slide • Overview of situation, why need advice • Background behind problem • Survey questions • Asked for further information/knowledge on design for solution

13. Experts- Justified Problem • Kyle Whittier • Athlete: football (2yrs) & baseball (10yrs) • Chris Fenske • Athlete (track) • Sales Associate – Sport’s Authority • Kevin Whittier • 4 year sales Associate – Sport’s Authority

14. Experts- Provided Feedback • Marianne & Rick Kay • CleatSkins inventors • MichealBarbanente • Bella Sutchar

15. Feedback Gained from Experts

16. Testimonial from Patent 1 • Citation: Perron, Jr. “Soccer Shoe” United States Patent. 2009. http://uspto.gov Inventor: Perron, Jr.; J. Edward [Metairie, LA] Patent Filed: March 31, 2005 Patent Number: 7,487,604

17. Patent 1 cont’ • Shoe cover insert innovation • enhances performance of soccer shoe • Conventional soccer shoes have problem with vertical component • design needs to be modified • Design includes an insert that: • cushion the foot • provide foot stability • motion control; reduce fatigue • extend the float time of a runner and • increase the jump height of the wearer • extends vertically.

18. Justified Problem Statement • Conclusions based off research • Expert feedback • Patents • Online resources • Athletes need to wear a different pair of shoes while walking on anything other than their playing field, otherwise their spikes will become damaged or dulled. EXISTS

19. Solution should… • Protect spikes from becoming dull • Protect surfaces from damages • Eliminate the need to bring multiple pairs of shoes to events • Take less time than switching between shoes

20. Possible Solutions • Each team member came up with 3 different solutions • The team decided on the best solution

21. Solution A: Spike Covers • Blocks fit completely over the spikes • Keeps spikes elevated above ground • Reduces wear

22. Solution B: Spike Sandals • Sandal placed under cleat • Velcro belt holds in place

23. Solution C: Rubber Sole • A rubber sole slips on the bottom of cleat • Keeps spikes off the ground

24. Solution D: Spike Plugs • Rubber plugs put on spikes • Keep spikes from touching ground

25. Solution E: Retractable Cover • Rubber membrane on outside • Stretchy rubber material extended over sole • Covers heel, kicking portion • Rubber sleeve covers entire bottom

26. Innovation Solution F: Spike Plug W/ Retractable Cover • Spike plugs easily attach to bottom of athletic spike shoe • Retractable stretchy sleeve holds together spike plugs • Allows attachment of all five plugs without effort • Retractable cover provides tight support all around shoe • Prevents shoe laces from becoming untied

27. Final Solution Derived • Used decision making matrix to evaluate each of the features in final solution • Criteria: • Performance • Practical/storage • Ease of Use • Manufacturing • Durability • Totals are made after analysis to choose our best solution

28. Decision Matrix • Scoring: + Better than the other options • - Worse than the other options • 0 No measurable difference

29. Final Solution • Based on the scores on the decision matrix, we chose our solution

30. The Spike Cover • A protective covering for the front and the back of the cleat • Keeps spikes from coming in contact with the ground • Has rubber bottoms for safety • Easy to use • Easy to store

31. The Spike Cover

32. Specifications

33. Function • Protect spikes from becoming dull • Protect spikes from coming in contact with the ground • Eliminate the need to bring multiple pairs of shoes to events

34. Form • The spike covers come in two parts • The spike covers must be sized to fit onto shoe • Holes can hold spikes up to ¾” long

35. Ergonomics • The two parts of the spike cover are shaped to the heal and to the front of the cleat.

36. Ease of Maintenance • Primary tools needed • Computer with Inventor • Micrometer • Prototype machine • Belt Saw

37. Standardization • Guerilla Glue • Flip Flops

38. Durability • Layer 2 was added to the product to insure durability. • It will protect the plastic from scratches • Keep the plastic from getting worn out

39. Cost • The cost to make the product is fairly cheap • Most of the project’s cost comes from the prototype machine • The cost to produce one spike cover (both parts) is about $25 (according to Stephen Buchs)

40. Refining the design • There should be two layers to the shoe • Plastic: serves as the protection of the spike • Rubber: serves as a safety precaution and increases durability of the product • There was no way of making a solution that could fit all spikes • We chose the Nike Haurachi as our model shoe

41. Design Development • 2 Parts to the solution • The front of the shoe • The sole of the shoe • Each part is divided into 2 layers • Top Layer: made of plastic • Bottom Layer: made of rubber

42. Design Parameters

43. Expert Analysis

44. Assembly Parts

45. Drawings

46. Tool Selection • Major Tools • Prototype Machine • Belt Saw

47. Supplies & Cost

48. Assembly Process • Suggested time of assembly: 1 day • Assembly procedure • Gather Materials • Use prototype machine to make layer 1 of both parts • Cut out layer 2 with belt saw • Use shoe glue to attach parts • Part A1 to A2 • Part B1 to B2

49. Test Procedure • Fit • Does the spike cover fall off? • Do the spikes fit within the holes? • Do the covers fit the portion of the shoe? • Safety • Is it slippery? • Is the cleat still balanced? • Weight Capacity • Appearance

50. Test Procedure (Cont’d) • Does the spike cover protect the spikes? • Do spikes become damaged when wearing the spike cover? • Does it eliminate the need to change shoes? • Is it faster to use the spike cover than to bring an extra pair of shoes?