Cleat Souls

1. Cleat Souls Informative Presentation By: Nilofer Faiz Joseph Maiorana Joseph Schneider

2. Table of Contents

3. Step 1- Problem Statement Spikes/Cleats become worn out when walking on asphalt to a field/stadium/track.

4. Step 2- 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 Impossible/difficult to improve upon 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 6

7. Step 3- Research/ Justifying the Problem • Surveys • Random distribution (50) • Peers with background to problem statement • Expert Feedback • Interview experts through email, in person contact (7) • Online research • Patent searches • http://uspto.gov

8. Market Survey • Do your spikes/cleats on athletic shoes become worn out after walking on asphalt/sidewalks? (If No, do not continue) • Yes • No • Which type of spikes/cleats do you use? • Metal • Rubber • Plastic • What do you use spikes/cleats for? Check all that apply. • Football • Baseball • Track & Field • Soccer • Golf • Bicycling • Work • Other (please specify__________________________________)

9. Market Survey Spikes/cleats become worn out or damaged due to: Excessive use Poor design Friction with surface On a scale of 1-5, do you feel your performance is lowered because of worn down spikes/cleats? [ 1= No, not at all. 5= Yes, definitely] 1 2 3 4 5 Do you feel you need to replace your spikes/cleats because of damages? Yes No If yes to #3 how often do you feel you need to replace your spikes/cleats? Often Sometimes Very few times Other (please specify__________________________________) 9

10. Market Survey Would you purchase a device that protects the spikes/cleats from becoming worn down? Yes No If a new design were to be created improving the spikes/cleats, which factor will be the most important upon purchase? Cost Quality Durability Appearance 10

11. Survey Results • 36 responses in accord that cleat shoes wear down to the point that it should be considered a problem • 14 responses in accord that cleat shoes are not worn down enough to be a problem

12. Contacting Experts • Interview: in person/email • Agreement = spikes become damaged • 5 of 7 interviewees also agree that having to bring multiple shoes to an event is annoying • These interviews prove problem statement to be valid • First 3 helped justify problem statement • Last 4 Provided feedback, tips in drafting solution

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

14. Feedback Gained

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Step 4- Design Criteria • 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

19. Design Criteria Cont’ • Manufacturing • Cost • Material • Ease of Use • Storage • Durability • Safety • Fit • Weight Capacity • Time-Saving • Protection • Physical Appeal

20. Step 5- Possible Solutions • Each team member came up with 2 different solutions • Evaluated pros/cons, scored off of design criteria

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. Step 6- Final Solution Derived • Decision- Making Matrix helped in evaluation of potential sol • Criteria: • Totals made after evaluation • Manufacturing • Cost • Material • Ease of Use • Storage • Durability

28. Decision Matrix • Scoring:+ Best option • - Worst option • 0 No difference

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

30. The Spike Cover • 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. Experts’ Credibility 39

40. Solution Justification

41. Step 7- Design Parameters Part A1

42. Part B1

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

44. Supplies and Cost

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

46. Cleat Cover- Parts

47. Part A1- Top Layer • Made from plastic • Heel of cleat cover • 5/16” thick • 3 slots

48. Part A2- Bottom Layer • Made from rubber • Heel of cleat cover • 5/16” thick

49. Part B1- Top layer • Made from plastic • Sole of cleat cover • 5/16” thick • 6 slots

50. Part B2- Bottom Layer • Made from rubber • Sole of cleat cover • 5/16” thick