Introduction: Assured Foot Ice Cleat Walkers

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About: I enjoy everything

More Ice is coming and I have already had one too many slips and falls.

I went to the store to get some Ice cleats. I was told that summer sporting goods are now stocked and no ice cleats.

Well, I decided to make some of my own, from a Dog harness and home building materials.

This is what I want to share with you - in this instructables.

Please note these cleats are not a replacement for common sense (when in doubt don’t go out).

Caution these cleats are sharp

Step 1: Design – Items and Tools

Design

I wanted to make the cleats at a low cost and from available off the shelf items.

I went to the local building supply store for the material ideas.

The cleats: I first looked at electrical plates but they required drilling and bending and were costly. Then I found the mending plates. Mending plates intended use, is to help hold wood framing together.They fit the bill, under a dollar each, several sizes to choose from. They already had the serrated teeth for the grip, very sharp. They will cut your fingers.

The downward strapping: I wanted to be able to easily take off the cleats with a snap clip or buckle. The local dollar store had dog harnesses. The have nice buckle with double strapping - perfect, I first thought of the small size but selected the larger for the wider strapping.

Rubber back strap: I know that the downward straps tend to loosen up, I wanted to have a rubber cord to hold the cleats on. Also, the straps go from the top of the boot to the bottom, I wanted the rubber to keep the horizontal movement down to a minimum. Well Mini bungee cords fit the bill.

Connectors : My biggest design issue was how I was going to keep the metal plates onto the downward straps. I first thought pop rivets – nuts & bolts - screws (downward - additional cleats) – metal straps – metal staples – wire - not bad; but I wanted something else. I came up with the zip ties. Zip ties are quick and easy.

Items

For spikes – two - 3 inch by 6 inch mending plate (they are used for connecting wood in house building).

Bungee cords – two – 10 inch mini bungee cords with steel hooks

Zip ties – eight total (four per side) – 4 inches long by 1/8 inch wide.

Strapping – two – large dog harness fits dog chest sizes - 18 inch to 24 inch. I purchased these from the local dollar store. A large is actually quite small to my dogs. Base on this sizing chart, my dogs are mutants.

Tools

Household scissors

Flat nose pliers

Side cutters

Leather gloves

Step 2: Opening Plate for Connectors and Prepare Harness for Downward Strapping

I marked the teeth with a black marker - that I wanted to remove.

The teeth are removed; so I can thread the connector strap (zip tie) through the mending plate; without hitting the teeth.

The zip tie will connect the downward strapping to the plate. I used flat nose pliers to bend the teeth back and forth until they break off.

Basically I did this in all four corners of each plate.

The harness was designed for a dog so it had a cross strap that I did not need.

Using household scissors, I cut both loops of the the cross strap to remove.

The last picture shows the scrap or the removed pieces.

Step 3: Connecting Downward Strapping to the Plate

I placed the downward strapping on top of the plate (teeth on opposite side).

Flipping the plate over - I then threaded the zip tie through the outer hole over the strap – back through the opposing hole.

I closed the zip tie with the locking clasp, and then pulled tight.

Once tight, I used my side cutters to trim the zip tie.

I repeated this step four times with each plate.

Step 4: Add Rubber Back Strap and Mount to Boot

Using the existing rings on the downward straps - I connected one end of the mini bungee cord with the metal clip.

I placed the boot over the plate and brought the straps together.

I closed the straps together using the snap buckles.

There are adjustments buckles on the downward straps to tighten.

Step 5: Testing

Once I got the ice cleats mounted - I went to that darn slippery hill by my house.

I only put one Assured Foot Ice Cleat Walker on, so I could compare it to my regular boot.

Works great, no slip or fall, it stayed on my boot.

I am very pleased with this set up.

Snow Contest

First Prize in the
Snow Contest

Makerlympics Contest

Runner Up in the
Makerlympics Contest