WO1988004802A1

WO1988004802A1 - Shoe-to-pedal attachment device

Info

Publication number: WO1988004802A1
Application number: PCT/US1987/003375
Authority: WO
Inventors: Darek Barefoot
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-12-16
Filing date: 1987-12-16
Publication date: 1988-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-16

Abstract

A bicycle racing pedal (2) has affixed to its front an angularly engageable forward catch (10) and affixed to its rear a laterally engageable reaward locking catch (6). The operative parts of the catches (10 and 6) are slightly raised above the top of the pedal (2). A bicycle shoe (14) has affixed to its sole a shaped plate adapted to engage both catches (10 and 6) and a hard rubberized balance pad to permit a wearer to stand and walk without damaging the shaped plate. A wearer attaches the shoe (14) to the pedal (2) by first turning the toe of his or her shoe inward, that is, toward the bicyle, and aimed at the forward catch (10). The shoe (14) is then moved forward until it engages the forward catch (10). The heel of the shoe is then pivoted inboard about the forward catch (1) in a plane generally parallel with the plane of the pedal (2) until the shoe (14) engages the rearward locking catch (6) which locks the shoe (14) in place. To detach the shoe (14), the heel is forcifully rotated outward, releasing the lock (6), and the shoe (14) is moved backward a sufficient distance to disengage it from the forward catch (10). This invention may be retrofitted onto existing pedals and shoes.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF A SHOE-TO-PEDAL ATTACHMENT DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to devices whic attach the shoes of a bicycler to the pedals of a bicycle and in particular to those devices which are quickl attachable and detachable.

It is well known that participants in bicycle race have found it advantageous to connect their shoes to th pedals of their bicycles. This enables the bicycler to pul the pedal during its upswing, thus giving the bicycle positive control of each pedal during the full rotation o the crank.

This invention provides a means by which a bicycler ca quickly attach and detach his shoes to the pedals

Conventionally, many bicyclers use a strap and buckle whic does not permit quick attachment and detachment. This devic eliminates the disadvantage.

This invention is retro-fittable and can be fitted t virtually any cycling shoe and can, in one or other of it embodiments, be adapted to any better quality quill o platform type racing pedals for strapless riding. This invention is revolutionary in that it virtually equips standard cycling pedals and shoes for the convenience and safety of strapless, totally hands-off shoe attachment and detachment. Other advantages and attributes of this invention will be readily discernible upon the reading of the text hereinafter. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention comprises three main components: an angularly engageable forward catch means affixed to a front or toerest portion of the pedal, a forward engaging means affixed to the sole of the shoe and adapted to angularly engage the forward catch means, and further adapted to pivot about the forward catch means, when the shoe is pivoted laterally inboard, until the shoe is squarely over the pedal, a laterally engageable rearward locking catch means affixed to a rear portion of the pedal, and a rearward engaging means affixed to the sole of the shoe and adapted to engage the rearward locking catch means when the shoe is pivoted about the forward catch means in an inboard direction.

An object of this invention is to provide a means whereby a bicycling shoe can be attached to a pedal by angulary engaging a forward catch and secondly, engaging a rearward locking catch, and whereby detachment of the shoe is performed by reversing the movements.

Other objects of this invention will be readily discernible upon reading of"the text hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a forward catch of this invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a forward catch of this invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a phantom cycling shoe attached to a phantom pedal by means of this invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view- of the rearward locking catch.

Figure 5 is a rear view of the rearward locking catch.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the forward catch. Figure 7 is a front view of the first embodiment of the forward catch.

Figure 8 is a side view of the first embodiment of the forward catch.

Figure 9 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the forward catch.

Figure 10 is a side view of a second embodiment of the forward catch.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the sole affixed, catch engaging means. Figure 12 is a side view of the sole affixed, catch engaging means.

Figure 13 is a plan view of a balance pad. Figure 14 is a front view of the balance pad. Figure 15 is a side view of the balance pad. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to figure 1, a quill-type racing pedal 2 i shown to have a forward catch 4 affixed to the front of th pedal and a rearward locking catch 6 affixed to the rear o the pedal. The terms "front" and "rear" are referenced t the front and rear of a bicycle, so that a front of a peda is that portion of the pedal facing toward the front of th bicycle, and a rear of the pedal is that portion of th pedal facing toward the rear of the bicycle. The term "forward" and "rearward" have the same reference.

Referring to figure 2, a platform-type racing pedal is shown to have a second embodiment 10 of a forward catc affixed to its front and a rearward locking catch 6 affixe to its rear. It can be clearly seen that the pedal of figure 2 is not symmetrical with respect to its axis of rotation, and therefore has a front, commonly called a toerest, which is clearly distinguishable from its rear. Although the pedal of figure 1 is not so obviously asymmetrical, it is, and it also has a definite orientation with respect to front and rear. Both pedals are righthand pedals. Other pedals (not shown) are symmetrical and a front and rear can be arbitrarily chosen. Nevertheless, once a front and rear are chosen, this invention and the description of it herein apply equally to those type of pedals.

Referring to figure 3, a means 12 for engaging both catches is shown to be attached to the sole of a phantom racing shoe 14. The means 12 as seen to be a plate which is attached to the sole by means of bolts (not shown) which extend through a plurality of slots, 14A, 14B and 14C. At least one of the slots is adapted to align with a pre-existing nut means which is conventional to racing shoes. The plate 12 is seen to be engaging a second embodiment 10 of the forward latch and the rearward locking catch 6, both of which are attached to a phantom pedal 16, a left side pedal. Referring to figures 4 and 5, the rearward locking catch 6 is shown in more detail. It comprises a mounting plate 18 which defines a plurality of bolt slots 20A and 20B which are adapted to align for mounting purposes with typically pre-existing holes or slots at the rear of conventional racing pedals. Projecting normally from a margin of the mounting plate is an integral tongue piece 22 comprising a shank 24 and a tongue 26. The shank is wide enough to structurally support the tongue 26 which is spaced from the mounting plate 18 and generally normal thereto. The direction of the tongue is parallel to the mounting plate. The tongue is resilient and has a V-shaped bend 28 for locking an engaging means-.

Referring to figures.6-8, the first embodiment 4 of the forward catch is shown to comprise a right angle mounting plate 30 of which one side 31A defines a mounting slot 32. Projecting back over a second side 31B is an integral catch plate 34 which is substantially parallel to and spaced from the second side 31B by a U-shaped bend 35. The mounting plate 30 and mounting slot 32 are adapted to permit the forward catch 4 to be mounted on a quill-type pedal by bolting it to a forward edge of the pedal cage.

Referring to figures 9 and 10 a second embodiment 10 of the forward catch is shown to comprise a mounting plate 36 which defines a plurality of mounting slots 38A and 38B. An integral catch plate 40 projects back over and parallel to the mounting plate 36 and is spaced apart therefrom by a U-shaped bend 42. The mounting plate 36 and mounting slots, 38A and 38B, are adapted to permit the forward catch 10 to be mounted on a platform-type pedal by bolting the mounting plate to the toerest of the pedal.

Referring to figures 11 and 12, the sole plate 12 is seen to be curved; this curvature is adapted to conform to the curvature to the sole of a racing shoe. The plate 12 is elongated and comprises three basic section. The first section is a forward tongue means 44 which is caught by the forward catch. A second section is a staple means 46 for locking the rearward catch tongue 26, and the third sectio is a shank 48 joining the other two sections.

Referring again to figures 11 and 12, the first sol plate section 44 flares out from the shank section 48 an terminates in a straight edge. The shank portion 48 abut the sole of the shoe, whereas the forward tongue means 44 i raised from the sole by means of an S-shaped bend 50. Th sides of the forward tongue means 44 have integral flanges 52A and 52B which project normally from the plate to the sole of the shoe. The tongue of the forward tongue means 44 is that portion of the plate between the flanges 52A and 52B. Since that portion is raised from the sole, it is adapted to slip under the ^"catch plates of both embodiments, 34 and 40. Referring to figures 3, 6, and 9, it can be seen that the free ends of the catch plates, 34 and 40, are semi-circularly curved, and when the sole plate tongue is inserted below either of the catch plates, the flanges 52A and 52B act as stops which abut the catch plates. The curvature of the catch plates serves two purposes. Firstly, when the flanges abut the curved edge of the catch plate, a significant portion of the catch plate still projects over the sole plate tongue. Secondly, the sole plate tongue need not engage the catch plates straight-on, but rather the angle of attack, that is, the angle of engagement can be any acute angle within a suitable range. Once the catch plate has been engaged at an angle within the range, the shoe can be pivoted, that is rotated, about the catch plate generally parallel to the plane of the pedal to bring the sole plate tongue to straight-on engagement with the catch plate as shown in figure 3. When the shoe is being thusly pivoted, the semi-circular catch plate acts as a cam upon which the stop flanges 52A and 52B ride. It should be- noted that the engagement of the tongue with the catch plate is continuous throughout the rotation because the curvature of the catch plate allows the flanges 52A and 52B to ride thereupon until the tongue means 44 squarely engages the catch. Referring again to figures 3, 11 and 12, the staple means 46 comprises a section of the plate which has been raised from the sole by a second S bend 52 and supported by a plurality of flanges 54A, 54B, 56A, and 56B, all of which project normally from the plate to the sole. The flanges 56A and 56B are disposed at the sides of the plate end opposite the tongue end. The flanges 54A and 54B are oppositely disposed along sides of the plate intermediate the plate ends. Disposed within and projecting from the raised plate is a closed loop 58 which is a strip of the plate material separated from the plate by a slit 60 and raised from the plate in loop fashion. The loop 58 is so disposed and adapted to engage the rearward catch tongue 28. It should be noted that the loop runs, in a line parallel to the line of the shoe so that the shoe is moved laterally to engage the tongue and loop.

From the foregoing it can be seen that in operation the shoe engages the pedal by first angularly engaging the sole plate tongue with the forward catch plate, and then pivoting the shoe laterally inboard toward a position where the shoe is squarely over the pedal to engage the rearward catch tongue with the sole plate rearward loop. The V-shaped bend of the tongue locks the loop and thereby the shoe in place. Detachment of the shoe is done by reversing the foregoing procedure. Preferably, the strength and resiliency of the tongue is suitable to make it difficult to attach and detach the shoe by hand but easily managed when the shoe is on a foot and the necessary movements are accomplished by the wearer's leg, a leg being much stronger than. arms. Referring to figures 13-15, a balance pad 60 shown. It is a pad of hard rubber adhesively mounted in a metallic base 62. The metallic base is then affixed to the sole plate between the flanges 56A and 56B. Preferably, it is affixed by bolt means so that it is replaceable as the rubber wears down.

The foregoing description and drawings were given for illustrative purposes only, it being understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is intended to embrace any and all alternatives, equivalents, modifications and rearrangements of elements falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

CtVAIMS I Claim:

1. A connector for releasably affixing the sole of a cycling shoe to a cycle pedal comprising:

(a) a means for pivotally engaging a forward part of the sole to the pedal atop the pedal and at a front of the pedal, a pivotal axis being generally normal to a top of the pedal, and

(b) a means for catching and releasably holding a shank part of the sole to the pedal atop the pedal and at a rear of the pedal when said sole is pivoted about the pivotal axis from a position where the shoe is pigeon-toed with respect to the pedal to a position squarely upon the pedal.

2. The connector according to claim 1 wherein the means for pivotally engaging the forward part of the sole comprises

(a) a catch affixed to the pedal at a front of the pedal, and

(b) a tongue affixed to the forward part of the sole which is pivotally caught by^*the catch.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the catch is a plate which at one end is affixed to a front edge of the pedal and which projects rearward over the pedal, the projecting end being arcuate, and wherein the tongue comprises: (a) a plate which is affixed to the sole and which has a tongue portion which projects forward and is spaced from the sole sufficient to allow the catch plate to be disposed therebetween to secure a front part of the shoe vertically onto the pedal, and

(b) a pair of integral flange means disposed at opposite margins of the tongue portion which abut the arc of the catch plate and ride thereupon.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for catching and releasably holding a shank part of the sole comprises:

(a) an elongated tongue means affixed to and spaced from a rear of the pedal and projecting therefrom in a lateral outboard direction, (b) a loop means affixed to the sole and projecting generally normal therefrom, the loop means engaging the elongated tongue means when the shoe is pivoted in an inboard direction, and (c) means to lock the tongue means in the loop means so as to prevent lateral movement of the shoe with respect to the pedal.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the means to lock the tongue means into the loop means comprises a generally

V-shaped bend of the tongue means Intermediate a free end and an end affixed to the pedal.