An improved pedal/cleat assembly includes a cleat that can be releasably secured to a pedal assembly without the need to contact the sole of a rider's shoe. The cleat is configured to include forward and rearward projections, as well as inward and outward feet, and the pedal assembly is configured t
An improved pedal/cleat assembly includes a cleat that can be releasably secured to a pedal assembly without the need to contact the sole of a rider's shoe. The cleat is configured to include forward and rearward projections, as well as inward and outward feet, and the pedal assembly is configured to include a spindle, a main pedal body mounted on the spindle, and a cleat support base mounted on the main pedal body. The cleat support base includes inward and outward pads configured to support the cleat's inward and outward feet, and it mounts forward and rearward cleat retainers configured to receive and secure the forward and rearward cleat projections. A spring-bias device yieldably biases the forward and rearward cleat retainers toward each other. The pedal/cleat assembly thereby is configured such that the cleat can be secured to the pedal assembly without the need to contact any portion of the shoe sole.
대표청구항▼
1. A pedal/cleat assembly comprising: a cleat configured for attachment to the underside of a rider's shoe, the cleat defining a cleat rotation axis and including: a forward cleat projection facing the toe end of the shoe,a rearward cleat projection facing the heel end of the shoe,an inward foot for
1. A pedal/cleat assembly comprising: a cleat configured for attachment to the underside of a rider's shoe, the cleat defining a cleat rotation axis and including: a forward cleat projection facing the toe end of the shoe,a rearward cleat projection facing the heel end of the shoe,an inward foot formed of a hard, non-resilient material and located on a portion of the cleat nearest an inward side of the shoe, andan outward foot formed of a hard, non-resilient material and located on a portion of the cleat nearest an outward side of the shoe; anda pedal configured to releasably secure the cleat, the pedal including: a spindle defining a spindle axis,a main pedal body mounted on the spindle for rotation about the spindle axis and having an upper side facing the cleat,an upper cleat support base mounted to the upper side of the main pedal body,an upper set of cleat retainers, including a forward cleat retainer and a rearward cleat retainer, secured to, and projecting upward from, the upper cleat support base, respectively forward and rearward of the spindle, wherein the forward and rearward cleat retainers are configured to receive and retain the respective forward cleat projection and rearward cleat projection, to secure the cleat to the pedal,an upper spring-bias device for yieldably biasing the forward and rearward cleat retainers toward each other,wherein the upper cleat support base includes an inward pad and an outward pad, wherein the pads are formed of a hard, non-resilient material and are configured to support the cleat's respective inward foot and outward foot when the cleat is secured to the pedal, and wherein the upper cleat support base has a nominal valgus or varus tilt, andone or more shims, at least one shim having a wedge configuration, disposed between the main pedal body and the upper cleat support base, for modifying the valgus or varus tilt of the upper cleat support base without affecting the cleat's engagement with the pedal;wherein rotation of the cleat about the cleat rotation axis, when the cleat is secured to the pedal, forcibly moves the forward and rearward cleat retainers apart from each other, against the yielding bias of the upper spring-bias device, to release the cleat from the pedal. 2. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper cleat support base is a single unitary body. 3. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein: the rearward cleat retainer is fixed relative to the upper cleat support base;the forward cleat retainer is mounted to the upper cleat support base for movement toward and away from the rearward cleat retainer; andthe upper spring-bias device yieldably biases the forward cleat retainer toward the rearward cleat retainer. 4. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein: the forward cleat retainer is mounted for pivoting movement about a pivot axis parallel with the spindle axis; andthe upper spring-bias device comprises a helical coil section having an axis aligned with the pivot axis of the forward cleat retainer and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the forward cleat retainer and the second end is coupled to the upper cleat support base. 5. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the pedal further comprises a spring tension adjuster coupling the second end of the upper spring-bias device's helical coil section to the upper cleat support base, wherein the spring tension adjuster is configured to adjust the helical coil section's resistance to pivoting movement of the forward cleat retainer in a direction away from the rearward cleat retainer. 6. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the pedal further includes: a lower cleat support base mounted to the underside of the main pedal body;a lower set of cleat retainers, including a forward cleat retainer and a rearward cleat retainer, secured to, and projecting downward from, the lower cleat support base; anda lower spring-bias device for yieldably biasing the forward and rearward cleat retainers of the lower set toward each other. 7. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein: the upper cleat support base and the lower cleat support base each include one or more unthreaded holes and one or more threaded holes; andthe pedal further comprises a plurality of screws for extending through the one or more unthreaded holes of the upper cleat support base and the lower cleat support base to engage the one or more threaded holes of the respective lower and upper cleat support bases, to secure the upper and lower cleat support bases to the main pedal body. 8. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein: the forward and rearward cleat projections each have an upper engagement surface;the forward and rearward cleat retainers each have a lower retainer surface configured to engage the upper engagement surface of the respective forward and rearward cleat projections; andthe upper engagement surface of the forward cleat projection, the upper engagement surface of the rearward cleat projection, the lower retainer surface of the forward cleat retainer, and the lower retainer surface of the rearward cleat retainer are configured to cooperate with the yieldable bias provided by the lower spring-bias device to urge the cleat's inward and outward feet into compressive engagement with the upper cleat support base's respective inward and outward pads. 9. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein: the upper engagement surface of the forward cleat projection slopes downward and forward;the upper engagement surface of the rearward cleat projection slopes downward and rearward;the lower retainer surface of the forward cleat retainer slopes downward and forward, to conform with the upper engagement surface of the forward cleat projection; andthe lower retainer surface of the rearward cleat retainer slopes downward and rearward, to conform with the upper engagement surface of the rearward cleat projection. 10. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the cleat's forward cleat projection, rearward cleat projection, inward foot, and outward foot, together form an integral body. 11. A pedal/cleat assembly comprising: a cleat configured for attachment to the underside of a rider's shoe, the cleat defining a cleat rotation axis and including: a forward cleat projection facing the toe end of the shoe,a rearward cleat projection facing the heel end of the shoe, andan inward foot and an outward foot, aligned with each other along an axis transverse to an axis between the shoe's toe end and heel end; anda pedal configured to releasably secure the cleat, the pedal including: a spindle defining a spindle axis,a main pedal body mounted on the spindle for rotation about the spindle axis, the main pedal body having an upper side facing the cleat,an upper cleat support base mounted on the upper side of the main pedal body, the upper cleat support base including an inward pad and an outward pad configured to support the cleat's respective inward foot and outward foot when the cleat is secured to the pedal, wherein the inward pad and the outward pad have a prescribed nominal valgus or varus relative to the main pedal body,an upper set of cleat retainers, including a forward cleat retainer and a rearward cleat retainer, projecting upward from the upper side of the main pedal body, respectively forward and rearward of the spindle axis, and configured to receive and retain the cleat's respective forward and rearward cleat projections, to secure the cleat to the pedal,wherein the rearward cleat retainer is fixed relative to the main pedal body and the forward cleat retainer is configured to be movable toward and away from the rearward cleat retainer,an upper spring-bias device that yieldably biases the forward cleat retainer toward the rearward cleat retainer, andone or more shims configured to be secured between the main pedal body and the upper cleat support base, at least one of the one or more shims having a wedge configuration, so as to raise or lower the inward pad relative to the outward pad and thereby alter the cleat support base's valgus or varus tilt, without affecting the engagement of the cleat with the pedal;wherein rotation of the cleat about the cleat rotation axis, when the cleat is secured to the pedal, forcibly moves the forward cleat retainer forward, against the yielding bias of the upper spring-bias device, to release the cleat from the pedal. 12. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein: the rearward cleat retainer is fixed relative to the upper cleat support base; andthe forward cleat retainer and the upper spring-bias device are mounted to the upper cleat support base, such that the forward cleat retainer is movable toward the rearward cleat retainer axis, against the yielding bias of the upper spring-bias device. 13. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein the pedal further includes: a lower cleat support base mounted to the underside of the main pedal body;a lower set of cleat retainers, including a forward cleat retainer and a rearward cleat retainer, secured to, and projecting downward from, the lower cleat support base, wherein the rearward cleat retainer of the lower set is fixed relative to the lower cleat support base and the forward cleat retainer of the lower set is movable toward and away from the rearward cleat retainer of the lower set; anda lower spring-bias device that yieldably biases the forward cleat retainer of the lower set toward the rearward cleat retainer of the lower set. 14. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein: the forward cleat projection and the rearward cleat projection each have an upper engagement surface;the forward cleat retainer and the rearward cleat retainer each have a lower retainer surface configured to engage the upper engagement surface of the respective forward and rearward cleat projections; andthe upper engagement surface of the forward cleat projection, the upper engagement surface of the rearward cleat projection, the lower retainer surface of the forward cleat retainer, and the lower retainer surface of the rearward cleat retainer are configured to cooperate with the yieldable bias provided by the spring-bias device to urge the cleat downward toward the main pedal body. 15. A pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein: the forward cleat projection includes an upper engagement surface that slopes downward and forward;the rearward cleat projection includes an upper engagement surface that slopes downward and rearward;the pedal's forward cleat retainer includes a lower retainer surface that slopes downward and forward, to conform with the upper engagement surface of the forward cleat projection; andthe pedal's rearward cleat retainer includes a lower retainer surface that slopes downward and rearward, to conform with the upper engagement surface of the rearward cleat projection. 16. A pedal/cleat assembly comprising: a cleat configured for attachment to the underside of a rider's shoe, the cleat defining a cleat rotation axis and including a forward cleat projection facing the toe end of the shoe and a rearward cleat projection facing the heel end of the shoe, wherein each of the forward and rearward cleat projections has an upper engagement surface; anda pedal configured to releasably secure the cleat, the pedal including: a spindle defining a spindle axis,a main pedal body mounted on the spindle for rotation about the spindle axis and having an upper side facing the cleat, andan upper set of cleat retainers, including a forward cleat retainer and a rearward cleat retainer projecting upward from the upper side of the main pedal body, respectively forward and rearward of the spindle axis, and having lower retainer surfaces configured to engage the upper engagement surfaces of the respective forward and rearward cleat projections, to receive and retain the projections and thereby secure the cleat to the pedal, anda spring-bias device for yieldably biasing the forward and rearward cleat retainers toward each other;wherein the upper engagement surface of the forward cleat projection, the upper engagement surface of the rearward cleat projection, the lower retainer surface of the forward cleat retainer, and the lower retainer surface of the rearward cleat retainer are configured such that the yielding bias provided by the spring-bias device continuously biases the cleat downward toward the main pedal body, including when the cleat is secured to the pedal; andwherein rotation of the cleat about the cleat rotation axis, when the cleat is secured to the pedal, forcibly moves the forward and rearward cleat retainers apart from each other, against the yielding bias of the spring-bias device, to release the cleat from the pedal. 17. The pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein: the upper engagement surface of the forward cleat projection slopes downward and forward; andthe upper engagement surface of the rearward cleat projection slopes downward and rearward. 18. The pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 17, wherein: the lower retainer surface of the forward cleat retainer slopes downward and forward, to conform with the upper engagement surface of the forward cleat projection, andthe lower retainer surface of the rearward cleat retainer slopes downward and rearward, to conform with the upper engagement surface of the rearward cleat projection. 19. The pedal/cleat assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein: the forward cleat retainer is mounted for pivoting movement about a pivot axis that is parallel with the spindle axis and forward of the forward cleat projection when the cleat is secured to the pedal; andthe spring-bias device comprises a helical coil section having an axis aligned with the pivot axis of the forward cleat retainer and having a first end coupled to the forward cleat retainer and a second end coupled to the upper cleat support base.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (73)
Hlavac Harry F. (278 Tamalpais Ave. Mill Valley CA 94941) Koski Erik B. (Larkspur CA), Adjustable pedal.
Drugeon Jean-Francois (1 bis rue Maleville 46100 Figeac FRX) Badersbach Jean (Castellou - Planiolles 46100 Figeac FRX), Bicycle pedal for coupling a shoe in preset position, and a cyclist\s shoe fitted to said pedal.
Lotteau Jacques (22 ; rue de Breteuil 78670 - Villennes sur Seine FRX) Bruker Jacques (13 ; rue Boileau 75016 - Paris FRX) Freche Charles (9 ; rue Villebois-Mareuil 75017 - Paris FRX), Device allowing a safety connection between the pedal of a bicycle and the shoe worn by the cyclist.
Crook R. Igor (P.O. Box 10361 Portland OR 97210), Device for enabling walking and protecting cleats on cycling shoes for quick release (clipless) pedals.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.