FR2561502A1 - Device for fastening a shoe onto a pedal and component parts of the said device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for fastening a shoe onto a pedal comprising a pedal body articulated on the pedal shaft. This device is composed of two separate parts which are adapted in order to be able to be applied on each other and to interact with each other with a view to their coupling: a pedal plate, linked to the pedal body and provided with coupling claws; and a shoe plate 1, connected to the shoe sole 12 and provided with coupling cheeks 2, 4, 5. One of the two plates (pedal plate or shoe plate 1) is removable and is connected to the corresponding element which carries it (pedal body or shoe sole 12) by fastening means comprising, on the one hand, at least two bearing members 10 which are adapted in order to permit adjustment of the position of the said plate and, on the other hand, an immobilizing member 9 arranged in order to permit immobilizing of the said plate in a position and with an orientation which are adjustable in the tangential plane.

Description

DEVICE FOR FIXING A SHOE ON A PEDAL
AND CONSTITUENT PARTS OF THE DEVICE
The invention relates to a device for attaching a shoe to a bicycle or similar pedal, making it possible to ensure, during pedaling, that the shoe is firmly fixed on the pedal, while allowing clearance when necessary ; the invention extends to the constituent parts of said device.

 Devices for fixing a shoe to a pedal have been known, which make it possible to eliminate the traditional belts which are difficult to install and which are sources of danger due to the release difficulties which they accompany. The qualities required of fastening devices of this type are essentially to allow easy and rapid attachment, to ensure good attachment between the foot and the pedal and to satisfy the necessary safety conditions, in particular by allowing, by an action triggering of the fastening means, voluntary release of the shoe when necessary and automatic release under the effect of an impact resulting from a fall or an accident. A device has been described which meets these requirements. in French Patent No. 78.33775 filed November 24, 1978 in the name of the applicants and published June 20, 1980 under No. 2,442,175.

 In devices of this type, the shoe is rigidly fixed on the pedal in a single position without the faculty of relative movement. In these conditions, it is important that this position corresponds, for each user, to the most appropriate position allowing him to develop pedaling efforts in the best conditions.

 I1 has been described, in the addition certificate No. 81.03039 relating to the aforementioned patent and in patent application No. 81.13811, improved devices, which can be adjusted beforehand by the user to adapt them to his needs and allow him to obtain an optimal relative foot / pedal position.

 The present invention aims at a new solution to obtain this adaptation; its objective is to provide a device with a very simplified structure, allowing manufacturing at a reduced cost price.

 Another object of the invention is to significantly lighten the device.

To simplify the description and make it easier to understand, several expressions are used below.
- pedal axis: axis around which the pedal pivots,
- pedal body: part of the pedal mounted to rotate around the axis and through which the pedaling force is transmitted to the axis,
- longitudinal direction: for the part linked to the shoe, direction extending in the direction of the length thereof; for the part linked to the pedal, direction perpendicular to the pedal axis (approximately parallel to the previous one when the two parts are hooked),
- transverse direction: for the part linked to the shoe, direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction extending in the direction of the width thereof; for the part linked to the pedal, direction parallel to the pedal axis,
- attitude of a plate: angular orientation of the latter around its longitudinal axis or its transverse axis, relative to the element which carries it,
- tangential plane of an element: plane defined by the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis of this element,
- orthogonal direction: direction perpendicular to the tangential plane.

The improved device targeted by the invention is of the type comprising two separate parts adapted to be able to be applied one on the other and to cooperate with each other for their attachment,
a part being linked to the pedal body and comprising a plate, known as a pedal plate, provided with two movable hooking claws, situated at the rear and above the pedal, with elastic means ad-adapted to urge these claws towards a hooking position and to allow their lateral retraction by a transverse thrust, and a hooking claw situated at the front of the pedal to form with the two rear claws a triangulated hooking system,
the other part being linked to the sole of the shoe and comprising a plate, called shoe plate, provided with a front cheek for attachment and two rear cheeks for attachment of profiles adapted to the aforementioned front and rear claws and arranged at the three vertices of a triangle to be able to cooperate with said claws.

 According to the present invention, one of the two plates, pedal plate or shoe plate, is removable and is linked to the corresponding element which carries it, pedal body or shoe sole, by fixing means comprising, d on the one hand, at least two support members adapted to allow adjustment of the attitude of said plate relative to said element, and, on the other hand, a blocking member arranged to allow said plate to be blocked on said element, in a position and with an orientation adjustable in the tangential plane.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the blocking member of the plate concerned comprises a clamping screw having an orthogonal steering rod which passes through holes made in said plate and in the corresponding element; these holes can be circular, one of them having a larger diameter than that of the rod to allow adjustment in the tangential plane these holes can also be in the form of a buttonhole and arranged in crossed positions to allow to ensure this same adjustment.

 According to a first version of the tif arrangement of the invention, it is the shoe plate which is provided removable and fixed below the shoe sole by the aforementioned fixing means. The pedal plate can then be part of the pedal body. It should be noted that, by "sole" is meant the shoe sole proper, but also, where appropriate, any attached part secured to it. Thus, the hole mentioned above can be made in the sole itself, or in an attached piece integral with the latter.

 In this version, the support members which make it possible to adjust the attitude of said plate below the sole are advantageously constituted by headless screws, each provided with a flange or support face and extending by a point; each screw is screwed into a tapped hole that the shoe plate comprises, its collar coming to bear on the sole and its point sinking into the latter.

 According to a second version of the device, it is the pedal plate which is provided removable and fixed above the pedal body by the aforementioned fixing means; for this purpose, the pedal body comprises a plate support adapted to serve as a support for the latter. In this version, the shoe plate can be fixed from the origin under the sole, either in the form of an insert, or by any other fixing (gluing, studding ...).

 In this version, each support member is advantageously constituted by a needle screw screwed into the plate support, with a view to passing through the latter and coming to bear against the plate.

 The invention extends, as such, in each of the versions mentioned above, to the removable component part of the device, part intended to be fixed either under a shoe sole in the first version, or on a body of pedal in the Second version.

 In the first version, this part comprises a plate provided with a front attachment cheek and two rear attachment cheeks, arranged at the three vertices of a triangle; said plate is associated with fixing means under the shoe sole, comprising at least two support members, adapted to allow adjustment of the attitude of said plate relative to the sole, and a blocking member adapted to allow to block said plate on said sole in a position and with an adjustable orientation in the tangential plane.

 In the second version, said part comprises a plate provided with two movable hooking claws located opposite, elastic means allowing the lateral retraction of these claws and a fixed claw forming with the two movable claws a system of triangulated hanging; said plate is associated with fixing means on the pedal body, comprising at least two support members adapted to allow adjustment of the attitude of said plate relative to said body, and a blocking member adapted to allow blocking said plate on said body in a position and with an orientation adjustable in the tangential plane.

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings, which present by way of non-limiting examples several embodiments; on these drawings which form an integral part of the present description
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view targeting a first version of the device,
FIG. 2 is a sectional view thereof through an axial longitudinal plane AA ′,
- Figure 3 is a sectional view through a transverse plane BB ',
FIG. 4 is a partial view in longitudinal section showing a variant of the above-mentioned version,
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view targeting another variant of the aforementioned version,
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view targeting a second version of the device,
FIG. 7 is a sectional view thereof through an axial longitudinal plane CC ′,
FIGS. 8 and 9 are sections through two transverse planes, respectively DD 'and EE',
- Finally, Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of a variant of the second version.

 The fastening device referred to in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises a part linked to the shoe which is shown in these figures and a part linked to the pedal.

This last part (not shown) is of the type referred to in patent FR no. 78.33775 already mentioned. It essentially comprises a fixed front hooking claw and two movable rear claws which are associated with elastic means. The essential characteristics of these organs will be recalled below when describing the second version of the device of the invention. In the currently targeted version, the claws and the associated elastic means are mounted directly on the pedal body, without interposed position adjustment means.

The part of the device linked to the shoe comprises a removable plate 1 composed of a metal element having a suitable cutout to form the following structures:
- at the front, a hooking cheek 2 and a recess 3 for lateral clearance and front stop,
- At the rear, two rear attachment cheeks 4 and 5 arranged laterally substantially on the same transverse axis.

 The front cheek 2 forms a forward overhang for hooking the front claw of the pedal, while each rear cheek 4 or 5 has an oblique direction relative to the longitudinal axis and includes an overhanging lip with an inclined side which extends rearward for the attachment of the rear claws; at the front of these rear cheeks, two divergent guide cheeks 6 and 7 are intended to guide the rear claws towards the rear hooking cheeks during the phase of hooking the shoe on the pedal.

 In its central zone, the plate 1 is pierced with a hole 8 of diameter adapted to be crossed by a blocking member 9; this diameter is equal to the clearance close to that of the rod 9a of a clamping screw, which constitutes said blocking member. This screw has a countersunk head 9b which is housed in a countersink in the hole 8 so as to avoid any projection on the visible face 1a of the plate.

 In addition, the plate 1 is pierced with three tapped holes for the screwing of three support members such as 10; one of these members is arranged at the front on the longitudinal axis of the plate and the other two at the rear on either side of said plate so that said members are arranged at the top of a triangle surrounding the central area where the blocking member 9 is located.

 Each support member is constituted by a headless screw, operable by a slot s this screw is provided with a flange or support face 10a and is extended by a point 10b. Each screw 10 is screwed into one of the tapped holes in the plate so as not to overflow on the visible face 1a thereof and to be able to be maneuvered inside the hole concerned.

 In addition, the plate 1 is provided with small pointed lugs such as 11, arranged on its face 1b called to come opposite the sole (opposite face to the visible face 1a). In example, there are three of these lugs, arranged in a triangle, one at the rear on the longitudinal axis of the plate, the other two at the front on either side of this axis.

 The plate 1 described above is intended to be fixed under the front half of a shoe sole 12; this sole is pierced with a hole 13 of diameter much greater than the diameter of the rod 9a of the clamping screw 9.

 A tightening washer 14 with a diameter greater than that of the hole 14 is arranged above the sole at the level of this hole, so as to cover the latter; this washer is provided with a threaded socket 15, which is called upon to penetrate the hole 14 to allow the screwing of the screw 9 and, thus, the blocking of the plate 1.

The user can thus fix the plate 1 under the sole by adjusting the relative positioning of the latter according to its conformation
adjustment in position and orientation in the tangential plane, that is to say in the plane parallel to that of the sole or the plate,
trim adjustment, that is to say adjustment of the plane of the plate around the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis.

 The support screws 10 being screwed so that their flange bears against the face 1b of the plate, the user firstly searches for the position and orientation of the plate in the tangential plane, by successive trial and error: it temporarily fix the plate under the sole by means of the pointed lugs ll and tries to hook it with the pedal, until the correct position is found.

 Then, he searches for the appropriate attitude by trial and error by maneuvering the support screws 10.

 Once the plate is found, it locks the plate by means of the locking screw 9.

 FIG. 4 represents in section a variant of the preceding device, in which the hole 13 is drilled, not in the sole itself, but in an attached part secured by the manufacturer to said sole.

This part forms a housing 16 for the clamping washer 14.

 Figure 5 shows in exploded perspective another variant of the device described above.

 In this variant, the plate is similar to the previous one, but includes instead of the circular hole 8 a hole in the shape of a buttonhole 17, which in the example extends transversely (but. May if necessary extend in the 'other way).

 As shown in the enlarged detail drawn in this figure, this hole is widened on the side of the visible face of the plate to allow the cylindrical head of a screw 18 to be housed without protrusion on said face.

In addition, the sole has a hole 19 in the form of a buttonhole extending in a secant direction to that of the other hole so as to cross it (di
longitudinal section in the example).

 The washer and its nut-shaped socket are identical to those of the previous embodiments.

 The tangential position of the plate is adjusted in this case thanks to the combination of crossed holes.

 Furthermore, Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are aimed at a second version of the fixing device according to the invention. In this version, the part linked to the sure shoe (which includes the attachment cheeks of the aforementioned type) is fixed by construction under the shoe sole (insert or other definitive fixing implemented by the manufacturer).

 It is the part of the device linked to the pedal which makes it possible, in this version, to carry out the adjustments, as well adjustment of the attitude as adjustment in the tangential plane.

 This part includes a pedal plate 21 which carries a fixed front claw 22 (called to cooperate with the cheek before hooking the other part) and two movable rear claws 23 and 24 (called to cooperate with the rear cheeks of hooking of the other party).

 The rear claws 23 and 24 are biased by elastic means which tend to bring them closer, while allowing them to retract laterally in the event of transverse thrust. These elastic means are in particular of the type of those referred to in certificate of addition No. 81.03039 already mentioned.

 The cross section of FIG. 9 represents an exemplary embodiment of said means, which in this example are adapted to improve the comfort of the pedal by allowing a small elastic deflection of the rear claws 23 and 24. Each of the rear claws 23 or 24 has a bar 23a, 24a, extending it downwards, articulated by a longitudinal axis / 25 situated at the rear of the plate 21. such as / not 21.

 In the lower part, the plate defines a housing in which the above-mentioned elastic means are housed, which urge the bars 23a and 24a in the direction of their separation (and therefore the claws 23 and 24 in the direction of their approximation).

 These elastic means comprise a first elastic assembly composed of a relatively hard spring 26, disposed between two movable support members 27 and 28, which are braced by a screw 29. This assembly repels, by means of one of its support members 28, one of the bars 23a.

 The elastic means comprise a second elastic assembly disposed on the side of the bar 24a extending the other claw; it consists of a spring 30 which is less hard than the previous one, placed between the support member 27 and a cup 31 pressing against the bar 24a. In the example, this cup 31 bears against this bar by means of a screw 31a for adjusting the clearance.

 The cup 31 is adapted to be able to come into contact with the support member 27 when the spring 30 has undergone a determined compression and has retracted by a given amplitude.

 Thus, the least hard spring 30 is the first to be compressed under the action of a small transverse force on the rear claws 23 and 24; it allows an elastic pivoting movement of these claws, the small amplitude of this movement being provided to avoid triggering of said claws (that is to say a disengagement of these relative to the rear cheeks for hooking the shoe ).

 When the cup 31 comes into contact with the support member 27, the action of the spring 30 is neutralized and it is the hardest spring 26 which opposes the rotation of the rear claws. This will only be done under the effect of a greater transverse force causing the triggering of the device and the release of the cyclist's foot.

 In the example, the support member 27 comprises a plate 27a disposed at the end of the screw 29 to serve as a support for the spring 30, and a nut 27b screwed onto said screw 29 and against which the spring 26 comes to press. This arrangement allows a prior calibration of the force exerted by the spring 26 (corresponding to the force required for triggering).

 Furthermore, the plate 21 comprises a large central hole 32 called to be covered by a tightening washer 33; the hole 32 is surrounded by a depression so as to prevent the washer 33 from projecting from the upper face of the plate.

 In addition, the pedal conventionally comprises a pedal axle 34 around which a pedal body 35 pivots; the latter comprises a plate support 36 on which is intended to be fixed plate 21.

 This support 36 has a threaded hole 37, located on its longitudinal axis and adapted to allow a clamping screw 38 to be screwed into it; this screw passes through the washer 33 thanks to a suitable central bore 33a which the latter comprises. The screw tu is in the example with a countersunk head and a corresponding milling is made around the bore of the washer to receive said screw head.

 In addition, the support 36 is pierced, on either side of its longitudinal axis, with two tapped holes such as 45 in which the screw screws are screwed 46, with their conical end oriented towards the plate 21.

 In this version, the adaptation to the conformation of the user is carried out by adjusting the positioning of the pedal plate relative to the pedal body.

 The adjustments are made as before by successive groping: first an adjustment in position and orientation in the tangential plane, then an adjustment of the attitude by screwing the needle screws 38 and 39, finally a blocking of the assembly by means of the locking screw 38.

 It should be noted that the largest diameter hole can if necessary be provided on the plate support 36, the plate then having a diameter hole corresponding to that of the clamping screw. Similarly, in the version of Figure 1, the large diameter hole can be provided in the plate 1, the sole then having a diameter hole corresponding to that of the clamping screw.

 FIG. 10 represents a variant of the version described above. In this variant, the holes 40 and 41 of the support and plate are in the form of a buttonhole and intersecting directions for crossing in a manner analogous to the embodiment of FIG. 5. The locking screw 42 with cylindrical head is tightened by has a nut 43 associated with a fan washer 44.

Claims (18)

 1 / - Device for attaching a shoe to a pedal, comprising a pedal body (35) articulated on a pedal axle (34), said device being composed of two separate parts adapted to be able to be applied to one the other and cooperate with each other for their attachment,  a part being linked to the pedal body (35) and comprising a plate, called pedal plate (21), provided with two movable hooking claws (23, 24), located at the rear and above the pedal , elastic means (26, 30) adapted to urge these claws towards a hooking position and to allow their lateral retraction by a transverse thrust, and of a hooking claw (22) located at the front of the pedal to form with the two rear claws a triangulated attachment system,  the other part being linked to the shoe sole (12) and comprising a plate, called shoe plate (1), provided with a front attachment cheek (2) and two rear attachment cheeks (4, 5) of profiles adapted to the aforementioned front and rear claws and arranged at the three vertices of a triangle in order to be able to cooperate with said claws, said fixing device being characterized in that one of the two plates, pedal plate (21) or shoe plate (1) is removable and is linked to the corresponding element which carries it, pedal body (35) or shoe sole (12) by fixing means comprising, on the one hand, at least two components 'support (46, 10) adapted to allow adjustment of the trim of said plate (21, 1) relative to said element (35, 12) and, on the other hand, a locking member (38, 42, 9 , 18) arranged to allow said plate to be locked on said element, in a position and with an adjustable orientation in the tangential plane.  2 / - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking member of the plate concerned comprises a clamping screw (9, 38) having an orthogonal direction rod passing, on the one hand, a first hole of diameter corresponding (8, 37) made in said plate (or in the corresponding element), on the other hand, a second hole of larger diameter (13, 32) made in the corresponding element (or in the plate), a clamping washer (14, 33) of diameter greater than that of the second hole being associated with said screw to allow tightening by screwing.  3 / - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking member of the plate concerned comprises a clamping screw (18, 42) having an orthogonal steering rod passing, on the one hand, a first shaped hole buttonhole (17, 41) made in said plate, on the other hand, a second buttonhole-shaped hole (19, 40) made in the corresponding element, the two holes having intersecting directions so as to cross, a nut-member (43) being associated with said screw to allow tightening by screwing.  4 / - Device according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the shoe plate (1) is removable and is fixed below the shoe sole (12) by the aforementioned fixing means.  5 / - Device according to claims 2 and 4 taken together, characterized in that  the hole (8) of diameter corresponding to that of the tightening screw (9) is made in a central area of the shoe plate,  the hole of larger diameter (13) is made in the sole of the shoe,  . the tightening washer (14) is disposed above the sole at this hole (13) and is provided with a threaded sleeve (15), penetrating into this hole,  . the clamping screw (9) is screwed through the hole in the plate in said socket.  6 / - Device according to claims 3 and 4 taken together, characterized in that  the first buttonhole-shaped hole (17) is made in the shoe plate in a transverse (or longitudinal) direction,  the second buttonhole-shaped hole (19) is made in the sole of the shoe in a longitudinal (or transverse) direction,  . the nut member comprises a washer disposed above the sole at the hole (19) thereof, and a threaded sleeve integral with said washer and penetrating into this hole,  the clamping screw (18) is screwed through the hole in the plate in said socket.  7 / - Device according to one of claims 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that each support member (10) consists of a headless screw with a support flange (lOa) and extending to the opposite of the latter by a tip (10b), said screw being screwed into a tapped hole in the shoe plate, its collar coming to bear on the shoe sole (12) and its tip sinking into the latter.  8 / - Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises three support members (10) arranged at the top of a triangle surrounding the central area of the shoe plate.  9 / - Device according to one of claims 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the shoe plate is provided with small pointed lugs (11), adapted to ensure a temporary maintenance of the plate under the sole shoe.  10 / - Device according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the pedal body comprises a plate support (35), the pedal plate (21) being fixed on said support by the aforementioned fixing means.  11 / - Device according to claims 2 and 10 taken together, characterized in that  the hole (37) corresponding to that of the tightening screw (38) is made in the plate support and is tapped to allow the tightening of the tightening screw,  the hole (32) of larger diameter is made in the central area of the pedal plate,  . the clamping washer (33) is disposed above the plate at the hole (32) thereof,  . the clamping screw (38) passes through said washer through a central bore (33a) which the latter comprises.  12 / - Device according to claims 3 and 10 taken together, characterized in that:  the first hole (41) in the form of a buttonhole is made in the pedal plate in a longitudinal (or transverse) direction,  the second hole (4Q) in the form of a buttonhole is made in the plate support in a transverse (or longitudinal) direction,  . the clamping screw (42) passes through the two holes and is screwed into a nut (43) located opposite its head.  13 / - Device according to one of claims 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that each support member is constituted by a needle screw (46) screwed into the plate support to pass through it and come to bear against platinum.  14 / - Device according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises two needle screws 646) arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis of the plate support.  15 / - Part of a device for fixing a shoe on a pedal in accordance with one of claims 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, intended to be fixed under a shoe sole (12) , comprising a plate (1) provided with a front attachment cheek (2) and two rear attachment cheeks (4, 5), arranged at the three vertices of a triangle, characterized in that said plate is associated with fastening means under the shoe sole, comprising at least two support members (10), adapted to allow adjustment of the attitude of said plate relative to the sole, and a blocking member (9, 18) adapted to allow blocking of said plate on said sole in a position and with an orientation adjustable in the tangential plane.  16 / - Part of a shoe fixing device on a pedal according to one of claims 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15, intended to be fixed on a pedal body (35) and comprising a plate (21) provided with two movable attachment claws (23, 24) located in res elastic means (26, 30) allowing the lateral retraction of these claws and a fixed claw (22) forming with the two movable claws a triangulated attachment system, characterized in that said plate is associated with fixing means on the pedal body, comprising at least two support members (46) adapted to allow adjustment of the attitude of said plate by relative to said body, and a blocking member (38, 42) adapted to allow blocking said plate on said body in a position and with an orientation adjustable in the tangential plane.  17 / - Part of a fixing device according to claim 16, in which the elastic means urging the movable claws (23, 24) comprise two springs of different hardness (26, 30), arranged so that the least hard spring (30) acts first on the claws (23, 24) and allows a pivoting of small amplitude of these under a reduced transverse force, and that the hardest spring (26) then acts on said claws to allow their pivoting for release under a higher transverse force.  18 / - Part of a fixing device according to claim 17, in which the rear claws (23, 24) are provided with bars (23a, 24a) extending them downwards, the elastic means urging said rear claws comprising  a first elastic assembly composed of the hardest spring (26) disposed between two movable support members (27, 28) braced by a screw (29), this assembly being arranged to repel through one of its members support (28), the first bar (23a) extending the first claw (23),  a second elastic assembly composed of the softer spring (30) disposed between the second support member (27) of the first assembly and a cup (31) arranged to put pressure on the second bar (24a) which extends the second claw ( 24), said cup (31) being adapted to also come into contact with the second support member (27) from a determined compression amplitude of the softer spring (30).