GB2266687A

GB2266687A - A quick-release clipless pedal.

Info

Publication number: GB2266687A
Application number: GB9209292A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chung-I Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-04-30
Filing date: 1992-04-30
Publication date: 1993-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-30
Also published as: GB9209292D0; AU638643B1; GB2266687B; CA2067917C; NL9200822A

Abstract

The pedal includes a cleat (1), to be fixed to a shoe sole (19), which has first and second engaging parts (16, 17) respectively formed on front and rear ends thereof, and a pedal body (2), to be mounted on a pedal shaft (22) and which has a claw portion (24) to receive the first engaging part (16) of the cleat (1) and a pair of retaining units (3) to engage the second engaging part (17) of the cleat (1). Each of the retaining units (3) is disposed in one of a pair of receiving grooves (27) formed in a rear end of the pedal body (2) and includes a pivoted jaw (32), biased so as to engage the cleat. Application of a lateral thrust on the cleat (1) causes the cleat (1) to push the rear jaw (32) of the respective retaining units (3) rearward, thereby allowing release of the cleat (1) from the pedal body (2). <IMAGE>

Description

QUICK-RELEASE CLIPLESS PEDAL The invention relates to a bicycle pedal, more particularly to a quick-release bicycle pedal which is simple in construction, is stable and which obviates the need for a toe clip to fasten a cyclist's shoe thereon.

Devices which permit easy positioning and rapid disengagement of a cyclist's shoe on a bicycle pedal without manual intervention are known in the prior art.

A most recent of these devices has been disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,048,369, held by the applicant. The above-referenced pedal comprises a cleat, which is fixed to a shoe sole, and a pedal body, which is mounted on a pedal shaft and which releasably engages the cleat. A pair of rear jaw members are provided on a rear end of the pedal body and revertably engage the latter. The rear jaw members releasably engage a rear end of the cleat. The pedal body and rear jaw members are respectively formed with longitudinal slots and longitudinal guiding protrusions to guide the rear jaw members in reverting to their original positions after having been pushed rearward by the cleat.

Note that the above-referenced pedal is relatively unstable because dislocation of the guiding protrusions from the guiding slots can easily occur if a relatively large force was transmitted to the rear jaw members via the cleat.

Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide an improved quick-release bicycle pedal which is more stable than the above-referenced prior art, which is simple in construction and which permits rapid engagement and disengagement of a cyclist's shoe thereon.

Accordingly, the preferred embodiment of a quickrelease clipless pedal of the present invention includes a cleat, which is to be fixed to a shoe sole and which has first and second engaging parts respectively formed on front and rear ends thereof, and a pedal body, which is to be mounted on a pedal shaft and which has a claw portion to receive releasably the first engaging part of the cleat and a pair of retaining units revertably engaging the second engaging part of the cleat. The pedal body further has a rear end provided with an upright support member and a pair of rearward flanges disposed on two sides of the support member. The support member and the rearward flanges cooperatively define a pair of receiving grooves.Each of the retaining units is provided on one of the receiving grooves and includes: a rear jaw which has an upright portion and a transverse portion extending adjacent to a lower end of the upright portion, the upright portion having an upper end formed with a protrusion, the lower end of the upright portion being formed with a longitudinally extending through bore; a pivot shaft extending into the through bore and having two ends respectively extending into the support member and one of the flanges of the pedal body to mount pivotably the rear jaw onto the pedal body; and a spring means provided on the transverse portion of the rear jaw and urging the transverse portion downward to bias the protrusion to engage the second engaging part of the cleat.

Application of a lateral upward thrust on the cleat causes the first engaging part to disengage from the claw portion and further causes the cleat to push the rear jaw of the respective retaining units rearward, thereby causing the rear jaw to pivot about the pivot shaft and compress the spring means in order to allow a lateral disengagement of the cleat from the pedal body.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of a quick-release clipless pedal according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment illustrating its assembly; Figure 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment in its assembled form; Figures 4 and 5 illustrate how a cleat of the preferred embodiment is disengaged from a pedal body; Figure 4A is a IV-IV section of the preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 4; Figure 5A is a V-V section of the preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 5; Figure 6 shows the action of a spring of the preferred embodiment when the cleat is disengaged from the pedal body; and Figure 7 is an illustration of the preferred embodiment when in use.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of a quick-release clipless pedal according to the present invention is shown to comprise a cleat (1), pedal body (2) and a pair of retaining units (3).

The cleat (1) is an integrally formed piece which has a substantially triangular front end and a substantially rectangular rear end. The cleat (1) is formed with three elongated slots (12) and is to be attached to the sole of a cyclist's shoe (refer to Figure 7) by means of screws which pass through the elongated slots (12). A rectangular groove (14) is formed at the center of the cleat (1) and receives a rectangular cushion (15). The cushion (15) is preferably made of rubber and provides a cushioning effect between the cyclist's shoe and the cleat (1).

The front end of the cleat (1) is provided with a circular protrusion (16), while the rear end of the same is provided with a substantially rectangular wedge protrusion (18). The rectangular wedge protrusion (X8) has a rear side which inclines frontwardly in the direction of the circular protrusion (16). The cleat (1) further includes a pair of triangular flanges (17), each of which has one side on the rectangular wedge protrusion (18) and another side on the substantially rectangular rear end of the cleat (1). The cleat (1) has a flat bottom surface.

The pedal body (2) is also an integrally formed piece and is provided with a tubular member (20) for receiving one end of a pedal shaft (22). The front end of the pedal body (2) is provided with a fixed claw (24) which forms a concave wall at the front end of the pedal body (2). A groove (23) is formed in the pedal body (2), faces the fixed claw (24), and is partially covered by a slight projection at the top edge of the fixed claw (24). The rear end of the pedal body (2) is formed with a flat central portion and two inclined sides. An upright support member (25) is provided on the flat portion at the rear end of th-e pedal body (2). The rear end of the pedal body (2) is further provided with a pair of rearward flanges (26) disposed on two sides of the support member (25). The support member (25) and the rearward flanges (26) cooperatively define a pair of receiving grooves (27).

Each of the retaining units (3) is to be provided on one of the receiving grooves (27) and comprises a rear jaw (32), a pair of helical compression springs (34), a control plate (36) and a screw (38).

The rear jaw (32) is an integrally formed piece which is preferably made of a durable, transparent and lightweight material, such as plastic. The rear jaw (32) is substantially L-shaped in cross-section and has an upright portion (3201) and a transverse portion (3202) extending adjacent to a lower end of the upright portion (3201). The upright portion (3201) is formed with a protrusion (321) which is roughly shaped as a pyramid with a rectangular base fixed to an upper portion of the upright portion (3201) and a square section opposite the rectangular base. The lower end of the upright portion (3201) is formed with a longitudinally extending through bore (322). Each of the flanges (26) has a lower end which is formed with a threaded hole (261). The support member (25) further has a pair of blind bores (251) which are respectively aligned with the threaded holes (261) of the flanges (26). Engagement of the rear jaw (32) with the pedal body (2) is achieved by passing a pivot shaft (33) through the threaded hole (261) of one of the flanges (26), through the through bore (322) of the rear jaw (32) and into one of the blind bores (251) of the support member (25). The pivot shaft (33) has an enlarged threaded head (331) which engages the threaded hole (261) of one of the flanges (26). The transverse portion (3202) is provided with an upright central through bore (323) and has a top side which is formed with a pair of retaining grooves (324) that are disposed on opposite sides of the through bore (323).

Each of the springs (34) has one end seated in one of the retaining grooves (324). The control plate (36) is rectangular in shape and has a threaded central hole (360) which is aligned with the through bore (323) of the rear jaw (32). The control plate (36) is disposed on top of the springs (34). The screw (38) extends through the through bore (323) and has a threaded end (381) which engages the central hole (360) of the control plate (36). The springs (34) are thus confined between the control plate (36) and the transverse portion (3202) of the rear jaw (32).

Referring to Figures 4 through 6, the protrusion (16) of the cleat (1) is received by the fixed claw (24) and is partially covered by the top edge of the pedal body (2) when the cleat (1) engages the pedal body (2). During the engagement procedure, the rectangular wedge protrusion (18) slides against the top surface of the support member (25), and the flanges (17) contact the inclined top side (3210) of the protrusions (321) so as to push the rear jaws (32) rearward. The rear jaws (32) pivot about the shafts (33) so as to permit the flanges (17) to move past the protrusions (321). The springs (32) are compressed whenever the rear jaws (32) are pushed rearward. When engaged, the rear jaws (32) revert to their original positions, with the protrusions (321) retaining the flanges (17) at a level below the same.

Removal of the cleat (1) from the pedal body (2) is done by a lateral upward thrust with the heel of the foot. The screw (38) is operable so as to vary the distance between the control plate (36) and the transverse portion (3202) of the rear jaw (32), thereby correspondingly varying the degree of compression of the springs (34). Such variations can be used to adjust the amount of force which should be applied so as to disengage the cleat (1) from the pedal body (2).

Referring to Figure 7, the cleat (1) is secured onto the sole of a shoe (19) of a cyclist riding a bicycle (4) which incorporates the bicycle pedal of the present invention. The rear jaws (32) are directly pivoted onto the pedal body (2) so as to obviate the possibility of any dislocation of the former when the preferred embodiment is in use.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A quick-release clipless pedal including a cleat to be fixed to a shoe sole and having first and second engaging parts respectively formed on front and rear ends thereof, and a pedal body to be mounted on a pedal shaft and having a claw portion to receive releasably said first engaging part of said cleat and a pair of retaining units revertably engaging said second engaging part of said cleat, wherein the improvement comprises: said pedal body further having a rear end provided with an upright support member and a pair of rearward flanges disposed on two sides of said support member, said support member and said rearward flanges cooperatively defining a pair of receiving grooves; each of said retaining units being provided on one of said receiving grooves and including: a rear jaw which has an upright portion and a transverse portion extending adjacent to a lower end of said upright portion, said upright portion having an upper end formed with a protrusion, said lower end of said upright portion being formed with a longitudinally extending through bore; a pivot shaft extending into said through bore and having two ends respectively extending into said support member and one of said flanges of said pedal body to mount pivotably said rear jaw onto said pedal body; and a spring means biasing said protrusion to engage said second engaging part of said cleat; application of a lateral upward thrust on said cleat causing said first engaging part to disengage from said claw portion and further causing said cleat to push said rear jaw of the respective said retaining units rearward, thereby causing said rear jaw to pivot about said pivot shaft and compress said spring means in order to allow a lateral disengagement of said cleat from said pedal body.

2. The quick-release clipless pedal as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said transverse portion of said rear jaw is provided with an upright central through bore and has a top side which is formed with a pair of retaining grooves that are disposed on opposite sides of said central through bore; and said spring means comprises: a pair of helical compression springs, each of said helical springs having one end seated in one of said retaining grooves; a control plate having a threaded central hole which is aligned with said central through bore and being disposed on top of said helical springs; and a screw extending through said central through bore and having a threaded end which engages said hole in said control plate, said screw being operable so as to adjust the distance between said control plate and said transverse portion and vary the degree of compression of said helical springs.

3. The quick-release clipless pedal as substantially described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.