WO1995018551A1

WO1995018551A1 - Cycling shoe

Info

Publication number: WO1995018551A1
Application number: PCT/NL1995/000004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerardus Maria Van Diepen
Original assignee: Gerardus Maria Van Diepen
Priority date: 1994-01-04
Filing date: 1995-01-04
Publication date: 1995-07-13
Also published as: NL9400003A; AU1284795A

Abstract

Shoe, more in particular cycling shoe, with means for mounting a connecting element onto the shoe, by means of which the shoe can be connected to a bicycle pedal, whereby the means are provided in such a manner in, at or onto the shoe, that the pressure and/or pulling forces that are being exerted upon the foot during a cycling movement by the pedal or pedal axis are exerted upon the foot in the area of the foot located beneath the tarsal bones (Ossa tarsi) and the metatarsal bones (Ossa metatarsalia).

Description

Cycling shoe.

The present invention relates to a cycling shoe.

The known cycling shoes used in cycle-racing are provided with means for connecting the cycling shoe to a bycicle pedal.

These means are formed by mounting a pedal connecting plate, such as the one according to the "look" system, to the bottom side of the sole of the shoe, and by means of which the shoe at its bottom side can be tightened or snap connected to the pedal.

With this known cycling shoe, the pedal connecting plate, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the shoe, is mounted at or near the front part of the bottom side of the sole, underneath the foot somewhere at the location of the ball of the foot. During a cycling movement the pulling and pressure forces are thereby exerted by the pedal upon the foot at the location of the ball of the foot.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cycling shoe, by means of which it can be achieved, that the pressure and pulling forces exterted by the pedal upon the foot do not take place underneath the ball of the foot, but take place substantially underneath the metatarsal bones.

The shoe according to the invention thereto is characterized in that the means for mounting to the shoe a connecting element for connecting the shoe to the bycicle pedal, are provided in such a manner in, at or onto the shoe, that the pressure and/or pulling forces that are being exerted upon the foot during a cycling movement by the pedal or pedal axis are exerted upon the foot in the area of the foot located underneath the tarsal bones (Ossa tarsi) and the metatarsal bones (Ossa metatarsalia).

More in particular with the shoe according to the invention these forces are exerted upon the foot underneath the area of the foot that, as seen in the direction from the rear side to the front side of the foot, on the one side is limited by the navicular bone (Os naviculare) and on the other side includes the metatarsal bones (Corpus ossis metatarsalis) up to the epiphysial disc.

According to a further characteristic of the shoe according to the invention, in the longitudinal direction, in the middle part of the bottom side of the sole one or more recesses or openings are provided, for accommodating one or more bolts, for connecting a pedal connecting plate to the middle part of the bottom side of the sole.

Further characteristics and features will be described with reference to the drawings of an example of an embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a top view of the osseous system of a foot, in this example the left foot.

Figures 2 a and 2 b show a view from below of the sole of the cycling shoe according to the invention, onto which a pedal connecting plate has been mounted.

Figure 3 shows a view from below of the sole of a cycling shoe, without a pedal connecting plate.

Figure 4 shows a side view of a cycling shoe, onto which a pedal connecting plate has been mounted.

In figure 1 in between the dotted lines a-a and b-b the area underneath the foot is shown upon which with the cycling shoe according to the invention the forces exerted by the pedal or pedal axis take place. The line a-a limits the area in the direction to the rear side of the foot at the location of navicular bone (Os naviculare) A. The line b-b limits the area over the metatarsal bones (ossa metatarsalia) B up to the epiphysial disc C.

With the shoe according to the invention the forces that are being exerted upon the foot during a cycling movement by the pedal axis are exerted upon the foot in the area of the foot located between the dotted lines a-a and b-b.

As can be seen in the figures 2 a and 2 b, onto the bottom side of the sole 1 of a shoe an in itself generally known pedal connecting plate 2 according to the "Look" system is mounted. The figures show the plate such as it has been mounted, according to the invention, seen in the longitudinal direction of the shoe, in the middle or centre part 3 of the bottom side of the sole 1.

In figure 3 the bottom side of the sole 1 is shown, without the pedal connecting plate 2. In the middle part 3 of the sole 1 the recesses or openings 4 are provided, for accommodating one or more bolts, for connecting the pedal connecting plate 2 to the middle part of the bottom side of the sole 1.

In the figures 2 a and b and 3 it can further be seen, that in the middle part 3 of the sole 1, different from the known cycling shoe sole, no narrowness is incorporated, and that the middle part is provided with a broadening 5, in aid of the mounting of the pedal connecting plate 2.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the shoe, having at the bottom side of the sole 1 the pedal connecting plate 2, and it can be seen that this pedal connecting plate is mounted, in deviation of the known shoe, in the middle or centre part of the shoe.

It has appeared, that with the shoe according to the invention overburdening of a number of muscles, such as the foot sole muscle, long splint-bone muscle, long big toe flexor, long toe flexor and short splint-bone muscle is to a substantial degree prevented. It has further appeared, that the new location of the pedal axis and of the exerted pressure in relation to the foot of the cyclist provides an improved balance and provides a better cycling efficiency.

Claims

1. Shoe, more in particular cycling shoe, with means for mounting a connecting element onto the shoe, by means of which the shoe can be connected to a bicycle pedal, characterized in that the means are provided in such a manner in, at or onto the shoe, that the pressure and/or pulling forces that are being exerted upon the foot during a cycling movement by the pedal or pedal axis are exerted upon the foot in the area of the foot located beneath the tarsal bones (Ossa tarsi) and the metatarsal bones (Ossa metatarsalia).

2. Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the means are provided in such a manner in, at or onto the shoe, that the pressure or pulling forces that are being exerted upon the foot during a cycling movement by the pedal or pedal axis are exerted upon the foot beneath the area of the foot that, seen in the direction from the rear side to the front side of the foot, on the one side is limited by the navicular bone (Os naviculare) and on the other side includes the metatarsal bones (Corpus ossis metatarsalis) up to the epiphysial disc.

3. Shoe according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connection between the pedal and the shoe is located at the location of the area underneath the foot that, seen in the longitudinal direction of the foot, on the one side is limited by the navicular bone and on the other side includes the metatarsal bones up to the epiphysial disc.

4. Shoe according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that, in the longitudinal direction, in the middle part of the bottom side of the sole one or more recesses or openings are provided, for accommodating one or more bolts, for connecting a pedal connecting plate to the middle part of the bottom side of the sole.

5. Shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, seen in the longitudinal direction of the shoe, the middle or centre part of the sole has a broadening transverse to the longitudinal direction.