Patent ID: 6543310
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: B62M,Y10T

Abstract:
A quick disconnect arrangement for releasably coupling a cyclist's shoe with a bike pedal comprising:a bike pedal carried on a bike and having a foot engaging surface; a retainer secured to said foot engaging surface of said bike pedal and having an elongated slot having a closed end and an open end; a cyclist's shoe adapted to be worn by a cyclist and having a sole; an insert secured to said sole adapted to be insertably received into said slot via said open end; said closed end of said slot constituting a stop when engaged by said insert; said retainer includes a fixed member and a movable member in spaced apart relationship and said fixed member and said movable member having opposing sidewall defining said elongated slot with said open end laterally receiving insertion of said insert; means disposed on said sidewalls cooperating for preventing dislodgement of said insert from said retainer in a direction normal to said foot engaging surface; said insert having a wedge shape; said means for preventing dislodgement include said sidewalls having tapered walls matable with said wedge shaped insert; resilient means disposed between said movable member and said foot engaging surface for normally biasing said movable member towards said fixed member; said insert having a notch facing said movable member; said movable member having an outwardly lug engageable with said notch to releasably hold said insert in said slot; said resilient means is selected from: a. a pair of helical springs; b. a leaf spring; guide means disposed on said bike pedal for directing said insert through said open end into said slot; and said guide means includes said fixed member and said movable member having a pair of rounded ends defining said open end of said slot and further having a tapered recess immediately ahead of said open end provided in said foot engaging surface.