A Bicycle Pedal System

A bicycle pedal system (10) comprising a pedal (12) and a cleat (14) which is attachable to a sole (16) of a shoe (18) worn by a cyclist. The pedal comprises a pedal block (19) having three sides (20.1, 20.2 and 20.3) and a pedal spindle (22). The pedal block has a generally triangular configuration when viewed in end view. Each side of the pedal block defines a flat abutment face (24) and a pair of spaced elongate rectilinear tongue formations (26) which project outwardly from the abutment face. The cleat defines a pair of groove formations (50) configured for receiving a pair of the tongue formations therein for releasably engaging the pedal block (19).

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a bicycle pedal system and more specifically, to a bicycle pedal system including a mating bicycle pedal and shoe formation.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

In order to efficiently apply force to a bicycle pedal over more than just a downward portion of the pedal stroke, it is necessary to provide for the attachment of the cyclist's foot to the pedal. Various methods of attaching a bicycle rider's foot to a bicycle pedal are known. One such method includes the use of toe clips and straps combined with cleated shoes. In more recent times, clipless bicycle pedals have become increasing popular with both top and intermediate level cyclists who participate in touring and racing.

Current clipless pedal designs typically provide for securely attaching the foot of a cyclist to the pedal so as to allow the cyclist to apply force to the pedal through essentially the entire circle of the pedal stroke. In order to achieve this, the foot of the cyclist is securely locked to the pedal. The applicant has found that both earlier pedal designs including toe clips and straps combined with cleated shoes and current clipless pedal designs, while providing for secure locking of the cyclist's foot to the pedal, suffer from the problem of not providing adequately for release of the cyclist's foot, particularly in circumstances where the rider is about the fall. Pedal designs having toe clips require a cyclist to bend over and release the toe clip by hand, while most clipless pedal designs require a predetermined foot movement, typically an outwards twisting action of the foot, in order to effect release of the foot from the pedal. It is thus difficult and in many instances not possible for a cyclist to release his foot from pedals having toe clips or such clipless pedals during a fall or in instances where the cyclist has lost his balance. All of the aforementioned release methods require a degree of cognitive thought on the part of the cyclist combined with a physical action in order to effect release of the foot from the pedal. During a fall there is often no time for cognitive thought nor for an intricate release action as self-preservation assumes paramount importance, blocking cognitive thought processes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bicycle pedal system which ameliorates the abovementioned problem encountered with existing bicycle pedal systems which do not provide adequately for quick and effective release of the cyclist's foot. While the applicant believes that the bicycle pedal system of the present invention can be used by cyclists of all levels of ability, the present invention is specifically directed at intermediate level cyclists who wish to apply a force to a bicycle pedal over a greater portion of the circle described by the pedal than just the downward portion of the pedal stroke.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a bicycle pedal system comprising:

a pedal defining an axis of rotation and including at least two pairs of elongate projecting rectilinear tongue formations, the tongue formations of each pair of tongue formations, being spaced apart and extending parallel to the axis of rotation and disposed at opposite sides thereof; and

a shoe formation of a rigid construction, forming part of a shoe, the shoe formation defining a pair of complementary groove formations in which the tongue formations are received for releasably engaging the pedal.

The pedal may include a pedal block including the tongue formations and a pedal spindle to which the pedal block is rotatably mounted, the pedal spindle defining a longitudinal axis which coincides with the axis of rotation of the pedal.

The pedal block may include three pairs of tongue formations wherein the pairs of the tongue formations are symmetrically arranged and circumferentially equi-spaced around the axis of rotation of the pedal.

The pedal block may have a generally triangular configuration when viewed in end view, the pedal block defining three sides, with each of the sides including one of the pairs of the tongue formations.

Each side of the pedal block may define an outwardly facing flat abutment face, with the tongue formations projecting outwardly from the abutment face.

Each of the tongue formations may define a pair of opposite planar engagement faces which operatively engage inner sides of a particular one of the groove formations of the shoe formation when the tongue formation is received therein.

The pedal block may have an outer end and an inner end from which the pedal spindle extends, the tongue formations having corresponding inner ends and outer ends, with a distal end region of each tongue formation being bevelled at the inner end of the tongue. More specifically, the bevelled inner end of the tongue formation may define a taper angle of between 30° and 40°. Yet more specifically, the bevelled inner end of the tongue formation may define a taper angle of about 34°.

Opposite ends of the tongue formations may be convexly curved.

The shoe formation may be in the form of a cleat which is attached, in use, to a sole of a shoe.

Each groove formation of the cleat may be defined by a continuous inner side wall, a pair of opposite concavely curved end walls and an outer side wall having a central cut-out region such that the outer side wall comprises two spaced outer side wall portions, the inner side wall and the outer side wall portions defining flat inwardly facing engagement faces for engagement with the engagement faces of a particular one of the tongue formations when it is received within the groove formation.

The invention extends to the pedal for the bicycle pedal system as described and defined hereinabove.

The invention also extends to the pedal block of the pedal for the bicycle pedal system as described and defined hereinabove.

The invention extends further to the shoe formation for the bicycle pedal system as described and defined hereinabove.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings, a bicycle pedal system in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral10. The bicycle pedal system10comprises, broadly, a pedal12and a shoe formation in the form of a cleat14which is attached to a sole16of a shoe18which is worn by a cyclist.

The pedal comprises a pedal block19which has a generally triangular configuration when viewed in end view. The pedal block has three sides20.1,20.2and20.3and is of a solid rigid construction. The Applicant envisages that the pedal block will be of a suitable lightweight yet rigid material such as stainless steel, titanium, aluminium or of a suitable polymer. The pedal block includes a pedal spindle22which is fixedly attached to a crank of a bicycle crank set.

Each side of the pedal block defines an outwardly facing flat abutment face24and a pair of spaced elongate projecting rectilinear tongue formations26which extend outwardly from each of the faces24. More specifically, the tongue formations26on each side of the pedal block extend outwardly in a direction normal to the face of the relevant side.

More specifically, the pedal12defines an axis of rotation “A” which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the pedal spindle22, with the tongue formations of each pair of tongue formations, being spaced apart and disposed at opposite sides and extending parallel to the axis of rotation. Each of the tongue formations defines a pair of opposite planar engagement faces30.1and30.2and have inner ends32.1and opposite outer ends32.2. The inner and outer ends are convexly curved. A distal end region of each tongue formation is bevelled at the inner end32.1thereof so as to define a bevelled region28. More specifically, the region28is bevelled so as to define a taper angle of 34°.

The pedal block19is rotatably mounted to the pedal spindle by means of two ball bearing assemblies34. An end36of the pedal spindle defines a hexagonal socket38for connection to a crank of a bicycle crank set.

The cleat14has an inner side46and an outer side48. The cleat14is securely attached to the sole16of the shoe18within a recessed central area40defined therefor within the sole. More specifically, the cleat is mounted to the sole16within the recess40by means of two screws42which are received within the holes44defined in the cleat. The holes are countersunk at the outer sides of the cleat such that the heads of the screws are recessed within the holes so as not to protrude beyond the cleat.

The cleat14defines a pair of groove formations50which are each configured and dimensioned so as to receive the tongue formations of a particular one of a pair of tongue formations therein, for releasably engaging the pedal block19. Each groove formation50is defined by a continuous inner side wall52, a pair of opposite concavely curved end walls54and an outer side wall having a central cut-out region such that the outer side wall comprises two spaced outer side wall portions56.1and56.2. The inner and outer side walls define flat inwardly facing engagement faces for engagement with the engagement faces of a tongue formation26when the tongue formation is received within the groove. The groove formations and the tongue formations have complementary rounded ends so as to provide for insertion of the tongue formations into the groove formations and removal of the tongue formations therefrom.

The bevelled regions28of the tongue formations further facilitate ease of insertion and removal of the tongue formations into the groove formations. The Applicant has found that a taper angle of 34° for the bevelled region28is an optimal angle which facilitates insertion and removal of the tongue formations, yet provides for secure location of the tongue formation within the groove formation.

The Applicant believes that the bicycle pedal system in accordance with the invention, provides for attachment of a cyclist's foot to the pedal over the entire pedal stroke while allowing for quick and effective release of a cyclist's foot from the pedal simply by the cyclist lifting his or her foot from the pedal. As this requires little or no cognitive thought, the Applicant believes that the pedal system in accordance with the invention, will in most situations, permit a cyclist quickly and instinctively to separate their foot from the pedal so as to extend a leg outwardly to brace against a fall.