Bicycle toe clip

A bicycle toe clip is disclosed having double strap carriers corresponding to the upper of a bike shoe for holding an associated shoe strap in a generally rectangular wide-mouth configuration to permit quick foot entry and exit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This present invention relates to bicycle toe clips which prevent a 
bicyclist's foot from slipping off the pedal during periods of strenuous 
activity. 
Conventional toe clips secure the user's foot to a bicycle pedal using a 
strap which is cinched through the pedal and the strap carrier section of 
the toe clip on top of the foot. Unfortunately, when the strap is cinched 
tight enough to secure the shoe, it effectively locks the shoe in the 
clip, making quick exit and entry difficult, if not impossible. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a bicycle toe clip 
which provides the desired shoe retention function yet permits quick entry 
and exit. 
It is another object to provide a toe clip which decreases pressure on the 
top of the foot. 
A toe clip according to our present invention which satisfies the above and 
other objects comprises: a base having shape and dimension, including the 
width thereof, conformed to a shoe of selected size and shape; a lip or 
flange formed integrally with the base for mounting the toe clip to a 
bicycle pedal; and strap carrier means formed integrally with the base and 
conformed to the shape and dimension of the upper of the shoe, including 
the longitudinal profile of the shoe. The strap carrier means includes 
first and second longitudinally-extending strap carriers connected at one 
end to the base, laterally spaced apart a distance less than the width of 
the base and having holes formed in the upper ends thereof for receiving a 
strap. As a result of this construction, a strap cinched through the pedal 
and carrier ends forms a rectangular wide-mouth shape in the transverse 
plane of the shoe which facilitates entry and exit thereof. Preferably, 
the toe clip is plastic and incorporates relatively short strap carriers 
which terminate between the toe and the arch to eliminate pressure on top 
of the foot above the arch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
FIGS. 1-3 depict various aspects of a bicycle toe clip 10, made according 
to our present invention, which securely retains a user's foot and shoe 
FIG. 2, yet provides easy exit and entry. Also, in eliminating strap 
pressure on the top of the foot above the arch, our toe clip is 
comfortable during use. 
Initially, and referring primarily to FIG. 1, our toe clip 10 preferably 
has a U-shaped longitudinal configuration and comprises a base 12 of 
suitable shape and size, including width, w, for supporting the front sole 
section 13, FIG. 2, of a shoe 11 of a selected size or a selected range of 
sizes. (The toe clip can be formed in a single size or several sizes which 
accommodate a wide range of standard shoe sizes and shapes.) A 
downwardly-extending lip or flange 14 is formed integrally with the base 
12 at the rear thereof and contains one or more holes 16 which permit 
mounting the toe clip 10 to the pedal 17 of a bicycle using fastening 
means such as the illustrated screw 18 or rivets, etc. 
An upper strap carrier section 19 is formed integrally with the front of 
the base 12 and is conformed to the shape and dimension of the front 
section 21 of the upper of the selected shoe(s) 11. In particular, the 
strap carrier section 19 is conformed to the longitudinal profile of the 
shoe's front upper section 21. The strap carrier section comprises a pair 
of longitudinally-extending, laterally-spaced strap carriers 22--22 which 
are bent at the lower front end thereof to conform to the shape of the toe 
of the shoe 11 and are spaced apart a distance, d, at the upper end 
thereof which preferably is less than the width of the base 12 and pedal 
17. The enlarged, free upper ends 23 each have a hole 24 formed therein 
for receiving strap 26. Cross member 27 supports the two strap carriers 
22--22 and maintains the desired spacing therebetween. 
The toe clip 10 is formed of polyamide plastic material; more generally 
plastic or elastomeric materials can be used. 
Referring primarily to FIGS. 2 and 3, when cinched through the spaced 
carriers 22--22 and the pedal 17, strap 26 is maintained in a generally 
rectangular configuration when a shoe is not positioned on the pedal. 
Preferably, a between-carrier spacing, d, is used which is less than the 
width of the pedal 17, so that the strap defines a trapezoidal 
configuration of the type shown in FIG. 3. In this cinched configuration, 
the strap 26 securely retains the shoe 11 (the outline of which is shown 
in phantom in FIG. 3) against accidental release in the lateral and 
forward directions. Also, and in contrast to the relatively difficult shoe 
entry and exit associated with the triangular strap configuration 28 
provided by the single strap carrier 29 used in the conventional prior art 
toe clip shown in FIG. 4, the rectangular trapezoidal shape provides a 
relatively wide mouth in the transverse plane of the shoe 11 which more 
closely conforms to the cross-section of the shoe and affords relative 
ease of entry and exit. The ease of entry and exit is very important, in 
general, for convenience and, in particular, for safety and as a 
time-saving feature when it is desirable or necessary to be able to mount 
or remount quickly. Please note, three or more strap carriers could be 
used to provide the desired widemouth strap configuration. 
In addition, our strap carriers 22--22 preferably are relatively short, 
i.e., the ends 23--23 are positioned proximate the rear of the toes and 
proximate the front of the arch of the foot so that the strap is 
positioned forward of or at the forward portion of the arch, thereby 
relieving uncomfortable pressure on the upper portion of the foot. 
Having thus described preferred and alternative embodiments of the present 
invention, it will be understood that those of usual skill in the art will 
readily develop modifications and extensions of the present invention 
which are within the scope thereof as defined by the following claims.