BICYCLE PEDAL ATTACHMENT

Abstract: A bicycle pedal attachment having an elongated strap (20) that is diagonally arched and attached to a bicycle pedal (20) such that the front end (21) of the strap (20) is secured adjacent the front inside edge of the pedal (30) and the rear end (22) of the strap (20) is secured to the bicycle pedal (30) adjacent its rear outside edge. The structure allows the bicyclist to insert his foot into the pedal attachment toe first and at a diagonal angle through the arched loop formed by the strap (20) and then by pivoting his heel inwardly the foot of the bicyclist will be captured with tension applied to the front outside of the foot across the top of the foot and also to the inside of the foot.

Description: Description Bicycle Pedal At tachment Technical Field This invention relates generall y to devices which hold or maintain the position of a bicycle rider 's foot on the pedal of the bicycle and which bind or a ttach the rider 's shoe to the pedal . Background Art Various forms of binding systems have been developed to hold the foot of the bicyclist onto the bicycle pedal . The simplest and most common device is the pedal toe clip (a curved projection attached to the fron t of the pedal which loops over the toe of the rider 's shoe) combined wi th a toe strap (a strap of lea ther or other flexible ma terial passing through an eyelet in the top of the toe clip and underneath or through the back of the pedal , encircling the rider 's foot at the instep) . This system has many disadvantages , among them difficulty in inserting the foot through the opening formed by the strap, and the need to reach down and tighten or loosen the strap by hand . More sophisticated mechanical binding mechanisms have been incorporated into special pedals , requiring special shoes or shoe fittings . These systems have their own drawbacks, including high price, the need for special, shoes, and the failure or impaired performance of mechanical catches and levers when infil trated by dirt or mud . The invention here de tailed prevents the rider 's foot from slipping off the pedal . It also allows the rider to grip the pedal wi th the foot so as to pull i t upward, wi thout mechanically binding the shoe to the pedal. At the same time, i t permits the rider to remove his foot rapidly from the pedal . It is easily engaged by the foot and requires no hand opera tion for tightening, loosening, or releasing. It does not require the use of special shoes, or shoes with special fittings on the sole. The invention is not a new pedal as such, but rather an attachment which can be fi tted to many or most currently existing pedals to improve their performance, especially for touring or casual bicycling or cycling offroad. Other characteristics of this invention will become apparent hereinafter. Disclosure of Invention The invention consists of two main components : a bracke t, which attaches to the front of the pedal by means of screws and nuts and projects laterally outward, and which contains at its outer extremi ty a means for anchoring a strap; a s trap or flexible arch of resilient material , which may be anchored to the rear inside corner of the pedal wi th a screw and nut and which arches upward , forward, and outward, and is a ttached at its outer end to the anchoring means of the bracket . By forming a diagonal arch over the pedal , the device affords a wider opening for inserting the riders foot, which can be cocked at an inward angle for easy entry onto the pedal . At the same time, the diagonal arch tends to snug or tighten when the rider 's heel is rotated inward to straighten the foot. By further rotating the heel to the inside, the rider can increase the tightness of the arch strap both a t the sides and over the top of the foot, with an application of leverage similar to that by which a tourniquet bandage is tightened or loosened. When the heel is rotated out again, the foot may be wi thdrawn to the rear and outside wi th ease. The diagonal orientation of the arch strap sets it apart from conventional toe straps, which encircle the foot perpendicularly . The wide mouth of the arch obviates the need for hand loosening before entry or exit, and also allows the foot to be wi thdrawn at an angle to the outside for quick stabiliza tion of the bicycle, rather than directly to the rear and then afterward to the outside as is dictated by the conventional strap design. The arch strap is made of nylon /ur thane laminate or similar material which, though flexible, has sufficient resilience to maintain its upright shape without the need for a toe clip or other supportive appliance. More specific details of the construction of this invention will become apparent hereinafter. Brief Description of the Drawings Please note all drawings are approx. 1/2 scale and are of righ t-hand parts where right or left orientation is applicable. Figure 1 is a plan view of the front bracket when not mounted to a pedal and Figure la is a view of said bracket from below. Figure 2 is a plan view of the arch strap when not mounted to a pedal . Figure 3 is an oblique frontal view of the device mounted to a bicycle pedal . Figure 4 is an oblique rear view of the device mounted to a bicycle pedal . Figure 5 is an oblique front view of the device mounted to a bicycle pedal and a shoe engaged therewith in the normal riding position. Figure 6 is a plan view of a bicycle pedal with a silhouette superimposed thereon of the path of entry for a rider's shoe in the case of a conventional pedal toe strap; Figure 6a is a plan view of a bicycle pedal wi th a silhouette of the relatively wider path of entry for a riders shoe in the case of the device here described. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Please note that for purposes of orientation the terms or phrases "front, " "forward, " "forward of, " etc. are used in the sense of the portion of a bicycle pedal or pedal attachment closest to the fron t or the bicycle . The terms "back, " "rear, " "behind, " etc . are oriented in the opposite direction , toward the rear of the bicycle. The terms "inside, " "inner, " etc. refer to pa rts of the pedal or at tachment located toward the bicycle, while "out, " "outside, " etc. refer to the direction away from the bicycle . The terms "up, " "down , " "above, " "below, " etc. are used in the conventional sense . Where right- or left-hand orientation of parts is applicable, all parts described are righ t-hand examples. Bicycle pedal 30 has a pedal body 32 having a plurali ty of ou twardl y extending legs 33-36. A spindle 38 that is externally threaded extends from the inner end of pedal body 32. A U-shaped cage 40 la terally surrounds pedal body 32 and has a front leg 42, a rear leg 44 , and a cross member 46. Referring to Figures 1 and la, the bracket (1) comprises : a round rod which is formed wi th U-shaped bends (2, 3) and a continuous junction of the two ends of the rod (4) so as to form an elonga ted loop the inner opening of which (5) will accommoda te screws for affixing said bracket to the front surface of a bicycle pedal , and a threaded stud (6) which is welded or otherwise affixed perpendicularly to the outer end of the bracket so as to provide a means of fastening a strap to the outer end of said bracke t wi th a nut and washer. Referring to Figure 2 , the arch strap (20) comprises a continuous length of flexible material consisting of any polymeric / elastomeric laminate or material of similar flexibility, whether single la yer or laminate, such as nylon , rubber, vinyl , leather, etc. Said strap contains holes (21) by means of which the front may be affixed at varying distances so as to accomodate different widths or sizes of riders ' shoes and holes (22) by means of which the rearward end may be affixed. Referring to Figure 3 , i t can be seen that the bracket (1 ) is affixed by means of fasteners to the front leg of the pedal cage (42) so as to project laterally outward parallel to the front of the pedal cage to a point at or near the outward extremity of the pedal . At the outer end of the bracket the threaded stud (6) anchors the front end of the arch strap (20) which is pinched longi tudinally and inserted onto the stud by means of the holes (21) in the front of the strap and secured by a washer and nut (7) . Still referring to Figure 3, it can be seen that the arch strap projects up, over, and diagonally across the pedal , then down, and is affixed at i ts rearward end by means of a screw (8) inserted through the holes in the rearward end of the strap and through a hole in the rear of the pedal cage (44) and secured wi th a nut and a washer (9) . Referring to Figure 4 , it can be seen that the rear of the arch strap (20) is pinched longitudinally and secured through holes to the rear leg of the pedal cage (44) . Referring to Figure 5, i t can be seen that the device creates an arching support which serves to retain the foot of the rider on the pedal and provides a means of pulling the pedal upward, Ref erring to Figures 6 and 6a, i t can be seen tha t the configura tion of a conventional pedal toe strap presents a relatively narrower opening, as illustrated in Figure 6, through which the bicycle rider 's foot must be inserted and withdrawn as compared with the opening afforded by this device as illustrated in Figure 6a. This invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but includes any and all al ternatives, equivalents, modifications and rearrangements of elements pertaining to this invention as set forward under "Claims " , below.

Claims: Claims 1. The combination of a bicycle pedal and a foot attachment assembly comprising: a bicycle pedal having a body having a front end, a rear end, an outer side and an inner side , said front end and said rear end being substantially parallel to each other, said outer side and said inner side being substantially parallel to each other; a spindle extends transversely from said inner side and it is externally threaded; a single elongated strap having a front end and a rear end; means for detachably securing the front end of said strap to said bicycle pedal at a point adjacent the intersection of its front end and its outer side; means for detachably securing the rear end of said strap to said bicycle pedal at a point adjacent the intersection of its rear end and its inner side; and the above structure forms a closed arched loop into which a bicyclist can first insert his foot from the outer side of the bicycle pedal and then by rotating his heel inwardly cause his foot to be captured for as long as desired. 2. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for detachably securing the front end of said strap comprises at least one aperture adjacent the front end of said strap, an elongated bracket having an inner end and an outer end, a stud extends transversely from said outer end and through the aperture adjacent the front end of said strap. 3. The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein said elongated bracket has a longitudinally extending slot, at least one bolt passing through said slot and also through an aperture in the front end of the body of said pedal to secure the bracket to the body of said pedal . 4. The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for detachably securing the rear end of said strap comprises a t least one aperture adjacent the rear end of said strap, a bolt inserted into said aperture adjacent the rear end of said strap, a bolt inserted into said aperture and also an aperture in the rear end of said pedal and a nut to secure the bolt in position.

Inventors: BAREFOOT DAREK, BAREFOOT, DAREK
Applicants: BAREFOOT DAREK, BAREFOOT, DAREK
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G05G1
IPC codes: B62M3