Patent Publication Number: US-9848669-B2

Title: Bicycle cleat positioining device

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention generally relates to a bicycle cleat positioning device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bicycle cleat positioning device which includes a shoe holder. 
     Background Information 
     Pedals are an essential bicycle component in that they transfer cycling power to the bicycles drive train. Different styles of bicycles utilize different bicycle pedal styles that are designed for a specific purpose such as for pleasure, off road biking, road racing, etc. In recent years, step-in or clipless pedals have gained more popularity. The step-in or clipless pedal releasably engages a cleat secured to the sole of a rider&#39;s bicycle shoe. In other words, the cleats are attached to the soles of bicycle shoes. The cleats lock the rider&#39;s feet into pedals of bicycle. More specifically, the cleats lock the rider&#39;s feet position and the rider&#39;s feet angle with respect to the pedals of the bicycle. Thus, for the sake of rider&#39;s comfort and cycling performance while riding the bicycle, the cleats need to be properly adjusted with respect to the soles of the bicycle shoes. 
     Conventionally, cleats are adjusted with respect to bicycle shoes with bicycle cleat positioning devices. A conventional bicycle cleat positioning device mainly has a cleat positioning structure and a shoe support structure (See French Patent Application Publication No. 2 940 020, for example). The cleat positioning structure is adjustable with respect to the shoe support structure for positioning a cleat with respect to a bicycle shoe. The shoe support structure supports the bicycle shoe with respect to the bicycle cleat positioning device. The shoe support structure further includes a heel part that holds a heel of the bicycle shoe, and a toe part that supports a toe of the bicycle shoe. In particular, the toe part of the shoe support has a contact portion and a lifting portion for positioning the bicycle shoe to a reference orientation with respect to the bicycle cleat positioning device. Specifically, the contact portion of the toe part is manually and slidably adjusted relative to the heel part such that the contact portion contacts with an outer side face of the toe of the bicycle shoe, which adjusts a heading angle of a longitudinal axis of the bicycle shoe with respect to the heel part. The lifting portion of the toe part is also manually and elevationally adjusted relative to the heel part while the lifting portion contacts with an upper face of the toe of the bicycle shoe, which adjusts an elevation angle of the longitudinal axis of the bicycle shoe with respect to the heel part. 
     With this conventional bicycle cleat positioning device, the bicycle shoe is mounted to the shoe support structure, and then is adjusted with respect to the bicycle cleat positioning device before the cleat is adjusted with respect to the bicycle shoe. The bicycle shoe needs to be accurately adjusted with respect to the bicycle cleat positioning device for properly positioning the cleat with respect to the sole of the bicycle shoe. 
     SUMMARY 
     Outer shapes of toes of bicycle shoes can vary depending on models of the bicycle shoe. Furthermore, outer dimensions of toes of bicycle shoes can slightly vary due to material or manufacturing process of the bicycle shoes even if the bicycle shoes are the same model. It has been discovered that, with the conventional bicycle cleat positioning device, the bicycle shoe is misaligned relative to the reference orientation due to the deviation of the outer shape or the outer dimension of the toe of the bicycle shoe since the orientation of the bicycle shoe is adjusted by pressing an outer peripheral the bicycle shoe. Furthermore, it has also been discovered that, with the conventional bicycle cleat positioning device, positioning the bicycle shoe in the bicycle cleat positioning device varies depending on the skill of the operator since the lifting portion of the toe part is manually operated for adjusting an elevation of the bicycle shoe with respect to the bicycle cleat positioning device. These variations of the positioning of the bicycle shoe with respect to the bicycle cleat positioning device also cause misalignment of the cleat with respect to the bicycle shoe. Moreover, with the conventional bicycle cleat positioning device, the cleat merely rests on a shoe sole of the bicycle shoe while adjusting the cleat with respect to the bicycle shoe, but is not held in position by the bicycle cleat positioning device. It has also been discovered that, with this conventional bicycle cleat positioning device, it is difficult to properly adjust the cleat with respect to the bicycle shoe to a desired location and a desired orientation by operating the bicycle cleat positioning device. 
     One object of the present disclosure is to provide a bicycle cleat positioning device with which a cleat can be properly adjusted with respect to a bicycle shoe. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a bicycle cleat positioning device includes a shoe holder, a cleat holder, and an attachment portion. A bicycle shoe is mounted to the shoe holder. The cleat holder is adjustably arranged relative to the shoe holder. The attachment portion supports the cleat holder relative to the shoe holder. The cleat holder is detachably and rotatably mounted to the attachment portion. 
     These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses selected embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bicycle cleat positioning device in accordance with one embodiment, with a bicycle shoe and a cleat mounted to the bicycle cleat positioning device; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bicycle cleat positioning device illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with the bicycle shoe and the cleat removed from the bicycle cleat positioning device; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the bicycle cleat positioning device illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the bicycle cleat positioning device illustrated in  FIG. 2 , illustrating an opposite side of the bicycle cleat positioning device illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the bicycle cleat positioning device illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the bicycle cleat positioning device illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with portions of a heel and a toe of the bicycle shoe broken away to show a shoe holder of the bicycle cleat positioning device; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the bicycle cleat positioning device illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with portions of the heel and the toe of the bicycle shoe broken away to show the shoe holder of the bicycle cleat positioning device; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial top plan view of the bicycle cleat positioning device illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with the cleat fastened to the bicycle shoe with screws; and 
         FIG. 9  is a partial top plan view of a bicycle cleat positioning device in accordance with a modified embodiment, with a different type of cleat mounted to the bicycle cleat positioning device and fastened to the bicycle shoe with screws. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiment are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a bicycle cleat positioning device  10  is utilized for adjusting a cleat  12  with respect to a bicycle shoe  14  in accordance with one embodiment. The bicycle cleat positioning device  10  adjusts a lengthwise location of the cleat  12  on a shoe sole  16  of the bicycle shoe  14  in a lengthwise direction D 1  (e.g., a first direction) of the bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , and adjusts a widthwise location of the cleat  12  on the shoe sole  16  of the bicycle shoe  14  in a widthwise direction D 2  (e.g., a second direction) of the bicycle cleat positioning device  10 . Furthermore, the bicycle cleat positioning device  10  adjusts a rotational orientation of the cleat  12  in a rotational direction R 1  of the bicycle cleat positioning device  10 . The bicycle cleat positioning device  10  adjusts the cleat  12  with respect to the bicycle shoe  14  based on a plurality of predetermined adjustment values indicating displacements from a reference position of the bicycle cleat positioning device  10 . The lengthwise direction D 1  and the widthwise direction D 2  are perpendicular to each other. 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the bicycle cleat positioning device  10  basically includes a base portion  20 , a shoe holder  22 , an adjustment portion  24 , an attachment portion  26 , and a cleat holder  28 . The base portion  20  supports all the components of the bicycle cleat positioning device  20 . The shoe holder  22  is arranged relative to the base portion  20 , and supports the bicycle shoe  14  with respect to the base portion  20 . The adjustment portion  24  is adjustably arranged with respect to the base portion  20  in the lengthwise direction D 1 . The attachment portion  26  is adjustably arranged with respect to the adjustment portion  24  in the widthwise direction D 2  of the bicycle cleat positioning device  10  and in a heightwise direction D 3  of the bicycle cleat positioning device  10 . The heightwise direction D 3  is perpendicular to the lengthwise direction D 1  and the widthwise direction D 2 . The cleat holder  28  is rotatably arranged with respect to the attachment portion  26  about a rotational axis X 1  of the cleat holder  28 . 
     Referring further to  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the bicycle cleat positioning device  10  will be further described in detail. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the base portion  20  has a guiding base  32  with a lengthwise measuring scale  34  (e.g., a first scale). The guiding base  32  is a flat plate extending in the lengthwise direction D 1 . The guiding base  32  is made of rigid material, such as metal, hard plastic and the like. The base portion  20  is placed on a flat surface when the cleat  12  is adjusted with respect to the bicycle shoe  14  using the bicycle cleat positioning device  110 . The guiding base  32  is supported by the adjustment portion  24  such that the guiding base  32  is spaced apart from the flat surface on which the base portion  20  is placed (see  FIG. 3 ). The lengthwise measuring scale  34  indicates a position of the cleat holder  28  relative to the shoe holder  22  in the lengthwise direction D 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the shoe holder  22  is arranged with respect to the guiding base  32  of the base portion  20 . The bicycle shoe  14  is mounted to the shoe holder  22 . The shoe holder  22  has a heel part  40 , a toe part  42 , a guiding arm  44 , and a biasing spring  46  (e.g., a biasing member). 
     The heel part  40  is fixedly arranged with respect to the base portion  20 . The heel part  40  has a heel holding face  40   a . The heel holding face  40   a  includes a partially spherical surface (see also  FIG. 5 ). The toe part  42  is slidably arranged with respect to the heel part  40 . The toe part  42  has a tubular portion  48  and a head portion  50  with a toe holding face  50   a . The tubular portion  48  is slidably arranged along the guiding arm  44 . Preferably, the head portion  50  is integrally formed with the tubular portion  48 . Alternatively, the head portion  50  can be a separate member from the tubular portion  48 . The toe holding face  50   a  of the head portion  50  includes a curved or partially circular surface (see also  FIG. 5 ). The toe holding face  50   a  of the toe part  42  faces away from the heel holding face  40   a  of the heel part  40 . The guiding arm  44  is fixedly coupled to the heel part  40 . The guiding arm  44  basically includes a longitudinal tubular rod with a non-circular cross section. The tubular portion  48  of the toe part  42  is slidably coupled to the guiding arm  44  such that the toe part  42  slides with respect to the heel part  40  along a longitudinal axis X 2  of the guiding arm  44 . The biasing spring  46  is operatively disposed between the heel part  40  and the toe part  42 . In particular, the biasing spring  46  is disposed within the guiding arm  44  and the tubular portion  48  of the toe part  42 . The biasing spring  46  relatively biases the heel part  40  and the toe part  42  away from each other. The biasing spring  46  has a compression spring or other biasing element. 
     The guiding arm  44  and the biasing spring  46  form a connecting part that connects the heel part  40  and the toe part  42 . Preferably, the connecting part is telescopically expandable. In other words, the heel part  40  is relatively and slidably coupled to the toe part  42  through the connecting part. Furthermore, the guiding arm  44  and the biasing spring  46  connect the heel part  40  and the toe part  42  in an expandable manner. In particular, the toe part  42  is telescopically expandable with respect to the guiding arm  44  of the connecting part between an extended position and a retracted position. An extended state of the shoe holder  22  is defined when the toe part  42  is located in the extended position relative to the guiding arm  44 . A retracted state of the shoe holder  22  is defined when the toe part  42  is located in the retracted position relative to the guiding arm  44 . The biasing spring  46  always biases the toe part  42  away from the heel part  40  while the shoe holder  22  is in the extended state and the retracted state. Thus, the shoe holder  22  is in the extended state when the bicycle shoe  14  is not mounted to the shoe holder  22  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 5 . The guiding base  32  is made of rigid material, such as metal, hard plastic and the like. The heel part  40 , the toe part  42  and the guiding arm  44  are made of rigid material, such as metal, hard plastic and the like. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the adjustment portion  24  is arranged with respect to the guiding base  32  of the base portion  20 . The adjustment portion  24  adjusts a location of the attachment portion  26  with respect to the shoe holder  22 . The adjustment portion  24  mainly includes a sliding base  56 , a column member  58 , and a holder element  60 . The sliding base  56  is slidably coupled to the guiding base  32  of the base portion  20  in the lengthwise direction D 1 . The sliding base  56  has a slot within which the guiding base  32  is slidably disposed and guided in the lengthwise direction D 1 . The lengthwise measuring scale  34  on the guiding base  32  is readable through a window  62  formed on the sliding base  56  for adjusting the sliding base  56  to a desired position in the lengthwise direction D 1 . The sliding base  56  is slidably adjustable relative to the guiding base  32  while a fastening screw  64  of the sliding base  56  is loosened. After the sliding base  56  is adjusted to the desired position using the lengthwise measuring scale  34 , the sliding base  56  is fastened to the guiding base  32  of the base portion  20  by fastening the fastening screw  64 . The fastening screw  64  is disposed through the sliding base  56 . The fastening screw  64  contacts with the guiding base  32  while the fastening screw  64  is fastened. The fastening screw  64  has a thumb screw, or other type of screw. 
     The column member  58  is disposed on the sliding base  56 . The column member  58  is fixedly coupled to the sliding base  56 . The column member  58  extends along the heightwise direction D 3 . The column member  58  basically includes a longitudinal rod with a non-circular cross section. Alternatively, the column member  58  may have a circular cross section. The holder element  60  is disposed on the column member  58 . The holder element  60  is slidably coupled to the column member  58  in the heightwise direction D 3 . The holder element  60  has a first clamp  68  with a fastening screw  68   a , and a second clamp  70  with a fastening screw  70   a . The first clamp  68  is adjustably coupled to the column member of the adjustment portion  24 . The second clamp  70  is adjustably coupled to the attachment portion  26 . Specifically, the second clamp  70  is pivotally coupled to the first clamp  68  about a pivot axle  72  extending in the lengthwise direction D 1 . Thus, the attachment portion  26  and the cleat holder  28  can pivot about the pivot axle  72  with respect to the base portion  20 , the shoe holder  22 , and the adjustment portion  24 . The first clamp  68  has a non circular or rectangular opening through which the column member  58  is disposed. The holder element  60  is slidably adjustable relative to the column member  58  while the fastening screw  68   a  of the first clamp  68  is loosened. After the holder element  60  is adjusted to a desired height, the first clamp  68  of the holder element  60  is fastened to the column member  58  by fastening the fastening screw  68   a  of the first clamp  68 . The fastening screw  68   a  of the first clamp  68  has a thumb screw, or other type of screw. The second clamp  70  has a non-circular or circular opening through which an adjustment axle  74  of the attachment portion  26  is disposed. The adjustment axle  74  of the attachment portion  26  is slidably coupled to the second clamp  70  of the holder element  60  in the widthwise direction D 2  (see also  FIG. 5 ). The adjustment axle  74  of the attachment portion  26  is slidably adjustable relative to the holder element  60  while the fastening screw  70   a  of the second clamp  70  is loosened. After the adjustment axle  74  is adjusted to a desired position, the second clamp  70  of the holder element  60  is fastened to the adjustment axle  74  by fastening the fastening screw  70   a  of the second clamp  70 . The fastening screw  70   a  of the second clamp  70  has a thumb screw, or other type of screw. The adjustment axle  74  corresponds to a pedal axle of a bicycle. With this adjustment portion  24 , the cleat holder  28  is slidably adjusted relative to the shoe holder  22  in the lengthwise direction D 1 . The sliding base  56 , the column member  58 , and the holder element  60  are made of rigid material, such as metal, hard plastic and the like. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the attachment portion  26  is mounted to the holder element  60  of the adjustment portion  24 . The attachment portion  26  is slidably coupled to the holder element  60 . The attachment portion  26  rotatably supports the cleat holder  28  relative to the shoe holder  22 . The attachment portion  26  includes the adjustment axle  74  and a ring clamp  76 . The adjustment axle  74  is slidably coupled to the second clamp  70  of the holder element  60  in the widthwise direction D 2 . The adjustment axle  74  has a widthwise measuring scale  78  (e.g., a second scale) on an outer peripheral face of the adjustment axle  74 . The widthwise measuring scale  78  indicates a position of the cleat holder  28  relative to the shoe holder  22  in the widthwise direction D 2 . After the adjustment axle  74  is adjusted to a desired position in the widthwise direction D 2  using the widthwise measuring scale  78 , the second clamp  70  of the holder element  60  is fastened to the adjustment axle  74  by fastening the fastening screw  70   a  of the second clamp  70 . The ring clamp  76  has a cylindrical inner face with a gap defined between circumferentially facing ends of the ring clamp  76 . The ring clamp  76  rotatably supports an outer periphery of the cleat holder  28  such that the cylindrical inner face of the ring clamp  76  is disposed about the outer periphery of the cleat holder  28 . The ring clamp  76  further has an angular scale  80  indicative of a rotational orientation of the cleat holder  28  about the rotational axis X 1  of the cleat holder  28 . The angular scale  80  utilizes degrees as units of measurement. Thus, an upper edge portion of the ring clamp  76  is marked with the angular scale  80  in degrees. The cleat holder  28  is rotatably adjustable relative to the ring clamp  76  while a fastening screw  76   a  of the ring clamp  76  is loosened. After the cleat holder  28  is adjusted to a desired orientation, the ring clamp  76  of the attachment portion  26  is fastened to the cleat holder  28  by fastening the fastening screw  76   a  of the ring clamp  76 . The fastening screw  76   a  has a thumb screw, or other type of screw. With this attachment portion  26 , the cleat holder  28  is slidably adjusted relative to the shoe holder  22  in the widthwise direction D 2 , and rotatably adjusted relative to the shoe holder  22  in the rotational direction R 1 . The adjustment axle  74  and the ring clamp  76  are made of rigid material, such as metal, hard plastic and the like. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the cleat holder  28  is detachably and rotatably mounted to the ring clamp  76  of the attachment portion  26 . The cleat holder  28  is rotatably coupled to the ring clamp  76  of the attachment portion  26 . The cleat holder  28  includes a cylindrical part  84  with a cleat holding aperture  86 . The cylindrical part  84  is fitted to the ring clamp  76  such that the outer periphery of the cylindrical part  84  rotatably slides along the cylindrical inner face of the ring clamp  76 . The cleat holding aperture  86  has a shape corresponding to an outline of the cleat  12 . The cleat  12  is fitted to the cleat holding aperture  86  such that the cleat holder  28  holds the cleat  12  within the cleat holding aperture  86  (see also  FIGS. 1 and 7 ). The cleat holding aperture  86  is arranged such that a predetermined center point of the cleat  12  coincides with a rotational center of the cleat holder  28  when the cleat  12  is mounted to the cleat holder  28 . The cleat holder  28  further has a reference point  88  that is rotatably aligned to the angular scale  80  of the attachment portion  26  for adjusting the orientation of the cleat holder  28  relative to the shoe holder  22 . The cleat holder  28  is made of resin, such as a plastic or softer material than the cleat  12 . Because the cleat holder  28  is detachably and rotatably mounted to the attachment portion  26 , it is possible to make easy and precise positioning-adjustment of the cleat  12  with respect to the shoe sole  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an attachment of the bicycle shoe  14  to the bicycle cleat positioning device  10  will further be described in detail. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the shoe holder  22  is disposed within the bicycle shoe  14  while the bicycle shoe  14  is mounted to the shoe holder  22 . In particular, the heel part  40 , the toe part  42 , the guiding arm  44 , and the biasing spring  46  are disposed within a foot receiving space  14   a  defined by a shoe upper portion  14   b  of the bicycle shoe  14 . The shoe holder  22  is arranged within the bicycle shoe  14  such that the heel holding face  40   a  of the heel part  40  contacts with a heel inner face  14   c  of the bicycle shoe  14 , and such that the toe holding face  50   a  of the toe part  42  contacts with a toe inner face  14   d  of the bicycle shoe  14 . In particular, when the bicycle shoe  14  is mounted to the shoe holder  22 , the shoe holder  22  is contracted relative to the extended state of the shoe holder  22  such that the biasing spring  46  exerts a biasing force between the heel part  40  and the toe part  42  away from each other. Thus, the heel holding face  40   a  of the heel part  40  and the toe holding face  50   a  of the toe part  42  are pressed against the heel inner face  14   c  of the bicycle shoe  14  and the toe inner face  14   d  of the bicycle shoe  14 , respectively, while the bicycle shoe  14  is mounted to the shoe holder  22 . With the biasing force of the shoe holder  22 , the bicycle shoe  14  is securely mounted to the shoe holder  22 . Furthermore, with the biasing force of the shoe holder  22 , the heel holding face  40   a  of the heel part  40  and the toe holding face  50   a  of the toe part  42  are automatically aligned relative to the heel inner face  14   c  of the bicycle shoe  14  and the toe inner face  14   d  of the bicycle shoe  14 , respectively. Specifically, a longitudinal direction of the bicycle shoe  14  can be automatically aligned about a vertical axis, which extends along the heightwise direction D 3 , with respect to the longitudinal axis X 2  of the shoe holder  22 . Furthermore, the shoe holder  22  is arranged within the bicycle shoe  14  such that the heel part  40  contacts with a bottom inner face  14   e  of the bicycle shoe  14 . Thus, an elevational angle of the longitudinal axis of the bicycle shoe  14  can also be automatically aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis X 2  of the shoe holder  22 . 
     With this bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , the heel inner face  14   c  and the toe inner face  14   d  are used as reference faces for adjusting the bicycle shoe  14  relative to the shoe holder  22 . Thus, regardless of deviations of outer shapes or outer dimensions of the bicycle shoes, the bicycle shoe  14  can be properly aligned relative to the shoe holder  22 . With this bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , the bicycle shoe  14  is automatically adjusted relative to the shoe holder  22  with the biasing force of the shoe holder  22 . Thus, positioning of the bicycle shoe  14  with respect to the bicycle cleat positioning device  10  does not vary depending on operators (i.e., a cleat fitter) of the bicycle cleat positioning device  10 . With this bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , the shoe holder  22  is expandable with the biasing force of the biasing spring  46 . Thus, the shoe holder  22  can be automatically fitted to different bicycle shoes with different size. Therefore, it becomes easier to adjust the bicycle shoe  14  relative to the bicycle cleat positioning device  10 . Accordingly, with this bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , the bicycle shoe  14  can be properly positioned with respect to the bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , which also properly positions the cleat  12  with respect to the bicycle shoe  14 . 
     Referring further to  FIGS. 2 to 5 , an adjustment of the cleat  12  with respect to the bicycle shoe  14  will further be described in detail. After the bicycle shoe  14  is mounted to the shoe holder  22 , the cleat  12  is mounted to the cleat holding aperture  86  of the cleat holder  28  (see also  FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 ). Then, the cleat  12  is adjusted relative to the bicycle shoe  14  by adjusting the cleat holder  28  relative to the bicycle cleat positioning device  10 . In particular, the cleat  12  is adjusted relative to the bicycle shoe  14  in the lengthwise direction D 1  by sliding the sliding base  56  of the adjustment portion  24  relative to the guiding base  32  of the base portion  20  using the lengthwise measuring scale  34  of the guiding base  32 . Specifically, the sliding base  56  is adjusted relative to the guiding base  32  using the lengthwise measuring scale  34  based on a predetermined lengthwise adjustment value of the cleat  12 . For example, the predetermined lengthwise adjustment value of the cleat  12  is calculated such that the cleat  12  is located directly under a center point of a rider&#39;s foot while pedaling. The predetermined lengthwise adjustment value of the cleat  12  represents a lengthwise displacement amount of the center of the cleat  12  relative to the heel part  40 . Furthermore, the heel part  40  defines a reference point (e.g., a zero point) of the lengthwise measuring scale  34  of the base portion  20  such that a longitudinal end point of the heel holding face  40   a  coincides with the reference point of the lengthwise measuring scale  34 . Thus, the sliding base  56  is adjusted to the lengthwise measuring scale  34  such that the lengthwise measuring scale  34  indicates the predetermined lengthwise adjustment value of the cleat  12 . Alternatively or optionally, the predetermined lengthwise adjustment value of the cleat  12  can represent a lengthwise displacement of the center of the cleat  12  relative to a reference position on the shoe sole  16  of the bicycle shoe  14 . In this case, first, the sliding base  56  is adjusted to the lengthwise measuring scale  34  such that the cleat holder  28  is aligned with respect to the reference position on the shoe sole  16  of the bicycle shoe  14 . Then, the sliding base  56  is further slid relative to the lengthwise measuring scale  34  by a distance indicated by the predetermined lengthwise adjustment value of the cleat  12 . After this adjustment of the sliding base  56 , the sliding base  56  is locked to the guiding base  32  by fastening the fastening screw  64 . 
     Next, the cleat  12  is adjusted relative to the bicycle shoe  14  in the heightwise direction D 3  by sliding the holder element  60  along the column member  58  such that the cleat holder  28  or the ring clamp  76  contacts with the shoe sole  16  of the bicycle shoe  14  (see also  FIG. 6 ). Then, the holder element  60  is locked to the column member  58  by fastening the fastening screw  68   a  of the first clamp  68 . 
     Furthermore, the cleat  12  is adjusted relative to the bicycle shoe  14  in the widthwise direction D 2  by sliding the attachment portion  26  relative to the holder element  60  using the widthwise measuring scale  78  of the adjustment axle  74  of the attachment portion  26 . Specifically, the attachment portion  26  is adjusted relative to the holder element  60  based on a predetermined widthwise adjustment value of the cleat  12 . For example, the predetermined widthwise adjustment value of the cleat  12  is calculated such that the cleat  12  is located directly under the center point of the rider&#39;s foot while pedaling. The predetermined widthwise adjustment value of the cleat  12  represents a widthwise displacement amount of the center of the cleat  12  relative to a widthwise position of the longitudinal axis X 2  of the shoe holder  22 . Furthermore, the widthwise measuring scale  78  is arranged such that the widthwise measuring scale  78  indicates a reference point (e.g., a zero point) when the center of the cleat  12  is adjusted directly above the longitudinal axis X 2  of the shoe holder  22 . Thus, the attachment portion  26  is adjusted to the widthwise measuring scale  78  such that the widthwise measuring scale  78  indicates the predetermined widthwise adjustment value of the cleat  12 . Alternatively or optionally, the predetermined widthwise adjustment value of the cleat  12  can represent a widthwise displacement of the center of the cleat  12  relative to a reference position on the shoe sole  16  of the bicycle shoe  14 . In this case, first, the attachment portion  26  is adjusted to the widthwise measuring scale  78  such that the cleat holder  28  is aligned with respect to the reference position on the shoe sole  16  of the bicycle shoe  14 . Then, the attachment portion  26  is further slid by a distance indicated by the predetermined widthwise adjustment value of the cleat  12  using the widthwise measuring scale  78 . After this adjustment of the attachment portion  26 , the attachment portion  26  is locked to the holder element  60  by fastening the fastening screw  70   a  of the second clamp  70 . 
     Moreover, the cleat  12  is adjusted relative to the bicycle shoe  14  in the rotational direction R 1  by rotating the cleat holder  28  relative to the ring clamp  76  of the attachment portion  26  using the angular scale  80  of the attachment portion  26 . Specifically, the cleat holder  28  is adjusted relative to the attachment portion  26  based on a predetermined rotation adjustment value of the cleat  12 . For example, the predetermined rotation adjustment value of the cleat  12  is calculated such that the rider&#39;s foot is oriented to a desired direction with respect to an anatomy of the rider&#39;s foot or a pedaling habit of the rider while pedaling when the cleat  12  is coupled to a bicycle pedal of the bicycle. The predetermined rotation adjustment value of the cleat  12  represents an angular displacement amount of a center axis of the cleat  12  relative to the lengthwise direction D 1  as viewed in the heightwise direction D 3 . Furthermore, the angular scale  80  is arranged such that the angular scale  80  indicates a reference point (e.g., a zero point) when the center axis of the cleat  12  is aligned to the lengthwise direction D 1  as viewed in the heightwise direction D 3 . Thus, the cleat holder  28  is adjusted to the angular scale  80  such that the angular scale  80  indicates the predetermined rotation adjustment value of the cleat  12 . Alternatively or optionally, the predetermined rotational adjustment value of the cleat  12  can represent an angular displacement of the center axis of the cleat  12  relative to a predetermined direction other than the lengthwise direction D 1 . In this case, the cleat holder  28  is further adjusted to compensate an angular displacement between the predetermined direction and the lengthwise direction D 1 . After this adjustment of the cleat holder  28 , the cleat holder  28  is locked to the attachment portion  26  by fastening the fastening screw  76   a  of the ring clamp  76 . Furthermore, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , after adjusting the cleat  12  with respect to the shoe sole  16  of the bicycle shoe  14  using the bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , the cleat  12  is fastened to the shoe sole  16  of the bicycle shoe  14  with screws  90 . The cleat holder  28  is removed from the cleat  12 . Then, the bicycle shoe  14  is removed from the bicycle cleat positioning device  10 . 
     With this bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , the cleat  12  can be adjusted with respect to the bicycle shoe  14  in the lengthwise direction D 1 , in the widthwise direction D 2 , and in the rotational direction R 1 , using the lengthwise measuring scale  34 , the widthwise measuring scale  78  and the angular scale  80 , respectively. Thus, with this bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , in addition to that the bicycle shoe  14  can be properly mounted to the shoe holder  22 , the cleat  12  can also be properly positioned with respect to the bicycle shoe  14 . 
     With this bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , the bicycle shoe  14  is automatically aligned relative to the shoe holder  22 . The shoe holder  22  is oriented downward as approaching from the heel part  40  to the toe part  42 . This orientation of the shoe holder  22  is designed such that deviations between cleat attachment locations on shoe soles of different bicycle shoes with different sizes are minimized when these bicycle shoes are mounted shoe holder  22 . Thus, with this bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , the cleat  12  can be properly adjusted to different bicycle shoes with different sizes. 
     With this bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , predetermined adjustment values (e.g., a predetermined lengthwise adjustment value, a predetermined widthwise adjustment value and a predetermined rotational adjustment value) are used to adjust the cleat  112  with respect to the bicycle shoe  114 . The predetermined adjustment values are basically measured values or calculated values for the bicycle shoe  14  or bicycle shoes having similar type of shoe soles as the bicycle shoe  14 . However, the predetermined adjustment values can further be corrected when the cleat  12  is adjusted to different types of bicycle shoes from different manufactures. Specifically, the predetermined adjustment values are further corrected to compensate difference between the shoe sole  16  of the bicycle shoe  14  and a shoe sole of the different bicycle shoe. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 8 , the bicycle cleat positioning device  10  is utilized for adjusting a SPD-SL type cleat  12 . Specifically, the cleat holder  28  has the cleat holding aperture  86  that corresponds to an outline of SPD-SL type cleats. On the other hand, the cleat holder  28  can be replaced to a cleat holder for other types of cleats without changing an arrangement of the bicycle cleat positioning device  10  except for the cleat holder  28 . In particular, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the cleat holder  28  can be replaced to a cleat holder  92  for a SPD type cleat  94 . The cleat holder  92  has a cylindrical part  96  with a cleat holding aperture  98 . The cylindrical part  96  is fitted to the ring clamp  76  such that the outer periphery of the cylindrical part  96  rotatably slides along the cylindrical inner face of the ring clamp  76 . The cleat holding aperture  98  has a shape corresponding to an outline of the SPD type cleat  94 . The cleat  94  is fitted to the cleat holding aperture  98  such that the cleat holder  92  holds the cleat  94  within the cleat holding aperture  98 . The cleat holding aperture  98  is arranged such that a predetermined center point of the cleat  94  coincides with a rotational center of the cleat holder  92  when the cleat  94  is mounted to the cleat holder  92 . The cleat holder  92  further has a reference point  92   a  that is rotatably aligned to the angular scale  80  of the attachment portion  26  for adjusting the orientation of the cleat holder  92  relative to the shoe holder  22 . The cleat holder  92  is preferably made of resin, such as a plastic or softer material than the cleat  94 . After adjusting the cleat  94  with respect to the shoe sole  16  of the bicycle shoe  114  using the bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , the cleat  94  is fastened to the shoe sole  16  of the bicycle shoe  14  with screws  100 . 
     With this bicycle cleat positioning device  10 , the bicycle cleat positioning device  10  includes the shoe holder  22 . However, the bicycle cleat positioning device  10  can include different types of shoe holders as long as the shoe holders stably hold the bicycle shoe  14  with respect to the base portion  20 , and is securely arranged within the bicycle shoe  14 . For example, the bicycle cleat positioning device  10  can include shoe holders having similar mechanisms as shoe trees with a heel part and a toe part that is adjustably arranged relative to the heel part. 
     In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. 
     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the selected embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.