Patent Application
20140060242
This invention relates to pedals for bicycles and more specifically to an adaptor for use on a clipless bicycle pedal for the purpose of adapting the bicycle pedal from one requiring special cleats to a bicycle pedal for use with standard shoes.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,885 (Hermansen et al.) discloses a clipless bicycle pedal. The clipless bicycle pedal is designed to be used in conjunction with specialized cycling shoes. A cleat is attached to a bottom of a cycling shoe. The clipless bicycle pedal connects to the cleat of the cycling shoe when a rider steps onto the pedal. The cleat and the clipless pedal establish a secure connection so that a rider's shoes do not slip off of the pedals while cycling. This is useful when a rider is riding a bicycle on uneven terrain or during a race. The clipless bicycle pedal has four sides which can engage the cleat. The clipless bicycle pedal has a spring loaded latch mechanism. The latches engage the cleat on the rider's cycling shoe. The spring maintains a pressure that the latches apply to the cleat.
Clipless bicycle pedals are beneficial during rigorous exercise and outdoor riding. Clipless bicycle pedals are limiting however when a rider desires to ride in a casual manner without special cycling shoes with cleats. A clipless bicycle pedal does not fit with a normal shoe. A normal shoe requires more surface area than the latches provide. A normal shoe would not engage properly with the clipless bicycle pedal and would slip off.
In addition, a rider may experience pain or discomfort when attempting to ride on a bicycle with a clipless bicycle pedal. The clipless bicycle pedal has a smaller area of contact with a rider's foot than a standard bicycle pedal. As such the pounds per square inch exerted on a rider's foot is much higher with a clipless bicycle pedal. If a rider attempts to use the clipless bicycle pedal with a casual shoe, or a sandal, which is not constructed to receive such force, then the rider will experience pain and may even cause injury to the rider's foot. Thus, to engage in casual riding, a rider must either use a second bicycle or take the time to remove the clipless bicycle pedal and attach a standard bicycle pedal.
Other types of adaptors are known and available to solve this problem. EP 0516013 (Nagano, et al.) discloses an adaptor which engages the clipless bicycle pedal in the method that a cleat on a cycling shoe would engage the clipless bicycle pedal. This type of adaptor is limited though in that it only presents one side to a rider to engage with as a standard bicycle pedal. As the pedal may spin about its axis, the clipless bicycle pedal could be moved to the top position while the adaptor is moved to the bottom position. This would cause a nuisance to the rider as the rider would have to take time to spin the adaptor about the axis of the clipless bicycle pedal to present the adaptor in the correct position for utilization by the rider. In addition, adaptors of this type may not be easily used if the clipless bicycle pedal or the adaptor becomes damaged or distorted. The present invention presents a superior alternative to this type of adaptor in that the present invention presents two sides for a rider to engage with during casual riding and the present invention may be utilized even if the clipless bicycle pedal is slightly damaged or distorted.
Therefore, what is needed is an item and method allowing a rider to quickly adapt a clipless bicycle pedal into a standard bicycle pedal having two sides for a rider to utilize when riding.
The invention is directed toward a pedal adaptor for use to adapt a clipless bicycle pedal having four arms into a standard bicycle pedal. The invention is a device for adapting a clipless bicycle pedal into a standard bicycle pedal comprising a body and a shaped recess in the body wherein the shaped recess extends along the longitudinal axis of the body and wherein the shaped recess is shaped to receive a clipless bicycle pedal having four sides designed to engage a cleat on a cycling shoe. Furthermore, the shaped recess may be in a butterfly shape. Furthermore, the shaped recess may measure 1.27 inches wide and 1.14 inches high at a maximum height. Optionally, in another embodiment, the body is shaped as a cubic rectangle measuring 3 inches wide by 3.57 inches long by 1.75 inches thick. The cubic rectangle has six substantially flat surfaces on the outside. The largest areas of the two opposing sides are intended for to be pedaling surfaces. The pedaling surfaces are intended for contact by the shoe of the rider.
In another embodiment of the invention, the pedaling surfaces of the body contain a plethora of crossmembers. Furthermore, the crossmembers on opposing pedaling surfaces are offset from one another. Additionally, the pedaling surfaces of the body may contain elongated grooves. Additionally the body may contain two elongated oval voids located on the edges of the body.
The body of the pedal adaptor may be formed from any type of material commonly used in consumer products. Preferably, the body is formed from a thermoplastic. Specifically the body may be formed from polypropelene. In another embodiment of the invention, the body is formed from a fiberglass reinforced thermoplastic. Specifically the fiberglass reinforced thermoplastic is fiberglass reinforced homopolymer polypropelene.
In another embodiment of the invention, the cubic rectangle shape of the body has rounded corners.
The invention is also directed toward a method of converting a clipless bicycle pedal into a standard bicycle pedal. The invention includes the method of adapting a clipless bicycle pedal to a standard bicycle pedal comprising compressing the arms of the clipless bicycle pedal, inserting the clipless bicycle pedal into a shaped recess of a pedal adaptor, and allowing the arms of the clipless bicycle pedal to exert a force against the inside of the shaped recess. In this method the pedal adaptor comprises a body and a shaped recess in the body. In another embodiment of the method, the shaped recess is butterfly shaped and measures 1.27 inches wide and 1.14 inches high at a maximum height. Furthermore, in this method, the body of the pedal adaptor is shaped as a cubic rectangle. The cubic rectangle measures 3 inches wide by 3.57 inches long by 1.75 inches thick. In a further embodiment of the method, the pedaling surfaces of the body contain a plethora of crossmembers. The crossmembers on opposing pedaling surfaces are offset from one another. In this method the body of the pedal adaptor may be formed from a thermoplastic. More specifically, the thermoplastic may be polypropelene. In another embodiment of the invention, the body of the pedal adaptor is formed from a fiberglass reinforced homopolymer polypropelene.
Although the present invention will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be embodied in many alternate forms or embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used.
Referring to
The grooves 4 permit an enhanced traction between the rider's shoes and the pedal adaptor 100 to prevent slippage during use.
Referring to
This non-provisional application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/696,160 entitled, “Bicycle Pedal Adaptor for Use on Multi Sided Clipless Bicycle Pedals”, filed on Sep. 1, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61696160 | Sep 2012 | US |
