Shoe accessory for cycling

Abstract

An accessory which is used to convert a non-cycling shoe into a cycling shoe, resulting in a shoe which is capable of attaching a cycling cleat. A hole is cut thru the sole of a non-cycling shoe. The hole is shaped to accommodate the accessory. The accessory is a plate shaped to fit inside the shoe and provides a comfortable surface for walking and cycling purposes, furthermore the accessory is fixed securely to the interior of a converted shoe. The accessory has the appropriate geometry and holes to attach a cycling cleat. The accessory may also possess ground contact preventing members on the bottom surface, these prevent the cycling cleat from contacting the ground while the shoe is used for walking. The accessory enables any shoe to be a cycling shoe.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]A shoe accessory which is used to convert a non-cycling shoe into a cycling shoe which is capable of attaching a cycling cleat. Many cycling pedals possess a mechanism which requires a cycling specific shoe with a cycling cleat attached to the bottom of the shoe in order to attach the shoe to the pedal. This invention describes an accessory used to convert a non-cycling shoe of any brand, model, color or size to be a shoe which is equipped to attach any of several types of cycling cleats.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0002]Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.[0003]Cycling specific shoes generally consist of two types. The design details of these two different types of shoes are related to the type of pedal that is to be used. Furthermore, the pedal type is chosen by the cyclist to suit thei...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The industry offerings of cycling shoes includes a modest number of brands, models, styles and colors to choose from. In contrast, the industry offering for non-cycling shoes includes a large number of brands, models, styles and colors to choose from. If an accessory is provided which accepts any clipless cleat design, or accepts a slotted cleat for a toe-clip pedal, this accessory could be placed in a non-cycling shoe of any brand, model, color, or size. This non-cycling shoe would be modified to allow the attachment of the accessory which allows the attachment of cleats. The accessory would be securely fixed to the non-cycling shoe. With the accessory that a cleat can be attached to securely fixed to the interior of the shoe, the non-cycling shoe would now be considered a cycling shoe. For the purpose of this invention disclosure, the terms “accessory” and “cleat attach plate” shall be considered the same item. Now a cyclist can choose from any of the many brands of non-cycling shoes, since they can all be converted into a cycling shoe with the accessory. The number of choices of brand, model, styles and colors of shoes which can be used for cycling with clipless or toe-clip pedals is now greatly increased over the offerings currently provided.

[0013]The accessory for converting a non-cycling shoe to a cycling shoe overcomes the problems associated with the prior art. The cyclist now can choose from a very large number of brands, models, colors, and sizes of shoes which can be converted

Problems solved by technology

The cycling specific shoes designed to work with toe-clip pedals are limited regarding the options of brand, model, style and colors when compared to the options offered with non-cycling shoes.

Both of the cycling specific shoes designed for these cleats have a limited offering regarding the options of brand, model, style and colors when compared to the options offered with non-cycling shoes.

However, these shoes are made by companies whose offerings in models, styles and colors are limited when compared to the number of brands, models, styles and colors of non-cycling shoes that are available.

These types of shoes are difficult to walk in, as they are optimized for cycling only.

The bottom surface of these types of shoes is made of a hard material which does not provide sufficient traction to walk with when compared to non-cycling shoes.

Also, these types of shoes are made by companies whose offerings in models, styles and colors are limited when compared to the number of brands, models, styles and colors of non-cycling shoes that are available.

However this type of shoe is offered in a limited amount of models, styles and colors when compared to the number of brands, models, styles and colors of non-cycling shoes that are available.

If the shoe style and color does not suit the cyclist's requirement for fashion, the cyclist may not be as willing to purchase the shoe.

Still, in this case the cyclist is required to use a Shimano brand cycling specific shoe which offerings are limited in models, styles and colors when compared to the number of brands, models, styles and colors of non-cycling shoes that are available.

The Nike Gyrizo shoe is fashionable and is SPD compatible; however it is not currently available for sale.

John Fluevog brand shoes offered a shoe model called the Race Vog which was SPD compatible; however this shoe is no longer available.

However, the number of choices of brand, model, color and style of all of the choices mentioned above is limited when compared to the number of brands, models, styles and colors of non-cycling shoes that are available.

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