Adjustable Bicycle Shoe Cleat with Transverse Bore
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle shoe cleats lack adjustable features to accommodate different pedaling angles due to foot arch pronation, supination, knee injuries, or surgeries, leading to inefficient engagement and disengagement with clipless pedals.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable bicycle shoe cleat with transversely disposed adjusting bores and a fastening assembly that allows the cleat body to be biased at an angle, enabling adjustable positioning on the bicycle shoe for optimal engagement and disengagement with clipless pedals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional fixed-angle cleat is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different pedaling angles is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The cleat body is designed with a non-circular adjusting bore that allows dynamic angular adjustment. The asymmetric shape of the adjusting bore enables the cleat to be rotated to different angles while maintaining secure fastening, transforming a static fixed-angle structure into a dynamic multi-angle adjustable structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system is segmented into multiple components: the cleat body, the adjusting bore, and the fastening assembly with screw members. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of the cleat angle while maintaining the integrity of the overall structure, enabling adaptability without excessive complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the cleat is fixed at a single angle, then the manufacturing is simple, but the ease of operation for different users is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The adjusting bore with asymmetric shape allows the cleat to be easily rotated to optimal engagement angles for different users. This dynamic adjustment capability improves ease of operation without requiring complex manufacturing processes, as the asymmetric bore can be machined using standard techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the adjusting bore from a circular shape to a non-circular asymmetric shape. This parameter change enables angular adjustment while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, as the new geometry can be produced through conventional machining operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cleat body is rigidly fixed to the shoe, then the structural stability is high, but the adjustability for optimal pedaling angle is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening assembly uses screw members that pass through the adjusting bore and engage with the shoe, creating a semi-rigid connection. This allows the cleat to be securely fixed at the chosen angle while maintaining the ability to adjust the angle, balancing structural stability with angular adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjusting bore is pre-designed with an asymmetric shape that guides the adjustment process. The user can preliminarily select the optimal angle by rotating the cleat body within the constrained geometry of the bore before final tightening, ensuring both adjustability and structural stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An adjustable bicycle shoe cleat is provided which is fixed to a bottom plate (1) of a bicycle shoe, wherein the bottom plate (1) is provided with two combining holes (13). The adjustable bicycle shoe cleat includes a cleat body (30) and a fastening assembly (40). The cleat body (30) has a front engaging end (31) and an opposite rear engaging end (31). Two adjusting bores (33) are symmetrically and transversely disposed between the front engaging end (31) and the rear engaging end (32). Each adjusting bore (33) has a small arch section (331) and a large arch section (332). The two small arch sections (331) are disposed face to face. The fastening assembly (40) passes through the two adjusting bores (33) by two screw members (70) for loosenably screwing the cleat body (30) to the two combining holes (13), such that the cleat body (30) is able to be biasedly positioned against the bottom plate (1), facilitating the adjustment of the shoe cleat against the bicycle shoe.