Cleat Assembly Elastomeric Cap Wear Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleat assemblies for bicycles suffer from issues such as direct engagement of metallic components with the ground, improper tightening affecting spring clip flexibility, labor-intensive set screw installation, and screws working loose during use, leading to wear and installation difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A cleat assembly design featuring a first and second plate with flanges and a cap, where the cap is made of elastomeric material to prevent ground engagement and includes threaded apertures for set screws, allowing for adjustable float angles and secure screw placement without adhesives, ensuring easy installation and reinstallation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the bottom plate is made of metallic material for structural strength, then the strength is improved, but the bottom plate directly engages with the ground causing wear and requiring user caution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a non-metallic bottom plate material that acts as an intermediary between the metallic structural components and the ground. This bottom plate prevents direct engagement between metal and ground surfaces, eliminating wear and scratching issues while maintaining structural integrity through the underlying metallic framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction where a non-metallic bottom plate is combined with metallic structural elements. This composite approach allows the bottom plate to provide ground-contact protection while the metallic components provide structural strength, resolving the contradiction between durability and ground engagement wear.
2Strength
If the bottom plate is over-tightened over the spring housing for secure attachment, then the attachment strength is improved, but the free flexing movement of the spring clip is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the attachment system to allow dynamic adjustment of tightening force. The bottom plate is configured to be secured to the spring housing with sufficient force to prevent detachment, while maintaining enough flexibility to allow the spring clip to flex freely during engagement and disengagement operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the attachment parameters by controlling the tightening force applied to the bottom plate. By adjusting this parameter within a specific range, the system achieves both secure attachment and adequate spring clip flexibility, preventing over-tightening while ensuring proper fixation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If set screws are installed in manually tapped threaded apertures for adjustable float angle, then the adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides for float angle adjustment by allowing the cleat assembly to rotate relative to the pedal within a controlled range. This parameter-based adjustment mechanism eliminates the need for manually tapped threaded apertures and set screws, achieving adaptability through geometric design rather than complex manufacturing processes.
4Ease of operation
If the cleat assembly is designed as a single integrated unit for easy reinstallation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to service individual components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cleat assembly into separable components including the bottom plate, spring housing, and spring clip. This segmentation allows individual components to be serviced, replaced, or adjusted independently while maintaining the overall integrated design that facilitates easy reinstallation of the complete assembly.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
An improved cleat assembly containing one or more spring clips configured for releasably secunng the assembly to a bicycle pedal The cleat assembly incorporates one or more soft elastomenc caps that frictionally engage the ground when the user walks about For cleat assembly embodiments incorporating one or more adjustable set screws for adjusting the assemblies' float angles, threaded apertures for the set screws are formed by the confronting surfaces of a plastic upper plate and a metallic bottom plate, wherein the threads are formed only in the plastic upper plate The upper plate is formed of an injection-molded plastic material and the bottom plate is stamped from a piece of sheet metal In a preferred embodiment, one or more holes are formed in the confronting surfaces of the metallic bottom plate, allowing the one or more set screws to contact the elastomenc material of the cap or caps.