Bicycle Pedal System with Arc-Shaped Slots and Cleat Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bicycle pedal systems, particularly clipless designs, face issues with shoe slippage, complex engagement and disengagement, limited compatibility with conventional shoes and barefoot use, and difficulty in aligning the metatarsophalangeal joint with the pedal axis, leading to safety concerns and usability limitations.
Innovation Solution
A pedal system featuring a convex pedal body with arc-shaped slots and a matching concave cleat plate with complementary arc-shaped cleats, allowing for fixed or floating connections, blind shoe positioning, and compatibility with road bike shoes and conventional footwear, enabling easy engagement and disengagement without requiring specific shoes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clipless cleat/pedal systems are used to secure shoes to pedals, then shoe attachment security is improved, but the complexity of engagement and disengagement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional clipless pedal mechanism by replacing the lateral release motion with a vertical release motion. The cleat engages vertically into the pedal body and releases by pulling upward, which is more intuitive and easier for users than the conventional sideways twisting motion, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining secure attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the spring mechanism from the complex lateral release system and replaces it with a simpler vertical spring-loaded engagement system. The spring is positioned to directly assist vertical engagement and release, eliminating the need for complex cam mechanisms or lateral twisting motions, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable shoe attachment
2Ease of operation
If conventional rectangular recesses are used on pedals, then ease of shoe placement is improved, but shoe positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional rectangular recesses with arc-shaped slots that have curved geometry. These arc-shaped slots guide the cleat into a precise circular path, automatically positioning the shoe at the correct angle relative to the pedal axis. The curved shape provides tactile feedback and automatic alignment, achieving both ease of placement and precise positioning simultaneously
3Productivity
If fixed shoe positioning is used on pedals, then power transfer efficiency is improved, but adaptability to different riding styles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic positioning system where the arc-shaped slots allow the cleat to move along a curved path. This enables fixed positioning for optimal power transfer during the power phase, while also allowing movement and adjustment during the recovery phase. The system adapts to different riding styles and float preferences without compromising power transfer efficiency, as the curved geometry maintains proper alignment throughout the pedal stroke
Data Source
AI summary
A bicycle pedal system for connecting a shoe to a bicycle pedal includes a cleat plate, adopted for mounting onto a sole of the shoe, and a pedal body. The pedal body has a first surface, an opposing identically shaped second surface with multiple slots therein, and the cleat plates having attachment members of complementary shapes engaging selectively with the pedal and positioning the shoe.