Bicycle pedal and shoe connection system and method

Abstract

A pedal connection arrangement and method are used to hold a bicycle rider's foot attached to a bicycle pedal that is in turn used to drive a bicycle crank arm having a crank arm longitudinal axis. The bicycle connection arrangement includes a pedal having a pedal longitudinal axis. The pedal is connected to the crank arm with the pedal longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the crank arm longitudinal axis. The pedal connection arrangement and method also include a bicycle shoe having a gripping arrangement. The gripping arrangement has a longitudinal axis that runs generally along the ball of the shoe in a plane parallel to the sole of the shoe and generally perpendicular to a line extending from the toe of the shoe through the heel of the shoe. The gripping arrangement is configured such that the gripping arrangement grips the pedal when the gripping arrangement is positioned such that the longitudinal axis of the gripping arrangement is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pedal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bicycle pedal for use in a pedal connection arrangement for holding a bicycle rider's foot attached to a bicycle pedal that is used to drive a bicycle crank arm having a crank arm longitudinal axis, the bicycle pedal comprising: 
 a pedal body having a pedal longitudinal axis, the pedal body being connected to the crank arm with the pedal longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the crank arm longitudinal axis; the pedal being adapted to receive a bicycle shoe including a gripping arrangement, the gripping arrangement having a longitudinal axis that runs generally along the ball of the shoe in a plane parallel to the sole of the shoe and generally perpendicular to a line extending from the toe of the shoe through the heel of the shoe, the gripping arrangement being configured such that the gripping arrangement grips the pedal when the gripping arrangement is positioned such that the longitudinal axis of the gripping arrangement is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pedal.    
     
     
         2 . A pedal according to  claim 1  wherein the pedal has a radially symmetrical cross sectional shape along the pedal longitudinal axis and the gripping arrangement has a mating radially symmetrical cavity thereby allowing the gripping arrangement to be connected to the pedal with the pedal in any position without regard for the rotational position of the pedal about the pedal longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         3 . A pedal according to  claim 2  wherein the pedal has a shape selected from the group of a cylindrical shape, a spherical shape, and a combination of a cylindrical shape and a spherical shape and the gripping arrangement has a mating cavity.  
     
     
         4 . A pedal according to  claim 3  wherein the pedal has a spherical shape and the gripping arrangement has a mating spherical cavity that allows the pedal to be securely connected to the shoe, yet remain free to swivel or pivot to a predetermined degree, thereby giving more flexibility for maneuverability while maintaining positive contact between the shoe and the pedal.  
     
     
         5 . A pedal according to  claim 1  wherein the gripping arrangement is an independently formed gripping device that is attached to the bicycle shoe.  
     
     
         6 . A pedal according to  claim 1  wherein the gripping arrangement is formed as part of the bicycle shoe.  
     
     
         7 . A pedal according to  claim 1  wherein the gripping arrangement is made from a pliable material that allows a rider to release the shoe from the pedal by bending their toes up out of a natural relaxed position causing the gripping arrangement to flex thereby expanding the gripping arrangement on the bottom of the shoe and causing the gripping arrangement to release the pedal.  
     
     
         8 . A pedal according to  claim 1  wherein the gripping arrangement is made from a pliable material that allows a rider to more tightly grip the pedal by bending their toes down out of a natural relaxed position causing the gripping arrangement to flex thereby compressing the gripping arrangement on the bottom of the shoe and causing the gripping arrangement to more tightly grip the pedal.  
     
     
         9 . A bicycle shoe for use in a pedal connection arrangement for holding a bicycle rider's foot attached to a bicycle pedal that is used to drive a bicycle crank arm having a crank arm longitudinal axis, the bicycle pedal having a pedal longitudinal axis, the pedal being connected to the crank arm with the pedal longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the crank arm longitudinal axis, the shoe comprising: 
 a gripping arrangement, the gripping arrangement having a longitudinal axis that runs generally along the ball of the shoe in a plane parallel to the sole of the shoe and generally perpendicular to a line extending from the toe of the shoe through the heel of the shoe, the gripping arrangement being configured such that the gripping arrangement grips the pedal when the gripping arrangement is positioned such that the longitudinal axis of the gripping arrangement is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pedal.    
     
     
         10 . A bicycle shoe according to  claim 9  wherein the pedal has a radially symmetrical cross sectional shape along the pedal longitudinal axis and the gripping arrangement has a mating radially symmetrical cavity thereby allowing the gripping arrangement to be connected to the pedal with the pedal in any position without regard for the rotational position of the pedal about the pedal longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         11 . A bicycle shoe according to  claim 10  wherein the pedal has a shape selected from the group of a cylindrical shape, a spherical shape, and a combination of a cylindrical shape and a spherical shape and the gripping arrangement has a mating cavity.  
     
     
         12 . A bicycle shoe according to  claim 11  wherein the pedal has a spherical shape and the gripping arrangement has a mating spherical cavity that allows the pedal to be securely connected to the shoe, yet remain free to swivel or pivot to a predetermined degree, thereby giving more flexibility for maneuverability while maintaining positive contact between the shoe and the pedal.  
     
     
         13 . A bicycle shoe according to  claim 12  wherein the gripping arrangement is an independently formed gripping device that is attached to the bicycle shoe.  
     
     
         14 . A bicycle shoe according to  claim 9  wherein the gripping arrangement is formed as part of the bicycle shoe.  
     
     
         15 . A bicycle shoe according to  claim 9  wherein the gripping arrangement is made from a pliable material that allows a rider to release the shoe from the pedal by bending their toes up out of a natural relaxed position causing the gripping arrangement to flex thereby expanding the gripping arrangement on the bottom of the shoe and causing the gripping arrangement to release the pedal.  
     
     
         16 . A bicycle shoe according to  claim 17  wherein the gripping arrangement is made from a pliable material that allows a rider to more tightly grip the pedal by bending their toes down out of a natural relaxed position causing the gripping arrangement to flex thereby compressing the gripping arrangement on the bottom of the shoe and causing the gripping arrangement to more tightly grip the pedal.  
     
     
         17 . A pedal connection arrangement for holding a bicycle rider's foot attached to a bicycle pedal that is used to drive a bicycle crank arm having a crank arm longitudinal axis, the bicycle connection arrangement comprising: 
 a pedal having a pedal longitudinal axis, the pedal being connected to the crank arm with the pedal longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the crank arm longitudinal axis; and    a bicycle shoe including a gripping arrangement, the gripping arrangement having a longitudinal axis that runs generally along the ball of the shoe in a plane parallel to the sole of the shoe and generally perpendicular to a line extending from the toe of the shoe through the heel of the shoe, the gripping arrangement being configured such that the gripping arrangement grips the pedal when the gripping arrangement is positioned such that the longitudinal axis of the gripping arrangement is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pedal.    
     
     
         18 . A pedal connection arrangement according to  claim 17  wherein the pedal has a radially symmetrical cross sectional shape along the pedal longitudinal axis and the gripping arrangement has a mating radially symmetrical cavity thereby allowing the gripping arrangement to be connected to the pedal with the pedal in any position without regard for the rotational position of the pedal about the pedal longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         19 . A pedal connection arrangement according to  claim 18  wherein the pedal has a shape selected from the group of a cylindrical shape, a spherical shape, and a combination of a cylindrical shape and a spherical shape and the gripping arrangement has a mating cavity.  
     
     
         20 . A pedal connection arrangement according to  claim 19  wherein the pedal has a spherical shape and the gripping arrangement has a mating spherical cavity that allows the pedal to be securely connected to the shoe, yet remain free to swivel or pivot to a predetermined degree, thereby giving more flexibility for maneuverability while maintaining positive contact between the shoe and the pedal.  
     
     
         21 . A pedal connection arrangement according to  claim 17  wherein the gripping arrangement is an independently formed gripping device that is attached to the bicycle shoe.  
     
     
         22 . A pedal connection arrangement according to  claim 17  wherein the gripping arrangement is formed as part of the bicycle shoe.  
     
     
         23 . A pedal connection arrangement according to  claim 17  wherein the gripping arrangement is made from a pliable material that allows a rider to release the shoe from the pedal by bending their toes up out of a natural relaxed position causing the gripping arrangement to flex thereby expanding the gripping arrangement on the bottom of the shoe and causing the gripping arrangement to release the pedal.  
     
     
         24 . A pedal connection arrangement according to  claim 17  wherein the gripping arrangement is made from a pliable material that allows a rider to more tightly grip the pedal by bending their toes down out of a natural relaxed position causing the gripping arrangement to flex thereby compressing the gripping arrangement on the bottom of the shoe and causing the gripping arrangement to more tightly grip the pedal.  
     
     
         25 . A method for holding a bicycle rider's foot attached to a bicycle pedal that is used to drive a bicycle crank arm having a crank arm longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a pedal having a pedal longitudinal axis, the pedal being connected to the crank arm with the pedal longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the crank arm longitudinal axis;    providing a bicycle shoe including a gripping arrangement, the gripping arrangement having a longitudinal axis that runs generally along the ball of the shoe in a plane parallel to the sole of the shoe and generally perpendicular to a line extending from the toe of the shoe through the heel of the shoe, and using the gripping arrangement to grip the pedal when the gripping arrangement is positioned such that the longitudinal axis of the gripping arrangement is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pedal.    
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the pedal has a radially symmetrical cross sectional shape along the pedal longitudinal axis and the gripping arrangement has a mating radially symmetrical cavity thereby allowing the gripping arrangement to be grip the pedal with the pedal in any position without regard for the rotational position of the pedal about the pedal longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the pedal has a shape selected from the group of a cylindrical shape, a spherical shape, and a combination of a cylindrical shape and a spherical shape and the gripping arrangement has a mating cavity.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein the pedal has a spherical shape and the gripping arrangement has a mating spherical cavity that allows the pedal to be securely gripped by the shoe, yet remain free to swivel or pivot to a predetermined degree, thereby giving more flexibility for maneuverability while maintaining positive contact between the shoe and the pedal.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the gripping arrangement is an independently formed gripping device that is attached to the bicycle shoe.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the gripping arrangement is formed as part of the bicycle shoe.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the gripping arrangement is made from a pliable material that allows a rider to release the shoe from the pedal by bending their toes up out of a natural relaxed position causing the gripping arrangement to flex thereby expanding the gripping arrangement on the bottom of the shoe and causing the gripping arrangement to release the pedal.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 25  wherein the gripping arrangement is made from a pliable material that allows a rider to more tightly grip the pedal by bending their toes down out of a natural relaxed position causing the gripping arrangement to flex thereby compressing the gripping arrangement on the bottom of the shoe and causing the gripping arrangement to more tightly grip the pedal.