Bicycle Shoe Strap Assembly

Abstract

A bicycle shoe strap assembly that closes about a throat opening of a bicycle shoe. The strap assembly includes a pad and a first strap and a second strap that extend from generally opposite sides of the pad. Each strap is securable to the shoe in a variety of positions so as to align the pad in a generally centered positioned over the arch of a rider's foot. It is envisioned that the second strap be constructed to engage the shoe at a number of locations or that the second strap be replaceable with other second straps wherein each second strap is securable to the shoe at dissimilar discrete locations.

1 . A bicycle shoe strap assembly comprising:
 a pad;   first securing means located near one end of the pad and second securing means located near another end of the pad;   a first strap portion having a number of ribs configured to pass through the first securing means and a head portion that engages the first securing means; and   a second strap portion constructed to cooperate with the second securing means and removably extending from the another end of the pad, the second strap portion being configured to engage a mount body that is permanently affixed to a shoe, the first strap portion and the second strap portion securable to the shoe so as to generally laterally center the pad with respect to an arch of a rider's foot.   
     
     
         2 . The bicycle shoe strap assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second strap portion includes an opening that engages the mount body and is replaceable with another second strap portion that has an opening configured to engage the mount body, the opening of the second strap portion and the another second strap portion being offset different distances from an end of a respective second strap portion that engages the second securing means. 
     
     
         3 . The bicycle shoe strap assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a number of openings formed in the second strap portion, each opening being configured to cooperate with a post associated with the mount body. 
     
     
         4 . The bicycle shoe strap assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second strap portion includes a tab that cooperates with one of a number of openings associated with the mount body. 
     
     
         5 . The bicycle shoe strap assembly of  claim 4  further comprising a living hinge between the tab and the second strap portion such that the tab is movable relative to the second strap portion. 
     
     
         6 . The bicycle shoe strap assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mount body further comprises a post configured to engage an opening formed in the second strap portion and a pocket configured to receive a section of the second strap portion that extends beyond the post. 
     
     
         7 . The bicycle shoe strap assembly of  claim 6  wherein the second strap portion translates in a first direction to engage the post and a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction to engage the pocket. 
     
     
         8 . A bicycle shoe strap system comprising:
 a pad;   a loop positioned at each end of the pad;   a first strap having a number of ridges constructed to pass through one of the loops; and   a second strap and a third strap that individually cooperate with the other loop, each of the second strap and third strap having a head that is incapable of passing through the other loop and a hole formed through the strap that is offset from the head, the hole formed in the second strap being offset from the head a different distance than the hole formed in the third strap.   
     
     
         9 . The bicycle shoe strap system of  claim 8  wherein each head includes a projection that cooperates with a respective loop to orient one of the second strap or the third strap in a direction that is generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the respective strap. 
     
     
         10 . The bicycle shoe strap system of  claim 8  wherein one of the second strap and the third strap are disposable as determined by a user. 
     
     
         11 . The bicycle shoe strap system of  claim 8  wherein the first strap includes a head that is constructed similar to the head of each of the second and third straps and that engages the loop in a generally mirror image with respect to one of the second and third straps. 
     
     
         12 . The bicycle shoe strap system of  claim 8  further comprising a mount that is secured to a shoe and that includes a post and a pocket, the post being configured to engage the hole of a respective second or third strap so as to fix the position of the respective strap with respect to the mount. 
     
     
         13 . The bicycle shoe strap system of  claim 12  wherein the mount is located nearer an instep side of the shoe than the pad. 
     
     
         14 . The bicycle shoe strap system of  claim 8  further comprising a buckle that includes a ratchet and that is attached to a shoe and that tightens the strap system across a wearer's arch as the buckle is closed. 
     
     
         15 . The bicycle shoe strap assembly of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the pad, first strap, and second strap are replaceable. 
     
     
         16 . A bicycle shoe comprising:
 a sole configured to cooperate with a pedal of a bicycle   an upper extending from the sole to generally encircle a foot of a user;   a buckle attached to a first side of the upper;   a mount body attached to a second side of the upper; and   a strap assembly extending between the first and second sides of the upper proximate an ankle of a user and comprising:
 a pad; 
 a first strap extending from a first end of the pad, the first strap having a plurality of ribs and being constructed to cooperate with the buckle to secure the first end of the pad relative to the upper; and 
 a second strap extending from the second end of the pad and constructed to cooperate with the mount body to secure the second end of the pad relative to the upper; and 
 wherein the first strap and the second strap can be secured to the upper in a variety of positions to center the pad across an arch of the foot of a user. 
   
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 16  wherein the pad includes a loop at each end thereof, each loop being configured to slidably cooperate with one of the first strap and the second strap. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 17  wherein each loop includes a recess and each of the first strap and second strap includes a projection to index each loop relative to a respective strap. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 16  further comprising a post extending from the mount body constructed to cooperate with a hole formed in the second strap. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 19  wherein the second strap is further defined as one of a number of straps that each have one hole or a single strap having a number of holes. 
     
     
         21 . The shoe of  claim 19  further comprising a nipple extending from an end of the post in a crossing direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the post. 
     
     
         22 . The shoe of  claim 19  further comprising a loop extending from the mount body proximate the post and on a side of the post generally opposite the pad. 
     
     
         23 . The shoe of  claim 16  wherein the sole further comprises a cleat constructed to cooperate with the pedal. 
     
     
         24 . The shoe of  claim 16  further comprising another shoe having a generally mirror construction of the first shoe. 
     
     
         25 . The shoe of  claim 16  further comprising a tab movably connected to the second strap. 
     
     
         26 . The shoe of  claim 25  further comprising a projection extending from an end of the tab and configured to cooperate with an opening formed in the mount body. 
     
     
         27 . The shoe of  claim 25  wherein the tab is connected to the second strap by a living hinge. 
     
     
         28 . The shoe of  claim 16  further comprising at least one hook and loop closure positioned nearer a toe of the shoe than of the strap assembly. 
     
     
         29 . A method for forming a throat closure of a bicycle shoe comprising the steps of:
 providing a strap assembly having a pad with first and second straps extending from opposite sides thereof; and   securing the first strap to the bicycle shoe at one of a variety of positions and securing the second strap to the bicycle shoe at one of a variety of positions to generally center and snug the pad across an arch of a foot of user.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein securing the first strap includes operating a buckle that cooperates with a number of ribs of the first strap. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein securing the second strap includes engaging a post with one of a plurality of pockets. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the second strap is further defined as one of a single strap having a number of holes or a number of replaceable straps that each have one hole. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising locating each one hole or each hole of the number of holes at a different location along a length of each of the replaceable straps or the single strap, respectively.