Cycling cleat and a cycling pedal

Abstract

Conventional bicycle pedals and cleats are provided in a myriad of specific designs. Cleat designs offer varying amounts of relative movement between the pedal and cleat to accommodate the needs of cyclists. However there exists room for improvement in existing designs for a cleat which improves a cyclist's pedaling technique and pedaling efficiency, which in turn reduces the likelihood of knee and other injuries, whilst at the same time reducing the rate of cleat wear. The present invention provides a cycling footwear cleat for connection to a receiving portion of a pedal, the pedal having a mounting shaft to which the receiving portion of the pedal is rotatably mounted, the cleat including: a mount for mounting the cleat to an underside of cycling footwear; an attachment portion for receipt by the receiving portion of the pedal; and a resilient member provided between the attachment portion and the receiving portion when the pedal is attached to the cleat, wherein the resilient member resists movement of the attachment portion relative to the receiving portion. The provision of a resilient member improves a cyclist's pedaling efficiency, as well as allowing for variable float of the cleat within the pedal as and when required. It also improves the control of pedal float, since the cleat is less likely to move in an uncontrolled motion relative to the pedal.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A cycling footwear cleat for connection to a receiving portion of a pedal, the pedal having a mounting shaft to which the receiving portion of the pedal is rotatably mounted, the cleat comprising:
 a mount for mounting the cleat to an underside of cycling footwear;   an attachment portion for receipt by the receiving portion of the pedal; and   a resilient member provided between the attachment portion and the receiving portion when the pedal is attached to the cleat, wherein the resilient member resists movement of the attachment portion relative to the receiving portion, wherein,   the resilient member is of a closed loop, closed band, or closed strap configuration received about a portion of the cleat or attachment portion.   
     
     
         29 . A cycling footwear cleat according to  claim 28 , wherein the resilient member resists movement of the attachment portion relative to the receiving portion within a plane of movement, with the plane of movement extending in a direction being generally parallel to an axis of rotation of the receiving portion about the mounting shaft. 
     
     
         30 . A cycling footwear cleat according to  claim 28 , wherein the resilient member is mounted to or mountable to the cleat. 
     
     
         31 . A cycling footwear cleat according to  claim 30 , wherein the resilient member is releasably mounted to or releasably mountable to the cleat. 
     
     
         32 . A cycling footwear cleat according to  claim 31 , wherein the resilient member is generally in the form of an O-ring of substantially constant or variable cross-sectional size and/or shape. 
     
     
         33 . A cycling footwear cleat according to  claim 30 , wherein the cleat comprises a seat for receiving the resilient member. 
     
     
         34 . A cycling footwear cleat according to  claim 33 , wherein the seat is configured to receive the resilient member in a tensioned state. 
     
     
         35 . A cycling footwear cleat according to  claim 33 , wherein the seat comprises a slot portion or groove portion for receiving a least part of the resilient member therein. 
     
     
         36 . A cycling footwear cleat according to  claim 28 , wherein the resilient member is configured such that it is mounted to or mountable to the cleat in a single loop or double looped arrangement. 
     
     
         37 . A replacement resilient member for replacing the resilient member of a cleat according to  claim 28 . 
     
     
         38 . A cycling footwear cleat for engagement with a receiving portion of a pedal, the pedal having a mounting shaft to which the receiving portion of the pedal is rotatably mounted; the cleat comprising:
 a mount for mounting the cleat to an underside of cycling footwear;   an attachment portion for receipt by the receiving portion of the pedal; and   a resilient member receiving space provided between the attachment portion and the receiving portion when the pedal is attached to the cleat for receiving a resilient member in such a manner that the resilient member resists movement of the attachment portion relative to the receiving portion, wherein,   the resilient member is of a closed loop, closed band, or closed strap configuration received about a portion of the cleat or attachment portion.   
     
     
         39 . A resilient member for use with a cycling footwear cleat according to  claim 38 . 
     
     
         40 . A resilient member according to  claim 39 , wherein the resilient member is releasably mounted to or releasably mountable to the cleat. 
     
     
         41 . A resilient member according to  claim 38 , wherein the resilient member is generally in the form of an O-ring. 
     
     
         42 . A resilient member according to  claim 38 , wherein the resilient member is receivable on, in or about a resilient member receiving space in the form of a seat provided on the cleat. 
     
     
         43 . A resilient member according to  claim 42 , wherein the resilient member is receivable on, in or about the seat in a tensioned state. 
     
     
         44 . A resilient member according to  claim 42 , wherein the resilient member is at least partially receivable in a slot portion or groove portion of the seat. 
     
     
         45 . A resilient member according to  claim 38 , wherein the resilient member is configured such that it is mountable to the cleat in a single loop or double looped arrangement. 
     
     
         46 . A cycling pedal comprising:
 a receiving portion for receiving an attachment portion of a cleat;   a mounting shaft to which the receiving portion of the pedal is rotatably mounted; and   a resilient member provided between the attachment portion and the receiving portion when the pedal is attached to the cleat, wherein the resilient member resists movement of the attachment portion relative to the receiving portion, wherein,   the resilient member is of a closed loop, closed band, or closed strap configuration received about a portion of the cleat or attachment portion.   
     
     
         47 . A cycling pedal according to  claim 46 , wherein the resilient member resists movement of the attachment portion relative to the receiving portion within a plane of movement, with the plane of movement extending in a direction being generally parallel to an axis of rotation of the receiving portion about the mounting shaft. 
     
     
         48 . A cycling pedal according to  claim 46 , wherein the resilient member is mounted to or mountable to the pedal. 
     
     
         49 . A cycling pedal according to  claim 48 , wherein the resilient member is releasably mounted to or releasably mountable to the pedal. 
     
     
         50 . A cycling pedal comprising:
 a receiving portion for receiving an attachment portion of a cleat;   a mounting shaft to which the receiving portion of the pedal is rotatably mounted; and   a resilient member receiving space provided between the attachment portion and the receiving portion, when the pedal is attached to the cleat, for receiving a resilient member in such a manner that the resilient member resists movement of the attachment portion relative to the receiving portion, wherein,   the receiving space is provided for receiving a resilient member in the form of a closed loop, closed band, or closed strap configuration received about a portion of the cleat or attachment portion.   
     
     
         51 . A resilient member for use with a cycling pedal according to  claim 50 . 
     
     
         52 . A resilient member according to  claim 50 , wherein the resilient member is releasably mounted to or releasably mountable to the pedal.