Process and Device for Measuring and Adjusting the Angular Movement of a Fastening Cleat on a Clipless Pedal

• US 20080040937A1
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Look Cycle International
• Original Assignee: Look Cycle International
• Inventors: Richard, Simon, Drouet, Jean-Marc, Champoux, Yvan
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/1N
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 3/086 Attachments between shoe and pedal other than toe clips, e.g. cleats shoes for cyclists A43B5/14

Abstract

A method and device for measuring and adjusting the angular movement of a fastening cleat on a clipless pedal, includes a motion detector which is fixed to the pedal to detect any angular movement in relation to the fastening cleat and transmit data to a data-processing device which calculates values of the angular movement as a function of time, and the average of the variations in the angular movement. The contactless motion detector includes a magnetic sensor which is fixed to the pedal, and is disposed facing a magnet that is fixed beneath the cleat and can detect any variation in the orientation of the magnetic field as a function of the angular movement of the cleat. The angular position of the fastening cleat is adjusted such that the average variation in the value of the free angular movement is returned to the median of the free angular movement range.

Claims

1. Process for measuring and adjusting the angular position of a fastening cleat (1) of the shoe of a cyclist (2) on a clipless pedal (3), characterized by the fact that it comprises the following phases consisting in:

a) fixing said fastening cleat (1) in an approximate angular position under said shoe of the cyclist (2) and fastening it to said clipless pedal (3);

b) providing free angular movement of said fastening cleat (1) around an essentially vertical pivoting axis (A-A) during pedaling;

c) determining the range (a) of said free angular movement;

d) measuring variations of the value of said free angular movement over time during pedaling;

e) calculating the average of the variations of the value of said free angular movement;

f) adjusting said angular position of said fastening cleat (1) so that said average of the variations of the value of said free angular movement is brought to the median of said range (α

) of said free angular movement.

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein for implementing phase f), a correction value is obtained by subtracting said median from said average of the variations of the value of said free angular movement.

3. Process according to claim 1, wherein for implementing phase f), a first reference point (25) is placed under the shoe (2) immediately behind said cleat (1) and centered on the latter, and a second reference point (26) is placed centered on the heel of the shoe so as to allow the adjustment of said angular position of said fastening cleat (1) using a protractor (1) suited to said fastening cleat.

4. Process according to claim 1, wherein variations of the value of said free angular movement over time during pedaling are recorded in an onboard recording means.

5. Process according to claim 1, wherein variations of the value of said free angular movement over time during pedaling are transmitted wirelessly to a processing device (9).

18. Process according to claim 2, wherein for implementing phase f), a first reference point (25) is placed under the shoe (2) immediately behind said cleat (1) and centered on the latter, and a second reference point (26) is placed centered on the heel of the shoe so as to allow the adjustment of said angular position of said fastening cleat (1) using a protractor (1) suited to said fastening cleat.

6. Device for measuring the angular position of a fastening cleat of the shoe of a cyclist (2) on a clipless pedal (3), wherein it comprises a motion detector (7) that is attached to the pedal (3) and that is able to continuously detect any angular movement of said fastening cleat (1) around a pivoting axis (A-A) on the pedal and to transmit the data to a data processing device (9) that calculates the values of said angular movement as a function of time, as well as the average of the variations of said angular movement over time.

7. Measurement device according to claim 6, wherein said detector (7) is a proximity motion detector.

8. Measurement device according to claim 7, wherein said detector comprises a magnetic sensor (7) attached to the pedal (3) and arranged with respect to at least one magnet (6) fixed under said cleat (1) and able to detect any variation of the orientation of the magnetic field as a function of an angular movement of said cleat (1).

9. Measurement device according to claim 8, wherein several magnets (6) are positioned symmetrically relative to the pivoting axis (A-A) of the cleat (1).

10. Measurement device according to claim 6, wherein said processing device (9) comprises an onboard electronic module (8) able to carry out a preliminary processing of the measurement data, said electronic module (8) being powered by an onboard power source.

11. Measurement device according to claim 10, wherein said electronic module (8) comprises a data storage memory.

12. Measurement device according to claim 10, wherein said electronic module (8) can wirelessly transmit the processed data to a measurement data processing and display device (9).

13. Measurement device according to claim 6, wherein said measurement device is linked to an adjusting device (17) that can be connected to the cleat (1) so as to indicate the initial angular position of the cleat fixed under the shoe (2) and allow exact correction of this position.

14. Measurement device according to claim 13, wherein said adjustment device comprises a protractor (17) whose intersection point of the convergent lines representing the degrees corresponds to the pivoting axis (A-A) of the cleat (1).

15. Measurement device according to claim 14, wherein said protractor (17) uses a first and a second reference point (25, 26) plotted under the shoe (2), allowing identification of the initial angular position of the cleat (1), the first reference point (25) being placed near the cleat (1), centered directly behind it, and the second (26) on the heel of the shoe (2) and centered on the latter.

16. Measurement device according to claim 14, wherein said protractor (17) comprises on its front end a recess (18) with a shape adapted to the back part of the cleat, and wherein said protractor (17) is connected to the cleat (1) using an elastic band that in its median part is connected to a rigid element (20) comprising a groove (21) constituting a housing for the front end of the cleat (1).

17. Measurement device according to claim 15, wherein said protractor (17) comprises on its front end a recess (18) with a shape adapted to the back part of the cleat, and wherein said protractor (17) is connected to the cleat (1) using an elastic band that in its median part is connected to a rigid element (20) comprising a groove (21) constituting a housing for the front end of the cleat (1).