REMOVABLE CLEAT PROTECTOR FOR CLEATED CYCLING SHOES
A removable cleat protector for a cycling shoe having a cleat with particular size and shape attached thereto. The cleat protector including: a contoured base; and a plurality of wall sections extending upwardly from a perimeter of the contoured base, the wall sections having a catch portion sized and shaped to snap into and contact with one end of the cleat, and a cavity portion sized and shaped to securely contact with another end of the cleat.
This Patent Application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/486,261, filed on May 14, 2011 and entitled “Removable Cleat Protector For Cleated Bicycle Shoes,” the entire content of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to protective covers or cleat protectors for cleats located on the bottom of footwear, and more particularly a removable cleat protector for cleated cycling shoes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn order to derive more power from pedaling bicycles or stationary bikes, various systems have been developed over many years that allow a rider to detachably engage the rider's shoes with the pedals. Early toe clip system offered significant advantages over platform pedals because they allow the cyclist to drive the pedal during the full rotation, i.e., pulling up on the pedal as well as pushing down. They also allow riders to wear conventional shoes without any special attachments on the soles.
In most current systems using cleats on the shoes and clipless pedals, a plate or other cleat structure at the bottom of the shoe snaps into a spring-loaded holder on the pedal. This is accomplished by the rider pressing his or her foot down onto the pedal. To remove the cleated shoe from the pedals, the rider will twists his or her foot to the side to detach the cleat from the spring loaded holder. These systems are more efficient that toe clip systems. One drawback, however, is that these systems include a cleat that extends downwardly from the bottom of the sole of the shoe, which is typically formed or metal and/or hard plastic. These cleats can be damaged by walking on the ground and cleats can likewise make noise and scuff flooring.
There are covers adapted to cover the bottom of a shoe having cleats including covers that snap to the bottom of the entire sole, covers that snap onto the cleats, and variations thereof. However, the prior art cleat covers that snap directly onto the cleat component tend to be made of relatively rigid plastic and the prior cleat covers fail to contemplate the wide range of surfaces cyclist might traverse while off the bicycle, from jagged rocky terrain to flat slick surfaces. Consequently, the covers may fall off while traversing uneven terrain, and the cleat cover may not provide sufficient slip resistance while walking along slick surfaces, and the cyclist may thus lose traction and slip.
There accordingly remains a need for a removable cleat protector for cleated cycling shoes that remain securely engaged on the cleats while providing good traction whether the wearer is traversing jagged rocky surfaces or slick flat floors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn some embodiments, the present invention is a removable cleat protector for a cycling shoe having a cleat with particular size and shape attached thereto. The cleat protector including: a contoured base; and a plurality of wall sections extending upwardly from a perimeter of the contoured base, the wall sections having a catch portion sized and shaped to snap into and contact with one end of the cleat, and a cavity portion sized and shaped to securely contact with another end of the cleat.
In some embodiments, the present invention is a removable cleat protector for a cycling shoe having a cleat with particular size and shape attached thereto. The cleat protector including: a base with raised pads formed on an underside thereof; and a plurality of raised perimeter walls extending from an upper side thereof, the raised walls having cavities foamed therein to adapt to the particular size and shape of the cleat, wherein the cleat protector is formed of elastomeric material.
In some embodiments, the removable cleat protector is sized and shaped to fit a particular style and brand of cleats that are to be attached to the bottom of cycling shoes.
In some embodiments, the present invention is a removable cleat protector for cleated cycling shoes including: a cleat protector body made of pliable material with cleat retainers portions extending upwardly from a ground contact portion of the cleat protector body for securely detachably retaining the cleat protector to cover the bottom of a cleated cycling shoe, a plurality of raised pads formed on an undersigned of the ground contact portion of the cleat protector and in contact with the ground surface to provide cushioning and slip resistance, and a tab for use in donning and removing the cleat protector from cleats.
Referring to
The cleat protector 10 has an overall shape and sized adapted to closely fit onto a cleat to which it will attach to.
As best seen in
In some cases, the cleat protectors of the embodiments of
Depressions can be formed in the contoured base 112 to closely conform the cleat protector 100 to the cleat. Located on a rear side of the cleat protector 10 is a raised pad area 140 near the grasp tab 124. A raised pad area is located near a front of the cleat protector 100. The pad areas 140 and 144 extend outwardly from the rear side 138 of the cleat protector 100 and provide ground contact areas that provide shock absorbance capability and wear comfort and increase the skid resistance of the cycling shoe when the cleat protector 100 is worn to cover the cleat. The material used to form the cleat protector will tend to hug to the cleat and when walking, will not pop off, which is a problem with prior art cleat protectors worn on the bottom of cleats on cycling shoes. Unlike the embodiment 10 of
In some cases, the cleat protectors of the embodiments of
As best seen in
In some cases, the cleat protectors of the embodiments of
Located on an rear side of the cleat protector 300 are two spaced apart raised pad areas 340 and 342 near the grasp tab 324, and a raised pad area 344. The pad areas 340, 342, and 244 extend outwardly from the rear side 338 of the cleat protector 300 and provide ground contact areas that will provide shock absorbance capability and wear comfort and increase the skid resistance of the cycling shoe when the cleat protector 300 is worn to cover the cleat. The material used to form the cleat protector will tend to hug to the cleat and when walking, will not pop off, which is a problem with prior art cleat protectors worn on the bottom of cleats on cycling shoes.
In some cases, the cleat protectors of the embodiments of
In some embodiments, cleat protectors of the present invention hug or conform to the front surface (the surface opposite to the surface which is attached to the cycling shoe) and the (contoured) side surfaces of the cleat to encompass the entire or a substantial portion of the exposed (not connected to the shoe) surfaces of the cleat and thereby to accommodate or house the cleat therein.
The retractable cleat protectors 10, 100, 200 and 300 can be molded from natural or synthetic plastic, rubber, silicone, and/or other elastomeric materials, with the cleat cover portions formed of the same type but harder durometer rated material that the loops, or two dissimilar materials can be molded together to form the retractable cleat protectors, 110, 100, 200 and 300. This way, the cleat protectors can easily hug or conform to the exposed surfaces of the cleat to accommodate the entire or a substantial portion of the exposed surfaces of the cleat. Also, while the cleat protectors have been described for use with certain shaped or branded cleats, the cleat protectors can be sized and shaped to fit cycling cleats having any sizes and shapes.
Although the example of bicycles with cleat receiving pedals is used herein, the retractable cleat protector of the invention can be used with other pedal operated vehicles besides bicycles.
Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
Claims
1. A removable cleat protector for a cycling shoe having a cleat with particular size and shape attached thereto comprising:
- a contoured base; and
- a plurality of wall sections extending upwardly from a perimeter of the contoured base, the wall sections having a catch portion sized and shaped to snap into and contact with one end of the cleat, and a cavity portion sized and shaped to securely contact with another end of the cleat.
2. The removable cleat protector of claim 1, further comprising an upper cleat facing surface with a lower ridge with a recess formed therein for engagement of one end of a cleat, and a cupped portion with a recess formed therein at an opposite end of the cleat protector for engagement with another end of the cleat.
3. The removable cleat protector of claim 1, wherein the cleat protector is formed with a compression molded rubber having a durometer in a range of about 60-65 Shore A.
4. The removable cleat protector of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of depressions formed in the contoured base to further conform the cleat protector to the shape and size of the cleat.
5. The removable cleat protector of claim 1, wherein the wall sections include an inwardly angled surface sized and shaped to further conform the cleat protector to the shape and size of the cleat.
6. The removable cleat protector of claim 1, wherein the wall sections include an overhanging portion which forms the cavity portion and is sized and shaped to further conform the cleat protector to the shape and size of the cleat
7. The removable cleat protector of claim 1, further comprising at least one padded area for ground contact of the cleat protector to provide shock absorbance.
8. The removable cleat protector of claim 1, further comprising a grasp tab extending outward from wall section to pull on the cleat protector when fitting onto the cleat or removing from the cleat.
9. The removable cleat protector of claim 8, wherein the grasp pad includes an aperture to allow pairs of the cleat protectors to be clipped together or hung up.
10. The removable cleat protector of claim 1, wherein the cleat protector is formed from an elastomeric material.
11. A removable cleat protector for a cycling shoe having a cleat with particular size and shape attached thereto comprising:
- a base with raised pads formed on an underside thereof; and
- a plurality of raised perimeter walls extending from an upper side thereof, the raised walls having cavities formed therein to adapt to the particular size and shape of the cleat, wherein the cleat protector is formed of elastomeric material.
12. The removable cleat protector of claim 11, further comprising an upper cleat facing surface with a lower ridge with a recess formed therein for engagement of one end of a cleat, and a cupped portion with a recess formed therein at an opposite end of the cleat protector for engagement with another end of the cleat.
13. The removable cleat protector of claim 11, wherein the cleat protector is formed with a compression molded rubber having a durometer in a range of about 60-65 Shore A.
14. The removable cleat protector of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of depressions formed in the contoured base to further conform the cleat protector to the shape and size of the cleat.
15. The removable cleat protector of claim 11, wherein the wall sections include an inwardly angled surface sized and shaped to further conform the cleat protector to the shape and size of the cleat.
16. The removable cleat protector of claim 11, wherein the wall sections include an overhanging portion which forms the cavity portion and is sized and shaped to further conform the cleat protector to the shape and size of the cleat
17. The removable cleat protector of claim 11, further comprising at least one padded area for ground contact of the cleat protector to provide shock absorbance.
Type: Application
Filed: May 14, 2012
Publication Date: Nov 15, 2012
Inventors: James Kuangcheng Tsen (Needham, MA), Stephen David Opie (Arlington, MA), Marianne Kay (Rancho Santa Fe, CA)
Application Number: 13/471,324