Aperture cover for bicycle cleat assembly

{
  "publication_number": "US10182609B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Aperture cover for bicycle cleat assembly",
  "abstract": "A bicycle cleat/cover assembly and a cover device. The bicycle cleat cover device is configured to be releasably secured to a bicycle cleat, wherein the bicycle cleat has an aperture sized and configured to receive a clipless pedal. The removable bicycle cleat cover device serves to inhibit debris from entering the central opening of the bicycle cleat when the bicycle cleat is disengaged from a pedal and the user is walking about on the ground.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A bicycle cleat cover device comprising: a bottom portion; a collar spaced from the bottom portion along an axis; a sidewall extending from the bottom portion to the collar; and a pair of protrusions; wherein the collar extends radially outward beyond the sidewall to form a continuous lip; wherein a channel is formed in the sidewall; wherein the channel starts at a cutout formed at an intersection of the sidewall and the bottom portion; wherein a portion of the channel extends circumferentially from the cutout about a portion of the sidewall; wherein the portion of the channel extending circumferentially is spaced from the bottom portion and comprises a first leg adjacent to the cutout, and a second leg that terminates at a stop; wherein a protuberance is formed in the portion of the channel extending circumferentially, between the first leg and the second leg; wherein each of the pair of protrusions has a top portion that extends axially from the bottom portion past the lip; wherein the top portion of one protrusion of the pair of protrusions is separated from the top portion of the other of the pair of protrusions by a gap; wherein the gap is sized to permit the pair of protrusions to frictionally retain a second pair of protrusions of a substantially identical second bicycle cleat cover device that has been offset by a ninety-degree angle; and wherein the sidewall has a beveled outer surface tapering toward the bottom portion.",
    "2. The bicycle cleat cover device of claim 1, wherein: the collar has four segments of equal circumferential length, the four segments comprising a first segment, a second segment, a third segment, and a fourth segment; the first segment is adjacent to the second and fourth segments and non-adjacent to the third segment; the first and third segments of the collar have substantially identical curved top surfaces; the first and second segments of the collar have curved top surfaces that are complementary; and the first and fourth segments of the collar have curved top surfaces that are complementary.",
    "3. The bicycle cleat cover device of claim 1, wherein the protuberance extends radially outward within the channel."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates generally to bicycle cleat assemblies configured for releasable securement to clipless bicycle pedals, and, more particularly, to an aperture cover configured to be releasably retained within a central opening of a bicycle cleat assembly when a user's shoe is disengaged from a clipless bicycle pedal.\n\nBicycle cleat assemblies of this particular kind typically include a spring housing and an overlaying bottom plate configured to be attached to the sole of a user's shoe. The spring housing and bottom plate, together, define a central opening sized and configured to conformably receive a clipless bicycle pedal. The spring housing supports one or more spring clips adjacent to the central opening, for engaging and releasably retaining the clipless bicycle pedal.\n\nWhen the cleat assembly is disengaged from a pedal and the user is walking about on the ground, the cleat assembly's bottom plate is in direct contact with the ground. Debris such as dirt, sand, mud and rocks can enter the central opening of the cleat assembly as the user walks about. Once debris enters the central opening, it can impede the spring clip's ability to accept the pedal. Eventually, the central opening can accumulate an amount of debris that prevents entirely the insertion of the pedal into the cleat assembly.\n\nIn addition to making it more difficult to insert the pedal into the cleat assembly, the presence of debris in the central opening can impede the spring clip's ability to securely engage and releasably retain the pedal.",
  "cpc": [
    "A43B 5/14",
    "A43B 5/185",
    "A43C 15/02",
    "B62M 3/086"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A43B 5/14",
    "A43C 15/02",
    "A43B 5/18",
    "B62M 3/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Speedplay Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Richard M. Bryne"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-07-28",
  "publication_date": "2019-01-22",
  "grant_date": "2019-01-22",
  "priority_date": "2014-07-28",
  "application_number": "US-201414444948-A",
  "family_id": "55165648",
  "cited_by_count": 7,
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