# US 12,110,077 B2 · Computerized bicycle pedal lock-in and release system and method

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- Number: US 12,110,077 B2
- Document ID: US12110077B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/358,020
- Filed: 2021-06-25
- Published: 2021-12-30
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-25
- Applicants: Michael Andrew Lavine
- Inventors: Michael Andrew Lavine
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110077B2

## CPC

- B62M 3/086: {Attachments between shoe and pedal other than toe clips, e.g. cleats (shoes for cyclists A43B5/14)}
- B62J 45/20: Cycle computers as cycle accessories
- B62J 45/412: Speed sensors
- B62J 45/4151: {for sensing lateral inclination of the cycle}
- G01C 19/00: Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
- G01P 15/00: Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
- H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
- G01P 15/0891: {with indication of predetermined acceleration values (G01P15/135 takes precedence)}
- H04Q 2209/30: using a wired architecture
- H04Q 2209/43: using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth® or Zigbee®
- H04Q 2209/823: where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
- B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16)
- B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G})
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)

## Abstract

Systems and methods for ensuring safe gripping or locking and release of a cyclist's shoe by a bicycle pedal are disclosed. The system may comprise a computing device, one or more sensors for detecting change of velocity, one or more sensors for detecting a change of angle of the bicycle, and a pedal with one or more retractable members. The retractable member may be configured to grip or lock in a cyclist's shoe by extending to interlock with a portion or a cavity of the cyclist's shoe, or to release the cyclist's shoe by retracting on receiving a command from the computing device based on inputs from the one or more sensors.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for locking and release of a shoe by a bicycle pedal, comprising:
a computing device;
one or more sensors for detecting a change of velocity of a bicycle, a rate of change of velocity of the bicycle, a change of angle of the bicycle with respect to a vertical axis, and a rate of change of angle of the bicycle with respect to a vertical axis; and
a bicycle pedal with a retractable member, wherein the bicycle pedal is connected to the bicycle,
wherein the retractable member is configured to lock the shoe by extending one or more portions of the retractable member in response to a command from the computing device based on a first input from the one or more sensors, wherein the first input from the one or more sensors comprises an indication of (a) forward movement of the bicycle for a predetermined period of time, (b) a velocity of the bicycle exceeding a predetermined velocity, and (c) a rate of change of angle of the bicycle with respect to a vertical axis below a predetermined rate of change of angle,
and wherein the retractable member is further configured to release the shoe by retracting the one or more portions of the retractable member in response to a command from the computing device based on a second input from the one or more sensors.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is connected to the one or more sensors with a wired or a wireless connection.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the wireless connection uses a WiFi protocol or a Bluetooth protocol.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors for detecting a change of velocity of the bicycle and a rate of change of velocity of the bicycle comprises an accelerometer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors for detecting a change of angle of the bicycle with respect to a vertical axis and a rate of change of angle of the bicycle with respect to a vertical axis comprises a gyroscope.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second input from the one or more sensors comprises an indication of at least one of
a decrease in velocity of the bicycle exceeding a first threshold value;
a rate of decrease in velocity of the bicycle exceeding a second threshold value;
a change of angle of the bicycle with respect to a vertical axis exceeding a third threshold value; and
a rate of change of angle of the bicycle with respect to a vertical axis exceeding a fourth threshold value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, further comprising a user device with a software interface configured to communicate with the computing device for setting the first, second, third and fourth threshold value, and to issue a command to cause locking or release of the shoe from the pedal.