Side-mounted detachable pedal assembly

A detachable pedal assembly permitting a cycling shoe to engage and disengage a crank arm, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an axle adapted to threadedly engage the pedal crank arm, the axle characterized by a central axis oriented in a substantially lateral direction;
• (b) a binding assembly comprising
• (i) a proximal end closest to the crank arm in the lateral direction,
• (ii) a distal end opposite the proximal end, and
• (iii) a pedal including shoe fastening means for securing to the sole of the cycling shoe;
• and
• (c) Connecting means, substantially interposed between the axle and binding assembly in the lateral direction, for operationally coupling the axle and the proximal end of the binding assembly, comprising:
• (i) a thrust bearing permitting the binding assembly to rotate relative to the central axis of the axle;
• (ii) a force-responsive means for permitting the engagement and retention of the binding assembly in a position of engagement with respect to the axle under normal operational loads while permitting (1) automatic disengagement of the binding assembly from the a position of engagement when abnormal forces are applied to the binding assembly and (2) manual disengagement of the binding assembly when force is applied in a predetermined manner;
• whereby a cyclist may exert force on the pedal in the vertical direction without disengaging the binding assembly until such time that the cyclist chooses to disengage the pedal crank arm or befalls adverse circumstances.

A detachable pedal assembly permitting a cycling shoe to engage and disengage a pedal crank arm, the apparatus comprised of:

• (a) an axle assembly comprised of an axle adapted to rigidly engage the pedal crank arm, the axle characterized by an axle axis oriented in a substantially lateral direction;
• (b) a binding assembly comprised of a pedal for engaging the cycling shoe;
• (c) connecting means substantially interposed between the pedal crank arm and binding assembly in the lateral direction, comprising:
• (i) a bearing permitting the binding assembly to rotate relative to the axle;
• and
• (ii) a releasable coupling means for retaining the binding assembly to the axle and automatically disengaging the binding assembly from the axle when forces exceeding a predetermined force threshold are applied;
• whereby a cyclist may exert force on the binding assembly without disengaging the binding assembly until such time that a cyclist chooses to disengage the axle or the cyclist befalls adverse circumstances.