# US 2016/0249704 A1 · Bicycle Shoe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0249704 A1 - Document ID: US20160249704A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/631,840 - Filed: 2015-02-26 - Published: 2016-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-26 - Assignees: Shimano Inc. - Applicants: Shimano Inc. - Inventors: Toshiaki AOKI; Junichi KIKUTA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160249704A1 ## CPC - A43B 5/14: Shoes for cyclists - A43B 13/14: characterised by the constructive form - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract A bicycle shoe includes a sole. The sole includes a recess, which is recessed from a bottom surface of the sole. The recess is defined by a bottom portion and lateral surfaces. The bottom portion has a lateral dimension, which is greater than or equal to 20 millimeters and less than or equal to 45 millimeters. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bicycle shoe comprising a sole, wherein the sole includes a recess, which is recessed from a bottom surface of the sole, the recess is defined by a bottom portion and lateral surfaces, the bottom portion has a lateral dimension, which is greater than or equal to 20 millimeters and less than or equal to 45 millimeters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bicycle shoe according to claim 1, wherein the recess has a size and a shape which are configured such that the lateral surfaces are adapted to engage a cleat engagement member of a bicycle pedal, and the bottom surface of the sole is configured to contact a pedal body of the bicycle pedal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bicycle shoe according to claim 1, wherein the lateral surfaces are inclined with respect to the bottom surface of the sole. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The bicycle shoe according to claim 3, wherein the lateral surfaces are inclined such that the recess is relatively wide near the bottom surface of the sole and relatively narrow near the bottom portion of the recess as measured in the lateral direction of the sole. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The bicycle shoe according to claim 4, wherein a side surface angle, which is between each of the lateral surfaces and the bottom surface of the sole, is in a range of 90 to 150 degrees. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bicycle shoe according to claim 5, wherein the side surface angle is approximately 130 degrees. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The bicycle shoe according to claim 5, wherein the side surface angle decreases in a longitudinal rearward direction of the sole. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The bicycle shoe according to claim 3, wherein a maximum lateral distance between the lateral surfaces is greater than or equal to 30 millimeters and less than or equal to 50 millimeters. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The bicycle shoe according to claim 3, wherein a maximum lateral distance between the lateral surfaces is approximately 33 millimeters. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bicycle shoe according to claim 1, wherein the maximum lateral distance between the lateral surfaces decreases in a rearward longitudinal direction of the sole. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bicycle shoe according to claim 1, wherein the recess is further defined by a rear surface, which is located rearward of the bottom portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bicycle shoe according to claim 11, wherein the rear surface is located to engage a rear surface of the cleat engagement member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The bicycle shoe according to claim 11, wherein the rear surface is inclined with respect to the bottom surface of the sole. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The bicycle shoe according to claim 11, wherein the rear surface is inclined with respect to the bottom surface of the sole such that a part of the rear surface that is adjacent to the bottom surface of the sole is rearward of a part of the rear surface that is adjacent to the bottom portion of the recess. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bicycle shoe according to claim 14, wherein a rear surface angle, which is formed between the rear surface and the bottom surface of the sole, is in a range of 90 to 150 degrees. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The bicycle shoe according to claim 15, wherein the rear surface angle is approximately 145 degrees. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The bicycle shoe according to claim 11, wherein a maximum longitudinal dimension of the recess, as measured in a longitudinal direction of the shoe, is greater than or equal to 65 millimeters. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The bicycle shoe according to claim 1, wherein a maximum depth dimension of the recess, as measured between the bottom surface of the sole and the bottom portion of the recess is greater than 4 millimeters. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The bicycle shoe according to claim 18, wherein the maximum depth dimension is approximately 6 millimeters. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The bicycle shoe according to claim 18, wherein the depth dimension is approximately 7 millimeters. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The bicycle shoe according to claim 1, wherein the sole includes a cleat attachment portion, and the recess is located rearward of the cleat attachment portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The bicycle shoe according to claim 21, wherein the recess is a first recess, and the cleat attachment portion is defined by a second recess formed in the bottom surface of the sole. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The bicycle shoe according to claim 22, wherein the first recess is integrally joined with the second recess. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The bicycle shoe according to claim 22, wherein the first recess is deeper than the second recess as measured from the bottom surface of the sole.