# US 2019/0168843 A1 · Cleat assembly for clipless bicycle pedal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168843 A1 - Document ID: US20190168843A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/236,199 - Filed: 2018-12-28 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-02 - Assignees: Speedplay, Inc. - Applicants: Speedplay, Inc. - Inventors: Richard M. Bryne - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168843A1 ## CPC - B62M 3/086: {Attachments between shoe and pedal other than toe clips, e.g. cleats (shoes for cyclists A43B5/14)} - 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) ## Abstract An improved cleat assembly configured to be releasably secured to a clipless bicycle pedal comprises a first plate, a second plate disposed over the first plate, and plurality of spacers disposed between the first and second plates, the spacer separating the first and second plates a predetermined distance. The second plate may define a pedal aperture having a circumferential periphery comprising a first portion and a side tie portion and the side tie portion may be offset from the first portion. The cleat assembly may further comprise a cap disposed over at least the second plate wherein the second plate may comprise a first of an engagement pair and the cap may comprise a second of the engagement pair. The first and second of the engagement pair may cooperate to couple the cap and the second plate to affix the cap onto the cleat assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleat assembly configured to be releasably secured to a clipless bicycle pedal, the cleat assembly comprising: a first plate; a metallic second plate shaped to be disposed over the first plate, the second plate defining a fully enclosed first pedal aperture having a circumferential periphery; an intermediate plate disposed between the first plate and the second plate; a plurality of metallic spacers configured to be disposed between the first and second plates, each of the plurality of spacers having a height to space apart the first and second plates at a predetermined distance when the plurality of spacers are disposed between the first and second plates; and at least one screw securing the second plate over the intermediate plate to the first plate; wherein at least one of the plurality of spacers has a bore extending therethrough; and wherein the at least one screw extends through the bore of the at least one of the plurality of spacers and applies an immobilizing force to the intermediate plate, the immobilizing force being sufficient to inhibit the intermediate plate from moving with respect to the first plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cleat assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spacers are formed on the second plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cleat assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of spacers comprises a base end, a terminal end, and a side wall that tapers from the base end to the terminal end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cleat assembly of claim 3, wherein the second plate further comprises a first flange disposed around at least a portion of the first pedal aperture, the first flange comprising at least one opening in communication with the bore of at least one of the plurality of spacers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cleat assembly of claim 4, wherein the intermediate plate comprises: a body, and a second flange disposed around at least a portion of the body; wherein the body defines a second pedal aperture; and wherein the second flange comprises at least one bore sized and configured to allow at least one of the plurality of spacers to pass through. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A cleat assembly of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the body of the intermediate plate is thicker than the second flange of the intermediate plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A cleat assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cap defining a third pedal aperture generally aligned with the first pedal aperture, the cap disposed over at least a portion of the second plate. ### Claim 8 A cleat assembly configured to be releasably secured to a clipless bicycle pedal, the cleat assembly comprising: a first plate; a metallic second plate disposed over the first plate, the second plate defining a fully enclosed first pedal aperture having a circumferential periphery, the circumferential periphery comprising a first portion defining a first plane, and a side tie portion curving away from the first portion toward the first plate, wherein the side tie portion imparts rigidity to the second plate; an intermediate plate disposed between the first plate and the second plate; a plurality of metallic spacers formed on the second plate and disposed between the first and second plates, each of the plurality of spacers having a height to space apart the first and second plates at a predetermined distance; and at least one screw securing the second plate over the intermediate plate to the first plate; wherein at least one of the plurality of spacers has a bore extending therethrough; and wherein the at least one screw extends through the bore of the at least one of the plurality of spacers and applies an immobilizing force to the intermediate plate, the immobilizing force being sufficient to inhibit the intermediate plate from moving with respect to the first plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A cleat assembly of claim 8, wherein the side tie portion is offset from the first plane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cleat assembly of claim 9, wherein the first portion is in greater spaced relation to the first plate than the side tie portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cleat assembly of claim 10, wherein the intermediate plate comprises: a body; and a first flange disposed around at least a portion of the body; wherein the thickness of at least a portion of the body of the intermediate plate is greater than the thickness of the first flange of the intermediate plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cleat assembly of claim 11, wherein: each of the plurality of spacers comprises a base end, a terminal end, and a side wall that tapers from the base end to the terminal end; and for each of the at least one of the plurality of spacers having a bore extending therethrough, the bore extends through the base and terminal ends. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cleat assembly of claim 12, wherein: the second plate further comprises a second flange disposed around at least a portion of the first pedal aperture, the second flange comprising at least one opening in communication with the bore of at least one of the spacers to receive at the least one screw for securing the second plate over the intermediate plate to the first plate; and the first flange of the intermediate plate comprises at least one bore sized and configured to allow at least one of the plurality of spacers to pass through. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) A cleat assembly of claim 8, further comprising a cap defining a third pedal aperture generally aligned with the first pedal aperture, the cap disposed over at least a portion of the second plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The cleat assembly of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of metallic spacers comprises a metallic alloy. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The cleat assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of spacers comprises an uninterrupted side wall that surrounds a central bore. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The cleat assembly of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of spacers comprises an uninterrupted side wall that surrounds a central bore.