# US 7,743,682 B2 · Automatic bicycle pedal with engagement arches > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,682 B2 - Document ID: US7743682B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/585,886 - Filed: 2006-10-25 - Published: 2007-06-21 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-10-28 - Assignees: Look Cycle International - Inventors: Jean-Pierre Couturet; Julien Pierre Jacques Bouchez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743682B2 ## CPC - B62M 3/086: {Attachments between shoe and pedal other than toe clips, e.g. cleats (shoes for cyclists A43B5/14)} - Y10T 74/217: with toe or shoe clips - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A pedal includes a pedal body (1) mounted rotatably on a pedal axle (2) and having at least two arches (7) for engaging an engagement member (8) fixed below a cyclist's shoe. The arches have opposite branches connected to the pedal body and they are disposed one after the other about the periphery of the pedal body (1) so as to define between them an engagement surface for the engagement member (8) against the pedal body (1). The two arches (7) are adapted to be urged toward each other by resilient return elements returning them to a retention position for the engagement member (8). At least one of the at least two arches is a resilient arch constituting the resilient return elements, and the ends of this resilient arch have bending axes that are offset relative to each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Automatic bicycle pedal, comprising a pedal body (1) mounted rotatably on a pedal axle (2) and provided with retaining means (7) for an engagement member (8) fixed below a cyclist's shoe, said retaining means comprising at least two arches (7) independent from one another having opposite branches connected to said pedal body, said at least two arches (7) being disposed one after the other about the periphery of said pedal body (1) so as to define between them an engagement surface (9) for said engagement member (8) against said pedal body (1), said at least two arches (7) being adapted to be urged toward each other by resilient return means returning them into a retaining position of said engagement member (8) against said engagement surface (9), at least one of said at least two arches being a resilient arch constituting moreover said resilient return means; wherein the ends of said resilient arch are bent laterally and have bending axes (B-B, C-C) defined by an inner recess (10) and an outer recess (11), respectively, the arch (7) on said pedal body extending substantially parallel to the axis of the outer recess, said inner and outer recesses (10, 11) being angularly offset (α; β)relative to each other about the axis of rotation (A-A) of the pedal so as to offset the bending axes (B-B, C-C) relative to each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the branches of each arch (7) have different lengths. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Automatic pedal according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the shorter branch of said branches of each arch (7) is the inner branch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the branches of each arch (7) are located in different planes when the arch is pre-stressed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that one of said at least two arches (7) is a rear arch formed by a resilient metallic wire. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said at least two arches (7) are formed by a respective resilient metallic wire. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said arches (7) are four in number and that said inner and outer recesses (10, 11) are regularly distributed at 90° relative to each other so as to receive the ends of the arches (7) so as to define four engagement surfaces (9) between them. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said arches (7) are three in number and that said inner and outer recesses (10, 11) are regularly spaced 120° apart from each other so as to receive the ends of the arches in a manner to define between them three engagement surfaces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said inner and outer recesses (10, 11) extend substantially parallel to the axis of said pedal body (1) and are disposed on the same circle centered on the axis of rotation (A-A) of the pedal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each inner recess (10) of an arch (7) is aligned on an outer recess (11) of an adjacent arch (7). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said recesses (10, 11) are formed by bores and that the ends of the arches (7) have a complementary cylindrical shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said outer recesses (11) are provided on an axially outer support element (12) connected to the pedal body (1). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Automatic pedal according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that said outer support element 12 is fixed to the pedal body (1) with a pin (14) passing through holes (15, 16) provided in said outer support element (12) and in said pedal body (1). ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) Automatic pedal according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that said inner recesses (10) are provided on an axially inner support element (18) connected to said pedal body (1). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Automatic pedal according to claim 14, characterized by the fact that said inner support element (18) is fixed to the pedal body with the help of two pins (20, 21) passing through holes (22, 23) provided in said inner support element (18) so as to extend on opposite sides of said pedal axle (2). ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the two ends of a same arch (7) are directed inwardly, said outer recesses (11) being provided on an end surface (33) of the pedal body (1). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Automatic pedal according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that an end element (34) is fixed to said end surface (33) of said pedal body (1) so as to cap the latter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said arches (7) bear partially against a removable ring (38) disposed on the end of the pedal body (1) so as to permit the adjustment of the pre-stress of the arches (7) as a function of the thickness of said ring (38). ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) Automatic pedal according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said arches (7) partially bear against bearing surfaces provided in recesses (18a, 18b) provided on said pedal body (1).