BACKGROUND ART As is known, in recent years, there has been a rapid increase, at both professional and amateur level, in the use of pedals incorporating a fastening device or so- called"fast-fit coupling"by which the shoe of the cyclist is connected rigidly to but releasable easily from the bicycle pedal to maximize pedal efficiency, and which at the same time is safe, lightweight, and easy to use.

Pedals equipped with fast-fit couplings normally comprise two selectively connectable parts : a first part fixed to the end of the pedal crank in the same way as a conventional pedal; and a second part fixed rigidly to the cycling shoe.

More specifically, the second part normally comprises an appropriately shaped fastening plate; and a number of screws for securing the fastening plate rigidly

to the sole of the cycling shoe, while at the same time enabling adjustment of the position of the plate on the shoe sole so that the metatarsus-phalanx articulation of the cyclist's foot is aligned with the pedal axis.

At present, the position of the fastening plate or so-called"cleatcleat"on the shoe sole is adjusted by trial and error, with a far from negligible margin of error.

Though initially underestimated by experts and technicians, correct adjustment of the fastening plate is vitally important for achieving maximum performance, both at professional and amateur level: optimizing the mechanics of each pedal stroke as a function of the specific anatomical characteristics of the user, in fact, greatly reduces muscular fatigue for a given amount of effort.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a fast-fit coupling adjusting device designed to permit extremely accurate adjustment of the position of the fastening plate on the shoe sole, and to accurately determine the spatial quantities determining the position of the fastening plate on the sole.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pedal fast-fit coupling adjusting device, characterized by comprising: - a flat reference plate; - a cleat platform which is located on top of said

flat reference plate, is hinged to the body of the flat reference plate to rotate about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to said flat reference plate, and has a central seat for receiving the cleat of the fast-fit coupling; - shoe locating means for securing the cycling shoe firmly on the flat reference plate, with the cleat inserted inside the seat on the cleat platform, and with the longitudinal axis of the shoe coincident with a main reference axis which is fixed with respect to the flat reference plate and substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation; and - at least a first graduated scale located on said flat reference plate, close to said cleat platform, and by which to determine the angle between the longitudinal reference axis of the cleat and said main reference axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a pedal fast-fit coupling adjusting device in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of the Figure 1 adjusting device; Figures 3 and 4 show two plan views, with parts removed for clarity, of the Figure 1 adjusting device in two possible operating configurations.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to Figures 1 and 2, number 1 indicates as a whole an adjusting device for accurately positioning a fastening plate or cleat 2 on the sole of the cycling shoe, so as to permit fast, easy, precise alignment of the metatarsus-phalanx articulation of the cyclist's foot with the pedal axis.

Adjusting device 1 substantially comprises a flat reference plate 3 preferably, though not necessarily, in the shape of an elongated rectangle; a cleat platform 4 which is located on top of flat reference plate 3 to cover a through opening 5 formed in the flat reference plate, and is hinged to the body of flat reference plate 3 to rotate about an axis R substantially perpendicular to the flat reference plate; and a number of lock members 6 for selectively connecting cleat platform 4 rigidly integral with flat reference plate 3.

More specifically, cleat platform 4 is defined by a flat plate facing and hinged to flat reference plate 3 by a known through pin 7, and shaped to comprise a central through seat 8 complementary in shape to, and for housing, the cleat 2 of the fast-fit coupling.

With particular reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4, through pin 7 extends through flat plate 4 and flat reference plate 3 coaxially with axis R, and through seat 8 is formed in flat plate 4 so that the longitudinal reference axis A of cleat 2 is coplanar with and substantially perpendicular to axis R about which flat

plate 4 and cleat 2 housed inside it rotate. flat plate 4 also comprises at least one projecting appendix 9, possibly replaceable by a reference notch or mark, directly facing a graduated scale 10, which is so located on flat reference plate 3 as to indicate the angle between longitudinal reference axis A of cleat 2, and a fixed reference axis B, perpendicular to axis R, of flat reference plate 3. Axis B that coincides with the longitudinal axis of the cycling shoe when the shoe is positioned on adjusting device 1 to correctly position cleat 2 of the fast-fit coupling of the pedal.

In the example shown, axis R and axis B are coplanar, and both lie in the vertical centre plane of flat reference plate 3.

Graduated scale 10 is located on the surface of flat reference plate 3 so as to extend in the rotation plane of cleat platform 4, and is defined by an arc of a circular goniometric scale with its centre at rotation axis R of cleat platform 4.

In the example shown, flat plate 4 also comprises two projecting appendixes 11, also replaceable by reference notches or marks, facing two reference notches or marks 12 located on flat reference plate 3 to indicate the ideal location of the reference line of the metatarsus-phalanx articulation of the cyclist's foot.

When both projecting appendixes 11 are aligned with both reference notches or marks 12, the reference line of the metatarsus-phalanx articulation of the cyclist's foot is

perfectly perpendicular to reference axis B of flat reference plate 3 and therefore of the cycling shoe.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, lock members 6 are defined by a number of bolts 6, which are tightened and released manually, are fitted through the bodies of cleat platform 4 and flat reference plate 3, and engage in sliding manner a number of through slots formed in the body of both cleat platform 4 and flat reference plate 3.

The through slots in flat reference plate 3, hereinafter indicated 13, are arc-shaped to permit rotation of cleat platform 4 about axis R; and, in the example shown, the through slots in cleat platform 4, hereinafter indicated 14, are straight and extend, on cleat platform 4, perpendicular to longitudinal reference axis A of cleat 2 to permit lateral movement of flat plate 4 in a direction perpendicular to longitudinal reference axis A.

It should be pointed out that, to permit lateral movement of cleat platform 4 with respect to flat reference plate 3, flat plate 4 has a further straight through slot 15 parallel to through slots 14 and which is engaged by through pin 7.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 4, in combination with through slots 14 and 15 permitting lateral movement of cleat platform 4, flat plate 4 also comprises at least one projecting appendix 16 (two in the example shown), which may be replaced by reference

notches or marks, and which directly faces a corresponding graduated scale 17 located on flat reference plate 3 to indicate the lateral displacement of longitudinal reference axis A of cleat 2 with respect to reference axis B of flat reference plate 3.

Like graduated scale 10, graduated scale 17 is located on the surface of flat reference plate 3, extends in the rotation/translation plane of cleat platform 4, and is defined by a portion of a straight measuring scale perpendicular to axis B.

With reference to Figures 1,2, 3 and 4, adjusting device 1 also comprises shoe locating means 18 for securing the cycling shoe firmly on flat reference plate 3, with the longitudinal axis of the shoe coincident with reference axis B of flat reference plate 3 (which, in the example shown, coincides with the longitudinal axis of flat reference plate 3); and possibly a heel supporting member 19 for maintaining the heel of the cycling shoe at a predetermined height off the surface of flat reference plate 3 to simulate the normal in-use condition of the shoe.

In the example shown, shoe locating means 18 comprise two movable locators 20 and 21 located on flat reference plate 3, in front of and behind cleat platform 4, and which are fitted to the flat reference plate to slide parallel to axis B (i. e. to the longitudinal axis of flat reference plate 3); and a number of lock members 22 for selectively connecting the two movable locators 20

and 21 rigidly integral with flat reference plate 3.

Both movable locators 20 and 21 have reference notches or marks 22a for aligning the longitudinal axis of the cycling shoe with reference axis B of flat reference plate 3, and at least one of them has at least one projecting appendix 23, possibly replaceable by a reference notch or mark, directly facing a graduated scale 24 located on flat reference plate 3 to indicate the distance between the movable locator 20,21 and the reference line of the metatarsus-phalanx articulation of the cyclists'foot defined on flat reference plate 3 by reference notches or marks 12.

More specifically, like graduated scale 17, graduated scale 24 is located on the surface of flat reference plate 3, extends in the rotation/translation plane of cleat platform 4 and movable locators 20 and 21, and is defined by a portion of a straight measuring scale parallel to axis B.

In the example shown, movable locators 20 and 21 each have two projecting appendixes 23 extending on opposite sides of reference axis B of flat reference plate 3, and each facing a respective straight graduated scale 24 parallel to axis B.

With particular reference to Figure 2, each movable locator 20,21 is defined, in the example shown, by two flat L-shaped sections fixed to each other to form an S shape by bolts enabling adjustment of the overall height of the two sections and therefore of the locator.

In the example shown, the lock members 22 for selectively connecting locators 20 and 21 rigidly integral with flat reference plate 3 are defined by a number of known bolts 22, which are locked and released manually, are fitted through the body of movable locator 20,21 and of flat reference plate 3, and engage in sliding manner a number of straight through slots 25 extending parallel to reference axis B (i. e. to the longitudinal axis) of flat reference plate 3.

Bolts 6 and bolts 22 all provide for frictionally locking cleat platform 4 and movable locators 20,21 respectively to flat reference plate 3 by tightening them onto the surface of flat reference plate 3.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, heel supporting member 19 is defined, in the example shown, by a bolt 26, which is locked and released manually and fitted through flat reference plate 3; and by a coil spring 27 fitted to the shank of bolt 26, so that one end rests on flat reference plate 3, and the other end rests on the bolt head located above flat reference plate 3.

More specifically, bolt 26 is located, on flat reference plate 3, between cleat platform 4 and one of movable locators 20,21, and the shank engages in sliding manner a straight through slot 28 extending, coaxially with axis B, along flat reference plate 3.

The cycling shoe is positioned on adjusting device 1 with the heel resting on the head of bolt 26, and coil spring 27 keeps the head of bolt 26 at the maximum

distance possible from the surface of flat reference plate 3, depending on the position of the nut on the bolt shank; which position, like the position of bolt 26 on flat reference plate 3, is obviously adjustable according to the type of cycling shoe involved.

With reference to Figure 2, adjusting device 1, in the example shown, comprises a stand frame 29, and flat reference plate 3 is hinged by one of its short lateral edges to frame 29 to rotate, about a horizontal axis C, between a first operating position in which flat reference plate 3 is horizontal, and a second operating position in which flat reference plate 3 is vertical to allow access to cleat 2 fixed to the sole of the cycling shoe. In which case, adjusting device 1 preferably, though not necessarily, also comprises a lock member 30 for locking flat reference plate 3 to stand frame 29 to prevent rotation about axis C.

Operation of adjusting device 1 is obvious. First, the shoe, with cleat 2 fixed loosely to the sole, is placed on adjusting device 1, so that cleat 2 fits inside through seat 8 in cleat platform 4; then the longitudinal axis of the shoe is aligned with reference axis B of flat reference plate 3 with the aid of shoe locating means 18 and heel supporting member 19, after first positioning the two movable locators 20,21 against the toe and heel of the shoe to determine, with the aid of graduated scales 24, the position of cleat 2 with respect to the toe and heel of the shoe.

Once the shoe is aligned, cleat platform 4 is moved on flat reference plate 3 to position cleat 2 as required with the aid of graduated scales 10,17 and 24. Finally, flat reference plate 3 is raised together with the shoe for direct access to cleat 2 through opening 5, and the screws for fixing cleat 2 rigidly to the sole of the shoe are tightened.

The advantages of adjusting device 1 as described and illustrated herein are obvious: in particular, the device provides for quickly and accurately adjusting the position of cleat 2 on the shoe, and for indicating the spatial quantities determining the position of the cleat 2 on the shoe.

Adjusting device 1 also has the big advantage of being adaptable easily to any type of pedal with a fast- fit coupling : though shaped for a specific type of fast- fit coupling, cleat platform 4 can be removed quickly and replaced with another shaped for a different type of fast-fit coupling.

Clearly, changes may be made to adjusting device 1 as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.