Variable Magnetic Binding System for Bicycle Pedal

Abstract

An adjustable magnetic binding system used for attaching a shoe to a bicycle pedal. The magnetic element is integrated into the bicycle pedal in such a manner as to exert attractive forces to the shoe, which contains a shoe piece. The pedal may contain a variety of different types of magnets, which may be retained within the pedal by a protective layer of material. These variables can be easily modified to suit the rider's skill level and desired attractive force to the pedal. The shoe is further secured onto the pedal by means of a retaining system. The shoe is readily removed by the rider with a natural rotation of the foot, which breaks the attractive force.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A variable magnetic binding system, comprising:
 a pedal body having outer surfaces, a cavity disposed between at least two of the outer surfaces, and at least one magnetic body removably insertable into the cavity such that a magnetic field through the pedal body is increased or decreased by an inserted magnetic body.   
     
     
         22 . The variable magnetic binding system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one magnetic body comprises an electromagnet having an adjustable magnetic field. 
     
     
         23 . The variable magnetic binding system of  claim 21 , the pedal body further comprising at least one spacer insertable into the cavity, wherein the at least one magnetic body and the spacer are selectively arrangeable in the cavity in order to increase or decrease the magnetic field at at least one outer surface of the pedal body. 
     
     
         24 . The variable magnetic binding system of  claim 21 , the pedal body further comprising at least one cover plate removably attached to the pedal body, the at least one cover plate securing the at least one magnetic body in the cavity, wherein thickness of the at least one cover plate is adjustable by adding one or more additional cover plates onto the at least one cover plate or by exchanging the at least one cover plate for a thicker or thinner separate cover plate, the thickness change thereby increasing or decreasing the magnetic field through the pedal body at at least one of the outer surfaces. 
     
     
         25 . The variable magnetic binding system of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one shoe piece magnetically attracted to the pedal body at least when the at least one magnetic body is inserted into the cavity, wherein the shoe piece comprises flexible magnetic material magnetically attracted to the pedal body at least when the at least one magnetic body is inserted into the cavity. 
     
     
         26 . The variable magnetic binding system of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one shoe piece magnetically attracted to the pedal body at least when the at least one magnetic body is inserted into the cavity, and further comprising an alternate shoe piece interchangeable with the shoe piece, the alternate shoe piece having at least one size dimension and the shoe piece having at least one corresponding size dimension wherein the size dimension of the alternate shoe piece is larger than the corresponding size dimension of the shoe piece and thereby has greater magnetic attraction to the pedal body. 
     
     
         27 . The variable magnetic binding system of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one shoe piece magnetically attracted to the pedal body at least when the at least one magnetic body is inserted into the cavity, wherein the shoe piece is comprised of multiple pieces of magnetically-attracted material linked together by a flexible material. 
     
     
         28 . The variable magnetic binding system of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one shoe piece magnetically attracted to the pedal body at least when the at least one magnetic body is inserted into the cavity, further comprising a shoe comprising a sole, wherein the shoe piece is selectively retractable into the sole. 
     
     
         29 . The variable magnetic binding system of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one shoe piece magnetically attracted to the pedal body at least when the at least one magnetic body is inserted into the cavity, further comprising one or more retaining feature on an outside surface of the pedal body, the retaining feature guiding and receiving the shoe piece to a retained position on the pedal body. 
     
     
         30 . A variable magnetic foot pedal, comprising:
 a pedal body having outer surfaces and at least one magnetic body disposed between at least two opposing outer surfaces, the at least one magnetic body being positionally adjustable between the opposing outer surfaces such that the at least one magnetic body increases a magnetic field at a first surface of the opposing outer surfaces and decreases a magnetic field at a second surface of the opposing outer surfaces when the position of the at least one magnetic body is adjusted toward the first surface.   
     
     
         31 . The variable magnetic foot pedal of  claim 30 , wherein the position of the at least one magnetic body is adjustable by retainably sliding within a cavity disposed between outer surfaces of the pedal body. 
     
     
         32 . The variable magnetic foot pedal of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one magnetic body is positionally adjustable by a retaining mechanism. 
     
     
         33 . A variable magnetic binding system, comprising:
 a binding body having outer surfaces and containing at least one adjustable electromagnet producing a magnetic field at an outer surface of the binding body;   a power source providing energy to the electromagnet; and   a shoe piece magnetically attracted to the binding body when the electromagnet is producing the magnetic field.   
     
     
         34 . The variable magnetic binding system of  claim 33 , wherein the electromagnet is adjustable by a user control outside of the binding body.