Bicycle Cuff

Abstract

A lightweight and portable bicycle cuff is disclosed to protect the lower leg, pants, and shoe of a bicycle rider from the effects of dirt, grease, and an exposed chain and front gear(s) while having minimal impact on pedaling by the bicycle rider. In certain embodiments the bicycle cuff provides increased visibility to traffic while riding. In some embodiments the cuff includes a flexible, water resistant woven material which conforms generally to the rider's ankle and foot by means of tailored shaping of the woven material, a strip of reflective material along the rear ankle area, and a loop and hook style closure on one side. In these embodiments the cuff covers from just above the ankle to approximately one third of the way down the front of the rider's shoe and just over the edge of the back of the rider's shoe.

Description

PRIORITY TO EARLIER FILED PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of the filing date of earlier filed co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61 / 725,261 entitled “BICYCLE CUFF,” filed Nov. 12, 2012 and that shares co-inventorship with the present application. The entire teachings and contents of this Provisional Patent Application are hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to lightweight and portable bicycle riding gear, clothing, and accessories, in particular to bicycle cuffs protecting the lower leg, pants, and shoes of bicycle riders from the effects of dirt, grease, and an exposed chain and front gear(s).BACKGROUND[0003]People riding bicycles are often exposed to damage to their clothing and their health from the condition of their bicycle chain and front gear(s), and their proximity to loose articles of clothing near the feet and ankles. While ridin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]In one embodiment, a cuff for a bicycle rider includes an instep flap made from a flexible fabric generally trapezoidal shaped, and having a instep flap top edge, a instep flap bottom edge, a instep flap front edge and an instep flap back edge, a front flap made from a flexible fabric generally quadrilateral shaped having a front flap top edge, a front flap bottom edge, a front flap closure edge and an front flap attachment edge, the front flap attachment edge joined with the instep flap front edge and a back flap made from a flexible fabric generally quadrilateral shaped having a back flap top edge, a back flap bottom edge, a back flap closure edge and a back flap attachment edge, the back flap attachment edge joined with the instep flap back edge. In this embodiment, the instep flap, the back flap and the front flap are tailored to curve around the rider's ankle and shoe, so as to cover approximately from just above the top of the rider's ankle to just below the top of a rider's shoe and to follow the general contour of the rider's ankle. Such a device provides protection from dirt and grease found on bicycle chains and front gears for the legs, pants, shoes, and shoelaces of bicycle riders and is pleasing to look at and merges well with their chosen apparel. The disclosed bicycle cuff also provides a safer ride for bicycle riders by keeping loose material from pant legs and shoelaces away from bicycle chains and front gears, which can potentially cause accidents and provides bicycle riders with leg, pant, shoe and shoelace protection that is durable under riding conditions.

[0007]Another embodiment of the protective cuff apparatus includes a flexible material having an outside surface and an inside surface and a first end and a second end and a top edge and a bottom edge, at least one coupler to secure the first end to the second end to shape the cuff apparatus into a cuff. The top edge has a length that is shorter than the bottom edge so that when the coupler secures the first end to the second end, the protective cuff formed by the flexible material flares outwards from the top edge to the bottom edge and at least one coupler is operable to secure the protective cuff apparatus around an ankle and upper foot region of a person operating a bicycle, the protective cuff apparatus protecting at least a portion of a wearable item worn by the person operating the bicycle. Such an apparatus provides leg, pant, shoe and shoelace protection that is easy for riders to put on and remove and can easily be rolled, folded, and carried by the cyclist when not riding. The disclosed embodiment also can be easily adjusted to fit a wide range of ankle and shoe sizes.

Problems solved by technology

People riding bicycles are often exposed to damage to their clothing and their health from the condition of their bicycle chain and front gear(s), and their proximity to loose articles of clothing near the feet and ankles.

As a result, the material of the rider's pants frequently comes into contact with the bicycle chain and front gear(s), causing grease and dirt to damage the lower portion of the right pant leg.

Damage also occurs when the right shoelace sometimes becomes caught between the chain and front gear(s), resulting in potentially dangerous accidents when the bicycle suddenly stops due to the caught shoelace.

A rider's shoes may also accumulate dirt and grease from proximity to the bicycle chain, causing damage to potentially expensive footwear.

However this is not a workable solution for the many riders who use bicycles as their primary mode of transportation, especially to and from work.

They have come largely in the form of strips, sometimes reflective, which band around the ankle but leave the hem of the pants to spread out and still potentially come into contact with dirt, grease, chains, and gears.

These strip-style ankle wraps come in a variety of materials and thicknesses, none of which provide any protection for the full bottom of the pant leg, or the shoe and shoelaces of the rider.

There have also been metal clips to again attempt to minimize the distance between the rider's pant leg and bicycle chain, but these too suffer from the same short comings as just noted for the strip-style ankle wraps, as well as having the additional failure of often popping right off of the rider's pant if not secured appropriately, or if strained by motion of the pant on the leg while riding.

The aforementioned options also do not provide any form of fashionable camouflage for the rider, as they often stand out in stark contrast to what the rider is wearing.

When riding in clothing that is not specifically designed for cycling, this is often a negative as the rider wishes to travel as seamlessly on a bicycle as he or she might by foot, subway, bus, or car.

Any accessory that is seen to make the rider less stylish or more encumbered is often skipped in favor of alternatives that inevitably result in damage to the rider's skin and clothing, such as rolling up the right pant leg (which often results in grease on the leg itself and interior of the right pant leg) or stuffing the right pant hem inside the rider's sock (which is often unsightly and usually results in grease and dirt on the rider's sock).

Other leg protection devices (e.g., gaiters and leggings) interfere with the pedaling motion by restricting ankle motion and interfering with the bicycle rider's shoe.

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