Toe Clip Helper?
 

What are these for exactly? What problem did they solve or attempt to solve?

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...706dbb472d.png
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7922461a6d.jpg

I know the one in the bottom pic is part of the toe clip, but other toe clips had a hole for these which would use the ones in the top pic.
I've been looking at these for awhile and asked a few people who I thought would know but I have yet come up with a definitive answer. Most people think they were used to flip the pedal upright, but that's the job of the tab on the cage plate, and in any case you couldn't reach these from the under side of the pedal to do any good.
The only thing I could come up with is to help the leading toe of your shoe avoid the far cage plate for a smoother transition into the toe clip. Sort of bounce off the axle housing, and ramp your foot onto the cage plate and into the clip.

*Images found on google and are not mine.

It engages and guides the forward end of a cleat, helping to align/engage the slot in the cleat with the rear portion of the pedal cage.

DD

It's a shoe guide, to help ease the toe of your shoe into the clip without snagging on the front cage plate. Not strictly needed, but it can make getting your shoe into the clip a little faster.

Thanks guys, I should have asked here first.