Bicycle pedals

Abstract

This invention provides a bicycle pedal that allows for free adjustment of the protrusion height of the screw component without requiring the replacement of the screw component or the addition of spacers. [Solution] Cap bolts 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7i, 7j, 7k, 7l, 7m, and 7n, which are stainless steel screw members, are screwed onto the first deck surface 2a and the second deck surface 2b of the nylon pedal body 2 via stainless steel hexagonal nuts. The pedal body 2 functions as a nylon ring in the nylon nut, and the hexagonal nut functions as a nut in the nylon nut, thereby preventing the screw members from loosening and allowing them to be stably fixed at a freely set protrusion height.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a bicycle pedal capable of freely adjusting the height of pins provided on a deck surface.

Background Art

[0002] Since the driving force of a bicycle is obtained by a user stepping on pedals with their leg strength and rotating the crank, the fit and grip of the pedal deck are more important than those of automobiles and motorcycles. Some bicycle pedals have stud pins (screw members) to enhance the anti-slip effect of the deck surface. There are pedals in which the stud pins are integrally molded with the body and those in which the stud pins are detachable. For detachable stud pins, M3 or M4 bolts / nuts are generally applied. Also, some bicycle pedals have a concave (concave curved surface) deck surface, which makes it easier for the deck surface to fit the sole of a shoe and improves the stability when riding. There are also so-called dual concave pedals with concaves applied in both the front-rear and left-right directions of the deck surface. Some detachable stud pins have variations in the length of the stud pins, which allows the protruding height of the stud pins to be changed according to the application and preference, or to pseudo-adjust the concavity. The greater the protruding height of the stud pins, the greater the anti-slip effect, but the risk of damaging the sole of the shoe or injuring the leg when stepping off the pedal also increases.

[0003] The height of the stud pins on bicycle pedals greatly affects the fit and grip of the pedal deck, so it is desirable that they be freely adjustable according to the intended use and user preference. Therefore, there are known spacers for adjusting the pedal surface of bicycle pedals that allow the sole to fit the pedaling surface without damaging the user's feet or shoes, and that also provide a high level of anti-slip effect (see Patent Document 1). There are also devices that change the stud pin protrusion by altering the length of the stud pins themselves, but these are all stepwise adjustments and do not allow for stepless adjustment of the stud pin height. Therefore, there is a need for a technology that allows for stepless adjustment of stud pin height without requiring the replacement of stud pins or the addition of spacers.

[0004] On the other hand, a mechanism known to prevent bolts from loosening is a locking nut (nylon nut) in which a nylon ring without threads is inserted inside the nut and then pressed to fix the nylon ring (see, for example, Patent Document 2). This is a type of female screw in which a nylon ring is inserted into the upper part of the internal thread of the nut. The inner diameter of the nylon ring is designed to match the effective diameter of the nut's thread, and when it engages with the male thread of the bolt, a female thread is formed in the nylon ring, generating engagement friction. This friction becomes torque, which prevents the nut from loosening due to rotational vibrations, linear vibrations, and shocks applied from various directions. However, in reality, this nylon nut anti-loosening mechanism is not used as a technique for adjusting the height of the stud pins on bicycle pedals. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-071124 [Patent Document 2] Publication No. 54-082270 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] In view of these circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a bicycle pedal that allows for free adjustment of the protrusion height of the screw member without requiring replacement of the screw member or addition of spacers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, a bicycle pedal according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: a resin pedal body having one or more first screw holes formed on the deck surface at least one in front of and behind the pedal axis; a metal member having a second screw hole and arranged so that the first screw hole and the second screw hole are coaxial; and a screw member that is screwed into the first and second screw holes to adjust the degree of anti-slip properties of the deck surface. By screwing the resin pedal body and the metal component together using a screw component, the resin pedal body functions similarly to the nylon ring in a nylon nut, and the metal component functions similarly to the nut in a nylon nut, thereby preventing the screw component from loosening. In this way, the degree of tightening of the screw component can be freely adjusted, and it can be stably fixed in the adjusted position, making it possible to adjust the protruding height of the screw component virtually steplessly to suit the application and preference. Since it is necessary to generate frictional force between the resin pedal body and the screw member, the nominal diameter of the first screw hole provided in the pedal body is preferably smaller than the nominal diameter of the second screw hole. Specifically, when the size of the metal member and screw member is M3, the nominal diameter of the first screw hole (the diameter of the female screw's root) is preferably 2.1 to 2.9 mm, more preferably 2.3 to 2.7 mm, and even more preferably 2.5 mm. When the size of the metal member and screw member is M4, the nominal diameter of the first screw hole is preferably 2.9 to 3.7 mm, more preferably 3.1 to 3.5 mm, and even more preferably 3.3 mm. If the nominal diameter of the first screw hole is too large, the frictional force will not be sufficient, making stepless adjustment difficult. On the other hand, if the nominal diameter is too small, it will be difficult to screw in the screw member, so it is kept within this range.

[0008] Suitable materials for the pedal body include resin materials such as nylon. Suitable materials for metal components include iron, stainless steel, brass, aluminum, and titanium. Suitable materials for screw components include metals such as iron, stainless steel, brass, aluminum, and titanium, but synthetic resin may also be used. The deck surface is the surface of the pedal body that the user's foot comes into contact with during use. In this specification, the front of the deck surface refers to the toe side when the user's foot is in contact with it, and the rear refers to the heel side. Furthermore, the left and right sides of the deck surface are described with the crank chainring mounting side as the right.

[0009] In a bicycle pedal according to a first aspect of the present invention, the pedal body preferably has a pair of first and second deck surfaces that are point-symmetrical with respect to the pedal axis, and a first screw hole is formed on each deck surface. This makes it possible to provide the mechanism of the present invention on both sides of the pedal, and makes it easy to adjust according to the application and preference, such as changing the protrusion height of the screw member on each deck surface. In a first aspect of the present invention, the bicycle pedal may have the same number of slits as the metal members provided on the front and rear ends of the deck surface around the pedal body, into which the metal members are inserted, and the first and second screw holes may be arranged to be coaxial. Providing slits in the pedal body and inserting the metal members through these slits simplifies manufacturing and reduces costs.

[0010] In a bicycle pedal according to a first aspect of the present invention, the metal member may have a plurality of second screw holes formed therein, and a slit may be provided at either the left or right end of the deck surface around the pedal body into which the metal member is inserted so that the same number of first screw holes as the second screw holes are coaxial. Rather than each metal member having its own second screw hole, having a plurality of second screw holes formed in a single metal member prevents the screw member and the metal member from rotating together when the screw member is screwed in.

[0011] In a bicycle pedal according to a first aspect of the present invention, the deck surface has the same length from the pedal shaft to the front end and the same length from the pedal shaft to the rear end, and a first screw hole provided at the front of the first deck surface, a first screw hole provided at the rear of the second deck surface, and a second screw hole formed in a single metal member are provided coaxially, or a first screw hole provided at the rear of the first deck surface, a first screw hole provided at the front of the second deck surface, and a second screw hole formed in a single metal member are provided coaxially. With this configuration, both the screw member provided on the first deck surface and the screw member provided on the second deck surface can be supported by a single metal member, and the function of freely adjusting the protrusion height of the screw member can be realized with fewer members.

[0012] A bicycle pedal according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a metal pedal body having one or more first screw holes formed on the deck surface at least one of the front and rear sides of the pedal axis; a resin member having a second screw hole and arranged so that the first and second screw holes are coaxial; and a screw member that is screwed into the first and second screw holes to adjust the degree of anti-slip properties of the deck surface. By screwing the metal pedal body and the resin component together using a screw component, the resin component functions similarly to the nylon ring in a nylon nut, and the metal pedal body functions similarly to the nut in a nylon nut, thereby preventing the screw component from loosening.

[0013] In a bicycle pedal according to a second aspect of the present invention, the pedal body preferably has a pair of first and second deck surfaces that are point-symmetrical with respect to the pedal axis, and a first screw hole is formed on each deck surface. This makes it possible to provide the mechanism of the present invention on both sides of the pedal, and makes it easy to adjust according to the application and preference, such as changing the protrusion height of the screw member on each deck surface. In a bicycle pedal according to a second aspect of the present invention, the resin member is preferably provided on the outside of the pedal body. Specifically, it is preferable that the resin member is arranged on each deck surface. By providing the resin member on the outside of the pedal body, the replacement of deteriorated resin members becomes easier, improving convenience.

[0014] In a bicycle pedal according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the deck surface may be provided with a length from the pedal axle to the front end that is longer than the length from the pedal axle to the rear end, and many first and second screw holes and screw members may be provided in front of the rear of the deck surface. By providing the deck surface with a length from the pedal axle to the front end that is longer than the length to the rear end, the center of the deck surface in the front-rear direction becomes eccentrically forward with respect to the pedal axle. This results in a more desirable fit and grip. Furthermore, by providing many screw members in front of the rear of the deck surface, the fit and grip are further improved.

[0015] A bicycle pedal according to the first or second aspect of the present invention may further have first and second screw holes and screw members provided on the deck surface near the pedal axle. Providing screw members near the pedal axle improves the direct feel of the grip.

[0016] In a bicycle pedal according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the threaded member is preferably a cap bolt or a set screw. By using a cap bolt as the threaded member, a relatively large tool can be used, and the protrusion height of the threaded member can be easily adjusted. Furthermore, when a set screw is used as the threaded member, the degree of design freedom can be increased compared to a cap bolt, and further weight reduction can be achieved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] The bicycle pedal of the present invention has the advantage of allowing the protrusion height of the screw member to be freely adjusted without the need to replace the screw member or add spacers.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] External perspective view of the bicycle pedal of Example 1 [Figure 2] Explanatory drawing of the bicycle pedal of Example 1 [Figure 3] Plan view of the bicycle pedal of Example 1 [Figure 4] Perspective image view of the bicycle pedal of Example 1 [Figure 5] Functional explanatory drawing of the bicycle pedal of Example 1 [Figure 6] Explanatory drawing of the deck surface of the bicycle pedal [Figure 7] Perspective image view of the bicycle pedal of Example 2 [Figure 8] Explanatory drawing of the metal member and slit of Example 2 [Figure 9] Explanatory drawing of the bicycle pedal of Example 2 [Figure 10] Explanatory drawing of the bicycle pedal of Example 3 [Figure 11] Perspective image view of the bicycle pedal of Example 4 [Figure 12] Explanatory drawing of the bicycle pedal of Example 4 [Figure 13] Explanatory drawing of the bicycle pedal of Example 5 [Figure 14] Perspective image view of the bicycle pedal of Example 6 [Figure 15] Explanatory drawing of the bicycle pedal of Example 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail while referring to the drawings. Note that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following examples and illustrated examples, and numerous changes and modifications are possible.

Examples

[0020] Figure 1 shows an external perspective view of the bicycle pedal of Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 1, in the bicycle pedal 1 of Embodiment 1, cap bolts (7a to 7n), which are threaded members, are screwed onto the first deck surface 2a and the second deck surface 2b of the resin pedal body 2, with the tips exposed. By using cap bolts (7a to 7n) as threaded members, it is possible to use tools that are relatively larger than set screws, and the protrusion height of the threaded members can be easily adjusted. The cap bolts (7a to 7n) all have the same structure, differing only in their mounting position. The pedal body 2 is made of nylon.

[0021] First, the structure of the deck surface of the bicycle pedal 1 of Embodiment 1 will be described. Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of the deck surface of the bicycle pedal, where (1) shows an image of the bicycle pedal in use, (2) shows the first deck surface, and (3) shows the second deck surface. The pedal body 2 of the bicycle pedal 1 has a structure that rotates around the pedal shaft 16, and as shown in Figure 6(1), the foot 17 is brought into contact with the first deck surface 2a or the second deck surface 2b and then pressed down to use it. Therefore, when the foot 17 is placed on the first deck surface 2a shown in Figure 6(2), the toe side is positioned on the front part 41a and the heel side is positioned on the rear part 41b. The first deck surface 2a has a length L1 from the pedal shaft 16 to its front end that is longer than the length L2 from the pedal shaft 16 to its rear end. As a result, the center of the first deck surface 2a in the front-rear direction is eccentric with respect to the pedal shaft 16 towards the front part 41a, which provides a more desirable fit and grip. Similarly, as shown in Figure 6(3), the second deck surface 2b also has a length L1 from the pedal shaft 16 to its front end that is longer than the length L2 from the pedal shaft 16 to its rear end. As a result, the center of the first deck surface 2a in the front-rear direction is eccentric with respect to the pedal shaft 16 towards the front part 42a. This structure is also the same for embodiments 2, 3, 5, and 6 described later.

[0022] Figure 2 shows an explanatory diagram of the bicycle pedal of Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 2, the pedal body 2 has screw holes (5a to 5n) formed as first screw holes. Screw bolts (7a to 7g) are screwed into screw holes (5a to 5g) from the second deck surface 2b side, and as shown in Figure 1, the tips of the cap bolts (7a to 7g) are exposed on the first deck surface 2a. Also, screw holes (5h to 5n) are screwed into cap bolts (7h to 7n) from the first deck surface 2a side, and the tips of the cap bolts (7h to 7n) are exposed on the second deck surface 2b. The position and number of the first screw holes can be changed as appropriate. For example, they may be provided only at the front or rear of the deck surface, such as providing only screw holes (5a-5d, 5h-5k) or only screw holes (5e-5g, 5l-5n). Also, for example, on the first deck surface 2a, screw holes (5a, 5c, 5e, 5g) may be provided as first screw holes, while screw holes (5b, 5d, 5f) may be provided as screw holes with a larger nominal diameter than the first screw holes. In this way, first screw holes that function as nylon nuts and screw holes that do not function as nylon nuts may be mixed. This makes it easier to design according to the user's needs. These points also apply to Examples 2 to 6 described later.

[0023] Figure 3 shows a plan view of the bicycle pedal of Embodiment 1. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the bicycle pedal of Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 1 or Figure 3, the pedal body 2 has slits (3a to 3n) for inserting hexagonal nuts (6a to 6n). As for the specific method of attaching the cap bolts, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, first, the hexagonal nuts (6a to 6n) are inserted into the slits (3a to 3n) for the hexagonal nuts, respectively, so that the screw holes (5a to 5n) and the second screw holes provided in the hexagonal nuts (6a to 6n) are coaxial. In this state, as shown in Figure 4, the cap bolts (7a to 7n) are screwed into the hexagonal nuts (6a to 6n) and the screw holes (5a to 5n) of the pedal body 2 to attach them. Using cap bolt 7a as an example, the screw hole 5a and the second screw hole in the hexagonal nut 6a are positioned coaxially, and then the cap bolt 7a is screwed in from the second deck surface 2b side. The same procedure is followed for the cap bolts (7b to 7g), screwing them in from the second deck surface 2b side. The cap bolts (7a-7g) have their tips exposed on the first deck surface 2a side, while the cap bolts (7h-7n) have their tips exposed on the second deck surface 2b side. Therefore, for the cap bolts (7h-7n), the screw holes (5h-5n) and the second screw holes in the hexagonal nuts (6h-6n) are made coaxial, and the bolts are screwed in from the first deck surface 2a side.

[0024] Figure 5 is a functional diagram of the bicycle pedal of Example 1, where (1) shows the pedal before cap bolt installation and (2) shows the pedal after cap bolt installation. Figure 5 describes an example where the tip of the cap bolt 7 is exposed on the first deck surface 2a, but the same applies when it is exposed on the second deck surface 2b. The screw holes 5 in the figure are the same as the screw holes (5a~5n), the hexagonal nuts 6 are the same as the hexagonal nuts (6a~6n), and the cap bolts 7 are the same as the cap bolts (7a~7n). For the sake of explanation, the female threads of the screw holes (5,60) and the threads of the male threads of the cap bolts 7 are omitted from the illustration. As shown in Figure 5(1), the nominal diameter φ1 of the screw hole 5 provided in the pedal body 2 is smaller than the nominal diameter φ2 of the hexagonal nut 6. Specifically, when the size of the hexagonal nut 6 and cap bolt 7 is M3, the nominal diameter φ2 (diameter of the female thread root) of the hexagonal nut 6 or the outer diameter of the male thread of the cap bolt 7 is 3.0 mm, and the inner diameter of the female thread of the hexagonal nut 6 or the diameter of the male thread root of the cap bolt 7 is 2.495 mm, while the nominal diameter φ1 (diameter of the female thread root) of the screw hole 5 is approximately 2.5 mm. Furthermore, if the size of the hexagonal nut 6 and the cap bolt 7 is M4, the nominal diameter φ2 (diameter of the female thread root) of the hexagonal nut 6 or the outer diameter of the male thread of the cap bolt 7 is 4.0 mm, and the inner diameter of the female thread of the hexagonal nut 6 or the diameter of the male thread root of the cap bolt 7 is 3.242 mm, while the nominal diameter φ1 (diameter of the female thread root) of the screw hole 5 is approximately 3.3 mm.

[0025] As shown in Figure 5(2), the protrusion height H of the cap bolt 7 can be freely adjusted by screwing the cap bolt 7 in from below. Specifically, tightening the cap bolt 7 increases the protrusion height H of the cap bolt 7, improving grip. Conversely, loosening the cap bolt 7 lowers the protrusion height H of the cap bolt 7, reducing grip. The pedal body 2 is made of nylon, and as shown in Figure 5(1), the nominal diameter φ1 of the screw hole 5 is smaller than the nominal diameter φ2 of the hexagonal nut 6. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5(2), by screwing the cap bolt 7 in from below, the pedal body 2 functions similarly to the nylon ring in a nylon nut, and the hexagonal nut 6 functions similarly to the nut in a nylon nut. As a result, frictional force is obtained from the screw hole 5 provided in the pedal body 2, preventing the cap bolt 7 from loosening due to vibration or impact. In this way, the structure allows for stable fixing at a protrusion height that can be freely set according to the application and preference.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 and 6, in this embodiment, the tips of four cap bolts (7a to 7d) are exposed on the front portion 41a of the first deck surface 2a, and the tips of three cap bolts (7e to 7d) are exposed on the rear portion 41b. As shown in Figure 6, the bicycle pedal 1 has the front-to-rear center of the first deck surface 2a eccentrically toward the front portion 41a with respect to the pedal shaft 16, and more cap bolts are provided on the front portion 41b than on the rear portion 41b. Therefore, the protrusion height of each cap bolt can be freely adjusted according to the application and preference, resulting in a structure that provides a more desirable fit and grip. Similarly, the second deck surface 2b has a structure that allows the tips of four cap bolts (7h to 7k) to be exposed on the front part 42a of the second deck surface 2b, and the tips of three cap bolts (7l to 7n) to be exposed on the rear part 42b. As shown in Figure 6, the bicycle pedal 1 has the front-to-rear center of the second deck surface 2b eccentric to the front part 42a side with respect to the pedal shaft 16, and more cap bolts are provided on the front part 42b than on the rear part 42b. Therefore, the protrusion height of each cap bolt can be freely adjusted according to the application and preference, resulting in a structure that provides a more desirable fit and grip.

[0027] Thus, it is possible not only to individually change the protrusion height of the cap bolts on the same deck surface, but also to set different heights for, for example, the first deck surface 2a and the second deck surface 2b. This allows the user to easily change the fit and grip simply by flipping the deck surface and changing the deck surface they step on. When disassembling, the hexagonal nuts (6a to 6n) can be easily removed from the slits (3a to 3n) by releasing the screw-on state between the cap bolts (7a to 7n) and the pedal body 2 and the hexagonal nuts (6a to 6n). [Examples]

[0028] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the bicycle pedal of Embodiment 2. As shown in Figure 7, the bicycle pedal 11 of Embodiment 2 consists of a pedal body 20, a pedal shaft 16, plate nuts (8a-8d), and cap bolts (7a-7n). Unlike the bicycle pedal 1 of Embodiment 1 shown in Figure 4, the bicycle pedal 11 has plate nuts (8a-8d) as metal components provided inside the pedal body 20 instead of hexagonal nuts (6a-6n), and is screwed with cap bolts (7a-7n). The method for attaching the plate nuts (8a~8d) to the pedal body 20 will be described. Figure 8 shows an explanatory diagram of the metal members and slits in Example 2. Figure 9 shows an explanatory diagram of the bicycle pedal in Example 2. As shown in Figure 8, slits (30a to 30d) are provided at the end of the pedal body 20 on the crank chainring mounting side. The slits (30a to 30d) are deep and extend close to the other end, providing an internal space that can accommodate plate nuts (8a to 8d).

[0029] The plate nuts (8a, 8b) are metal components used on the first deck surface 20a. The plate nut 8a has four screw holes 80 formed as second screw holes, and when the plate nut 8a is inserted into the slit 30a, the screw holes 80 are positioned coaxially with the first screw holes (5a~5d) (see Figure 9). Similarly, the plate nut 8b has three screw holes 80 formed as second screw holes, and when the plate nut 8b is inserted into the slit 30b, the screw holes 80 are positioned coaxially with the first screw holes (5e~5g). Furthermore, the plate nuts (8c, 8d) are metal components used on the second deck surface 20b. The plate nut 8c has four screw holes 80 formed as second screw holes, and when the plate nut 8c is inserted into the slit 30c, the screw holes 80 are positioned coaxially with the screw holes (5h~5k), which are the first screw holes. Similarly, the plate nut 8d has three screw holes 80 formed as second screw holes, and when the plate nut 8d is inserted into the slit 30d, the screw holes 80 are positioned coaxially with the screw holes (5l~5n), which are the first screw holes.

[0030] As shown in Figure 8, the plate nut 8a can be easily attached to the pedal body 20 by inserting it into the slit 30a. The plate nuts (8b to 8d) are similarly attached by inserting them into the slits (30b to 30d). Note that Figure 8 shows an image with the cap bolt attached for convenience, but in reality, the plate nuts (8a to 8d) are attached before the cap bolt.

[0031] Next, the method for installing the cap bolts (7a~7n) will be explained. After attaching the plate nuts (8a~8d) to the pedal body 20, the cap bolts (7a~7n) are screwed into the pedal body 20 and the plate nuts (8a~8d) as shown in Figure 7. Specifically, the cap bolts (7a~7d) are inserted into the screw holes (5a~5d) from the second deck surface 20b side and screwed into the screw holes (5a~5d) and the screw holes 80 of the plate nut 8a. Similarly, the cap bolts (7e~7g) are inserted into the screw holes (5e~5g) from the second deck surface 20b side and screwed into the screw holes (5e~5g) and the screw holes 80 of the plate nut 8b. In contrast, the cap bolts (7h~7k) are inserted into the screw holes (5h~5k) from the first deck surface 20a side and screwed into the screw holes (5h~5k) and the screw holes 80 of the plate nuts 8c. Similarly, the cap bolts (7l~7n) are inserted into the screw holes (5l~5n) from the first deck surface 20a side and screwed into the screw holes (5l~5n) and the screw holes 80 of the plate nuts 8d. In this way, by using plate nuts (8a~8d) with multiple screw holes 80 formed therein, it is possible to prevent the cap bolts (7a~7n) and the metal member from rotating together when the cap bolts (7a~7n) are screwed in. Furthermore, when disassembling, the plate nuts (8a~8d) can be easily removed from the slits (30a~30d) by releasing the screwed state between the cap bolts (7a~7n) and the pedal body 20 and the plate nuts (8a~8d). [Examples]

[0032] Figure 10 shows an explanatory diagram of the bicycle pedal of Embodiment 3. As shown in Figure 10, the bicycle pedal 12 of Embodiment 3 consists of a pedal body 20, a pedal shaft 16, plate nuts (8a~8d), and set screws (9a~9n). That is, unlike the bicycle pedal 11 of Embodiment 2, the bicycle pedal 12 uses set screws (9a~9n) instead of cap bolts (7a~7n) as threaded members. By using set screws as threaded members, the design freedom of the pedal body 20 can be increased compared to cap bolts, and weight reduction can be achieved. The configuration other than the threaded members is the same as in Embodiment 2. [Examples]

[0033] Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the bicycle pedal of Example 4. As shown in Figure 11, the bicycle pedal 13 of Example 4 consists of a pedal body 21, a pedal shaft 16, plate nuts (81a, 81b), and set screws (9a to 9n). Unlike the pedal body 2 of Example 1, and the pedal body 20 of Example 2 or Example 3, the pedal body 21 of the bicycle pedal 13 has approximately equal lengths for the first deck surface 21a and the second deck surface 21b from the pedal shaft 16 to their front ends, and for the pedal body 21 from the pedal shaft 16 to their rear ends. The pedal body 21 is provided with screw holes (5a to 5n) as the first screw holes (see Figure 12). Specifically, screw holes (5a to 5d) located in front of the first deck surface 21a and screw holes (5l to 5n) located behind the second deck surface 21b are arranged alternately in a row at approximately equal intervals. Similarly, screw holes (5e to 5g) located behind the first deck surface 21a and screw holes (5h to 5k) located in front of the second deck surface 21b are arranged alternately in a row at approximately equal intervals. As shown in Figure 11, slits (31a, 31b) are provided at the end of the pedal body 21 on the crank chainring mounting side. The slits (31a, 31b) are deep and extend close to the other end, providing an internal space that can accommodate plate nuts (81a, 81b).

[0034] Figure 12 shows an explanatory diagram of the bicycle pedal of Embodiment 4. As shown in Figure 12, the plate nuts (81a, 81b) are metal members that act on both the first deck surface 21a and the second deck surface 21b, and each has seven screw holes 80 arranged in a row at approximately equal intervals as second screw holes. Specifically, by inserting the plate nut 81a into the slit 31a, the screw holes (5a~5d, 5l~5n), which are the first screw holes, and the screw holes 80 are arranged to be coaxial. Similarly, by inserting the plate nut 81b into the slit 31b, the screw holes (5e~5g, 5h~5k), which are the first screw holes, and the screw holes 80 are arranged to be coaxial. With this configuration, a single plate nut 81a can support both the set screws (9a-9d) provided on the first deck surface 21a and the set screws (9l-9n) provided on the second deck surface 21b. Similarly, a single plate nut 81b can support both the set screws (9e-9g) provided on the first deck surface 21a and the set screws (9h-9k) provided on the second deck surface 21b. Thus, by using the configuration of the bicycle pedal 13 in Example 3, it is possible to achieve a simpler configuration with fewer components, while still providing the functionality to freely adjust the protrusion height of the screw member.

[0035] Regarding the installation method, the plate nuts (81a, 81b) are attached to the pedal body 21, and then the set screws (9a~9n) are screwed in to secure it. Specifically, the set screws (9a~9g) are screwed into the screw holes (5a~5g) and plate nuts (81a, 81b) from the first deck surface 21a side. In contrast, the set screws (9h~9n) are screwed into the screw holes (5h~5n) and plate nuts (81a, 81b) from the second deck surface 21b side. Furthermore, since the screw holes (5a to 5n) have female threaded portions (not shown) formed from the first deck surface 21a to the second deck surface 21b, set screws can be attached to any of the screw holes from both the first deck surface 21a and the second deck surface 21b. Therefore, not only can the protrusion height of the attached set screws be adjusted, for example, by exposing the tips of five or more set screws on the front part of the first deck surface 21a, but the number of set screws provided on one deck surface can also be increased or decreased according to the user's preference and application. [Examples]

[0036] Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram of the bicycle pedal of Embodiment 5, where (1) is a perspective view and (2) is an explanatory diagram of the metal member and slits. As shown in Figure 13(1), the bicycle pedal 14 of Embodiment 5 has slits (32a to 32d) on the left and right sides of the pedal body 22 and near the pedal shaft 16, and plate nuts (82a to 82d) are inserted into the slits (32a to 32d), respectively. The slits (32a to 32d) each have an internal space that can accommodate the plate nuts (82a to 82d). The other configurations are the same as those of the bicycle pedal 12 of Embodiment 3.

[0037] First, the structure of the plate nuts (82a~82d) and slits (32a~32d) will be explained. As shown in Figure 13(1), the plate nuts (82a~82d) are metal members that act on both the first deck surface 22a and the second deck surface 22b, and each is provided with two screw holes 80 as second screw holes. Specifically, for the front part of the first deck surface 22a or the rear part of the second deck surface 22b, the plate nut 82a is inserted into the slit 32a shown in Figure 13(2) so that the first screw holes (5o, 5u) and the screw holes 80 are coaxial. Similarly, by inserting the plate nut 82b into the slit 32b, the first screw holes (5p, 5v) and the screw holes 80 are coaxial. Furthermore, for the rear portion of the first deck surface 22a or the front portion of the second deck surface 22b, the plate nut 82c is inserted into the slit 32c shown in Figure 13(2) so that the first screw holes (5q, 5s) and the screw hole 80 are coaxial. Similarly, the plate nut 82d is inserted into the slit 32d so that the first screw holes (5r, 5t) and the screw hole 80 are coaxial. With this configuration, a single plate nut 82a can support both the set screw 9o provided on the first deck surface 22a and the set screw 9u provided on the second deck surface 22b. Similarly, a single plate nut can support both the set screws provided on the first deck surface 22a and the second deck surface 22b, such as the set screws (9p, 9v) with the plate nut 82b, the set screws (9q, 9s) with the plate nut 82c, and the set screws (9r, 9t) with the plate nut 82d. This configuration makes it possible to freely adjust the protrusion height of the screw members with fewer components.

[0038] Next, we will explain how to attach the set screw (9°~9V) to the pedal body 22. After attaching the plate nuts (82a~82d) to the pedal body 22, the set screws (9o~9v) are screwed in to secure it. Specifically, the set screws (9o~9r) are screwed into the screw holes (5o~5r) and plate nuts (82a~82d) from the first deck surface 22a side. In contrast, the set screws (9s~9v) are screwed into the screw holes (5s~5v) and plate nuts (82a~82d) from the second deck surface 22b side. Furthermore, since the screw holes (5o~5v) have female threads (not shown) formed from the first deck surface 22a to the second deck surface 22b, set screws can be attached to either screw hole from both the first deck surface 22a and the second deck surface 22b. Therefore, not only can the protrusion height of the attached set screws be adjusted, for example, by exposing the tips of five or more set screws on the first deck surface 22a, but the number of set screws provided on one deck surface can also be increased or decreased according to the user's preference and application. Furthermore, when disassembling, the set screws (9o~9v) can be released from the pedal body 22 and the plate nuts (82a~82d) by releasing the screw connection between them, allowing the plate nuts (82a~82d) to be easily removed from the slits (32a~32d). [Examples]

[0039] Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the bicycle pedal of Example 6. As shown in Figure 14, the bicycle pedal 15 of Example 6 consists of a pedal body 23, a pedal shaft 16a, cover members (24a to 24d), and cap bolts (7a to 7v). The pedal body 23 is made of aluminum. The cover members (24a to 24d) are all made of nylon. By screwing the aluminum pedal body 23 and the resin cover members (24a-24d) together using cap bolts (7a-7v), the cover members (24a-24d) function similarly to the nylon ring in a nylon nut, and the aluminum pedal body 23 functions similarly to the nut in a nylon nut, thus preventing the cap bolts (7a-7v) from loosening.

[0040] The pedal body 23 has first screw holes in the same positions as the screw holes (5a to 5n) provided on the pedal body 2 of Embodiment 1, and eight additional screw holes (50o to 50v) are provided near the pedal shaft 16a. Therefore, the pedal body 23 has a total of 22 first screw holes. The cap bolts (7o to 7v) in the figure correspond to the screw holes (50o to 50v) to which they are to be attached. Each cover member (24a, 24c) is provided with five screw holes 25 and six holes 26 without female threads, respectively, so that they are coaxial with the first screw hole when attached to the pedal body 23. Each cover member (24b, 24d) is provided with six screw holes 25 and five holes 26 without female threads, respectively, so that they are coaxial with the first screw hole when attached to the pedal body 23.

[0041] Cover member 24a is attached to the front part of the first deck surface 23a, cover member 24b to the rear part of the first deck surface 23a, cover member 24c to the front part of the second deck surface 23b, and cover member 24d to the rear part of the second deck surface 23b. The cover members (24a to 24d) are positioned to sandwich the pedal body 23, and then the cap bolts (7a to 7v) are screwed into the first screw hole of the pedal body 23 and the screw holes 25 of the cover members (24a to 24d) to attach them.

[0042] The installation method for the cap bolts (7a~7n) is described below. The cap bolts (7a~7g, 7o~7r) are inserted from the second deck surface 23b side. For the cap bolts (7a~7d, 7o, 7p), they are screwed into the cover member 24d and then the pedal body 23 in that order, and the tip is exposed by inserting it through the hole 26 in the cover member 24a. For the cap bolts (7e~7g, 7q, 7r), they are screwed into the cover member 24c and then the pedal body 23 in that order, and the tip is exposed by inserting it through the hole 26 in the cover member 24b. In contrast, the cap bolts (7h~7n, 7s~7v) are inserted from the first deck surface 23a side. For the cap bolts (7h~7k, 7s, 7t), they are screwed into the cover member 24b and then the pedal body 23 in that order, and the tip is exposed by inserting it through the hole 26 in the cover member 24c. Furthermore, the cap bolts (7l~7m, 7u, 7v) are screwed into the cover member 24a and the pedal body 23 in that order, and the tips are exposed by inserting them through the hole 26 of the cover member 24d. By screwing the cap bolts (7a-7v) into the first screw holes of the pedal body 23 and the screw holes 25 of the cover members (24a-24d), the protrusion height of the cap bolts (7a-7v) can be freely adjusted. Specifically, tightening the cap bolts (7a-7v) increases their protrusion height, improving grip. Conversely, loosening the cap bolts (7a-7v) reduces their protrusion height, decreasing grip.

[0043] Furthermore, although not shown in the diagram, the nominal diameter of the screw holes 25 in the cover members (24a~24d) is smaller than the nominal diameter of the first screw holes (50o~50v) etc. provided in the pedal body 23. Specifically, if the size of the first screw holes and cap bolts (7a~7v) is M3, the nominal diameter of the first screw holes (diameter of the female thread root) or the outer diameter of the male thread of the cap bolts (7a~7v) is 3.0 mm, and the inner diameter of the female thread of the first screw holes or the diameter of the male thread root of the cap bolts (7a~7v) is 2.495 mm, while the nominal diameter of the screw hole 25 (diameter of the female thread root) is approximately 2.5 mm. Furthermore, if the size of the first screw hole and the cap bolts (7a~7v) is M4, the nominal diameter of the first screw hole (the diameter of the female thread root) or the outer diameter of the male thread of the cap bolt (7a~7v) is 4.0 mm, and the inner diameter of the female thread of the first screw hole or the diameter of the male thread root of the cap bolt (7a~7v) is 3.242 mm, while the nominal diameter of the screw hole 25 (the diameter of the female thread root) is approximately 3.3 mm. The nominal diameter of the screw holes 25 in the nylon cover members (24a-24d) is smaller than the nominal diameter of the first screw holes in the aluminum pedal body 23. Therefore, when the cap bolts (7a-7v) are screwed in, frictional force is obtained from the screw holes 25 in the cover members (24a-24d), preventing the cap bolts (7a-7v) from loosening due to vibration or shock. In this way, the structure allows for stable fixing at a protrusion height that can be freely set according to the application and preference.

[0044] Furthermore, the cap bolts (7a~7v) also serve to fix the cover members (24a~24d) to the pedal body 23. Specifically, the cap bolts (7a~7d, 7o, 7p) fix the cover member 24d, the cap bolts (7e~7g, 7q, 7r) fix the cover member 24c, the cap bolts (7h~7k, 7s, 7t) fix the cover member 24b, and the cap bolts (7l~7m, 7u, 7v) fix the cover member 24a to the pedal body 23. Therefore, by releasing the screwed-in state between the cap bolts (7a~7v) and the pedal body 23 or the cover members (24a~24d), the cover members (24a~24d) can be easily removed.

[0045] (Other examples) 1) Unlike the bicycle pedal 1 of Embodiment 1 shown in Figures 1 to 4, a resin pedal body having only one of the first or second deck surfaces may be used. For example, in a resin pedal body 2, only the first deck surface 2a is provided, and screw holes (5a to 5g) and slits (3a to 3g) are formed on the first deck surface 2a. With hexagonal nuts (6a to 6g) inserted into the slits (3a to 3g), cap bolts (7a to 7g) are screwed into the screw holes (5a to 5g), resulting in a structure where the tips are exposed. By having only one deck surface, weight reduction and manufacturing cost reduction can be achieved.

[0046] 2) Unlike the bicycle pedal 11 of Embodiment 2 shown in Figures 7 to 9, and the bicycle pedal 12 of Embodiment 3 shown in Figure 10, a resin pedal body having only one of the first or second deck surfaces may be used. For example, in a resin pedal body 20, only the first deck surface 20a is provided, and screw holes (5a to 5g) and slits (30a, 30b) are formed on the first deck surface 20a. With plate nuts (8a, 8b) inserted into the slits (30a, 30b), cap bolts (7a to 7g) are screwed into the screw holes (5a to 5g), resulting in a structure where the tips are exposed. By having only one deck surface, weight reduction and manufacturing cost reduction can be achieved. Also, in the case of the bicycle pedal 12 of Embodiment 3, if only one deck surface is provided, a similar configuration can be achieved using set screws (9a to 9g).

[0047] 3) Unlike the bicycle pedal 13 of Embodiment 4 shown in Figures 11 and 12, a resin pedal body having only one of the first or second deck surfaces may be used. For example, in a resin pedal body 21, only the first deck surface 21a is provided, and screw holes (5a~5g) and slits (31a, 31b) are formed on the first deck surface 21a. The plate nut 81a, which is inserted into the slits (31a, 31b), has four screw holes 80 at positions corresponding to the set screws (9a~9d), and the plate nut 81b has three screw holes 80 at positions corresponding to the set screws (9e~9g). With the plate nuts (81a, 81b) inserted into the slits (31a, 31b), the set screws (9e~9g) are screwed into the screw holes (5a~5g), resulting in a structure where the tips are exposed. By having only one deck surface, weight reduction and manufacturing cost reduction can be achieved. Alternatively, the deck surface may be limited to one side only, and screw holes (5a to 5n) may be provided in the same manner as in Example 4. The plate nuts (81a, 81b) may also be provided with the same number of screw holes 80 as in Example 4. This configuration allows for the number of set screws provided on the front and rear of the deck surface to be freely increased or decreased, improving convenience.

[0048] 4) Unlike the bicycle pedal 14 of Embodiment 5 shown in Figure 13, a resin pedal body having only one of the first or second deck surfaces may be used. For example, in a resin pedal body 22, only the first deck surface 22a is provided, and slits (32a~32d) are provided on the left and right sides of the pedal body 22 and near the pedal shaft 16, and plate nuts (82a~82d) are inserted into the slits (32a~32d), respectively. The plate nuts (82a~82d) may each have only one screw hole 80 as a second screw hole, as in Embodiment 5, or they may have two or more screw holes 80. For example, if one screw hole 80 is provided, a set screw (9o~9r) is attached as in Embodiment 5. By having only one deck surface, weight reduction and manufacturing cost reduction can be achieved. 5) Unlike the bicycle pedal 15 of Embodiment 6 shown in Figures 14 and 15, an aluminum pedal body having only one of the first or second deck surfaces may be used. [Industrial applicability]

[0049] This invention is useful as a pedal for bicycles. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 1,11~15 Bicycle pedals 2.20~23 Pedal body 2a, 20a, 21a, 22a, 23a First deck side 2b, 20b, 21b, 22b, 23b Second deck side 3a~3n, 30a~30d, 31a, 31b, 32a~32d Slit 5,5a~5v,25,50о~50v,60,80 screw hole 6,6a~6n Hex nuts 7,7a~7v Cap bolt 8a~8d, 81a, 81b, 82a~82d Plate nuts 9A~9V Set Screw 16,16a Pedal shaft 17 Foot 24a~24d Cover members 26 Hole 41a,42a Front part 41b,42b Rear part H protrusion height L1, L2 lengths

Claims

1. A resin pedal body having one or more first screw holes formed on the deck surface, at least one on the front and rear sides with respect to the pedal axis, A metal member having a second screw hole formed therein, and the first screw hole and the second screw hole arranged to be coaxial, Screw members that are screwed into the first and second screw holes to adjust the degree of anti-slip properties of the deck surface, A bicycle pedal characterized by having the following features.

2. The bicycle pedal according to claim 1, characterized in that the pedal body has a pair of first and second deck surfaces that are point-symmetrical with respect to the pedal axis, and a first screw hole is formed on each deck surface.

3. The same number of slits as the metal member are provided at the front and rear ends of the deck surface surrounding the pedal body. The bicycle pedal according to claim 2, characterized in that the metal member is inserted through the slit and the first screw hole and the second screw hole are arranged to be coaxial.

4. The metal member has a plurality of second screw holes formed therein. The bicycle pedal according to claim 2, characterized in that a slit is provided at either the left or right end of the deck surface surrounding the pedal body into which the metal member is inserted, such that the same number of first screw holes as the second screw holes are coaxial.

5. The deck surface has the same length from the pedal shaft to the front end and the same length from the pedal shaft to the rear end. A first screw hole provided at the front of the first deck surface, a first screw hole provided at the rear of the second deck surface, and a second screw hole formed in one of the metal members are provided so as to be coaxial with each other. The bicycle pedal according to claim 4, characterized in that a first screw hole provided at the rear of the first deck surface, a first screw hole provided at the front of the second deck surface, and a second screw hole formed in one of the metal members are provided so as to be coaxial.

6. A metal pedal body having one or more first screw holes formed on the deck surface, at least one on the front and rear sides with respect to the pedal axis, A resin member having a second screw hole formed therein, and the first screw hole and the second screw hole arranged to be coaxial, Screw members that are screwed into the first and second screw holes to adjust the degree of anti-slip properties of the deck surface, A bicycle pedal characterized by having the following features.

7. The bicycle pedal according to claim 6, characterized in that the pedal body has a pair of first and second deck surfaces that are point-symmetrical with respect to the pedal axis, and a first screw hole is formed on each deck surface.

8. The bicycle pedal according to claim 7, characterized in that the resin member is provided on the outside of the pedal body.

9. The deck surface is provided such that the length from the pedal shaft to the front end is longer than the length from the pedal shaft to the rear end. A bicycle pedal according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or 6 to 8, characterized in that many first and second screw holes and the screw members are provided in front of the rear of the deck surface.

10. The bicycle pedal according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the deck surface is further provided with first and second screw holes and the screw member near the pedal shaft.

11. The bicycle pedal according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the screw member is a cap bolt or a set screw.

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