Bicycle pedal

Abstract

The platform of this bicycle pedal has a U shape and uses a movable beam structure to straddle a crank and move horizontally at right angles to the crank, so that the pedal can be stored on the back side of the crank. Two parallel supports and one perpendicular fixed beam are rigidly joined to a main shaft 7 to form a U-shaped body 1. One perpendicular movable beam 14 is added to the main shaft 7, a guide hole 11 is provided on each lateral surface of the U-shaped body 1, and both ends of the movable beam 14 are fixed with respective stepped bolts 13 passed through the guide holes 11 so that the movable beam 14 is guided to the guide holes 11 and can slide between the U-shaped body 1. A through-hole is formed in the U-shaped body 1 and the movable beam 14, and is made to pass through the main shaft 7, allowing the U-shaped body 1 and the movable beam 14 to rotate. One end of the main shaft 7 is passed through a connector 16 installed in the crank 15, and tightened and released with a first ball lock 18, so that the main shaft is expandable, thereby facilitating storage and assembly of the pedal.

Description

Bicycle pedals

[0001] The present invention relates to bicycle pedals.

[0002] Folding bicycle pedals are useful when parking bicycles in limited spaces or when using them in conjunction with public transportation. Folding the pedal tread and main shaft makes the bicycle more compact, saving storage space, making them practical. Practical folding pedals are used on folding bicycles that are only used for relatively short distances and do not place heavy loads on the pedals. Simply making the pedals easy to fold without tools is sufficient for practical use.

[0003] However, in order to fold pedals, the footplate or main shaft is typically cut off and connected with a hinge. To minimize vibration during pedaling, ample reinforcement is required. Furthermore, while ease of folding and assembly is important, the locking mechanism must be complex and robust to ensure durability and safety. This results in increased weight and volume, making them unsuitable for long-term use or riding styles that place a heavy load on the pedals.

[0004] In applications such as cycling, this drawback is a major obstacle when riding in a style that places a heavy load on the pedals. Specifically, if the pedals are not rigid enough, pedaling loss occurs, and even a small amount of pedaling loss can result in a large loss of energy over long distances. Also, if the pedals are heavy, they can be difficult to climb long, steep slopes.

[0005] One solution to this problem is to use separate pedals that can be removed from the base, but this method still requires the pedals to be separated and reattached, which can lead to new problems such as oil stains from the removed pedals and storage space.

[0006] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-144678 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-145080

[0007] The problem to be solved is that cutting the pedal tread and main shaft, which is an obstacle to compactly storing the pedal, results in increased weight and volume when trying to compensate for the lack of strength caused by cutting the pedal tread and main shaft, and the object of the present invention is to provide a pedal that can be stored compactly without cutting the pedal tread and main shaft.

[0008] The main feature of this invention is that the pedal can be slid behind the crank without folding the pedal tread and main shaft. This is achieved by making the tread U-shaped and with a movable beam structure, which straddles the crank and moves horizontally at a right angle to the crank, allowing the pedal to be slid behind the crank.

[0009] The present invention allows the pedal tread and main shaft to be stored behind the crank without cutting (and breaking) them, thereby eliminating the need for reinforcing materials while maintaining the same strength as a regular pedal, minimizing increases in weight and volume, and eliminating the need to separate and join the pedal, making it easy to use and saving space.

[0010] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a pedal in a first configuration example of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of a pedal in a first configuration example of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a pedal in a stored state in a first configuration example of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a side view showing a pedal in a stored state in a first configuration example of the present invention; FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a main shaft locking mechanism, where (a) is a cross-sectional view of a connector 16, (b) is a plan view of a connecting port of the connector 16, (c) is a cross-sectional view of a dial 19, (d) is a plan view of a connecting portion of the dial 19, (e) is a plan view of the connector 16 and the dial 19 connected together, (f) is a cross-sectional view of the connector 16 and the dial 19 connected together, (g) is a plan view of a locked state, and (h) is a plan view of an unlocked state. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a pedal in a second configuration example of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a pedal in a stored state in a second configuration example of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a side view of a pedal in a stored state in a second configuration example of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a pedal in a third configuration example of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a pedal in a stored state in a third configuration example of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a pedal in a stored state in a third configuration example of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a side view of the pedal of FIG. 12.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to specific drawings.

[0012] The bicycle pedal of the present invention achieves the objective of compactly storing the pedal without cutting the pedal tread and main shaft, with a minimum number of parts, while maintaining strength and without compromising durability and safety.

[0013] 1 to 5 are diagrams showing a first example of a bicycle pedal according to the present invention. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bicycle pedal according to the first example of the present invention, and includes a U-shaped tread 1, a beam 2, a screw 3, a spacer 4, a bearing 5, a washer 6, a main shaft 7, a push spring 8, a spring-engaged locking groove 9, a spring-unengaged locking groove 10, a guide hole 11, a mating lock 12, a shoulder bolt 13, a movable beam 14, a crank 15, a connector 16, a running-engaged locking groove 17, a first ball lock 18, a dial 19, and a fixed beam 26.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a side view of a pedal corresponding to the pedal of FIG. 1, and reference numerals are the same as in FIG.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the pedal in a stored state in the first configuration example of the present invention, and reference numerals are the same as those in FIG.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a side view of a pedal corresponding to the pedal of FIG. 3, and reference numerals are the same as in FIG.

[0017] 5 is an explanatory diagram of the main shaft locking mechanism, which is a locking mechanism formed by including a connector 16 and a dial 19. Reference numeral 20 denotes an insertion portion, 21 denotes an insertion port, 22 denotes an elastic ring, 23 denotes a reset spring, and 24 denotes a spring fixing screw.

[0018] Two girders 2 parallel to the main shaft 7 are rigidly joined to one fixed beam 26 perpendicular thereto to form a U-shaped tread 1. A movable beam 14 perpendicular to the main shaft 7 is added, and guide holes 11 are provided on both sides of the U-shaped tread 1. Both ends of the movable beam 14 are pin-joined with stepped bolts 13 passed through each guide hole 11. This allows the movable beam 14 and the U-shaped tread to slide relative to each other without the stepped bolts 13 restricting the girders 2 in a direction parallel to the main shaft 7, and prevents torsional deformation of the U-shaped tread 1. A through hole is provided in the center of the U-shaped step 1 and the movable beam 14, a spacer 4 is placed in the through hole of the U-shaped step 1, and a washer 6 with a diameter larger than that of the spacer 4 is sandwiched between the U-shaped step 1 and the main shaft 7 and attached with a screw 3 passed through the spacer 4, allowing the U-shaped step 1 to rotate on the main shaft 7 but preventing it from sliding. The other end of the main shaft 7 is passed through a push spring 8, the movable beam 14, and a connector 16 disposed on a crank 15, in that order, and a first ball lock 18 is fitted into a fixed groove 17 during travel and fixed, allowing the U-shaped step 1 and the movable beam 14 to rotate freely on the main shaft 7.

[0019] The fitting lock 12 fits into the stepped bolt 13 as the U-shaped tread 1 slides, and has a curved edge set to allow it to pass slidably and a protrusion that catches on the stepped bolt 13, and when the stepped bolt 13 passes over the curved edge of the fitting lock 12, the protrusion of the fitting lock 12 catches on the stepped bolt 13, preventing the U-shaped tread 1 from moving backward.

[0020] When storing the pedal, the dial 19 is rotated with one hand to release the restriction by the first ball lock 18, and the side of the fitting lock 12 is pressed in with the other hand to release the protrusion of the fitting lock 12 that is caught on the stepped bolt 13, and the U-shaped tread 1 is pressed in the back side of the crank 15, so that the first ball lock 18 fits into the spring-loaded fixing groove 9, and the pedal is stored.

[0021] When assembling the pedal, turning the dial 17 with a finger relieves the pressure on the elastic ring 22 and also relieves the constraint of the first ball lock 18, allowing the main shaft 7 to slide. The push spring 8 automatically spreads the U-shaped tread 1 and movable beam 14 apart, and when the stepped bolt 13 engages with the mating lock 12 and slides through, the protrusion on the mating lock 12 catches on the stepped bolt 13, preventing the U-shaped tread 1 from moving backward. Pulling the main shaft 7 out to its fullest extent also engages the first ball lock 18 in the running fixing groove 17, firmly connecting the main shaft 7 and the crank 15. Furthermore, the push spring 8 continues to apply tension to the U-shaped tread 1 and movable beam 14, preventing the U-shaped tread 1 from accidentally sliding on the main shaft 7. When the operator releases his / her finger, the reset spring 23 automatically returns the dial 17 to its original position, that is, the locking position of the first ball lock 18.

[0022] By arranging the main shaft lock mechanism (especially the dial 19) on the back side of the crank 15, the outward protrusion of the crank 15 is reduced, and by removing the push spring 8 between the U-shaped tread 1 and the movable beam 14 and fixing it at the position of the spring no-time fixing groove 10, the pedal can be stored more compactly, so that the folding bicycle can be stored in narrow spaces such as furniture or walls, and niche spaces that could not be used before can be effectively used.

[0023] Figures 6 to 9 show a second example of a bicycle pedal according to the present invention. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the pedal according to the second example of the present invention, in which 2 represents a beam, 3 represents a screw, 5 represents a bearing, 7 represents a main shaft, 11 represents a guide hole, 13 represents a shoulder bolt, 14 represents a movable beam, 15 represents a crank, 16 represents a connector, 25 represents a second ball lock, 26 represents a fixed beam, 30 represents a pin, 32 represents a nut, 33 represents a bushing, 34 represents a spring, 35 represents a lock hole, and 36 represents a spring.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the pedal of FIG. 6 in the middle of being retracted, and reference numerals are the same as those in FIG.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the stored state of the pedal in the second configuration example of the present invention, and the reference numerals are the same as those in FIG.

[0026] FIG. 9 is a side view of the pedal of FIG. 8, and reference numerals are the same as those in FIG.

[0027] Two beams 2 parallel to the main shaft 7 are rigidly joined to one fixed beam 26 perpendicular thereto to form a U-shaped step. Furthermore, a movable beam 14 perpendicular to the main shaft 7 is added, and guide holes 11 are provided on each side of the beam 2. Step bolts 13 are passed through each guide hole 11, and both ends of the movable beam 14 are pin-connected to the beam 2, preventing torsional deformation of the U-shaped step. The stepped bolts 13 do not restrict the beam 2 in a direction parallel to the main shaft 7, allowing the movable beam 14 and the U-shaped step to slide relative to each other. Through holes are provided in the centers of the fixed beam 26 and the movable beam 14, and a bushing 33 is placed in the through hole of the movable beam 14, allowing the U-shaped step to rotate and slide on the main shaft 7. Furthermore, by pushing the stepped bolt 13, which acts like a push button, to remove the pin 30 from the lock hole 35, the U-shaped step can slide together with the main shaft 7 and be stored inside the crank 15. Furthermore, a second ball lock 25 is provided midway along the main shaft 7 to prevent the U-shaped step from sliding unintentionally. Simply pressing the second ball lock 25 with a light force will cause the spring 36 to deflate, allowing it to pass through the connector 16 and bushing 33, eliminating the need to operate the second ball lock 25 every time the U-shaped step is retracted or extended.

[0028] Figures 10 to 13 show a third example of a bicycle pedal according to the present invention. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the pedal according to Example 3 of the present invention, in which 2 represents a beam, 5 represents a bearing, 7 represents a main shaft, 11 represents a guide hole, 13 represents a shoulder bolt, 14 represents a movable beam, 15 represents a crank, 16 represents a connector, 26 represents a fixed beam, 32 represents a nut, 33 represents a bushing, 34 represents a spring, 35 represents a lock hole, 37 represents a piano wire, 38 represents a push button, 39 represents a push ball, 40 represents a groove, 41 represents a center hole, and 42 represents a third ball lock.

[0029] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the stored state of the pedal in the third configuration example of the present invention, and the reference numerals are the same as those in FIG.

[0030] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the pedal in the middle of being stored in the third configuration example of the present invention, and the reference numerals are the same as those in FIG.

[0031] FIG. 13 is a side view of the pedal of FIG. 12, and reference numerals are the same as in FIG.

[0032] A U-shaped tread is formed by combining two girders 2 arranged parallel to the main shaft 7 with a fixed beam 26 rigidly connected perpendicularly thereto. In addition to this structure, a movable beam 14 is provided perpendicular to the main shaft 7, and two guide holes 11 are provided on each side of the girder 2, one at the top and one at the bottom. Step bolts 13 are passed through these guide holes 11, and both ends of the movable beam 14 are pin-connected to the girders 2, preventing deformation due to torsion of the U-shaped tread. The stepped bolts 13 do not restrict the girders 2 in a direction parallel to the main shaft 7, allowing the movable beam 14 and the U-shaped tread to slide relative to each other. Furthermore, through holes are provided in the centers of the fixed beam 26 and the movable beam 14, and bushings 33 are installed in the through holes in the movable beam 14. This structure allows the U-shaped tread to rotate and slide on the main shaft 7.

[0033] A center hole 41 is drilled in the center of the main shaft 7, and a piano wire 37 is threaded through the center hole 41. A spring 34 is sandwiched between the outer end of the U-shaped tread of the piano wire 37, and a push button 38 is attached. A push ball 39 is attached to the opposite end of the piano wire 37. Furthermore, a lock hole 35 (see Figure 13) is drilled from the side of the main shaft 7 near the inner end of the crank 15. Two spherical third ball locks 42 are installed inside the lock hole 35, and an outlet is machined to prevent spillage. With this structure, when the push button 38 is pressed, the piano wire 37 pushes out the push ball 39, and the third ball lock 42 disengages from the groove 40 of the connector 16 and fits into the lock hole 35. In this state, the U-shaped tread can be slid along with the main shaft 7 and stored inside the crank 15. Furthermore, when the finger is released from the push button 38, the push ball 39 returns due to the repulsive force of the spring 34, pushing out the third ball lock 42. As a result, the third ball lock 42 fits into the groove 40 of the connector 16 and automatically returns to the locked state.

[0034] When setting the pedal, the U-shaped treadle is pulled out from inside the crank 15 while pressing the push button 38, and when the finger is released after the main shaft 7 is completely set inside the connector 16, the spring 34 works to return the push ball 39, and the third ball lock 42 fits into the groove 40 of the connector 16, completing the locking.

[0035] The fastening force can be improved by changing the third ball lock 42 from a spherical shape to a wedge shape. Also, by changing the push button 38 to a threaded structure including a bolt such as a hexagonal bolt, the problem of mixing up the right and left threads, which occurs with conventional screw-type pedals, can be solved.

[0036] 1: U-shaped tread 2: Girder 3: Screw 4: Spacer 5: Bearing 6: Washer 7: Main shaft 8: Push spring 9: Locking groove when spring is engaged 10: Locking groove when spring is not engaged 11: Guide hole 12: Fitting lock 13: Shoulder bolt 14: Movable beam 15: Crank 16: Connector 17: Locking groove when traveling 18: First ball lock 19: Dial 20: Insertion part 21: Insertion port 22: Elastic ring 23: Reset spring 24: Spring fixing screw 25: Second ball lock 26: Fixed beam 30: Pin 32: Nut 33: Bush 34: Spring 35: Lock hole 36: Spring 37: Piano wire 38: Push button 39: Push ball 40: Groove 41: Center hole 42: Third ball lock

Claims

1. A bicycle pedal characterized by having a main shaft and a U-shaped tread formed by rigidly joining two girders parallel to the main shaft and one fixed beam perpendicular to the main shaft, which straddles the crank, moves horizontally at right angles to the crank, and is stored behind the crank.

2. A bicycle pedal as described in claim 1, further comprising an additional movable beam that is perpendicular to the main shaft, guide holes on both sides of the U-shaped tread, and shoulder bolts that pass through the guide holes and secure both ends of the movable beam, allowing the movable beam to move between the U-shaped treads and slide on the main shaft.

3. A bicycle pedal as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the mating lock has a curved edge that fits into the stepped bolt as the U-shaped tread slides, allowing it to pass freely, and a protrusion that catches on the stepped bolt; when the curved edge of the mating lock passes over the stepped bolt, the protrusion of the mating lock catches on the stepped bolt, preventing the U-shaped tread from moving backward.

4. A bicycle pedal as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein guide holes are provided on each side of the beam, bolts are passed through each guide hole to fix both ends of the movable beam to the beam, through holes are provided in the centre of the fixed beam and the movable beam, and a bush is placed in the through hole of the movable beam, allowing the U-shaped tread to rotate and slide on the main shaft, and by pushing in the bolt and removing the pin from the lock hole, the U-shaped tread can slide together with the main shaft and be stored behind the crank.

5. A bicycle pedal as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a center hole is drilled in the centre of the main shaft, a piano wire is threaded through it, a spring is sandwiched between the piano wire and the outer end of the U-shaped tread, a push button is attached, and a push ball is attached to the other end of the piano wire, a lock hole is drilled in the side of the main shaft near the inner end of the crank, a ball lock is installed inside the lock hole, and the outlet is machined to prevent spillage, so that when the push button is pressed, the piano wire pushes out the push ball, causing the ball lock to disengage from the groove in the connector and fit into the lock hole, allowing the U-shaped tread to slide together with the main shaft and be stored behind the crank.

6. A bicycle pedal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ball lock can be changed to a wedge shape, and the push button can be changed to a screw-in structure including a bolt.

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