Lateral-Rotating Bicycle Pedal to Reduce Knee Strain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard bicycle pedals cause strain on a cyclist's knees due to the fixed position of the feet relative to the pedals during pedaling, leading to discomfort and potential injury.
Innovation Solution
The development of pedals that allow the cyclist's feet to rotate side-to-side on a vertical axis perpendicular to the pedal axle, incorporating self-centering mechanisms and springs to return the pedal to a neutral position, enabling lateral movement and reducing knee strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the pedal allows lateral rotation of the foot, then knee strain is reduced, but the pedal structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal incorporates a dynamic bearing assembly that allows the pedal body to rotate laterally relative to the crank arm during pedaling motion. This dynamic adjustment enables the foot to move side-to-side, reducing knee strain while maintaining the basic pedal function through controlled rotational freedom in a specific plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The pedal is divided into separate functional components: a fixed crank arm, a rotatable bearing assembly, and a pedal body. This segmentation allows the lateral rotation function to be isolated in the bearing assembly, enabling knee strain reduction without requiring the entire pedal structure to be complex.
2Ease of operation
If the pedal allows lateral foot movement, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly is designed with self-aligning features that automatically maintain proper orientation during lateral rotation. The bearing structure self-adjusts to accommodate foot movement while maintaining precise rotational alignment, reducing the need for extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing assembly allows controlled changes in the angular orientation parameter of the pedal body relative to the crank arm. By designing the bearing with specific geometric constraints, the system permits lateral rotation within defined limits while maintaining precision through the bearing's inherent geometric relationships.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces knee strain by allowing for lateral foot movement, providing a more comfortable and ergonomic pedaling experience.
Implementation Method 1
a forward spring supported by the pedal body member and adapted to impart a force to move the axle shaft toward the rear side of the shaft cavity; and a rear spring supported by the pedal body member and adapted to impart a force to move the axle shaft toward the forward side of the shaft cavity
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of a pedal for use on a device such as a bicycle or stationary bicycle are provided. A pedal may include a pedal body member having an internal cavity. The pedal may include an axle having a shaft adapted to extend into the internal cavity. A sliding bearing block may be secured to a distal end of the axle shaft. The pedal body member may be adapted for transverse or side-to-side rotatable movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the axle shaft. The pedal body member may be self-centering and include one or more springs to apply force to move the pedal body member toward a home or resting position relative to the axle shaft. The pedal may be adapted so that the user's foot can be placed on either a top surface or a bottom surface of the pedal body member.