Pedal Cap Resilient Latch Mechanism for Composite Pedals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for attaching pedal caps to pedals, especially those made of composite materials, face challenges such as requiring specialist tooling, imposing design restrictions, and potentially weakening the pedal by drilling holes, making them difficult to install and unsuitable for modern composite pedals.
Innovation Solution
A pedal cap design featuring side portions with latch members that retract as the pedal is applied, allowing for easy installation without significant stress on the pedal, using a combination of inwardly and upturned lips and resilient latch members to secure the cap in place, which can be formed from materials like rubber or elastomers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an inwardly extending flange is used to attach the pedal cap to the pedal plate, then the cap can be securely attached, but the installation becomes difficult requiring specialist tooling and producing stresses on the pedal plate
Solution Approach 1:
The latch members are designed to be resilient and movable, allowing them to flex outward during installation and then spring back to engage with the pedal plate. This dynamic behavior enables easy installation without tooling while maintaining secure attachment, resolving the contradiction between attachment security and installation ease.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single continuous inwardly extending flange around the entire periphery, the attachment mechanism is segmented into discrete latch members positioned at specific locations. This segmentation allows the latches to flex independently during installation while providing sufficient attachment security, eliminating the need for specialist tooling.
2Reliability
If studs are inserted through holes in the pedal plate to attach the cap, then secure attachment is achieved, but the pedal plate requires additional machining and composite pedals are weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal cap itself acts as a flexible shell with integrated resilient latch members that can deform during installation and service. This eliminates the need for rigid stud attachments through the pedal plate, preserving the structural integrity of composite pedals while providing secure attachment through the flexible latch mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism is extracted from the pedal plate and relocated to the pedal cap. Instead of modifying the pedal plate with holes and studs, the attachment features are built into the cap as resilient latches that engage with the pedal plate surface, eliminating damage to the pedal structure.
3Reliability
If the entire periphery is formed with an inwardly extending flange, then attachment is achieved, but installation remains difficult requiring specialist tooling to open up the cap
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient latch members are designed to dynamically flex outward during installation and automatically spring back to engage with the pedal plate. This dynamic behavior eliminates the need for specialist tooling to open or deform the cap, simplifying the installation process while maintaining secure attachment around the periphery.
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 enables a strong and secure attachment of the pedal cap to the pedal with reduced stress on the pedal, facilitating easy installation without tools, suitable for composite pedals, and preventing the cap from being easily removed, while maintaining the pedal's structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The or each latch member may be formed of a resilient material. Alternatively, the or each latch member may be resiliently biased, for example by a helical spring.
Data Source
AI summary
Apedal cap comprises a foot pad having a forward surface and a rear surface; the forward surface facing the foot of a user,in use. The pedal cap includes two side portions extending rearwardly from the foot pad, away from the forward surface, each side portion comprising latch members which latch behind the head of a pedal. At each end of the pedal cap, lips are provided. At one end, the lip has an inwardly extending flange, whereas the lip at the other end may be provided with or without an inwardly extending flange. A support for supporting the pedal cap during insertion of the head of a pedal is also provided.