Bicycle Pedal Center-of-Gravity Shifting Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle pedals concentrate exercise force on a specific portion of the foot, leading to pedaling fatigue due to continuous sole contact during pedaling and returning motions.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle pedal equipped with a center-of-gravity changing means, featuring a rotation cavity, a rod-shaped rotation changing shaft, a plate-shaped rotation changing connection member, and rail guide members, allowing the center of gravity to shift forward and backward, optimizing foot placement for increased pushing force and reduced fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pedal location is fixed to enable convenient and safe pushing, then the pedal can be operated safely, but the exercise force concentrates on a specific foot portion causing fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal structure is transformed from a fixed configuration to a dynamic one where the foot support can move forward and backward along the pedal body. The rotation changing shaft with bent portion enables the foot support position to change during pedaling operation, allowing the foot's center of gravity to shift and distribute exercise force across different foot regions, thereby reducing fatigue while maintaining operational safety
Solution Approach 2:
The position parameter of the foot support is made variable through the rotation changing mechanism. By changing the longitudinal position of the foot support on the pedal body, the patent modifies how force is distributed across the foot, enabling the user to shift their weight forward or backward to avoid concentration of force on one specific area, thus preventing fatigue
2Productivity
If the foot center is positioned at the pedal center for strong pushing force, then pushing efficiency increases, but the foot cannot move backward during returning motion
Solution Approach 1:
The foot support is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to shift position during different phases of the pedaling cycle. During the pushing stroke, the foot support can be positioned centrally for maximum force transmission, while during the returning stroke, it can move backward to facilitate natural foot recovery motion, thus achieving both pushing efficiency and ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a bicycle pedal equipped with a center-of-gravity changing means. The bicycle pedal is coupled to a crank arm of a bicycle. The bicycle pedal includes: a pedal unit including a rectangular pedal body coupled to one surface of the crank arm, and a rotation cavity formed through the top and bottom surfaces of the inside of the pedal body; and a center-of-gravity changing means provided above the pedal unit, and configured such that a center of gravity is moved forward or backward. The center-of-gravity changing means includes: a rod-shaped rotation changing shaft fitted into the inside surface of the rotation cavity; a rotation changing bent portion formed to protrude in the center of the rotation changing shaft; a plate-shaped rotation changing connection member fitted over the outside surface of the rotation changing bent portion; and a plate-shaped changing foot support provided above the rotation changing connection member.