Bicycle Clipless Pedal Elastomer Locking Sheet

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bicycle pedals with metallic springs are heavy and costly, making them unsuitable for lightweight racing bikes where cost and weight are critical factors.

Innovation Solution

A bicycle clipless pedal design incorporating a plastic elastomer that elastically presses a locking sheet relative to the pedal, providing resilience and reducing weight and manufacturing costs, with a trapezoid-shaped elastomer and pivot mechanism to adapt to cycling shoe cleats.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metallic spring is used in the conventional bicycle pedal, then the pedal provides reliable elastic pressing force for the locking sheet assembly, but the weight and manufacturing cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelastic pressing force reliabilityVSAvoidpedal weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the expensive metallic spring with a plastic elastomer that provides the necessary elastic pressing force. The elastomer is made from polymer material that is both lighter and cheaper to manufacture while maintaining the functional requirement of providing resilient force for the locking sheet assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material construction by combining plastic elastomer with the metallic components of the pedal. The elastomer is integrated into the pedal body structure, creating a hybrid system that leverages the advantages of both materials - the lightness and cost-effectiveness of plastic with the strength and durability of metal where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a metallic spring is used in the conventional bicycle pedal, then the pedal provides reliable elastic pressing force for the locking sheet assembly, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelastic pressing force reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the expensive metallic spring with a plastic elastomer that provides the necessary elastic pressing force. The elastomer is made from polymer material that is both lighter and cheaper to manufacture while maintaining the functional requirement of providing resilient force for the locking sheet assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent integrates the elastomer directly into the pedal body structure, merging the spring function with the pedal housing. This integration eliminates the need for separate metallic spring components and reduces assembly steps, thereby lowering manufacturing cost while maintaining the elastic pressing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Weight of moving object

If a plastic elastomer is used instead of a metallic spring, then the pedal weight and manufacturing cost are reduced, but the elastic pressing force may be insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepedal weightVSAvoidelastic pressing force

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the elastomer's physical parameters including its durometer hardness, cross-sectional dimensions, and pre-compression force to generate sufficient elastic pressing force. By carefully selecting and tuning these parameters, the plastic elastomer achieves the required force output despite being lighter than a metallic spring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material construction by combining plastic elastomer with the metallic components of the pedal. The elastomer is integrated into the pedal body structure, creating a hybrid system that leverages the advantages of both materials - the lightness and cost-effectiveness of plastic with the strength and durability of metal where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 plastic elastomer solution results in a lighter and more cost-effective pedal that maintains the necessary resilience for clipping cycling shoes, addressing the weight and cost issues of conventional pedals.

Implementation Method 1

The elastomer has one end abutting against the pedal and the other end abutting against the locking sheet for proving a resilience force to elastically press the locking sheet toward to the pedal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8464608B2Bicycle clipless pedal

Publication Date: 2013.06.18 WELLGO PEDALS CORP

AI summary

A bicycle clipless pedal includes a pedal, a locking sheet pivotally mounted on the pedal, and a plastic elastomer located between the pedal and the locking sheet. The pedal has a first clipless end extending therefrom. The locking sheet has a second first clipless end extending therefrom opposite to the first clipless end. A clipping space is defined between the first clipless end and the second clipless end. The elastomer has one end abutting against the pedal and the other end abutting against the locking sheet.