Bicycle Clipless Pedal Plastic Elastomer Spring Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle clipless pedals are heavy due to metallic springs, which increase manufacturing costs and are not suitable for lightweight racing bikes.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle clipless pedal assembly using a plastic elastomer to provide elastic pressure between the pedal and locking sheet, replacing the metallic spring with a lighter and cheaper elastic material to achieve the necessary resilience for clipping a cycling shoe cleat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metallic spring is used to provide elastic pressing force in the locking sheet assembly, then the required resilience and clipping force are achieved, but the weight and manufacturing cost increase
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 inexpensive plastic material and can be easily manufactured, reducing both weight and cost while maintaining the required resilience for clipping the cycling shoe cleat to the pedal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic elastomer, altering the physical properties while maintaining the functional requirement of elastic pressing force. The elastomer's material characteristics provide sufficient resilience for the clipping mechanism without the weight and cost penalties of metallic springs
2Reliability
If a metallic spring is used to provide elastic pressing force in the locking sheet assembly, then the required resilience and clipping force are achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases
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 inexpensive plastic material and can be easily manufactured, reducing both weight and cost while maintaining the required resilience for clipping the cycling shoe cleat to the pedal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic elastomer, altering the physical properties while maintaining the functional requirement of elastic pressing force. The elastomer's material characteristics provide sufficient resilience for the clipping mechanism without the weight and cost penalties of metallic springs
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 reduces the weight and manufacturing cost of the pedal while maintaining the required resilience for effective clipping, addressing the need for lightweight and cost-effective clipless 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
Data Source
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AI summary
A bicycle clipless pedal includes a pedal (1), a locking sheet (2) pivotally mounted on the pedal (1), and a plastic elastomer (3) located between the pedal (1) and the locking sheet (2). The pedal (1) has a first clipless end (11) extending therefrom. The locking sheet (2) has a second first clipless end (21) extending therefrom opposite to the first clipless end (11). A clipping space (4) is defined between the first clipless end (11) and the second clipless end (21). The elastomer (3) has one end abutting against the pedal (1) and the other end abutting against the locking sheet (2).