Pedal Locking Mechanism with Plunger and Cuff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current foot pedals lack mechanisms for efficient engagement and disengagement, often requiring customized footwear and failing to prevent injury by not allowing disengagement at critical moments.
Innovation Solution
A pedal system with a switchable mode between locked and released positions, featuring a plunger that engages or disengages with the main drive shaft, and a cuff mechanism that securely retains the foot or footwear through a rotatable rod and lever system, allowing intuitive release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pedal system uses a fixed locking mechanism, then foot retention is secure, but the user cannot disengage at critical moments leading to potential injury
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal system transitions from a static locking mechanism to a dynamic one that can switch between locked and unlocked states. The release mechanism allows the pedal to change its retention state based on user input, enabling secure foot retention during normal operation while allowing quick disengagement when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
A release mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user's foot and the locking mechanism. This intermediary component (release button or trigger) mediates the transition between locked and unlocked states, allowing the user to control when the pedal should retain or release the foot.
2Reliability
If a pedal system requires customized footwear for engagement, then foot retention is secure, but the device complexity and user accessibility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal system is designed to work with multiple types of footwear through a universal interface. The engagement mechanism accepts various footwear forms (shoes, boots, bare feet) without requiring customized footwear, making the system adaptable to different user needs and footwear preferences while maintaining secure retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The pedal system adjusts its retention parameters (clamping force, engagement geometry) to accommodate different footwear types and foot sizes. By changing these parameters dynamically or providing adjustable settings, the system maintains secure foot retention across a wide range of footwear configurations without requiring customized components.
3Device complexity
If a pedal system lacks an efficient engagement mechanism, then the structure can be simpler, but the user experiences difficulty in quickly engaging the pedal
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism is designed so that the pedal is pre-positioned or pre-loaded in a way that facilitates quick engagement. The spring-loaded or gravity-assisted design ensures that when the user approaches the pedal, the engagement components are already in position to receive the foot, reducing the time and effort required for engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement mechanism allows the user to quickly skip through the engagement process with a single motion. The design enables rapid transition from disengaged to engaged state through a simple foot placement or pressing motion, eliminating the need for multiple steps or complex maneuvers.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate to a pedal system having a pedal coupled to a main drive shaft having a locked mode where the pedal does not rotate relative to the main drive shaft and a released mode where the pedal can rotate relative to the main drive shaft. In the locked mode, rotation of the pedal relative to the main drive shaft is prevented by a plunger that engages the main drive shaft. In the released mode, rotation of the pedal relative to the main drive shaft is enabled by having the plunger disengage from the main drive shaft. The pedal system is switchable between the locked and released modes. When a user's foot or footwear is engaging the pedal, the pedal is placed in the released mode, and when the user's foot or footwear is disengaged from the pedal, the pedal is placed in the locked mode.