Adjustable Pedal Thickness Supplementary Device for Growing Children

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Solution Overview

Problem

Growing children face difficulties in riding bicycles smoothly due to the fixed pedal thickness, which often results in unstable footing and balance issues, as the saddle height adjustments either interfere with handlebar control or prevent full foot contact with the pedals.

Innovation Solution

A pedal thickness supplementary device with movable assemblies that clamp onto the pedals, increasing their thickness, featuring anti-slip portions and adjustable fasten grooves, allowing for customizable thickness adjustments using fasteners to accommodate varying leg lengths and rider comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the saddle height is adjusted to accommodate growing children, then the child can reach the pedal, but the child cannot fully step on the pedal with the ball of the foot

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to reach pedalVSAvoidstable foot contact on pedal

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pedal system is segmented into three components: the original pedal, the first supplementary assembly, and the second supplementary assembly. By dividing the thickness supplementation into separate adjustable layers, the system allows incremental adjustment of pedal thickness to match the growing child's foot size, enabling both reachability and stable foot contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The supplementary assemblies are designed to be dynamically adjustable in thickness through the fastening holes and removable fasteners. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the pedal thickness to adapt as the child grows, maintaining both the ability to reach the pedal and the stability of foot contact throughout the growth period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the pedal thickness is increased to allow full foot contact, then the child can step on the pedal stably, but the pedal structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestable foot contact on pedalVSAvoidpedal structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of creating a single complex thick pedal, the solution segments the thickness into modular supplementary assemblies that attach to the original pedal. Each assembly is a simple plate with fastening holes, keeping individual component complexity low while achieving the required total thickness through stacking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The supplementary assemblies serve multiple functions: they increase pedal thickness, provide additional anti-slip surfaces, and offer adjustable configuration through multiple fastening hole positions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate adjustment mechanisms, simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pedal thickness is made adjustable for different age categories, then the bicycle can accommodate growing children, but the device requires more components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability for different age categoriesVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment capability is achieved by segmenting the pedal thickness into removable supplementary assemblies rather than designing a completely new adjustable pedal. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different age categories by adding or removing assemblies without requiring a complex integrated adjustment mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The supplementary assemblies are pre-configured with multiple fastening holes at different positions during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation of adjustment positions eliminates the need for complex adjustment mechanisms during use, reducing the operational complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If the saddle is positioned too low to allow proper foot placement, then the child can step on the pedal with the ball of the foot, but the saddle interferes with handlebar control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproper foot placement on pedalVSAvoidhandlebar control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adjusting the saddle height (vertical dimension) to solve the foot placement problem, the solution adds thickness to the pedal in the horizontal dimension. This dimensional shift allows the saddle to remain at the optimal height for both foot placement and handlebar control while the increased pedal thickness enables proper ball-of-foot contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11565768B1Pedal thickness supplementary device

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 CYCLINGDEAL USA INC

AI summary

A pedal thickness supplementary device is provided. The pedal thickness supplementary device includes two supplementary assemblies and a plurality of fasteners. The two supplementary assemblies disposed on two corresponding sides of the pedal respectively, in which the two supplementary assemblies clamp and couple to the pedal, so that the thickness of the two supplementary assemblies clamping to the pedal is thicker than the thickness of the pedal. Further, each of the two supplementary assemblies includes two anti-slip portions, a plurality of first fasten grooves, a plurality of second fasten grooves and a through hole.