Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Elements
Reexamination Certificate
2003-04-15
2004-05-04
Luong, Vinh T. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Elements
C074S594400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06729204
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a bicycle pedal assembly, and more particularly to a bicycle pedal assembly that includes a cleat, which is adapted to be connected to a shoe of the rider.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1
,
2
, and
3
, a conventional bicycle pedal assembly is shown to include a pedal shaft
10
, a pedal body
11
, two front retaining units
12
, two rear retaining units
13
, and a cleat
14
(see FIG.
3
). The pedal shaft
10
is connected to a crank (not shown). The pedal body
11
has an annular frame
111
and a shaft tube
112
that is formed integrally with the frame
111
, that is sleeved rotatably on the pedal shaft
10
, and that defines two chambers
113
in the frame
111
on two sides of the shaft tube
112
. The front retaining units
12
are disposed on two opposite sides of the shaft tube
112
. Each of the front retaining units
12
includes a positioning plate
121
, two bolts
122
, a front retaining hook
123
, and a front retaining groove
124
. The positioning plates
121
are connected fixedly to the shaft tube
112
by means of the bolts
122
. The rear retaining units
13
are disposed respectively within the chambers
113
. Each of the rear retaining units
13
includes two retaining elements (
13
A). Each of the retaining elements (
13
A) has a rear plate
130
, two parallel side plates
131
extending integrally and perpendicularly from two opposite sides of the rear plate
130
toward the shaft tube
112
in a direction perpendicular to the shaft tube
112
, and a rear retaining plate
132
extending from a top end of the rear plate
130
toward the shaft tube
112
. The rear retaining plates
132
of each adjacent pair of the retaining elements (
13
A) define a rear retaining groove
133
therebetween. Each of the rear retaining units
13
further includes a pivot pin
134
, an adjustment bolt
135
, an adjustment plate
136
, and two coiled torsional springs
137
. The pivot pins
134
extend through the side plates
131
of the retaining elements (
13
A) so as to connect the retaining elements (
13
A) rotatably to the frame
111
. The adjustment bolts
135
are disposed rotatably on the frame
11
, are aligned with each other, and are disposed between the retaining elements (
13
A) of each of the rear retaining units
13
. The adjustment plates
136
are disposed respectively within the chambers
113
, and engage respectively and threadably the adjustment bolts
135
. The torsional springs
137
are disposed respectively within the retaining elements (
13
A), and are disposed respectively on the pivot pins
134
. Each of the springs
137
has a first end
138
pressing against a respective one of the rear plates
130
of the retaining elements (
13
A), and a second end
139
pressing against the adjustment plates
136
and disposed between the corresponding adjustment plate
136
and the frame
111
. The front and rear retaining units
12
,
13
define two cleat-receiving spaces
140
(see FIG.
3
). The cleat
14
is adapted to be connected fixedly to a shoe (not shown) of the rider. Although the cleat
14
can be fixed firmly within one of the cleat-receiving spaces
140
by the corresponding front and rear retaining units
12
,
13
, the aforesaid conventional pedal assembly includes numerous elements, thereby resulting in a comparatively complex pedal structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to provide a bicycle pedal assembly that has a relatively simple structure. According to this invention, a bicycle pedal assembly includes a unitary pedal body that is sleeved rotatably on a pedal shaft and that has two front retaining portions. Two rear retaining units are connected to the pedal body. A unitary cleat is adapted to be connected fixedly to a shoe of the rider, and has a front end engaging portion inserted into one of the front retaining portions, and a rear end engaging portion confined between the pedal body and a corresponding one of the rear retaining units. Because the front retaining portions are formed integrally on the pedal body, there is no need to provide a plurality of bolts for connecting the front retaining portions to the pedal body. As such, the structure of the bicycle pedal assembly of this invention is relatively simple, thereby resulting in,lower manufacturing costs.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5203229 (1993-04-01), Chen
patent: 6012356 (2000-01-01), Ueda
patent: 6105462 (2000-08-01), Ueda
patent: 6230583 (2001-05-01), Ohno
patent: 6282984 (2001-09-01), Chen
patent: 6324941 (2001-12-01), Ho
patent: 6393940 (2002-05-01), Ueda
patent: 6490948 (2002-12-01), Tanaka
patent: 6520048 (2003-02-01), Chen
patent: 2002/0104403 (2002-08-01), Chen
patent: 2002/0170382 (2002-11-01), Yang
patent: 2003/0029271 (2003-02-01), Shuman
patent: 000428140 (1991-05-01), None
patent: 000485956 (1992-05-01), None
Ladas & Parry
Luong Vinh T.
LandOfFree
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