Bicycle crank

Details Bicycle crank Bicycle crank

1999-07-09

2001-03-20

Green, Mary Ann (Department: 3682)

Machine element or mechanism

Elements

Cranks and pedals

Reexamination Certificate

active

06202506

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a bicycle crank.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bicycle cranks comprised of aluminum alloy castings are known from the prior art, whereby on the one hand, a fitting arrangement is provided at an end of the aluminum alloy casting for the purpose of mounting a pedal, and on the other hand, a further fitting arrangement is provided for the mounting of a pedal spindle. It is also known to fit one or more gear rings on such bicycle cranks.
Disadvantages of the known bicycle cranks have proven to be the heavy weight of the bicycle crank, which in turn can cause problems with respect to structural strength, and the lack of a simple way to adapt its form to different optical and technical requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a task of the present invention to devise a bicycle crank and a method for its manufacture which yields a low weight and which form can offer versatile design without increased expenditure.
This task is solved through the inventive step of the bicycle crank according to the present invention.
Preferred embodiments of the invention comprise the subjects of the dependent claims.
A particular advantage of the bicycle crank according to the present invention is that said crank can be manufactured in many different design forms and still maintain low weight and a low apparatus expenditure.
The density of the carbon-fiber reinforced plastic amounts to only 1550 kg/m
3
, while that of aluminum is approximately 2700 kg/m
3
. The density of the durofoam substance is even less. The end result is a dramatic reduction in the weight of the bicycle crank.
The high strength of the carbon-fiber reinforced plastic imparts the bicycle crank according to the present invention with approximately the same load capacity as conventional castings of aluminum alloy. This has been unequivocally confirmed by the appropriate corresponding load cycle tests.
The bicycle crank according to the present invention is simple to manufacture and provides an especially appealing design function when a transparent plastic is used, which allows the interlocking of the fiber laminate to be visible from the exterior.
The invention shall be further described in the following on the basis of the preferred embodiments.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3833242 (1974-09-01), Thompson
patent: 4183261 (1980-01-01), Eiselbrecher et al.
patent: 4811626 (1989-03-01), Bezin
patent: 5435869 (1995-07-01), Christensen
patent: 5690034 (1997-11-01), Schahl et al.
patent: 5851459 (1998-12-01), Chen
patent: 5941135 (1999-08-01), Schlanger
patent: 296 00 548 U (1996-02-01), None
patent: 296 08 748 U (1996-08-01), None
patent: 352633A (1990-01-01), None
patent: 2636386 (1990-03-01), None

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