Machine element or mechanism – Elements – Cranks and pedals
Patent
1994-04-13
1997-09-02
Marmor, Charles A.
Machine element or mechanism
Elements
Cranks and pedals
745946, 36131, B62M 308, G05G 114
Patent
active
056620063
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bicycle pedal assembly of a type which makes bicycling more effective by providing improved possibilities for pulling during the upward phase of a pedal revolution. At the same time provisions can be made so that the foot of the bicyclist is not clamped in such a manner that it is difficult to be released when it is required in a special situation.
There are known numerous previous pedal devices constructed in order to ease and increase the efficiency of the work/movements which a bicyclist has to do. It is self-evident that many such devices often will operate poorly or reverse to the desired effect, since the basic physical work to be executed, cannot be reduced, neither in theory nor in practice. Therefore, a number of such inventions will rather have a negative effect by adding to the bicycle an extra mass (weight) to be carried along, as well as additional friction without any particularly favorable effect to be detected.
However, measures of a sensible character will usually have one of two possible goals, i.e. either
The two items (a) and (b) may of course also merge into each other, in the sense that the idea of changing a gear ratio, for example by extending a moment arm (which lowers the force requirements, i.e. the requirements for muscular strength, but imposes a longer travel or path for the movement), often will be caused by ergonomic considerations.
However, finding a favorable manner of moving, e.g. so that larger or more muscle groups can be put into action, or so that a "narrow" movement can be changed to a more "free", "open" or unstrained movement, clearly has its own value, independent of moment arm extensions or gear ratios.
As is well known, a quite ordinary bicycle pedal only provides the possibility for downwardly directed force influence from a foot, i.e. in the downward phase, and the two pedals will then operate in an alternating mode, with a resting phase in the upward motion. The classical "racing" pedal is also well known, with a so-called "spurt cleat" and a toe clip with a strap, for strong fixing of the foot to the pedal. Thereby, a possibility also is provided for a pulling action by the foot in the upward phase, but it is not quite certain that the upward pulling possibility provided by the classical racing device gives the best possible ergonomics for the legs/feet in the upward pulling phase. Also, in special situations it is clearly unfortunate that the feet are fixed solidly to the bicycle. Quite a few bicyclists have tipped over because they have not been able to release the toe straps and pull their feet out quickly enough.
More modern variants of such racing pedals have been constructed, which operate without toe clip and strap, but these variants provide substantially the same movement mode, and anyhow, these variants also require a certain technique for release. An example of such a more recent pedal variant is indicated in EP application No. 169,080, which shows a spurt cleat arrangement with a catch feature which can be used both with and without a traditional toe clip.
More particularly it must be mentioned, for an illumination of the art prior to the present invention, that some devices have been conceived to connect the heel part of the foot more directly to the pedal. For example, GB 485,748 shows a device intended to operate partly as a heel rest, partly to provide a possibility for pulling upwardly. However, this device is only an extra equipment to be mounted on an ordinary pedal, and it provides rather limited possibilities for pulling upwardly due to a rather loose hold of the foot with only a bow up behind the heel. The pedal axle means is quite traditional.
Also DE Offenlegungsschrift no. 3,445,043 shows a "heel catch" arranged to provide a possibility for pulling upwardly, and the principle in this case is rather similar to the one mentioned above, with a bow or catch laid around the heel some distance up on the foot. The how is shown schematically attached to an ordinary pedal, presum
REFERENCES:
patent: 3960027 (1976-06-01), Magnuson
patent: 4685351 (1987-08-01), Pegg
Battista Mary Ann
Marmor Charles A.
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