Bicycle pedal

Abstract: Bicycle pedal, consisting of a foot rest (2), connected to a pedal axle (3), which is provided with means (4) that allow to hold a shoe (47) on the bicycle pedal (1), whereby these means (4) can be opened by means of a lateral movement of the said shoe (47), characterized in that the said means (4) consist of at least two clamps (5, 6), located respectively on opposite sides on the bicycle pedal, which both, upon exerting a force, can be pivoted from the center of the bicycle pedal (1) concerned into outward direction.

Description: The invention relates to a bicycle pedal, more special a bicycle pedal for race bicycles and such of the type whereby the foot rest is provided with means that allow the holding of a shoe on the bicycle pedal, whereby these means can be opened by means of a lateral movement, so that the shoe will be freed from the pedal. A lot of bicycle pedals for racing bicycles of the said type is already known, whereby the shoe of the bicycle racer is uncoupled from the bicycle pedal by turning it outside, in other words, by turning the heel of the shoe away from the bicycle. An example thereof is disclosed in WO-A-8906619. Such bicycle pedal shows as a disadvantage that, if both feet of a bicycle racer must be uncoupled at the same time, the feet must be turned in an unnatural manner. The bicycle racer must, however, always turn his feet away from each other. When experiencing a fall, a bicycle racer most of the time does not have the reflex reaction to perform such an unnatural movement, as a result of which the bicycle racer is not of at least not with both feet uncoupled from the bicycle pedals. Thus, his risk of getting seriously wounded is large. Thus, the present invention aims at a bicycle pedal, more special a bicycle pedal for racing bicycles and similar, which completely excludes the said disadvantage and other disadvantages of known bicycle pedals, in other words, whereby a bicycle racer in an emergency situation, as for example in a fall, is uncoupled with both feet from the respective bicycle pedals by a normal reflex reaction, in that both feet are turned according to the same turning sense. Hereto, a bicycle pedal according to the invention essentially consists of a foot rest, connected to a pedal axle, which is provided with means that allow to hold a shoe on the bicycle pedal, whereby these means can be opened by means of a lateral movement, whereby the said means consist of at least two clamps, located respectively on opposite sides on the bicycle pedal, characterized in that both clamps (5,6) are hingeable and both, as a force is exerted on them, can be pivoted from the center of the bicycle pedal concerned into outward direction. The said clamps are hereby preferably held closed by means of elastic means. It is clear that this offers the advantage that a cyclist, resp. a racer, can be released from the pedals as well by a movement of the feet to the left hand side as well as to the right hand side. With the aim of better showing the characteristics of the invention, in the following a preferred embodiment is described, as an example without any limiting character, with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein: figure 1 in top view shows a bicycle pedal according to the invention; figure 2 shows a view according to arrow F2 in figure 1; figure 3 and 4 show cross-sections respectively according to the lines III-III and IV-IV in figure 2; figure 5 and 6, on a larger scale, show cross-sections according to the lines V-V and VI-VI in figure 1; figure 7 shows the usage of the bicycle pedal according to the figures 1 to 6; figure 8 shows a view similarly to that of figure 1, but for an embodiment variant; figure 9, on a larger scale, shows a cross-section according to line IX-IX in figure 8; figure 10 shows a view similarly to that of figure 4, but for an embodiment according to figures 8 and 9; figure 11 shows a cross-section according to line XI-XI in figure 9; figure 12, on a larger scale, shows a variant of the part which in figure 4 is marked by F12; figure 13 shows the part which is marked by the arrow F13 in figure 12. As shown in the figures 1 to 6, a bicycle pedal 1 according to the invention essentially consists of a foot rest 2 which is connected to a pedal axle 3 which, at its upper side, is provided with means 4 allowing to hold a shoe at the bicycle pedal 1, whereby said means consist of at least two clamps 5 and 6 which are located laterally on opposite sides of the bicycle pedal 1 and which can both, under the influence of elastic means 7, be moved from the center of the bicycle pedal 1 in outward direction. The foot rest 2 preferably consists of a base 8 which is mounted on the pedal axle 3 and a triangular, rounded support plate 12 which is fixed on this base 8, for example by means of screws 9, 10 and 11. As visible in figures 3, 4 and 5, the base 8 and the support plate 12 match precisely one on top of the other by means of profiled edges, respectively 13 and 14, matching into each other. The said means 4, with exception of the actual clamps 5 and 6, are preferably mounted against the lower side 15 of the support plate 12 and are being screened by means of the base 8, to which aim this latter is manufactured in form of a covering cap. Said clamps 5 and 6 which are put up laterally on opposite sides of the bicycle pedal 1 in an open V-shape, consist of hook-shaped elements which extend over the lateral edge of the support plate 12 in such a way that, at the lower side 15 of the support plate 12, they can cooperate with the elastic means 7, while, at the upper side, they are provi-ded with lips 16 and 17 which, as described in the follow-ing, can grip behind a shoe. Preferably, the clamps 5 and 6 are turnable. Hereby, use can be made of a common hinge point 18, on one hand in order to limit the weight, and on the other hand in order to provide a simple constructive unit. This hinge point 18 is preferably provided at the front side 19 of the bicycle pedal 1. In the shown example, the clamps 5 and 6 hereto are connected to the hinge point 18 by means of hinge arms 20 and 21. Hereby, the hinge arm 20 is provided with a deformation 22, as a result of which the clamps 5 and 6 are located in the same horizontal plane. As shown in figures 1 and 4 to 6, the said elastic means 7 which force the clamps 5 and 6 to the center of the bicycle pedal 1, consist of a wire spring which preferably, by means of two loops 23 and 24, is biased with its ends 25 and 26 between the clamps 5 and 6, and thus exerts a constant force upon this latter. More special, the ends 25 and 26 of the wire spring are connected to the clamps 5 and 6 in that each hinge arm 20 and 21 at its free hinging end comprises a bent lip, respectively 27 and 28, with a passage, respectively 29 and 30, through which the respective end 25-26 of the wire spring is attached. Preferably and as shown in the figures 1 and 4, at the back side 31 of the support plate 12, next to the corners, two supports 32 and 33 are provided around which the wire spring with the said loops 23 and 24 is installed. The hinge point 18 and/or the supports 32-33 are preferably manufactured in such a way that they also serve as attachment points for the support plate 12. In the shown example, they consist to this end of sleeves, manufactured in one piece with the base 8, which form passages for the screws 9, 10 en 11, in such a way that these latter can be screwed into corresponding thread openings 34, 35 and 36 in the base 8. It is clear that instead of one common spring, two separate springs might be used, too. As shown in the figures 1 and 4 to 6, the bicycle pedal 1 preferably is also provided with a resistive mechanism 37 which cooperates with at least one of the clamps, preferably the clamp 5 which is located at the side opposite to the pedal axle, and which mechanism 37 provides for that initially a predetermined supplemental force has to be surmounted in order to bring the clamp 5 concerned out of its clamping position. This resistive mechanism 37 in this case essentially consists of an element 39 which, directly or indirectly, by means of the clamp 5 concerned, can be pushed away against the force of a spring 38. As shown, a ball-shaped element can be used which, by means of a helicoidal spring, is pressed into a seat 40, such, that the ball comes into the part of a turned-down part 41 of the clamp 5. Thus, when moving the clamp 5, initially a well-defined force must be surmounted in order to bring the clamp 5 with the part 41 over the ball. Hereby, the resistance of the resistive mechanism 37 may be adjusted by means of an adjustment screw 42 which adjusts the tension force of the spring 38. The adjustment screw 42 is accessible through an opening 43. It is obvious that the adjustment can be performed in other ways, too. In another embodiment which is not shown in the figures, both clamps 5-6 shall be provided with such a resistive mechanism. Further, the shown bicycle pedal 1 is provided with a stop 44 which limits the movement of the clamp 6 at the side of the pedal axle 3. This may consist of the edge of a recess 45 in the pedal axle 3. The usage and function of a bicycle pedal according to the invention is described in the following referring to figure 7. Under the influence of the elastic means 7, the clamps 5 and 6 are permanently pressed towards each other. When a racer attaches a foot upon a bicycle pedal 1 according to the invention, he glides with his foot over the pedal, from the back towards the front. Hereby, the clamps 5 and 6 grip into slots 46 or similar which are specially provided to this purpose at the shoe 47 concerned. When the racer falls, by the shock or a reflex reaction of the racer the feet usually will perform the same lateral movement. By this, as shown in figure 7, the shoe 47 can be released. Because according to the invention, both clamps 5 and 6 of each of both bicycle pedals 1 are movable, the feet shall always be released with every lateral movement of the feet, whatever the direction. As a result, in a fall serious injuries can be prevented. The stops 44 prevent the racer from getting his heels between the spokes of the bicycle. The resistive mechanism essentially is useful during dismounting. Hereby, it is desirable that initially a determined force must be surmounted before the outmost clamp 5 can be opened. The adjustment of the force is performed according to the racer's wishes. In the figures 8 to 10, an embodiment variant of the bicycle pedal according to the figures 1 to 7 is shown, whereby this embodiment variant differs from the first embodiment in that the relative movement of the said clamps 5 and 6 is parallel, where this relative movement in the embodiment according to the figures 1 to 7 is performed in a curve. In this embodiment variant, the clamps 5 and 6 are connected to arms 48-49 which are located against the lower side 15 of the support plate 12 and are being held against this lower side by means of guides 50-51 and 52-53. The support arm 48 is in fact manufactured in T-shape and shows at its free end a downward directed edge 54, while the arm 49 in fact is manufactured in U-shape, whereby the edge 54 of the arm 48 matches into the U of the arm 49 and whereby the free ends of the arms of the said U-shaped arm 49 consist of a downward directed bridge 55 connecting the said arms to each other. In this case the elastic means 7 are attached around an axle 56 which is fixed in the plate 12, the free arms 57-58 of which act, on one hand, upon the edge 54 of the arm 48 and, on the other hand, upon the bridge 55 of the arm 49. In this embodiment, the clamps 5 and 6 are being pushed parallel towards each other by means of the elastic means 7, whereby, when the foot, more specially the shoe, is turned in the pedal, depending on the turning sense of the shoe, the clamp 5 or 6 is pushed away in order to release the shoe from the pedal. In this embodiment, too, a resistive mechanism 37 can be provided which, however, for the sake of simplicity, is not shown in the drawings. The said stop 44 can also be provided in this embodiment variant. With a parallel movement of the clamps 5 and 6, the attachment of a shoe 47 between these clamps can be performed easier than in an embodiment with hinging clamps. In order to achieve that the shoe 47 can be attached easily when using turnable or hinging clamps 5 and 6, the clamps 5 and 6 can be fixed with some play in the hinge point 18. As shown in the figures 12 and 13, the hinge arms 20 and 21 to this end can be provided with oblong openings 59 and 60 with which they are attached around the round axle 61, in such a way that these arms 20 and 24 are laterally movable in the hinging point 18, whereby the hinge arms are drawn towards each other by means of a spring 62 or similar. It is clear that such play can also be provided in the case that the clamps 5 and 6 are turnable around separate hinging points. The present invention is not at all limited to the embodiment described as example and shown in the figures, but such bicycle pedal can be realized in a multitude of forms without leaving the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims: Bicycle pedal, consisting of a foot rest (2), connected to a pedal axle (3), which is provided with means (4) that allow to hold a shoe (47) on the bicycle pedal (1), whereby these means (4) can be opened by means of a lateral movement of the said shoe (47), said means (4) consist of at least two clamps (5, 6), located respectively on opposite sides on the bicycle pedal, characterized in that both clamps (5, 6) are hingeable and both, upon exerting a force, can be pivoted from the center of the bicycle pedal (1) concerned into outward direction. Bicycle pedal according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with elastic means (7) for pushing the clamps (5, 6) into closed position. Bicycle pedal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the clamps (5, 6) have the same hinge point (18). Bicycle pedal according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the clamps (5, 6) are placed in an open V-shape. Bicycle pedal according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the clamps (5, 6) are turnable around a common pivot axle (18) which is fixed at the support plate (12) of the pedal. Bicycle pedal according to claims 2 and 9, characterized in that the elastic means (7) act on the free ends of the clamps (5, 6) in order to permanently push them towards each other. Bicycle pedal according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the clamps (5, 6) are fixed to hinged arms (20, 21) and in that oblong openings (59-60) are provided in the ends of the arms (20-21) of the clamps (5, 6) with which openings (59-60) they are attached around a round pin (61). Bicycle pedal according to claim 7, characterized in that the oblong openings (59-60) with their longitudinal axis are directed crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the bicycle pedal. Bicycle pedal according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the clamps (5, 6) are fixed to hinged arms (20, 21) and in that the arms (20-21) of the clamps (5-6) are pushed towards each other by means of a spring (62) located at the pivoting end of the arms. Bicycle pedal according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamps (5,6) instead of both being pivoted, both can be moved parallel in respect to each other, whereby the pedal (1) is provided with elastic means (7) for pushing the clamps (5,6) into closed position, and in that the clamps (5,6) are placed in an open V-shape. Bicycle pedal according to any of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the clamps (5,6) can be shifted in guides (50,51-52,53) which are attached under a support plate (12). Bicycle pedal according to claim 11, characterized in that the clamps (5,6) are connected to arms (48,49) which are provided with a downward directed edge (54), respectively a downward directed bridge (55) between which elastic means (7) are attached for pushing the clamps (5,6) into closed position which in their turn are attached upon a pin (56). Bicycle pedal according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the clamps (5,6) consist of hook-shaped elements. Bicycle pedal according to any of the previous claims, characterized in the pedal (1) is provided with elastic means (7) for pushing the clamps (5,6) into a closed position which consist of at least one wire spring. Bicycle pedal according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the bicycle pedal is provided with a resistive mechanism (37) which cooperates with at least one of the clamps and provides in that initially a predetermined supplementary force must be surmounted in order to bring the clamp (5) concerned out of its clamping position. Bicycle pedal according to claim 15, characterized in that the resistive mechanism (37) essentially consists of an element (39) which, directly or indirectly, can be pushed away by means of the clamp (5) concerned, against the force of a spring (38). Bicycle pedal according to any of the claims 15 or 16, characterized in that it is provided with an adjustment device with which the force of the resistive mechanism (37) can be adjusted. Bicycle pedal according to any of the claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the resistive mechanism (37) only cooperates with the clamp (5) which is opposite at the pedal axle (3). Bicycle pedal according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that it is provided with a stop (44) limiting the movement of the clamp (6) at the side of the pedal axle (3).

Inventors: DE SCHRIJVER HUBERT, DE SCHRIJVER, HUBERT
Applicants: MERCKX EDDY EQUIP NV, EDDY MERCKX EQUIPMENTS, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B62M3
IPC codes: B62M3