A MEANS FOR CANCELLING A ROTATION BLOCK IN A BICYCLE PEDAL

Abstract: The pedal cooperates with a bicycle shoe having a stiff sole which is click attached to the tread plate (e) in order to provide an additional moment arm about the bicycle crank axis during the upward pulling phase. To achieve this, a blocking member (d) which is supported rotatably about a forward pivot in the pedal housing (a), is locked by means of an upward directed pull (position "Blocked"), by having an engagement part (h) in the blocking member (d) enter into a blocking engagement with the pedal axle (b, c). The blocking engagement can be released by means of a downward directed push (position "Released").

Description: A MEANS FOR CANCELLING A ROTATION BLOCK IN A BICYCLE PEDAL The present invention relates to a bicycle pedal having a unidirectional rotation block for applying an additional torque about the bicycle crank axis during the upward pulling phase. Such a pedal is previously known from international patent application having publication no. WO93/03955, which publication inter alia mentions a pedal type wherein a special shoe to be clicked into a fixed position and which has a stiff sole, constitutes a part of an elongate, stiff pedal, and wherein a freewheel bearing with a one-sense rotation block, in cooperation with the elongate pedal design, provides a possibility for applying additional driving torque about the crank axis in the upward pulling phase of the pedal motion. One disadvantage of this construction is that it is not possible to pedal in a backward sense, since the rotation block is operative all the time, preventing the pedal from rotating in a forward sense about the pedal axle. It is practical to be able to pedal backwardly for adjustment of the pedal position when riding in curves and in cross-country bicycling. The feature that the pedal is able to rotate in only one direction also complicates the click attachment operation for the bicycle shoe. In other respects, it is previously known from German patent publications DE 3722191 , DE 3908158, DE 4016651 and DE 4022736 to block, respectively release rotation of a pedal about the pedal axle in dependence of pressure from a shoe sole. However, all of these publications concern blocking the pedal against rotation when not in use, i.e. when the foot is not placed upon the pedal. The present invention has as its object to provide a bicycle pedal which in combination gives an opportunity for bicycling with an additional upward pulling effect, and for being able to release this additional effect during bicycling, so that pedalling backwards is made possible. In accordance with the invention, this advantageous combination effect is achieved by providing a bicycle pedal having a unidirectional rotation block for applying an additional torque about the bicycle crank axis from the bicyclist's heel part during the upward pulling phase, wherein the pedal which comprises a pedal housing and has a tread plate situated on top of the pedal in a use position, cooperates with a click attached bicycle shoe with a stiff sole to provide an additional moment arm about the crank axis. The bicycle pedal of the invention is characterized in that it contains a blocking member supported about a pivot which is fixed in the pedal housing and is parallel to the pedal axle and arranged at a distance in front thereof, in a use position, the tread plate being integral with the blocking member, and that the blocking member comprises an engagement part for providing blocking engagement with the pedal axle when the heel part produces an upward directed force. Preferably the bicycle pedal of the invention has a spring arranged substantially between the blocking member and the pedal housing to bias the blocking member to a released position when an upward force is not produced. In one embodiment of the bicycle pedal of the invention, the pedal axle may have an externally arranged drum adapted to enter into blocking friction engage¬ ment with internally arranged, opposite wedge surfaces in a cavity in the blocking member about the pedal axle. In another embodiment of the bicycle pedal of the invention, the pedal axle may have an externally arranged, toothed drum with teeth adapted to enter into blocking engagement with a toothed area arranged internally in a cavity in the blocking member about the pedal axle. In a third embodiment of the bicycle pedal of the invention, the pedal axle may have an externally arranged drum about which a flexible tension band lies in a loop, which tension band is adapted to enter into blocking friction engagement with the drum by tightening thereabout when an upward force is produced from the heel part so that the rear part of the blocking member is rotated up about the pivot. The invention will now be illuminated further through a more detailed discussion of embodiment examples thereof, and referring to the appended drawing, wherein fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the pedal of the invention, in longitudinal section, plan view and cross section in a free position, as well as an additional cross section showing a blocked position, fig. 2 shows free and blocked positions in cross section for a second embodiment of the pedal of the invention, and fig. 3 shows free and blocked positions in cross section for a third embodiment of the invention. Referring to all three figures simultaneously, a first embodiment of the pedal of the invention appears in fig. 1 as an embodiment based upon friction blocking by means of a wedge effect, while the blocking in the embodiment shown in fig. 2 occurs by means of a tooth engagement, and the embodiment shown in fig. 3 also relates to a friction blocking case by means of a tension band. In each case the pedal consists of a pedal housing a having bearing means for the axle b and room for a drum c which is rigidly attached to the axle b, e.g. by toothing. A blocking member is independently supported in the pedal housing a in such a manner that when it is lifted, it blocks against rotation in relation to the drum c, either by friction caused by a wedge effect between two opposed surfaces h and the drum c, fig. 1 , or by engagement between a toothing i in the blocking member d and a toothing j on drum c, fig. 2. The engagement between the blocking member d and the drum c is established by the feature that the blocking member d is journalled in front of the center of axle b, so that when blocking member d is lifted, the pedal housing a rotates backwards. If the friction principle of fig. 1 is selected, the journalling of blocking member d must be somewhat movable to ensure that both wedge surfaces h will be pressed against the drum c. Instead of wedge surfaces or toothing, the blocking member d can instead be implemented with a flexible tension band g, fig. 3, which is tightened when the blocking member d is lifted. The blocking member d is attached to - or integral with - a tread plate e which in its turn has sockets for click attachment of a bicycle shoe. The blocking member d can be provided with a spring f - preferably in combination with a spring for click attachment of a bicycle shoe - keeping it in a released position in relation to the drum c - or in engagement with drum-c. In the first case the pedal will rotate freely when unstressed, in the second case a pressure from the bicycle shoe must be applied to release the block. A spring function which keeps the pedal in a free position, is advantageous regarding easy clip attachment of the bicycle shoe, while in return then a more deliberate lift must be applied in the pedal tread plate e in order to activate the blocking function, than if the blocking member d is held in engagement in an unstressed state. A pedal according to the new invention has in principle the same function as a pedal according to WO93/03955, and must as such be regarded as an improving additional function in relation to that patent. The improvement consists in being able to release the pedal for backward rotation when this is desirable, by applying a light pressure on the pedal, corresponding to the pressure from a foot in a rest position, or that the pedal is able to rotate freely both ways until a lift is applied to the pedal.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. Bicycle pedal having a unidirectional rotation block for applying an additional torque about the bicycle crank axis from the bicyclist's heel part during 5 an upward pulling phase, wherein said pedal, which comprises a pedal housing (a) and has a tread plate (e) situated on top of the pedal in a use position, cooperates with a click attached bicycle shoe with a stiff sole to provide an additional moment arm about the crank axis, characterized in that o the pedal contains a blocking member (d) journalled about a pivot which is fixed inside the pedal housing (a) and is parallel to the pedal axle (b) and arranged at a distance in front thereof, in use position, said tread plate (e) being integral with said blocking member (d), and that the blocking member (d) comprises an engagement part (h; i; g) which s provides a blocking engagement with said pedal axle (b) when an upward directed force is produced from said heel part. 2. The bicycle pedal of claim 1 , characterized in that a spring (f) is arranged substantially between the 0 blocking member (d) and the pedal housing (a) to bias said blocking member (d) to a released position when there is no upward lift, or to a constant engagement until a downward pressure occurs. 3. The bicycle pedal of claim 1 or claim 2, 5 characterized in that said pedal axle (b) has an externally arranged drum (c) adapted to enter into blocking frictional engagement with internally arranged, opposed wedge surfaces (h) in a cavity in the blocking member (d) about the pedal axle (b). o 4. The bicycle pedal of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the pedal axle (b) has an externally arranged, toothed drum (c) with teeth (j) adapted to enter into a blocking engagement with a toothed areas (i) arranged internally in a cavity in the blocking member (d) about the pedal axle (b). 5. The bicycle pedal of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said pedal axle (b) has an externally arranged drum (c) about which a flexible tension band (g) lies in a loop, said tension band (g) being adapted to enter into a blocking frictional engagement with said drum (c) when tightened thereabout when an upward directed force is produced from said heel part, so as to rotate the rear part of said blocking member (d) upward about the pivot.

Inventors: NIKOLAISEN BJARNE HAMMER, NIKOLAISEN, BJARNE, HAMMER
Applicants: NIKOLAISEN BJARNE HAMMER, POWER A S, NIKOLAISEN, BJARNE, HAMMER, POWER A/S
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B62M3
IPC codes: B62M3