Abstract:
A bicycle peg assembly is designed for attachment to a threaded extension on a bicycle. The peg assembly includes an inner member with first and second ends, where the first end is internally threaded to matingly engage a threaded extension on a bicycle. The second end of the inner member is engagable for attaching and removing the inner cylindrical member from the threaded extension on a bicycle. An outer hollow cylindrical member is rotatably supported on the inner member for rotation about the inner member.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to bicycle accessories and in particular, to bicycle peg assemblies. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a person on a bicycle using an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top left perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an end view taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an end view taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partially cut away perspective view of a portion of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 through 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a partially cut away cross-sectional perspective view of a portion of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 through 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the manner of attachment of the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 through 8  on a bicycle; and, 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 2 through 8  showing the manner of attachment to a bicycle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numbers are used throughout the different figures to designate the same components.  FIG. 1  illustrates the manner of use of an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 1  depicts a person riding a bicycle  20  to which bicycle peg assemblies  24  are attached to extensions of the front and rear axles of the bicycle. The peg assemblies  24  extend sufficiently laterally outwardly from the bicycle to allow the assemblies  24  to roll over the top of a fence or rail  22 . The top of the fence or rail  22  may be flat; or it may be designed with a circular cross section. The peg assemblies  24  are designed to be used in conjunction with the sport of “grinding” on a bicycle. 
       FIG. 2  is a top left perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. This figure shows the outer cylindrical configuration of the peg assembly  24 , the outer surface of which is designed to have alternating circumferential raised portions  24 A separated by recessed or lower circumferential portions  24 B. This configuration of high and low portions  24 A and  24 B is to be considered as illustrative, however; and the entire outer surface may be of the same diameter, or substantially the same diameter, from end to end of the assembly  24 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  to illustrate the relative dimensions of the member  24 . Typically, the length of the outer portion of the assembly  24  is approximately 4.125″, with an approximate 1.5″ overall diameter for the portions  24 A. These dimensions, however, can be varied in order to suit the particular operating characteristics desired by the rider of the bicycle  20  to which these bicycle peg assemblies  24  are attached. 
     Reference now should be made to FIGS.  4 , 5 , 6 , 7  and  8  which illustrate the details of the embodiment generally illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 , and shows the outer cylindrical portion of the assembly  24  carried on a pair of spaced-apart bearings  40  and  44 , supported by an inner cylindrical member  30 . The inner member  30  has a relatively thicker right-hand end (as viewed in  FIG. 4 ) with an internally threaded hole  32  passing through it. The hole  32  is designed to fit onto the threaded outer extension of a typical bicycle axle (front or rear) to allow attachment of the peg assembly to the threaded wheel axle (or other threaded part) of a bicycle. The other end (the left-hand end as shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the inner cylindrical member  30  is designed in the configuration of a standard hex nut  34 , with opposing flats for engagement by a tool, such as a socket wrench, or by the fingers of a person desiring to install the assembly onto a threaded wheel axle extension or other threaded extension on a bicycle. Both ends of the outer cylindrical portion of the assembly  24  are open; so that access to the nut-like end  34  of the inner cylinder  30  is easily accomplished through the open left-hand end (as viewed in FIGS.  2 , 4 , 8  and  9 ) of the outer cylindrical portion of the assembly  24 . 
     In constructing the bicycle peg assembly, the outer race of a bearing  40  first is slid over the inner cylinder  30  from the left-hand end to the right (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) to abut a shoulder  36 , shown most clearly in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . After the bearing  40  is in place on the inner cylinder  30 , the outer cylinder  24 A/ 24 B is slid over the inner cylinder  30  from left to right (as viewed in FIGS.  4 , 7  and  8 ) to cause a shoulder  42  to abut the other side of the outer race of the bearing  40 . This causes the parts to be aligned in the position shown most clearly in  FIG. 4 . 
     Next, a bearing  44  is slid from left to right (as viewed in  FIGS. 4 and 7 ) over the inner cylinder  30  to abut a shoulder  46  (on the interior of the outer cylinder  24 A/ 24 B, as shown most clearly in  FIGS. 4 and 8 ). After the bearing  44  is in place, a snap ring  50  is placed in a groove  48  on the inner cylinder  30  to hold the entire assembly together. 
     Once the assembly has been completed as shown in  FIG. 4 , the outer races of the bearings  40  and  44  are held in place against axial movement; and the outer cylinder  24 A/ 24 B also is restrained against any axial movement with respect to the inner cylinder  30 . It should be noted that the inner and outer cylinders are concentrically located to rotate about a common axis, which typically also is the central axis of the bicycle axle extension to which the assembly is attached. 
     Reference now should be made to  FIGS. 9 and 10  which illustrate the manner in which the bicycle peg assembly of  FIGS. 2 through 8  is attached to the threaded extension  60  of a typical bicycle axle. To attach the peg assembly to the axle, the retaining nut which normally is placed over the extension  60  is removed. The inner threaded portion  32  of the inner cylinder  30  then is rotated until the right-hand end (as viewed in FIGS.  4 , 9  and  10 ) of the assembly firmly abuts the frame extension  26  of the bicycle. The right-hand end of the inner cylinder  30  then firmly engages the frame extension  36  in the same manner as the conventional nut which the assembly replaces. 
     Tightening of the assembly (and subsequent loosening to remove the assembly) is accomplished by means of rotation of the end  34  of the inner cylinder  30  by use of a suitable tool, such as a socket wrench or the like. Because the overlying end of the outer cylinder  24 A/ 24 B is fully open, access to the flats on the end  34  of the inner cylinder  30  readily is accomplished. 
     As is most evident in  FIG. 10 , but also apparent in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the outer cylinder  24 A/ 24 B is set a slight space inwardly (to the left as viewed in these figures) from the end of the inner cylinder  30 ; so that the outer cylinder is free to rotate about the inner cylinder  30  without scraping on or interfering with the portion  26  of the bicycle. Also, as shown in FIGS.  3 , 4  and  10 , the outer cylinder  24 A/ 24 B extends slightly beyond the end of the inner cylinder  30  at the portion  34 ; so that when the bicycle is rolled over a surface, such as the surface  22  of  FIG. 1 , the outer cylinder  24  prevents contact of the surface  22  with any portion of the inner cylinder  30  or the end  34 . 
     It is apparent from the foregoing that the outer cylinder  24 A/ 24 B rotates freely on the bearings  40  and  44 , with the inner cylinder  30  serving to securely mount the entire assembly onto the threaded extension  60  of the bicycle. Because the inner cylinder  30  is attached and removed by engagement of the end  34 , it is possible to cause the rotating portion (the outer cylinder) to be located very close to the frame  26  of the bicycle, since it is not necessary to allow access for a wrench or other tool between the frame  26  and the right-hand end (FIGS.  3 , 4 , 7 , 8 , 9  and  10 ) of any portion of the peg assembly. 
     The bearings  40  and  44  may be any suitable type, such as slip bearings, roller bearings, ball bearings or the like. While two separate bearings have been shown, the inner cylinder  30  may be designed to support the outer cylinder  24  by means of a single bearing or bearing surface, or by means of more than two bearings. 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention is to be considered as illustrative and not as limiting. Various changes will occur to those skilled in the art for performing substantially the same function, in substantially the same way, to achieve substantially the same result without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.