Abstract:
A foot pedal for a cycle has adjustable components on its surface to alter the engagement of the pedal with the boot of a rider of the cycle. Pegs are threadably installed in bores in the pedal and are adjustable upwardly and downwardly to provide a variance in the surface of the pedal. In one embodiment, the frame of the pedal has replaceable support blocks for receiving the adjustable pegs. Another variation has upstanding teeth in combination with the adjustable pegs.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to foot pedals typically mounted on motorcycles used for off road racing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Motorcycle racing involves riding a motorcycle over rough terrain and a major concern for the rider is maintaining balance. The distribution of the rider&#39;s weight is important for balance and a rider shifts his weight from side to side as he maneuvers through curves and over bumps. An important feature for accomplishing this weight shifting involves the motorcycle&#39;s foot pegs. The same concerns apply to normal or pleasure riding. 
     A foot peg is a type of pedal that is fixed to the motorcycle frame at each side and is positioned for engagement by the rider&#39;s feet. By pushing against one peg or the other, the rider effects a weight shift that helps maintain the desired balance. 
     Because off road racing also involves mud and dirt that is transferred from the rider&#39;s shoe or boot to the pedal and because a firm grip between the foot and pedal is all important, the foot peg is typically designed to have an open frame with cleats forming the engaged surface. The cleats penetrate through the mud and dirt and grip the boot bottom. 
     Also involved with this issue of balance is the rider&#39;s feel of the motorcycle. Location of the pedals or pegs is important but also important is the orientation of the pedal, i.e., the feel of the pedal under the rider&#39;s feet. Over time and due in part to wearing, the pedal angle will change and the cleats will wear down to change the feel as well as diminishing the gripping ability of the pedal cleats with he rider&#39;s feet. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an objective of the present invention to improve on the existing foot peg primarily by providing adjustability but also cleat replacement and improved gripping. 
     The foot peg or pedal is cantilevered from a pivotal connection on the motorcycle frame. It can pivot upwardly and against the frame when out of service and downwardly to a position where the pedal face is laterally extended and engageable by the rider&#39;s feet. In the extended position, a protrusion of the pedal abuts the frame of the motorcycle to prevent further downward movement. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an adjustable pin screwed into the protrusion of the pedal has a head portion that engages the motorcycle frame and dictates the stopped position. As wearing occurs and as the pedal angle starts to change, the pin can be adjusted to extend the head out from the pedal and correct the pedal position to the desired stopped position. Preferably spacers or shims are installed under the pin head to establish a set position. 
     The cleats are replaced totally or partially with threaded pins or screws. The pins are adjustable to accommodate wearing and also to enable the rider to adjust the camber of the engagement surface, i.e., by raising the outer pins and lowering the inner pins or vice versa. The structure of the pedal can vary to accommodate the adjustable pins and several of such structures are described and illustrated in the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view of a motorcycle; 
     FIG. 2 is a view of a foot pedal mounted to the motorcycle of FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 are views of one embodiment of the foot pedal of FIG. 2; 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are views of another embodiment of the foot pedal of FIG. 2; and, 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 are views of another embodiment of the foot pedal of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a motorcycle  10  that is suited for off road and competitive racing. An important feature of the motorcycle  10  are the foot pedals  12  that are mounted on each side of the frame  14 . The pedals  12  are provided to support the feet of the rider. The rider utilizes the pedals for balance as well as an aid in controlling the motorcycle  10 . The present invention is an improved foot pedal for attachment to the motorcycle  10 . The foot pedal  12  is pivotally mounted to the frame  14  of the motorcycle  10  and is positioned at a strategic location for use by the rider. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the foot pedal  12  pivotally mounted to a bracket  16 . The bracket  16  is attached to the frame  14  of the cycle  10  in a conventional manner. The bracket  16  has a boss  18  that has a bore  20  that receives a shaft  22  of the foot pedal  12 . The foot pedal  12  is pivotable upwardly and downwardly on the bracket  16 . The foot pedal is limited in its upward pivotal movement by a projecting stop  24  that engages the bracket  16 . The downward pivotal movement is limited by a stop screw  26  threadably installed in a threaded bore  28  in a lobe  30  of the pedal  12 . The stop screw  26  will engage the bracket  16  to limit the downward pivotal movement of the pedal  12 . The stop screw  26  is adjustable inwardly and outwardly to vary the downward pivotal movement of the pedal  12 . When it is desired to reduce the downward pivotal movement of the pedal  12 , spacers  32  are mounted on the screw  26 . One or more spacers are used, depending on the degree of pivot that is desired for the pedal  12 . 
     FIG. 2 shows in dashed line the position of the pedal  12  with the screw  26  without spacers against the bracket  16 . The pedal is shown in solid line with the screw  26  having multiple spacers  32 . The angle of tilt of the foot pedal  12  may thus be controlled by using the screw  26  without spacers  32  or utilizing a spacer (or multiple spacers)  32  on the stop screw  26 . 
     A further feature of the foot pedal  12  is the improved tread of the pedal, that is the surface of the pedal that will be engaged by the boot (shoe) of a rider. It is considered important to have a tread that will provide adequate grip for the boot so that the boot will not slip off of the pedal  12 . The pedal of the present invention has an improved tread that will better grip the boot of a rider and further, the tread of the pedal  12  is adjustable. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate one embodiment of a foot pedal  12 . The pedal  12  has an extending support frame  40 . Mounted to the frame  40  are support blocks  42 . The blocks  42  are secured to the frame  40  by conventional fasteners  44  such as screws. Each support block  42  has threaded multiple bores  48  that receive threaded pegs  50 . The pegs  50  are installed in the bores  48  in a desired pattern, that is the pegs are threadably installed in the bores  48  to a desired depth. Preferably the pegs  50  have a thread form that is of a known self locking type so that the peg  50  will remain at the set depth in the bores  48 . The pegs  50  are adjusted to the desired depth according to the needs of the driver based on the conditions of the course he/she will encounter. For example the pegs  50  may be adjusted to be installed to extend a greater distance from the surface of the support block  42  at the end  52  than at the end  54 . This in effect adjusts the camber, i.e. tilt of the tread surface defined by the pegs  50  on the pedal  12 . It will be appreciated that each of the pegs  50  are adjustable independently of the others and so the tread surface defined by the pegs  50  may be adjusted to suit the operator of the cycle  10 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate another embodiment of the foot pedal  12 . In this embodiment the frame  40 ′ is formed integral with the pedal  12 . The frame  40 ′ is provided with bores  58  to receive the pegs  50 . The pegs  50  are adjustably mounted in the bores  58  in the same manner as installed in the bores  48  of the support blocks  42 . The pegs  50  are adjusted to a depth in the same manner to suit the conditions and the needs of the operator of the cycle  10 . 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of the foot pedal  12 . In this embodiment the frame  60  of the pedal  12  has upstanding teeth  62  (formations) extending along each of the sides of the frame  60 . Bores  64  are provided in the frame  60  to receive pegs  50 . The pegs  50  are adjustable in the same manner as previously described. The teeth  62  in combination with the pegs  50  provide a tread surface on the pedal  12  that will grip the boot of the operator of the cycle  10 . 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is therefore not to be limited to the embodiments described and illustrated but is to be determined from the appended claims.