Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a design for start-assist pedal assembly typically used for a cart or dolly that includes a pedal mounted to a support arm. An arched foot arm is pivotally attached to the support arm and a roller is supported by the arched foot arm.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a dolly, and more particularly, to a start-assist pedal that facilitates a reduced initial push force. 
         [0002]    Various work routines often require that tools and materials be transported manually. Oftentimes, a dolly is utilized to facilitate such transport. The dolly is typically of significant weight and may be particularly difficult to move from a stopped position. 
         [0003]    The force required to initiate movement from the stopped position is often referred to as an initial push force, while the force required to maintain movement is referred to as a sustained push force. The initial push force is typically greater than the sustained push force, thus it is beneficial to reduce the initial push force. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The start-assist pedal assembly described herein can be used to initiate movement of a dolly. The start-assist pedal assembly reduces initial push force to about 0 kg. The start-assist pedal assembly returns to a home position upon depression, utilizes a roller to eliminate drag, and facilitates continuous momentum of the dolly. 
         [0005]    A start-assist pedal assembly includes a pedal mounted to a support arm, an arched foot arm pivotally attached to the support arm, and a roller supported by the arched foot arm. 
         [0006]    Disclosed herein is a method of initiating movement of a dolly or cart by translating a force applied to a pedal into a force upon the dolly as an arched foot arm reacts upon the ground; and rolling a roller supported by the arched foot arm upon the ground upon full depression of the pedal. 
         [0007]    The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof, will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiments. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a dolly with a start-assist pedal assembly; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the start-assist pedal assembly in a home position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the start-assist pedal assembly in the home position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the start-assist pedal assembly in an operational position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the start-assist pedal assembly in the operational position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an operator releasing an arched foot arm of the start-assist pedal assembly; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an operator actuating the start-assist pedal assembly; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of the start-assist pedal assembly in operation; 
           [0017]    and 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the start-assist pedal assembly in the home position subsequent to actuation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    A start-assist pedal assembly to initiate movement of a dolly is disclosed. The start-assist pedal assembly reduces the initial push force required to start movement from a static position and facilitates dolly momentum. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a dolly  20  operable to transport a load via human applied motive forces. Although the dolly  20  is of a particular geometry in the disclosed, non-limiting embodiment, it should be appreciated that various architectures will also benefit herefrom. 
         [0021]    The dolly  20  generally includes a body  22 , a multiple of casters  24 , a handle  26 , and a start-assist pedal assembly  28 . The body  22  may support significant weight that, in one example, may be on the order of 1500 lbs. (680 Kg.) The casters  24  may be manufactured of an alloy material or non-alloy material, and may be mounted on a swivel to facilitate movement of the dolly  20  via the handle  26 . The start-assist pedal assembly  28  is mounted to an underside  22 A of the body  22 , and on a side common to the handle  26  to provide simultaneous access to both simultaneously. 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the start-assist pedal assembly  28  generally includes a mount  30 , a support arm  32 , a pedal  34 , and an arched foot arm  36 . The mount  30  is affixed to the body  22  and provides a pivot axis A about which the support arm  32  may pivot. The length of the mount  30  is determined by the height of the dolly  20  from the ground to the underside  22 A. 
         [0023]    The arched foot arm  36  is mounted to the support arm  32  at a pivot axis B such that the support arm  32  and the arched foot arm  36  pivot relatively in an essentially scissor-like manner. It should be appreciated that although the start-assist pedal assembly  28  in the disclosed non-limiting embodiment provides an initial start assist “push”, the start-assist pedal assembly  28  may alternatively be configured to provide a “pull” force. 
         [0024]    The support arm  32  generally includes a first portion  40  on one side of the mount  30  and a second portion  42  on an opposite side of the mount  30 . The first portion  40  is generally “L” shaped and may include a counterbalance weight  44  that offsets the weight opposite the pivot axis A. The second portion  42  may be an angled portion such that the foot pedal  34  is displaced from the underside  22 A of the body  22  to provide foot access for an operator ( FIG. 3 ). In one example, the support arm  32  in this disclosed non-limiting embodiment is manufactured of two inch square tubing that is ⅛″ thick. 
         [0025]    The arched foot arm  36  generally includes an arm  50 , an arched footpad  52 , a roller  54 , and a kick post  56  (also shown in  FIG. 4 ). The arm  50  in this disclosed non-limiting embodiment is manufactured of  1 . 5  inch square tubing that is  1 / 8 ″ thick. The arched footpad  52  is affixed to the arm  50 , and is of a relatively significant area to provide effective traction with the ground ( FIG. 5 ). To facilitate traction, the arched foot arm may include a traction pad  53  manufactured of a material such as rubber. The roller  54  is rotationally mounted within an end section  58  of the arched footpad  52  such that in a “home” position (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), the roller  54  rolls along the ground or is displaced slightly therefrom such that minimal drag results from the start-assist pedal assembly  28 . It should be appreciated that various rollers, wheels, and bearings will operate to provide a rolling interface. 
         [0026]    The arm  50  is pivotally mounted to the support arm  32  at the pivot axis B such that the arm  50  may be at least partially received within the second portion  42  of the support arm  32  via a cutout area  45 . The cutout area  45  essentially provides a three-sided portion of the square tubing in the second portion  42  such that the arched foot arm  36  is at least partially stored therein ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The arm  50  may include a magnet  60  to retain the arched foot arm  36  in the stored position. An operator thereby need only tap the arched foot arm  36  with a toe to release the arched foot arm  36  from the magnetic retention ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , the start-assist pedal assembly  28  stores the arched foot arm  36  at least partially within the support arm  32  through the retention of the magnet  60  such that the roller  54  rolls upon the ground. Due to the weight of the arched foot arm  36 , the support arm  32  of the start-assist pedal assembly  28  is angled about pivot A such that the pedal  34  is readily accessible. That is, the first portion  40  of the support arm  32  is angled toward the underside of the body  22  ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , to initiate operation of the start-assist pedal assembly  28 , a user releases the arched foot arm  36  by a tap to the kick post  56 . The tap to the kick post  56 , such as via a toe of a boot, releases the arched foot arm  36  from the magnet  60  such that the arched foot arm  36  drops from the support arm  32  and the arched footpad  52  contacts the ground ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
         [0029]    Due to release of the arched foot arm  36 , the support arm  32  of the start-assist pedal assembly  28  rotates about pivot A such that the first portion  40  of the support arm  32  is generally parallel to the underside of the body  22  and the arched footpad  52  contacts the ground with the roller  54  raised therefrom ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). The start-assist pedal assembly  28  is thus made ready for depression and push-assist of the dolly  20 . 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , to operate the start-assist pedal assembly  28  and provide push assist to the dolly  20 , the user exerts a force upon the pedal  34  by stepping thereon. Application of force onto the pedal  34  generates a scissors action between the support arm  32  and the arched foot arm  36  to initiate movement of the dolly  20  as the arched footpad  52  reacts with the ground ( FIG. 8 ). That is, the arched footpad  52  reacts with the ground to provide the push-assist to the dolly  20  through the support arm  32 . As the arched footpad  52  rolls thru motion along the ground during the scissors action, the support arm  32  is driven toward the arched foot arm  36 . 
         [0031]    With reference to  FIG. 9 , once the pedal  34  is fully depressed and the arched footpad  52  has reached full travel, the arched foot arm  36  is again magnetically retained to the support arm  32  via the magnet  60 . The start-assist pedal assembly  28  is thus returned to the home position ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) and the roller  54  eliminates drag and allows continuous momentum of the dolly  20 . 
         [0032]    The start-assist pedal assembly  28  initiates movement of the dolly  20  and reduces the initial force required to start the dolly movement from a static position. The start-assist pedal assembly  28  reduces initial push force to 0 kg as compared to a standard of about 18.7 kg average or 15 kg ergonomic standard. Sustained push force of the dolly  20  remains at about 5 Kg. 
         [0033]    The use of the terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and similar references in the context of the description (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or specifically contradicted by context. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity). All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints. 
         [0034]    Although the different non-limiting embodiments have specific illustrated components, the embodiments of this invention are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting embodiments. 
         [0035]    It should be appreciated that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should also be appreciated that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit herefrom. 
         [0036]    Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present disclosure. 
         [0037]    The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Various non-limiting embodiments are disclosed herein, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that various modifications and variations in light of the above teachings will fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is therefore to be appreciated that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described. For that reason the appended claims should be studied to determine true scope and content.