Patent Publication Number: US-2007095165-A1

Title: Pedal assembly for bicycle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a pedal assembly, and more particularly to a pedal assembly for a bicycle.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      A conventional pedal for a bicycle comprises a pedal body, a shaft tube mounted on a central portion of the pedal body, two bearings mounted in the shaft tube, and a positioning element mounted in the pedal body. However, the conventional pedal consists of multiple parts, so that the conventional pedal has a complicated construction, thereby increasing the whole weight of the pedal, and thereby increasing the costs of fabrication. In addition, the central portion of the pedal body is integrally formed with the shaft tube, so that the configuration of the pedal body is fixed and cannot be changed arbitrarily, thereby decreasing the aesthetic quality of the pedal assembly.  
      A conventional pedal in accordance with the prior art is mounted on a shoe as shown in  FIG. 30 . As shown in  FIG. 30 , the distance between the force applying point of the user&#39;s foot (or shoe sole) and the axial center of the pedal body  100  is indicated by “H 2 ”. However, the force applying point of the user&#39;s foot is distant from the axial center of the pedal body  100 , so that the distance “H 2 ” has a greater value. Thus, the rotation radius of the pedal body  100  is distant from that of the crank of the bicycle, thereby wasting the manual work, and thereby increasing the centrifugal effect.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pedal assembly, comprising a pedal body, a pivot seat extending outward from a side of the pedal body and pivotally connected to a crank of a bicycle, and a bearing mounted in the pivot seat.  
      The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a pedal assembly, wherein the pedal body has a side provided with a pivot seat for mounting a single bearing, so that the position of the axial center of the pivot seat can be changed to reduce the distance between the force applying point of the user&#39;s foot and the axial center of the pedal body greatly.  
      Another objective of the present invention is to provide a pedal assembly, wherein the force applying point of the user&#39;s foot is closer to the axial center of the pedal body, so that the rotation radius of the pedal body is closer to that of the crank of the bicycle, thereby saving the manual work, and thereby decreasing the centrifugal effect.  
      A further objective of the present invention is to provide a pedal assembly, wherein the pedal body has a side provided with a single bearing, so that the pedal body has a hollow central portion which needs not to provide a shaft tube, thereby decreasing the whole weight of the pedal assembly, and thereby decreasing the costs of fabrication.  
      A further objective of the present invention is to provide a pedal assembly, wherein the central portion of the pedal body needs not to provide a shaft tube, so that the configuration of the pedal body can be changed arbitrarily, thereby enhancing the aesthetic quality of the pedal assembly.  
      A further objective of the present invention is to provide a pedal assembly, wherein the pedal assembly is both available for a road use bicycle and a mountaineering bicycle, thereby greatly enhancing the versatility of the pedal assembly.  
      Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pedal assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the pedal assembly as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a partially plan cross-sectional view of the pedal assembly taken along line  3 - 3  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  is a partially plan cross-sectional view of a pedal assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a pedal assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the pedal assembly as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 7  is a plan cross-sectional view of the pedal assembly taken along line  7 - 7  as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a pedal assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the pedal assembly as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
       FIG. 10  is a plan cross-sectional view of the pedal assembly taken along line  10 - 10  as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a pedal assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of the pedal assembly as shown in  FIG. 11 .  
       FIG. 13  is a plan cross-sectional view of the pedal assembly taken along line  13 - 13  as shown in  FIG. 11 .  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a pedal assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of the pedal assembly as shown in  FIG. 14 .  
       FIG. 16  is a plan cross-sectional view of the pedal assembly taken along line  16 - 16  as shown in  FIG. 14 .  
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a pedal assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 18  is an exploded perspective view of the pedal assembly as shown in  FIG. 17 .  
       FIG. 19  is a plan cross-sectional view of the pedal assembly taken along line  19 - 19  as shown in  FIG. 17 .  
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a pedal assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 21  is an exploded perspective view of the pedal assembly as shown in  FIG. 20 .  
       FIG. 22  is a plan cross-sectional view of the pedal assembly taken along line  22 - 22  as shown in  FIG. 20 .  
       FIG. 23  is a partially plan cross-sectional view of a pedal assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 24  is a partially plan cross-sectional view of a pedal assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a pedal assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 26  is an exploded perspective view of the pedal assembly as shown in  FIG. 25 .  
       FIG. 27  is a plan cross-sectional view of the pedal assembly taken along line  27 - 27  as shown in  FIG. 25 .  
       FIG. 28  is a perspective view of a pedal assembly in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 29  is a schematic plan view of a pedal assembly mounted on a shoe in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 30  is a schematic plan view of a conventional pedal mounted on a shoe in accordance with the prior art. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , a pedal assembly for a bicycle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a pedal body  10 , a pivot-seat  13  extending outward from a side of the pedal body  10  and pivotally connected to a crank (not shown) of a bicycle, a bearing  30  mounted in the pivot seat  13 , and a hook plate  11  pivotally mounted on the pedal body  10 . The pedal body  10  is a road use pedal body. The pivot seat  13  has an inside formed with a receiving recess  130  for mounting the bearing  30 . The receiving recess  130  of the pivot seat  13  has an opening directed toward the pedal body  10 .  
      The pedal assembly further comprises an extension  12  extending outward from the side of the pedal body  10  and located between the pedal body  10  and the pivot seat  13 , and a pivot shaft  40  extended through the bearing  30  and protruded outward from the pivot seat  13 .  
      The extension  12  has an inside formed with a channel  120  communicating with the receiving recess  130 . The pivot shaft  40  is closely fit in the bearing  30 . The pivot shaft  40  has a first end protruded outward from the pivot seat  13  and formed with an outer thread  42  for connecting the crank of the bicycle and a second end formed with an outwardly extending catch ring  41  rested on a side of the bearing  30 .  
      The pedal assembly further comprises a bushing  50  mounted between the bearing  30 , the pivot shaft  40  and the pivot seat  13 . The receiving recess  130  of the pivot seat  13  has an end face formed with a through hole  131  to allow passage of the bushing  50 . The bushing  50  is rested on an inner ring  32  of the bearing  30 .  
      The pedal assembly further comprises a substantially C-shaped retaining member  20  secured in the pivot seat  13  and rested on an outer ring  31  of the bearing  30  so that the bearing  30  is clamped in the pivot seat  13  by the retaining member  20 . The receiving recess  130  of the pivot seat  13  has a periphery formed with an annular retaining groove  132  to retain the retaining member  20 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the retaining groove  132  is undefined, the receiving recess  130  of the pivot seat  13  has a periphery formed with an inner thread  133 , and the retaining member  20  has an outer thread  21  screwed into the inner thread  133  of the pivot seat  13 , so that the retaining member  20  is secured in the pivot seat  13 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , the receiving recess  130  of the pivot seat  13  has a periphery formed with a stepped groove  134 , the bearing  60  has an outer ring  603  formed with an enlarged resting edge  604  rested in the stepped groove  134  of the pivot seat  13 , the pivot shaft  601  has a first end protruded outward from the pivot seat  13  and formed with an outer thread  602  for connecting the crank of the bicycle and a second end integrally formed on the bearing  60 , and the bushing  61  has a stepped shape and has an annular flange  610  rested on an inner ring  605  of the bearing  60  and an end face of the receiving recess  130  of the pivot seat  13 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 8-10 , the receiving recess  140  of the pivot seat  14  has a periphery formed with a stepped groove  145 , the bearing  70  has an outer ring  703  formed with an enlarged resting edge  704  rested in the stepped groove  145  of the pivot seat  14  and has an inside formed with a screw bore  705 , the pivot shaft  701  has a first end protruded outward from the pivot seat  14  and formed with an outer thread  702  for connecting the crank of the bicycle and a second end integrally formed on the bearing  70 , the bushing  71  is rested on the resting edge  704  of the outer ring  703  of the bearing  70  and an inside formed with a tapered through hole  710 , and the pedal assembly further comprises a screw member  72  extended through the through hole  710  of the bushing  71  and screwed into the screw bore  705  of the bearing  70  to lock the bearing  70  and the bushing  71  in the pivot seat  14 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 11-13 , the receiving recess  150  of the pivot seat  15  has an opening directed outwardly relative to the pedal body  10  and has a stepped end face  152  rested on an outer ring  31  of the bearing  30  and formed with a tapered through hole  151 , the pivot shaft  80  has a first end protruded outward from the pivot seat  15  and formed with an outer thread  802  for connecting the crank of the bicycle and a second end having an outer wall formed with an outwardly extending catch ring  801  rested on an inner ring  32  of the bearing  30  and an inner wall formed with a screw bore  803 , and the pedal assembly further comprises a screw member  81  extended through the through hole  151  of the pivot seat  15  and screwed into the screw bore  803  of the pivot shaft  80  to lock the pivot shaft  80  and the bearing  30  in the pivot seat  15 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 14-16 , the pedal assembly further comprises a cover  82  mounted on the pivot seat  15  and the pivot shaft  80  and enclosed around the bearing  30  to seal the bearing  30 . The pivot seat  15  has an outer thread  153 , and the cover  82  has an inner thread  822  screwed onto the outer thread  153  of the pivot seat  15 . The cover  82  has an inside formed with a shaft hole  820  to allow passage of the pivot shaft  80  and has a periphery formed with flattened edges  821 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 17-19 , the pivot shaft  91  is integrally formed on the bearing  90 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 20-22 , the receiving recess  170  of the pivot seat  17  has a closed end face connected to the extension  16  and formed with a stepped groove  171  to receive the catch ring  41  of the pivot shaft  40 . The pedal assembly further comprises a bushing  50  mounted on the pivot shaft  40  and rested on an inner ring  32  of the bearing  30 . The receiving recess  170  of the pivot seat  17  has a periphery formed with an annular retaining groove  172  to retain the retaining member  20 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 23 , the retaining groove  172  is undefined, the receiving recess  170  of the pivot seat  17  has a periphery formed with an inner thread  173 , and the retaining member  20  has an outer thread  21  screwed into the inner thread  173  of the pivot seat  17 , so that the retaining member  20  is secured in the pivot seat  17 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 24 , the retaining groove  172  and the retaining member  20  are undefined, and the receiving recess  170  of the pivot seat  17  has a periphery formed with an inwardly extending catch flange  174  rested on an outer ring  31  of the bearing  30  so that the bearing  30  is clamped in the pivot seat  17  by the catch flange  174 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 25-27 , the pivot seat  18  has an inside formed with a threaded receiving recess  180  having an opening directed outwardly relative to the pedal body  10  and having a stepped end face  181  rested on an outer ring  31  of the bearing  30 , and the pedal assembly further comprises an end cap  19  mounted on the pivot seat  18  and having a first portion mounted in the receiving recess  180  of the pivot seat  18  and closely fit on the bearing  30  and a second end formed with an enlarged cover  193  rested on the pivot seat  18  and the bearing  30  to lock the bearing  30  and the pivot shaft  40  in the pivot seat  18 . The first portion of the end cap  19  has an outer thread  190  screwed into the receiving recess  180  of the pivot seat  18 , and the cover  193  of the end cap  19  has an inside formed with a shaft hole  191  to allow passage of the pivot shaft  40  and has a periphery formed with flattened edges  192 . The shaft hole  191  of the end cap  19  has a periphery formed with a protruding ring  194  rested on an inner ring  32  of the bearing  30 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 28 , the pedal body lOa is a mountaineering pedal body.  
      Referring to  FIG. 29 , the position of the axial center of the pivot seat  13  ( 15 ,  17  or  18 ) can be changed according to the requirement. In such a manner, the central point of the pivot seat  13  ( 15 ,  17  or  18 ) is the same as that of the extension  12  (or  16 ) or the pedal body  10  or a determined distance is defined between the central point of the pivot seat  13  ( 15 ,  17  or  18 ) and that of the extension  12  (or  16 ) or the pedal body  10 , that is, the central point of the pivot seat  13  ( 15 ,  17  or  18 ) is located at a height greater than that of the extension  12  (or  16 ) or the pedal body  10 . Thus, the distance “H 1 ” between the force applying point of the user&#39;s foot (or shoe sole) and the axial center of the pedal body  10  is reduced greatly, so that the force applying point of the user&#39;s foot is closer to the axial center of the pedal body  10 . It is appreciated that the distance “H 1 ” as shown in  FIG. 29  is smaller than the distance “H 2 ” as shown in  FIG. 30 .  
      In conclusion, the pedal body has a side provided with a pivot seat for mounting a single bearing, wherein the position of the axial center of the pivot seat can be changed to reduce the distance between the force applying point of the user&#39;s foot and the axial center of the pedal body greatly, so that the force applying point of the user&#39;s foot is closer to the axial center of the pedal body. Thus, the rotation radius of the pedal body when being stepped is closer to that of the crank of the bicycle, so that the stepping circle of the user&#39;s foot produced when stepping on the pedal body has a smaller diameter, thereby saving the manual work, and thereby decreasing the centrifugal effect.  
      Accordingly, the pedal body has a side provided with a pivot seat for mounting a single bearing, so that the position of the axial center of the pivot seat can be changed to reduce the distance between the force applying point of the user&#39;s foot and the axial center of the pedal body greatly. In addition, the force applying point of the user&#39;s foot is closer to the axial center of the pedal body, so that the rotation radius of the pedal body is closer to that of the crank of the bicycle, thereby saving the manual work, and thereby decreasing the centrifugal effect. Further, the pedal body has a side provided with a single bearing, so that the pedal body has a hollow central portion which needs not to provide a shaft tube, thereby decreasing the whole weight of the pedal assembly, and thereby decreasing the costs of fabrication. Further, the central portion of the pedal body needs not to provide a shaft tube, so that the configuration of the pedal body can be changed arbitrarily, thereby enhancing the aesthetic quality of the pedal assembly. Further, the pedal assembly is both available for a road use bicycle and a mountaineering bicycle, thereby greatly enhancing the versatility of the pedal assembly.  
      Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.