Bicycle pedal
OwnerYoung M. Yang, Young H. Kiminventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device attached to a crank arm of, for example, a bicycle, which increases the effective crank length through the power phase of the crank arm stroke using rotary motion. The maximum effective crank length is provided proximate the 12 o'clock position and it is reduced to a minimum proximate the 6 o'clock position to maximize power output from a rider or other operator. The device includes an axle eccentrically mounted on a crank arm, the axle defining an axis of rotation which is offset from the distal end of the crank arm and which preferably lies along or within a range with respect to the longitudinal axis of the crank arm. A housing is rotatably attached to the axle with the housing encompassing the axle and rotating about the axis defined by the axle.
Claims17
A device in combination with a crank arm of the type having a proximal end rotating about a fixed axis, a distal end having a bore, and a fixed crank length defined by a distance between the fixed axis and a centerline through the bore, said device comprising:
- an axle defining an axis of rotation;
- means for mounting said axle to the crank arm with said axis of rotation offset from the bore of the crank arm at a fixed first distance, said means for mounting maintaining said axis of rotation fixed relative to, and parallel to, the fixed axis of the crank arm;
- a housing coupled to said axle and rotating about said axis of rotation, said housing having an outer force engaging surface spaced a fixed second distance from said axis of rotation and fixed relative to said housing;
- and
- means for retaining said outer force engaging surface upright relative to a surface of the ground with said axis of rotation interposed between said outer force engaging surface and the surface of the ground.
A device in combination with a crank arm of the type having a proximal end rotating about a fixed axis, a distal end having a bore, and a fixed crank length defined by a distance between the fixed axis and a centerline through the bore, said device comprising:
- an axle defining an axis of rotation;
- means for mounting said axle on the bore of the crank arm with said axis of rotation offset from the bore at a fixed first distance, said means for mounting maintaining said axis of rotation fixed relative to, and parallel to, the fixed axis of the crank arm;
- a housing rotatably mounted to said axle to rotate about said axis of rotation;
- a platform fixedly attached to said housing, said platform having an outer force engaging surface adapted to cooperate with a foot of a rider during rotation of the crank arm, said outer force engaging surface being spaced a second distance from said axis of rotation wherein the device provides an effective crank length which varies during rotation of the crank arm and is the sum of the fixed crank length and said first and second distances when the crank arm is at a twelve o'clock position, the fixed crank length and said first distance at a three or a nine o'clock position, and the fixed crank length and said first distance minus said second distance at a six o'clock position;
- and
- wherein said housing is weighted to retain said outer force engaging surface of said platform upright relative to a surface of the ground with said axis of rotation interposed between said outer force engaging surface and the surface of the ground.
A device in combination with a crank arm of the type having a proximal end rotating about a fixed axis, a distal end having a bore, and a fixed crank length defined by a distance between the fixed axis and a centerline through the bore, said device comprising:
- (a) an axle defining an axis of rotation;
- (b) means for mounting said axle to the crank arm with said axis of rotation offset from the bore of the crank arm at a fixed first distance, said means for mounting maintaining said axis of rotation fixed relative to, and parallel to, the fixed axis of the crank arm;
- (c) a housing coupled to said axle and rotating about said axis of rotation, said housing including a platform fixedly attached thereto, said platform having an outer force engaging surface spaced a fixed second distance from said axis of rotation and adapted to cooperate with a foot of a rider during rotation of the crank arm;
- and
- (d) means for retaining said outer force engaging surface upright relative to a surface of the ground with said axis of rotation interposed between said outer force engaging surface and the surface of the ground, said means for retaining said outer force engaging surface upright including a weight attached to said housing diametrically opposite said outer force engaging surface.
A pedal crank assembly, comprising:
- (a) a crank arm having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end is rotated about a fixed axis;
- (b) an axle defining an axis of rotation;
- (c) means for mounting said axle at said distal end of said crank arm with said axis of rotation spaced apart from said distal end of said crank arm and stationary with respect to said crank arm;
- (d) a housing rotatably mounted to said axle to rotate about said axis of rotation, said housing having an outer force engaging surface spaced a fixed distance from said axis of rotation and fixed relative to said housing;
- and
- (e) means for retaining said force engaging surface upright relative to a surface of the ground with said axis of rotation interposed between said outer force engaging surface and the surface of the ground.
A device in combination with a bicycle crank arm of the type having a proximal end rotating about a fixed axis, a distal end having a bore, and a fixed crank length defined by a distance between the fixed axis and a centerline through the bore, said device comprising:
- (a) an axle defining an axis of rotation;
- (b) means, eccentrically mounted on said axle, for mounting said axle on the bore of the crank arm with said axis of rotation fixed relative to, and parallel to, the fixed axis of the crank arm and offset from the bore at a fixed first distance;
- (c) a housing rotatably mounted to said axle to rotate about said axis of rotation;
- and
- (d) an outer force engaging surface defined on at least a portion of said housing and adapted to cooperate with a foot of a rider during rotation of the crank arm, said outer force engaging surface being spaced a second distance from said axis of rotation with said axis of rotation interposed between said outer force engaging surface and the surface of the ground in operation, the outer force engaging surface facing away from the axis of rotation;
- wherein said device provides an effective crank length which varies during rotation of the crank arm and is the sum of the fixed crank length and said first and second distances when the crank arm is at a twelve o'clock position, the fixed crank length and said first distance at a three or a nine o'clock position, and the fixed crank length and said first distance minus said second distance at a six o'clock position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.