US 9,308,963 B2Granted

Pedal for a bicycle

AssigneeNone recorded

InventorAngelo Morelli

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Abstract

A bicycle pedal unit comprises a central body (2) associable with a tube of a bicycle frame; two pedal cranks (3, 4) connected to opposite ends (2a) of the central body (2); two pedals (5, 6), each connected to a respective pedal crank (3, 4); the angular position of at least a movable pedal crank (3) is adjustable relative to the other pedal crank (4), which is fixed.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims12

Dependent claims

A pedal unit kit for bicycles comprising:

a central body associable with a tube of a bicycle frame, the central body having first and second opposed end;
a fixed pedal crank connected to the first opposed end of the central body;
a first interchangeable pedal crank and at least one second interchangeable pedal crank for adjusting the angular position of the fixed pedal crank relative to the interchangeable pedal crank,
each of the interchangeable pedal cranks being provided with means for its torsional coupling to the second opposed end of the central body, able to achieve a different inclination of an axis of the first interchangeable pedal crank and of the second interchangeable pedal crank to an axis of the fixed pedal crank,
wherein the means for torsional coupling includes antirotation means comprising male and female portions associated with the interchangeable pedal cranks and/or associated with the central body;
wherein at least one said interchangeable pedal crank is configured for adjusting angular position of the fixed pedal crank relative to this interchangeable pedal crank to have the pedal on this interchangeable pedal crank leading or lagging relative to the axis of the fixed pedal crank, with this interchangeable pedal crank and the fixed pedal crank not in the same plane;
wherein each interchangeable pedal crank has a body which defines a seat, which is a hole, provided to house a grooved sleeve having grooves, wherein the body is attached to the sleeve, the antirotational means comprise an inner surface of the sleeve and the second end of the central body;
wherein each interchangeable pedal crank presents a distinct inclination α1, α2 to a corresponding male portion of a coupling,
first interchangeable pedal crank has angle α1 formed by the longitudinal axis of the first interchangeable crank and a line from the center of its seat, which is a corresponding male portion of the torsional coupling to the second opposed end of the central body, through the middle of a groove of its grooved sleeve through which the longitudinal axis of the first interchangeable crank also passes,
second interchangeable pedal crank has angle α2 formed by the longitudinal axis of the second interchangeable crank and a line from the center of its seat, which is a corresponding male portion of the torsional coupling to the second opposed end of the central body, through the middle of a groove of its grooved sleeve through which the longitudinal axis of the second interchangeable crank also passes,
wherein α1 does not equal α2.

8 more elements

A pedal unit kit for bicycles comprising:

a central body associable with a tube of a bicycle frame, the central body having first and second opposed end;
a fixed pedal crank connected to the first opposed end of the central body;
a first interchangeable pedal crank and at least one second interchangeable pedal crank for adjusting the angular position of the fixed pedal crank relative to the interchangeable pedal crank,
each of the interchangeable pedal cranks being provided with means for its torsional coupling to the second opposed end of the central body, able to achieve a different inclination of an axis of the first interchangeable pedal crank and of the second interchangeable pedal crank to an axis of the fixed pedal crank,
wherein the means for torsional coupling includes antirotation means comprising male and female portions associated with the interchangeable pedal cranks and/or associated with the central body;
wherein at least one said interchangeable pedal crank is configured for adjusting angular position of the fixed pedal crank relative to this interchangeable pedal crank to have the pedal on this interchangeable pedal crank leading or lagging relative to the axis of the fixed pedal crank, with this interchangeable pedal crank and the fixed pedal crank not in the same plane;
wherein each interchangeable pedal crank has a body which defines a seat housing a sleeve having grooves, the antirotational means comprise an inner surface of the sleeve and the second end of the central body,
wherein the longitudinal axis of each interchangeable pedal crank passes from the longitudinal axis of the central body through a respective said groove when said respective interchangeable pedal crank and central body are attached;
wherein the longitudinal axis of the first interchangeable pedal crank and a line from a center of its sleeve to a center of the respective said groove of its grooved sleeve through which the longitudinal axis of the first interchangeable crank also passes, is offset at a different angle than the longitudinal axis of the second interchangeable pedal crank and line from a center of its sleeve to a center of the respective said groove of its grooved sleeve through which the longitudinal axis of the second interchangeable crank also passes.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description1,906 words

Summary324 words

#The present invention relates to a bicycle pedal unit.

#In particular, the present invention finds application in common men's and women's bicycles, in sports bicycles, in mountain bikes and in others.

#Pedal units for bicycles of the known art comprise a central movement associated with a tube of the bicycle frame and two pedal cranks fixed to opposite ends of the central movement.

Brief description of the drawings7 figures

#FIG. 1 is a schematic lateral view of a bicycle pedal unit in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a lateral section through a detail of the pedal unit of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the detail of FIG. 2.

Detailed description1,448 words

#With reference to the accompanying figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates overall a bicycle pedal unit in accordance with the present invention.

#The pedal unit 1 comprises a central body 2 associable with a tube C of a bicycle frame. The central body 2 is also known colloquially as the “central movement”. It is of substantially cylindrical shape and, by way of example, it is internally hollow. The central body 2 is mounted coaxially to the tube C and preferably ball or roller bearings S are positioned between is the tube C and the central body 2 at opposite ends 2a of the central body 2.

#Two pedal cranks 3, 4 are connected to the central body 2. In detail, each pedal crank 3, 4 presents a first end 3a, 4a connected to the respective opposite ends of the central body 2.

Facts

Application: 14/018,094Filed 4 Sep 2013
Priority: IT MI2012A14815 Sep 2012
Published: US 2014/0060243 A16 Mar 2014
Granted: 12 Apr 2016
Term ends: 25 Jan 2034
Estimated · howhide
20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 143 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

B62M 3/08
Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot: pedals
B62M 3/003
Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot: combination of crank axles and bearings housed in the bottom bracket
Y10T 74/2168
Cranks and pedals: pedals
B62M
Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles or sledges

Family

US 2014/0060243 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Mar 2014
US 9,308,963 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

5 Sep 2012Priority claimedIT MI2012A1481
4 Sep 2013Application filedUS 14/018,094
6 Mar 2014PublishedUS 2014/0060243 A1
12 Apr 2016GrantedUS 9,308,963 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
25 Jan 2034Term endsEstimated, includes 143 days of adjustment

Citations

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