CA2085452A1 - Ratcheted pedal mechanism for an exercising apparatus - Google Patents
Ratcheted pedal mechanism for an exercising apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA2085452A1 CA2085452A1 CA 2085452 CA2085452A CA2085452A1 CA 2085452 A1 CA2085452 A1 CA 2085452A1 CA 2085452 CA2085452 CA 2085452 CA 2085452 A CA2085452 A CA 2085452A CA 2085452 A1 CA2085452 A1 CA 2085452A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- drive axle
- pedal
- crank
- exercising apparatus
- axle means
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 42
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 210000002414 leg Anatomy 0.000 description 5
- 230000001143 conditioned effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000000689 upper leg Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
- B62M3/00—Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot
- B62M3/003—Combination of crank axles and bearings housed in the bottom bracket
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B22/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements
- A63B22/06—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with support elements performing a rotating cycling movement, i.e. a closed path movement
- A63B22/0605—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with support elements performing a rotating cycling movement, i.e. a closed path movement performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Motorcycle And Bicycle Frame (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A pedal mechanism for exercising apparatus comprises a drive axle rotatably mounted on the exercising apparatus. The drive axle has left and right ends constituting pivotal connections on which the corresponding proximate ends of left and right cranks are mounted. A left pedal, mounted rotatable on the distal end of the left crank is provided with a system for attaching the left foot of a user person thereto. A right pedal, mounted rotatable on the distal end of the right crank is provided with the same system for attaching the right foot of the user person thereto. Left and right ratchet mechanisms are interposed between the respective proximate ends of the left and right cranks and the corresponding left and right ends of the drive axle. The ratchet mechanisms allow the transmission of rotational movement from the left or the right crank to the drive axle in one direction while leaving the left or the right crank free to rotate in an opposite direction to the drive axle. Accordingly, during use of the exercising apparatus, to achieve rotation of either the left or the right crank in one direction, the user person must apply force to the corresponding left or right pedal over 360° for each complete revolution of the pedals.
A pedal mechanism for exercising apparatus comprises a drive axle rotatably mounted on the exercising apparatus. The drive axle has left and right ends constituting pivotal connections on which the corresponding proximate ends of left and right cranks are mounted. A left pedal, mounted rotatable on the distal end of the left crank is provided with a system for attaching the left foot of a user person thereto. A right pedal, mounted rotatable on the distal end of the right crank is provided with the same system for attaching the right foot of the user person thereto. Left and right ratchet mechanisms are interposed between the respective proximate ends of the left and right cranks and the corresponding left and right ends of the drive axle. The ratchet mechanisms allow the transmission of rotational movement from the left or the right crank to the drive axle in one direction while leaving the left or the right crank free to rotate in an opposite direction to the drive axle. Accordingly, during use of the exercising apparatus, to achieve rotation of either the left or the right crank in one direction, the user person must apply force to the corresponding left or right pedal over 360° for each complete revolution of the pedals.
Description
~- 208~5~
. 5 RATCHETED PEDAL MECHANISM
: "
'i FOR AN EXERCISING APPARATUS
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~ 10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I
~3 l. Field of the invention-The present invention relates to a pedal mechanism for exercising apparatus, in which the left and right cranks are pivotally connected to the drive axle by means of a ratchet mechanism.
2G 2. Brief description of the prior art:
To present a good performance during competitions, the legs of a cyclist must apply a steady force on the pedals in the four quadrants of a 125 full pedal stroke, that is over 360 during each complete revolution of the pedal.
The four quadrants of a full pedal stroke comprise:
(a) a first power quadrant in which the pedal is lowered from a top position by extending the Ithigh and then the leg to apply a downward force on that pedal and direct it to a lower position;
(b) a second quadrant, commonly referred to as the lower dead point, in which the pedaI, in the -`` 2~3~5~2 , .
, lower position, is moved rearwardly by extending the foot and then the leg;
(c) a third quadrant in which the pedal is lifted through a flexion of the thigh and then of the leg; and (d) a fourth sector, said upper dead point, in which the pedal, in its upper position, is moved forwardly by extending the leg and then the foot, before being lowered again (first quadrant3.
Obviously, this cycle is repeated during each complete revolution of the pedal.
~ 15 ¦ Many cyclists, for example during a competition, will only efficiently apply force to the pedals in the first quadrant of the pedal stroke.
¦ Under these conditions, the three other quadrants are 1 20 not exploited efficiently and the performance of these cyclists is thereby reduced.
It is therefore clearly advantageous to provide a mechanism whereby the cyclist is conditioned to efficiently exploit each of the four quandrants of a complete pedal stroke.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a pedal mechanism for exercising apparatus that forces the cyclist to efficiently apply -~ - 2 0 8 P~
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force on the pedals in each of the four quadrants of fi a full pedal stroke.
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!i ~ 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
., In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pedal mechanism for an exercising apparatus, comprising (a) drive axle means rotatably mounted on the exercising apparatus and defining a central axis of rotation, comprising left and right ends;
(b) a left crank having a proximate end rotatably mounted on the left end of the drive axle means about the central axis and having a distal end;
(c) a right crank having a proximate end rotatably mounted on the right end of the drive axle means about the central axis and having a distal end;
(d) a left pedal mounted on the distal end of the left ~, 20 crank, said left pedal comprising means for attaching ¦ the left foot of a user person thereto;
¦ (e) a right pedal mounted on the distal end of the right crank, the right pedal comprising means for I attaching the right foot of said user person thereto;
¦ 25 (f) left connecting means interposed between the proximate end of the left crank and the left end of the drive axle means, comprising means for transmitting rotational movement from the left crank to the drive axle means in one direction while leaving the left crank free to rotate in an opposite direction on the drive axle means; and (g) right connecting means interposed between the proximate end of the right crank and the right end of 2~85~52 . . .
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:., the drive axle means, comprising means for ~,j transmitting rotational movement from the right crank to the drive axle means in said one direction while , .
,; leaving the right crank free to move in said opposite direction to the drive axle means;
whereby during use of the exercising apparatus, to achieve rotation of either the left or right crank in said one direction, the user person must apply force to the corresponding left or right pedal over 360~ for each complete revolution of the pedals.
Therefore, as each of the left and right crank are free to rotate indepedently from the drive axle in a direction opposite the rotational movement of the drive axle, a user person must, in order to rotate any of the left and right cranks at constant speed about the central axis, apply a steady force on the corresponding left or right pedal over 360 for each complete revolution of the pedals, that is in the four quadrants of pedalling.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, the exercising apparatus is a conventional bicycle and ratchet mechanisms are interposed between the proximate ends of each of the left and the right cranks and the corresponding left i'~ and right ends of the drive axle. The ratchet mechanisms are mounted on the proximate ends of each ,~ the left and the right crank, and are adapted to engage the corresponding left and right ends of the drive axle, in a unitary direction, thereby transmitting rotational movement to it about its longitudinal axis, and are further adapted to allow ;IJ
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tha respective left and right cranks to freely rotate in the opposite direction on the drive axle. The j, ~; drive axle is rotatably mounted in a cylindrical tube section on the frame of the bicycle. The pedals are rotatively mounted on the distal ends of the left and right cranks, respectiv~ly.
In accordance with other preferred embodiments of the pedal mechanism:
. 5 RATCHETED PEDAL MECHANISM
: "
'i FOR AN EXERCISING APPARATUS
!
': .
~ 10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I
~3 l. Field of the invention-The present invention relates to a pedal mechanism for exercising apparatus, in which the left and right cranks are pivotally connected to the drive axle by means of a ratchet mechanism.
2G 2. Brief description of the prior art:
To present a good performance during competitions, the legs of a cyclist must apply a steady force on the pedals in the four quadrants of a 125 full pedal stroke, that is over 360 during each complete revolution of the pedal.
The four quadrants of a full pedal stroke comprise:
(a) a first power quadrant in which the pedal is lowered from a top position by extending the Ithigh and then the leg to apply a downward force on that pedal and direct it to a lower position;
(b) a second quadrant, commonly referred to as the lower dead point, in which the pedaI, in the -`` 2~3~5~2 , .
, lower position, is moved rearwardly by extending the foot and then the leg;
(c) a third quadrant in which the pedal is lifted through a flexion of the thigh and then of the leg; and (d) a fourth sector, said upper dead point, in which the pedal, in its upper position, is moved forwardly by extending the leg and then the foot, before being lowered again (first quadrant3.
Obviously, this cycle is repeated during each complete revolution of the pedal.
~ 15 ¦ Many cyclists, for example during a competition, will only efficiently apply force to the pedals in the first quadrant of the pedal stroke.
¦ Under these conditions, the three other quadrants are 1 20 not exploited efficiently and the performance of these cyclists is thereby reduced.
It is therefore clearly advantageous to provide a mechanism whereby the cyclist is conditioned to efficiently exploit each of the four quandrants of a complete pedal stroke.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a pedal mechanism for exercising apparatus that forces the cyclist to efficiently apply -~ - 2 0 8 P~
~ .
i `
force on the pedals in each of the four quadrants of fi a full pedal stroke.
r~
!i ~ 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
., In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pedal mechanism for an exercising apparatus, comprising (a) drive axle means rotatably mounted on the exercising apparatus and defining a central axis of rotation, comprising left and right ends;
(b) a left crank having a proximate end rotatably mounted on the left end of the drive axle means about the central axis and having a distal end;
(c) a right crank having a proximate end rotatably mounted on the right end of the drive axle means about the central axis and having a distal end;
(d) a left pedal mounted on the distal end of the left ~, 20 crank, said left pedal comprising means for attaching ¦ the left foot of a user person thereto;
¦ (e) a right pedal mounted on the distal end of the right crank, the right pedal comprising means for I attaching the right foot of said user person thereto;
¦ 25 (f) left connecting means interposed between the proximate end of the left crank and the left end of the drive axle means, comprising means for transmitting rotational movement from the left crank to the drive axle means in one direction while leaving the left crank free to rotate in an opposite direction on the drive axle means; and (g) right connecting means interposed between the proximate end of the right crank and the right end of 2~85~52 . . .
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:., the drive axle means, comprising means for ~,j transmitting rotational movement from the right crank to the drive axle means in said one direction while , .
,; leaving the right crank free to move in said opposite direction to the drive axle means;
whereby during use of the exercising apparatus, to achieve rotation of either the left or right crank in said one direction, the user person must apply force to the corresponding left or right pedal over 360~ for each complete revolution of the pedals.
Therefore, as each of the left and right crank are free to rotate indepedently from the drive axle in a direction opposite the rotational movement of the drive axle, a user person must, in order to rotate any of the left and right cranks at constant speed about the central axis, apply a steady force on the corresponding left or right pedal over 360 for each complete revolution of the pedals, that is in the four quadrants of pedalling.
In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, the exercising apparatus is a conventional bicycle and ratchet mechanisms are interposed between the proximate ends of each of the left and the right cranks and the corresponding left i'~ and right ends of the drive axle. The ratchet mechanisms are mounted on the proximate ends of each ,~ the left and the right crank, and are adapted to engage the corresponding left and right ends of the drive axle, in a unitary direction, thereby transmitting rotational movement to it about its longitudinal axis, and are further adapted to allow ;IJ
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tha respective left and right cranks to freely rotate in the opposite direction on the drive axle. The j, ~; drive axle is rotatably mounted in a cylindrical tube section on the frame of the bicycle. The pedals are rotatively mounted on the distal ends of the left and right cranks, respectiv~ly.
In accordance with other preferred embodiments of the pedal mechanism:
3~ The exercising apparatus is a stationary ~ training apparatus.
~.
Furthermore, the pedal mechanism may comprise a mechanism for locking the respective left and right cranks to the drive axle whereby the pedal mechanism can be operated as a conventional pedal and gear mechanism.
The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive ;'~ description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF D~SCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
:
In the appended drawings:
2~8~452 : 6 ,.
Figure 1 is a right side elevational view .i of a training bicycle comprising a pedal mechanism in .~
accordance with the present invention;
:-, 5 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ,.3 pedal mechanism of the exercising bicycle of Figure 1;
:,j Figure 3 is an elevational, cross ~10 sectional front view of the pedal mechanism of Figure ,., l;
~;', Figure 4 is an elevational, cross ;$1sectional view of the pedal mechanism of Figure 1, ~!15 taken along line 4 - 4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is an elevational, cross sectional view of the pedal mechanism of Figure l, 9taken along line 5 - 5 of Figure 3.
QDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Figure 1 of the appended drawings 25 illustrates a training bicycle 10 comprising a pedal qmechanism 23 (Figure 3) in accordance with the present ~' !invention.
,, .
The bicycle 10 comprises a metallic frame ! 30 11 provided with a head tube 12. A fork 13 is ¦ pivotally mounted on head tube 12. A stem 14 is ! pivotally mounted in the head tube 12. On the upper I end of the stem 14 are mounted handlebars 15. A front 2 ~ 2 ~ . ~
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wheel 16 is conventionallyl rotatively installed on the free end of the fork 13.
-! The frame 11 further comprises a crossbar 17, a down tube 18, a seat tube 19, a pair of seat stays 20, and a pair of chain stays 21.
Two plates 22, located at the intersection of the seat stays 20 and chain stays 21 on the left .~ 10 and right sides of the bicycle 10 are where the rear ~ wheel 16' is conventionally, rotatively secured.
~, ~
As better shown in Figure 2, the down tube 'ri 18, seat tube 19, and chain stays 21, intersect at and are welded to sleeve 24. The pedal mechanism 23 is installed inside sleeve 24.
~' The pedal mechanism 23 is part of the power train 38 which comprises sprocket cluster 25, 20chain 26, chain wheel cluster 27, left crank 28, right crank 29, left pedal 30, and right pedal 31.
The pedal mechanism 23 will now be ¦ described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the appended drawings.
, Turning now to Figure 3, the pedal mechanism 23 comprises a cylindrical shaft 32 rotatively mounted on the inner surface of sleeve 24 30through ball bearings 33 and 34 resting on flanges 35 and 36 respectively formed on the inside surface of diametrically opposed ends 37 and 39 of sleeve 24. The sleeve 24 and shaft 32 are both centered about a ;: --` 2~85~5~
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.~ central axis 40. The shaft 32 has diametrically :' opposed left tapered end (not shown) and right tapered ~- end 41.
Ii~' The description will now proceed with the right side of the pedal mechanism as seen in Figure 3.
The chain wheel sproket 27 snugly fits onto shaft 32 and is locked on the outer surface 10 thereof by retaining screw 42. The crank 29 is rotatably mounted on the tapered end 41 of shaft 32 through suitable needle bearing 43, received into the annular cavity 44 formed on the proximate end 45 of crank 29. The crank 29 is snugly retained in 15 proximate association with end 41 of shaft 32 by means ,, of a retaining outer bolt 46. End 45 of shaft 32 comprises an axial threaded bore (not shown) to receive retaining outer bolt 46. The bolt 46 is associated with a washer 47 of which one face rests on s 20 the shoulder 48 to thereby prevent longitudinal movement of shaft 32 toward the left. Accordingly, the bolt 46 along with the washer 47 maintain the shaft 32 in the position shown in Figure 3. It can be ~ appreciated that a symmetrical arrangement (not t 25 shown~, without a chain wheel sprocket, is mounted on ~ the left end (not shown) of the shaft 32.
~. ~
Turning now to Figure 4, there is shown a ratchet mechanism 49 whereby proximate end 45 of crank 29 may positively engage shaft 32 in the direction of pedalling. The crank 29 is operated by the user of training bicycle 10 through the pedal 31 (Figure 1) rotatively mounted on the free end of the ~ ~9~5~2 ..,~
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. crank 29 about an axis generally parallel to axis 40 ~ (Figure 3).
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The ratchet mechanism 49 comprises an annular series of notches 50 formed on shaft 32, and a spring-biased pawl 51. It will be appreciated that ~i upon operating the training bicycle, pawl 51 will engage shaft 32 in one direction of rotation 52 while leaving crank 29 free to rotate on the shaft 32 in the opposite direction 59.
A similar opposite ratchet mechanism (not shown) is provided on the left proximate end (not shown) of shaft 32.
As can be appreciated, operation of the right pedal 31 and crank 29 is independent from operation of the corresponding left pedal 30 and crank 28 as shown in Figure 1.
Hence, with a pedal mechanism 23, rotation of one pedal will not cause rotation of the other pedal. In particular, lowering of one pedal will not cause lifting of the other pedal as shown by the relative positioning of the left and right pedals 30 and 31 in Figure 1. The cyclist will therefore have to apply separate forces to each pedal. As these two left and right cranks 28 and 29 are capable of rotating independently about the axis 40, a cyclist must, in order to rotate any of the left 28 and right 29 cranks at constant speed about the common axis 40, apply a steady force on the corresponding left 30 and right 31 pedals over 360~ for each revolution, that is 2~85~2 ~ 1 0 D . ':
in the four quadrants of pedalling (see for example the arrows 52 - 53 in Figures 1 and 4). This will force the cyclist to practice the correct movements to ,~. apply a steady force in the four quadrants of pedalling, with the object of improving his :~.
performance during competitions. Obviously, it is ~-~ important to provide the pedals 30 and 31 with ' mechanisms capable of attaching the shoes of the .-"! cyclist to these pedals. These mechanisms are ,i 10 schematically illustrated in Figure 1 by grooves 54 ~` and 55 for the pedals 30 and 31, respectively.
,:, ;~ As illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 4, threaded holes 56 and 57 of equal diameter can be drilled through right crank 29 and the proximate end 45 of shaft 32, respectively. Similar holes (not shown) are drilled through left crank 28 and the left end (not shown) of shaft 32. When placed in alignment, holes 56 and 57 can receive a locking screw 58, whereby the cranks 29 and shaft 32 are locked together. The same locking procedure can be effected ~? on the left side (not shown) of the pedal mecanism 23.
This will enable, if desired, conventional operation of the training bicycle. To be more specific this will cause one pedal to be lifted when the other is lowered.
;~ Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment ? 30 thereof, this embodiment can be modified at will, within the scope of the appended claims~ without departing from the spirit and nature of the present invention.
~.
Furthermore, the pedal mechanism may comprise a mechanism for locking the respective left and right cranks to the drive axle whereby the pedal mechanism can be operated as a conventional pedal and gear mechanism.
The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive ;'~ description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF D~SCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
:
In the appended drawings:
2~8~452 : 6 ,.
Figure 1 is a right side elevational view .i of a training bicycle comprising a pedal mechanism in .~
accordance with the present invention;
:-, 5 Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ,.3 pedal mechanism of the exercising bicycle of Figure 1;
:,j Figure 3 is an elevational, cross ~10 sectional front view of the pedal mechanism of Figure ,., l;
~;', Figure 4 is an elevational, cross ;$1sectional view of the pedal mechanism of Figure 1, ~!15 taken along line 4 - 4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is an elevational, cross sectional view of the pedal mechanism of Figure l, 9taken along line 5 - 5 of Figure 3.
QDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Figure 1 of the appended drawings 25 illustrates a training bicycle 10 comprising a pedal qmechanism 23 (Figure 3) in accordance with the present ~' !invention.
,, .
The bicycle 10 comprises a metallic frame ! 30 11 provided with a head tube 12. A fork 13 is ¦ pivotally mounted on head tube 12. A stem 14 is ! pivotally mounted in the head tube 12. On the upper I end of the stem 14 are mounted handlebars 15. A front 2 ~ 2 ~ . ~
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wheel 16 is conventionallyl rotatively installed on the free end of the fork 13.
-! The frame 11 further comprises a crossbar 17, a down tube 18, a seat tube 19, a pair of seat stays 20, and a pair of chain stays 21.
Two plates 22, located at the intersection of the seat stays 20 and chain stays 21 on the left .~ 10 and right sides of the bicycle 10 are where the rear ~ wheel 16' is conventionally, rotatively secured.
~, ~
As better shown in Figure 2, the down tube 'ri 18, seat tube 19, and chain stays 21, intersect at and are welded to sleeve 24. The pedal mechanism 23 is installed inside sleeve 24.
~' The pedal mechanism 23 is part of the power train 38 which comprises sprocket cluster 25, 20chain 26, chain wheel cluster 27, left crank 28, right crank 29, left pedal 30, and right pedal 31.
The pedal mechanism 23 will now be ¦ described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the appended drawings.
, Turning now to Figure 3, the pedal mechanism 23 comprises a cylindrical shaft 32 rotatively mounted on the inner surface of sleeve 24 30through ball bearings 33 and 34 resting on flanges 35 and 36 respectively formed on the inside surface of diametrically opposed ends 37 and 39 of sleeve 24. The sleeve 24 and shaft 32 are both centered about a ;: --` 2~85~5~
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.~ central axis 40. The shaft 32 has diametrically :' opposed left tapered end (not shown) and right tapered ~- end 41.
Ii~' The description will now proceed with the right side of the pedal mechanism as seen in Figure 3.
The chain wheel sproket 27 snugly fits onto shaft 32 and is locked on the outer surface 10 thereof by retaining screw 42. The crank 29 is rotatably mounted on the tapered end 41 of shaft 32 through suitable needle bearing 43, received into the annular cavity 44 formed on the proximate end 45 of crank 29. The crank 29 is snugly retained in 15 proximate association with end 41 of shaft 32 by means ,, of a retaining outer bolt 46. End 45 of shaft 32 comprises an axial threaded bore (not shown) to receive retaining outer bolt 46. The bolt 46 is associated with a washer 47 of which one face rests on s 20 the shoulder 48 to thereby prevent longitudinal movement of shaft 32 toward the left. Accordingly, the bolt 46 along with the washer 47 maintain the shaft 32 in the position shown in Figure 3. It can be ~ appreciated that a symmetrical arrangement (not t 25 shown~, without a chain wheel sprocket, is mounted on ~ the left end (not shown) of the shaft 32.
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Turning now to Figure 4, there is shown a ratchet mechanism 49 whereby proximate end 45 of crank 29 may positively engage shaft 32 in the direction of pedalling. The crank 29 is operated by the user of training bicycle 10 through the pedal 31 (Figure 1) rotatively mounted on the free end of the ~ ~9~5~2 ..,~
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. crank 29 about an axis generally parallel to axis 40 ~ (Figure 3).
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The ratchet mechanism 49 comprises an annular series of notches 50 formed on shaft 32, and a spring-biased pawl 51. It will be appreciated that ~i upon operating the training bicycle, pawl 51 will engage shaft 32 in one direction of rotation 52 while leaving crank 29 free to rotate on the shaft 32 in the opposite direction 59.
A similar opposite ratchet mechanism (not shown) is provided on the left proximate end (not shown) of shaft 32.
As can be appreciated, operation of the right pedal 31 and crank 29 is independent from operation of the corresponding left pedal 30 and crank 28 as shown in Figure 1.
Hence, with a pedal mechanism 23, rotation of one pedal will not cause rotation of the other pedal. In particular, lowering of one pedal will not cause lifting of the other pedal as shown by the relative positioning of the left and right pedals 30 and 31 in Figure 1. The cyclist will therefore have to apply separate forces to each pedal. As these two left and right cranks 28 and 29 are capable of rotating independently about the axis 40, a cyclist must, in order to rotate any of the left 28 and right 29 cranks at constant speed about the common axis 40, apply a steady force on the corresponding left 30 and right 31 pedals over 360~ for each revolution, that is 2~85~2 ~ 1 0 D . ':
in the four quadrants of pedalling (see for example the arrows 52 - 53 in Figures 1 and 4). This will force the cyclist to practice the correct movements to ,~. apply a steady force in the four quadrants of pedalling, with the object of improving his :~.
performance during competitions. Obviously, it is ~-~ important to provide the pedals 30 and 31 with ' mechanisms capable of attaching the shoes of the .-"! cyclist to these pedals. These mechanisms are ,i 10 schematically illustrated in Figure 1 by grooves 54 ~` and 55 for the pedals 30 and 31, respectively.
,:, ;~ As illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 4, threaded holes 56 and 57 of equal diameter can be drilled through right crank 29 and the proximate end 45 of shaft 32, respectively. Similar holes (not shown) are drilled through left crank 28 and the left end (not shown) of shaft 32. When placed in alignment, holes 56 and 57 can receive a locking screw 58, whereby the cranks 29 and shaft 32 are locked together. The same locking procedure can be effected ~? on the left side (not shown) of the pedal mecanism 23.
This will enable, if desired, conventional operation of the training bicycle. To be more specific this will cause one pedal to be lifted when the other is lowered.
;~ Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment ? 30 thereof, this embodiment can be modified at will, within the scope of the appended claims~ without departing from the spirit and nature of the present invention.
Claims (7)
1. A pedal mechanism for an exercising apparatus, comprising (a) drive axle means rotatably mounted on the exercising apparatus and defining a central axis of rotation, comprising left and right ends;
(b) a left crank having a proximate end rotatably mounted on the left end of the drive axle means about the central axis and having a distal end;
(c) a right crank having a proximate end rotatably mounted on the right end of the drive axle means about the central axis and having a distal end;
(d) a left pedal mounted on the distal end of the left crank, said left pedal comprising means for attaching the left foot of a user person thereto;
(e) a right pedal mounted on the distal end of the right crank, the right pedal comprising means for attaching the right foot of said user person thereto;
(f) left connecting means interposed between the proximate end of the left crank and the left end of the drive axle means, comprising means for transmitting rotational movement from the left crank to the drive axle means in one direction while leaving the left crank free to rotate in an opposite direction on the drive axle means; and (g) right connecting means interposed between the proximate end of the right crank and the right end of the drive axle means, comprising means for transmitting rotational movement from the right crank to the drive axle means in said one direction while leaving the right crank free to move in said opposite direction to the drive axle means;
whereby during use of the exercising apparatus, to achieve rotation of either the left or right crank in said one direction, the user person must apply force to the corresponding left or right pedal over 360° for each complete revolution of the pedals.
(b) a left crank having a proximate end rotatably mounted on the left end of the drive axle means about the central axis and having a distal end;
(c) a right crank having a proximate end rotatably mounted on the right end of the drive axle means about the central axis and having a distal end;
(d) a left pedal mounted on the distal end of the left crank, said left pedal comprising means for attaching the left foot of a user person thereto;
(e) a right pedal mounted on the distal end of the right crank, the right pedal comprising means for attaching the right foot of said user person thereto;
(f) left connecting means interposed between the proximate end of the left crank and the left end of the drive axle means, comprising means for transmitting rotational movement from the left crank to the drive axle means in one direction while leaving the left crank free to rotate in an opposite direction on the drive axle means; and (g) right connecting means interposed between the proximate end of the right crank and the right end of the drive axle means, comprising means for transmitting rotational movement from the right crank to the drive axle means in said one direction while leaving the right crank free to move in said opposite direction to the drive axle means;
whereby during use of the exercising apparatus, to achieve rotation of either the left or right crank in said one direction, the user person must apply force to the corresponding left or right pedal over 360° for each complete revolution of the pedals.
2. The pedal mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting rotational movement to the drive axle means comprise ratchet means.
3. The pedal mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the ratchet means include annular series of notches formed respectively on the left and right ends of the drive axle means and, in operative relation thereto, corresponding left and right spring-biased pawls mounted on the proximate ends of the left and right cranks, respectively.
4. The pedal mechanism according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the drive axle means comprise a generally cylindrical shaft rotatably mounted in a generally cylindrical tubular section on a frame of the exercising apparatus.
5. The pedal mechanism according to claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the exercising apparatus is a stationary training exercising apparatus.
6. The pedal mechanism according to claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein the exercising apparatus is a bicycle.
7. The pedal mechanism according to claim 1, 2, or 3 further comprising means for locking the left and the right cranks to the respective left and right ends of the drive axle means whereby said pedal mechanism can be operated as a conventional pedal and gear mechanism of exercising apparatus.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2085452 CA2085452A1 (en) | 1992-12-15 | 1992-12-15 | Ratcheted pedal mechanism for an exercising apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2085452 CA2085452A1 (en) | 1992-12-15 | 1992-12-15 | Ratcheted pedal mechanism for an exercising apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2085452A1 true CA2085452A1 (en) | 1994-06-16 |
Family
ID=4150849
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2085452 Abandoned CA2085452A1 (en) | 1992-12-15 | 1992-12-15 | Ratcheted pedal mechanism for an exercising apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2085452A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20140360314A1 (en) * | 2013-06-07 | 2014-12-11 | Mark Bradley Sams | Crankset and bottom bracket assembly |
-
1992
- 1992-12-15 CA CA 2085452 patent/CA2085452A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20140360314A1 (en) * | 2013-06-07 | 2014-12-11 | Mark Bradley Sams | Crankset and bottom bracket assembly |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |