EP2797806A1 - Pedal cycle crank apparatus and method - Google Patents

Pedal cycle crank apparatus and method

Info

Publication number
EP2797806A1
EP2797806A1 EP12740384.8A EP12740384A EP2797806A1 EP 2797806 A1 EP2797806 A1 EP 2797806A1 EP 12740384 A EP12740384 A EP 12740384A EP 2797806 A1 EP2797806 A1 EP 2797806A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
crank
cycle
peripheral portion
condition
frame
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP12740384.8A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Mason John SMITH
Richard Francis TOWNSEND
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP2797806A1 publication Critical patent/EP2797806A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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

Definitions

  • This invention relates to apparatus for and a method of deterring rotation of, in particular, a pedal cycle erank relative to a frame of the cycle, when the drive thereof is removed.
  • a bicycle which has a frame, with a head tube and a bottom bracket shell, and a fork with a fork shaft.
  • a bearing is provided for the fork shaft in the head tube
  • a bottom bracket is provided for bearing a crank shaft in the bottom bracket shell, the crank shaft having crank arms carrying pedals, wherein the bottom bracket and/or the bearing for the fork shaft comprises at least one bush bearing, instead of the conventional ball bearing.
  • apparatus for deterring rotation of a foot-drivable first part of a pedal cycle when the drive is removed from said first part comprising a member insertable between a first portion fixed relative to said first part and a second portion fixed relative to a second part of said cycle, and, while so inserted, displaceable between an ineffective condition in which said member does not substantially brake said first part and an effective condition in which said member substantially brakes said first part, and a device which serves to displace said member between its ineffective and effective conditions.
  • a pedal cycle including first and second parts which are respectively a crank and a frame rotatably mounting the crank, and an apparatus for deterring rotation of said first part relative to said second part when drive is removed from said first part, said apparatus comprising a member inserted between a first portion fixed relative to said first part and a second portion fixed relative to said second part and dispiaceab!e between an ineffective condition in which said member does not substantially brake said first part and an effective condition in which said member substantially brakes said first part, and a device which serves to displace said member between its ineffective and effective conditions.
  • a rider it is possible for a rider to change the braking effort on, in particular, a crank to suit circumstances.
  • a BMX rider cycling from home to a BMX competition can set the device such that there is no significant braking effect and then, when required to perform tricks, can set the device such that the crank is braked, but not fixed against rotation relative to the frame.
  • the degree of effectiveness is adjustable.
  • an inexpert BMX rider may wish to have heavy braking of the crank to ensure that the crank remains almost where his feet left them, whereas an expert may choose to allow more freedom for the crank.
  • such adjustability allows for take-up of frictional wear.
  • the member preferably comprises a resilient washer having an outer peripheral portion thinner than an inner peripheral portion thereof, with the latter portion being for abutting only an inner shell of a rotary bearing between the crank and the frame, while the outer peripheral portion is spaced from an outer shell of the bearing and not contacting the inner shell but pressable by the device against the outer shell to provide the braking effect.
  • the device may comprise one or more set screws carried by one of the crank and the frame to which the member is fixable, with adjustment of the device being from the region of the device itself.
  • Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, underneath plan view of a bottom bracket region of a BMX cycle
  • Figure 2 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, vertical, axial section through part of the region.
  • the bicycle includes a frame 2, a crank 3 comprising a drive arm 4, a non-drive arm 6, and an axle 8.
  • Fixed to the arm 4 by way of a bolt 9 is a chain drive sprocket 10 adjacent a bearing cover 12.
  • a bearing 16 in this example a ball bearing
  • drag washer 24 encircling the axle 8 and having a thicker inner peripheral portion 24a clamped between the cover 14 and the inner race 18 and a thinner outer peripheral portion 24b spaced axially from the outer race 20.
  • a spacer 26 Clamped between the cover 14 and the arm 6 is a spacer 26.
  • Mounted in the cover 14 are a plurality of, in this example three, equiangularly spaced grub screws 28 which can be screwed in to press the portion 24b adjustably against the outer race 20 (so as to apply an adjustable drag against turning of the crank 3) and screwed out to remove the pressure from the portion 24b (so that the portion 24b is able to move resilientiy out of contact with the outer race 20).
  • the resistance can be added and removed easily without the rider's having to remove parts from the cycle or put any significant extra pressure on any of the moving parts of the cycle, which might cause them to fail.
  • the screws 28 can be tightened sufficientl to stop the crank 3 from turning when the feet are removed.
  • the amount of resistance can be altered to suit each rider's preference by fine adjustment of the screws 28. If the rider does not want the resistance, then the pressure can be removed and the crank 3 will rotate in a conventional manner.
  • the cover 14, the washer 24 and the screws 28 are preferably designed to fit at least most types of sealed cartridge bearing bottom brackets, particularly USA, Mid, Spanish and Euro, which are the four main bottom bracket sizes used in the pedal cycle industry.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Control Devices (AREA)

Abstract

A pedal cycle includes a crank and frame rotatably mounting the crank and an apparatus for deterring rotation of the crank relative to the frame when the drive is removed therefrom. The apparatus comprises a resilient, plastics drag washer 24 encircling a crank axle 8 and having a thicker inner peripheral portion 24a, clamped between a cover 14 and an inner race 18 of a ball bearing 16 and a thinner outer peripheral portion 24b spaced axially from an outer race 20 which is fixed to the frame. A plurality of grub screws 28 can be screwed in to press the portion 24b adjustably against the outer race 20 and thus to cause the washer 24 to apply an adjustable braking effect against rotation of the crank relative to the frame.

Description

PEDAL CYCLE CRANK APPARATUS AND METHOD
This invention relates to apparatus for and a method of deterring rotation of, in particular, a pedal cycle erank relative to a frame of the cycle, when the drive thereof is removed.
It is known from, for example, DE 152332(A) DE595973 (A) and WO2009136801 (A1) to lock a bicycle crank releasably in a condition fixed against rotation relative to the frame, or, from DE 19850712(A!), to lock a pedal releasably in a condition fixed against rotation relative to a crank. Such provisions are made for various reasons.
When a cyclist, particularly a BMX (bicycle motocross) cyclist, is performing a trick that requires him to take his feet off the pedals, the crank tends to continue to rotate under its own momentum (plus, of course, that of the pedals) so that, when the rider comes to put his feet back on the pedals, the pedals are in different positions about the crank axis compared to where they last were. This can cause the rider to misplace his footing and as a result fall from the cycle.
There is disclosed in GB2458217 (A) a bicycle which has a frame, with a head tube and a bottom bracket shell, and a fork with a fork shaft. A bearing is provided for the fork shaft in the head tube, and a bottom bracket is provided for bearing a crank shaft in the bottom bracket shell, the crank shaft having crank arms carrying pedals, wherein the bottom bracket and/or the bearing for the fork shaft comprises at least one bush bearing, instead of the conventional ball bearing. It is stated that, because of the use of at least one bush bearing, friction between the bottom bracket and the crank shaft occurs, which makes it easier to perform tricks on a BMX freestyle bicycle.
According to the one aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for deterring rotation of a foot-drivable first part of a pedal cycle when the drive is removed from said first part, said apparatus comprising a member insertable between a first portion fixed relative to said first part and a second portion fixed relative to a second part of said cycle, and, while so inserted, displaceable between an ineffective condition in which said member does not substantially brake said first part and an effective condition in which said member substantially brakes said first part, and a device which serves to displace said member between its ineffective and effective conditions.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pedal cycle including first and second parts which are respectively a crank and a frame rotatably mounting the crank, and an apparatus for deterring rotation of said first part relative to said second part when drive is removed from said first part, said apparatus comprising a member inserted between a first portion fixed relative to said first part and a second portion fixed relative to said second part and dispiaceab!e between an ineffective condition in which said member does not substantially brake said first part and an effective condition in which said member substantially brakes said first part, and a device which serves to displace said member between its ineffective and effective conditions.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising displacing a member between:-
(i) an ineffective condition in which said member does not substantially brake rotation of a first part of a pedal cycle relative to a second part of said cycle, said first part and said second part being respectively a crank and a frame upon which said crank is rotatably mounted, and
(ii) an effective condition in which said member substantially brakes rotation of said first part relative to said second part.
Owing to the invention, it is possible for a rider to change the braking effort on, in particular, a crank to suit circumstances. For example, a BMX rider cycling from home to a BMX competition can set the device such that there is no significant braking effect and then, when required to perform tricks, can set the device such that the crank is braked, but not fixed against rotation relative to the frame.
Advantageously, in the effective condition of the member, the degree of effectiveness is adjustable. For example, an inexpert BMX rider may wish to have heavy braking of the crank to ensure that the crank remains almost where his feet left them, whereas an expert may choose to allow more freedom for the crank. Moreover, such adjustability allows for take-up of frictional wear.
The member preferably comprises a resilient washer having an outer peripheral portion thinner than an inner peripheral portion thereof, with the latter portion being for abutting only an inner shell of a rotary bearing between the crank and the frame, while the outer peripheral portion is spaced from an outer shell of the bearing and not contacting the inner shell but pressable by the device against the outer shell to provide the braking effect.
The device may comprise one or more set screws carried by one of the crank and the frame to which the member is fixable, with adjustment of the device being from the region of the device itself.
It will be generally understood that, owing to this invention, it is possible to add resistance to a crank bearing so that, when the rider is not turning the crank, it stays in the same position, or almost the same position, about the turning axis where the rider left it.
In order that the invention may be clearly and completely disclosed, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, underneath plan view of a bottom bracket region of a BMX cycle; and
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic, fragmentary, vertical, axial section through part of the region.
Referring to the drawings, the bicycle includes a frame 2, a crank 3 comprising a drive arm 4, a non-drive arm 6, and an axle 8. Fixed to the arm 4 by way of a bolt 9 is a chain drive sprocket 10 adjacent a bearing cover 12. Towards the opposite end of the axle 8 is another bearing cover 4 protecting a bearing 16 (in this example a ball bearing) having inner and outer shells (in this example races) 18 and 20 and, in this example, balls 22. Between the cover 14 and the bearing 16 is a resilient, plastics, drag washer 24 encircling the axle 8 and having a thicker inner peripheral portion 24a clamped between the cover 14 and the inner race 18 and a thinner outer peripheral portion 24b spaced axially from the outer race 20. Clamped between the cover 14 and the arm 6 is a spacer 26. Mounted in the cover 14 are a plurality of, in this example three, equiangularly spaced grub screws 28 which can be screwed in to press the portion 24b adjustably against the outer race 20 (so as to apply an adjustable drag against turning of the crank 3) and screwed out to remove the pressure from the portion 24b (so that the portion 24b is able to move resilientiy out of contact with the outer race 20). Thereby, the resistance can be added and removed easily without the rider's having to remove parts from the cycle or put any significant extra pressure on any of the moving parts of the cycle, which might cause them to fail.
The screws 28 can be tightened sufficientl to stop the crank 3 from turning when the feet are removed. The amount of resistance can be altered to suit each rider's preference by fine adjustment of the screws 28. If the rider does not want the resistance, then the pressure can be removed and the crank 3 will rotate in a conventional manner. The cover 14, the washer 24 and the screws 28 are preferably designed to fit at least most types of sealed cartridge bearing bottom brackets, particularly USA, Mid, Spanish and Euro, which are the four main bottom bracket sizes used in the pedal cycle industry.

Claims

CUMMS
1. Apparatus for deterring rotation of a foot-drivable first part of a pedal cycle when the drive is removed from said first part, said apparatus comprising a member insertable between a first portion fixed relative to said first part and a second portion fixed relative to a second part of said cycle, and, while so inserted, displaceable between an ineffective condition in which said member does not substantially brake said first part and an effective condition in which said member substantially brakes said first part, and a device which serves to displace said member between its ineffective and effective conditions.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said member comprises a resilient washer having an outer peripheral portion thinner than an inner peripheral portion thereof.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said inner peripheral portion is for abutting only an inner shell of a rotary bearing between a crank constituting said first part and a frame constituting said second part, while the outer peripheral portion is spaced from an outer shell of the bearing and not contacting the inner shell but pressable by said device against the outer shell to provide the braking effect.
4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein, in the effective condition of the member, the degree of effectiveness is adjustable.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said device comprises one or more set screws carried by one of the first part and the second part to which the member is fixable.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein adjustment of said device is being from the region of said device itself.
7. A pedal cycle including first and second parts which are respectively a crank and a frame rotatably mounting the crank, and an apparatus for deterring rotation of said first part relative to said second part when drive is removed from said first part, said apparatus comprising a member inserted between a first portion fixed relative to said first part and a second portion fixed relative to said second part and displaceable between an ineffective condition in which said member does not substantially brake said first part and an effective condition in which said member substantially brakes said first part, and a device which serves to displace said member between its ineffective and effective conditions.
8. A cycle according to claim 7, wherein said member comprises a resilient washer having an outer peripheral portion thinner than an inner peripheral portion thereof.
9. A cycle according to claim 8, and further comprising a rotary bearing comprising inner and outer shells constituting said first portion and said second portion respectively, said inner peripheral portion being for abutting only said inner shell, and said outer peripheral portion being spaced from said outer shell and not contacting said inner shell but pressable by said device against said outer shell to provide the braking effect.
10. A cycle according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein, in the effective condition of the member, the degree of effectiveness is adjustable.
11. A cycle according to claim 10, wherein said device comprises one or more set screws carried by one of the first part and the second part to which said member is fixed.
12. A cycle according to claim 10 or 11, wherein adjustment of said device is from the region of said device.
13. A cycle according to any one of claims 7 to 12 and in the form of a BMX bicycle.
14. A method comprising displacing a member between:-
(i) an ineffective condition in which said member does not substantially brake rotation of a first part of a pedal cycle relative to a second part of said cycle, said first part and said second part being respectively a crank and a frame upon which said crank is rotatably mounted, and
(ii) an effective condition in which said member substantially brakes rotation of said first part relative to said second part.
15. A method according to claim 14, and further comprising adjusting the degree of effectiveness in said effective condition:
16. A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said cycle is a BMX bicycle.
EP12740384.8A 2011-07-11 2012-07-11 Pedal cycle crank apparatus and method Withdrawn EP2797806A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201111816A GB201111816D0 (en) 2011-07-11 2011-07-11 Apparatus
PCT/GB2012/000585 WO2014009680A1 (en) 2011-07-11 2012-07-11 Pedal cycle crank apparatus and method

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2797806A1 true EP2797806A1 (en) 2014-11-05

Family

ID=44544523

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12740384.8A Withdrawn EP2797806A1 (en) 2011-07-11 2012-07-11 Pedal cycle crank apparatus and method

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2797806A1 (en)
GB (1) GB201111816D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2014009680A1 (en)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009136801A1 (en) * 2008-05-09 2009-11-12 Cranklock Limited A bicycle crank lock

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE595973C (en) 1934-04-25 Richard Johnlath Locking device for the crank on motorized bicycles
DE152332C (en)
DE29804698U1 (en) * 1998-03-16 1998-07-23 Hoose, Heinz Dieter, 45721 Haltern Bicycle security lock on the inside with locking function
DE19850712A1 (en) 1998-04-21 2000-01-13 Hardy Hoheisel Antitheft device for pedal vehicles, with at least one turning bar acting via operating device to grip between pedal bearing shaft and pedal bearing wall
US6264226B1 (en) * 2000-02-07 2001-07-24 Chu-Chan Chang Pedal crank structure of children's bike
US20040173049A1 (en) * 2003-03-04 2004-09-09 Jun-Cheng Chen Transmission mechanism of child bicycle
JP2006142947A (en) * 2004-11-18 2006-06-08 Shimano Inc Crank shaft assembly for bicycle
US20090232436A1 (en) 2008-03-14 2009-09-17 Khe Fahrradhandels Gmbh Bicycle bearings

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009136801A1 (en) * 2008-05-09 2009-11-12 Cranklock Limited A bicycle crank lock

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2014009680A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2014009680A1 (en) 2014-01-16
GB201111816D0 (en) 2011-08-24

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