GB2099382A - Cycle pedal with short pivot pin - Google Patents

Abstract

A pedal includes a footrest 1 in the shape of an arc of a circle, in one piece with a relatively short support unit 2 inside which there is the bearing which rotates on a hub intended to be fixed to a pedal crank. A wire toe-clip 6 can be fixed to the pedal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cycle pedal with short pivot pin The invention relates to a cycle pedal having a short pivot pin, which is a practicai advantage to a cyclist, and which also has a part-circular footrest giving it a characteristic appearance.

The pedal may also include a toe-clip made of wire, instead of the known sheet-like toe-clip, making it easier to fix the toe-clip to the pedal.

An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a pedal, Figure2 is a side elevation; Figure 3 is a partial underplan view of a detail of attachment of a toe-clip to the pedal; Figure 4 is a front elevation of the pedal.

The pedal includes a footrest 1 (Figures 1 and 2) in the shape of an arc of a circle formed in one piece with a shorter support unit 2 inside which there is a bearing 3 which rotates on a hub fixed to the pedal crank. An opening 4 allows the passage of a strap 5 held by a bow-shaped toe-clip 6 fixed by means of a screw 7 and a clamp 8 to the main part of footrest 1.

The only purpose of the opening 9 is to make the unit lighter in weight.

The toe-clip 6 is made of wire, as distinct from sheet-like toe-clips of known type, making it easierto fix the toe-clip to the pedal, and the whole unit also has a characteristic appearance which is particularly pleasing.

The shaping of the wire toe-clip 6 is such as to contain the tip of the cyclist's shoe in its most forward part, referenced 10 in Figure 2, and to hold the top part of the strap in the part referenced 11.

The two ends 12 of the wire of toe-clip 6 are fixed to the footrest 1 by means of the clamp 8, as best seen in Figure 3.

Near the end of the wire toe-clip 6 there is also provided a reinforcing element 13, which can be used to have wording or other marks on its surface.

The wire of toe-clip 6 can be round, oval or square in section, and is preferably made of spring steel.

The advantages obtained from the use of the pedal are obvious, since the shortened support unit 2, by reducing the bulk underneath the surface of footrest 1 (see Figure 4), reduces the risk of scraping the ground with the pedal when rounding sharp bends, particularly on an inclined plane, e.g. on tracks, but also on roads when the cyclist leans over considerably.

The lightness of the pedal so obtained is also to be noted and is chiefly due to its overall shortening which is a particularly important feature, especially in racing bicycles.

Moreover, the appearance of the pedal is particularly pleasing, especially the arc of a circle as seen from above, and also its particular shape in head-on view, both of which are characteristics which distinguish it from the pedals known hitherto.

A main advantage obtained from the toe-clip fitted on the pedal is that the method of fixing it is much simplified as compared with the method of fixing a sheet-metal toe-clip of known kind which requires two strong screws to fix it to the pedal; consequently the use of the toe-clip now described provides a saving in terms of weight, which is a very important feature, especially in the case of racing bicycles.

It is also pointed out that the toe-clip now described allows its position to be angled according to the size of the cyclist's shoe by loosening screw 7 and changing the position of the wire of toe-clip 6.

In addition, the toe-clip described has a pleasing appearance, both when seen from above and from the side, which is a feature constituting a particular improvement as compared with toe-clips in use hitherto, as also the overall appearance of the entire unit formed by the toe-ciip fixed to the pedal with shortened pivot pin as first above described.

1. A cycle pedal comprises in one piece a footrest in the shape of an arc of a circle and connected to a relatively short support unit in which rotates a protruding pivot pin for mounting on a pedal crank.

2. A cycle pedal, as claimed in claim 1, comprising a wire toe-clip shaped to contain the tip of the cyclist's shoe in its most forward portion and folded at its top portion to hold the top of a strap, the toe-clip having two wire ends fixed to the footrest by a clamp secured to the footrest by a screw.

3. A cycle pedal substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cycle pedal with short pivot pin The invention relates to a cycle pedal having a short pivot pin, which is a practicai advantage to a cyclist, and which also has a part-circular footrest giving it a characteristic appearance. The pedal may also include a toe-clip made of wire, instead of the known sheet-like toe-clip, making it easier to fix the toe-clip to the pedal. An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a pedal, Figure2 is a side elevation; Figure 3 is a partial underplan view of a detail of attachment of a toe-clip to the pedal; Figure 4 is a front elevation of the pedal. The pedal includes a footrest 1 (Figures 1 and 2) in the shape of an arc of a circle formed in one piece with a shorter support unit 2 inside which there is a bearing 3 which rotates on a hub fixed to the pedal crank. An opening 4 allows the passage of a strap 5 held by a bow-shaped toe-clip 6 fixed by means of a screw 7 and a clamp 8 to the main part of footrest 1. The only purpose of the opening 9 is to make the unit lighter in weight. The toe-clip 6 is made of wire, as distinct from sheet-like toe-clips of known type, making it easierto fix the toe-clip to the pedal, and the whole unit also has a characteristic appearance which is particularly pleasing. The shaping of the wire toe-clip 6 is such as to contain the tip of the cyclist's shoe in its most forward part, referenced 10 in Figure 2, and to hold the top part of the strap in the part referenced 11. The two ends 12 of the wire of toe-clip 6 are fixed to the footrest 1 by means of the clamp 8, as best seen in Figure 3. Near the end of the wire toe-clip 6 there is also provided a reinforcing element 13, which can be used to have wording or other marks on its surface. The wire of toe-clip 6 can be round, oval or square in section, and is preferably made of spring steel. The advantages obtained from the use of the pedal are obvious, since the shortened support unit 2, by reducing the bulk underneath the surface of footrest 1 (see Figure 4), reduces the risk of scraping the ground with the pedal when rounding sharp bends, particularly on an inclined plane, e.g. on tracks, but also on roads when the cyclist leans over considerably. The lightness of the pedal so obtained is also to be noted and is chiefly due to its overall shortening which is a particularly important feature, especially in racing bicycles. Moreover, the appearance of the pedal is particularly pleasing, especially the arc of a circle as seen from above, and also its particular shape in head-on view, both of which are characteristics which distinguish it from the pedals known hitherto. A main advantage obtained from the toe-clip fitted on the pedal is that the method of fixing it is much simplified as compared with the method of fixing a sheet-metal toe-clip of known kind which requires two strong screws to fix it to the pedal; consequently the use of the toe-clip now described provides a saving in terms of weight, which is a very important feature, especially in the case of racing bicycles. It is also pointed out that the toe-clip now described allows its position to be angled according to the size of the cyclist's shoe by loosening screw 7 and changing the position of the wire of toe-clip 6. In addition, the toe-clip described has a pleasing appearance, both when seen from above and from the side, which is a feature constituting a particular improvement as compared with toe-clips in use hitherto, as also the overall appearance of the entire unit formed by the toe-ciip fixed to the pedal with shortened pivot pin as first above described. CLAIMS

1. A cycle pedal comprises in one piece a footrest in the shape of an arc of a circle and connected to a relatively short support unit in which rotates a protruding pivot pin for mounting on a pedal crank.

2. A cycle pedal, as claimed in claim 1, comprising a wire toe-clip shaped to contain the tip of the cyclist's shoe in its most forward portion and folded at its top portion to hold the top of a strap, the toe-clip having two wire ends fixed to the footrest by a clamp secured to the footrest by a screw.

3. A cycle pedal substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.