GB2455100A

GB2455100A - Bicycle pedal assembly incorporating stand

Info

Publication number: GB2455100A
Application number: GB0723279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jon Frank Ross Whyte
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-11-27
Filing date: 2007-11-27
Publication date: 2009-06-03
Also published as: GB0723279D0

Abstract

The assembly 10 comprises a pedal 11 connectible with a pedal crank of a bicycle so as to be engageable by the foot of a rider of the bicycle for transmission of a turning force to the crank and a stand 21 movable between a retracted position in which it is stored adjacent to the pedal 11 and an extended position in which it extends from the pedal 11 for supporting a bicycle relative to a support surface, the stand 21 being arranged to be movable by foot pressure from the retracted position to the extended position. The stand 21 is movable from the retracted position to the extended position in either one of two substantially opposite directions and its pivot axis 15 moves along the pedal 11 during movement between the positions. Safety means 22 prevents accidental extension of the stand 21 during pedalling and attempted pedalling when the stand is extended; a detent means prevents accidental retraction of the stand 21.

Description

BICYCLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY INCORPORATING STAND

The present invention relates to a bicycle pedal assembly and has particular reference to an assembly incorporating a stand to support a bicycle to which the assembly is fitted.

The invention further relates to a bicycle provided with such a pedal assembly.

DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART

In 1891 the idea of incorporating a stand into a bicycle pedal was formulated by P.W.

Tillinghurst and in 1999 the feature of an additional clip-on stand to add to an existing bicycle pedal was patented by P.Kielland (US 623 7929). The above inventions have not been commercially successful because whilst they do serve to stand the bicycle up they are far from easy or convenient to use. In both inventions the stand can only be deployed (extended from the retracted or stored position) by use of the riders hands and the rider must stoop and make hand contact with potentially soiled components. Additionally in the prior art the deployed (extended) stand could cause the rider to loose control of the bicycle as the pedal mounted stand could strike the ground during pedalling as there is no safety feature to prevent this occurring. Also in the earlier prior art because the stand is mounted on only one of the treaded surfaces of the pedal the rider must rotate the pedal into the correct orientation before deploying (extending) the stand.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a bicycle pedal assembly with an integrated stand which, by virtue of its location at a bicycle pedal, is capable of unobtrusive storage and which can be deployed in a simple and convenient manner to provide stable support of a bicycle to which the assembly is fitted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pedal assembly with a stand which can be deployed from a pedal in more than one pedal orientation.

Yet another object of the invention is provision of safety measures by which deployment of a stand incorporated in a bicycle pedal cannot take place in normal operation of a bicycle equipped with the pedal and stand and by which the stand when deployed can be returned to a stored state when riding of the bicycle commences.

According to the present invention there is provided a bicycle pedal assembly comprising a pedal connectible with a pedal crank of a bicycle so as to be engageable by the foot of a rider of the bicycle for transmission of a turning force to the crank and a stand movable between a retracted position in which it is stored adjacent to the pedal and an extended position in which it extends from the pedal for supporting a bicycle relative to a support surface, the stand being arranged to be movable by foot pressure from the retracted position to the extended position.

A bicycle pedal assembly embodying the present invention offers the convenience of an on-board stand able to be deployed whenever parking of a bicycle fitted with the assembly is required and conveniently incorporated in a pedal, which in a bicycle is normally the lowest part other than the wheels and at the furthest lateral spacing from the bicyde centre plane. The pedal thus offers the advantage of locating the stand at a place where it can reach the ground by, in effect, use of part of the length of a pedal crank carrying the pedal assembly and where it provides a third ground contact point sufficiently spaced from a plane containing the ground contact points of the bicycle wheels. The stand of the assembly can, with suitable design, be integrated in the pedal to such an extent that in its retracted position the stand is largely contained within the profile of a usual pedal or enlarges the profile to a still acceptable extent. A particular advantage is the capability of deploying the stand, i.e. moving the stand into the extended position, by foot pressure, so that the user does not have to stoop or come into contact with soiled components except by way of the sole of an item of footwear.

The stand preferably comprises a pivotable ground-engaging prop, which in use co-operates with the bicycle wheels to provide a triangulated support. In one convenient construction the prop comprises an arm provided at an end thereof with a ground-engaging member, for example a bar or other form of foot. Enhanced rigidity may be achieved if the prop comprises two such arms extending substantially parallel to and at a spacing from one another, the ground-engaging member extending between ends of the arms. In that case the member can, in the retracted position of the stand, be conveniently located near an end of the pedal, namely at an end remote from the point of connection with a pedal crank. More particularly, the member can be disposed outwardly of the pedal in the retracted position of the stand so as to be engageable by the foot of a rider for exertion of the foot pressure, the member thus being conveniently presented to a dismounted rider and deployed by downward movement of a foot of the rider.

For preference the pedal defines two mutually opposite faces intended for alternative engagement by the foot of a rider and the prop is pivotable about a prop pivot axis substantially parallel to the faces. In use, the stand is thus deployed when a rotatable tread part of the pedal is in a conventional use orientation, which is the usual state in which a pedal is left after riding. Moreover, the width of the pedal in this orientation provides greater area for accommodation of a stand of sturdier construction. The pedal itself preferably defines an axis of rotation for rotation of a tread part of the pedal relative to a pedal crank with which the pedal is connected and the prop pivot axis extends substantially perpendicularly to the axis of rotation. In use, the reaction thrust generated by pressure of the deployed stand on the ground can be transmitted through the centreline of the pedal and -if the pedal crank is vertical -thus of the pedal crank, so as to resist or at least minimise any tendency of the pedal crank to rotate.

With this construction it is of particular advantage if the prop pivot axis is caused to displace relative to the pedal on movement of the stand between the retracted position and the extended position, especially if the displacement of the prop pivot axis on movement of the stand from the retracted position to the extended position is along the axis of pedal rotation in a direction away from a point of connection of the pedal to a pedal crank. This sliding prop pivot axis has the result that in the retracted state the stand can be integrated into the pedal to a substantial extent to maintain a compact form, whereas in the extended state of the stand the point of departure of the prop arm from the pedal is at an increased spacing from the centre plane of a bicycle so as to provide a greater triangular support area and thus greater stability of the supported bicycle.

The prop pivot axis is preferably defined by prop axle means movable in gate guide means in the pedal, whereby a precisely controlled and constrained movement of the stand between its retracted and extended positions is achieved. The gate guide means can be conveniently provided by a slot in at least one boundary face of the pedal; if the pedal and stand construction permits, such slots can be provided in two opposite boundary faces of the pedal and receive respective axle pins each associated with, for example, a respective one of the two afore-mentioned arms of the prop.

The stand preferably also includes a stay coupling the prop to the pedal and bracing the prop in the extended position of the stand, such a stay, for example, being pivotably connected with the arm and the pedal. In one simple form of construction the stay can be connected with the pedal to be pivotable about a stay pivot axis displaceable relative to the pedal so that the stay fulcrum can move to accommodate the changing angle of the prop as it is pivoted. The stay pivot axis can then be defined by stay axle means movable in gate guide means in the pedal.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a bicycle pedal assembly comprising a pedal connectible with a pedal crank of a bicycle so as to be engageable by the foot of a rider of the bicycle for transmission of a turning force to the crank and a stand movable between a retracted position in which it is stored adjacent to the pedal and an extended position in which it extends from the pedal for supporting a bicycle relative to a support surface. The construction of the stand is such that it is movable from the retracted position to the extended position in either one of two substantially opposite directions.

This symmetrical design means that the stand can be deployed regardless of which major face of the pedal is uppermost or lowermost, i.e. the pedal does not on occasions require rotation through 1800 in order for the stand to be moved into its extended position in a direction towards the ground. The consequence is significantly enhanced user convenience. In a specific preferred construction the stay can be connected with the pedal by two axle members each movable along a respective track of gate guide means in the pedal on movement of the stand into the extended position in a respective one of the two directions, one of the axle members remaining in a fixed location in its track during movement of the other axle member and defining a pivot axis for the stay. Such tracks can be defined by arcuate slots which, in one simple form of construction, can communicate at a common end thereof and extend divergently from that common end.

Resilient means, such as a spring, can be provided to urge the stand into the retracted position. In conjunction with other, already mentioned preferred features the resilient means can be arranged to act between the pedal and the stay. Similarly, retaining means, such as detent means, can be provided to retain the stand in the extended position. In one simple realisation, the detent means can be provided by suitable shaping of the gate guide means for the prop axle means, such as a depression into which axle pins or the like can notch.

The pedal assembly can also include, as a significant safety feature to avoid inadvertent deployment of the stand while the bicycle is being ridden, safety means to tend to cause the stand to remain in the retracted position in the case of foot pressure on the pedal. In effect, while the bicycle is in use the application of usual foot pressure to the pedal keeps

S

the stand retracted. The safety means can, in fact, be arranged to cause the stand when in the extended position to move into the retracted position by foot pressure on the pedal, i.e. commencement of riding the bicycle has the consequence of automatic retraction of the stand without necessarily requiring a separate action on the part of the rider. For preference the safety means is arranged to protrude, in the extended position of the stand, from the pedal at each of two mutually opposite faces thereof intended for alternative engagement by the foot of a rider. This arrangement is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to the embodiment in which the stand can be deployed in either one of two opposite directions.

In one convenient construction the safety means comprises a four-bar linkage coupled to the pedal and the stand at diagonally opposite pivot points of the linkage. The linkage can then be arranged to protrude from the pedal faces in one configuration and to be accommodated in the pedal substantially flush with or between the faces -or at least the planes thereof -in another configuration. Two such linkages arranged at a spacing and connected by connecting rods can be provided to achieve a robust construction, in which the rods act as engagement points for the foot of a rider. The point of coupling of each linkage to the stand can then be conveniently provided at the prop axle means.

As a further feature the pedal assembly can comprise brake means selectably operable in the extended position of the stand to prevent rotation of the pedal when connected with the pedal crank. This provides increased security against dislodging of the stand. Such brake means can be incorporated in the stand operating mechanism and act on, for example, an axle provided in the pedal for connection with a pedal crank.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a bicycle provided with a pedal assembly in accordance with the first-mentioned aspect of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view from above of a pedal assembly embodying the invention, showing a stand of the assembly in a retracted position: Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the assembly of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the assembly of Fig. 1, showing the stand in an extended position.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a bicycle pedal assembly 10 comprising a pedal 11 that comprises of an axle 12 which connects to the conventional pedal crank arm (not shown) of the bicycle by a threaded connection. The male threaded portion of axle 12 is on the inside end of the axle (towards the centre plane of the bicycle). By convention the left-hand pedal axle 12 has a left-hand thread and the right-hand pedal axle has a right-hand thread to connect with the respective pedal crank arms of the bicycle.

The tread part 13 of pedal 11 is supported by axle 12 via rotary bearings at the outer end and outboard of the threaded portion in the conventional way so that tread part 13 is free to rotate around the axis of axle 12.

The stand 21 comprises ground-engaging prop 14 and two stays 17. In this embodiment the construction is symmetrical about the pedal 11 pivot and axle 12 axis.

The ground-engaging prop 14 is fixed by its pivot axis via pivot pins 15 to the linear slots 16 in both sides of tread part 13. The two stays 17 are pivotaHy connected to ground-engaging prop 14 near to its outer end and to a point between the pivot axis and the ground contact part of ground-engaging prop 14 by pivot pins 25. The other end of the stays 17 have two male pivot pins 18 that allow them to rotate in either direction away from the pedal axis. The male pivot pins 18 are guided by the two arcuate slots 19 in tread part 13. The arcuate slots 19 ensure that the stays 17 can only rotate about the centre line axis of either of the male pivot pins 18 with no other degree of freedom. The two springs 20 tension the stays 17 via the male pivot pins 18 into the inner end portions of the arcuate slots 19 in tread part 13 thus providing the positive centreing mechanism.

When extending the stand 21 from its retracted position the rider's foot is pushed in a downwards direction on the outer end of ground-engaging prop 14 (because of the symmetrical nature the rotational orientation of the tread part 13 is unimportant). This causes the rotation of the ground-engaging prop 14 about its pivot axis at pivot pins 15 and also the rotation of the stays 17. The rotational axis of stays 17 and the rotational force from the rider's foot pushing on the outer end of the ground-engaging prop 14 (reacting on the outer end of the stays 17 via pivot pins 25) ensure that the rotational axis of the ground-engaging prop 14 moves outwardly along the linear slots 16 in tread part 13.

When reaching the full extent of the linear slots 16 the stand 21 is extended. The outer end portions of the linear slots 16 in tread part 13 are slightly wider (depressed) such that the pivot pins 15 at the pivot axis of the ground-engaging prop 14 detents in position. In another embodiment the detent feature may not be desirable and in this case the linear slots 16 would remain parallel with no depressions. In the extended position the combination of ground-engaging prop 14 braced by stays 17 give a triangulated structure that is rigid and gives good strength to weight.

The Safety means 22 comprises links 23 and connecting rods 24. The inside end of the inner pairs of links 23 are pivotably connected to ground-engaging prop 14 by pivot pins 15. The outside end of each outer pair of links 23 are pivotably connected to the tread part 13 near to its outer end. As the pivot axis of ground-engaging prop 14 moves outwardly along the linear slots 16 in tread part 13 the links 23 cause the connecting rods 24 to move away from the pedal axis. In this way a downward force applied by the riders foot on the pedal 11 (when commencing to ride) will cause the connecting rod 24 to move downwards thus exerting an inward force on the pivot axis of the ground-engaging prop 14 ensuring that it moves into its retracted position. (Aided by the positive centreing mechanism). Also the downward force from the links 23 acting on the pivot pins 15 moves them away from the depressions in linear slots 16 thus disengaging the detent means.

The Safety means 22 also ensures that whilst the riders foot is engaged on the pedal 11 (during normal riding) the stand 21 must remain safely in its retracted position and cannot be accidentally deployed by jolts, bumps, or being struck by sticks and stones etc. As a fail safe the Safety means 22 also ensures that the rider is aware that the stand 21 has not returned to its retracted position as the riders foot will contact the connecting rod 24 and not the tread part 13 when attempting to ride.

All eight links 23 in this embodiment can be identical in construction to provide savings in manufacturing and purchasing cost.

The combination of the wider detent depressions at the outer ends of the linear slots 16 in tread part 13 and the positive centreing mechanism that applies a force to the stay 17 that in turn applies an upward vertical force onto the pivot axis of ground-engaging prop 14 ensures that the stand 21 will remain in the deployed position until the riders foot pushes on connecting rod 24. In this way if the bicycle is accidentally knocked or moved whilst being supported on the stand 21 it will not cause the stand 21 to return to its retracted position thus preventing the bicycle from accidentally falling over.

In this preferred embodiment when stand 21 is in the extended position and is supporting the bicycle rotation of the pedal assembly 10 is prevented by the relatively large length of the part of the ground-engaging prop that is in contact with the support surface.

In this embodiment there is a provision for an area 26 on the tread part 13 for the fitting of proprietary cleats to both the Iwo mutually opposite faces intended for alternative engagement by the foot of a rider for the clip-in attachment of proprietary cycling shoes if required. This is advantageous as most high-end bicycle pedals feature double-sided cleat type shoe attachment systems and thus the present invention can be used as a replacement for existing pedals to give the additional feature of a stand.

Claims

1. A bicycle pedal assembly comprising a pedal connectible with a pedal crank of a bicycle so as to be engageable by the foot of a rider of the bicycle for transmission of a turning force to the crank and a stand movable between a retracted position in which it is stored adjacent to the pedal and an extended position in which it extends from the pedal for supporting a bicycle relative to a support surface, the stand being arranged to be movable by foot pressure from the retracted position to the extended position.

2. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stand comprises a pivotable ground.engaging prop.

3. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the prop comprises an arm provided at an end thereof with a ground-engaging member.

4. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the prop comprises two such arms extending substantially parallel to and at a spacing from one another, the ground-engaging member extending between ends of the arms.

5. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the ground-engaging member is disposed outwardly of the pedal in the retracted position of the stand so as to be engageable by the foot of a rider for exertion of said foot pressure.

6. A pedal assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the pedal defines two mutually opposite faces intended for alternative engagement by the foot of a rider and the prop is pivotable about a prop pivot axis substantially parallel to the faces.

7. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pedal defines an axis of rotation for rotation of a tread part of the pedal relative to a pedal crank with which the pedal is connected and the prop pivot axis extends substantially perpendicularly to the axis of rotation.

8. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the prop pivot axis is caused to displace relative to the pedal on movement of the stand between the retracted position and the extended position. I0

9. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the displacement of the prop pivot axis on movement of the stand from the retracted position to the extended position is along the axis of pedal rotation in a direction away from a point of connection of the pedal to a pedal crank.

10. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the prop pivot axis is defined by prop axle means movable in gate guide means in the pedal.

11. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the gate guide means is provided by a slot in at least one boundary face of the pedal.

12. A pedal assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the stand comprises a stay coupling the prop to the pedal and bracing the prop in the extended position of the stand.

13. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the stay is pivotably connected with the arm and with the pedal.

14. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the stay is connected with the pedal to be pivotable about a stay pivot axis displaceable relative to the pedal.

15. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the stay pivot axis is defined by stay axle means movable in gate guide means in the pedal.

16. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the stand is movable from the retracted position to the extended position in either one of two substantially opposite directions.

17. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the stay is connected with the pedal by two axle members each movable along a respective track of gate guide means in the pedal on movement of the stand into the extended position in a respective one of the two directions, one of the axle members remaining in a fixed location in its track during movement of the other axle member and defining a pivot axis for the stay.

18. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the tracks are defined by arcuate slots.

19. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the arcuate slots communicate at a common end thereof and extend divergently from that common end.

20. A pedal assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising resilient means urging the stand into the retracted position.

21. A pedal assembly as daimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising retaining means to retain the stand in the extended position.

22. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the retaining means comprises detent means.

23. A pedal assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising safety means to tend to cause the stand to remain in the retracted position in the case of foot pressure on the pedal.

24. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 23, the safety means being arranged to cause the stand when in the extended position to move into the retracted position by foot pressure on the pedal.

25. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 23 or claim 24, the safety means being arranged to protrude, in the extended position of the stand, from the pedal at each of two mutually opposite faces thereof intended for alternative engagement by the foot of a rider.

26. A pedal assembly as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 25, the safety means comprising a four-bar linkage coupled to the pedal and the stand at diagonally opposite pivot points of the linkage.

27. A pedal assembly as claimed in claim 26 when appended to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the linkage is coupled to the stand at the prop axle means.

28. A pedal assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising brake means selectably operable in the extended position of the stand to prevent rotation of the pedal when connected with the pedal crank.

29. A bicycle provided with a pedal assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.