GB2548215A

GB2548215A - Easily assembled pedal structure

Info

Publication number: GB2548215A
Application number: GB1701230.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gregory Black Terence
Original assignee: TIANJIN XUFENG SPORTS EQUIPMENT Manufacturing CO Ltd
Current assignee: TIANJIN XUFENG SPORTS EQUIPMENT Manufacturing CO Ltd
Priority date: 2016-01-25
Filing date: 2017-01-25
Publication date: 2017-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2037-01-25
Also published as: TWM537559U; GB2548215B; ES2626588A1; ES2626588B2; FR3046986A1; FR3046986B1; CN205524769U; GB201701230D0

Abstract

A pedal structure includes a pedal assembly 200 and a crank assembly 100. The pedal assembly 200 includes a positioning sleeve 8 and a pedal 10. The positioning sleeve 8 is formed in a hollow barrel shape. An inner peripheral edge of the positioning sleeve 8 has two engaging grooves (81, figure 4) and two pre-engaging grooves (82, figure 4). The crank assembly includes a crank 1, a resilient protruding structure 3, and a crank resilient member 7. Inner and outer limiting structures (pins) 2 define the assembled location of the pedal assembly 200. An installation bore 14 to where the resilient protruding structure 3 is installed is disposed between the inner limiting structure and the outer limiting structure of the crank. The crank resilient member is disposed at the crank between inner limiting structure 2 and the sleeve 8. When assembled, the pedal structure is mounted in line with the cranks and held in place by the pre-engaging grooves 82. When ready for use, the pedal assembly is rotated outwards until the engaging grooves 81 are engaged, locking the pedal assembly in place for use.

Description

EASILY ASSEMBLED PEDAL STRUCTURE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to bicycle assembling, and more particularly, to an easily assembled pedal structure. 2. Description of the Related Art:

Regarding a traditional bicycle, when the pedals are being assembled with the bracket, the pedals to be installed on the right and left side of the bicycle shall be specifically identified. Also, a corresponding fastening apparatus shall be chosen by the user. Choosing the correct tool for non-professional people among various professional apparatuses is time consuming. Further, if the pedals on the right side and the left side are not properly identified, the threads of the crank and the pedal will be damaged, causing a relatively high scrap rate and increasing the cost for the manufacturers and the users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For improving the issues above, an embodiment of the present invention discloses an easily assembled pedal structure.

For achieving the aforementioned objectives, an embodiment of the present invention provides an easily assembled pedal structure, comprising: a pedal assembly, including a positioning sleeve and a pedal, the positioning sleeve formed in a hollow barrel shape, the pedal provided with a pedal shaft, the positioning sleeve mounted around one end of the pedal shaft, an inner peripheral edge of the positioning sleeve provided with two engaging grooves and two pre-engaging grooves, the engaging grooves and the pre-engaging grooves being not sealed, a connection line between the two engaging grooves and a connection line between the two pre-engaging grooves crossing in vertical and dividing the barrel shaped positioning sleeve into four sections; a crank assembly, including a crank, a resilient protruding structure, and a crank resilient member, two ends of an assembling position of the crank at where the pedal assembly being assembled provided with an inner limiting structure and an outer limiting structure, respectively, an installation bore to where the resilient protruding structure being installed disposed between the inner limiting structure and the outer limiting structure of the crank, the crank resilient member disposed at the crank between the inner limiting structure and the resilient protruding structure; the positioning sleeve of the pedal assembly mounted around the crank, two ends of the resilient protruding structure engaged in the pre-engaging grooves, the pedal shaft placed in vertical to the crank.

Preferably, the resilient protruding structure includes a resilient member and two protruding pins provided on the two ends of the resilient member, which is structurally simple and achieves stable fixing function by use of the resilient force provided to the two protruding pins together with the configuration of the engaging grooves.

Preferably, the resilient member refers to a spring, which is structurally simple and easily acquired.

Preferable, the crank assembly further comprises a protective sleeve mounted around the crank and surrounding the limiting structure and the positioning sleeve for protecting the components connected with the crank from the erosion and abrasion caused by rain drops and dust and increasing the service life thereof.

Preferably, the limiting structure comprises a positioning pin and a corresponding positioning bore on the crank. The positioning pin is disposed in the positioning bore, and the positioning pin has one end thereof protruding from the surface of the crank. The positioning bore is easily processed, and the installation of the positioning pin is easy.

Preferably, a positioning plate is disposed between the limiting structure and the neighboring component. The positioning plate increases the force bearing area of the two contacting components. The limiting structure and the neighboring component are prevented from directing contacting each other, so that the abrasion between the limiting structure and the neighboring component is decreased.

Preferably, the crank resilient member refers to a spring which is structurally simple and easily processed.

Preferably, the engaging groove and an end of the resilient protruding structure are allowed to be completely or partially engaged with each other.

Preferably, the positioning sleeve is welded with the pedal shaft, due to the reliability of the manner of welding.

The present invention provides the advantages of saving the time demand for assembling a bicycle compared to the traditional bicycle assembling method and procedure. With the present invention, the user saves at least three minutes for completing a whole bicycle assembling process. Also, the assembling process is simplified and accelerated, such that no professional assembling tools are needed, and the threads of the crank and the pedal are prevented from being damaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating the assembled structure of the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the structure of the crank in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the positioning sleeve combined with the pedal shaft in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the structure of the protective sleeve in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned and further advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where the components are illustrated based on a proportion for explanation but not subject to the actual component proportion.

Referring to Fig. 1 to Fig. 5, an embodiment of the present invention provides an easily assembled pedal structure, comprising a crank assembly 100 and a pedal assembly 200. The crank assembly 100 includes a crank 1, at least a positioning pin 2, a protruding pin 3, a pin spring 4, a protective sleeve 5, a positioning plate 6, and a spring 7. The pedal assembly 200 includes a positioning sleeve 8, a pedal shaft 9, a pedal 10, a positioning plate 11, and a pedal cover 12. When the product is to be provided by the manufacturer, the pedal assembly 200 and the crank assembly 100 are able to be pre-assembled, such that the user is allowed to easily and conveniently install the whole structure without other additional tools.

Referring to Fig. 4, the positioning sleeve 8 is formed in a hollow barrel structure, with the left and right lateral edges provided with two engaging grooves 81 and two pre-engaging grooves 82 that are not sealed. A connection line between the two engaging grooves 81 and a connection line between the two pre-engaging grooves 82 vertically cross and pass through the axial center of the positioning sleeve 8.

An inner lateral wall of the pre-engaging grooves 82 is an arc face engaged with the protruding pin 3, wherein the angle of the arc face is less than 90 degrees. The length of the pre-engaging groove 82 is smaller than the radius of the column shape of the protruding pin 3, such that the protruding pin 3 is pushed into the positioning bore 13 when the pedal assembly 200 is pre-assembled. When the pedal assembly 200 is afterward rotated for 90 degrees when being assembled with the crank assembly 100, the protruding pin 3 is facilitated to escape from the pre-engaging groove 82 and be engaged in the engaging groove 81, wherein the pre-engaging groove 82 provides a transition function for the protruding pin 3 to be engaged in the engaging groove 81. The width and the length of the engaging groove 81 are equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the protruding pin 3. An inner lateral wall of the engaging groove 81 is formed in a semi-circle arc face for be completely engaged with the protruding pin 3 during the assembling process, wherein the inner later wall of the engaging groove 81 contacts a lateral side of the protruding pin 3, such that the force bearing area between the engaging groove 81 and the protruding pin 3 is increased, thus enhancing the force bearing balance and stably mounting the positioning sleeve 8 around the crank 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, a distal end of the crank 1 is provided with two positioning bores 13 disposed in parallel on the horizontal face through where two positioning pins 2 pass, such that the positioning pins 2 and the positioning plate 6 achieve a positioning function. An installation bore 14 is disposed between the two positioning bores 13 through where a resilient protruding structure passes. The resilient protruding structure includes the pin spring 4 and two protruding pins 3 disposed on two ends of the pin spring 4.

Referring to Fig. 5, the protective sleeve 5 is formed in a hollow barrel structure, with one side thereof provided with a non-sealed opening for facilitating the pedal assembly 200 being mounted around the crank 1.

The pedal assembly 200 includes the positioning sleeve 8, the pedal shaft 9, the pedal 10, the positioning plate 11, and the pedal cover 12. The positioning sleeve 8 is welded to one end of the pedal shaft 9 for enhancing the overall stability of the pedal assembly 200 structure and the transmission thereof. The other end of the pedal shaft 9 is combined with the pedal 10, which is riveted on the pedal shaft 9 through the positioning plate 11, and the positioning plate 11 is subsequently covered by the pedal cover 12. By use of the riveting method, the pedal 10 is positioned on the pedal shaft 9, such that the pedal 10 is prevented from accidentally falling from the pedal shaft 9. With the pedal cover 12 provided on the positioning plate 11, the pedal shaft 9 and the positioning plate 11 are prevented from the erosion caused by rain drops and dust, also prevented from abrasion caused by usage. As a result, the service life of the product is increased, and the overall aesthetic appearance of the pedal assembly 200 is improved.

Regarding the pre-assembling process of the crank assembly 100, one side of the crank 1 is mounted by the protective sleeve 5, and one of the two positioning pin 2 is pressed to be disposed in the inner bore of the crank 1. Subsequently, the first positioning plate 6 is mounted on the crank 1, wherein the inner diameter of the positioning plate 6 is larger than the diameter of the crank 1 and smaller than the length of the positioning pin 2. The positioning plate 6 contacts against the positioning pin 2. Next, the spring 7 is mounted around the crank 1, wherein the spring 7 is blocked to the right side of the first positioning plate 6. Then, the second positioning plate 6 is mounted around the crank 1 and disposed on the right side of the spring 7. Next, the pin spring 4 is disposed in the installation bore 14, and the two protruding pins 3 are disposed on the two ends of the pin spring 4, respectively. The two protruding pins 3 are compressed toward the inner side of the crank 1, and the positioning sleeve 8 of the pre-assembled pedal assembly 200 is mounted around the crank 1. At the meantime, the two protruding pins 3 are compressed and covered inside the positioning sleeve 8. Next, the other positioning pin 2 is disposed into the outer positioning bore 13 and arranged in alignment with the pre-engaging groove 82 of the positioning sleeve 8. The pedal assembly 200 is pre-assembled on the crank assembly 100.

When the user acquires the product to carry out the further assembling process, the pedal assembly 200 rotates outward for 90 degrees. The inner positioning pin 2 moves out of the inner pre-engaging grooves 82 of the positioning sleeve 8, and the positioning sleeve 8 moves outward due to the resilient force of the spring 7, such that the outer positioning pin 2 is engaged into the outer engaging grooves 81, while the protruding pins 3 of inside the positioning sleeve 8 protrude to be engaged in the inner engaging grooves 81 by due to the resilient force of the pin spring 4. The assembling process of the product is easily completed without the need of professional assembling tools. Also, the user does not need to specifically identify the pedals used on the left or right sides.

The connection between the pedal 10 and the pedal shaft 9 is allowed to be achieved in a manner of, including but not limited to, riveting, thread screwing, or clamping.

In another preferred embodiment, the positioning bore 13 is a shallow recess, and multiple positioning pins 2 are provided.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An easily assembled pedal structure, characterized in: a pedal assembly, including a positioning sleeve and a pedal, the positioning sleeve formed in a hollow barrel shape, the pedal provided with a pedal shaft, the positioning sleeve mounted around one end of the pedal shaft, an inner peripheral edge of the positioning sleeve provided with two engaging grooves and two pre-engaging grooves, the engaging grooves and the pre-engaging grooves being not sealed, a connection line between the two engaging grooves and a connection line between the two pre-engaging grooves crossing in vertical and dividing the barrel shaped positioning sleeve into four sections; a crank assembly, including a crank, a resilient protruding structure, and a crank resilient member, two ends of an assembling position of the crank at where the pedal assembly being assembled provided with an inner limiting structure and an outer limiting structure, respectively, an installation bore to where the resilient protruding structure being installed disposed between the inner limiting structure and the outer limiting structure of the crank, the crank resilient member disposed at the crank between the inner limiting structure and the resilient protruding structure; the positioning sleeve of the pedal assembly mounted around the crank, two ends of the resilient protruding structure engaged in the pre-engaging grooves, the pedal shaft placed in vertical to the crank.

2. The pedal structure of claim 1, characterized in: the resilient protruding structure comprising a resilient member and two protruding pins disposed on two ends of the resilient member, respectively.

3. The pedal structure of claim 2, characterized in: the resilient member being a spring.

4. The pedal structure of claim 1, characterized in: the crank assembly comprising a protective sleeve mounted around the crank and surrounding the limiting structures and the positioning sleeve.

5. The pedal structure of claim 1, characterized in: the inner limiting structure comprising a positioning pin and a corresponding positioning bore on the crank, the positioning pin disposed in the positioning bore, the positioning pin having one end thereof protruding from the surface of the crank.

6. The pedal structure of claim 1, characterized in: a positioning plate disposed between the outer limiting structure and a neighboring component thereof.

7. The pedal structure of claim 1, characterized in: the crank resilient member being a spring.

8. The pedal structure of claim 1, characterized in: the engaging groove being engaged with an end of the resilient protruding structure, and the pre-engaging groove being engaged with a part of the end of the resilient protruding structure.

9. The pedal structure of claim 1, characterized in: the positioning sleeve being welded with the pedal shaft of the pedal.