JP6499133B2 - Step device for bicycle pedal replacement - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a step device for replacing a pedal of a bicycle, in which a bicycle for infants or children, for example, can be temporarily switched as a so-called balance bike.

Recently, for the purpose of making it easier for infants and young people to learn a balancing operation for riding a bicycle, a two-wheeled vehicle similar to a new play equipment called a balance bike or a running bike has become widespread.
This is a vehicle with a pedal and other drive mechanisms and a brake device removed from a general bicycle and is simply a two-wheel front / rear wheel. Kicks and moves the vehicle forward. For this reason, of course, the traveling speed is limited, and for that reason, no brake device is installed.

By the way, as the purpose of such a balance bike is, even an infant can easily learn the sense of balance for riding a motorcycle in play, but on the other hand, after having learned the sense of balance, kick with the foot. Even young children and young people often feel unsatisfied with the driving sensation in the speed range.
For this reason, infants and young people want to drive at a faster speed range by pedaling with a normal bicycle, and on the other hand, use a downhill to drive at a higher speed on a balance bike. There are also play experiences.

In order to meet the demands of such infants and young people, if you purchase a separate bicycle for children, it will be a new expense for parents and the usage period of the balance bike may be relatively short, I cannot escape the wasteful feeling.
On the other hand, play with increased speed on a balance bike using a downhill or the like is extremely dangerous because it does not have a brake.
Under such circumstances, attempts have been made to make it possible to use both a balance bike and a general bicycle (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). This unit has a basic structure of a bicycle, but it can easily remove the drive mechanism consisting of a crank pedal, crank mechanism, front sprocket, and chain (drive belt) so that it can function as a balance bike. Is.

By the way, when shifting to a bicycle that runs with a pedal, it is preferable for further skill improvement to ride with both feet on the vehicle body even if it is a balance bike that runs with inertia. That is, if both feet are thrown to the left and right and floated from the ground, balancing tends to be left to the movement of both feet, and there is a tendency that the transition to the next pedaling operation does not proceed smoothly.
From this point of view, the conventional method is a structure in which the pedal on which the foot is placed is completely removed, and there is no step at the time of inertial running. Therefore, the riding form was left with both feet thrown out, and there was a tendency to take some time for the transition to the next pedaling operation.

JP 2013-147199 A JP2015-24686A

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and can easily and temporarily give a function similar to that of a balance bike to a conventional infant or child bicycle. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to develop a new bicycle pedal replacement step device that can smoothly shift to a pedaling operation for riding a bicycle.

  The step device for replacing a pedal of a bicycle according to claim 1 comprises a crank adapter and a step body, and the crank adapter is fixed to the base of the crank rod when the bicycle crank pedal is detached from the crank rod. Further, the step main body is integrally attached to the crank adapter, and the step adapter is configured to be able to rest on a position protruding to the left and right of the crankshaft.

The step device for replacing a pedal of a bicycle according to claim 2, in addition to the requirement of claim 1, the crank adapter includes a crank fixing screw on an outer peripheral portion near one end and the end portion. On the end face of the side, a relief portion of the crank fixing nut is formed to be recessed, while on the other end side of the crank adapter, a step fixing screw is provided,
The crank fixing screw is fixed by being screwed into a tool hook female screw formed at the base of the crank rod, while the step fixing screw is configured to fix the step body by screwing. Is.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a step device for replacing a pedal of a bicycle, wherein, in addition to the requirements of the second aspect, the crank adapter has a pipe-like shape. A male screw of the same pitch formed on the outer peripheral surface, on the other hand, a pipe-shaped hollow portion is used as a relief portion of the crank fixing nut.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the requirements of the second or third aspect, the crank adapter screw thread itself is obtained by cutting a part of the crank fixing screw. It is characterized in that a tapping blade is formed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the requirements of the fourth aspect, the tip of the tapping blade has a sharp pointed shape toward the screwing direction of the crank adapter. Is a feature.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the step body can be formed on the extension of the crankshaft with respect to the existing bicycle, and the crank pedal can be eliminated. Can be set. For this reason, it is possible to carry out both the acquisition of a sense of balance for riding a bicycle and the training for placing the foot to smoothen the transition to the subsequent pedal operation.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the step body is formed so as to project from the crankshaft to the left and right, the crank adapter uses the tool hooking screw formed on the crank rod in the form of a female thread. It is fixed to the rod base, and the fixing structure can be made simple and reasonable.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the crank adapter has a pipe shape, and the crank fixing screw and the step fixing screw are male screws having a common pitch, so that the crank adapter can have a very simple configuration.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, since the thread of the crank fixing screw forms a tapping blade, the crank adapter has a clogging due to foreign matter clogging to the thread of the crank rod or damage to the thread itself. Even when it is difficult to screw the adapter, the screw is screwed in while correcting the screw thread, so that the crank adapter can be securely attached.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the tip of the tapping blade has a sharp pointed shape toward the screwing direction of the crank adapter, so that the thread of the crank rod can be more reliably corrected. Is called.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the step apparatus for pedal replacement | exchange of the bicycle which concerns on this invention. It is an enlarged view of an apparatus same as the above, (a) is an exploded perspective view, (b) is a sectional view in an exploded state, and (c) is a sectional view in an assembled state. It is an enlarged view of the clamp adapter in an apparatus same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows other forms when it is another Example of an apparatus same as the above, and is applied to the crank rod corresponding to a cotter stop. It is explanatory drawing which shows the various modifications of the integrated structure of a crank adapter and a step main body in an apparatus same as the above.

  The mode for carrying out the present invention includes an embodiment described below, and includes various improved embodiments based on this technical idea.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described based on illustrated embodiments.
First, as shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is applied to a normal bicycle 1 having a drive device including a crank device and a safety device such as a brake system. First, the outline of the bicycle 1 will be described. To do.
This bicycle 1 is often used in infancy or when young, and a small vehicle body size including a wheel diameter is illustrated as an example. Of course, even those who have passed through childhood and reached adolescence and adults may not be able to ride a bicycle without a chance, and it is appropriate for those people to apply the present invention to larger bicycles. is there.
First, a rotatable front fork 11 is provided in front of a frame 10 serving as a basic skeleton. A handlebar 12 is fixed above the front fork 11, and a front wheel WF is pivotally supported at the lower end of the front fork 11. On the other hand, a rear wheel WR is supported at the rear end of the frame 10, and a saddle 13 is attached upward to the frame 10 between the front wheel WF and the rear wheel WR.

Further, the bicycle 1 includes a crank device 14 as a drive system device. The crank shaft 140 supported by the frame 10, a pair of left and right crank rods 141, and a crank pedal attached to a free end of the crank rod 141. 142 is a main member, and the drive sprocket 15 is fixed to one crank rod 141. Further, as a drive system device, a so-called free gear type driven sprocket 16 is provided on the rear wheel WR, and a chain 17 is suspended between this and the drive sprocket 15 to rotate the crankshaft 140 to the rear wheel. To communicate. In addition, although illustration was abbreviate | omitted for the protection of a chain, and the safety of a user, it is preferable to provide a chain case.
Further, a brake device 18 is provided to ensure traveling safety. This is provided with a front wheel brake lever 180F and a rear wheel brake lever 180R on the handlebar 12, and the movement of the operation is transmitted to the front wheel brake caliper 181F and the rear wheel brake caliper 181R via a shift cable.

The configuration schematically described above is the configuration of the general bicycle 1, but the crank device 14 involved in the attachment of the step device 2 according to the present invention will be described in more detail.
As described above, the crank device 14 includes the crankshaft 140 and the crank rod 141 as main members. First, the crankshaft 140 is rotatably supported by a portion called a hanger or the like below the center of the frame 10. The left and right shaft end sides are provided with angular taper shaft portions 140a for press fitting of the crank rod 141, and further, fixed male screws 140b are formed near the end portions.
On the other hand, the corresponding crank rod 141 has an angular taper hole 141a on the base end side, and is further provided with a fixed recess 141b so as to communicate with this, and the crank rod 141 is pulled out on the inner peripheral surface of the fixed recess 141b. For this purpose, a female screw 141c for hanging the tool is formed. Further, the end cap 141d is screwed or press-fitted by using the female screw 141c for tooling.

The step device 2 for bicycle pedal replacement according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “step device 2”) is attached by using the female screw 141c as an example as an example. As an example, the step device 2 is composed of two members that are separate from the crank adapter 20 and the step main body 21. However, it is possible to configure both of them as a single member.
The crank adapter 20 has the following functional shape with respect to the short pipe-shaped cylindrical main body 22. First, from one end of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body 22, a crank fixing male screw 23 is engraved inward, and its diameter and thread pitch are determined by the tool-engaging female screw 141 c in the crank rod 141. The diameter is screwable and the thread pitch is set. And the hollow part in the cylindrical main body 22 is made into the escape part 24 for avoiding interference with the fixing nut 143 of the crank rod 141 in the crank fixing male screw 23 side. On the other hand, a step fixing male screw 25 is engraved on the other end side of the cylindrical main body 22. In this embodiment, the same size as the crank fixing male screw 23, and both of them are continuously integrated. It is formed as a mountain. Of course, each male screw has a different tightening target, may be discontinuous, or may have a different screw size or the like.

The crank fixing male screw 23 and the step fixing male screw 25 are further provided with a configuration in consideration of actual use. That is, as an example, the crank fixing male screw 23 is formed with four notches 23 a on the end surface of the cylindrical main body 22, thereby forming a tapping blade 23 b by the crank fixing male screw 23 itself on the peripheral surface of the end of the cylindrical main body 22. Is done.
Further, when viewed in the cross-sectional direction, the notch 23a is formed in a radial spiral shape in which the outside is inclined from the diameter line toward the screwing direction as shown in FIG. Thereby, the tapping blade 23b substantially has a sharp shape toward the screwing direction of the crank adapter 20. On the other hand, the step fixing male screw 25 on the other end side is partly provided with a notch, which is used as a tool hook 25a.

Next, the step body 21 will be described.
This is, for example, a member for placing a foot using a metal rod member such as aluminum or a pipe member, and one end face thereof is screwed into a step fixing male screw 25 in the crank adapter 20. A free fixing female screw 26 is formed. Moreover, the outer peripheral surface is provided with an anti-slip process 27 that is knurled as an example.

The present invention uses the above-described embodiment as a basic embodiment and is used as follows.
<I: Removal of crank pedal and end cap from bicycle 1>
First, the left and right crank pedals 142 of the bicycle 1 set in a normal state are removed from the crank rod 141 using a wrench as appropriate. Also, the end cap 141d provided at the end of the crank rod 14 on the crankshaft 140 side is also rotated in the screw loosening direction with a wide screwdriver or the like, or removed by a caulking operation.

<Ii: Attaching the crank adapter 20>
Next, the crank fixing male screw 23 in the crank adapter 20 is screwed into the female screw 141c for tool application in the crank rod 141. At this time, there is a part where the screw thread is not functioning due to the attachment of foreign matter or the like, and the screwing operation may not be smooth. In preparation for such a case, the crank adapter 20 according to the present embodiment includes a tapping blade 23b, and the tapping blade 23b is tapped to correct a screw thread 141c on the crank rod 141 while being screwed in. Figured. In particular, in this embodiment, the tapping blade 23b has a shape with a sharpened tip in the screwing direction, so that the screw thread can be corrected more reliably and firmly.
When the crank adapter 20 is rotated, a tool, for example, a plate spanner handle or the like is appropriately fitted into the tool hooking portion 25a at the attachment side end of the step body 21 and rotated. The crank adapter 20 is attached in such a manner that the crank rod 141 protrudes to the left and right of the vehicle body of the bicycle 1 at the base end portion on the crankshaft 140 side of the crank rod 141 by such attachment work or the like. Since the crank adapter 20 has a pipe shape and the hollow portion serves as the fixed nut relief portion 24, the crank adapter 20 can be screwed in even if the fixed nut 143 for fixing the crank rod 141 is present. .

<Iii: Attaching the step body>
Next, the fixing female screw 26 of the step main body 21 is screwed into an external fitting shape with respect to the step fixing male screw 25 engraved on the outer peripheral surfaces of the left and right projecting portions of the crank adapter 20. In this screwing operation, since the outer diameter of the step body 21 is sufficiently large and the anti-slip process 27 is applied, the tool is used by simply holding and rotating the object with a hand. Tightening is possible without In the final stage of tightening, the end surface of the step body 21 on the side of the crankshaft 140 and the outer surface of the base end of the crank rod 141 are brought into contact with each other, and the contact itself presents a screw lock state.

<Iv: Practice driving>
In this state, an infant or a young person straddles the bicycle 1 from which the pedal has been removed, and the bicycle is advanced while scrambling the ground with both feet. Since this operation kicks the ground with his / her foot and balances the body of the bicycle with the kicked-out foot, the operation eventually shifts to wheel driving without feeling uneasy.
At this stage, I can fairly understand the balancing of the two wheels, but if I go further and urge to put both feet kicking the ground on the step device 2, the whole body can be relied on without having to rely on the balance correction with both legs extended to the left and right. The point of ensuring balance in Japan is obtained.
At this stage, even if the movement of the legs is added, the balance can be corrected to a certain level, and the pedals and the like are smoothly transferred to training. In addition, it is preferable to practice brake operation and the like.

<V: Restoration to bicycle form>
As described above, the original form of the bicycle 1 is restored by the reverse operation to the replacement of the step device 2.
<Vi: Driving practice by pedal operation>
Infants, juniors, etc. who have already practiced the above are well-balanced when riding a motorcycle, and hope to run at potentially higher speeds and run for longer distances. On the other hand, since he is deeply confident in the free movement of the foot placed on the step device 2, the crank pedal 142, which replaces it, can also be started relatively smoothly.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is based on the embodiment described above as one basic technical idea, but the following modifications can be considered.
<Integrated type>
As already described, the clamp adapter 20 does not necessarily have to be a separate structure. As shown in FIG. 5A, a member to be the crank adapter 20 may be formed so as to protrude from one end of the step body 21, and a crank fixing male screw 23 may be formed on the outer periphery of the part.
<Fixing mechanism in separate type>
For example, as a fixing structure, as shown in FIG. 5B, a flange 250 can be formed at one end of the crank adapter 20 and can be fixed by the step body 21 and the bolt 251. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), one end of the crank adapter 20 may be used as a flat mounting plate 253, and the receiving portion 211 of the step body 21 may be externally fitted thereto. In this case, if the step body 21 is foldable upward as shown in FIG. 5 (c-2), the width of the bicycle can be made more compact when not in use, and the vehicle is loaded on a car and moved to a safe practice field. A convenient mode can be obtained in some cases.

<Application examples to other crank types>
Although the embodiment described above is a fixing method for the angular taper rod type that is generalized as a fixing method of the crank rod 141 of the bicycle 1, the present invention is a so-called cotter fastening type that is partially used. It can also be applied to other crank mechanisms.
That is, the cotter-clamping type crank fixing method is as shown in FIG. 4. First, a cotter receiving surface 140 c is formed on the crankshaft 140, and one crank rod 141 is formed with a crank bearing hole 141 e in a round hole shape. At the same time, a cotter hole 141f is formed in a direction orthogonal to the above. The fixing cotter 144 as a fixing member includes a flat taper portion 144a and a fixing bolt portion 144b. The fixing cotter 144 is set in a fitted state in the cotter hole 141f, and the cotter receiving surface 140c of the crankshaft 140 and the flat taper portion are set. The crankshaft 140 and the crank rod 141 are fixed to each other with the surface 144a as a mating shape.
A cotter type crank adapter 201 is prepared corresponding to such a configuration, and a crank end receiving portion 201b is formed on a gripping main body 201a that grips the entire shaft side end portion of the crank rod 141. The cotter guide hole 201c is formed in a direction orthogonal to this. Then, the cotter type crank adapter 201 is fixed to the end of the crank rod 141 in such a manner as to be fastened together with a fixed cotter 144 having a special shape. Specifically, the fixing nut 144c is screwed into the fixing bolt part 144b at one end of the fixing cotter 144, and the adapter fixing nut 144e is screwed into and fixed to the adapter tightening bolt part 144d at the other end of the fixing cotter 144. . On the other hand, for the coupling with the step body 21, a fixing method in the form already described can be used.

W wheel WF front wheel WR rear wheel

1 Bicycle 2 Step device

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Frame 11 Front fork 12 Handle bar 13 Saddle 14 Crank device 140 Crankshaft 140a Square taper shaft part 140b Fixed male screw 140c Cutter receiving surface 141 Crank rod 141a Square taper hole 141b Fixed concave part 141c Tool hook female screw 141d End cap 141e Crank bearing hole 141f cotter hole

142 Crank pedal 143 Fixing nut 144 Fixing cotter 144a Flat taper part 144b Fixing bolt part 144c Fixing nut 144d Adapter tightening bolt part 144e Adapter fixing nut

15 Drive sprocket 16 Driven sprocket 17 Chain 18 Brake device 180F Front wheel brake lever 180R Rear wheel brake lever 181F Front wheel brake caliper 181R Rear wheel brake caliper

2 Step device 20 Crank adapter 21 Step main body 22 Cylindrical main body 23 Crank fixing male screw 23a Notch portion 23b Tapping blade 24 Fixing nut escape portion 25 Step fixing male screw 25a Tool hook portion 26 Fixing female screw 27 Non-slip processing

201 Crank adapter (for cotter type) 201a Holding body 201b Crank end storage portion 201c Cotter guide hole 250 Flange 251 Bolt

Claims (5)

In the state where the crank pedal of the bicycle is removed from the crank rod, comprising the crank adapter and the step body.
The crank adapter is fixed to a base portion of a crank rod, and further, the step body is integrally attached to the crank adapter, and the crank adapter is configured to be able to rest on a position protruding to the left and right of the crankshaft. Step device for bicycle pedal replacement.
The crank adapter includes a crank fixing screw on an outer peripheral portion near one end portion, and a recess portion of a crank fixing nut is formed in a concave shape on an end surface on the end portion side, while the other end of the crank adapter is provided. On the part side, a step fixing screw is provided,
The crank fixing screw is fixed by being screwed into a female screw for tool hanging formed at the base of the crank rod,
On the other hand, the step fixing screw is configured to fix the step body by screwing, and the step device for replacing a pedal of the bicycle according to claim 1.
The crank adapter has a pipe shape, and the crank fixing screw and the step fixing screw are male screws of the same pitch formed on the outer peripheral surface of the crank adapter, while the pipe-shaped hollow portion is connected to the crank fixing nut. The step device for replacing a pedal of a bicycle according to claim 2, wherein the step portion is a relief portion.
4. The pedal replacement step for a bicycle according to claim 2, wherein the crank adapter forms a tapping blade by a thread of the crank fixing screw itself by cutting a part of the crank fixing screw. apparatus.
  5. The step device for replacing a pedal of a bicycle according to claim 4, wherein the tip of the tapping blade has a sharp shape toward the screwing direction of the crank adapter.

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