NL2017299B1 - Bicycle pedal with magnet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a pedal assembly that includes a pedal and at least one magnet. The pedal includes a pivot connected to a crank of a bicycle. The magnet is connected to the pedal opposite to the crank. The magnet can magnetically attract a ferromagnetic article to keep the bicycle leaned on the ferromagnetic article.

Description

BICYCLE PEDAL WITH MAGNET BACKGROUND

1. FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pedal of a bicycle and, more particularly, to a pedal equipped with at least one magnet.

2. RELATED PRIOR ART A bicycle can be equipped with a strut for parking. To park the bicycle, a user pivots the strut downward to make it contact the ground so that the strut and the wheels of the bicycle together define a triangle to keep the bicycle standing. However, the strut does not look good on the bicycle. Moreover, it takes time and effort to attach the strut to the bicycle. Furthermore, the strut adds weight to the bicycle and biases the center of gravity of the bicycle to a side. Without the strut, when the bicycle is parked, it could easily fall and get damaged whether it is leaned on a post, a tree, a wall, a fence or the like. The bicycle could easily get damaged even if it is laid down on the ground. The parking of bicycles troubles riders .

In an attempt to satisfy the aesthetic need, a strut can be attached to a pedal of a bicycle as disclosed in Taiwanese Patents M446740, M432572 and M369892 for example. However, the strut adds volume and weight to the pedal and is still aesthetically unpleasant. To attach the strut to the pedal, the entire structure is complicated and the entire cost is high. Moreover, the operation of the strut to park the bicycle is troublesome. The effect of the strut to park the bicycle is unreliable, i.e., the bicycle is not parked firmly and could easily fall.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a bicycle with a light, compact, aesthetically pleasant, simple, inexpensive, reliable and convenient parking device.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the pedal assembly includes a pedal and at least one magnet. The pedal includes a pivot connected to a crank of a bicycle. The magnet is connected to the pedal opposite to the crank. The magnet can magnetically attract a ferromagnetic article to keep the bicycle leaned on the ferromagnetic article .

Advantageously, the ferromagnetic article can be a rail, a door, or a post for example. The magnet magnetically attracts the ferromagnetic article and keeps the bicycle standing by the crank. The magnetic attraction of the ferromagnetic article to the magnet is strong and hence the parking of the bicycle is firm. The operation of the pedal assembly is fast, convenient and easy. The magnet is small and light and hence adds little volume and weight to the pedal and does not negatively affect the look of the pedal. Moreover, the magnet adds little cost to the pedal. Any conventional pedal can easily be modified to include the magnet.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of five embodiments referring to the drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a pedal assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pedal assembly shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectional view of the pedal assembly shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional view of a pedal assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a partially cross-sectional view of a pedal assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a pedal assembly according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a partially cross-sectional view of the pedal assembly shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a pedal assembly according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 9 is a partially cross-sectional view of the pedal assembly shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a pedal assembly includes a pedal 10 and at least one magnet 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The preferably includes two magnets 20.

The pedal 10 includes a pivot 11 extending out of a side thereof. In use, the pivot 11 is connected to a crank 12 of a bicycle. In addition, the pedal 10 includes two recesses 13 in an opposite side thereof and four apertures 14. Two of the apertures 14 are in communication with one of the recesses 13 while the other apertures 14 are in communication with the other recess 13.

The magnets 20 can magnetically attract an article made of at least one ferromagnetic material. The article can be a rail, a door or a post for example. The ferromagnetic material can be iron, cobalt or nickel for example .

Each of the magnets 20 includes two elastic fins 21 on two opposite sides thereof. Each of the magnets 20 is inserted in a corresponding one of the recesses 13. The elastic fins 21 of each magnet 20 are inserted in the apertures 14 in communication with the corresponding recess 13. Thus, the magnets 20 are kept in the pedal 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, the magnets 20 magnetically attracts a ferromagnetic article 30. The ferromagnetic article 30 can be a rail, a door or a post for example. The ferromagnetic article 30 is made of at least one ferromagnetic material such as iron, cobalt and nickel. The bicycle is kept standing because the pivot 11 of the pedal 10 is connected to the crank 12, which is connected to the frame of the bicycle.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is a pedal assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except for that each magnet 20 is provided with two screws 22 instead of the elastic fins 21. To this end, each magnet 20 includes two screw holes (not numbered) for receiving the screws 22. The screws 22 are inserted in the screw holes through the apertures 14.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is a pedal assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is like the first embodiment except for two things. Firstly, the pedal 10 includes three recesses 13 and six apertures 14. Secondly, each magnet 20 is formed with a thread instead of the elastic fins 21. To this end, each recess 13 is a screw hole for receiving the corresponding magnet 20.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is a pedal assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is like the first embodiment except for two things. Firstly, there is no aperture 14. Secondly, there is only one magnet 20 that includes two bosses 23 that are fitted in the recesses 13. Adhesives can be provided between the bosses 23 and the walls of the recesses 13 to enhance the attachment of the magnet 20 to the pedal 10.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is a pedal assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is like the first embodiment except for additionally including a ferromagnetic strip 31 that can be attached to a nonferromagnetic article 32 by adhesives, screws, ropes or hooks-and-loops devices for example. The adhesives can be coated or in the form of double-sided adhesives. The ferromagnetic strip 31 can be made of iron, cobalt and/or nickel for example. The non-ferromagnetic article 32 can be a rail, a door or a post for example. The magnets 20 can magnetically attract the ferromagnetic strip 31 to keep the bicycle leaned on the non-ferromagnetic article 32.

The pedal assembly can include one, two, three or any other number of magnets 20 according to the present invention. The magnets 20 can be attached to the pedal 10 by embedding, screws, fitting, adhesion or any other means. The magnets 20 can even be attached to the pedal 10 by welding or soldering if the pedal 10 is made of metal.

As discussed, the magnets 20 can keep the pedal 10 leaned on the ferromagnetic article 30. The ferromagnetic article 30 can be a rail, a door, or a post for example. The magnets 20 magnetically attract the ferromagnetic article 30 and keep the bicycle standing by the crank 12. The magnetic attraction of the ferromagnetic article 30 to the magnets 20 is strong and the parking of the bicycle is hence firm. The ferromagnetic strip 31 can be attached to the non-ferromagnetic article 32 so that the magnets 20 and the ferromagnetic strip 31 together enable the bicycle to be leaned firmly on the non-ferromagnetic article 32. The use of the ferromagnetic strip 31 in addition to the magnets 20 is particularly useful for application at home. The operation of the pedal assembly is fast, convenient and easy. The magnets 20 are small and light and hence add little volume and weight to the pedal 10 and do not negatively affect the look of the pedal 10. Moreover, the magnets 20 add little cost to the pedal 10. Any conventional pedal can easily be modified to include the magnets 20.

The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims (11)

A pedal assembly comprising: a pedal (10) comprising a shaft (11) connected to a handle (12) of a bicycle; and at least one magnet (20) connected to the pedal (10) opposite the crank (12), wherein the magnet (20) can be magnetically attracted to a ferromagnetic article (30) to allow the bicycle to lean against the ferromagnetic article (30) to keep. A pedal assembly according to claim 1, comprising a ferromagnetic strip (31) adapted for fitting to a non-ferromagnetic article (32), the bicycle being held against the non-ferromagnetic article (32) when the ferromagnetic strip (31) ) is attracted to the magnet (20). The pedal assembly according to claim 2, wherein the ferromagnetic strip (31) is provided with double-sided adhesives. The pedal assembly of claim 2, wherein the ferromagnetic strip (31) is made from at least one ferromagnetic material selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, and nickel. The pedal assembly of claim 1, wherein the pedal (10) comprises at least one recess (13) for receiving the magnet (20). The pedal assembly according to claim 5, wherein the pedal (10) comprises two openings (14) communicating with the recess (13), and the magnet (20) comprises two elastic fins (21) which are in the openings (14) brought. The pedal assembly according to claim 5, wherein the recess (13) is a screw hole, and the magnet (20) is a threaded element inserted into the screw hole. The pedal assembly of claim 5, wherein the pedal (10) comprises two recesses (13), and the magnet (20) comprises two cams (23) inserted into the recesses (13). The pedal assembly of claim 8, wherein the cams (23) are retained in the recesses (13) by fitting. The pedal assembly of claim 8, wherein the cams (23) are retained in the recesses (13) by adhesion. The pedal assembly of claim 1, comprising screws (22) inserted into the magnet (20) and the pedal (10).