US588038A

US588038A - Bicycle-pedal

Info

Publication number: US588038A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 1914-08-10

Description

H. TUDOR.

BICYCLE PEDAL.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 10,1897.

WITNESSES.

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HENRY TUDOR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BICYCLE-PEDAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,038, dated August 10, 1897.

Application filed October 9, 1896.

To (all whom it 7771/14 concern..-

Be it known that I, HENRY TUDOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Bicycle-Pedals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to bicycles, particularly the pedal or that portion of the machine by which the foot is supported upon the end of the crank.

The object of my invention is to avoid the use of toe-clips or other devices by which to prevent the foot from slipping off or disengaging from the pedal and thus losing the latter.

To carry out my invention, I make the pedal magnetic. In other words, I maintain constant contact between the pedal and foot by means of magnetism.

The drawings represent, in Figure 1, a longitudinal sectional elevation of a bicycle-pedal embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the upraised lip and a single magnet; Fig. 3, likewise a section with two magnets.

In the above drawings I have represented at 2 the end of a crank such as is generally used on bicycles. Pivotallysecured upon this element is the pedal 3, which in the present instance is equipped with a metallic plate 4. This plate is a permanent magnet and may vary in shape and size dependent upon the firmness with which the foot is to be held to the pedal. In order to accomplish this result, the toe portion or sole of the boot or shoe to be used is fitted with a soft-iron plate 5, which is to magnetically engage the plate 4. By preference this plate is to be removably secured upon the foot by straps 7 7, elastic or otherwise, although in the case of regular bicycle-shoes the plate may be made a fixture to the outer sole by screws or otherwise, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Hence after the foot is properly positioned upon the pedal Serial No. 608,343. (No model.)

the magnetic attraction between the pedalmagnet and the shoe-plate is to be sufficient to readily hold the foot in a fixed position and prevent any change or disengagement from the pedal which might occur arising from high speed or due to shocks or jolts owing to irregularities in the surface of the road.

It is evident that various methods may be adopted which will embody my invention.

That is, in lieu of a magnet on the pedal, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the magnet may be upon the shoe, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Furthermore, in lieu of a magnet and a softiron plate two magnets 4 4 may be used, with the poles properly positioned to produce the greatest magnetic attraction.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the rear edge of the magnet formed with an upturned lip 6, and this is to be in height very nearly equal to the thickness of the shoe-plate. Thus when the foot is properly positioned said lip is to bear against the back edge of the shoe and tends to prevent any separation during the upward movement of the pedal when the inactive portion of the stroke takes place. This tendency to separate occurs generally when the saddle is set high and the foot is extended to its limit on the farthest extreme throw of the pedal.

In Fig. 3 I have shown two lips," between which the shoe-plate rests.

' What I claim is 1. The combination with a pedal, and a permanent magnet thereon, of a metallic plate to rest upon said magnet and affixed to the shoe of a rider.

2. The combination with a pedal, and a permanent magnet thereupon, of a permanent magnet attached to the shoe of a rider.

3. In combination with a crank, a pedal at the free extremity thereof, a magnetic plate secured to said pedal, a transverse lip upon the upper side of said magnet, and a metallic plate secured to the shoe of a rider and to be held magnetically to the plate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY TUDOR.

IVitnesses:

H. E. LODGE, FRANCIS O. STANWooD.