The invention generally relates to bicycle pedals. Bicycle pedals are known in the art and they are an important component of a bicycle for transferring foot force of a bicyclist into movement of the bicycle. Especially, in racing bicycles, it is of importance that the foot force is transferred in a utmost efficient way to the bicycle such that every foot force can be used to move the bicycle. The known bicycle pedals include a pedal shaft for coupling to a crank of a bicycle and a platform for supporting a foot of a bicyclist. The foot of the bicyclist is usually fixed to the pedal, e.g. via a click system for coupling the shoe of the bicyclist to the pedal, such that the foot cannot move relative to the platform. This way, the bicyclist can push and pull the bicycle pedal and this is considered to be a pleasant and reliable way of cycling.

However, a disadvantage of the known bicycle pedals is that the energy transferring from the foot into movement of the bicycle via the pedals is not very efficient. More importantly, the known pedals may cause pain to the feet of the bicyclist. It is commonly known that a great number of human feet show a variety of anatomical structures. For example, during cycling or running, the leg stretches and the human foot has the tendency to roll and/or rotate inwardly (supination/inversion) or outwardly

(pronation/eversion). These movements may result in pain in the

subcutaneous tissue, joints and ligaments of the feet and/or knees and at a certain point the bicyclist cannot fully exercise the maximum foot force anymore.

Especially, when the foot is fixed onto the pedal, there may be effect on the knees which have to compensate for the lack of movement at feet level resulting in more pain in the knees which further limits the amount of foot force of the user. To improve the known bicycle pedals, FR 2661651 discloses a bicycle pedal wherein a platform, which supports the foot of a bicyclist, may be moved around three axis of rotation with adjustable freedom.

A disadvantage of the bicycle pedals in FR 2661651 is, however, that the bicycle pedal is very complex and does not transfer the foot force in an efficient way. Moreover, using said bicycle pedals is unpleasant and unstable. It is noted that the pedals are, e.g. heavily subjected to wear during intensive cycling.

EP2282928 discloses a simpler bicycle pedal, but can only rotate along two axes, i.e. a first axis extending parallel to the pedal axis and a second axis extending perpendicular to the pedal axis and is located above an actuation surface.

The invention aims at alleviating one or more of the

aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, the invention aims at providing a bicycle pedal with increased durability, reliability and a more efficient energy transfer. To that end, the invention provides for a bicycle pedal, comprising a pedal shaft for coupling to a crank of a bicycle, a platform for supporting a foot of a bicyclist, and a hinge assembly that connects the platform to the pedal shaft so as to be rotatable about a pedal shaft axis extending transversely to the crank of the bicycle, a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the pedal shaft axis and a top axis perpendicular to both the pedal shaft axis and the longitudinal axis, wherein the hinge assembly includes a ball hinge having an inner bearing surface coupled to the pedal shaft and an outer bearing surface that is rotatably supported on the inner bearing surface and that is coupled to the platform, wherein the inner and outer bearing surfaces are concentric sphere surfaces, and wherein the center of rotation of the spheres lies on the pedal shaft axis.

By having inner and outer spherical surfaces, it may be achieved that despite the positional adjustment and/or orientation of the foot fixedly supported on the platform about longitudinal axis of the foot, transverse axis of the foot, and top axis of the foot, the load axis of the foot always go through the center of the hinge assembly, so that the load situation is independent of the position of foot. This way, the load axis may be more predictable, and consequently the bicyclist does not have to have a preference for the position of the foot with respect to the pedal shaft axis because the load axis goes through a single contact point on the pedal shaft. This is especially beneficial when the bicyclist tends to roll outwardly or inwardly along the longitudinal axis with his foot because the load on the outermost toe or the innermost toe may decrease.

By having a platform with three axis of rotation and a single contact point with the pedal shaft, through which a relatively large amount of the load may pass, the pressure in the foot may be moved back and forth during cycling, improving the blood flow in the foot resulting in fewer injuries. For example, the foot may, during cycling, roll inwardly and/or outwardly along the longitudinal axis and this way the pressure in the foot may be moved from left to right and vice versa causing an improved blood flow in the foot.

Moreover, the position of the knee and the hip is substantially aligned with the foot and/or ankle, especially during stretching of the leg. The force coming from the upper leg may be moved along a substantially straight line to the pedal instead of a loop resulting in a more efficient way of cycling, less pain, less wear of the joints and ligaments and better performance.

By having the centre of rotation lying on the pedal shaft axis, i.e. below the platform, it may be achieved that, during cycling, the tendency of the knee and/or hip moving inward and/or outward may be compensated with smaller angular rotations of the foot and/or ankle. This way, micro injuries in the foot and/or ankle may be prevented while the knee and hip may be kept substantially aligned with the foot and/or ankle. The foot and/or ankle may be fixedly supported by the platform, wherein, during cycling, the platform may only rotate about the pedal shaft axis, the longitudinal axis or the top axis.

The outer and inner bearing surfaces may be spherically shaped and may be cooperating, nested and/or in sliding contact with each other. It is also possible that between the outer and inner bearing surfaces, rolling elements such as balls are included. The outer bearing surface may e.g. be shaped as an inner surface of a ring which can be rotatably supported on the inner bearing surface such that it can rotate along the pedal shaft axis. The inner bearing surface may be shaped as, e.g. a ball, a sphere or a barrel provided with an opening for receiving the pedal shaft such that it may be supported on the pedal shaft. It is noted that the pedal shaft may be a physical shaft, but may also be a sleeve or part of a sleeve.

The contact between the outer and inner bearing surfaces may be a spherical segment contact line in which the load may be divided and transferred substantially equally from the outer bearing surface to the inner bearing surface when the bicyclist is using the bike.

It is noted that by using a hinge assembly including a ball hinge, a relatively inexpensive connection between the platform and the pedal shaft can be achieved, yet very reliable to transfer foot force into movement of the bicycle.

By having inner and outer bearing surfaces, the outer bearing surface can freely rotate along the top axis as well as the longitudinal axis while the inner bearing surface may be substantially fixed relative to the pedal shaft axis. It is noted that bearing surfaces may have more rotation positions. For example, the outer and inner bearing surfaces may rotate more than 20° from each other along the longitudinal axis or top axis.

Furthermore, the pedal may additionally be embodied with biasing means such as a spring for keeping the platform substantially level relative to the pedal shaft. This is especially beneficial when the bicyclist wants to clip his bicycle shoe to the platform of the bicycle pedal.

The hinge assembly may be formed as a disc and be positioned transverse to the pedal shaft axis.

Preferably, the hinge assembly further comprises a radial bearing that connects the platform to the pedal shaft so as to be rotatable about a pedal shaft axis extending transversely to the crank of the bicycle. The radial bearing may keep the platform generally level relative to the rotating crank. The radial bearing may include a plurality of balls held in a ball race. The radial bearing may also be a plain bearing.

The hinge assembly may further include adjustable stops to fixate the angular orientation of the platform with respect to the pedal shaft axis, the longitudinal axis and/or the top axis. This way, the angular position of a foot fixedly supported on platform relative to a longitudinal axis of the foot, transverse axis of foot, and/or top axis of foot may be set. It is noted that, during cycling, these adjustable stops may limit the amount of angular rotations of the platform along the longitudinal axis and/or top axis relative to the pedal shaft, also known as limited motions. By having these limited motions, the bicycle pedal can be adjusted to a variety of anatomical structures of different cyclists.

The adjustable stops may thus fixate the angular orientation of the platform in the sense that the adjustable stops provide a window of limited free angular motion of the platform about the longitudinal axis and/or the top axis. The window of limited free angular motion may through adjustment of the stops be adjusted in size, and also in location. This way, a cyclist's foot may be given a desired basic orientation and position relative to the pedal shaft crank, about which it may freely oscillate during the pedal stroke. The angular movement of the platform within the limits of the window may be free, and may e.g. be such that it does not drive movement of a coupling mechanism for clipping or unclipping a the foot to or from the pedal.

The adjustable stops may abut against a support surface that may be arranged transverse to the pedal shaft axis, which in general limit the motion of the bicycle pedal, in particular the platform. The support surface may be arranged on the hinge assembly or form part of the hinge assembly, or it may be arranged on an external part.

It is noted that an abutting end of the adjustable stops may be provided with biasing means for damping of the angular rotations of the platform.

The end stops may be arranged to cooperate contactless with the support surface, in particular by arranging the end stops and the support surface as mutually repelling magnets. The magnetic repulsion may then prevent contact, and may at the same time provide dampening.

The adjustable stops may be embodied as a flat surface optionally with projections or protrusions, wherein the flat surface can have adjustable angular positions for cooperation with the support surface. Preferably, the adjustable stops are embodied as pins or spheres extending perpendicular, or more preferably, parallel to pedal shaft axis. These pins may have been provided with screw-thread and can be adjusted relatively easily by hand in the direction along the pedal shaft axis, or with actuated means, such as an actuator. The actuator may then be controlled via a remote control device and software, e.g. an app on a smartphone.

Once the bicyclist has clipped his shoes onto the pedals, this may be detected by a sensor and the actuator may actuate the adjustable stops from a neutral position into a predetermined position according to a stored bicyclist profile. This way, the amount of angular rotations of the platform, relative to the pedal shaft, longitudinal or top axis, may be adjusted.

Preferably, the pedals remain in their neutral position after the bicyclist has clipped his shoes onto the pedals. The adjustable stops may then be actuated during cycling, e.g. after a couple of rotations of the pedal such as one or two or more pedal rotations or after a predetermined time, e.g. after a few seconds once the cycling shoe has been clipped onto the pedal. Once the bicycling shoe is undipped from the pedal, the adjustable stops may return to its neutral position.

Furthermore, it noted that the adjustable stops may be provided with sensors such as electronic sensors, e.g. electronic pressure sensors. During cycling, the sensors on the adjustable stops may be in contact with the support surface, due to the angular rotations of the platforms driven by the feet. This way, the feet behavior, which for each bicyclist may be different, can be mapped accordingly. By mapping the feet behavior of the bicyclist, a real time feet behavior during a cycling track may be achieved. With the actuable adjustable stops, the angular rotations of the platform about the pedal shaft, longitudinal or top axis may then be adjusted to meet the measured foot behavior in order to achieve a pleasant and efficient way of cycling.

Preferably, the platform is supported on the pedal axis via the hinge assembly only. When the platform is rotated along the longitudinal axis, the platform transfers a relatively large amount of foot force to the pedal shaft via the hinge assembly without physically contacting the pedal shaft. Thus, during angular rotations along the longitudinal axis, the platform is free from the pedal shaft. Consequently, since no physical contact between the platform and the pedal shaft, it may be achieved that the platform is less subjected to wear.

The pedal shaft may be provided with a transverse arm, so that it is mounted eccentrically onto the crank. This way, when a push force is exerted onto the pedal, the arm may extend downward and the shaft and the platform may be located lower relative to the end of the crank. This may compensate the increase in height position of the platform due to the presence of the ball hinge, and may facilitate stepping onto the platform when mounting the bicycle.

It is further noted the center of rotation of the spheres can be adjusted along the pedal axis. Before or after cycling, the bicychst can adjust the center of rotation of the spheres by sliding tubes and/or rings manually onto the pedal shaft such that the platform can be adjusted more inwardly or outwardly along the pedal shaft. This way, the bicycle pedal can be adjusted to bicyclists having smaller or wider hips. It is noted that, during cycling, the platform and/or the center of rotation of the spheres is not allowed to move along, e.g. the pedal shaft axis, i.e. translating inwards or outwards, since, during cycling, the knees and/or hip may then constantly move inwardly or outwardly resulting in injuries.

The invention further relates to a bicycle having a bicycle pedal as described above.

The invention further relates to a method of transferring foot force to a pedal shaft of a bicycle, wherein the foot force is transferred to a single point on the pedal shaft axis. The single point may be the center of rotation lying on the pedal shaft axis.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment which is represented in a drawing. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a bicycle pedal according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a rear view of the bicycle pedal of Fig. 1 wherein the bicycle pedal is in neutral position;

Fig. 3 shows a rear view of the bicycle pedal of Fig. 1 wherein the bicycle pedal is rolled inwardly about the longitudinal axis;

Fig. 4 shows a rear view of the bicycle pedal of Fig. 1 wherein the bicycle pedal is rolled outwardly about the longitudinal axis;

Fig. 5 shows a top view of the bicycle pedal of Fig. 1 wherein the bicycle pedal is in neutral position; Fig. 6 shows a top view of the bicycle pedal of Fig. 1 wherein the bicycle pedal is rotated outwardly about the top axis;

Fig. 7 shows a top view of the bicycle pedal of Fig. 1 wherein the bicycle pedal is rotated inwardly about the top axis;

Fig. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the bicycle pedal of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 shows a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the bicycle pedal, analogous to Fig. 8, and

Fig 10 shows a rear view of the bicycle pedal of Fig. 9.

It is noted that the figures are merely schematic representations of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are given here by way of non-limiting examples. In the description, the same or similar part and elements have the same or similar reference signs.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a bicycle pedal 1 for, in this example, the right foot of a bicyclist comprising a pedal shaft 2 for coupling to a crank 3 of a bicycle (not shown) and a platform 4 spaced apart from the pedal shaft 2 for supporting the foot of the bicyclist. In this embodiment, the pedal shaft 2 is a physical shaft. The platform 4 is in Fig. 1 shown is its neutral position. The platform 4 may be provided with a clip 5 such that a cycling shoe 6 of the bicyclist can be clipped thereon. These clips are generally known in the art.

The bicycle pedal 1 further includes a hinge assembly 7 that connects the platform 4 to the pedal shaft 2. As can been seen from Fig. 1, the platform 4 is supported on the pedal shaft 2 via the hinge assembly 7 only. The platform 4 can be rotated about a pedal shaft axis Y extending transversely to the crank 3 of the bicycle, a longitudinal axis X

perpendicular to the pedal shaft axis Y and a top axis Z perpendicular to both the pedal shaft axis Y and the longitudinal axis X, without physically contacting the pedal shaft 2. In Fig. 2 a rear view of the bicycle pedal 1 is shown in its neutral position. Furthermore, in Figs 3-4 is shown that the platform can be rotated inwardly or outwardly about the longitudinal axis X without physically contacting the pedal shaft 2. This way, the platform 4 is less susceptible to wear and this is also a more comfortable way of cycling. This inwardly and/or outwardly rotation about the longitudinal axis X allows the bicyclist to compensate for the variety of anatomical structures of the foot of different bicyclists.

In Fig. 5 a top view of the bicycle pedal 1 is shown in its neutral position. Further, it is shown in Figs. 6-7 that the platform can also be rotated inwardly or outwardly about the top axis Z. This is also to

compensate for the variety of anatomical structures of the foot of different bicyclists.

As shown in Fig. 8, the hinge assembly 7 includes a ball hinge 8 having an inner bearing surface 9 coupled to the pedal shaft 2. The ball hinge 8 is the point of departure for the X-Y-Z axis. The centerline of the hinge assembly 7 may coincide with the pedal shaft axis Y.

The inner bearing surface 9 is in this embodiment shaped as a sphere having an opening 11 for receiving the pedal shaft 2. The hinge assembly 7 also includes an outer bearing surface 10 that is rotatably supported on the inner bearing surface 9 and that is coupled to the platform 4. The inner and outer bearing surfaces are concentric sphere surfaces, wherein the center of rotation C of the spheres lies beneath the platform 4 on the pedal shaft axis Y.

As shown in Fig. 8, the hinge assembly 7 further comprises a radial bearing 12 that connects the platform 4 to the pedal shaft 2 so as to be rotatable about the pedal shaft axis Y extending transversely to the crank 3 of the bicycle. The radial bearing 12 may include a plurality of balls held in a ball race (not shown).

It is further shown in Fig. 8 that the hinge assembly 7 includes a second radial bearing 13 which is in this example embodied as a plain bearing. Further, it is shown in Figs. 1-8 that the hinge assembly 7 includes adjustable stops 14, here embodied as pins, to fixate the angular orientation of the platform 4 with respect to the pedal shaft axis Y, the longitudinal axis X and/or the top axis Z, so as to set the angular position of a foot fixedly supported on the platform 4 relative to a longitudinal axis of the foot, transverse axis of the foot, and/or top axis of the foot. The pins 14 limit among others the angular rotations of the platform 4 about the longitudinal axis X or top axis Z during cycling. The adjustable stops 14 may extend parallel to the pedal shaft axis Y.

In Fig. 1 is shown that four pins are mounted onto a L-shaped bracket 15 abutting against a support surface of a ring 16 that is mounted onto the hinge assembly 7. It is also possible that the pins 14 are extending from the ring 16 and abutting against, e.g. the L-shaped bracket 15. When the pedal is in its neutral position, as shown in Fig.2, the ring abuts against all pins 14. By providing the top of these pins 14 with pressure sensors, the feet behavior of the bicyclist may be mapped. Mapping may, during cycling be possible by measuring continuously which pin 14 is in contact with the ring.

Furthermore, the L-shaped bracket 15 includes an elongated opening 17 for receiving a pin 18 extending from the hinge assembly. This is to prevent that the second radial bearing 13 of the hinge assembly 7 can freely rotate about the pedal shaft axis Y.

Furthermore, the pedal shaft 2 may be surrounded by a tube or ring 19 having a larger diameter compared to the diameter of the pedal shaft 2. Before or after cycling, the bicyclist can manually translate the platform 4 along the pedal shaft axis Y by mounting the tube or ring onto the pedal shaft 2. This way, the centre of rotation C can be adjusted along the pedal shaft axis Y to adjust the bicycle pedal 1 to bicyclists with smaller or wider hips. Referring to Figs 9 and 10, a further embodiment of the bicycle pedal 1 is shown. In this embodiment, the end stops 14 are arranged to cooperate contactless with the support surface 16. The head portions of the end stops that face the support surface are arranged as permanent magnets, and de support surface 16 itself is also arranged as a permanent magnetic disc. The facing sides of the head portions and the disc form repelling poles of the magnets, e.g. North poles as shown in the drawing. The magnetic repulsion prevents contact during operation.

The adjustable stops fixate the angular orientation of the platform in the sense that the adjustable stops provide a window of limited free angular motion of the platform about the longitudinal axis and/or the top axis. The window of limited free angular motion may through adjustment of the stops be adjusted in angular size, and also in its angular base location. This way, as is shown in Fig. 10, a cyclist's foot may be given a desired basic orientation and position relative to the pedal shaft crank, i.e. an offset neutral position, about which it may freely oscillate during the pedal stroke. The angular movement of the platform within the limits of the window is free, and does not drive movement of a coupling mechanism when clipping or unclipping a the foot from the platform of the pedal. The magnetic repulsion dampens the movement of the platform towards the ends of the window.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the pedal shaft 2 is provided with a transverse arm, so that it is mounted eccentrically onto the crank 3. This way, when a push force is exerted onto the pedal, as is shown in Fig. 9, the arm may extend downward and the shaft and the platform 4 may be located lower relative to the end of the crank 3. This may

compensate the increase in height position of the platform due to the presence of the ball hinge 8. As shown in Fig, 10, the pedal is starting an upward stroke, and the arm extends upward so that the shaft 2 is located higher relative to the end of the crank 3. As for the purpose of this disclosure, it is pointed out that technical features which have been described may be susceptible of functional generalization. It is further pointed out that - insofar as not explicitly mentioned- such technical features can be considered separately from the context of the given exemplary embodiment, and can further be considered separately from the technical features with which they cooperate in the context of the example.

It is pointed out that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments represented here, and that many variants are possible and are considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Reference signs

1. Bicycle pedal

2. Pedal shaft

3. Crank

4. Platform

5. Clip

6. Cycling shoe

7. Hinge assembly

8. Ball hinge

9. Inner bearing surface

10. Outer bearing surface

11. Opening

12. Radial bearing

13. Second radial bearing

14. Adjustable stops

15. L-shaped bracket

16. Ring

17. Elongated opening

18. Pin

19. Tube