Granted Patent B2

US 9,327,799 · App. 13/048,860 · Granted May 3, 2016

Abstract

Claims (61)

1. A cycle comprising:

a frame;

a crank rotatably connected to the frame; and

a driven wheel rotatably connected to the frame and in operative communication with the rotatable crank;

wherein the crank comprises:

a crank arm;

a crank spindle rotatably connected to the frame and non-rotatably connected to the crank arm;

wherein the crank spindle comprises a crank mating surface to interface with the crank arm, and wherein the diameter of the crank spindle continuously decreases along at least a portion of the crank mating surface in a lateral direction to form a crank spindle taper;

wherein the crank spindle has a substantially round cross-sectional shape throughout the crank mating surface; and

wherein the crank arm comprises a crank bore to interface with the crank mating surface, and wherein at least a portion of the crank bore has a diameter that continuously decreases in lateral direction to form a crank bore taper, and wherein at least a portion of the crank bore taper has a taper rate and diameter corresponding to a taper rate and diameter of at least a portion of the crank spindle taper;

wherein the crank mating surface and the crank bore are in interference contact.

2. The cycle of claim 1 , wherein the crank spindle taper decreases at a constant rate between 0.0490 units of diameter per lateral unit and 0.0530 units of diameter per lateral unit.

3. The cycle of claim 1 , wherein the crank spindle taper decreases at a constant rate between 0.0410 units of diameter per lateral unit and 0.0435 units of diameter per lateral unit.

4. The cycle of claim 1 , wherein the crank spindle taper decreases at a constant rate between 0.0490 units of diameter per lateral unit and 0.0820 units of diameter per lateral unit.

5. The cycle of claim 1 , wherein the crank spindle taper decreases at a constant rate of approximately 0.05 units of diameter per lateral unit.

6. The cycle of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the crank spindle continuously decreases along substantially the entire crank mating surface.

7. The cycle of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener to secure the crank arm to the crank spindle.

8. The cycle of claim 7 , wherein the fastener comprises a bolt attachable at a threaded bore disposed at a lateral end of the crank spindle.

9. The cycle of claim 1 , wherein the cycle is of a type selected from the group consisting of a road bicycle, a mountain bicycle, a hybrid bicycle, and a BMX bicycle.

10. The cycle of claim 1 , wherein the cycle is a stationary exercise cycle.

11. The cycle of claim 1 , wherein the crank comprises a first keyway in the crank spindle and a second keyway in the crank arm, the first keyway and the second keyway positioned to orient the crank arm in a particular orientation relative to the crank spindle.

12. The cycle of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the crank spindle at a medial border of the crank mating surface is at least 22.0 mm.

13. The cycle of claim 1 , further comprising a pedal comprising:

a pedal body; and

a pedal spindle rotatably connected to the pedal body and non-rotatably connected to the crank arm;

wherein the pedal spindle comprises a pedal mating surface to interface with the crank arm, and wherein the diameter of the pedal spindle continuously decreases along at least a portion of the pedal mating surface in a medial direction to form a pedal spindle taper; and

wherein the crank arm comprises a pedal bore to interface with the pedal mating surface, and wherein at least a portion of the pedal bore has a diameter that continuously decreases in a medial direction to form a pedal bore taper, and wherein at least a portion of the pedal bore taper has a taper rate and diameter corresponding to a taper rate and diameter of at least a portion of the pedal spindle taper.

14. A cycle comprising:

a frame;

a crank rotatably connected to the frame;

a pedal rotatably connected to the crank; and

a driven wheel rotatably connected to the frame and in operative communication with the rotatable crank;

wherein the pedal comprises:

a pedal body; and

a pedal spindle rotatably connected to the pedal body and non-rotatably connected to a crank arm of the crank;

wherein the pedal spindle comprises a pedal mating surface to interface with the crank arm, and wherein the diameter of the pedal spindle continuously decreases along at least a portion of the pedal mating surface in a medial direction to form a pedal spindle taper;

wherein the crank arm comprises a pedal bore to interface with the pedal mating surface, and wherein at least a portion of the pedal bore has a diameter that continuously decreases in a medial direction to form a pedal bore taper, and wherein at least a portion of the pedal bore taper has a taper rate and diameter corresponding to a taper rate and diameter of at least a portion of the pedal spindle taper; and

wherein the diameter of the pedal spindle continuously decreases along substantially the entire pedal mating surface;

wherein the pedal mating surface and the pedal bore are in interference contact.

15. The cycle of claim 14 , wherein the pedal spindle taper decreases at a constant rate between 0.0490 units of diameter per medial unit and 0.0530 units of diameter per medial unit.

16. The cycle of claim 14 , wherein the pedal spindle taper decreases at a constant rate between 0.0410 units of diameter per medial unit and 0.0435 units of diameter per medial unit.

17. The cycle of claim 14 , wherein the pedal spindle taper decreases at a constant rate between 0.0490 units of diameter per medial unit and 0.0820 units of diameter per medial unit.

18. The cycle of claim 14 , wherein the pedal spindle taper decreases at a constant rate of approximately 0.05 units of diameter per medial unit.

19. The cycle of claim 14 , further comprising a fastener to secure the pedal to the crank arm.

20. The cycle of claim 19 , wherein the fastener comprises a bolt attachable at a threaded bore disposed at a medial end of the pedal spindle.

21. The cycle of claim 14 , wherein the pedal is attachable to a crank arm on either side of the bike.

22. The cycle of claim 14 , wherein the pedal mating surface is threadless.

23. The cycle of claim 14 , wherein the cycle is of a type selected from the group consisting of a road bicycle, a mountain bicycle, a hybrid bicycle, and a BMX bicycle.

24. The cycle of claim 14 , wherein the cycle is a stationary exercise cycle.

25. The cycle of claim 14 , wherein the diameter of the pedal spindle at a lateral border of the pedal spindle mating surface is at least 16.8 mm.

26. The cycle of claim 14 , wherein the crank further comprises a crank spindle rotatably connected to the frame and non-rotatably connected to the crank arm;

wherein the crank spindle comprises a crank mating surface to interface with the crank arm, and wherein the diameter of the crank spindle continuously decreases along at least a portion of the crank mating surface in a lateral direction to form a crank spindle taper; and

wherein the crank arm comprises a crank bore to interface with the crank mating surface, and wherein at least a portion of the crank bore has a diameter that continuously decreases in lateral direction to form a crank bore taper, and wherein at least a portion of the crank bore taper has a taper rate and diameter corresponding to a taper rate and diameter of at least a portion of the crank spindle taper.

27. A method of assembling a cycle comprising:

providing a frame, a crank, a driven wheel, and a pedal;

wherein the crank comprises a crank spindle with a taper and a crank arm with a tapered crank bore; and

wherein the pedal comprises a pedal spindle with a taper and the crank arm comprises a tapered pedal bore;

aligning the crank bore with the crank spindle;

pressing the crank arm on to the crank spindle such that the crank bore and the crank spindle are in interference contact;

aligning the pedal bore with the pedal spindle; and

pressing the pedal onto the crank arm such that the pedal bore and the pedal spindle are in interference contact.

Assignments (11)