I’d like to make a bicycle pedal that folds down when walking bicycles.
I think it would look like a cylinder pivot inside a sleeve. To fold, the pedal joint would pull out of the sleeve and fold down. The joint the is held in by a spring.
I’ll draw some idea on sketchup. I haven’t seen anything like it on amazon, but I have not looked at many specialty stores.
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Cool idea, Robert! I’d really love to see the final result 
@Tiesdenh might have some idea for this, they 3D printed a bicycle are playing with ideas on this topic. Here’s their project: Talk Manufacturing | Hubs
http://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-Folding-Pedals-9-16/dp/B0013GAR6M This is widely available for the folding bike market. Your design idea of the sliding hinge is completely on track, but I would be surprised if fdm would be strong enough.
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I sketched what I think it should look like today at starbucks. I love drawing. It gave me time to think about the mechanism. I think the assembly should be shrouded in the pedal arm for support since a lot of pressure is consumed by the attachment area between pedal and arm. Plastic probably is not the best material but for prototyping the mechanical properties, it is ideal, 3d printing. The new child bicycle build looks nice. I like the belt chain drive. Kids need a new bicycle every few years it seems to me. A great opportunity for rapid manufacturing.
Thank you, that’s what I was looking for.
The spring sticks out. The one available on amazon cleverly tucks everything into the pedal. I’m going to test it, the amazon pedal.
