CN1100694A - Stroller with self-leveling mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-leveling mechanism for use with an axle and wheel assembly of a lightweight stroller includes a unitary dual chamber housing, wherein one chamber receives a depending end of the stroller frame with an adaptor and another chamber includes a lightweight spring which is urged against a piston which supports the axle of the wheel mechanism. The self-leveling mechanism compensates for misalignments in the frame of the stroller and for unevenness in the ground or floor on which the stroller rests.

Description

Stroller with self-leveling mechanism

The present invention relates to a kind of improved collapsible light perambulator that has self-adjusting mechanism, described self-adjusting mechanism uses with axle and wheel assembly, in more detail, the present invention relates to a kind of improved light-duty perambulator that has the self-adjusting mechanism that uses with axle and wheel assembly, described self-adjusting mechanism can be proofreaied and correct the small deformation that occurs on the stroller frame and can compensate ground-surface little irregularity degree below the perambulator.

It is well-known being used for the foldable stroller that baby and children have rotatable Caster.In recent years, heavily about 15 pounds or less light-duty Foldable baby carriage are more and more welcome.These light-duty perambulators generally comprise a foldable frame that is made in steel or aluminum simple in structure, and this framework has four independent Casters of installing.These light-duty perambulators generally do not contain to be regulated or shock absorption device.

These light-duty frameworks tend to be in such a case, and promptly when but perambulator launched fully be empty, all four Casters were not mutually on same plane.This situation may appear at, and for example, when perambulator is subjected to rough loading and unloading in shipment, it is little when crooked to cause framework to occur, also may appear at when perambulator be that sale is on the retail sectors uneven ground time.Framework or ground these little variations can not influence the operation of perambulator.But, because all four wheels may may make customer ' interest decline or dissatisfied not exclusively at grade when perambulator is illustrated in retail shop.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a kind of self-regulated wheel mechanism that is used for light-duty stroller frame, the little distortion on this mechanism recoverable stroller frame or the compensation perambulator below ground little irregularity degree.

Another object of the present invention provides a kind of self-regulated wheel mechanism that is used for light-duty stroller frame, and this mechanism has simple single-piece structure and is easy to manufacturing.

A further object of the present invention provides a kind of self-regulated wheel mechanism that is used for light-duty stroller frame, and this mechanism is easy to be connected with framework, also is easy to pull down from framework.

According to the present invention, comprise a unsplit casing that has first and second chambers with the axle and the self-adjusting mechanism that uses of wheel assembly of perambulator, first chamber is used for holding a spring, and second chamber is used for holding the end that dangles of described stroller frame.First chamber has the device that adjustable ground holds the axle of wheel assembly.A piston connects the described spring in described first chamber and has the device that holds axle.The shaft extension of assembly is crossed the storing apparatus of piston and the adjustable storing apparatus of first chamber.Therefore, when the gravity of perambulator is applied on the shell and reaches piston by spring, some antagonistic force vertical shifting that the adjustable storing apparatus of first chamber allows shell to apply with described power and spring with respect to axle and piston.Spring is light-duty, even thereby under also can weight effect when perambulator is not taken advantage of child at perambulator self by partial compression, all wheels that guarantee perambulator thus all with ground or floor, for example, the floor when perambulator is illustrated in client retail shop contacts.

The end that dangles of the second chamber housing stroller frame, this end is equipped with an adapted device.Second chamber comprises a release gear that cooperates with connecting device on the adapted device.The operation of this release gear allows self-adjusting mechanism of the present invention to be easy to be installed on the perambulator or from perambulator to take off.

Fig. 1 is the block diagram that self-adjusting mechanism of the present invention cooperates with axle and wheel;

Fig. 2 is the front elevation of self-adjusting mechanism of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is the lateral plan of self-adjusting mechanism of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the bottom view of self-adjusting mechanism shell of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is the present invention's cutaway view of stack-mounted self-adjusting mechanism;

Fig. 6 is the view sub-anatomy of self-adjusting mechanism of the present invention;

As shown in the figure, self-adjusting mechanism of the present invention comprises that unsplit casing 10, the first chambers that have first chamber 20 and second chamber 40 are connected by bridgeware 12 with second chamber.Two chambers are preferably columniform and have round section, and their respective axes is parallel to each other.Bridgeware 12 can be a solid construction, or preferably can comprise two relative sidewalls 13 and 14, and each described sidewall all links to each other with described second chamber 40 with described first chamber 20, and the apical margin of two side is connected by yoke 15.As can seeing from figure, bridgeware 12 does not need to extend along the whole length of shell 10, as long as structurally be enough to connect two chambers and make them stable mutually just passable.

Have the upper surface 21 of a closure and the lower surface 22 of a unlatching referring to Fig. 2-4, the first chamber 20.First chamber 20 is provided with the device that adjustable ground holds an axle of baby carrier wheel assembly, and described device preferably includes the wall portion that is positioned at first chamber 20 and is parallel to the relative groove 23 and 24 of cylindrical center's radial axis of first chamber 20.The purpose that groove 23 and 24 is located on first chamber 20 like this is to be used for the axle that adjustable ground holds wheel assembly described here.Groove 23 and 24 preferably is provided with outwardly directed cover 123 and 124, so that increase the stability of self-adjusting mechanism with axle and when assembling wheel.

Light spring 25 is arranged on first chamber, 20 the insides.The size of spring 25 and intensity can be resisted the weight of perambulator self, but can not resist the weight of child in the perambulator, and vibration-absorbing function is not provided yet.Be applicable to that spring among the present invention can be to be made by about 10 1/2 circles of the steel wire coiled of about 0.035 thickness, be about 1.220 inches from an end to the other end under no compression situation, total pressurization weight is about 2.1 pounds under the full compression situation.

When spring was located in first chamber 20, its top contacted with the closed upper end face 21 of first chamber 20, and its bottom is connected with piston 26.Piston 26 roughly is columniform and has an axial extension 27 that the excircle of extension forms an annular shoulder 28 on piston 26.The bottom of spring 25 leans against on the annular shoulder 28 when piston 26 is connected with spring 25.Piston 26 also is provided with the device of the axle that holds wheel assembly, and this device preferably includes a radial hole 29.The size and dimension in hole 29 can hold the axle of baby carrier wheel assembly and can align with groove 23 and 24.Piston 26 also is provided with a linear groove 31 on its outer wall, the axis that this groove is parallel to piston extends.Groove 31 can hold the rib 32 on first chamber, 20 inwalls.Groove 31 is to prevent that undesirable rotation from appearring in piston 26 in first chamber 20 with the engagement of rib 32.

Second chamber 40 roughly is columniform and all is opening on lower surface 41 and upper surface 42.Flexible tab 43 stretches out downwards from lower surface 41 and is best between the opposing sidewalls 13 and 14 of bridgeware 12.Flexible tab 43 can depart from the line of centers of second chamber 40 at radial deformation.A projection 44 is arranged on the inwall of second chamber 40, and this projection has operational relation near flexible tab 43 and with it.Adapter 50 is installed in a lower end of stroller frame, and is fixed on the there with screw or its securing device by the screw of aiming at cooresponding hole (not shown) on the stroller frame.Adapter 50 is installed in second chamber 40 with rotating connection mode, makes wheel assembly of the present invention can do rotatablely moving of 360 ° of scopes, to be easy to handle perambulator.The top of adapter 50 is provided with a flange 51, and this flange leans against on the upper surface 42 of second chamber 40.Adapter 50 is provided with two annulus protrusions 52 and 53 in its bottom, groove 55 of the common formation of these two protrusions, and in the time of in adapter 50 is installed in second chamber 40, projection 44 is fixed in the groove 55 in the mode of force fit.When tab 43 was departed from the line of centers of second chamber 40 by deflection, projection 44 was pulled out from groove 55, and whole casing 10 and adapter 50 and stroller frame are thrown off.

When self-adjusting mechanism of the present invention installed with axle and wheel fully, axle 60 was by first groove 23 of the first round 62, clutch shaft bearing 64, the first chambers 20, and the hole 29 of piston 26, second groove, 24, the second bearings 66 and second of first chamber 20 take turns 68.

In a preferable operation mode, two self-adjusting mechanisms of the present invention are installed on the front component of light-duty foldable stroller framework.As everyone knows, these light-duty perambulators can not stand rough loading and unloading in shipment, can make framework appearance distortion a little thus.When perambulator took out from its packing chest and is illustrated in the shop, any distortion of framework may make in the four wheels one not on the plane at other three wheel places, thereby caused all four wheels kiss the earth simultaneously.Even stroller frame is not damaged, if all four wheels kiss the earth simultaneously, irregular ground also may make stroller frame seem like distortion.When self-adjusting mechanism of the present invention was used, the weight of perambulator applied a downward power by adapter 50 on second chamber 40 of shell 10.This downward power reaches first chamber 20 by bridgeware 12, is pressed against downwards on the spring 25.Light spring 25 is subjected to the less downward power effect of light-duty perambulator, make the shell 10 can be with respect to axle 60 vertical shifting, make the normal centering of whole stroller frame thus, all four wheels all contact with ground, are not subjected to any little distortion of framed structure or the influence of uneven ground.

So far, disclose the self-adjusting mechanism that the present invention proposes, it is simple, light and handy, is easy to manufacture and assemble.And when perambulator is empty, can proofread and correct the little distortion of light-duty stroller frame effectively or compensate ground-surface irregularity degree.Should be understood that the present invention is disclosed by way of example, can make various variations in the spirit and scope that do not break away from appended claims of the present invention.

Claims (9)

1, a kind of self-adjusting mechanism that uses with the axle and the wheel assembly of perambulator, it comprises:

(a) unsplit casing that has first and second chambers, described first chamber have the device that holds described axle adjustablely, and described second chamber has the release gear on the part that is positioned at its wall portion;

(b) light spring that is arranged in described first chamber;

(c) be located in described first chamber and the coaxial bonded assembly piston of described spring for one, described piston has and holds described device, and this can be aimed at the adjustable storing apparatus of described first chamber;

And (d) stroller frame adapter, the end that dangles of stroller frame can hold within it, and described adapter is installed in rotation in described second chamber, and described adapter includes the device that becomes to be operatively connected with described release gear,

Described self-adjusting mechanism reacts to the weight of described perambulator, and all wheel kiss the earths of perambulator are convenient to make in described thus mechanism.

2, self-adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that: the described device that is used for holding a wheel shaft comprises two radially relative grooves adjustablely, described axle can be contained in each described groove, described groove allows enclosure location to regulate with respect to described axle, so that described mechanism reacts with the weight of described perambulator.

3, self-adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that in the described opposed slot at least one is provided with outwardly directed cover.

4, self-adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 2, the device that it is characterized in that being used on the described piston holding described axle comprises a radial hole.

5, self-adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that described piston also comprises a device that prevents that it from rotating relative to described first chamber.

6, self-adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that preventing that described piston from comprising a groove on described piston outer wall with respect to the device that described first chamber rotates, and this groove is used to hold a rib on described first chamber inner wall.

7, self-adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that described release gear comprises one from described second chamber flexible tab that is folded down and the device that is used to be connected described adapter, described flexible tab matches in operation with the described device that is connected adapter.

8, self-adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 7, the described device that it is characterized in that being used to connecting described adapted device is a projection that is positioned on described second chamber inner wall, this projection is near described flexible tab, the device that is used for being connected with described release gear on the described adapter comprises a circular groove on described adapter outer wall, described projection can be contained in the described groove, by handling described flexible tab described projection is thrown off from described groove thus.

9, self-adjusting mechanism as claimed in claim 8 is characterized in that described shell can rotate around described adapter, so that the rotation of described axle and wheel assembly.