CN115707614A

CN115707614A - Connection structure and perambulator

Info

Publication number: CN115707614A
Application number: CN202110960905.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 阴洪涛; 胡志强
Original assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
Current assignee: Wonderland Switzerland AG
Priority date: 2021-08-20
Filing date: 2021-08-20
Publication date: 2023-02-21
Also published as: JP2024071764A; JP2023029280A

Abstract

According to the application, the connecting structure is used for connecting a first object and a second object, and the first object and the second object are pivoted with each other and can rotate relative to each other around a rotating axis. The connection structure includes: a first tab portion fixedly connected to a first article; a second joint member fixedly connected to the second object and rotatably connected to the first joint member about a rotation axis, the second joint member having: the rotation axis is perpendicular to the rotation axis, and the first limiting part and the second limiting part respectively protrude from the rotation axis along a direction parallel to the rotation axis, and the first limiting part and the second limiting part are positioned on two sides of the rotation axis. The connecting structure further comprises at least one transmission piece, wherein the transmission piece extends through the first object and the second object and penetrates through the connecting structure from the first limiting part to the second limiting part, so that the transmission piece can be bent in a compliance manner along with the rotation between the first object and the second object. The present application further provides a stroller.

Description

Connection structure and perambulator

Technical Field

The present application relates to a connection structure, and a stroller having the same.

Background

A stroller is a common vehicle that generally has a walking member such as wheels, a seat member for seating an infant, and an armrest member to bear the thrust of an adult. In some strollers, the armrest components of the stroller are divided into a plurality of collapsible or relatively rotatable tube portions to provide a folding function for the stroller or to facilitate operation of the stroller by an adult. The joints of the foldable or relatively rotatable pipe parts are provided with connecting structures.

Meanwhile, an operating member for controlling, for example, traveling, turning, or braking of the stroller is provided on an armrest member of the stroller. For this purpose, a cable for transmitting an operating driving force is passed through a pipe portion of the armrest member.

One problem that arises is that the connection structure may affect the function of the cable. For example, in the conventional connection structure shown in fig. 4, a rotation shaft having a certain diameter of the cable detour connection structure passes along an outer peripheral surface of the rotation shaft side in an arc-shaped detour manner. Typically, the cable will make a round around about half of the rotation axis. However, when the two pipe sections to which the connection structure is connected are relatively rotated, the arc angle of the cable about the rotation axis is correspondingly changed, and thus the stroke (or trajectory) of the cable in the connection structure is changed. When the two tube portions to which the connecting structure is connected are rotated at a large angle, the stroke of the cable is greatly affected, for example, hard stretching or excessive slackening of the cable may be caused, and thus the degree of tension of the cable is accordingly changed, and it is difficult to transmit the operation driving force correctly.

Fig. 4 illustrates a prior art connection structure 500. Wherein the transmission member 540 needs to go around the central portion of the coupling structure 100 in a semicircular stroke. Thus, when the upper section of the armrest component rotates, the round trip of the transmission member 540 changes accordingly, thereby causing a change in the tension of the transmission member 540, which is not beneficial to the operation of the user.

Therefore, there is a need to propose a new connection structure that allows the relative rotation of the two tube portions even at a large angle without significantly changing the stroke of the cable, thereby ensuring the intended operability of the cable.

Disclosure of Invention

A connecting structure according to the present application is used for connecting first and second objects that are pivotally connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other about an axis of rotation. The connection structure includes: a first tab portion fixedly connected to the first article; a second joint member fixedly connected to the second object and rotatably connected to the first joint member about the rotation axis, the second joint member having: the rotation axis, roughly perpendicular to, and first spacing portion and second spacing portion, respectively follow the rotation plane and along the direction of being on a parallel with the rotation axis protruding, first spacing portion and second spacing portion are located the both sides of rotation axis. The connecting structure further comprises at least one transmission piece, wherein the transmission piece extends through the first object and the second object and penetrates through the connecting structure from the first limiting part to the second limiting part, so that the transmission piece can be bent in a compliance manner along with the rotation between the first object and the second object.

In one embodiment, the first joint member and the second joint member overlap in the direction of the rotation axis, and the first stopper portion and the second stopper portion protrude in a direction away from the first joint member.

In one embodiment, the connecting structure further includes a cover portion that is snap-fitted to the second joint member from an outer side so that the second joint member is positioned between the cover portion and the first joint member, and the cover portion covers the first stopper portion and the second stopper portion, and forms a passage through which the transmission member passes together with the second joint member and the first stopper portion and the second stopper portion.

In one embodiment, the first and/or second joint components are disc-shaped components with the center of the disc on the axis of rotation.

In one embodiment, a connection line between the first position-limiting portion and the second position-limiting portion is substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the transmission member.

In one embodiment, the exterior of the drive member is covered with a drive member sleeve that does not substantially slide within the connecting structure, and the drive member is capable of sliding within the drive member sleeve.

In one embodiment, the first and second position-limiting portions each have a cylindrical shape protruding from the rotation surface, and have first and second rib portions extending obliquely from side surfaces of the first and second position-limiting portions, respectively, so as to be close to each other.

In one embodiment, the first and second objects are hollow tubular members, respectively, the transmission member passing through the hollow interiors of the first and second objects.

In one embodiment, the at least one drive comprises a drift drive and a retracting drive.

A stroller according to the present application, comprising: a frame: a seat mounted on the frame for seating an infant; wheels mounted below the frame; and an armrest member including vertical portions extending upward from both sides of the frame, respectively, and a lateral portion connecting the two vertical portions above the frame; wherein each vertical portion of the armrest component is two sections between which a connection according to the present application is connected, one of the sections being the first object and the other of the sections being the second object, one end of the transmission member being connected to an operating device located on the transverse portion, the other end of the transmission member being connected to an action device for transmitting an operating drive force of the operating device to the action device.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a stroller according to the present application;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a stroller according to the present application, wherein the first and second tubular portions of the armrest are at a first angle;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a stroller according to the present application, wherein the first and second tube portions of the armrest are at a second angle;

fig. 4 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing a connecting structure of a related art stroller armrest;

fig. 5 is a front view showing a connection structure according to the first embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a connection structure according to the present application with the cover removed to show the internal structure and the first and second tube portions at a first angle;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a connection structure according to the present application with the cap removed to show the internal structure and the first and second tube portions at a second angle;

fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a connection structure according to the present application;

fig. 10 is a view showing an armrest member for a stroller according to the present application, in which a connection structure according to the present application is installed between two tube portions of an armrest;

fig. 11 is a view showing another embodiment of an armrest member for a stroller according to the present application, in which a connecting structure according to a second embodiment of the present application is installed;

fig. 12 is a side sectional view of a connection structure according to a second embodiment of the present application.

List of reference numerals

100. Connection structure (first embodiment)

110. First joint part

120. Second joint member

121. Surface of revolution

122. A first limit part

123. The second limit part

130. Cover part

140. 150 drive element

X axis of rotation

200. Connection structure (second embodiment)

210. First joint member

220. Second joint member

221. Surface of revolution

222. A first limit part

223. Second limit part

224. First rib part

225. Second rib part

300. First article (e.g. upper section of armrest part)

310. First operating device

320. Second operating device

400. Second item (e.g. lower section of armrest part)

500. Connection structure (prior art)

540. Driving medium (prior art)

Detailed Description

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention.

References herein to "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", etc. are made for convenience of understanding only, and the present invention is not limited to these directions, but may be modified as appropriate, and although the present application has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, the terms used are intended to be illustrative and exemplary, rather than limiting.

Referring initially to fig. 1-3, a stroller according to the present application is generally shown. As shown, the stroller includes a frame seat, wheels, and armrest members. Wherein the seat is mounted on the frame for seating an infant. Wheels mounted below the frame to provide a travel function. The armrest member is mounted above the frame, and includes vertical portions extending upward from both sides of the frame, respectively, and a transverse portion connecting the two vertical portions above the frame.

In this embodiment, the armrest member is bendable. That is, each vertical portion of the armrest component is two sections, one of which (the lower section) is connected to the vehicle frame, while the other (the upper section) can rotate about a transverse axis relative to the lower section. The transverse portion is connected to the upper section. In this way, the rotation of the upper section provides the function of changing the height of the transverse portion, as well as the folding function of the armrest component. Between the upper and lower sections there is a connection structure 100 according to the present application.

In order to facilitate the handling of the pushchair by the user, the handle members are provided with handling means, such as a first handling means 310 and a second handling means 320 (see fig. 10), for example, on the lateral sections. These operating means are provided on the armrest part in the form of e.g. a spanner. The user moves the corresponding

transmission members

140 and 150 inside the handle member by pulling the first operating device 310 and the second operating device 320, and the other ends of the

transmission members

140 and 150 pass through the handle member and are connected to the actuating devices (e.g., brake, frame folding device, wheel orienting device) of the stroller, so as to transmit the operating driving force of the first operating device 310 and the second operating device 320 to the corresponding actuating devices. The

transmission members

140, 150 may be flexible transmission members, such as cables or steel wires.

The connection structure 100 according to the present application is designed to allow the upper section of the armrest member to rotate without interfering with the

transmission members

140, 150 therein. In particular, the travel of the

transmission members

140, 150 in the connecting structure 100 does not vary significantly when the upper section is rotated to different positions.

The connection structure 100 according to the present application will now be described in detail with reference to fig. 5 to 6.

As shown in the drawings, the connection structure 100 according to the present application includes a first joint member 110, a second joint member 120, and a cover portion 130. The first and

second tab portions

110, 120 are used to connect first and second articles 300, 400 (fig. 1), respectively. In the current embodiment, the first article 300 and the second article 400 are an upper section and a lower section, respectively, although in other embodiments the upper section and the lower section may be interchanged. In other embodiments, the connection structure 100 can also be used for components other than armrest components, and the first and second

joint components

110 and 120 are connected to two relatively rotatable sections of the component, respectively.

The first joint member 110 and the second joint member 120 are pivotally connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other about a rotational axis X. The first and second

joint components

110, 120 can be pivotally connected by a pivot, an arcuate slider-track arrangement, or other suitable means. As will be described below, any pivotal connection of the first and second

joint components

110, 120 does not interfere with the

transmission members

140, 150.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the first joint member 110 and the second joint member 120 are each a disk-shaped member, and the center of the disk is on the rotation axis X. This is not required, however, and the first and second

fitting components

110, 120 can also be rectangular, tubular, or other geometries as desired.

Referring to fig. 7, the second joint member 120 has a rotation surface 121, a first stopper portion 122, and a second stopper portion 123. Wherein the rotation surface 121 is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis X, and the first and

second stopper portions

122 and 123 respectively protrude from the rotation surface 121 in a direction parallel to the rotation axis X. The first and second

position limiting portions

122 and 123 are located on both sides of the rotation axis X. In one embodiment, the surface of rotation 121 is on a side of the second component 120 that is distal from the first component 110.

The

transmission members

140 and 150 pass through the connecting structure 100 from the first position-limiting portion 122 to the second position-limiting portion 123, so as to be capable of bending in compliance with the rotation between the first object 300 and the second object 400.

In embodiments of the present application, a plurality of

transmission members

140, 150 may be provided, such as a drifting

transmission member

140, 150 and a retracting

transmission member

140, 150. The two ends of each

transmission member

140, 150 are connected to different operating means and different actuation means of the stroller, respectively. For example, one

transmission

140, 150 is connected to a first operating device 310 (see fig. 10) and a first action device, while the

other transmission

140, 150 is connected to a second operating device 320 (see fig. 10) and a second action device. In one embodiment the first actuation means is an orienting structure attached to the wheel, i.e. the wheel can be oriented or unlocked by operating the first operating means, and the transmission attached thereto, i.e. the drift transmission. In one embodiment, the second actuating device is a folding joint structure of the frame, and the folding joint of the frame can be unlocked through the second operating device, so that the frame can be folded, and the driving member connected to the second actuating device is a folding driving member. It should be understood that the above first and second motion devices are merely examples, and the application is not limited to a specific type of motion device.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the first joint member 110 and the second joint member 120 overlap in the rotation axis X direction, and the first stopper portion 122 and the second stopper portion 123 protrude in a direction away from the first joint member 110. In this way, the

transmission elements

140, 150 extend through the connection 100 along the surface of the second component part 120 facing away from the first component part 110. Thus, when a pivot structure (e.g., a rotating shaft or an arcuate slider-track structure) is provided between the first joint component 110 and the second joint component 120, the

transmission members

140, 150 do not pass through the space occupied by the pivot structure, and do not have to circumvent the pivot structure. In this embodiment, an empty space may be provided between the first limiting portion 122 and the second limiting portion 123 of the second joint member 120, so as to allow the

transmission members

140 and 150 to swing between the first limiting portion 122 and the second limiting portion 123. In other embodiments, the first stopper portion 122 and the second stopper portion 123 may protrude from the rotation surface 121 of the second joint member 120 toward the first joint member (110), and in such a structure, the pivot structure between the first joint member 110 and the second joint member 120 is provided so as not to occupy a space between the first stopper portion 122 and the second stopper portion 123, for example, an arc-shaped slider-rail structure outside the first stopper portion 122 and the second stopper portion 123.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, a connection line between the first position-limiting portion 122 and the second position-limiting portion 123 is substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the

transmission members

140 and 150. That is, the first and second position-limiting

portions

122 and 123 are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the

transmission members

140 and 150. In other embodiments, the first position-limiting portion 122 and the second position-limiting portion 123 may be asymmetrically distributed on two sides of the

transmission members

140 and 150.

The operation of the connection structure 100 according to the present application will now be described with reference to fig. 7 and 8.

As shown in FIG. 7, the first object 300 and the second object 400 are at a first angle (FIG. 2), i.e., they are substantially collinear. At this time, the

transmission members

140 and 150 pass through the connection structure 100 from between the first position-limiting portion 122 and the second position-limiting portion 123. In fig. 8, the first object 300 and the second object 400 are at a second angle, i.e., a bent structure therebetween. At this time, the

transmission members

140 and 150 are limited by the first limiting portion 122 and the second limiting portion 123 without deviating from the rotation axis X or bypassing the pivot structure. It will be appreciated that if the

transmission members

140, 150 are offset from the axis of rotation X, a reduction in the travel of the

transmission members

140, 150 within the connection structure 100 will result; if the

transmission members

140, 150 bypass the pivot structure, an increased travel of the

transmission members

140, 150 within the connecting structure 100 is caused. However, according to the connection structure 100 of the present application, when the first object 300 and the second object 400 rotate relatively, the stroke of the

transmission members

140, 150 in the connection structure 100 is not substantially changed.

Referring now to fig. 9, the cover 130 of the connection structure 100 is shown. The cover portion 130 is snap-fitted to the second joint member 120 from the outside so that the second joint member 120 is positioned between the cover portion 130 and the first joint member 110. The cover 130 covers the first and second position-limiting

portions

122 and 123, and forms a channel for the

transmission members

140 and 150 to pass through together with the second joint member 120, the first and second position-limiting

portions

122 and 123. It should be understood that the cover 130 functions to prevent the

transmission members

140 and 150, the first and second position-limiting

parts

122 and 123 from being exposed, and to serve as an external decoration of the connection structure 100. The cover 130 is not required and the cover 130 may be omitted in some embodiments.

Referring now to fig. 10, a connection structure 100 according to the present application is shown mounted to an armrest member of a stroller. As shown in the drawings, the connection structure 100 is symmetrically mounted to two vertical portions of the armrest member, and the cover portion 130, the second joint member 120, and the first joint member 110 are in that order from the inside to the outside. It is to be understood that the mounting order of the connection structure 100 may be reversed, that is, the order from the inside to the outside may also be the first joint member 110, the second joint member 120, and the cover portion 130. It will be appreciated that the

transmission members

140, 150 may be provided in a single or both vertical portions of the armrest component, with only one side of the

transmission members

140, 150 being shown in fig. 10 for simplicity of the drawing.

A second embodiment of a connection structure 200 according to the present application will now be described with reference to fig. 11 to 12. The second embodiment is substantially the same as the second embodiment, that is, it also includes a first joint member 210, a second joint member 220, and a cover portion (not shown). The second joint member 220 also includes a rotation surface 221, a first stopper portion 222, and a second stopper portion 223.

Unlike the first embodiment, the second joint member 220 in the second embodiment further includes first and

second ribs

224 and 225. The first rib 224 and the second rib 225 extend obliquely from the side faces of the first stopper portion 222 and the second stopper portion 223, respectively, close to each other, and grip the

transmission members

140, 150 like pliers.

In general, the first embodiment is more suitable for

transmission members

140, 150 having transmission member sleeves, i.e. the

transmission members

140, 150 are externally wrapped with transmission member sleeves, the transmission member sleeves do not substantially slide in the connecting structure 100, and the

transmission members

140, 150 can slide in the transmission member sleeves; the second embodiment is more suitable for the case where there is no transmission member set, i.e. the

transmission members

140, 150 slide directly in the connecting structure 100. However, the first and second embodiments are not limited to the above-described case with or without a transmission case.

In summary, the present application proposes a new connecting structure 100 for connecting two objects capable of relative rotation, allowing the

transmission members

140, 150 to extend through the two objects, and allowing the relative rotation of the two objects to substantially not affect the stroke of the

transmission members

140, 150 in the connecting structure 100.

As the present application may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A connecting structure (100, 200) for connecting a first article (300) and a second article (400), said first article (300) and second article (400) being pivoted to each other so as to be rotatable with respect to each other about a rotation axis (X),

characterized in that said connection structure (100, 200) comprises:

a first fitting component (110, 210) fixedly connected to the first article (300);

a second joint component (120, 220) which is fixedly connected to the second object (400) and is rotatably connected to the first joint component (110, 210) about the rotation axis (X), the second joint component (120, 220) having:

a surface of rotation (121, 221) substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation (X), and

a first stopper portion (122, 222) and a second stopper portion (123, 223) that respectively protrude from the rotation surface (121, 221) in a direction parallel to the rotation axis (X), the first stopper portion (122, 222) and the second stopper portion (123, 223) being located on both sides of the rotation axis (X); and

at least one transmission piece, which extends through the first object (300) and the second object (400) and passes through the connecting structure (100, 200) from the position between the first limiting part (122, 222) and the second limiting part (123, 223), so as to be capable of bending with the rotation between the first object (300) and the second object (400) in a compliance manner.

2. The connection structure (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the first joint member (110, 210) and the second joint member (120, 220) overlap in the direction of the rotation axis (X), and the first stopper portion (122, 222) and the second stopper portion (123, 223) project in a direction away from the first joint member (110, 210).

3. The connection structure (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the connecting structure (100, 200) further comprises a cover portion (130), wherein the cover portion (130) is buckled on the second joint component (120, 220) from the outer side, so that the second joint component (120, 220) is positioned between the cover portion (130) and the first joint component (110, 210), the cover portion (130) covers the first limiting portion (122, 222) and the second limiting portion (123, 223), and a channel for the transmission piece to penetrate is formed by the cover portion (130), the second joint component (120, 220), the first limiting portion (122, 222) and the second limiting portion (123, 223).

4. The connection structure (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the first joint component (110, 210) and/or the second joint component (120, 220) are disk-shaped components, and the center of the disk is on the rotation axis (X).

5. The connection structure (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the connecting line between the first limiting part (122, 222) and the second limiting part (123, 223) is approximately perpendicular to the extending direction of the transmission piece.

6. The connection structure (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the exterior of the transmission element is covered with a transmission element sleeve, which essentially does not slide in the connection structure (100, 200), while the transmission element can slide in the transmission element sleeve.

7. The connection structure (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the first stopper portions (122, 222) and the second stopper portions (123, 223) are respectively in the shape of a column protruding from the rotating surfaces (121, 221), and have first ribs (224) and second ribs (225) that obliquely extend from side surfaces of the first stopper portions (122, 222) and the second stopper portions (123, 223) so as to be close to each other, respectively.

8. The connection structure (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the first and second objects (300, 400) are hollow tubular members, respectively, and the transmission member passes through the hollow interiors of the first and second objects (300, 400).

9. The connection structure (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in that: the at least one transmission member includes a drift transmission member and a retracting transmission member.

10. A stroller, comprising:

a frame:

a seat mounted on the frame for seating an infant;

wheels mounted below the frame; and

an armrest member including vertical portions extending upward from both sides of the frame, respectively, and a lateral portion connecting the two vertical portions above the frame;

wherein each vertical portion of the armrest component is two sections between which a connection structure (100, 200) according to any one of claims 1-9 is connected, one section being the first article (300) and the other section being the second article (400), one end of the transmission being connected to an operating device located on the lateral portion, the other end of the transmission being connected to an action device for transmitting an operating driving force of the operating device to the action device.