DK201470594A1

DK201470594A1 - Clamping device for being connected with hitch ball

Info

Publication number: DK201470594A1
Application number: DK201470594A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Chiu-Kuei Wang
Original assignee: King Rack Ind Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-10-18
Filing date: 2014-09-26
Publication date: 2015-09-28
Also published as: TWI527721B; DE102014014812B4; TW201515882A; ES2534251R1; DK179227B1; ES2534251A2; DE102014014812A1; ES2534251B1

Abstract

A clamping device of a bicycle carry device includes a mounting part with a mounting portion, and a clamping unit is located in the mounting portion. A control unit is located on the mounting portion and connected to the clamping unit. The control unit controls the clamping unit to clamp the hitch ball or to separate from the hitch ball. The control unit has an upright bolt and a locking cap. The upright bolt has one end connected to the clamping unit and the other end of the upright bolt extends beyond the mounting portion and is connected to a sleeve. A tubular body is inserted in the locking cap and a locking bolt extends through the tubular body and is connected to the upright bolt. The clamping device is separated from the hitch ball by loosing the locking cap without removing any part from the clamping device.

Description

CLAMPING DEVICE FOR BEING CONNECTED WITH HITCH BALL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Fields of the invention

The present invention relates to a clamping device, and more particularly, to a clamping device of a bicycle carry device so as to be connected with the hitch ball on the rear end of a vehicle. 2. Descriptions of Related Art

The conventional hitch ball is connected to the rear end of a vehicle so as to be used to tow another vehicle or to be connected with a bicycle carry device. Danish Utility Model Patent No. BA200700173 discloses a connection device which is connected with an upright urging member of an upright pulling unit, so that multiple clamping parts are pulled upward by the upright bar and clamp the hitch ball. The upright urging member has a resilient clamping portion which generates a clamping force to the hitch ball by an upward force. There is a transverse pulling unit. When the transverse pulling unit and the upright pulling unit are both released, the resilient member of the upright pulling unit generates a reaction force to force the upright bar of the upright pulling unit to be removed from the mounting portion of the clamp unit to obtain the urging action from the upright and transverse directions.

However, when releasing the clamping force from the hitch ball, the locking member of the upright pulling unit has to be removed, and the urging member is loosened to allow the spring to push the mounting member away from the clamping parts such that the clamping parts can be shifted outward until the diameter of the space enclosed by the clamping parts is larger than that of the hitch ball. The clamping parts can then be separated from the hitch ball.

There are too many steps required to remove the clamping parts from the hitch ball. Besides, there are many parts are individually separated from the clamping device so that these parts can easily lost.

The present invention intends to provide a clamping device which does not need to remove any part from the device, and can be quickly connected to and separated from the hitch ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a clamping device of a bicycle carry device and comprises a mounting part having a mounting portion and a clamping unit is located in the mounting portion and has four clamping parts. Each of the four clamping parts has a reception recess defined in the inside thereof. An extension extends from the top of each of the four clamping parts. The mounting part has a plate which has a horizontal section located on the open top of the mounting portion. A control unit is connected to the mounting portion and controls the clamping unit. The control unit has an upright bolt and a locking cap, wherein the upright bolt has a head and a threaded end on two ends thereof. A locking hole is defined axially in the threaded end. The head is located in a space between the clamping parts and the threaded end extends beyond the clamping unit and the mounting portion. A locking cap is located above the plate and has a sleeve, a tubular body and a locking bolt. The locking cap has a through hole defined axially therethrough. The sleeve has a first end fixed to the locking cap and a second end of the sleeve is located above the plate. The threaded end of the upright bolt is threadedly connected to the inside of the sleeve. The tubular body has a passage defined centrally therethrough. A flange is formed on the first open end of the passage of the tubular body, and a narrow end is formed on the second open end of the passage of the tubular body. The tubular body is inserted into the through hole and stopped at the flange. The locking bolt has a head on the first end thereof. The head of the locking bolt is larger than the inner diameter of the stop end. A locking end is formed on the second end of the locking bolt and extends through the passage of the tubular body and is connected to the locking hole of the upright bolt to connect the control unit and the clamping unit.

Preferably, the upright bolt of the control unit is connected to a spring which has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the tops of the clamping parts and the second end is pressed by the plate. The diameter of the first end of the spring is gradually larger toward the second end of the spring.

Preferably, the plate is an L-shaped plate and has the horizontal section which covers up the open top of the mounting portion. A ring is located on the horizontal section. The sleeve of the locking cap contacts the ring. The threaded section of the upright bolt extends beyond the ring. The second end of the spring contacts the underside of the horizontal section.

Preferably, each of the clamping parts has a slot defined in the inside thereof and the head of the upright bolt is engaged with the slots of the clamping parts. The extensions each have a groove defined in the outside thereof, and the first end of the spring is engaged with the grooves.

Preferably, the locking cap has a bottom piece which contacts against the underside of the locking cap. A disk is connected to the sleeve which is clamped between the locking cap and the bottom piece. The sleeve has a locking hole to which the threaded end of the upright bolt is connected.

Preferably, the disk of the sleeve of the control unit has multiple curved notches defined along the periphery thereof so as to secure an anti-theft device which is installed axially.

The advantages of the present invention are that the locking bolt of the control unit is axially movable in the tubular body, and the locking bolt is connected to the upright bolt via the sleeve and the tubular body. The upright bolt extends through the mounting portion and is connected with the sleeve which is fixed to the locking cap. The locking bolt or the upright bolt does not need to be removed from the mounting part, and the locking bolt is still connected to the upright bolt, the movement of the locking bolt in the tubular body increases the distance that the clamping unit is moved downward by the activation of the upright bolt. Therefore, the inner diameter of the clamping unit is increased by the outward movement of the clamping parts, so that the clamping unit is separated from the hitch ball quickly and conveniently.

When the clamping unit is separated from the hitch ball, the locking bolt and the upright bolt do not need to be completely unscrewed from the clamping unit, so that the locking bolt and the upright bolt are not lost.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view to show the clamping device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, from another angle, to show the clamping device of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the clamping device of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the control unit of the clamping device of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the clamping device of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the clamping device of the present invention clamping the hitch ball, and

Figs. 7 to 9 show the steps for separating the clamping device of the present invention from the hitch ball.

DETAIFED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the clamping device of a bicycle carry device of the present invention comprises a mounting part 10 and a clamping unit 20. The mounting part 10 has a connection portion 11 which is to be connected to the bicycle carry device (not shown), and a mounting portion 15 is located beside the connection portion 11. The clamping unit 20 is located in the mounting portion 15 so as to be connected with a hitch ball 60. A control unit 30 is connected to the mounting portion 15 to control the clamping unit 20 to clamp the hitch ball 60 or not.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the mounting part 10 is a bell-shaped hollow member. The clamping unit 20 and the control unit 30 are connected to the mounting portion 15. The connection portion 11 has a plate 12 which is an L-shaped plate and has a horizontal section 121 which covers up the open top of the mounting portion 15.

The clamping unit 20 has clamping parts 21, and each of the four clamping parts 21 is a curved plate and has a reception recess 22 defined in the inside thereof. An extension 24 extends from the top of each of the four clamping parts 21. The reception recesses 22 together form a spherical space for accommodating the hitch ball 60. Each of the clamping parts 21 has a slot 23 defined in the inside thereof and an annular groove is formed by the slots 23 when the four clamping parts 21 are connected to each other. The extension 24 is located on the top of each of the clamping parts 21 wherein the top of each of the clamping parts 21 is smaller than the bottom of the clamping part 21. The extensions 24 each have a groove 241 defined in the outside thereof.

As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the control unit 30 comprises an upright bolt 31 and a locking cap 40, wherein the upright bolt 31 has a head 311 and a threaded end 312 on two ends thereof. A locking hole 313 is defined axially in the threaded end 312. The head 311 is located in the slots 23 of the clamping parts 21, and the threaded end 312 extends beyond the clamping unit 20, the horizontal section 121 of the plate 12 and the mounting portion 15.

The upright bolt 31 of the control unit 30 is connected to a spring 33 which has a first end 331 and a second end 332, the first end 331 is connected to the tops of the clamping parts 21 and the second end 332 is pressed by the plate 12. The diameter of the first end 331 of the spring 33 is gradually larger toward the second end 332 of the spring 33. The first end 331 is engaged with the grooves 241 of the extensions 24 of the clamping parts 21. A ring 34 is located on the horizontal section 121, the threaded section 312 of the upright bolt 31 extends beyond the ring 34. The second end 332 of the spring 33 contacts the underside of the horizontal section 121.

The locking cap 40 is located above the plate 12 and has a sleeve 42, a tubular body 43 and a locking bolt 44. The locking cap 40 has a through hole 401 defined axially therethrough. A bottom piece 41 is located in the locking cap 40 and contacts against the underside of the locking cap 40. A disk 421 is connected to the sleeve 42 which is clamped between the locking cap 40 and the bottom piece 41. The sleeve 42 of the locking cap 40 contacts the ring 34. The sleeve 42 has a locking hole 423 to which the threaded end 312 of the upright bolt 31 is connected. The disk 421 of the sleeve 42 of the control unit 30 has multiple curved notches 422 defined along the periphery thereof so as to secure an anti-theft device 45 which is installed axially. When a key is inserted into and rotates the anti-theft device 45, the anti-theft device 45 contacts the curved notch 422 to prevent the unauthorized persons to release the clamping unit 20 from the hitch ball 60. The sleeve 42 has the first end fixed to the locking cap 40 and the second end of the sleeve 42 is located above the plate 12. The threaded end 312 of the upright bolt 31 is threadedly connected to locking hole 423 of the sleeve 42.

The tubular body 43 has a passage 431 defined centrally therethrough. A flange 432 expands outward from the first open end of the passage 431 of the tubular body 43, and a narrow end 433 is formed on the second open end of the passage 431 of the tubular body 43. The tubular body 43 is inserted into the through hole 401 and stopped at the flange 432. The locking bolt 44 has a head 441 on the first end thereof, the head 441 of the locking bolt 44 is larger than the inner diameter of the stop end 433. A locking end 442 is formed on the second end of the locking bolt 44 and extends through the passage 431 of the tubular body 43 and is connected to the locking hole 313 of the upright bolt 31 to connect the control unit 30 and the clamping unit 20.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, when in use, the clamping parts 21 clamp the hitch ball 60, and the spring 33 is compressed by the horizontal section 121. The locking bolt 44 extends into the tubular body 43 to connect the upright bolt 31.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 9, when releasing the clamping parts 21 from the hitch ball 60, the control unit 30 is used to control the clamping unit 20. The locking cap 40 is first tightened and the threaded end 312 of the upright bolt 31 is moved relative to the locking hole 423 so that the locking cap 40 is moved axially. Therefore, the flange 432 of the tubular body 43 is moved away from the top of the locking bolt 44. The bottom piece 41 of the locking cap 40 is moved away from the ring 34. Furthermore, the locking cap 40 and the control unit 30 drop due to gravity, the bottom piece 41 is rested on the ring 34 so that the connection distance between the threaded end 312 of the upright bolt 31 and the locking cap 40 is reduced. When the upright bolt 31 drops with the locking cap 40, the locking cap 40 and the tubular body 43 are still on the ring 34, and the locking bolt 44 is still connected to the upright bolt 31, so that the locking bolt 44 and the upright bolt 31 move downward along the passage 431 of the tubular body 43 until the head 441 of the locking bolt 44 is stopped by the stop end 433. This increases the travel distance of the upright bolt 31 that moves downward. By cooperation with the releasing force of the spring 33, the clamping unit 20 are pushed back axially so that the lower end of the clamping unit 20 is protruded beyond the lower end of the mounting portion 15, such that the clamping parts 21 are able to move outward while the upright bolt 31 is located within the slots 23. The bitch ball 60 is then able to be removed from the clamping unit 20 and the mounting portion 15.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A clamping device of a bicycle carry device, comprising: a mounting part having a mounting portion, a clamping unit located in the mounting portion and having at least four clamping parts, each of the at least four clamping parts having a reception recess defined in an inside thereof, an extension extending from a top of each of the at least four clamping parts, the mounting part having a plate which has a horizontal section located on an open top of the mounting portion; a control unit connected to the mounting portion and controlling the clamping unit, the control unit having an upright bolt and a locking cap, the upright bolt having a head and a threaded end on two ends thereof, a locking hole defined axially in the threaded end, the head located in a space between the clamping parts, the threaded end extending beyond the clamping unit and the mounting portion; a locking cap located above the plate and having a sleeve, a tubular body and a locking bolt, the locking cap having a through hole defined axially therethrough, the sleeve having a first end fixed to the locking cap and a second end of the sleeve located above the plate, the threaded end of the upright bolt threadedly connected to an inside of the sleeve, and the tubular body having a passage defined centrally therethrough, a flange formed on a first open end of the passage of the tubular body, a narrow end formed on a second open end of the passage of the tubular body, the tubular body inserted into the through hole and stopped at the flange, the locking bolt having a head on a first end thereof, the head of the locking bolt being larger than an inner diameter of the stop end, a locking end formed on a second end of the locking bolt and extending through the passage of the tubular body and connected to the locking hole of the upright bolt to connect the control unit and the clamping unit.

2. The clamping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upright bolt of the control unit is connected to a spring which has a first end and a second end, the first end is connected to the tops of the at least four clamping parts and the second end is pressed by the plate, a diameter of the first end of the spring is gradually larger toward the second end of the spring.

3. The clamping device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plate is an L-shaped plate and has the horizontal section which covers up the open top of the mounting portion, a ring is located on the horizontal section, the sleeve of the locking cap contacts the ring, the threaded section of the upright bolt extends beyond the ring, the second end of the spring contacts an underside of the horizontal section.

4. The clamping device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the at least four clamping parts has a slot defined in the inside thereof and the head of the upright bolt is engaged with the slots of the at least four clamping parts, the extensions each have a groove defined in an outside thereof, the first end of the spring is engaged with the grooves.

5. The clamping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking cap has a bottom piece which contacts against an underside of the locking cap, a disk connected to the sleeve which is clamped between the locking cap and the bottom piece, the sleeve has a locking hole to which the threaded end of the upright bolt is connected.

6. The clamping device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the disk of the sleeve of the control unit has multiple curved notches defined along a periphery thereof so as to secure an anti-theft device which is installed axially.