FR2882690A3 - Caster for e.g. hospital, has braking unit with upper brake button that is pressed downwards for placing and releasing brake on and from caster body, and orientation system with pedal and releasing plate that are pressed downwards - Google Patents

Abstract

The caster has a braking unit (3) with an upper brake button (32) that is pressed downwards over certain and small distances for placing and releasing a brake on and from a caster body, respectively. An orientation system (7) has a releasing plate (72) and a pedal (71) that are pressed downwards for tightly fixing the caster in its rolling direction. The plate is pressed downwards for driving out the locked direction of the caster.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

  FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a wheel, in particular to an invention capable of stopping a wheel and preventing the wheel from changing at the same time by means of a simple pressure mechanism on a brake button.

2. Description of the prior arts

  An ordinary conventional wheel generally has a brake for stopping it, and FIG. 1 shows a known type of conventional wheel, which includes a wheel support member, an axle 11, a wheel 12, a pivot shaft 13, a plate brake 14 combined with the pivot shaft 13, and a pressure plate 15.

  To place the brake on the conventional wheel, the pressure plate 15 is pressed down to force the brake plate 14 to move down to press the surface of the wheel 12. And releasing the brake of the Roulette 12, a user must bend his body to pull up the pressure plate 15 so that the brake plate no longer presses the wheel 12, which proves to be very painful to achieve. In addition, the spacing between the wheel support member and the wheel 12 is too great so very fine materials such as hair or son, can wrap around the axle in the gap to impede the fluid movement of the wheel.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention has been designed to provide a brake for a wheel which is easy to handle in order to place the brake on the caster body and to release the brake of the caster body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

  This invention will be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a known conventional wheel which is actuated in some way; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the known conventional wheel which is actuated in another way; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a wheel according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the wheel according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the wheel which is in a first use situation according to the present invention; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the wheel which is in a second use situation according to the present invention; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the wheel which is in a third use position according to the present invention; and, Figure 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the wheel which is in a fourth use situation according to the present invention. 15

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

  A preferred embodiment of a caster according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, comprises a caster support member 2, a braking unit 3, a steering gear 4, a caster unit 5 , a threaded rod unit 6 and an orientation system 7 as main components.

  The roulette support member 2 has a shaft hole formed in a front upper portion, a pivot base portion 21 formed in a lower portion of the shaft hole, a pivot hole 210 respectively in the portions. lower two parallel walls of the pivot base portion 21, a cylindrical hole 22 formed in a rear upper portion, a plurality of projecting ridges 220 and a plurality of vertical grooves 221 formed alternately and spaced apart in an inner wall of the cylindrical hole 22, and two insertion recesses 23 formed in an inner surface of the two parallel walls. In addition, the caster support member 2 has a recess 24 formed at the rear end behind a cylindrical hole 22, and an adjustment hole 240 respectively flared in both sides of the recess 24.

  The braking unit 3 is positioned in the inner recess defined by the two parallel walls of the caster support member, having a braking plate 30, a lower brake knob 31 and an upper brake knob 32.

  The braking plate 30 is oblong, comprises a disk gear 300 formed integrally in the front portion, two projections 301 at both sides of the intermediate portion and aligned, a projection 302 with a central rounded recess 303 formed on the surface of the the rear portion with a steel ball 304 fitted into the rounded recess 303. The lower brake knob 31 is almost in the shape of an inverted T, has a small diameter top and a large diameter bottom on the projection 302, and has a plurality of protruding ridges 310 spaced apart on the outer circumferential surface of the lower portion and a plurality of inclined surfaces 311 spaced apart on an upper annular surface of the lower portion. The upper brake button 32 has a central recess with a closed upper surface to be fitted around and to be placed on the upper portion of the lower brake button 31, with multiple inclined surfaces formed on a lower annular end surface 320 to correspond to the inclined surfaces 311 of the lower brake button 31, two opposed protrusions 321 at two opposite lower ridges, and an annular colored line 322 at the intermediate portion of the outer surface. The braking plate 30 further comprises an annular recess 33 in the intermediate portion so that the lower end of a coil spring 330 is placed upright.

  The steering gear 4 is positioned slightly above the disk gear 300 of the braking plate 30 fixed around a threaded rod 63 of the threaded rod units 6 protruding through the center of both the disc gear 300 and the steering gear 4, with the disc gear 300 movable up and down the threaded rod 63. The steering gear 4 has an engaging groove 40 in which an upper annular edge, downwardly projecting engaging blocks 41 formed to protrude downwardly in a spacing position from a lower annular edge and an engaging groove 42 in the annular edge inferior.

  The caster unit 5 is associated with the caster support member 2, comprises a caster body 50, an axle 51, a sealing member 52 and a protective cap 53 associated together, with the axle 51 which extends through the pivot holes 210 of the caster support member 2, the center of the protective cap 53, the sealing member 52 and the caster body 50.

  The threaded rod unit 6 comprises a female threaded tube 60, a connecting head 61, an oil seal 62 and the threaded rod 63. The oil seal 62 is placed on the shaft hole, and the connection head 61 is placed on the oil seal 62, with the threaded rod 63 projecting upwardly out of the shaft hole so as to be screwed with the female threads of the threaded tube 60 after insertion from below through the hollow interior of the caster support member 2 and further projecting out of the shaft hole. Then, the disk gear 300 of the brake plate 30 is associated with the threaded rod 63 and indirectly with the wheel support member 2.

  The orientation system 7 is positioned in a lower part of the hollow interior of the roller support member 2, consisting of a positioning plate 70, a pedal 71, and a release plate 72. The locating plate 70 has a hook member 700 on a front curved surface, a pivot hole 701 respectively at both sides of the center, a pivot hole 702 at a rear end, a locating post 703 together with a spring 704 inserted into the pivot hole 70. The pedal 71 is pivotally connected to a pivot N screwed into the pivot hole 702. The complementary plate 72 is pivotally connected to the pedal 71 via a pivot N fitted in a pivot post 720 formed in a front end of the release plate 72, with a positioning hole 721 also disposed in the front end.

  The invention relates to a wheel characterized in that it comprises: a wheel support member 2 having a cylindrical hole 22 formed in an upper rear portion, a shaft hole formed in an upper front portion, a base portion pivot pin 21 formed under said shaft hole and having two parallel vertical walls delimiting an inner recess, said pivot base portion 21 having an insertion recess 23 respectively formed in an inner surface of said two parallel vertical walls, said hole cylindrical member 22 having a plurality of inwardly projecting vertical ridges 220 formed spaced equidistantly on an inner wall and a plurality of vertical grooves also equidistantly spaced in the inner wall and interspersed alternately with said vertical striations 220 forming protruding inwards; a braking system positioned in a lower part of the inner hollow of said roller support member 2, said braking system consisting of a braking plate 30, an upper brake button 32 and an internal brake button 31, said braking plate 30 having a disk gear 300 formed in a front portion, side projections formed at two sides of an intermediate portion, a projection with a central hole formed in a rear end, a ball of steel 304 fitted into the central hole, said inner brake knob 31 having a plurality of vertical ridges spaced apart on an outer circumferential surface and a plurality of inclined surfaces 311 formed on an annular surface of a lower portion of said lower brake knob 31, said upper brake knob 32 being fitted to an upper half of said lower brake knob 31 and having a plurality of ples inclined surfaces to correspond with those of said lower brake button 31; an orientation system 7 disposed in a lower part of the hollow interior of said roller support member 2, consisting of a positioning plate 70, a pedal 71 and a release plate 72, said plate positioning device 70 having a hook member 700 in a forward end, a pivot hole 701 in an intermediate portion and a pivot hole 702 in a rear end, said pedal 71 and said release plate 72 being positioned by fitted N-pivots in said pivot holes 701, 702; a steering gear 4 positioned a little above said gear of said brake plate 30, having a central hole for a threaded rod 63 to pass through from below, and secured with the threaded rod; a caster unit 5 associated with said caster support member 2, having a caster body 50, a sealing member 52, a protective cap 53, and an axle 51 extending through the central hole of said casing member 2; seal 52, said protective cap 53 and said caster body 50 being associated with both pivot holes 701, 702 of said pivot base portion 21 of said caster support member 2; a threaded rod unit 6 having a threaded rod 63, an oil seal 62, a connecting head 61 and a female threaded tube 60 positioned in an ordered manner on said shaft hole of said roulette support member 2, said threaded rod 63 passing through the central hole of said gear of said braking plate 30, the central hole of said steering gear 4, said shaft hole of said element 2, said oil seal 62, said connecting head 61 and then being screwed with female threads of said threaded tube; and, said upper brake button 32 being pressed down a distance to place the brake on said caster body 50 and further squeezed down a short distance to loosen the brake of said caster body 50, pedal 71 being pressed downwardly to firmly fix the rolling direction of said roller 12, and said release plate 72 being pressed down to suppress the locked direction of said roller 12.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, said upper brake button 32 further comprises an annular colored line 322 formed on an intermediate section, and the annular colored line 322 can be hidden in said cylindrical hole 22, not visible from the outside, when said upper brake knob 32 is pressed down to place the brake on said wheel body 50.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, said engagement blocks (41) and said engagement grooves (40) of said steering gear (4), said steering system (7) and said brake system are interchangeable with respect to their positions.

  The wheel in the present invention has the following advantages, as can be understood from the above description.

  1. The braking unit 3 is easy to handle in order to place the brake on the caster body 50 by simply pressing the upper brake button 32, which is very convenient.

  2. In the case of actuating the brake to stop the wheel, it is also firmly fixed in its direction, which makes it possible to reach two objectives at the same time.

  3. The steering system includes the pedal 71 and the release plate 72 to easily lock and unlock its direction through a downward pressure process without the user having to bend the body , which turns out to be very simple to handle.

  4. The braking system and steering system produce very little noise during operation, so it is appropriate for hospitals or clinics where silence is required.

  5. The braking system and the steering system are integrated for easy handling.

Claims (3)

  A caster characterized in that it comprises: a caster support member (2) having a cylindrical hole (22) formed in an upper rear portion, a shaft hole (20) formed in an upper front portion, a a pivot base portion (21) formed under said shaft hole (20) and having two vertical parallel walls defining an inner recess, said pivot base portion (21) having an insertion recess (23) respectively formed in an inner surface of said two vertical parallel walls, said cylindrical hole (22) having a plurality of inwardly projecting vertical ridges (220) formed spaced equidistantly on an inner wall and a plurality of vertical grooves also spaced equidistantly; in the inner wall and interspersed alternately with said upwardly projecting vertical ridges (220); a braking system positioned in a lower portion of the inner recess of said roulette support member (2), said braking system being constituted by a braking plate (30), an upper brake button (32) and a an inner brake button (31), said braking plate (30) having a disk gear (300) formed in a front portion, side projections formed at both sides of an intermediate portion, a projection with a a central hole formed in a rear end, a steel ball (304) fitted into the central hole, said inner brake button (31) having a plurality of vertical ridges spaced apart on an outer circumferential surface and a plurality of inclined surfaces (311). ) formed on an annular surface of a lower portion of said lower brake knob (31), said upper brake knob (32) being fitted to an upper half of said lower brake knob r (31) and having multiple inclined surfaces to correspond with those of said lower brake knob (31); an orientation system (7) disposed in a lower portion of the hollow interior of said roller support member (2), consisting of a positioning plate (70), a pedal (71) and a a release plate (72), said locating plate (70) having a hook member (700) in a forward end, a pivot hole (701) in an intermediate portion, and a pivot hole (702) in an end said pedal (71) and said release plate (72) being positioned by N-pivots fitted into said pivot holes (701,702); a steering gear (4) positioned a little above said gear of said brake plate (30), having a central hole for a threaded rod (63) to pass through from below, and secured with the rod threaded (63); a caster unit (5) associated with said caster support member (2), having a caster body (50), a sealing member (52), a protective cap (53) and an axle (51) which extends through the central hole of said sealing member (52), said protective cap (53) and said caster body (50) being associated with both pivot holes (701, 702) of said base portion pivoting member (21) of said wheel support member (2); a threaded rod unit (6) having a threaded rod (63), an oil seal (62), a connection head (61) and a female threaded tube (60) positioned in an ordered manner on said hole (20); ) of said wheel support member (2), said threaded rod (63) passing through the central hole of said gear of said braking plate (30), the central hole of said steering gear (4), said hole (20) a shaft of said wheel support member (2), said oil seal (62), said connecting head (61) and then screwed with female threads of said threaded tube; and, said upper brake button (32) being pressed down a distance to place the brake on said caster body (50) and further downwardly pressed to loosen said body brake ( 50), said pedal (71) being pressed downwardly to firmly fix the rolling direction of said roller (12), and said release plate (72) being pressed downward to suppress the locked direction of said roulette (12).   The caster (12) according to claim 1, wherein said upper brake button (32) further comprises an annular colored line (322) formed on an intermediate section, and the annular colored line (322) can be concealed in said cylindrical hole (22), not visible from the outside, when said upper brake button (32) is pressed down to place the brake on said caster body (50).   The caster (12) according to claim 1, wherein the steering gear (4) comprises engagement blocks (41) and engagement grooves (40), said engagement blocks (41) being ) and said engagement grooves (40) of said steering gear (4), said steering system (7) and said brake system are interchangeable with respect to their positions.