JP2005249117A - Device for performing fixed coupling of pivotally-connected members and device for fixedly coupling pivotally-connected frame portions of folding bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for performing fixture coupling by extending members pivotally connected to each other such as pivotally-connected frames of a folding bicycle, which can realize the fixture coupling only by extending the members. <P>SOLUTION: The device includes: a first fixture member 20 provided in an end 10-1 of a first member 10; a first locking member 22 provided in an end 12-1 of a second member 12 and equipped with a locking part 22-5 which is engaged with/disengaged from the first fixture member when the first member is at a position where it is extended (that is, where the ends of the first and second members are made to abut against each other); an urging means 23 which urges the first locking member so that it moves from the unlocking position to the locking position; a lock member 24 for the locking member which is attached to the second member in such a manner that it can displace between a fixture position where the first locking member is fixed at the unlocking position and a release position where the first locking member is allowed to be at the locking position, the lock member being normally held at the locking position; and a fixture release member 30 which is attached to the first member so as to displace the lock member for the locking member from the fixture position to the release position when the first member is at the abutment position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for fixing and connecting members, which are pivotally attached to each other, such as a folding frame portion in a folding bicycle, as necessary, for example.

In a foldable bicycle, the frame portions that are pivotally attached to each other and foldable are extended and fixedly connected in use. As a device for fixedly connecting the frame parts, the frame parts that are pivotally attached are first extended, and the ends of the frame parts are brought into contact with each other, and then fixed and connected using a lever or the like. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1 and Document 2).
Utility model registration No. 2509279 JP 2000-326884 A

It is preferable that this type of fixed connection device is more easily operated for fixed connection. From this point of view, the conventional device that requires a fixed connection operation using a lever or the like as described above is an improvement. Was demanded.
An object of the present invention is to provide a fixed coupling device that is easier to operate than the conventional one and that can be securely coupled.

That is, according to the present invention, the first and second members pivoted to each other (corresponding to the frame portion described above) in a folding bicycle or the like are brought into contact with the pivoted ends of the first and second members. A device for fixedly connecting to each other at different positions,
A first fixing member provided at the end of the first member;
A first locking member provided at the end of the second member, the locking member engaging and disengaging with the first fixing member when the first member is in the end butting position A first locking position for fixing and connecting the first and second members by engaging the locking portion with the first fixing member, and disengaging the locking portion from the first fixing member. A first locking member that is displaceable between a first unlocking position that allows the first and second members to pivot relative to each other;
First biasing means for biasing the first locking member to move from the first unlocked position to the first locking position;
A fixed position attached to the second member and fixing the first locking member to the first unlocked position against the urging force of the first urging means, and the first locking member is the first attaching member. A locking member locking member which is displaceable between a release position which is moved by the biasing means and allows the first locking position, and is normally held in a fixed position;
A fixing release member that is attached to the first member and that displaces the locking member locking member from the fixed position to the release position when the first member is in the butting position;
Have
The locking portion of the first locking member is engaged with the first fixing member of the first member in the butting position when the first locking member moves from the first unlocked position to the first locking position. In addition, there is provided a pivot member fixing / connecting device characterized in that the engagement pressure with the first fixing member increases as the first locking position is approached.
In this device, the first member is pivoted so that the end of the first member is brought into contact with the end of the second member. The members can be fixedly connected. The first locking member is urged to the first locking position by the urging means, and the locking portion of the first locking member is moved from the first unlocking position to the first locking position. The first fixing member of the first member in the butting position is engaged, and the engagement pressure with the first fixing member increases as the first locking member is approached. Therefore, even if the first fixing member or the like is worn, it is possible to prevent the play from occurring.

Further, the present invention is an apparatus for fixedly connecting the first and second members pivoted to each other at a position where the pivoted ends of the first and second members abut each other. ,
A first fixing member provided at the end of the first member;
A first locking member provided at the end of the second member, the locking member engaging and disengaging with the first fixing member when the first member is in the end butting position A first locking position for fixing and connecting the first and second members by engaging the locking portion with the first fixing member, and disengaging the locking portion from the first fixing member. A first locking member that is displaceable between a first unlocking position that allows the first and second members to pivot relative to each other;
First biasing means for biasing the first locking member to move from the first unlocked position to the first locking position;
Have
The locking portion of the first locking member is engaged with the first fixing member of the first member in the butting position when the first locking member moves from the first unlocked position to the first locking position. In addition, there is provided a pivoting member fixing and coupling device characterized in that the engagement pressure with the first fixing member increases as the first locking position is approached.
In this device, when the first and second members are fixedly connected, the first locking member is manually moved to the first unlocking position against the first urging means, and the first member is moved with respect to the second member. After the abutment, the first locking member is moved to the first locking position by the first biasing means by releasing the first locking member, and the first and second members are fixedly connected.

In particular,
The first locking member is rotatable about a predetermined axis, and has a cylindrical locking wall centered on a coaxial line;
The locking wall includes the first fixing member provided on the first member when the first member pivots relative to the second member to approach or leave the butting position. Having a fixed member passage allowing movement between the inside and outside of the wall;
When the first locking member rotates from the first unlocking position to the first locking position, the first locking member is engaged with the first fixing member located in the locking wall to fix and connect the first and second members. Has a circumferential surface,
The inner circumferential surface is configured such that the radius around the axis gradually decreases so that the engagement pressure with the first fixing member increases as the first locking member approaches the first locking position. The peripheral surface may constitute the locking part.

In another specific example,
The first locking member is rotatable about a predetermined axis, and has a cylindrical locking wall centered on a coaxial line;
The locking wall includes the first fixing member provided on the first member when the first member pivots relative to the second member to approach or leave the butting position. Having a stationary member passage that allows movement between the inside and outside of the wall;
The first fixing member is slid by the first locking member rotated from the first unlocking position to the first locking position in a state where the first fixing member is passed through the fixing member passing portion and is set to the inner position of the locking wall. An inclined surface that receives the engagement pressure that is dynamically engaged and presses the first member against the butting position, and as the first locking member approaches the first locking position, the first locking member The pressing force is increased.

Moreover, the fixed coupling device according to the present invention is
A second member provided at the end of the first member and inserted along a predetermined path into the second member when the first member is pivoted relative to the second member and moved to the butting position; A fixing member;
A second locking member provided at the end of the second member and displaceable between a second locking position and a second unlocking position;
Second urging means for urging the second locking member to the second locking position;
Have
When the first member is pivoted with respect to the second member and moved to the abutting position, the second fixing member opposes the second locking member against the second urging means. When it is inserted into the second member and the first member reaches the butting position, the second locking member is returned to the second locking position by the second biasing means. The second fixing member may be prevented from returning along the path, thereby preventing the first member from moving from the butting position.
By doing so, the first member cannot be pivoted with respect to the second member simply by moving the first locking member to the first unlocked position, and the fixed connection is inadvertently released. Can be prevented.

Specifically, the second locking member is manually movable from the second locking position to the second unlocking position, and the first unlocking position is the first unlocking position at the second unlocking position. It can be configured to engage with the locking member and hold it in the first unlocked position.
By doing in this way, the 1st locking member can be made into the 1st unlocking position, the 2nd locking member can be made into the 2nd unlocking position, and fixed connection of the 1st and 2nd locking members can be canceled, and such In the state, since the first locking member is held at the first unlocked position by the second locking member, the operator releases the first locking member and performs the fixed connection release operation of the first member and the second member. I can do it.

  Preferably, the first locking member is set to a position that is substantially close to the first unlocking position, and the fixing member passage portion substantially follows the path of the first fixing member that moves as the first member pivots. In a state where the second locking member is in the second unlocked position and engaged with the first locking member in the aligned state, when the first member is moved away from the butting position, The first fixing member moved in accordance with the movement of the first member engages with an edge of the fixing member passage portion of the first locking member, and the first locking member is moved to the first unlocked position. The locking member locking member is moved to the fixed position.

  In the apparatus according to the present invention, the first locking member is normally set to the first locking position by the first urging means, and the first member moves toward the butting position. The first member can be moved from the locking position toward the first unlocking position, and the first member can be allowed to be in the butting position.

  The above-described fixed connecting device according to the present invention can be applied to a folding bicycle as described above. In the present invention, the above-described pivotally-attached portion fixed connecting device is pivotally attached to each other in a folding bicycle. The first and second bicycle frame portions that can be used as the first and second members, and the first and second bicycle frame portions can be fixed to each other at the butted positions. A fixed connecting device for a pivot frame portion in a bicycle is also provided.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a pivot attachment fixing device according to the present invention will be described.
In FIG. 1, reference numerals 10 and 12 indicate first and second members pivotally connected by a pivot 14 like a folding frame portion in the above-described folding bicycle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second members 10 and 12 are changed from the state in which the first member 10 and the second member 12 are folded or folded as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the first and second members 10 and 12 are pivotally attached to the end of the second member 12 (in the example shown, a cylindrical end member). 10-1 and 12-1 which are fitted to the first and second members to constitute a part of the same end portion can be brought into contact with each other. The pivot member fixing and connecting device according to the present invention is a device for fixing and connecting in the state where the first and second members pivoted in this manner are abutted with each other, and is configured as follows. .
In other words, the pivot member fixing and coupling device according to the present invention is provided on the first fixing member 20 provided on the side surface of the end portion 10-1 of the first member 10 and on the side surface of the end portion 12-1 of the second member 12. The first locking member 22 has a first locking member 22 for engaging / disengaging the first fixing member 10 to / from the second member by engaging / disengaging the first fixing member 10.

  The first locking member 22 in the illustrated embodiment is a cylindrical member attached to the side surface of the second member so as to be rotatable about a pivot line 22-1 extending in a direction crossing the second member. The first unlocked position shown in FIG. 4 and the first locked position rotated clockwise from the first unlocked position as viewed in FIG. 4 are made rotatable.

  The first locking member 22 includes an end wall 22-2 extending in a direction crossing the pivot axis 22-1, and a cylindrical locking wall 22- extending from the end wall 22-2 toward the second member 12. 3. In the locking wall 22-3, when the first locking member 22 is in the first unlocked position (FIG. 4), the first member 10 is pivoted with respect to the second member 12, and the end butting position is reached. , A fixing member passage portion, that is, an opening 22-4 for passing the first fixing member 20 attached to the first member 10 is provided. Further, the first member is located at the abutting position (FIG. 3) on the inner surface of the locking wall 22-3, and the first fixing member 20 is positioned inside the locking wall 22-3 through the opening 22-4. In this state, when the first locking member 22 is rotated clockwise from the first unlocking position shown in FIG. 4 and moved to the first locking position, the inner surface of the locking wall 22-3 is first fixed. While engaging with the member 22, the first fixing member moves so as to traverse the path leading to the position of FIG. 4 through the opening 22-4, and gradually engages with the first fixing member with the movement. It has a locking part (that is, a part that is gradually inclined inward from a circle centered on the axis 22-1, that is, a part whose radius is gradually reduced) 22-5 that is inclined so as to increase the resultant pressure. .

The pivot member fixing and coupling device according to the present invention further includes first biasing means, that is, a coil spring 23 for biasing the locking member 22 so that the locking portion 22-5 moves to the first locking position.
The second member 12 is provided with a locking member locking member 24 (FIG. 5). The locking member locking member 24 is placed in a locking member receiving recess 22-7 provided in the first locking member 22. And a fixed position where the first locking member 22 is fixed to the first unlocked position (FIG. 4) against the biasing force of the coil spring 23, and the locking member 22 is moved to the first locked position by the coil spring 23. It is possible to displace it between a release position (FIG. 5) that allows it to be moved, and is normally held in a fixed position by a coil spring 26.

  On the other hand, the triangular fixing release member 28 is attached to the end surface 10-2 of the first member 10, and when the first member 10 is brought into the butting position (FIG. 3), the fixing releasing member is concerned. An inclined surface 28-1 of 28 is engaged with the locking member locking member 24 to displace the locking member 24 from the fixed position to the release position (FIG. 5).

  Further, the end 10-1 of the first member 10 is provided with a second fixing member 30 (FIG. 6), and the first member 10 is pivoted with respect to the second member 12 so that the abutting position (FIG. When moved to 3), it is moved into the end portion 12-1 of the second member 12 along a predetermined path. On the other hand, the second locking member 32 is provided at the end 12-1 of the second member 12, and the second locking position shown by the solid line in FIG. 6 and the second locking position shown in FIG. It can be displaced between the two unlocked positions and is biased to the second locked position by the coil spring 36.

  That is, when the first member 10 is pivoted with respect to the second member 12 and moved to the butting position (FIG. 3), the second fixing member 30 has the inclined surface 30-1 at the tip thereof as the second locking member. 32, the second locking member 32 is moved to the second unlocked position against the coil spring 36, and when the first member 10 reaches the butting position (FIG. 3), the second locking member 32 is returned to the second locking position (FIG. 6) by the coil spring 36 to prevent the second fixing member 30 from returning along the path, so that the first member 10 is brought into the butting position (FIG. 3). It is supposed to stop moving from.

  The second locking member 32 is a push button type, and when the second locking member 32 is manually pushed down from the second locking position (FIG. 6) to the second unlocking position, the first unlocking position (FIGS. 7 and 4). The first locking member 22 is engaged with a recess 22-8 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the locking wall 22-3 of the first locking member 22, and the first locking member 22 is moved to the first unlocked position (FIGS. 7 and 4). ) To hold the tongue piece 32-1. That is, in a state where the tongue piece 32-1 is engaged with the recess 22-8, the first locking member 22 is in the first unlocking position, the second locking member is also in the second unlocking position, and the first locking member 22 is held in the first unlocked position even if the operator releases his hand, the operator pushes the second locking member with one hand and holds the first member 10 with the other hand as the second member. 12 can be pivoted to release the fixed connection of the first and second members and can be folded.

  However, when performing such a folding operation, the operator may push the second locking member 32 without completely moving the first locking member 22 to the first unlocking position. In such a state, the fixing member passage portion of the first locking member, that is, the opening 22-4 is substantially aligned with the path of the first fixing member 20, and the first fixing member 20 can be separated from the first locking member 22. However, since the locking member locking member 24 (FIG. 5) is not yet aligned with the locking member receiving recess 22-7, if the operator releases the second locking member 32, the first locking member 22 is , It will return to the first locking position.

  To prevent this, in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the side surface of the first fixing member 20 is an inclined surface 20-1, and the first fixing member 20 is in the above-described state. When the fixing member 20 passes through the fixing member passage portion, that is, the opening 22-4, the fixing member 20 is engaged with the edge 22-6 of the opening to push the first locking member 22 back to the first unlocking position, thereby locking the locking member. The member 24 is fitted into the lock member receiving recess 22-7 so that the first locking member 22 is fixed at the first unlocked position.

As mentioned above, although it demonstrated per embodiment of the pivoting member fixed connection apparatus based on this invention, this invention is not limited to this embodiment, Various forms are within the range of the invention prescribed | regulated to a claim. It can be taken.
For example, the locking member locking member 24 can be omitted. That is, in such a fixed connecting device, the first locking member 22 is set to the first locking position in the normal state by the coil spring 23, and the first locking member is manually operated when the first and second members are fixedly connected. 22 is displaced to the first unlocking position against the coil spring 23, the first member is moved to the butting position with respect to the second member, and when the first locking member 22 is released when the butting position is reached, The first spring is returned to the first locking position by the coil spring 23, whereby the first and second members can be fixedly connected. Further, when the locking member locking member 24 is not provided, the first locking member 22 is not manually moved to the first unlocking position, but an inclined cam surface is provided on the first locking member 22, for example. When the first member is moved to the butting position with respect to the second member, the first fixing member 20 is engaged with the inclined cam surface, so that the first locking member 22 in the first locking position is formed. It can also be moved towards the first unlocked position so that the first fixing member is advanced to the position engaged by the locking portion 22-5 of the first locking member.

  Moreover, in said embodiment, although the locking part 22-5 of the 1st locking member was made into the inclined part where a radius becomes small gradually, the aspect in which this radius becomes small does not need to be continuous, and is stepwise. It may be made smaller. The reason why the radius is gradually reduced is that, as described above, when the first locking member 22 is engaged with the first fixing member 20, the engagement pressure with the first fixing member 20 is gradually increased. In order to do this, an inclined surface is provided toward the first fixing member 20, and when the first locking member 22 moves from the first unlocked position to the first locked position, the inclined surface is engaged. In addition, as the first locking member approaches the first locking position, the engagement pressure with the inclined surface can be increased.

A state in which the first and second members pivoted to each other to which the pivot member fixing and coupling device according to the present invention is applied are not fixedly coupled (the first member is pivotable with respect to the second member) FIG. It is a top view which shows the state in which the 1st member is moved toward the position fixedly connected with the 2nd member. It is a top view which shows the state made into the position where the 1st member is fixedly connected to the 2nd member. In the side view of FIG. 3, the first locking member originally displayed at the locking position is displayed in the unlocked position. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4, showing a state in which the locking member locking member that is in the fixed position for holding the first locking member in the unlocked position is displaced to the release position. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 3 and shows a state where the second locking member is in the second locking position. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 3 and shows the relationship between the second locking member and the first locking member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 1st member 10-1 End part 10-2 End surface 12 2nd member 12-1 End part 14 Axis 20 First fixing member 20-1 Inclined surface 22 1st locking member 22-1 Axis 22-2 End wall 22 -3 Locking wall 22-4 Opening (fixing member passage)
22-5 Locking part 22-6 Opening edge 22-7 Lock member receiving recess 22-8 Recess 23 Coil spring (first biasing means)
24 Locking member 26 for locking member Coil spring 28 Unlocking member 28-1 Inclined surface 30 Second fixing member 30-1 Inclined surface 32 Second locking member 32-1 Tongue piece 36 Coil spring

Claims (9)

An apparatus for fixedly connecting first and second members pivoted to each other at a position where the pivoted ends of the first and second members abut each other,
A first fixing member provided at the end of the first member;
A first locking member provided at the end of the second member, the locking member engaging and disengaging with the first fixing member when the first member is in the end butting position A first locking position for fixing and connecting the first and second members by engaging the locking portion with the first fixing member, and disengaging the locking portion from the first fixing member. A first locking member that is displaceable between a first unlocking position that allows the first and second members to pivot relative to each other;
First biasing means for biasing the first locking member to move from the first unlocked position to the first locking position;
A fixed position attached to the second member and fixing the first locking member to the first unlocked position against the urging force of the first urging means, and the first locking member is the first attaching member. A locking member locking member which is displaceable between a release position which is moved by the biasing means and allows the first locking position, and is normally held in a fixed position;
A fixing release member that is attached to the first member and that displaces the locking member locking member from the fixed position to the release position when the first member is in the butting position;
Have
The locking portion of the first locking member is engaged with the first fixing member of the first member in the butting position when the first locking member moves from the first unlocked position to the first locking position. And the engagement pressure with the first fixing member increases as it approaches the first locking position. An apparatus for fixedly connecting first and second members pivoted to each other at a position where the pivoted ends of the first and second members abut each other,
A first fixing member provided at the end of the first member;
A first locking member provided at the end of the second member, the locking member engaging and disengaging with the first fixing member when the first member is in the end butting position A first locking position for fixing and connecting the first and second members by engaging the locking portion with the first fixing member, and disengaging the locking portion from the first fixing member. A first locking member that is displaceable between a first unlocking position that allows the first and second members to pivot relative to each other;
First biasing means for biasing the first locking member to move from the first unlocked position to the first locking position;
Have
The locking portion of the first locking member is engaged with the first fixing member of the first member in the butting position when the first locking member moves from the first unlocked position to the first locking position. In addition, the engagement pressure with the first fixing member increases as the first locking position is approached. The first locking member is rotatable about a predetermined axis, and has a cylindrical locking wall centered on a coaxial line;
The locking wall includes the first fixing member provided on the first member when the first member pivots relative to the second member to approach or leave the butting position. Having a stationary member passage that allows movement between the inside and outside of the wall;
When the first locking member rotates from the first unlocking position to the first locking position, the first locking member is engaged with the first fixing member located in the locking wall to fix and connect the first and second members. Has a circumferential surface,
The inner circumferential surface is configured such that the radius around the axis gradually decreases so that the engagement pressure with the first fixing member increases as the first locking member approaches the first locking position. The pivoting member fixing and coupling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a peripheral surface constitutes the locking portion. The first locking member is rotatable about a predetermined axis, and has a cylindrical locking wall centered on a coaxial line;
The locking wall includes the first fixing member provided on the first member when the first member pivots relative to the second member to approach or leave the butting position. Having a fixed member passage allowing movement between the inside and outside of the wall;
The first fixing member is slid by the first locking member rotated from the first unlocking position to the first locking position in a state where the first fixing member is passed through the fixing member passing portion and is set to the inner position of the locking wall. An inclined surface that receives the engagement pressure that is dynamically engaged and presses the first member against the butting position, and as the first locking member approaches the first locking position, the first locking member The pivoting member fixing and coupling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressing force is increased. A second member provided at the end of the first member and inserted along a predetermined path into the second member when the first member is pivoted relative to the second member and moved to the butting position; A fixing member;
A second locking member provided at the end of the second member and displaceable between a second locking position and a second unlocking position;
Second urging means for urging the second locking member to the second locking position;
Have
When the first member is pivoted with respect to the second member and moved to the abutting position, the second fixing member opposes the second locking member against the second urging means. When it is inserted into the second member and the first member reaches the butting position, the second locking member is returned to the second locking position by the second biasing means. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second fixing member is prevented from returning along the path, thereby preventing the first member from moving from the butting position. A pivot attachment member fixing and coupling device according to claim 1.   The second locking member is manually movable from the second locking position to the second unlocking position, and the second unlocking position is the first unlocking position at the second unlocking position. 6. The pivoting member fixing and coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the first locking member is engaged with the first locking member to hold the first locking member in the first unlocked position. .   The first locking member is set to a position that is substantially close to the first unlocking position, and the fixing member passage portion is substantially aligned with the path of the first fixing member that moves as the first member pivots. In a state where the second locking member is manually moved to the second unlocked position and engaged with the first locking member, the first member is moved away from the butting position. The first fixing member moved in accordance with the movement of the first member is engaged with an edge of the fixing member passage portion of the first locking member, and the first locking member is directed to the first unlocking position. The pivoting member fixing and coupling device according to claim 6, wherein the locking member locking member can move to the fixing position.   The first locking member is configured to be moved from the first locking position toward the first unlocking position as the first member approaches the butting position. The pivoting member fixing and coupling device described. 9. The pivot attachment fixing and coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second bicycle frame portions that are pivotally attached to each other and foldable in the folding bicycle are the first and second bicycle frame portions. A fixed connecting device for a pivoting frame portion in a folding bicycle, which is composed of two members and is capable of fixing the first and second bicycle frame portions to each other at the butted position.

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