US20150113769A1

US20150113769A1 - Hanging slider

Info

Publication number: US20150113769A1
Application number: US14/525,227
Authority: US
Inventors: Yu-Heng YU
Original assignee: ARLINEA INDUSTRIES Co
Current assignee: ARLINEA INDUSTRIES Co
Priority date: 2013-10-28
Filing date: 2014-10-28
Publication date: 2015-04-30
Also published as: EP2865300B1; EP2865300A1; TWM475239U

Abstract

A hanging slider includes a main body (100), an axle shaft (210), two wheel members (220/230) and a plurality of roller bearings (300). The main body (100) includes a hollow member (110) and a hooking member (130). The axle shaft (210) penetrates through the hollow member (110). The two wheel members (220/230) are arranged on two ends of the axle shaft (210) and are positioned outside of the hollow member (110) respectively. The roller bearings (300) are received inside the hollow member (110); each roller bearing (300) is parallel to the axle shaft (210) and supports between the hollow member (110) and the axle shaft (210); the roller bearings (300) are arranged to circumference the axle shaft (210). With the linear contacts formed among the roller bearings (300) and the hollow member (110) as well as the axle shaft (210), the useful lifetime of the hanging slider is prolonged.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a hanging slider base for a window blind, in particular, to a hanging slider with roller bearings.
2. Description of Related Art
A typical window blind structure comprises a window blind track and a window blind fabric hung onto the window blind track. The window blind fabric typically utilizes a plurality of hanging sliders installed on the window blind track in order to be hung underneath the window blind track.
A hanging slider typically comprises at least one rolling wheel such that the hanging slider is able to slide along the window blind track with the rolling wheels on the window blind track. A known hanging slider mainly utilizes metal ball bearings as the bearings for the rolling wheels. Each roller bearing and the inner wall of the hanging slider as well as the contact areas of the rotating axle of the rolling wheel all act as contact points; as a result, stresses are likely to concentrate at these contact points such that the inner wall of the hanging slider and the rotating axle of the roller can be easily worn out by the rolling ball in a fast rate.
In view of the above, the inventor seeks to overcome the problems associated with the currently existing technique after years of research and development along with the utilization of theoretical principles, and it is an objective of the inventor to provide an improvement capable of effectively solve the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a hanging slider with a roller bearing.
To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention provides a hanging slider comprising: a main body, an axle shaft, two wheel members and a plurality of rollers. The main body includes a hollow member and a hooking member formed thereon. The axle shaft penetrates into the hollow member. The two wheel members are arranged on two ends of the axle shaft respectively, and each one of the wheel members is positioned outside of the hollow member respectively. The plurality of roller bearings are received inside the hollow member; each one of the roller bearings is arranged parallel to the axle shafts respectively; each one of the roller bearings is supported between the hollow member and the axle shaft; and the plurality of roller bearings are arranged to circumference the axle shat.
Preferably, for the aforementioned hanging slider, two ends of the hollow member include an opening formed thereon respectively; each one of the wheel members covers onto the corresponding openings respectively.
Preferably, for the aforementioned hanging slider, each one of the roller bearings extends between the two wheel members respectively.
Preferably, for the aforementioned hanging slider, one of the wheel members is formed at one of the two ends of the axle shaft.
Preferably, for the aforementioned hanging slider, another one of the wheel members is locked onto another end of the two ends of the axle shaft.
Preferably, for the aforementioned hanging slider, the hollow member includes an inner wall surface formed therein; the axle shaft includes an outer surface; a lateral side of each one of the roller bearings abuts against the inner wall surface of the hollow member and the outer surface of the axle shaft.
Preferably, for the aforementioned hanging slider, the inner wall surface of the hollow member includes a plurality of rounded slot formed axially and spaced apart from each other; each one of the roller bearings is received inside each one of the rounded slots respectively.
Preferably, for the aforementioned hanging slider, the main body includes a pivotal attachment portion; the hooking member is pivotally attached to the pivotal attachment portion.
Preferably, for the aforementioned hanging slider, the pivotal attachment portion comprises a flat plate; the flat plate includes a through hole formed thereon; the hooking member comprises a pivotal axle as well as a blocking plate and a ring formed on two ends of the pivotal axle respectively; the pivotal axle is pivotally attached to an internal of the through hole; and the blocking plate is blocked against the flat plate.
Preferably, for the aforementioned hanging slider, the pivotal attachment portion comprises a flat plate; the flat plate includes a through hole formed thereon; the hooking member comprises a pivotal axle as well as a blocking plate and a hook formed on two ends of the pivotal axle respectively; the pivotal axle is pivotally attached to an internal of the through hole; and the blocking member is blocked against the flat plate.
The present invention utilizes roller bearings in replacement of the metal ball bearings in the prior art as the bearings for the axle shaft such that the contact area is increased while the wears between the bearings and the hollow member as well as between the bearings and the axle shaft are reduced; therefore, the useful lifetime of the hanging slider is prolonged. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a hanging slider according to a first embodiment of the present creation;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hanging slider according to the first embodiment of the present creation;
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the hanging slider according to the first embodiment of the present creation;
FIG. 4 is another cross sectional view of the hanging slider according to the first embodiment of the present creation;
FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of a hanging slider according to a second embodiment of the present creation;
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the hanging slider according to the second embodiment of the present creation; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective exploded view of a hanging slider according to a third embodiment of the present creation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a hanging slider is provided to be slidably installed on a window blind track 10 in order to hang a window blind fabric thereon. The window blind track 10 is an elongated hollow shaft having a guiding slot formed thereon along an axial direction thereof. In this embodiment, the hanging slider of the present invention comprises a main body 100, an axle shaft 210, two wheel members 220/230 and a plurality of roller bearings 300.
Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. The main body 100 includes a hollow member 110, a pivotal attachment portion 120 and a hooking member 130. The hollow member is used for receiving the window blind track 10 therein; the two ends of the hollow member 110 respectively include an opening 101/102 formed thereon and the hollow member 110 includes an inner wall surface 111 formed therein. The pivotal attachment portion 120 is extended from the main body 100, and it penetrates through the window blind track 10 via the guiding slot 11; the pivotal portion 120 comprises a flat plate 121, and the flat plate 121 includes a through hole 122 formed thereon. The hooking member 130 comprises a pivotal axle 131 as well as a blocking plate 132 and a ring 133 formed on two ends of the pivotal axle 131 respectively. The pivotal axle 131 is pivotally attached to an internal of the through hole 122 and the blocking plate 132 blocks against the flat plate 121 in order to allow the hooking member 130 to be pivotally attached to the pivotal attachment portion 120 and to be hung onto the window blind track 10. In addition, the ring 133 is used for hooking the window blind fabric.
The axle shaft 210 penetrates into the hollow member 110, and the axle shaft 210 includes an outer surface 211. The two wheel members 220/230 are arranged on two ends of the axle shaft 210 respectively; each one of the wheel members 220/230 is positioned outside of the hollow member 110, and each one of the wheel members 220/230 covers onto the corresponding opening 101/102 thereof respectively. In this embodiment, one of the wheel members 220 is formed on one of the two ends of the axle shaft 210, and another one of the wheel members 230 is locked onto another end of the two ends of the axle shaft 210. The two wheel members 220/230 are provided to be received inside the window blind track 10 and abut against the inner wall of the window blind track 10 respectively such that the hanging slider of the present invention is able to utilize the rotations of the wheel members 220/230 in order to slide along the window blind track 10.
The plurality of roller bearings 300 are received inside the hollow member 110. The roller bearings 300 are preferably rounded rods made of metal; each one of the roller bearings 300 extends between the two wheel members 220/230 and is arranged parallel to the axle shaft 210 respectively. A lateral side of each one of the roller bearings 300 preferably abuts against the inner wall surface 111 of the hollow member 110 and the outer surface 211 of the axle shaft 210 respectively such that it is supported between the hollow member 110 and the axle shaft 210. In addition, the plurality of roller bearings 300 are arranged to circumference the axle shaft 210 such that the roller bearings 300 support the axle shaft 210 in order to allow the axle shaft 210 to be rotatably secured inside the hollow member 110 to perform axial rotations therein.
In this embodiment, the main body 100 preferably includes a string base 400 pivotally attached thereto, and the window blind track 10 preferably includes a plurality of hanging sliders of the present invention installed thereon. In addition, the string bases 400 can be connected in series via a pulling string 20 in order to connect the hanging sliders of the present invention in series, and the pulling string 20 and each one of the string bases 400 are preferably connected to each other integrally.
Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a hanging slider is provided to be slidably installed on a window blind track 10 in order to hang a window blind fabric thereon. In this embodiment, the hanging slider of the present invention comprises a main body 100, an axle shaft 210, two wheel members 200/230 and a plurality of roller bearings 300, and their structures are generally similar to the ones mentioned previously in the first embodiment of the present invention. The similarities between this second embodiment and the first embodiment are, therefore, omitted hereafter; as for the differences between the two embodiments, please refer to the following detailed description.
In this embodiment, the inner wall of the hollow member 110 includes a plurality of rounded slots 112 formed thereon along an axial direction of the hollow member 110 and arranged parallel to each other. Each one of the roller bearings 300 are respectively received inside one of the rounded slots 112, and each one of the roller bearings 300 is able to rotate within the corresponding rounded slot 112 in the axial direction respectively. Therefore, the rounded slots 112 are able to position the locations of the roller bearings 300 inside the hollow member 110.
Please refer to FIG. 7. According to a third embodiment of the present invention, a hanging slider is provided to be slidably installed on a window blind track 10 in order to hang a window blind fabric. In this embodiment, the hanging slider of the present invention comprises a main body 100, an axle shaft 210, two wheel members 220/230 and a plurality of roller bearings 300, and their structures are generally similar to the ones mentioned previously in the first embodiment of the present invention. The similarities between this second embodiment and the first embodiment are, therefore, omitted hereafter; as for the differences between the two embodiments, please refer to the following detailed description.
In this embodiment, the hooking member 130 comprises a pivotal axle 131 as well as a blocking plate 132 and a hook 134 formed on two ends of the pivotal axle 131 respectively. The pivotal axle 131 is pivotally attached to an internal of the through hole 122, and the blocking plate 132 blocks against the flat plate 121 in order to allow the hooking member 130 to be pivotally attached to the pivotal attachment portion 120. In addition, the hook 134 is used for hooking the window blind fabric.
The hanging slider of the present invention utilizes roller bearings 300 in replacement of the metal ball bearings of the prior art as the bearings for the axle shaft 210. Since the methods of contacts among the roller bearings 300 and the hollow member 110 as well as the axle shaft 210 are all linear contacts such that the contact areas therebetween are greater than the known point contacts; therefore, they are able to dissipate the stress built therebetween and to reduce the wears between the roller bearings 300 and the hollow member 110 as well as between the roller bearings 300 and the axle shaft 210 in order to prolong the useful lifetime of the hanging slider.
The above provides descriptions on the preferred embodiment of the present invention only, which shall not be treated as limitations of the present invention. Any equivalent modifications without deviating from the spirit of the present invention shall be deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hanging slider comprising:

a main body (100) having a hollow member (110) and a hooking member (130) formed thereon;

an axle shaft (210) penetrating into the hollow member (110);

two wheel members (220/230) arranged on two ends of the axle shaft (210) respectively; and each one of the wheel members (220/230) positioned outside of the hollow member (110) respectively; and

a plurality of roller bearings (300) received inside the hollow member (110); each one of the roller bearings (300) arranged parallel to the axle shafts (210) respectively; each one of the roller bearings (300) supported between the hollow member (110) and the axle shaft (210); and the plurality of roller bearings (300) arranged to circumference the axle shat (210).

2. The hanging slider according to claim 1, wherein two ends of the hollow member (110) include an opening (101/102) formed thereon respectively; each one of the wheel members (220/230) covers onto the corresponding openings (101/102) respectively.

3. The hanging slider according to claim 1, wherein each one of the roller bearings (300) extends between the two wheel members (220/230) respectively.

4. The hanging slider according to claim 1, wherein one of the wheel members (220/230) is formed at one of the two ends of the axle shaft (210).

5. The hanging slider according to claim 4, wherein another one of the wheel members (220/230) is locked onto another end of the two ends of the axle shaft (210).

6. The hanging slider according to claim 1, wherein the hollow member (110) includes an inner wall surface (111) formed therein; the axle shaft (210) includes an outer surface (211); a lateral side of each one of the roller bearings (300) abuts against the inner wall surface (111) of the hollow member (110) and the outer surface (211) of the axle shaft (210).

7. The hanging slider according to claim 6, wherein the inner wall surface (111) of the hollow member (110) includes a plurality of rounded slot (112) formed axially and spaced apart from each other; each one of the roller bearings (300) is received inside each one of the rounded slots (112) respectively.

8. The hanging slider according to claim 1, wherein the main body (100) includes a pivotal attachment portion (120); the hooking member (130) is pivotally attached to the pivotal attachment portion (120).

9. The hanging slider according to claim 8, wherein the pivotal attachment portion (120) comprises a flat plate (121); the flat plate (121) includes a through hole (122) formed thereon; the hooking member (130) comprises a pivotal axle (131) as well as a blocking plate (132) and a ring (133) formed on two ends of the pivotal axle (131) respectively; the pivotal axle (131) is pivotally attached to an internal of the through hole (122); and the blocking plate (132) is blocked against the flat plate (121).

10. The hanging slider according to claim 8, wherein the pivotal attachment portion (120) comprises a flat plate (121); the flat plate (121) includes a through hole (122) formed thereon; the hooking member (130) comprises a pivotal axle (131) as well as a blocking plate (132) and a hook (134) formed on two ends of the pivotal axle (131) respectively; the pivotal axle (131) is pivotally attached to an internal of the through hole (122); and the blocking member (132) is blocked against the flat plate (121).