CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202310710138.X, entitled “FOLDING MECHANISM”, filed on Jun. 14, 2023, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present application relates to the technical field of children's products, in particular to a folding mechanism for a baby crib.
BACKGROUND
To enhance storage convenience and save space, the baby crib is typically provided with a folding mechanism which allows the baby crib to be folded when not in use to reduce the space occupation. However, the existing folding mechanisms often have complex structures with high manufacturing costs.
SUMMARY
In an aspect of the present application, a folding mechanism for a baby crib is provided. The folding mechanism includes a handrail tube, a fixing base, a locking member, and an operating member. The handrail tube is pivotable between an unfolded position and a folded position. The fixing base has a lateral end pivotably connected to the handrail tube. The locking member is movably sleeved into a pivoting end of the handrail tube and slidable between a first locking position and a first unlocking position. The operating member is slidably connected to the fixing base and slidable between a second locking position and a second unlocking position. When the operating member slides from the second locking position to the second unlocking position, the operating member drives the locking member to slide from the first locking position to the first unlocking position. In the first locking position, the locking member prohibits the handrail tube from pivoting, and in the first unlocking position, the locking member allows the handrail tube to pivot.
In another aspect of the present application, a baby crib is provided. The baby crib includes the above-described folding mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The forgoing and additional objects, features, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals throughout the accompanying drawings are used to denote the same components. The components in the accompanying drawings are not intentionally drawn in an actual scale, and the focus is instead on illustrating the principles of the present application.
FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a baby crib in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective view of the baby crib in FIG. 1 viewed obliquely from below.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a baby crib in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a pivoting end of a handrail tube according to an embodiment of the present application, with other portions of the handrail tube omitted.
FIG. 4A is a schematic top view of a baby crib in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of the present application, with half of the structure of the baby crib omitted and a locking member being in a first locking position.
FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 4A.
FIG. 4C is a partially enlarged view of the portion H in FIG. 4B.
FIG. 5A is a schematic top view of a baby crib in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of the present application, with half of the structure of the baby crib omitted and a locking member being in a first locking position.
FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 5A.
FIG. 5C is a partially enlarged view of the portion I in FIG. 5B.
FIG. 6A is a schematic top view of a baby crib in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of the present application, with half of the structure of the baby crib omitted, and a locking member in a first unlocking position.
FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 6A.
FIG. 6C is a partially enlarged view of the portion J in FIG. 6B.
FIG. 7A is a schematic top view of a baby crib in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of the present application, with half of the structure of the baby crib omitted and a locking member in a first unlocking position.
FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 7A.
FIG. 7C is a partially enlarged view of the portion K in FIG. 7B.
FIG. 8A is a schematic top view of a baby crib in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E in FIG. 8A.
FIG. 8C is a partially enlarged view of the portion L in FIG. 8B.
FIG. 9 is a schematic structural view of a locking member according to an embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 10 is a schematic structural view of a fixing base according to an embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 11 is a schematic structural view of an operating member according to an embodiment of the present application.
Reference numeral list:
- 1-folding mechanism; 2-baby crib;
- 10-handrail tube; 101-pivoting end; 1011-first hole;
- 20-fixing base; 201-locking hole; 202-third hole; 203-accommodating cavity; 204-connecting groove; 205-through hole; 206-guiding rib; 2061-arched guiding face; 207-limiting portion; 2071-limiting step; 2072-limiting face;
- 30-locking member; 301-locking end; 3011-cooperating slope; 3012-end face; 3013-recess; 3014-anti-rotation portion; 302-second hole;
- 40-operating member; 401-driving portion; 4011-driving slope;
- 50-pivoting member;
- 60-first resilient member;
- 70-second resilient member;
- 80-support post.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
To facilitate the understanding of the present application, the present application will be thoroughly described hereafter with reference to relevant accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings show specific embodiments of the present application. However, the present application may be implemented in a plurality of different forms, and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the embodiments described herein are intended to make the disclosure of the present application more clearly and thoroughly understood.
It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being “connected” to another element, it can be directly connected to or integrated with the other element or intervening elements may be present. The expressions such as “mounted”, “an end”, “the other end”, and the like used herein are merely for illustrative purposes.
Unless otherwise defined, all the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as the meanings commonly understood by a person skilled in the art. The terms used in the specification of the present application are merely for describing the specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present application. The term “and/or” used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Referring to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 2, a baby crib 2 is provided in an embodiment of the present application. The baby crib 2 includes a folding mechanism 1 and support posts 80. The user can fold the baby crib 2 from an unfolded state as shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B to a folded state as shown in FIG. 2 by operating the folding mechanism 1. In the present application, the term “vertical direction” is defined as a direction perpendicular to a horizontal surface on which the baby crib 2 is placed, as shown with the direction D1 in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C, in the present application, the term “lateral direction” is defined as a right-left direction of FIG. 4B, as shown with the direction D2 in FIG. 4B, which is perpendicular to the direction D1. In an embodiment, the folding mechanism 1 includes a handrail tube 10, a fixing base 20, a locking member 30, and an operating member 40. The handrail tube 10 includes a pivoting end 101 which is inserted into and pivotally connected to the fixing base 20. The handrail tube 10 is pivotally connected to a lateral end of the fixing base 20. The handrail tube 10 is pivotable between an unfolded position and a folded position relative to the fixing base 20. The locking member 30 is at least partially movably sleeved into an inner hole in the pivoting end 101 of the handrail tube 10. The locking member 30 is slidable between a first locking position and a first unlocking position. The operating member 40 is slidably connected to the fixing base 20 and slidable between a second locking position and a second unlocking position. When the operating member 40 slides from the second locking position to the second unlocking position, the operating member 40 can drive the locking member 30 to slide from the first locking position to the first unlocking position. In the first locking position, the locking member 30 prohibits the pivoting of the handrail tube 10 relative to the fixing base 20. In the first unlocking position, the locking member 30 allows the pivoting of the handrail tube 10 relative to the fixing base 20. Specifically, the user operates the operating member 40 such that the operating member 40 slides from the second locking position to the second unlocking position and drives the locking member 30 to slide from the first locking position to the first unlocking position. In this way, the locking to the pivoting of the handrail tube 10 by the locking member 30 is released, so that the user can pivot the handrail tube 10 from the unfolded position to the folded position to fold the baby crib 2.
Referring to FIG. 4C in combination with FIG. 9, in an embodiment, the locking member 30 has a locking end 301 provided with a cooperating slope 3011. The operating member 40 is provided with a driving slope 4011 in driving cooperation with the cooperating slope 3011. When the operating member 40 slides from the second locking position to the second unlocking position, the driving slope 4011 abuts against and presses the cooperating slope 3011 to drive the locking member 30 to slide from the first locking position to the first unlocking position. The fixing base 20 is provided with a locking hole 201 therein. When the locking member 30 is in the first locking position, the locking end 301 is positioned inside the locking hole 201 to prohibit the pivoting of the handrail tube 10 relative to the fixing base 20. When the locking member 30 is in the first unlocking position, the locking end 301 is positioned outside the locking hole 201 to allow the pivoting of the handrail tube 10 relative to the fixing base 20.
Referring to FIG. 4C and FIG. 6C, in FIG. 4C, the locking member 30 is in the first locking position and the operating member 40 is in the second locking position, while in FIG. 6C, the locking member 30 is in the first unlocking position and the operating member 40 is in the second unlocking position. In the state shown in FIG. 4C, the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 is inserted into the locking hole 201, and the driving slope 4011 of the operating member 40 applies no pressure or only slight pressure to the cooperating slope 3011 of the locking member 30, such that the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 is unable to exit from the locking hole 201. At this time, as a portion of the locking member 30 other than the locking end 301 is inserted into the inner hole of the pivoting end 101 of the handrail tube 10, and the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 is inserted into the locking hole 201, the handrail tube 10 is unable to pivot relative to the fixing base 20. In the state shown in FIG. 4C, the user operates (e.g., presses) the operating member 40 such that the driving slope 4011 of the operating member 40 applies a certain pressure to the cooperating slope 3011 of the locking member 30. Through the driving cooperation of the driving slope 4011 with the cooperating slope 3011, the locking member 30 slides in a direction away from the locking hole 201 until the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 retreats out of the locking hole 201. At this time, the handrail tube 10 is able to pivot relative to the fixing base 20.
Referring again to FIG. 9, in an embodiment, the locking member 301 is in a substantially cylindrical shape. Alternatively, the locking member 301 may be in any other suitable shape, such as a prismatic shape, as long as it meets the requirements for cooperating with the pivoting end 101 of the handrail tube 10 and with the locking hole 201. The locking end 301 is formed with a recess 3013 on an end face 3012 thereof. A bottom face of the recess 3013 is inclined relative to the end face 3012 of the locking end 301 to form the cooperating slope 3011.
Referring to FIG. 5C and FIG. 7C, in FIG. 5C, the locking member 30 is in the first locking position and the operating member 40 is in the second locking position; and in FIG. 7c, the locking member 30 is in the first unlocking position and the operating member 40 is in the second unlocking position. In an embodiment, a portion of the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 other than the recess 3013 forms an anti-rotation portion 3014. In the state shown in FIG. 5C, the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 is inserted into the locking hole 201, and the anti-rotation portion 3014 engages with the inner wall of the locking hole 201 to prevent the pivoting the locking member, thereby preventing the pivoting of the handrail tube 10 relative to the fixing base 20. In the state shown in FIG. 7C, the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 is retreated out of the locking hole 201, and the handrail tube 10 is able to pivot relative to the fixing base 20.
Referring to FIG. 4C and FIG. 11, in an embodiment, the operating member 40 includes a driving portion 401 extending in the vertical direction. The driving slope 4011 is formed on an end of the driving portion 401. The driving slope 4011 can establish the driving cooperation with the cooperating slope 3011 within the recess 3013.
Referring to FIG. 4C in combination with FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, specifically, the end of the driving portion 401 of the operating member 40 enters into the recess 3013 of the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 to allow the driving slope 4011 to come into contact with the cooperating slope 3011 to achieve the driving cooperation therebetween.
Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4C, and FIG. 10, in an embodiment, the pivoting end 101 of the handrail tube 10 is provided with a first hole 1011. The locking member 30 is provided with a second hole 302. The fixing base 20 is provided with a third hole 202. A pivoting member 50 passes through the first hole 1011, the second hole 302, and the third hole 202 to allow the handrail tube 10 and the locking member 30 to pivot relative to the fixing base 20 about the pivoting axis X (see FIG. 2). Optionally, the second hole 302 is an elongated hole which allows the locking member 30 to slide in the axial direction of the handrail tube 10 between the first locking position and the first unlocking position.
Referring to FIG. 4C, in an embodiment, the folding mechanism 1 further includes a first resilient member 60. One end of the first resilient member 60 abuts against the pivoting member 50, and the other end of the first resilient member 60 abuts against the locking member 30. When the handrail tube 10 is in the unfolded position, the first resilient member 60 biases the locking member 30 toward the first locking position. In this embodiment, the first resilient member 60 is a spring. Alternatively, the first resilient member 60 may also be any other suitable resilient element, such as a leaf spring or a torsion spring, as long as it meets the requirements for biasing the locking member 30 toward the first locking position. As shown in FIG. 4C, as the first elastic member 60 biases the locking member 30 toward the first locking position, the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 constantly has a moving tendency of sliding toward the locking hole 201. When there is no external force applied to the operating member 40, under the action of the first elastic member 60, the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 is kept in the locking hole 201 i.e., the locking member 30 is kept in the first locking position. In this way, on the one hand, the baby crib can be kept in the unfolded state for convenient use, and on the other hand, the accidental folding of the baby crib can be avoided to ensure the safety of use. In this embodiment, one end of the first elastic member 60 abuts against the pivoting member 50, the other end of the first elastic member 60 abuts against the locking member 30, and the pivoting member 50 can slide in the second hole 302 in form of an elongated hole to enable the sliding of the locking member 30 in the axial direction of the handrail tube 10 between the first locking position and the first unlocking position. In another embodiment not shown, the locking member 30 may include a fixing portion and a locking portion slidably connected to the fixing portion. For example, the locking portion is sleeved into the fixing portion and retractable relative to the fixing portion. The locking end is provided at an end of the locking portion away from the fixing portion. In such an embodiment, the locking end 301 has the same structure as that of the locking end 301 in the foregoing embodiment. The second hole 302 is provided as a circular hole on the fixing portion. A diameter of the second hole is slightly larger than an outer diameter of the pivoting member 50 to allow the pivoting member 50 to pass through the second hole 302. When the pivoting member 50 passes through the first hole 1011, the second hole 302, and the third hole 202, the fixing portion is non-slidable in the axial direction of the handrail tube 10. One end of the first resilient member 60 abuts against the fixing portion, and the other end of the first resilient member 60 abuts against the locking portion, so that the locking portion is slidably connected to the fixing portion through the first resilient member 60, and the locking portion is able to slide between the first locking position and the first unlocking position in the axial direction of the handrail tube 10. The first resilient member 60 biases the locking portion towards the first locking position, and the locking end 301 of the locking portion constantly has a moving tendency of sliding toward the locking hole 201. When there is no external force applied to the operating member 40, the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 is kept in the locking hole 201 under the action of the first resilient member 60 such that the handrail tube 10 is unable to pivot relative to the fixing base 20. When the operating member 40 is driven by an external force, the driving slope 4011 of the operating member 40 applies a certain pressure to the cooperating slope 3011 of the locking end 301, and the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 slides in a direction away from the locking hole 201 until it is entirely retreated out of the locking hole 201, allowing the handrail tube 10 to pivot relative to the fixing base 20.
Referring to FIG. 4C in combination with FIG. 10, in an embodiment, the fixing base 20 is provided with an accommodating cavity 203 therein, and the operating member 40 is at least partially accommodated in the accommodating cavity 203. The folding mechanism 1 further includes a second resilient member 70. One end of the second resilient member 70 abuts against the operating member 40, and the other end of the second resilient member 70 abuts against the fixing base 20. The second resilient member 70 biases the operating member 40 toward the second locking position. In this embodiment, the second resilient member 70 is a spring. Alternatively, the second resilient member 70 may be any other suitable resilient element, such as a leaf spring and a torsion spring, as long as it meets the requirements for biasing the operating member 40 toward the second locking position. As the second resilient member 70 biases the operating member 40 toward the second locking position, the operating member 40 constantly has a tendency of moving downward in the vertical direction. When there is no external force applied to the operating member 40, the operating member 40 is kept in the second locking position. At this time, the driving slope 4011 of the operating member 40 applies no or only slight pressure to the cooperating slope 3011 of the locking member 30, and under the action of the first resilient member 60, the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 is kept in the locking hole 201, i.e., the locking member 30 is kept in the first locking position, while the operating member 40 is kept in the second locking position.
Referring to FIG. 4C, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, in an embodiment, the operating member 40 is provided with a connecting protrusion 402 thereon. A side wall in the accommodating cavity 203 is provided with a connecting groove 204 in cooperation with the connecting protrusion 402. When the operating member 40 slides relative to the fixing base 20, the connecting protrusion 402 slides along the connecting groove 204. The connecting groove 204 is an elongated groove extending in the vertical direction. Specifically, a lower end of the connecting groove 204 in the vertical direction is positioned such that when the operating member 40 slides to such an extent that the connecting protrusion 402 abuts against the lower end of the connecting groove 204 in the vertical direction, the operating member 40 is in the second locking position. An upper end of the connecting groove 204 in the vertical direction is positioned such that when the operating member 40 slides to such an extent that the connecting protrusion 402 abuts against the upper end of the connecting groove 204 in the vertical direction, the operating member 40 is in the second unlocking position.
Referring to FIG. 10, a top wall of the accommodating cavity 203 is provided with a through hole 205 in communication with the locking hole 201. The driving portion 401 passes through the through hole 205 to cooperate with the locking end 301 of the locking member 30. Optionally, the locking hole 201 is provided in the upper portion of the fixing base 20 and extends in the lateral direction of the fixing base 20.
Referring to FIG. 6C in combination with FIG. 8C, the fixing base 20 is provided with a guiding rib 206. The guiding rib 206 extends from the lower side of the locking hole 201 to the lateral end of the fixing base 20. The guiding rib 206 is provided with an arched guiding face 2061 at a side thereof facing the handrail tube 10. When the handrail tube 10 pivots relative to the fixing base 20, the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 slides on the arched guiding face 2061. Specifically, when the locking member 30 is in the first unlocking state shown in FIG. 6C, the user can pivot the handrail tube 10 about the axis X (see FIG. 2) from the unfolded position to the folded position shown in FIG. 8C.
Still referring to FIG. 6C and FIG. 8C, in an embodiment, the fixing base 20 further includes a limiting portion 207 disposed at a side of the guiding rib 206 proximate to the lateral end of the fixing base 20. When the handrail tube 10 is in the folded position, the limiting portion 207 prohibits the pivoting of the handrail tube 10 toward the unfolded position. The limiting portion 207 includes a limiting step 2071 and a limiting face 2072. The limiting step 2071 is disposed between the limiting face 2072 and the arched guiding face 2061. The fixing base 20 further includes a bottom wall 208 and a side wall 209. The limiting face 2072 is provided at a side of the bottom wall 208 facing the interior space of the fixing base 20. The bottom wall 208 at least partially covers the interior space of the fixing base 20.
In this embodiment, the arched guiding face 2061, the limiting step 2071, the limiting face 2072, and the side wall 209 collectively define a pivoting space. When the handrail tube 10 pivots, the pivoting end 101 of the handrail tube 10 pivots in this pivoting space, and the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 slides on the arched guiding face 2061, the limiting step 2071, and the limiting face 2072. Specifically, when the handrail tube 10 pivots from the unfolded position shown in FIG. 6C to the folded position shown in FIG. 8C, the pivoting end 101 of the handrail tube 10 pivots from a substantially horizontal orientation to a substantially vertical orientation. Under the action of the second resilient member 60, the locking end 301 of the locking member 30 presses against and slides sequentially on the arched guiding face 2061, the limiting step 2071, and the limiting face 2072. When the locking end 301 slides over the limiting step 2071 to the limiting face 2072, under the action of the second elastic member 60, the locking member 30 protrudes only a short distance in a direction away from the pivoting center to press against the limiting face 2072, because the distance W between the limiting face 2072 and the pivoting center of the handrail tube 10 is greater than the distance R between the arched guiding face 2061 and the pivoting center of the handrail tube 10. At this time, the anti-rotation portion 3014 of the locking member 30 abuts against the limiting face 2072 to prevent the handrail tube 10 from pivoting toward the unfolded position, thereby preventing the accidental unfolding of the handrail tube 10 in the folded position and improving the safety of use.
In this embodiment, the limiting step 2071 has a curved face. When the handrail tube 10 has the moving tendency of pivoting toward the unfolded position, the curved face in engagement with the anti-rotation portion 3014 applies a pressure toward the pivoting center to the anti-rotation portion 3014. As the moving tendency of the handrail tube 10 pivoting toward the unfolded position increases (for example, as the force driving the handrail tube 10 to pivot toward the unfolded position increases), the pressure toward the pivoting center that is applied to the anti-rotation portion 3014 by the curved face increases. When the pressure toward the pivoting center that is applied to the anti-rotation portion 3014 by the curved face is greater than the resilient force provided by the second resilient member 60, the anti-rotation portion 3014 of the locking member 30 retracts toward the pivoting center, so that the anti-rotation portion 3014 is able to slide over the limiting step 2071 to the arched guiding face 2061. At this time, the limiting step 2071 no longer prevents the pivoting of the handrail tube 10 toward the unfolded position. Specifically, when in use, the user only needs to apply a certain external force to the handrail tube 10 to overcome the obstruction of the limiting step 2071 so that the handrail tube 10 pivots towards the unfolded position to unfold the baby crib 2.
Referring again to FIG. 10, the bottom wall 208 at least partially covers the interior space of the fixing base 20. When the user presses the operating member 40, the user's fingers will be blocked by the bottom wall 208 from entering the interior space of the fixing base 20. This avoids the risk of the user's finger being pinched by a component in the interior space of the fixing base 20 (e.g., the operating member 40, the locking member 30, or the pivoting end 101 of the handrail tube 10, etc.). Optionally, the fixing base 20 further includes a side wall which at least partially covers the interior space of the fixing base 20 to avoid the risk of the user's fingers entering the fixing base from a side of the fixing base and getting pinched.
The folding mechanism and the baby crib provided in the present application has a simple structure with a low manufacturing cost.
In the folding mechanism according to embodiments of the present application, by operating the operating member, the locking member can be driven to the first unlocking position to allow the handrail tube to pivot relative to the fixing base to fold the baby crib. The folding mechanism is simple in structure, low in manufacturing cost, and easy to operate, and requires only the operation of the driving member to allow the handrail tube to pivot to fold the baby crib.
The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features are described in the embodiments. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, the combinations should be considered as in the scope of the present application.
The above-described embodiments are only several implementations of the present application, and the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present application. It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and all fall within the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the patent protection of the present application shall be defined by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20240415293
