Patent Application
20130093161
The present disclosure relates to joint locking assemblies and methods of locking and folding mechanical components.
Joint locking assemblies are employed in many different devices to lock joint elements in generally fixed relation. The use of joint assemblies can serve to enable folding of a device, thereby reducing the area occupied by the devices such as for storage or transport purposes. In such mechanisms, the mechanical components to be folded are joined together at joints, which are rigidly fixed or locked in use, but releasable for folding. The reduced size of apparatus that can be folded is advantageous in that the folded device can take up less storage space than the unfolded device, or have a shorter desired dimension, and also might be easier to carry.
Various mechanisms have been utilized for joining together mechanical components in a foldable fashion, and also for folding and unfolding mechanical components and for locking the components at joints. For example, hinge assemblies may be used in which the hinge assemblies are secured to the components to be folded. A disadvantage of this approach is relatively increased material or manufacturing costs because of the addition of the hinge assemblies to the apparatus. Other examples of hinge assemblies are those utilizing latching or locking mechanisms in conjunction with rotatable hinges. Such locking assemblies suffer disadvantages such as user manipulation of latches or levers. Some locking assemblies may require use of a special tool to unlock the mechanism.
Folding bicycles are one field in where there has been technical development related to joint locking mechanisms. With foldable bicycles, storage space and user transport of bicycles, such as for commuting or recreational purposes is often desired. Many known folding bicycles utilize joint locking assemblies at various junctures of the bicycle assembly, including to fold the bicycle wheels and handlebars.
One deficiency of some joint and joint locking assemblies is difficulty in providing a substantially rigid coupling while providing ease of operation and reduction of mechanical components. In one example of a folding bicycle wheel assemblies such as found in Trebert U.S. Pat. No. 645,145, a folding front fork having a pair of fork sides that are connected by an integral arch is described. The fork sides are journaled to legs of a stem. In this example, lugs are included on the arch and the stem that align when the fork sides are placed in a position for use. A spring-latch extends upward through the lug of the stem and into the lug of the arch when the fork sides are locked in position. The arch and stem and the respective lugs are configured so that the lug of the arch is disposed above the lug of the stem when the fork is in a position for use.
In this configuration, the fork is connected to the legs of the stem at a position spaced from the arch and between the arch and the fork sides. When the fork is rotated relative to the stem into a folded position, the arch and fork sides rotate toward opposite sides of the stem. A portion of the fork rotates to a position further forward than the riding position. Additionally, operation of the spring latch may be difficult for some users due to its positioning.
Another example of a joint locking assembly for a wheel, is provided in Camps U.S. Pat. No. 3,572,757, which relates to a front fork assembly in which a lower box is secured to the fork. When the fork is locked in a riding position, a pin extends through an upper box and a bayonet foot of the pin engages a keyed recess in the lower box and the pin pulls the lower box upward so that it engages the upper box. The bayonet foot of the pin and the keyed recess of the lower box are engaged by the bayonet foot being inserted into the recess and turned using a lever. The pin extends through a bearing tube so that the lever is located adjacent the handlebars. Although this configuration may be suited to heavier linkages, a disadvantage also is its bulk and that self-locking is not easily promoted.
Therefore, there exists a need for a folding and joint locking mechanism that provides one or more of relative ease of user operation, cost and manufacturing advantages, a secure joint lock, self-locking operation and optionally is operable without the use of an external release tool. One application in which a need exists is a folding bicycle, in which releasable joints are provided having one or more of these advantages.
The present disclosure, and its many embodiments, alleviates to a great extent the disadvantages of known linkage assembly locking assemblies by providing a locking assembly in which a displaceable structure, such as including a bearing ball, is disposed between a two body elements. Such body elements may include one that is called a stationary body and another that is called a rotatable body. The stationary body may be fixed in relation to other elements of the assembly whereas the rotatable body moves relative to those elements. Operating an actuation linkage, such as by pressing or pulling one or more releases, such as buttons or pull tabs, causes displacement of the bearing ball and unlocks the joint locking assembly. In an unlocked position a rotatable body is movable by rotating it about a hinge.
Embodiments of a system of folding mechanical components include one or more bearing ball, a first body defining at least one bearing ball receiving space sized to receive at least a portion of the bearing ball, a second body rotatably coupled to the first body and one or more button or tab members (referred to herein collectively as “button” or “buttons” or “button member” or “button members”). Each button member defines a recess with a rounded concave portion sized to receive at least a portion of the bearing ball and may define a partially hollow interior housing a spring. The second body defines one or more channels therein, and the two button members are sized to be disposed in the channels. The first body may define a second bearing ball receiving space to receive the bearing ball when the second body is in a folded position.
In an unlocked position the bearing ball contacts the rounded concave or recessed portions of the button members and has limited contact with the bearing ball receiving space of the first body. In a locked position the bearing ball contacts the recesses of the button members and has relatively more contact with the bearing ball receiving space of the first body. In an unlocked position the second body is foldable by rotating it about a hinge. Pressing or pulling the button members moves the system from a locked position to an unlocked position. In particular, pressing or pulling the button members urges the bearing ball from a location in contact with the recesses of the button members to a location in contact with the rounded concave portions of the button members. The second body may be part of a folding bicycle such as a component of a foldable bicycle handlebar assembly or a component of a foldable bicycle wheel assembly.
Among the embodiments of the disclosure are methods and apparatus of folding mechanical components using joint locking assemblies comprising providing a first body, a rotatable body rotatably coupled to the first body and defining one or more channels therein, and one or more button members disposed in the channels. Each button member may define a partially hollow interior housing a spring. The methods further include providing a bearing ball at a location between a bearing ball receiving space in the first body and recesses of the button members such that the bearing ball has substantial contact with the bearing ball receiving space of the first body. The bearing ball is then displaced such that it moves from a location in contact with the recesses of the button members to a location in contact with rounded concave portions of the button members. The displacing step may include pressing or pulling the button members. As a result of this displacement the bearing ball has relatively less contact with the bearing ball receiving space of the first body and the second body is foldable by rotating it about a hinge. Then the first body is rotated relative to the second body. The rotatable body may be part of a folding bicycle such as a component of a foldable bicycle handlebar assembly or a component of a foldable bicycle wheel assembly.
Other embodiments of the disclosure include folding bicycles, outdoor umbrellas and any other device requiring two or more members to be joined by a locking joint. One form of folding bicycle includes a frame, a foldable fork assembly, a handlebar assembly and one or more joint locking assembly. The frame optionally includes a seat tube, a down tube and a bearing tube. The foldable fork assembly in one embodiment can be coupled to or be otherwise in fixable relation to the bearing tube and has a wheel mounted thereon. The handlebar assembly is also optionally is rotatably coupled to the frame such as via a stem, and typically can include at least two handlebars.
In the present disclosure, a joint locking assembly can be constructed including a bearing ball, a stationary body defining at least one concave recess sized to receive at least a portion of the bearing ball, a rotatable body rotatable in relation to the stationary body and one or more button members. Each button member defines a recess with a rounded concave portion sized to receive at least a portion of the bearing ball and may define a partially hollow interior housing a spring. The rotatable body defines two channels therein, and the two button members are sized to be disposed in the channels. The stationary body may define a second concave recess to receive the bearing ball when the rotatable body is in a folded position.
In an example of such a joint locking assembly, in an unlocked position the bearing ball contacts the rounded concave portions of the button members and has limited contact with the bearing ball receiving space of the stationary body. In a locked position the bearing ball contacts the recesses of the button members and has relatively more contact with the bearing ball receiving space of the stationary body. In an unlocked position the rotatable body is foldable by rotating it about a hinge. Pressing or pulling the button members moves the system from a locked position to an unlocked position. In particular, pressing or pulling the button members urges the bearing ball from a location in contact with the recesses of the button members to a location in contact with the rounded concave portions of the button members. In some embodiments the stationary body may be a handlebar mounting member coupled to the frame assembly, and the rotatable body may be a mounting assembly having a handlebar mounted thereon. The joint locking assembly also may be part of the foldable fork assembly. In such embodiments when the joint locking assembly is in a locked position the wheel is in a riding position, and when the joint locking assembly is in an unlocked position the wheel is rotatable to a folded position.
Thus, embodiments of the disclosure provide folding and joint locking mechanisms wherein a bearing ball is disposed between a stationary body and a rotatable body. Pressing or pulling one or more button members causes displacement of the bearing ball and unlocks the joint locking assembly. In an unlocked position a rotatable body is foldable by rotating it about a hinge. Embodiments of disclosed folding and joint locking mechanisms are easy to use without tools or extra hinge assemblies. These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be appreciated from review of the following detailed description of the disclosure, along with the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.
The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following paragraphs, examples of the present invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not drawn to scale, and the illustrated components are not necessarily drawn proportionately to one another. Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than as limitations on the present invention. As used herein, the “present invention” refers to any one of the embodiments of the invention described herein, and any equivalents. Furthermore, reference to various aspects of the invention throughout this document does not mean that all claimed embodiments or methods must include the referenced aspects.
With reference to
An exemplary embodiment of a joint locking assembly 10 includes one or more button members 26, a first body 12 and at least one second body 14 coupled to the first body 12.
Bearing ball 22 is disposed between each second body 14a, 14b and the first body 12. As described in detail herein, the movement and relative location of bearing ball 22 moves the joint locking assembly between a locked and an unlocked position. First body 12 defines at least one bearing ball receiving space 24 sized to receive a portion of bearing ball 22. The bearing ball receiving space 24 may be of any shape or configuration suitable to receive at least a portion of the bearing ball 22 and may be an aperture or a concave recess. As best seen in
In exemplary embodiments, second bodies 14a, 14b are rotatably coupled to first body 12, with second body 14a coupled to a first end of first body 12 and second body 14b coupled to a second end of first body 12. Each second body 14a, 14b may define a through hole 15 sized to receive an end of first body 12. Exemplary embodiments of through hole 15 define a first concave recess 6 and a second concave recess 8. As described in more detail herein, first concave recess 6 receives a portion of bearing ball 22 when the joint locking assembly is locked in an unfolded position, and second concave recess 8 receives a portion of bearing ball 22 when the joint locking assembly is locked in a folded position. One or more of the second bodies 14a, 14b are fixedly attached or otherwise coupled to a second component 4 of an apparatus to be folded, such as a portion of an outdoor umbrella shaft.
With reference to
In operation, joint locking assembly 10 can be seen in
As shown in
With bearing ball 22 having relatively less contact with concave recess 21a of the second body 14, the joint locking assembly 10 is in an unlocked position. As such, the second body is moveable and can be rotated along with the mobile portion of the component to be folded about the first body 12 toward a folded position. As shown in
Referring to
As shown in
More particularly, bearing ball 122 is disposed in center hole 134 so that a portion of the bearing ball 122 contacts concave recess 124 of the stationary body 112 and a portion of the bearing ball contacts each of the two button members 126. When the joint locking assembly 110 is in the unlocked position bearing ball 122 contacts rounded concave portions 125 of the button members 126 and has limited contact with the concave recess 124 of stationary body 112. When the joint locking assembly 10 is in a locked position bearing ball 122 contacts recesses 123 of the button members 126 and has relatively more contact with the concave recess 124 of stationary body 112.
In exemplary embodiments, button members 126 of joint locking assembly 110 comprise one active button member 126a and one blind button member 126b. Active button member 126a defines a recess 123 that slopes while blind button member 126b has a horizontal recess 123 of uniform depth. This arrangement serves to prevent a gap during loading because blind button member 126b holds bearing ball 122 in the correct locked position so that the user has to push both buttons to initiate folding.
Operation of the joint locking assembly 110 in connection with a foldable handlebar assembly 100 will now be described. When locking mechanism 110 is in a locked position, button members 126 and springs 129 are disposed within button receiving channels 138 with their ends protruding from the channels 138. Bearing ball 122 is disposed between stationary body 112 and rotatable body 114, which is rotatably coupled to the stationary body 112 by axle 116, as described above. As best seen in
To unlock the joint locking assembly 110 and fold the handlebars 152, the user presses the protruding ends of both button members 126 of a rotatable body 114. This action compresses the spring 129 associated with each button member 126 so each button member slides inward inside each respective button receiving channel 138a, 138b. As the button members 126 slide inward, bearing ball 122 is urged from its position contacting sloped recesses 123 of the button members 126 to a position in rounded concave portions 125. This movement of bearing ball 122 also urges the bearing ball 122 away from concave recess 124 of stationary body 112 so its contact with the concave recess 124 is reduced. With bearing ball 122 having relatively less contact with concave recess 124, joint locking assembly 110 is an unlocked position. As such, rotatable body 114 can be rotated around the end of stationary body 112 about axle 16 into a folded position. Bearing ball 122 rolls along the surface of stationary body 112, thereby facilitating the rotating movement. Once rotated into a folded position, springs 129 expand and button members 126 slide back out to their original position with ends protruding from button receiving channels 138. This biases bearing ball 122 in contact with sloped recesses 123 of each button member 126 and in contact with secondary concave recess 121 at two points, A and B such that the rotatable member 14 is locked in a folded position.
In another exemplary embodiment shown in
Turning to
Joint locking assembly 310 comprises a stationary body 312, a rotatable body 314, a bearing ball 322 and two button members 326. In exemplary embodiments, stationary body 312 is a cam defining two recesses 324a, 324b for receiving a portion of bearing ball 322. As will be described herein, a first recess 324a receives a portion of bearing ball 322 when joint locking assembly 310 is in an unfolded or riding position, and second recess 324b receives a portion of bearing ball 322 when joint locking assembly 310 is in a folded position. A stop 305 at each end of cam 312 defines an edge of each recess 324 and provides the point of contact with rotatable body 314, as described in more detail herein. Stationary body 312 is either fixedly attached or integrally formed with bicycle steer tube 255, which is rotatably coupled to fork members 302 via axle 316. Each side of rotatable body 314 defines a button receiving channel 338, each of which receives a button member 326 and associated spring 329. Optionally, securing plate 309 secures button member 336 to the rotatable body 314.
Each button member 326 is a substantially rod-shaped member sized to be disposed within receiving channel 338 of rotatable body 314. Embodiments may have one active button member and one blind button member, as discussed above. As best seen in
In operation, the user presses buttons 307 to initiate the process of folding foldable fork assembly 300. This action compresses spring 329 associated with each button member 326 so each button member slides inward inside each respective button receiving channel 338a, 338b. As the button members 326 slide inward, bearing ball 322 is urged from its position contacting sloped recesses 323 of the button members to a position in rounded concave portions 325. This movement of bearing ball 322 also urges the bearing ball 322 away from the first concave recess 324a of cam 312. With bearing ball 322 at least partially removed from first concave recess 324a, joint locking assembly 310 is an unlocked position. As such, rotatable body 314 can be rotated around the end of stationary body 312 about axle 316 into a folded position.
The user can effect this folding by grasping one or both of fork members 302 or wheel assembly 306. Bearing ball 322 rolls along the cam surface 313 of cam 312, thereby facilitating the rotating movement of rotatable body 314. Once rotated into a folded position, bearing ball rolls into second recess 324b of cam 312 so the joint locking assembly 310 is locked again. Springs 329 expand and button members 326 slide back out to their original position, thereby biasing bearing ball 322 in contact with sloped recesses 323 of each button member 326 and in second recess 324b of cam 312. To unfold foldable front fork assembly 300 and front wheel assembly 306, the user simply presses buttons 307 to initiate the unfolding process. The process operates essentially as described above except that rotatable body 314 moves in the opposite direction so bearing ball 322 moves from the second recess 324b of cam 312 back to the first recess 324a of cam 312.
In exemplary embodiments of a locking assembly 610, the components, shown in
Housing 612 defines a channel 638a for receiving button member 626. The channel 638a extends through the housing and is sized to accommodate button member 626 and a biasing mechanism 629, such as a spring. The channel opening 639a is defined in a first side of the housing 612. A second channel 638b is defined in housing 612 with a channel opening (not shown) on the opposite side of the housing 612. The second channel 638b extends through the housing 612 and is sized to accommodate button member 626 and a biasing mechanism 629. Housing 612 also defines a bearing ball receiving aperture 624 sized to receive a portion of bearing ball 622. In exemplary embodiments, bearing ball receiving aperture 624 opens into and connects with channels 638a and 638b. Thus, when bearing ball 622 is disposed in the bearing ball receiving aperture 624 and button members 626 are disposed in the channels 638a and 638b, the bearing ball 622 is in contact with the button members 626.
In operation, button members 626 and spring 629 are disposed within button receiving channels 638 in a locked position. Bearing ball 622 is disposed in the bearing ball receiving aperture 624 and positioned so it contacts sloped recess 623 of button members 626. Spring 629 biases the button members 626 to hold sloped recesses 623 of each button member 626a, 26b in position so the bearing ball 622 remains elevated, thereby maintaining the joint locking assembly locked in an unfolded position when used in embodiments of locking system described herein.
To unlock the locking assembly 610, the user presses the protruding ends of button members 626. This action compresses the spring 629 and counteracts its outward bias so each button member slides further inward inside receiving channel 638. As the button members 626 slide inward, bearing ball 622 is urged from its position contacting sloped recesses 623 of the button members to a position in rounded concave portions 625 of each button member 626. This movement of bearing ball 622 also urges it downward into an unlocked position.
Embodiments, of a folding system used in conjunction with a foldable rear fork assembly can be seen in
Joint locking assembly 410 comprises a stationary body 412, a rotatable body 414, a bearing ball 422 and at least one button member 426. In exemplary embodiments, stationary body 412 is a cam defining two recesses 424a, 424b for receiving a portion of bearing ball 422. As will be described herein, a first recess 424a receives a portion of bearing ball 422 when joint locking assembly 410 is in an unfolded or riding position, and second recess 424b receives a portion of bearing ball 422 when joint locking assembly 410 is in a folded position. A stop 405 at a first end of cam 412 defines an edge of first recess 424a. Stationary body 412 is either fixedly attached or integrally formed with bicycle rear down tube 455, which is rotatably coupled to rear fork members 402 via axle 416. At least one side of rotatable body 414 defines a button receiving channel 438, which receives a button member 426 and associated spring 429.
The button member 426 is a substantially rod-shaped member sized to be disposed within receiving channel 438 of rotatable body 414. Optionally, support plate 409 (
As seen in
In operation, the user presses button 407 to initiate the process of folding rear fork assembly 400. This action compresses spring 429 associated with button member 426 so button member slides inward inside button receiving channel 438. As the button member 426 slides inward, bearing ball 422 is urged from its locked position in contact with recess 423 and having no contact with concave portion 425 of button member 426 to a position in contact with concave portion 425 of button member 426. This movement of bearing ball 422 also urges the bearing ball 422 away from the first concave recess 424a of cam 412. With bearing ball 422 at least partially removed from first concave recess 424a, folding system 410 is an unlocked position. As such, rotatable body 414 can be rotated around the end of stationary body 412 about axle 416 into a folded position.
The user can effect this folding by grasping one or both of rear fork members 402 or rear wheel assembly 406. Coupler 404 provides an additional means to effect folding of rear fork assembly 400. Bearing ball 422 rolls along the cam surface 413 of cam 412, thereby facilitating the rotating movement of rotatable body 414. Once rotated into a folded position, bearing ball 422 rolls into second recess 424b of cam 412 so the joint locking assembly 410 is locked again. Springs 429 expand and button member 426 slides back out to its original position, thereby biasing bearing ball 422 in contact with second recess 424b of cam 412. To unfold foldable rear fork assembly 400 and rear wheel assembly 406, the user simply presses button 407 to initiate the unfolding process. The process operates essentially as described above except that rotatable body 414 moves in the opposite direction so bearing ball 422 moves from the second recess 424b of cam 412 back to the first recess 424a of cam 412. In exemplary embodiments of a folding system, illustrated in
Foldable rear fork assembly 700 comprises rear wheel assembly 706 and folding system 710. The rear fork assembly 700 includes two rear fork plates 702a, 702b and coupler 704 fixedly attached by welding, brazing or any other bonding method. The distal end of each rear fork member 702a, 702b defines a dropout 703 configured to be coupled to an adjacent rear wheel assembly 706. The proximal end of each rear fork member defines an aperture 420 to receive rear axle 416. One or more of the fork members 402 may comprise a coaster brake fixation point 741 for attachment of a rear brake.
The rotatable body 714 of the folding system 710 is disposed in apertures 717 defined in the right and left fork plates 702a, 702b. The apertures 717 can be any shape so long as they are sized to accommodate rotatable body 714. In exemplary embodiments, stationary body 712 is a cam defining two recesses 724a, 724b for receiving a portion of bearing ball 722. As will be described herein, a first recess 724a receives a portion of bearing ball 722 when joint locking assembly 710 is in an unfolded or riding position, and second recess 724b receives a portion of bearing ball 722 when joint locking assembly 710 is in a folded position. A stop 705 at a first end of cam 712 defines an edge of first recess 724a. Stationary body 712 is either fixedly attached or integrally formed with bicycle frame tube 755, which is rotatably coupled to rear fork plates 702 via axle 716. At least one side of rotatable body 714 defines a button receiving channel 738, which receives a button member 726 and associated spring 729. As best seen in
In operation, the user presses button 707 to initiate the process of folding rear fork assembly 700. This action compresses spring 729 associated with button member 726 so button member slides inward inside button receiving channel 738. As the button member 726 slides inward, bearing ball 722 is urged from its locked position in contact with recess 723 and having no contact with concave portion 725 of button member 726 to a position in contact with concave portion 725 of button member 726. This movement of bearing ball 722 also urges the bearing ball 722 away from the first concave recess 724a of cam 712. With bearing ball 722 at least partially removed from first concave recess 724a, folding system 710 is an unlocked position. As such, rotatable body 714 can be rotated around the end of stationary body 712 about axle 416 into a folded position.
The user can effect this folding by grasping one or both of rear fork members 402 or rear wheel assembly 406. Coupler 404 provides an additional means to effect folding of rear fork assembly 400. Bearing ball 422 rolls along the cam surface 413 of cam 412, thereby facilitating the rotating movement of rotatable body 414. Once rotated into a folded position, bearing ball 422 rolls into second recess 424b of cam 412 so the joint locking assembly 410 is locked again. Springs 429 expand and button member 426 slides back out to its original position, thereby biasing bearing ball 422 in contact with second recess 424b of cam 412. It should be noted that this embodiment of folding mechanism can be advantageously operated with only one blind button member 726 because the rear fork assembly 700 rotates slightly upward to its new position after loading, and any gap will be “eaten” by a small rotation of the rear fork upward. Also, advantageously, even a substantial vertical force will not pull the blind button member 726 out of the rotatable body housing 714 because of the high friction force.
Exemplary embodiments of a folding system employed with foldable seat stays will be described with reference to
The rotatable bodies 814a, 814b and cam component 811 are disposed within and rotatably coupled to stationary body 812. More particularly, the rotatable bodies 814a, 814b are slidably inserted through channel 820 of the stationary body 812. In exemplary embodiments, the stationary body 812 is fixedly attached to upper seat stay members 860c, 860d, which may be, in turn, rotatably coupled to one or more frame tubes. At least one side of stationary body 812 defines a button receiving channel 838, which receives a button member 826 and associated spring 829. Button member 826 defines a sloped recess 823, which slopes downward adjacent a rounded concave portion 825. Rounded concave portion 825 is sized to receive at least a portion of bearing ball 822. Button member 826 further defines a short channel 827 at one end. The short channel 827 is sized to receive a portion of a spring 829, which compresses when the user pushes button member 826.
Bearing balls 822 are disposed between cam component 811 and stationary body 512 and can be seen in disassembled views in
In operation, the user presses button members 826 to initiate the process of folding foldable seat stay 860. This action compresses the spring 829 associated with each button member 826 so each button member slides inward inside each respective button receiving channels 838a, 838b of the stationary body 812. As the button members 826 slide inward, bearing ball 822 is urged from its position contacting sloped recesses 823 of the button members to a position in rounded concave portions 825. This movement of bearing ball 822 also urges the bearing ball 822 away from the recess 824 of cam component 811. With bearing ball 822 at least partially removed from recess 824, folding system 810 is in an unlocked position. As such, rotatable body 814 can be rotated within stationary body 812 to move seat stays into a folded position, as shown in
Referring to
A bearing ball 522 is disposed between rotatable body 514 and stationary body 512. As described in detail herein, the movement and relative location of bearing ball 522 moves the folding system 410 between a locked and an unlocked position. Stationary body 512 defines at least one recess 524 sized to receive a portion of bearing ball 522 when foldable frame tube 555 is in a riding position. In addition, stationary body 512 may further define a secondary concave recess 521, which receives a portion of bearing ball 522 when foldable frame tube 555 is in a folded position. The folding system 510 further comprises one or more button members 526, which are substantially rod-shaped members sized to be disposed within rotatable bodies 514. Button member 526 defines a sloped recess 523, which slopes downward adjacent a rounded concave portion 525. Rounded concave portion 525 is sized to receive at least a portion of bearing ball 522. Button member 526 further defines a short channel 527 at one end. Button member 526 further defines a short channel 527 at one end. The short channel 527 is sized to receive a portion of a spring 529, which compresses when the user pushes the button member 526, as described in more detail below.
Rotatable body 514 has two extensions 530a, 530b at each end. Each extension 530 defines a receiving aperture 518 sized to receive axle 516 and secure the rotatable body 514 to the stationary body 512. Each side 536a, 536b of rotatable body 514 defines a button receiving channel 538a, 538b (not shown), each of which receives a button member 526 and associated spring 529. In exemplary embodiments, button receiving channels 538a, 538b are defined in rotatable body 514 such that they are parallel to each other and the inserted button members 526 are parallel to each other. Rotatable body 514 defines a center hole 534 to provide an access point for both button receiving channels 538a, 538b.
More particularly, bearing ball 522 is disposed in center hole 534 so that a portion of the bearing ball 522 contacts recess 524 of stationary body 512 and a portion of the bearing ball contacts each of the two button members 526. When the folding system 510 is in the unlocked position bearing ball 522 contacts rounded concave portions 525 of the button members 526 and has limited contact with the concave recess 524 of stationary body 512. When the folding system 510 is in a locked position bearing ball 522 contacts sloped recesses 523 of the button members 526 and has relatively more contact with the concave recess 524 of stationary body 512.
In operation, the user presses buttons 507 to initiate the process of folding foldable frame tube 555. This action compresses the spring 529 associated with each button member 526 so each button member slides inward inside each respective button receiving channel 538a, 538b. As the button members 526 slide inward, bearing ball 522 is urged from its position contacting sloped recesses 523 of the button members to a position in rounded concave portions 525. This movement of bearing ball 522 also urges the bearing ball 522 away from the recess 524 of cam 512. With bearing ball 522 at least partially removed from recess 524, folding system 510 is in an unlocked position. As such, rotatable body 514 can be rotated around the end of stationary body 512 about axle 516 to move frame tube 555 into a folded position, as shown in
Thus, it is seen that joint locking assemblies, systems and methods are provided. It should be understood that any of the foregoing configurations and specialized components may be interchangeably used with any of the systems of the preceding embodiments. Although preferred illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described hereinabove, it will be evident to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
This application has priority to and is a nonprovisional of U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/358,382, filed Jun. 24, 2010, and entitled, “Joint Locking Assembly and Method”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB11/52793 | 6/24/2011 | WO | 00 | 12/18/2012 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61358382 | Jun 2010 | US |
