CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefits of the Taiwan Patent Application Serial Number 112129105, filed on Aug. 2, 2023, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates to a movable leg cushion, and more particularly, to a movable leg cushion adapted for a carrier.
Description of Related Art
In daily life chairs or stools are frequently used, and normally nothing bothered would occur. However, in conference rooms, coffee shops, or important public places, quietness is necessary. Therefore, noise occurs from chair or stool movement, and in such occasion noise will make people annoyed, irritated, or embarrassed. This will of course affect one's mood.
Conventionally, to move chairs or stools conveniently and quietly, without occurrence of noise, there have been several types of assembled leg cushions available in the market. For example, soft rubber-sleeved leg cushions, which though have a mute effect, are inconvenient in movement. Or on the other hand, hard rubber-fixed leg cushions, which though are slidable, need greater force for movement, let alone unable to be quite. Obviously, these two types of leg cushions cannot satisfy users' comfortableness, due to failing to take care of the convenience in both quietness and movement.
Given the above, with a spirit of aggressive innovation to solve such problems as mentioned, a “Movable Leg Cushion” is conceptualized, and with persistent research and experiments, the present invention can be accomplished eventually.
SUMMARY
An object of the present invention is to provide a movable leg cushion, characterized by mounting movable leg cushions to the supporting legs of a carrier, such that when the carrier does not load in any specific weight, it can move back and forth freely. In contrast, when the carrier has loaded in a specific weight, the carrier can brake automatically. As such, the movable leg cushions have the merits in making the carrier move conveniently and without the occurrence of noise, and in particular at a place where quietness is necessary, so as to realize the importance of the movable leg cushions.
To achieve the purpose of the above-mentioned object, the movable leg cushion, according to the present invention, is mounted to the supporting leg of a carrier. The movable leg cushion includes a housing, a movable inner sleeve, an elastic member, and at least one roller. The housing is, at its outside, fixedly arranged with a fixed connecting member; and is, at its inside, provided with an abutting portion, and with an accommodating space. The movable inner sleeve is slidably arranged in the accommodating space, and can move relative to the housing, such that the movable inner sleeve can move to a moving position or to a braking position. The elastic member is arranged in and between the housing and the movable inner sleeve. The at least one roller is pivotally arranged on the movable inner sleeve. When the movable inner sleeve is located in the moving position, the at least one roller is away from the abutting portion for a moving distance. However, when the movable inner sleeve is located in a braking position, the at least one roller presses against the abutting portion.
According to the present invention, the abutting portion relates to an arch-like structure which conform with contours of the at least one roller, such that the abutting portion can fully fit contour of the at least one roller, when in contact with each other, so as to achieve the purpose of brake.
Further, according to the present invention, the moving distance is 1 mm.
Still further, according to another aspect of the present invention, a movable leg cushion is mounted to the supporting leg of a carrier. The movable leg cushion includes a housing, a movable inner sleeve, an elastic member, and at least one roller. The housing is, at its outside, fixedly arranged with a fixed connecting member, and is, at its inside, provided with an accommodating space. The movable inner sleeve is slidably arranged in the accommodating space, and can move relative to the housing, such that the movable inner sleeve can move to a moving position or to a receiving position. The elastic member is arranged in and between the housing and the movable inner sleeve. The at least one roller is pivotally arranged on the movable inner sleeve. When the movable inner sleeve is located in the moving position, the at least one roller extends over lower edge of the housing, and when the movable inner sleeve is located in the receiving position, the at least one roller does not extend over the lower edge of the housing and is received in the accommodating space.
According to the present invention or to the another aspect of the present invention, the movable leg cushion further comprises an outer member sleeved to the housing.
Further, according to the present invention or to the another aspect of the present invention, the movable leg cushion further comprises a fastening nut threadedly fastened to the fixed connecting member, and is positioned in between the outer member and the supporting leg, so as to ensure that the movable leg cushion has been firmly threadedly fixed to the supporting leg.
Still further, according to the present invention or to the another aspect of the present invention, the fixed connecting member relates to a setscrew for threadedly fastening the movable leg cushion to the supporting leg.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating movable leg cushions, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, arranged underneath a carrier;
FIG. 1A is an enlarged view for part of FIG. 1 as indicated;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the movable leg cushion according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating the movable leg cushion according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the movable leg cushion, in a moving status, according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the movable leg cushion, in a braking status, according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a movable leg cushion, in a moving status, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the movable leg cushion, in a braking status, according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT
References are made to FIG. 1, a perspective view illustrating movable leg cushions, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, arranged underneath a carrier; and FIG. 1A, an enlarged view for part of FIG. 1 as indicated. As shown, the movable leg cushions 1a are each mounted to a supporting leg 101 of the carrier 10. In the first embodiment, the carrier 10 relates to a chair or a stool suitable for one to sit on; though not so limited, namely also suitable for any carrier to load goods. The movable leg cushions, according to the present invention, can allow the carrier 10, when unloading, to move back and forth easily; and allow the carrier 10, when loading, to brake and be still automatically. As such, the movable leg cushions 10 have the merits in making the carrier 10 move conveniently and without the occurrence of noise, and in particular at a place where quietness is necessary, so as to realize the importance of the movable leg cushions.
Further references are made to FIG. 2, a perspective view illustrating the movable leg cushion 1a according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 3, an exploded view illustrating the movable leg cushion 1a. As shown, the movable leg cushion 1a includes a housing 2, a movable inner sleeve 3, an elastic member 4, two rollers 5, an outer member 6, and a fastening nut 7.
In the first embodiment, the housing 2 is made of plastic material, where the housing 2 is, at its outside, fixedly arranged with a fixed connecting member 21 which, according to the present embodiment, relates to a setscrew, for threadedly fastening the movable leg cushions 1a to the supporting legs 101. The housing 2 is, at its inside, provided with an abutting portion 22 (see FIG. 4A), and with an accommodating space 20. In the first embodiment, the abutting portion 22 relates to an arch-like structure which conform with contours of the rollers 5, such that the abutting portion 22 can fully fit the contours of the rollers 5 when in contact with each other so as to achieve the purpose of brake. The movable inner sleeve 3 is slidably arranged in the accommodating space 20, and can move inside of and relative to the housing 2, such that the movable inner sleeve 3 can move to a moving position or to a braking position. The elastic member 4 is arranged in and between the housing 2 and the movable inner sleeve 3, for biasing the movable inner sleeve 3 to recover from the braking position to the moving position. The two rollers 5 are pivotally arranged on the movable inner sleeve 3 with an axle 31, making the movable leg cushion 1a move along a direction that the rollers 5 rotate toward. In the first embodiment, the outer member 6 is made of aluminum material and is sleeved to the housing 2, for increasing rigidity and aesthetic appearance. Besides, the fastening nut 7 is threadedly fastened to the fixed connecting member 21, and is positioned in between the outer member 6 and the supporting leg 101. As such, when a user fastens, in the beginning, the fixed connecting member 21 to the supporting leg 101, a wrench or other fastening tools can be used to screw and tighten the fastening nut 7, so as to ensure that the movable leg cushion 1a has been firmly threadedly fixed to the supporting leg 101.
Still further, references are made to FIG. 4A, a cross-sectional view illustrating the movable leg cushion 1a, in a moving status, according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 4B, a cross-sectional view illustrating the movable leg cushion 1a in a braking status. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the carrier 10 does not load in any specific weight, the elastic member 4 has not been compressed by force yet, the movable inner sleeve 3 then can locate in a moving position, such that the rollers 5 are away from the abutting portion 22 for a moving distance D. According to the present embodiment, the moving distance D is 1 mm, though not so limited, namely other numerical values will also be. This is to say, the two rollers 5 are not refrained from by the abutting portion 22, and can move back and forth freely. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the carrier 10 has loaded in a specific weight, the elastic member 4 is subject to a compression force. This makes the movable inner sleeve 3 able to locate in a braking position, such that the rollers 5 press against the abutting portion 22, and are not away from the abutting portion 22 for the moving distance D. Under such circumstances, the two rollers 5 conform to and abut on the arch-like structure of the abutting portion 22 so as to refrain the rollers 5 from moving back and forth. In the present embodiment, the rollers 5 each have a floating load bearing of about 5 to 6 kg. As such, in case the roller 5 overloads such weight, the movable inner sleeve 3 will stand in a braking position, making the roller 5 unable to move back and forth. Besides, the rollers 5 can each bear a total weight of 50 kg, and over such weight the rollers 5 would possibly be damaged.
Now references are made to FIG. 5A, a cross-sectional view illustrating a movable leg cushion 1b, in a moving status, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 5B, a cross-sectional view illustrating the movable leg cushion 1b in a braking status. As shown, another kind of movable leg cushion 1b is disclosed. In the second embodiment, the movable leg cushion 1b has a basic structure similar to that of the movable leg cushion 1a in the first embodiment, except that in the second embodiment, there is a braking manner different from that of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, a housing 2′ is made of plastic material, where the housing 2′ is, at its outside, fixedly arranged with a fixed connecting member 21 which, according to the present embodiment, relates to a setscrew, for threadedly fastening the movable leg cushions 1b to the supporting legs 101. The housing 2′ is, at its inside, provided with an accommodating space 20′ (in the second embodiment, there is no abutting portion provided with). A movable inner sleeve 3′ is slidably arranged in the accommodating space 20′, and can move inside of and relative to the housing 2′, such that the movable inner sleeve 3′ can move to a moving position or to a receiving position. An elastic member 4′ is arranged in and between the housing 2′ and the movable inner sleeve 3′, for biasing the movable inner sleeve 3′ to recover from the receiving position to the moving position. Two rollers 5 are pivotally arranged on the movable inner sleeve 3′, making the movable leg cushion 1b move along a direction that the rollers 5 rotate toward. In the second embodiment, an outer member 6′ is made of aluminum material and is sleeved to the housing 2′, for increasing rigidity and aesthetic appearance. In view of the fact that the two rollers 5 are required to be received in the accommodating space 20′, no matter the movable inner sleeve 3′ or the outer member 6′, according to the second embodiment, has a structural design of height greater than that of the movable inner sleeve 3 or the outer member 6 of the first embodiment, so as to increase the height of receiving space of the accommodating space 20′. Besides, a fastening nut 7 is threadedly fastened to the fixed connecting member 21, and is positioned in between the outer member 6′ and the supporting leg 101. As such, when a user fastens, in the beginning, the fixed connecting member 21 to the supporting leg 101, a wrench or other fastening tools can be used to screw and tighten the fastening nut 7, so as to ensure that the movable leg cushion 1b has been firmly threadedly fixed to the supporting leg 101.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the carrier 10 does not load in any specific weight, the elastic member 4′ has not been compressed by force yet, the movable inner sleeve 3′ then can locate in a moving position, such that the rollers 5 extend over lower edge of the housing 2′, and that the rollers 5 can move back and forth freely. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the carrier 10 has loaded in a specific weight, the elastic member 4′ is subject to a compression force. This makes the movable inner sleeve 3′ locate in the receiving position, such that the rollers 5 do not extend over the lower edge of the housing 2′ and are received in the accommodating space 20′. As such, the housing 2′ bears the weight and that the rollers 5 cannot move back and forth. In the second embodiment, the rollers 5 each have a floating load bearing of about 5 to 6 kg. As such, in case the roller 5 overloads such weight, the roller 5 will retract into the accommodating space 20′ of the housing 2′, and that the housing 2′ would touch the floor and not able to move back and forth. Besides, the rollers 5 can each bear a total weight of 50 kg, and over such weight the rollers 5 would possibly be damaged.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Patent Application
20250040715
