Patent Application
20110176859
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a speedy pivoting-and-fixing device for a foldable structure, and more particularly, to a pivoting device that allows for various frame structures to be joined in a speedy and convenient way and, when being folded, securely positioned into place.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, existing foldable structures such as those of foldable bicycle frames, foldable cat ladders, foldable tables & chairs, foldable sport equipment, foldable lamps, foldable beds, foldable sun shields/rain sheds, foldable handles, foldable foot stands, foldable connecting links and the like, mostly fail to provide an ideal speedy pivoting-and-fixing device. Consequently, it is impossible to join, release or pivotally fold the structures in a speedy way by means of an identical mechanism, making it impossible for the folded structures to be completely secured against loosening.
For example, a foldable bicycle currently available mostly has drawbacks that, after being folded, it has very bulky volume and large thickness and the bicycle frame is unable to be fixed. In order for the bicycle frame to be folded, the foldable bicycle is typically provided with a joint at a folding position of the bicycle frame so that, by virtue of the joining property of the joint that it allows for detachment of a bicycle skeleton, the bicycle body can be folded conveniently and so that the bicycle skeleton can be re-joined together for use by means of the joint.
As a key mechanism for folding a bicycle, the joint must be made to be safe in structure, convenient to operate, and miniaturized in volume and lightweight. However, existing joints for bicycle frames fail to satisfy all these requirements. In other words, they either have excessively huge volume, width or weight or require use of a tool in operation, or otherwise, operation thereof is time- and labor-consuming and complex. Furthermore, the bicycle frame as folded cannot be fixed directly by use of the existing joint mechanism, making the bicycle body very unstable and inconvenient to carry about, which is known as a prominent drawback of the prior art. Accordingly, it is a focus of development in the art to develop a speedy pivoting-and-fixing device for a foldable structure that is safe in use, small in volume and width, lightweight, easy and speedy to operate, and capable of effectively fixing the folded structure.
As another example, many foldable cat ladders currently available have drawbacks that pivoting-and-fixing devices of their frames have inadequate joining strength when being unfolded and the cat ladders are unable to be effectively fixed when being folded. Accordingly, it is also a focus of development in the art to develop a speedy pivoting-and-fixing device for a foldable cat ladder that is easier, safer and speedier to operate.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a speedy pivoting-and-fixing device for a foldable structure, which allows for a structure to be unfolded through a pivoting movement to an included angle of 90° or 180° and is also capable of completely fix the folded structure against loosening. Accordingly, the speedy pivoting-and-fixing device of the present invention features a simple structure, small volume, a narrow width, high safety, and simple operation.
Another objective of the speedy pivoting-and-fixing device for a foldable structure of the present invention is to provide a novel structure that is different from all conventional speedy pivoting-and-fixing devices for a foldable structure.
For further understanding of the objectives, structural features and other effects of the present invention, a detailed description will be made hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings.
The invention as well as a preferred mode of use and advantages thereof will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The structure assembly 11 comprises a first structure 111 and a second structure 112. The pivot assembly 13 comprises a first pivot 131 and a second pivot 132 disposed at connected ends of the first and the second structures 111, 112 respectively. Each of the first pivot 131 and the second pivot 132 is formed with an axial hole 122, and may be formed with a cambered surface 133 at a connected end thereof so that the first structure 111 and the second structure 112 of the structure assembly 11 can be pivoted by 90° and 180° relative to each other. Tenons 134 may be disposed on the first and the second pivots 131, 132 at positions where the first and the second pivots 131, 132 are joined to the pin 15, while recesses 154 may be formed on the pin 15 at positions where the pin 15 is joined to the first and the second pivots 131, 132. Bearings 121 are disposed at interfaces between the first and the second pivots 131, 132 and the base assembly 14, and bearings 123 may also be disposed inside the axial holes 122 of the first and the second pivots 131, 132.
On the base assembly 14, through-holes 143 corresponding to the axial holes 122 of the first and the second pivots 131, 132 are formed so that, by means of bolts 135, the base assembly 14 can be effectively attached to the first and the second pivots 131, 132 or the first and the second pivots 131, 132 can be pivoted into place in a speedy way. The base assembly 14 is formed with a flange 144. The flange 144 may function to fix and prevent the first and the second pivots 131, 132 from rotating or pivoting, and may also act as a support against which the pin 15 or a guide slot disposed in the pin 15 can abut when applying a force to compressively fix the pivot assembly 13. The pin 15 fixes the first and the second pivots 131, 132 against loosening in a compressive way.
As shown in
As shown in
According to the speedy pivoting-and-fixing device for a foldable structure of this embodiment of the present invention, by pushing the pressing fastener 172 and moving the pin 15, the first and the second structures can be folded and fixed properly in a speedy way. When it is desired to restore the original joining status, simply pushing the pressing fastener 172 can release the first and the second pivots 131, 132 and pivot the first and the second pivots 131, 132 by 90° or 180° to the locating point. Then, by moving the pin 15, the pin 15 is joined tightly to the first and the second pivots 131, 132 so that, by means of the magnetic force generated between the magnet 161 and the central column 162, a compressive force can be generated. Furthermore, after the pressing fastener 172 springs back, the pin 15 can be fastened so that the first and the second pivots 131, 132 can be fixed tightly by the pin 15, thereby accomplishing the operations of joining and fixing the first and the second structures. As the speedy pivoting-and-fixing device for a foldable structure of the present invention has two compressive forces that can prevent loosening, it has superior safety performance and is effective in preventing undesired consequences caused by a false touch. Moreover, it has a sturdy structure and allows for quick and simple operation.
The structure assembly 21 comprises a first structure 211 and a second structure 212. The pivot assembly 23 comprises a first pivot 231 and a second pivot 232 disposed at connected ends of the first and the second structures 211, 212 respectively. Each of the first pivot 231 and the second pivot 232 is formed with an axial hole 222, and may be formed with a cambered surface 233 at a connected end thereof so that the first structure 211 and the second structure 212 of the structure assembly 21 can be pivoted by 90° and 180° relative to each other. Tenons 234 may be disposed on the first and the second pivots 231, 232 at positions where the first and the second pivots 231, 232 are joined to the pin 25, while recesses 254 may be formed on the pin 25 at positions where the pin 25 is joined to the first and the second pivots 231, 232. Bearings 221 are disposed at interfaces between the first and the second pivots 231, 232 and the base assembly 24, and bearings 223 may also be disposed inside the axial holes 222 of the first and the second pivots 231, 232.
On the base assembly 24, through-holes 243 corresponding to the axial holes 222 of the first and the second pivots 231, 232 are formed so that, by means of bolts 235, the base assembly 24 can be effectively attached to the first and the second pivots 231, 232 or the first and the second pivots 231, 232 can be pivoted into place in a speedy way. The base assembly 24 is formed with a flange 244. The flange 244 may function to fix and prevent the first and the second pivots 231, 232 from rotating or pivoting, and may also act as a support against which the pin 25 or a guide slot disposed in the pin 25 can abut when applying a force to compressively fix the pivot assembly 23. The pin 25 fixes the first and the second pivots 231, 232 against loosening in a compressive way.
As shown in
As shown in
According to the speedy pivoting-and-fixing device for a foldable structure of this embodiment of the present invention, by loosening and tightening the screw head 260 and the screw 261, the first and the second pivots 231, 232 can be pivoted in a speedy way to fold and fix or to join and fix the structure assembly 21 properly. As the speedy pivoting-and-fixing device for a foldable structure of the present invention adopts a threaded connection which provides a powerful compressive force, it has superior safety performance and is effective in preventing undesired consequences caused by a false touch. Moreover, it has a sturdy structure and allows for quick and simple operation.
In summary, the speedy pivoting-and-fixing device of the present invention may be used for various foldable structures to reliably prevent the foldable structures from loosening in a safe and convenient way. It may be used in various facilities such as foldable bicycle frames, foldable cat ladders, foldable tables & chairs, foldable sport equipment, foldable lamps, foldable beds, foldable sun shields/rain sheds, foldable handles, foldable foot stands, foldable connecting links and the like. Thus, the present invention has completely accomplished the aforesaid objectives of the present invention. With great inventiveness and novelty, the present invention surely satisfies elements of a patent of invention, so it is now filed in accordance with the patent law. However, the above descriptions are only provided as preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all equivalent modifications and alterations made by those skilled in the art according to the spirits of the present invention will still fall within scope of the claims of the present invention.
