Patent Application
20220315143
The present invention relates to a wheel frame adjustment mechanism of a carrying rack.
Bicycle not only can be used for commute but also has the effects of fitness and relief. Many people would drive to scenic resorts on holidays, and then ride bicycles to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The demand for bicycle carriers is therefore increasing.
In order to facilitate carrying the bicycle, a bicycle rack is usually installed at the rear of the vehicle for placing the bicycle. The bicycle rack generally includes a carrier frame and a plurality of wheel frames arranged on the carrier frame. The wheel frame is usually designed to be adjustable along a rod member of the bicycle rack to meet various needs for bicycles of different types.
Conventionally, the wheel frame is hooped on the rod body through a C-shaped member, and the adjustment is carried out by tightening or releasing the C-shaped member. However, when the C-shaped member is moved and adjusted relative to the rod body, the friction is great, it is not easy to move, and it is easy to wear, due to the large contact area between the C-shaped member and the rod body.
The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above-mentioned disadvantages.
The main object of the present invention is to provide a wheel frame adjustment mechanism of a carrying rack which lowers friction and is easy to adjust.
To achieve the above and other objects, a wheel frame adjustment mechanism of a carrying rack is provided, including: a guide member, configured to be arranged on a wheel frame and adjustably and positionably connected to a guide rod, including a main body and at least one friction-reducing member arranged on the main body, the at least one friction-reducing member being engaged with the guide rod, the guide member being releasably secured to the guide rod and adjustable and positionable along the guide rod; a locking member, connected with the guide member, being operable between a locking position and a release position, wherein when the locking member is in the locking position, the guide member and the guide rod are positioned and non-movable relative to each other, and when the locking member is in the release position, the guide member and the guide rod being movable relative to each other.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention.
Please refer to
The guide member 10 is configured to be arranged on a wheel frame 30 and is adjustably and positionably connected to a guide rod 40. The guide rod 40 is configured to be arranged on a carrying frame 50. The guide member 10 includes a main body 11 and at least one friction-reducing member 12 arranged on the main body 11, the at least one friction-reducing member 12 is engaged with the guide rod 40, and the guide member 10 is releasably secured to the guide rod 40 and adjustable and positionable along the guide rod 40. The locking member 20 is connected with the guide member 10 and operable between a locking position and a release position. When the locking member 20 is in the locking position, the guide member 10 and the guide rod 40 are positioned and non-movable relative to each other, and when the locking member 20 is in the release position, the guide member 10 and the guide rod 40 are movable relative to each other. Whereby, there is less friction between the guide member 10 and the guide rod 40, which is easy to adjust and significantly reduce wearing.
The at least one friction-reducing member 12 includes at least one roller 121, and the at least one roller 121 is in rolling contact with the guide rod 40. However, the at least one friction-reducing member 12 may include at least one convex face, tip or the like which can lower friction. Preferably, the at least one friction-reducing member 12 includes a plurality of said rollers 121, and the plurality of rollers 121 are correspondingly arranged on the main body 11, which balances and stably abuts the guide rod 40 and evenly distributes stress. Specifically, the locking member 20 includes a first shaft 21 mounted to the main body 11 and an adjustable member 22 adjustably connected with the first shaft 21. Each said roller 121 includes a first tubular member 122 rotatably disposed around a first axle 60 and a first flange 123 extending radially from the first tubular member 122, the first axle 60 is connected to the main body 11, and the first flange 123 faces the guide rod 40. When the adjustable member 22 is moved and adjusted relative to the first shaft 21 and the locking member 20 is in the locking position, the first flange 123 is urged and clamped between the main body 11 and the guide rod 40. The roller 121 may be provided without the first flange 123, wherein the first tubular member 122 may be abutted against the guide rod 40 so that the main body 11 is configured to urge the guide rod 40.
Specifically, the main body 11 includes two side walls 111 at opposite sides of the guide rod 40, at least one of the two side walls 111 includes a non-circular through hole 112, an end portion of the first shaft 21 includes a non-circular portion 211, the first shaft 21 is disposed through the two side walls 111, and the non-circular portion 211 is non-rotatably inserted within the non-circular through hole 112. In this embodiment, the first shaft 21 is a threaded member, and the adjustable member 22 is screwed with the threaded member, for easy adjustment and urging. The first shaft 21 and the adjustable member 22 may be provided in a quick-release or eccentric urging mechanism. Preferably, a spring washer 23 or the like is disposed around the first shaft 21, and the spring washer 23 is located between the adjustable member 22 and a the side wall 111, which prevents unstable engagement of the adjustable member 22 and the first shaft 21 due to external force.
Specifically, the plurality of rollers 121 are correspondingly arranged at opposite sides of the main body 11; the plurality of rollers 121 includes two first rollers 124 and a plurality of second rollers 125; the first axle 60 is disposed through the two first rollers 124, the first flanges 123 of the two first rollers 124 overlap the two side walls 111 of the guide rod 40, respectively; every pair of the plurality of second rollers 125 is penetrated by a second axle 60a disposed on the main body 11, each of the plurality of second rollers 125 includes a second tubular member 122a rotatably disposed around the second axle 60a and a second flange 123a extending radially from the second tubular member 122a, the second axle 60a is connected to the main body 11, and the first flange 123 has a radial extent larger than a radial extent of at least one the second flange 123a, which provides effective and sufficient urging; the second flanges 123a of the plurality of second rollers 125 overlap the two side walls 111 of the guide rod 40; the guide rod 40 is encompassed by the first flanges 123 of the two first rollers 124 and the second flanges 123a of the plurality of second rollers 125. Whereby, there is less friction, the guide member 10 and the guide rod 40 can contact and abut each other stably, and the stress can be evenly distributed.
In a second embodiment shown in
In a third embodiment shown in
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
