Patent Publication Number: US-2022234639-A1

Title: Folding hook structure and carriage frame and as well as baby carriage having the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present application relates to a foldable hook structure, and a carriage frame as well as a baby carriage including the folding hook structure. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The baby carriage is a carrier widely used in life. A baby carriage usually includes a carriage frame, wheels, a seat, and a handrail. Among them, the carriage frame forms a main frame of the baby carriage, the wheels are installed under the carriage frame to provide walking function, the seat is set up on the carriage frame for baby to sit in, and the handrail is located above the carriage frame for facilitating the user to push the baby carriage. 
     In some circumstances, in order to increase a portability of the baby carriage, the carriage frame needs to be collapsible. In such case, the carriage frame needs to be designed foldable, so as to reduce the overall volume of the baby carriage. Therefore, it is necessary to design the pivot joint and the folding hook structure for locking and releasing the pivot joint on the carriage frame, so as to open and collapse the carriage frame. Considering that the baby carriage is an infant product, accordingly, its pivot joint and folding hook structure should be safe, reliable and easy to operate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the application, a folding hook structure is provided for putting a first object and a second object being relatively rotatable in respect to each other to an extended state or a collapsed state, the folding hook structure includes: a shell, fixed to the first object, and at least partially accommodates other parts of the folding hook structure; a rotating disk, fixed to the second object, and disposed in the shell and being rotatable around a rotation center in respect to the shell, with a folding hook groove disposed on a disk surface of the rotating disk, the folding hook groove including a circumferential section extending in a circumferential direction of the rotating disk with the rotation center as a center, and a radial section extending from the circumferential section along a radial direction of the rotating disk; a folding hook, disposed in the shell, and arranged movable between a locked position and a released position along the radial direction of the rotating disk, the folding hook being inserted in the folding hook groove; wherein in the locked position, the folding hook is engaged in the radial section of the folding hook groove to prevent a relative rotation between the shell and the rotating disk; and in the released position, the folding hook is slidable along the circumferential section of the folding hook groove to allow the relative rotation between the shell and the rotating disk. 
     In an embodiment, a folding hook accommodation space extending along the radial direction of the rotating disk is disposed in the shell, the folding hook includes a slider portion and a convex portion on the slider portion, the slider portion is received in the folding hook accommodation space and slidable along the folding hook accommodation space, and the convex portion protrudes into the folding hook groove of the rotating disk. 
     In an embodiment, the radial section of the folding hook groove extends from an end of the circumferential section toward a direction away from the rotation center of the rotating disk, and a side wall of the radial section facing the circumferential section is inclined to form an oblique groove, such that the radial section has a larger width where near the circumferential section and a smaller width where away from the circumferential section. 
     In an embodiment, a folding hook elastic member is disposed between the folding hook and the shell, the folding hook elastic member has one end abutting against the shell and the other end biasing the folding hook to the locked position. 
     In an embodiment, the foldable hook structure further includes: a sliding member, at least partially arranged in the shell, and movable between an extended position close to the rotating disk and a retracted position away from the rotating disk along the radial direction of the rotating disk; wherein a notch is formed on an outer circumference of the rotating disk, and in the released position, the notch is able to be aligned with the sliding member as the rotating disk rotates; when the notch is not aligned with the sliding member, the sliding member abuts against the outer circumference of the rotating disk and unable to move to the extended position; when the notch is aligned with the sliding member, the sliding member is able to move to the extended position and engage into the notch, thereby locking a rotation angle of the rotating disk in respect to the shell. 
     In an embodiment, a recess is further disposed on the outer circumference of the rotating disk, and the recess is approximately located at a position opposite to a middle position of the circumferential section of the folding hook groove. In the locked position, the recess is aligned with the sliding member for the sliding member to abut against thereon, and a depth of the recess is designed such that the first object and the second object are rotatable in respect to each other under an action of an external force. 
     In an embodiment, the foldable hook structure further includes: a trigger member, passing through the shell along an axial direction of the rotating disk and including an operating section exposed outside the shell and a trigger section abutting against the sliding member inside the shell, the trigger member is operated movable in a direction perpendicular to the rotating disk, so as to bring the sliding member to move from the extended position to the retracted position. 
     In an embodiment, an end of the trigger section is provided with a trigger member operating surface, the sliding member is provided with a sliding member operating surface, and the trigger member operating surface and the sliding member operating surface are respectively correspondingly arranged inclined surfaces and capable of contacting each other, such that a movement of the trigger member in a direction perpendicular to the rotating disk is able to be converted into a movement of the sliding member along the radial direction of the rotating disk. 
     In an embodiment, the inclined surface of the trigger member operating surface is arranged to extend from a vicinity of a bottom wall of an outer shell of the shell toward an inner shell of the shell, and is closer to the rotating disk at the bottom wall of the outer shell, so as to form an inclination angle in respect to a rotation axis of the rotating disk; and the inclined surface of the sliding member operating surface and the inclined surface of the trigger member operating surface have a same inclination angle. 
     In an embodiment, a sliding member elastomer is disposed between the sliding member and the shell, and the sliding member elastomer is arranged to bias the sliding member to the extended position. 
     In an embodiment, the shell includes an outer shell and an inner shell, one of the outer shell and the inner shell includes a bottom wall and a side wall erected along an outer circumference of the bottom wall, and the other one of the outer shell and the inner shell is embedded in the side wall, so as to form a closed structure with the one of the outer shell and the inner shell. Moreover, the one of the outer shell and the inner shell is fixed to the first object, and the second object passes through a slot on the side wall to be joined to the rotating disk. 
     In an embodiment, the first object and the second object are both tubular parts, when the folding hook is in the locked position, the first object and the second object are in an extended state; and when the folding hook is in the released position, the first object and the second object are in a collapsed state. 
     According to the other one aspect of the application, a carriage frame is provided, and the carriage frame includes: an upper carriage frame, having an upper joint; a lower carriage frame having a lower joint; and the folding hook structure of the application connected between the upper joint and the lower joint, wherein the first object is the upper carriage frame, and the second object is the lower carriage frame. 
     According to a further one aspect of the application, a baby carriage is provided, and the baby carriage includes: a seat; wheels; and the carriage frame according to the application, the seat is fixed on the carriage frame, and each of the wheels is installed at an end of the lower carriage frame of the carriage frame close to the ground. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the application will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a carriage frame according to the application; and  FIGS. 1B and 1C  are partial enlarged views of  FIG. 1A , showing specific structures of the folding hook structures on left and right sides, respectively; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the carriage frame according to the application from another angle; 
         FIGS. 2B and 2C  are partially enlarged views of  FIG. 2A , showing specific structures of the folding hook structure on left and right sides, respectively; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the carriage frame according to the application, in which an inner shell, a rotating disk, a sliding member, and a folding hook on left side of the folding hook structure are removed to show specific structures of an outer shell and a trigger member; 
         FIG. 3B  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a partially enlarged perspective view of the carriage frame according to the application, in which the outer shell and a rotating disk of folding hook structure is removed to show the inner shell, the trigger member, the sliding member, and the folding hook; 
         FIGS. 4B and 4C  are further enlarged views showing the sliding member and the folding hook in  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a side view of the carriage frame according to the application, in which internal details of the folding hook structure is shown in the form of a sectional view of the folding hook structure on one side, and the folding hook is in a released position; 
         FIG. 5B  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a side view of the carriage frame according to the application, in which internal details of the folding hook structure is shown in the form of a sectional view of the folding hook structure on one side, and the folding hook is in a locked position; 
         FIG. 6B  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 6A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, though, the disclosure should not be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications can be made to these details within the scope of the equivalents of the claims and without departing from the disclosure. 
     The descriptions of “front,” “rear,” “up,” “down” and other directions mentioned in this specification are only for the convenience of understanding, and the disclosure is not limited to these directions, but can be adjusted according to actual conditions. 
     At first, refer to  FIGS. 1A-2B .  FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a carriage frame according to the application; and  FIGS. 1B and 1C  are partial enlarged views of  FIG. 1A , showing specific structures of the folding hook structures  100  on left and right sides, respectively. As shown, in this embodiment, the baby carriage has two carriage frames symmetrically on left and right sides, and each carriage frame extends from a wheel below to a handrail above. The carriage frame has a long and straight tubular structure and may be divided into an upper carriage frame and a lower carriage frame. A folding hook structure  100  is disposed between the upper carriage frame and the lower carriage frame. The upper carriage frame is joined to the folding hook structure  100  by an upper joint  300 , and the lower carriage frame is joined to the folding hook structure  100  by a lower joint  200 . The upper joint  300  and the lower joint  200  can rotate in respect to each other through the folding hook structure  100 , so as to allow the upper carriage frame and the lower carriage frame to be extended and collapsed ( FIGS. 6A and 6B  show the upper carriage frame and the lower carriage frame in a collapsible state). 
     The folding hook structure  100  according to the application, on the one hand, may serve as a pivot joint between the upper joint  300  and the lower joint  200 , and on the other hand, may provide a locking function to lock and release the rotation between the upper joint  300  and the lower joint  200 , which will be described in detail below. 
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the carriage frame according to the application from another angle; and  FIGS. 2B and 2C  are partially enlarged views of  FIG. 2A , showing specific structures of the folding hook structures  100  on left and right sides, respectively. 
     Although a baby carriage having carriage frames, joints, and folding hook structures  100  symmetrically on left and right sides are shown, it should be understood, the according to the baby carriage according to the application may have a carriage frame of other forms, such as an asymmetric frame. Moreover, the folding hook structure  100  according to the application can be used separately for a single carriage frame, or for any other type of device to provide the function of locking and releasing the relative rotation between the two components. 
     Now refer to  FIGS. 3A-3B .  FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the carriage frame according to the application, in which an inner shell  110   b,  a rotating disk  160 , a sliding member  140 , and a folding hook  150  on left side of the folding hook structure  100  are removed to show specific structures of an outer shell  110   a  and a trigger member  130 ; and  FIG. 3B  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 3A . 
     As shown, a shell  110  in this embodiment is composed of an outer shell  110   a  and an inner shell  110   b.  The outer shell  110   a  is located on an outer side of the baby carriage, and has a bottom wall and a side wall surrounding the outer circumference of the bottom wall. The inner shell  110   b  is located on an inner side of the baby carriage, and is embedded in the side wall of the outer shell  110   a.  In this way, the outer shell  110   a  and the inner shell  110   b  together form the shell  110  having a closed structure. Other components of the folding hook structure  100  are at least partially accommodated in the shell  110 , so as to form a clear appearance of the entire folding hook structure  100 . The lower joint  200  is fixedly connected to the outer shell  110   a,  and the upper joint  300  is connected to a rotating disk  160  inside the shell  110  (will be described in detail below) bypassing through a slot on the side wall. 
     In other embodiments, positions of the inner shell  110   b  and the outer shell  110   a  may be exchanged. For example, the inner shell  110   b  may be located on the outer side of the baby carriage, and the outer shell  110   a  maybe located on the inner side of the baby carriage. The lower joint  200  may also be connected to the inner shell  110   b,  and the upper joint  300  is connected to the rotating disk  160  inside shell  110 . 
     In this embodiment, the bottom wall of the outer shell  110   a  is formed in a heart shape. Specifically, one side of the bottom wall of the outer shell  110   a  has a circular portion, so as to form a space for accommodating the rotating disk  160 . The other side of the bottom wall opposite to the circular portion has a raised portion for accommodating components such as a trigger member  130 , a sliding member  140  and the like. In other embodiments, the bottom wall can also be formed in other shapes as long as it can accommodate the above-mentioned components. 
     An outer rotation shaft hole  111   a  is formed in the circular portion of the bottom wall . A rotation shaft (not shown) passes through the outer rotation shaft hole  111   a,  the rotating disk  160 , and an inner rotation shaft hole  111   b  formed in the inner shell  110   b,  such that the rotating disk  160  is rotatably disposed inside the shell  110 . A folding hook accommodation space  112   a  is also formed in the circular portion of the bottom wall, so as to accommodate the folding hook  150 . In an embodiment, the folding hook accommodation space  112   a  is formed as a sliding chute or a sliding rail extending along a radial direction of the rotating disk  160 , such that the folding hook  150  is slidable along the radial direction. 
       FIG. 3B  also clearly shows the sliding member  140  and the trigger member  130 . The sliding member  140  is disposed in the raised portion of the bottom wall, and is arranged to be slidable along the radial direction of the rotating disk  160 . That is, the sliding member  140  is on the outer side of the rotating disk  160 , and can move along the radial direction of the rotating disk  160  between an extended position close to the rotating disk  160  and a retracted position away from the rotating disk  160 . A function of the sliding member  140  is to be inserted into a notch  165  of the rotating disk  160 , so as to lock a mutual rotation between the rotating disk  160  and the shell  110  ( FIG. 5B ). In this embodiment, the sliding member  140  includes a strip portion and a sliding member operating surface  143  (an inclined surface). Among them, the strip portion may slide along the radial direction of the rotating disk  160  and can be inserted into the notch  165  of the rotating disk  160 ; the sliding member operating surface  143  extends from a vicinity of the bottom wall of the outer shell  110   a  toward the inner shell  110   b,  and forms an inclination angle in respect to a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall (i.e., a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating disk  160 ). The sliding member operating surface  143  is closer to the rotating disk  160  in the vicinity of the bottom wall of the outer shell  110   a,  and farther away from the rotating disk  160  in the vicinity of the inner shell  110   b.    
     The trigger member  130  passes through the shell  110  in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating disk  160 , and includes an operating section  131  exposed outside the shell  110  and a trigger section  132  abutting against the sliding member  140  inside the shell  110 . The trigger member  130  may be operated to move in a direction perpendicular to the rotating disk  160 , so as to bring the sliding member  140  to move from the extended position to the retracted position. Specifically, the trigger member  130  includes the operating section  131  and the trigger section  132 . Among them, the operating section  131  extends through the inner shell  110   b  to the outer side of the shell  110 , so as to facilitate the user to press the trigger member  130 ; the trigger section  132  is located inside the shell  110  and has a trigger member operating surface  133  opposite to the sliding member operating surface  143  of the sliding member  140 . The trigger member operating surface  133  and the sliding member operating surface  143  have substantially a same inclination angle. In this way, when the user presses the trigger member  130 , the trigger member  130  slides toward the inside of the shell  110  (specifically, toward the outer shell  110   a ). At this time, the trigger member operating surface  133  contacts and pushes the sliding member operating surface  143  of the sliding member  140 , such that the sliding member  140  slides in a direction away the rotating disk  160 . 
     Now refer to  FIGS. 4A-4C .  FIG. 4A  is a partially enlarged perspective view of the carriage frame according to the application, in which an outer shell  110   a  and a rotating disk  160  of the folding hook structure  100  on one side is removed to show the inner shell  110   b,  the trigger member  130 , the sliding member  140 , and the folding hook  150 ;  FIGS. 4B and 4C  are further enlarged views showing the sliding member  140  and the folding hook  150  in  FIG. 4A . As shown, an inner rotation shaft hole  111   b,  a folding hook sliding rail  112   b,  and a sliding member sliding rail  113   b  are disposed in the inner shell  110   b,  and these structures may be respectively corresponding to the corresponding ones on the outer shell  110   a  to form a complete accommodating space. 
     It can be clearly seen from  FIGS. 4A-4C , the folding hook  150  is disposed in the shell  110  in a manner of being slidable along the radial direction. More specifically, the folding hook  150  includes a slider portion  151  and a convex portion  152  on the slider portion  151 . Among them, the slider portion  151  is received in the folding hook accommodation space  112   a  and can slide along the folding hook accommodation space  112   a,  and the convex portion  152  protrudes into a folding hook groove  161  of the rotating disk  160  ( FIG. 5B ). A folding hook elastic member  153  may be disposed between the folding hook  150  and the shell  110 . The folding hook elastic member  153  has one end abutting against the shell  110 , and the other end biasing the folding hook  150  to the locked position. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  also show the sliding member  140  from the other side. In an embodiment, a sliding member elastomer  145  may be disposed at an end of the sliding member  140  facing the side wall. The sliding member elastomer  145  has one end abutting against the side wall (the side wall is not shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C ), and the other end abutting against the sliding member  140  to bias the sliding member  140  to move toward the rotating disk  160 . In this way, when the user does not press the trigger member  130 , the sliding member  140  will tend to be inserted into the rotating disk  160 , and when the user presses the trigger member  130 , through the abutting relationship between the trigger member operating surface  133  and the sliding member operating surface  143 , the trigger member  130  will resist biasing of the sliding member elastomer  145  and push the sliding member  140  to a direction away from the rotating disk  160 . 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  do not shown the upper joint  300  and the lower joint  200 , so the entire folding hook structure  100  is shown as not connected to the upper carriage frame and the lower carriage frame. In use, the upper carriage frame and the lower carriage frame are respectively connected to the rotating disk  160  and the outer shell  110   a  through the upper joint  300  and the lower joint  200 . In other embodiments, the upper carriage frame and the lower carriage frame may also be directly connected to the rotating disk  160  and the outer shell  110   a.  In other applications, the folding hook structure  100  may also be connected to different types of mutually rotating components, so as to provide a rotating pivot and be able to lock and release the mutual rotations between these components. 
     Now refer to  FIGS. 5A-5B .  FIG. 5A  is a side view of the carriage frame according to the application, in which internal details of the folding hook structure  100  is shown in the form of a sectional view of the folding hook structure  100  on one side, and the folding hook  150  is in a released position; and  FIG. 5B  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 5A . As shown, the rotating disk  160  is located in the shell  110  and can rotate around the rotation axis. A folding hook groove  161  is disposed on a disk surface of the rotating disk  160 , the folding hook groove  161  includes a circumferential section  162  and a radial section  163 , moreover, the circumferential section  162  extends in a circumferential direction of the rotating disk  160  with the rotation center as the center, and the radial section  163  extends in the radial direction of the rotating disk  160  from the circumferential section  162 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , when the folding hook  150  is in its released position, the folding hook  150  is in the circumferential section  162  of the folding hook groove  161 . In this way, the folding hook  150  would not obstruct the mutual rotation between the rotating disk  160  and shell  110 . When the folding hook  150  is in its locked position ( FIG. 6B ), the folding hook  150  is in the radial section  163  of the folding hook groove  161 . In this way, the folding hook  150  will prevent mutual rotation between the rotating disk  160  and the shell  110 . 
     In an embodiment, the folding hook groove  161  may be a penetrating groove penetrating the rotating disk  160 . In other embodiments, the folding hook groove  161  may not penetrate the rotating disk  160 , rather, the folding hook groove  161  maybe a concave groove depressed from the disk surface. In an embodiment, the radial section  163  of the folding hook groove  161  is located at an end of the circumferential section  162  and extends in a direction away from the rotation axis. In other embodiments, the radial section  163  may also be located in a middle of the circumferential section  162 , and the radial section  163  may also extend in a direction close to the rotation axis. 
     In an embodiment, a side wall of the radial section  163  of the folding hook groove  161  facing the circumferential section  162  is inclined to form an oblique groove  164 , such that the radial section  163  has a larger width where near the circumferential section  162  and a smaller width where away from the circumferential section  162 . In this way, when the folding hook  150  is in the locked position (i.e., in the radial section  163  of the folding hook groove  161 ), as long as the user forcibly rotates the rotating disk  160  to an extending direction, the folding hook  150  may slide to its released position (i.e., in the circumferential section  162  of the folding hook groove  161 ) along the oblique groove  164 . 
     It is also easy to understand from  FIG. 5B , a notch  165  is formed on an outer circumference of the rotating disk  160 . In the release position of the folding hook structure  100 , the notch  165  can be aligned or not aligned with the sliding member  140  as the rotating disk  160  rotates. When the notch  165  is not aligned with the sliding member  140 , the sliding member  140  abuts against the outer circumference of the rotating disk  160  and cannot move to the extended position. When the notch  165  is aligned with the sliding member  140 , the sliding member  140  can move to the extended position and engage into the notch  165 , thereby locking a rotation angle of the rotating disk  160  in respect to the shell  110 . 
     In the shown embodiments, the circumferential section  162  of the folding hook groove  161  extends in an arc range of 160°-200°, and the notch  165  is located at a position opposite to the circumferential section  162  of the folding hook groove  161 . In other embodiments, the circumferential section  162  of the folding hook groove  161  may have a different extension range, for example, a larger or smaller extension range, and the position of the notch  165  may be changed. In this way, the relative positional relationship between the upper joint  300  and the lower joint  200  in the collapsed state and the extended state can be changed. 
     Now refer to  FIGS. 6A-6B .  FIG. 6A  is a side view of the carriage frame according to the application, in which internal details of the folding hook structure is shown in the form of a sectional view of the folding hook structure  100  on one side, and the folding hook  150  is in a locked position; and  FIG. 6B  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 6A . As shown, a recess  166  is further disposed on the outer circumference of the rotating disk  160 , and the recess  166  is approximately located at a position opposite to a middle position of the circumferential section  162  of the folding hook groove  161 . In the locked position, the recess  166  is aligned with the sliding member  140  for the sliding member  140  to abut against thereon. In an embodiment, a depth of the recess  166  is designed such that when an external force acts to rotate the rotating disk  160  and the shell  110  in respect to each other, the sliding member  140  can slide out of the recess  166 . For example, both sides of the recess  166  connected to the outer circumference of the rotating disk  160  may be designed as inclined edges, so as to facilitate the sliding member  140  to slide out of the recess  166 . In this way, the sliding member  140  can help maintain the upper joint  300  and the lower joint  200  in the collapsed state. Moreover, when the user needs to expand the upper joint  300  and the lower joint  200 , he/she can feel the carriage frame is separated by the resistance change brought by the sliding member  140 . 
     In summary, the folding hook structure  100  according to the application actually provides two locking structures. According to the first locking structure, through the cooperation of the folding hook  150  with the folding hook groove  161  in the rotating disk  160 , the folding hook structure  100  can be locked in a rotating position, e.g., a collapsed position where the upper joint  300  and the lower joint  200  are close to each other. According to the second locking structure, through the cooperation of the sliding member  140  with the notch  165  on the outer circumference of the rotating disk  160 , the folding hook structure  100  can be locked in the other rotating position, e.g., an extended position where the upper joint  300  and the lower joint  200  are extended in respect to each other. Moreover, the folding hook structure  100  of the application also provides a convenient, safe and easily operational unlocking function for both of the above locked positions. 
     Although the present application has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments, the terms used are illustrative and exemplary rather than restrictive. Since this application can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit and essence of the application, it should be understood, the above-mentioned embodiments are not limited to any of the foregoing details, but should be interpreted in the broadest sense within the scope defined by the claims. Therefore, all changes falling within the scope of the claims or their equivalents shall be covered by the claims. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.