Patent Publication Number: US-2018038545-A1

Title: Tube devices and tripods

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure generally relates to articles for daily life, and especially relates to a tube device and a tripod. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In daily life, people often need to use a camera to take pictures. In order to get good photo, the camera is placed on a tripod. Often, the tripod includes a plurality of tube devices, and each of the tube devices includes a plurality tubes and a plurality of locking members. A tube is sleeved to another tube by one locking members engaged to an outer face of the one tube, resulting in accident damage of the locking member during the use of the tube device. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure relates to a tube device and a tripod. 
     In one aspect, a tube device includes: a first tube, a second tube sleeved to the first tube, and a locking member assembled in a sleeve connection position between the first tube and the second tube and received in the second tube. Wherein the first tube is received in the second tube, and wherein when the first tube is rotated, the first tube drives the locking member to abut against an inner wall of the second tube until the first tube and the second tube are in a locking position. 
     Wherein the locking member comprises a protruding portion having a variation thickness, and the first tube defines a first recessing portion for receiving the protruding portion; wherein when the protruding portion is received in the first recessing portion, the second tube can move relative to the first tube, thereby adjusting a length between the second tube and the first tube, and wherein when the first is rotated, the first tube drives the protruding portion to gradually disengage from the first recessing portion and to abut against the inner wall of the second tube until the first tube and the second tube are in the locking position. 
     Wherein locking member comprising: a locking plate comprising a protruding portion having a variation thickness, wherein the first tube defines a receiving groove located in first end thereof, and wherein when the protruding portion is placed in the receiving groove, the protruding portion protrudes out of the receiving groove; and a locking base fixed to the first tube and defining a second recessing portion in communication with the receiving groove, wherein the locking plate is received in the second recessing portion; wherein when the first is rotated, the first tube drives the locking base to rotate, and the locking base drives the protruding portion to gradually disengage from the second recessing portion and to abut against the inner wall of the second tube until the first tube and the second tube are in the locking position. 
     Wherein the tube device comprises a locating portion to fix the locking base to the first tube, wherein the locating portion comprises a locating bar positioned in an inner surface of the first tube and a locating groove positioned in an outer surface of the locking base to receive the locating bar. 
     Wherein a first hole is defined in a second end of the first tube, and a second hole is defined in an end of the second tube, when the first tube is sleeved to the second tube and the second tube moves from the first end to the second end of the first tube, the first hole is in communication with the second hole. 
     Wherein the tube device comprises a fixing portion defining a fixing hole, wherein when the fixing portion is inserted into the second tube, the second hole is corresponding to the fixing hole. 
     Wherein the fixing portion defines a slot, and the second tube comprises a fixing block protruding out of an inner surface of the second tube, wherein the fixing block is received in the slot. 
     Wherein he locking base comprises an inserting portion locating on an end thereof, and a limiting portion locating another end thereof, wherein when the inserting portion is inserted into the first tube, the limiting portion flushes with an end face of the first tube adjacent to the receiving groove. 
     Wherein the limiting portion defines a third hole in order that atmosphere enters into the tube device. 
     In another aspect, a tripod includes a placing plate and a plurality of tube devices engaged to the placing plate, each of the plurality of tube devices is similar to the above the tube device. 
     Compared to the prior art, the technical effect of the invention is that the locking member is received in the second tube so that the locking member is not exposed to an outside, thereby preventing accidental damage, and having advantages of easy operation and convenient collection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled view of a locking member and a first tube of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a locking base of the locking member inserted into the first tube, a pair of locking plates, and the first tube of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the locking member and the first tube of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the first tube and the second tube of the first embodiment of the present invention, and the locking member is in an unlocking position; 
         FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but the locking member is in an locking position; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the first tube, the second tube, and the locking member of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the first tube of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the second tube of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the locking plate of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the locking base of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a fixing portion of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded view of a locking member and a first tube of a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is an assembled view of a tripod of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. The embodiments described in accordance with the drawings are only examples, and thus the claimed invention is not limited thereto. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 11 , a tube device  100  is disclosed. The tube device  100  is used to, but not limited to, a tripod, a monopod, a selfie stick, and other produces including one or a plurality of tubes. 
     The tube device  100  includes a first tube  110 , a second tube  120 , and a locking member  200 . 
     The first tube  110  is sleeved to the second tube  120  and is received in the second tube  120 . When the first tube  110  is inserted into the second tube  120 , the first tube  110  can move in the second tube  120 . That is to say, when the second tube  120  is sleeved to the first tube  110 , the second tube  120  can be drawn freely relative to the first tube  110 . 
     The locking member  200  is assembled in a sleeve connection position between the first tube  110  and the second tube  120 , and is received in the second tube  120 . When the first tube  110  is rotated, the first tube  110  drives the locking member  200  to abut against an inner wall of the second tube  120  until the first tube  110  and the second tube  120  are in a locking position. 
     In one embodiment, the locking member  200  is used to lock the first tube  110  and the second tube  120 , and the first tube  110  is sleeve in the second tube  120 . That is to say, the first tube  110  is inserted into the second tube  120 , the second tube  120  can be drawn relative to the first tube  110 . 
     In other embodiment, the tube device  100  includes a plurality of tubes, and one tube is sleeve to another tube by a locking member, for example, a first tube is sleeve to a second tube by a first locking member, the second tube is sleeve to a third tube by a second locking member, the third tube is sleeved to a fourth tube by a third locking member, and so on. 
     In assemble, the locking member  200  is received in the second tube  120 , and the first tube  110  is sleeve to the second tube  120  by the locking member  200 . In use, the first tube  110  is rotated along a first direction, and the first tube  110  drives the locking member  200  to abut against an inner wall of the second tube  120  until the first tube  110  and the second tube  120  are in a locking position. During the first tube  110  being rotated, the force applied on the locking member  200  is gradually increased, and the force applied on the inner wall of the second tube  120  is gradually increased, so that the second tube  120  is sleeved to the first tube  110  and cannot be drawn relative to the first tube  110 . Thus, when the first tube  110  and the second tube  120  is fixed, the tube device  100  can be used to a supporting device. 
     When the tube device  100  need to be collection, the first tube  110  is rotated along a second direction opposite to the first direction, the force applied on the locking member  200  is gradually disappeared, and the force applied on the inner wall of the second tube  120  is gradually disappeared, until the second tube  120  can be drawn relative to the first tube  110 , so that the first tube  110  can be received in the second tube  120 , resulting in decreasing occupancy space and convenient transportation. 
     In addition, the locking member  200  is received in the second tube  120 , and is not exposed to the outside, so that the locking member  200  is prevented from accidental damage. And the locking member  200  of the present invention has the advantages of easy operation and convenient collection. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 11 , the locking member  200  includes at least one locking plate  210  and a locking base  220 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 6 ,  FIGS. 7-9 , and  FIG. 11 , the locking plate  210  includes a protruding portion  211  having a variation thickness. The first tube  110  defines a receiving groove  112  locating a first end thereof. When the locking plate  210  is placed in the receiving groove  112 , the protruding portion  211  protrudes out of the receiving groove  112 . In detail, a part of the protruding portion  211  protrudes from the first tube  110  toward the inner wall of the second tube  120  through the receiving groove  112 . 
     The locking base  220  is fixed to the first tube  110 . The locking base  220  defines a second recessing portion  223  for receiving the protruding portion  211 . A bottom wall of the second recessing portion  223  has a variation thickness in order to receive the protruding portion  211 . 
     When the first tube  110  is rotated, the first tube  110  drives to the locking base  220  to rotate and the protruding portion  211  to gradually disengage from the second recessing portion  223  of the locking base  220 , so that the protruding portion  211  moves to the inner wall of the second tube  120  and abuts against the inner wall of the second tube  120 , and the first tube  110  and second tube  120  are locked in the locking position by the locking member  200 . 
     In one embodiment, the locking base  200  is fixed to the first tube  110 . The first tube  110  is rotated to drive the locking base  220  to rotate. The first tube  110  together with the locking base  220  drive the locking plate  210  to move so that the protruding portion  211  of the locking plate  210  is gradually disengaged from the second recessing portion  223  and abuts against the inner wall of the second tube  120  until the first tube  110  and the second tube  120  are locked in the locking position. During the first tube  110  being rotated, the force applied on the locking plate  210  by the first tube  110  and the locking base  220  is gradually increased, and the force applied on the inner wall of the second tube  120  by the locking plate  210  is gradually increased, until the second tube  120  is positioned by the locking plate  210 , thus a length between the second tube  120  and the first tube  110  is freely adjusted, thereby making the use convenient. In addition, the friction force and contact area between the locking plate  210  and the inner wall of the second tube  120  is greater than the friction force and contact area between the protruding portion  211  and the inner wall of the second tube  120 , thus the positioning effect of the second tube  120  is better, the locking effect between the first tube  110  and the second tube  120  is better. 
     The thickness of the protruding portion  211  is thickened gradually from one side of the locking plate  210  to another side of the locking plate  210 . That is to say, the thickness of the protruding portion  211  is changed along with the circumferential direction of an inner surface of the first tube  110 , so that the first tube  110  is rotated easily and cannot be stopped. In addition, the thickness of the second recessing portion  223  is corresponding to the thickness of the protruding portion  211  in order that the protruding portion  211  is received in the second recessing portion  223 . 
     In one embodiment, the locking member includes a pair of locking plates  210 . Each of the pair of locking plate  210  includes a protruding portion having a variation thickness. The first tube  110  defines a pair of receiving grooves  112  for placing the locking plates  210 . The locking base  220  defines a pair of second recessing portions  223  to receive the locking plates  210 . 
     In another embodiment, the number of the locking plate  210  is three, correspondingly, the number of the receiving groove  112  is three, and the number of the second recessing portion  223  is three. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 10 , the locking member  200  comprises a locating portion to fix the locking base  220  to the first tube  110 . The locating portion comprises a locating bar  113  positioned in an inner surface of the first tube  110  and a locating groove  224  positioned in an outer surface of the locking base  220  to receive the locating bar  113 . That the locating bar  113  is received in the locating groove  224  to prevent the locking base  220  from rotating relative to the first tube  110 . 
     In another embodiment, the locating portion comprises a locating bar positioned in an inner surface of the locking base and a locating groove positioned in an outer surface of the first tube to receive the locating bar. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-8 , a first hole  111  is defined in a second end of the first tube  110 , and a second hole  121  is defined an end of the second tube  120 . When the first tube  110  is sleeved to the second tube  120 , and the second tube  120  moves from the first end of the first tube  110  to the second end of the first tube  110 , the first hole  112  is in communication with the second hole  121 . When the first tube  110  and the second tube  120  are collected, the locking member  200  is in an unlocking position so that the second tube  120  can be drawn relative to the first tube  110 , and the second tube  120  and the first tube  110  are assembled by a fixing structure, for example a rope, passing through the first hole  111  and the second hole  121 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7  and  FIG. 10 , the locking base  210  includes an inserting portion  221  locating on an end thereof, and a limiting portion  222  locating another end thereof. When the inserting portion  221  is inserted into the first tube  110 , the limiting portion  222  flushes with an end face of the first tube  110  adjacent to the receiving groove  112 . The limiting portion  222  defines a third hole  225  in order that atmosphere can enter into the tube device  100 , thereby preventing the pressure resistance. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-8  and  FIG. 11 , the locking member  200  includes a fixing portion  230 . The fixing potion  230  defines a fixing hole  231  in communication with the second hole  121  when the fixing portion is engaged to the second tube  120 . In one embodiment, the fixing portion  230  is fixed in the second tube  120  through injection molding. When the fixing portion  230  is fixed in the second tube  120 , the first tube  110  together with the locking member  200  cannot be accidentally disengaged from the second tube  120 , a strength of the second tube  120  is increased so that the second tube  120  is prevented from cracking during the second tube  120  being sleeved to the first tube  110  or the first tube  110  and the second tube  120  being in the locking position. 
     In other embodiment, when the tube device includes a plurality tubes, and the number of tubes is more than 2, for example 4, in addition to a first tube, the second and third tubes also includes the fixing portion. 
     The fixing portion  230  defines a slot  232 , and the second tube  120  comprises a fixing block  122  protruding out of an inner surface of the second tube  120 . The fixing block  122  is received in the slot  232  in order to locate the second tube  120  and the fixing portion  230 . 
     In one embodiment, a diameter of the second tube  120  is greater than a diameter of the first tube  110 . 
       FIG. 12  discloses an exploded view of a locking member and a first tube of a second embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment, the locking member includes a protruding portion  211 ′ having a variation thickness, and the first tube  110 ′ defines a first recessing portion  112 ′ to position the protruding portion  211 ′. A bottom wall of the first recessing portion  112 ′ has a variation thickness corresponding to the thickness of the protruding portion  211 ′. 
     In assemble, the protruding portion  211 ′ is received in the first recessing portion  112 ′, and the first tube  110 ′ is sleeved to the second tube  120  by the protruding portion  211 ′. In use, when the protruding portion  211 ′ is received in the first recessing portion  112 ′, the second tube  120  can be drawn relative to the first tube  110 ′ so that a length between the second tube  120  and the first tube  110 ′ is freely adjusted. When the first tube  110 ′ is rotated, and the first tube  110 ′ drives protruding portion  211 ′ to gradually disengage from the first recessing portion  112 ′ and abut against an inner wall of the second tube  120  until the first tube  110 ′ and the second tube  120  are in a locking position. During the first tube  110 ′ being rotated, the force applied on the protruding portion  211 ′ by the first tube  110 ′ is gradually increased, and the force applied on the inner wall of the second tube  120  by the protruding portion  211 ′ is gradually increased, until the second tube  120  is positioned by the protruding portion  211 ′, thus a length between the second tube  120  and the first tube  110 ′ is freely adjusted, thereby making the use convenient. 
     Other structure of the first tube  110 ′ is similar to the structure of the first tube  110 , for example, the first tube  110 ′ includes a first hole  111 ′. 
       FIG. 13  discloses an assembled view of a tripod  10  of the present invention. Referring also to  FIGS. 1-12 , the tripod  10  includes a plurality of tube devices  100  and a placing plate  300 . The plurality of tube devices  100  are fixed to the placing plate  300 . 
     Each of the plurality of tube devices  100  includes a first tube  110 , a second tube  120 , and a locking member  200 . The first tube  110  and the second tube  120  are in the locking position by the locking member  200  abutting against the inner wall of the second tube  120 . 
     In another embodiment, the tripod  10  can be a monopod, a selfie stick, and other produces including one or a plurality of tubes. 
     In other embodiment, each of the plurality of the tube devices includes a plurality of tubes, and one tube is sleeve to another tube by a locking member, for example, a first tube is sleeve to a second tube by a first locking member, the second tube is sleeve to a third tube by a second locking member, the third tube is sleeved to a fourth tube by a third locking member, and so on. 
     Although the features and elements of the present disclosure are described as embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone or in other various combinations within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.