ARMREST FOLDING MECHANISM AND BABY CARRIAGE

Abstract

An armrest folding mechanism pivotally connected to an armrest and connected to a first connecting rod of a connecting seat for folding the armrest with the retraction of the second connecting rod relative to the first connecting rod, comprising: a locking member, including a locking end, a connecting end, and a first rack part located between them, the locking end is releasably fitted to the armrest, and a first toothed structure is arranged on the first rack part; a pushing member including a pushing end and a second rack part, a second toothed structure iptOs correspondingly arranged on the second rack part relative to the first toothed structure, the pushing end moves by the second connecting rod; an elastic element with a first end connected to connecting end and a second end abutting against the connecting seat; and a driving gear engaging with the first and second toothed structures.

Claims

1. An armrest folding mechanism, pivotally connected to an armrest, and connected to a first connecting rod of a connecting seat, for folding the armrest with retraction of a second connecting rod of the connecting seat relative to the first connecting rod, comprising: a locking member, comprising a locking end and a connecting end as well as a first rack part between the locking end and the connecting end, the locking end being releasably fitted to the armrest, and a first toothed structure being arranged on the first rack part; a pushing member, comprising a pushing end and a second rack part, a second toothed structure being arranged on the second rack part, the pushing end being moved under a pushing action of the second connecting rod; an elastic element, comprising a first end and second end opposite to each other, the first end being connected to the connecting end, and the second end abutting against the connecting seat; and a driving gear, engaging with the first toothed structure and the second toothed structure.

2. The armrest folding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first rack part is formed as a first frame, the first frame has an upper edge and a lower edge arranged parallel to each other, and the first toothed structure is arranged on an inner side of at least one of the upper edge and the lower edge of the first frame; the second rack part is formed as a second frame, the second frame has an upper edge and a lower edge arranged parallel to each other, and the second toothed structure is arranged on an inner side of at least one of the upper edge and the lower edge of the second frame; and the driving gear is penetratingly arranged in the first frame and the second frame, to be engaged with the first toothed structure and the second toothed structure.

3. The armrest folding mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first toothed structure is arranged on the inner side of the upper edge of the first frame, the second toothed structure is arranged on the inner side of the lower edge of the second frame; or alternatively the first toothed structure is arranged on the inner side of the lower edge of the first frame, and the second toothed structure is arranged on the inner side of the upper edge of the second frame.

4. The armrest folding mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first frame and/or the second frame is rectangular.

5. The armrest folding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second connecting rod of the connecting seat is provided with a driving member, and the driving member pushes the pushing end during a process the second connecting rod is folded in respect to the first connecting rod.

6. The armrest folding mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the pushing end is provided with a guiding face for guiding the pushing of the driving member.

7. The armrest folding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the armrest is provided with a locking hole, and the locking end is releasably fitted into the locking hole.

8. The armrest folding mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the locking end of the locking member has a non-circular cross-section, and the locking hole of the armrest has a cross-section shaped matching that of the locking end.

9. A baby carriage comprising: a frame, forming a main frame structure of the baby carriage; two connecting seats, each of the connecting seats including a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod pivotally connected to each other, such that the second connecting rod being folded and unfold relative to the first connecting rod; a seat support, both ends of the seat support being respectively connected to the first connecting rod of each of the connecting seats; an armrest folding mechanism connected to the first connecting rod; and an armrest pivotally connected to the armrest folding mechanism, such that the armrest being folded with retraction of the second connecting rod of each of the connecting seats relative to the first connecting rod.

10. The baby carriage according to claim 9, wherein the armrest folding mechanism comprises: a locking member, comprising a locking end and a connecting end as well as a first rack part between the locking end and the connecting end, the locking end being releasably fitted to the armrest, and a first toothed structure being arranged on the first rack part; a pushing member, comprising a pushing end and a second rack part, a second toothed structure being arranged on the second rack part, the pushing end being moved under a pushing action of the second connecting rod; an elastic element, comprising a first end and second end opposite to each other, the first end being connected to the connecting end, and the second end abutting against the connecting seat; and a driving gear, engaging with the first toothed structure and the second toothed structure.

11. The baby carriage according to claim 9, wherein the second connecting rod is connected to the frame of the baby carriage.

12. The baby carriage according to claim 9, wherein the second connecting rod is connected to the frame of the baby carriage through a crossbar.

13. The baby carriage according to claim 9, wherein the baby carriage further comprises a backrest support pivotally connected to the seat support, and the second connecting rod is connected to the backrest support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Those skilled in the art will understand, the drawings are mainly used for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the subject matter of the disclosure described herein. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In some cases, various aspects of the subject matter of the disclosure herein may be exaggerated or enlarged in the drawings to facilitate understanding of different features. In the drawings, the same reference numerals generally refer to the same features (e.g., functionally similar and/or structurally similar elements).

[0022] In the drawings:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a baby carriage having an armrest folding mechanism according to the disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a baby carriage having an armrest folding mechanism according to the disclosure with its main frame structure in an unfolded state;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a baby carriage having an armrest folding mechanism according to the disclosure with its main frame structure in a half folded state;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a baby carriage having an armrest folding mechanism according to the disclosure with its main frame structure in a folded state;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an armrest folding mechanism according to the disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 6 is another schematic view showing an armrest folding mechanism according to the disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an armrest folding mechanism according to the disclosure with the armrest folding mechanism in an unfolded state;

[0030] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an armrest folding mechanism according to the disclosure, in which the armrest folding mechanism begins to enter the folded state; and

[0031] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a baby carriage having an armrest folding mechanism according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The drawings and exemplary embodiments described below are not meant to limit the scope of these embodiments to a single embodiment. The embodiments can be realized by replacing part or all of the described or illustrated elements. In addition, in case that certain elements of the disclosed exemplary embodiment may be partially or wholly implemented using known components, in some cases, only the parts of such known components necessary for understanding this embodiment are described, and detailed descriptions of other parts of these known components are omitted so as not to obscure this embodiment.

[0033] The armrest folding mechanism according to the disclosure can be applied to a variety of devices, such as a car's child seat, a child dining chair, and the like. For the sake of brevity, the following embodiments only take the armrest folding mechanism applied to a baby carriage r as an example for description.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, which schematically shows a baby carriage according to the disclosure, and only shows a frame structure of the baby carriage for easy description, which mainly comprises a frame 10, a backrest support 20 and a seat support 30. The frame 10 constitutes a main structure of the baby carriage, and the backrest support 20 and the seat support 30 together form an accommodating space for a baby. In addition, in order to improve comfortability and safety of the baby in seating, an armrest 60 is also provided for the baby to grasp when seating in the baby carriage.

[0035] The baby carriage is usually arranged to be folded, so that the baby carriage may be retracted when it needs to be carried out, and then unfold for a baby to seat. Specifically, as schematically shown in FIG. 2, the backrest support 20 and the seat support 30 are pivotally connected to each other by connecting seats 40 symmetrically arranged on both sides. More specifically, each of the connecting seats 40 includes a first connecting rod 42 and a second connecting rod 44 pivotally connected to each other, the first connecting rod 42 is connected to the seat support 30, and the second connecting rod 44 is connected to the backrest support 20. Preferably, the first connecting rod 42 is fixedly connected to the seat support 30, and the second connecting rod 44 is fixedly connected to the backrest support 20. The backrest support 20 may be in a folded or unfolded state relative to the seat support 30. In another embodiment, the seat support 30 is slidably connected to the first connecting rod 42, and the backrest support 20 is slidably connected to the second connecting rod 44. FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the backrest support 20 in the unfolded state in respect to the seat support 30. In the unfolded state, an angle between the backrest support 20 and the seat support 30 is of approximately 90 degrees. The above-mentioned angle values are only examples, and the present application is not limited to the angles shown in this example. Please also refer to FIGS. 3 and 4, which respectively show schematic views of the main frame structure of the baby carriage according to the disclosure in half folded and folded states. The angle between the backrest support 20 and the seat support 30 may be continuously reduced as further folding. In the fully folded state shown in FIG. 4, the backrest support 20 is completely folded relative to the seat support 30, and the angle between them is close to 0 degree, thus greatly reducing the baby carriage's volume, and facilitating carrying outside.

[0036] The baby carriage according to the disclosure is further provided with an armrest folding mechanism 70. Moreover, both ends of the armrest 60 are respectively pivotally connected the two armrest folding mechanisms 70, so that the armrest 60 may be unlocked and folded as the backrest support 20 folding relative to seat support 30, and thusly automatically retraction, which greatly improves the convenience of the folding operation. Although providing two armrest folding mechanisms 70 is preferable in view of balance and stability, according to the disclosure, the armrest folding mechanism 70 may also be provided by one.

[0037] The specific structure of an armrest folding mechanism 70 according to the disclosure will be described in detail as below with reference to FIG. 5. Two armrest folding mechanisms 70 are symmetrically arranged at both ends of the armrest 60. The armrest folding mechanism 70 is connected to the first connecting rod 42 of one of the connecting seats 40. Hereinafter, only one armrest folding mechanism 70 arranged on one side is taken as an example for description. As shown in FIG. 5, the armrest folding mechanism 70 includes a locking member 72, a pushing member 74, an elastic element 76, and a driving gear 78. Further referring to FIG. 6 at the same time, the locking member 72 includes a locking end 721, a connecting end 722, and a first rack part 723 located between the locking end 721 and the connecting end 722. The first rack part 723 is provided with a first toothed structure 7231. The locking end 721 of the locking member 72 is releasably locked to the armrest 60, e.g., releasably locked in the locking hole 62 of the armrest 60 (as shown in FIG. 6). The connecting end 722 of the locking member 72 is connected to a first end 761 of the elastic element 76, and a second end 762 of the elastic element 76 abuts against the connecting seat 40. The first rack part 723 between the locking end 721 and the connecting end 722 may be in various forms, for example, may be in a shape of a rack. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the first rack part 723 is in the form of a frame. Although a form of a rectangular frame is shown in this embodiment, other forms of other shapes may be suitably used. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the frame of the first rack part 723 has an upper edge and a lower edge which are arranged parallel to each other, and the first toothed structure 7231 is arranged on the upper edge of the frame. Of course, the first toothed structure 7231 may also be arranged on the upper edge and the lower edge of the frame at the same time. Or alternatively, the first toothed structure 7231 is only arranged on the lower edge of the frame.

[0038] In addition, a cross-section of the locking end 721 of the locking member 72 is non-circular, such as the rectangle shape shown in FIG. 6. Correspondingly, a cross-section of the locking hole 62 of the armrest 60 has a shape matching the cross-section of the locking end 721, such as the rectangle shape shown in FIG. 6. The matched non-circular cross-sections of the locking end 721 and the locking hole 62 would reduce the rotation of the locking member 72 around its axis, such that the engagement between the locking member 72 and the armrest 60 is more reliable.

[0039] The pushing member 74 of the armrest folding mechanism 70 includes pushing end 741 and a second rack part 742 which are provided at opposite ends of the pushing member 74, respectively. The second rack part 742 may take various forms, for example, it may be in a form of a rack. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the second rack part 742 is in a form of a frame. Although the second rack part in a form of a frame is shown as having rectangular-shaped frame in this embodiment, the second rack part can take other shapes for the frame. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the frame of the second rack part 742 has an upper edge and a lower edge arranged parallel to each other, and the second toothed structure 7421 is arranged on the upper edge of the frame. Of course, the second toothed structure 7421 may also be provided on the upper edge and the lower edge of the frame at the same time; or alternatively, the second toothed structure 7421 may be only arranged on the lower edge of the frame. Correspondingly, teeth of the first toothed structure 7231 or the second toothed structure 7421 may be trapezoidal, triangular or circular.

[0040] The driving gear 78 is respectively connected to the locking member 72 and the pushing member 74, and pushing the locking member 72 and the pushing member 74 to move in opposite directions. For example, as seen in FIG. 6, the driving gear 78 pushes the locking member 72 and the pushing member 74 respectively to move rightward and leftward. The driving gear 78 is penetratingly arranged in the frame structure of the first rack part 723 and the frame structure of the second rack part 742, thereby engaging the first toothed structure 7231 and the second toothed structure 7421 simultaneously. Therefore, if the first toothed structure 7231 is arranged on the upper edge of the frame structure of first rack part 723, the second toothed structure 7421 is arranged correspondingly on the lower edge of the frame structure of the second rack part 742; and if the first toothed structure 7231 is arranged on the lower edge of the frame structure of the first rack part 723, the second toothed structure 7421 is arranged correspondingly on the upper edge of the frame structure of the second rack part 742.

[0041] A shaft 781 of the driving gear 78 is fixed in the housing 71 of the armrest folding mechanism 70, and locking member 72 and the pushing member 74 are positioned by the driving gear 78 penetratingly arranged therein. A locking end 721 of the locking member 72 is releasably fitted to the armrest 60. The armrest 60 has a locking hole 62, and the locking end 721 is releasably fitted to the locking hole 62. In an embodiment, when the backrest support 20 in the unfolded state, at least a part of the locking end 721 is located in the locking hole 62. The connecting end 722 of the locking member 72 abuts against the connecting seat 40 through an elastic component 76.

[0042] An action process of the armrest folding mechanism 70 according to the disclosure will be described as below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, in which FIG. 7 schematically shows a schematic view of the armrest folding mechanism 70 according to the disclosure with the armrest folding mechanism in an unfolded state, and FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an armrest folding mechanism according to the disclosure, in which the armrest folding mechanism begins to enter the folded state. As described above, the connecting seat 40 includes the first connecting rod 42 and the second connecting rod 44 pivotally connected to each other. The first connecting rod 42 is fixed to the seat support 30, and the second connecting rod 44 is fixed to the backrest support 20, such that the backrest support 20 is pivotally rotatable relative to the seat support 30. The second connecting rod 44 of the connecting seat 40 is further provided with a driving member 441. When the backrest support 20 is pivotally folded in respect to the seat support 30, i.e., as an included angle θ between the backrest support 20 and the seat support 30 gradually decreases, the driving member 441 starts to contact and push the pushing member 74. Preferably, the pushing end 741 of the pushing member 74 is provided with a guiding face 7411. The guiding face 7411 is, for example, an inclined surface, so as to increase the contact area between the driving member 441 and the pushing end 741, such that the driving member 441 may push the pushing member 74 more easily. The pushing member 74 starts to move toward a side of the armrest 60 under an action of the driving member 441. Since the driving gear 78 is simultaneously engaged with the first toothed structure 7231 and the second toothed structure 7421, with the movement of the pushing member 7, the driving gear 78 starts to rotate by pushing action of the second toothed structure 7421. Moreover, the rotating driving gear 78 pushes the locking member 72 to start to move toward the side of the backrest support 20 by pushing action of the first toothed structure 7231. As shown in FIG. 6, the locking end 721 of the locking member 72 is gradually separated from the locking hole 62 of the armrest 60 to unlock the armrest 60, such that the armrest 60 may be folded toward the backrest support 20.

[0043] In the above-mentioned folding process of the armrest 60 toward the backrest support 20, the locking member 72 moves toward a side of the backrest support 20 and presses the elastic element 76, so that the elastic element 76 is in a compressed state. Therefore, on the other hand, when the backrest support 20 is in the unfolded state in respect to the seat support 30 again, an elastic force of the elastic element 76 may urge the locking member 72 to move toward a side of the armrest 60, and fit into the locking hole 62 of the armrest 60 again, and the armrest 60 is in a locked state again.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the second connecting rod 44 of the connecting seat 40 is connected to the backrest support 20 of the baby carriage. While in the baby carriage having an armrest folding mechanism according to another embodiment shown in FIG. 9, no backrest support 20 is arranged, so that the baby carriage can be lighter and the cost can be reduced. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the second connecting rod 44 of the connecting seat 40 and the frame 10 are connected to each other by a crossbar 12. For example, the crossbar 12, the second connecting rod 44, and the frame 10 are all fixedly connected. When the frame 10 is folded in respect to the seat support 30, the second connecting rod 44 is linked with the frame 10, and the driving member 441 drives the armrest folding mechanism 70, such that the armrest 60 may also be folded accordingly by an action of the armrest folding mechanism 70. Of course, the second connecting rod 44 of the connecting seat 40 and the frame 10 may be directly connected to each other without the crossbar 12. The specific structure of the armrest folding mechanism 70 and its folded state and its unfold and locked state are the same as those in the foregoing embodiment, and will not be redundantly repeated here.

[0045] The armrest folding mechanism 70 according to the disclosure allows the armrest 60 to be folded with the retraction of the backrest support 20 or the frame 10 in respect to the seat support 30, and locks the armrest 60 again when the backrest support 20 or the frame 10 unfolds in respect to the seat support 30. Therefore, the convenience of the retraction operation is greatly improved. In addition, the armrest folding mechanism 70 according to the disclosure utilizes a gear transmission to achieve unlocking, and thus has the advantages of simple in structure, easy in assembling, and labor-saving in collapsible folding.

[0046] The description provided herein illustrates the various features by preferred and exemplary embodiments. Those ordinary skilled in the art can make many other embodiments, modifications and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims by reading this specification.

[0047] Reference Numeral List:

TABLE-US-00001 10: Frame 12: Crossbar 20: Backrest Support 30: Seat Support 40: Connecting seat 42: First Connecting Rod 44: Second Connecting Rod 441: Driving Member 60: Armrest 62: Locking Hole 70: Armrest Folding Mechanism 71: Housing 72: Locking Member 721: Locking End 722: Connecting End 723: First Rack Part 7231: First Toothed Structure 74: Pushing Member 741: Pushing End 7411: Guiding Face 742: Second Rack Part 7421: Second Toothed Structure 76: Elastic Element 761: First End 762: Second End 78: Driving Gear 781: Shaft