casters

Abstract

This invention relates to a caster, comprising a housing, a brake, and a first pedal. The housing has a wheel that rotates about an axial direction. The brake includes a pivot, a connecting portion, and a braking portion. The connecting portion is located between the pivot and the braking portion, and two brake pads are provided at opposite ends along the axial direction. The first pedal is located in the housing and can swing between a first position and a second position. This invention avoids wear on the tire tread of the wheel, thus reducing its lifespan, thereby improving the wheel's durability and ensuring high braking force.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a caster. Background Technology

[0002] A typical caster with a braking function consists of a housing and a wheel pivotally connected to the housing. A braking unit is located between the housing and the wheel, which is a brake pad that can be pushed against the wheel. A pedal is also installed on the housing. When the pedal is swung downwards, it pushes the brake pad against the wheel to brake. When the pedal is swung upwards, the brake pad does not push against the wheel, and the wheel can rotate.

[0003] However, conventional caster brake pads rest against the rim of the tire (i.e., the top of the tire's arc), which causes wear between the rim and the brake pads. This significantly reduces the lifespan of the wheel, and when the rim is worn excessively, the braking effect will decrease significantly, raising safety concerns. This is a drawback that urgently needs to be improved.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a novel and progressive caster to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide a caster that avoids wear on the tire crown, thus reducing the lifespan of the caster and improving its durability while ensuring high braking force.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a caster including a housing, a brake, and a first pedal. The housing has a wheel that rotates about an axial direction. The brake includes a pivot portion, a connecting portion, and a braking portion. The connecting portion is located between the pivot portion and the braking portion. Two brake pads are provided at opposite ends of the connecting portion along the axial direction. The two brake pads are inclined relative to the connecting portion towards the wheel. The pivot portion is pivotally mounted to the housing. The first pedal is located in the housing and can swing between a first position and a second position. When the first pedal is in the first position, the two brake pads are not in contact with the wheel. When the first pedal swings to the second position, the first pedal abuts against the braking portion, causing the brake to swing and the two brake pads abut against the wheel.

[0007] Preferably, the pivot portion is pivotally mounted to the housing via a first pivot, the extension direction of which is parallel to the axial direction.

[0008] Preferably, the housing includes two side walls and a top wall, the top wall being connected between the two side walls, the wheel being pivotally connected between the two side walls, the brake being located between the wheel and the top wall, and a spring plate protruding from the connection between the pivot and the connection being abutted against the top wall.

[0009] Preferably, the two brake pads of the wheel extend outward relative to the connecting portion, and the wheel includes a tire crown and two tire shoulders. When the first pedal swings to the second position, the two brake pads respectively abut against the two tire shoulders.

[0010] Preferably, the axial width of the connecting portion is smaller than the axial width of the pivot portion and the width of the braking portion, forming two grooves, and the two brake pads extend integrally into the two grooves.

[0011] Preferably, the brake part has a recessed groove on its upper side, and the first pedal has a protruding protrusion on the side facing the wheel body. When the first pedal swings to the second position, the protruding protrusion engages with the groove.

[0012] Preferably, the first pedal is pivotally connected to the housing via a second pivot, the first pedal including a first tread end, the first tread end being away from the wheel when the first pedal is in the first position, and the first tread end being swung toward the wheel when the first pedal is swung toward the second position.

[0013] Preferably, the first pedal further includes a stop, and the second pivot is located between the first pedal end and the stop. The caster further includes a second pedal, which includes a second pedal end and a sliding end. The sliding end slidably abuts against a limiting stop of the housing. The stop is pivotally connected to the portion of the second pedal located between the second pedal end and the sliding end via a third pivot. When the first pedal is in the first position, the first pedal end and the second pedal end overlap. When the first pedal swings toward the second position, the stop causes the second pedal to swing so that the first pedal end and the second pedal end swing away from each other.

[0014] Preferably, it further includes a shaft that is rotatably inserted into the housing. One end of the shaft that extends into the housing is provided with a toothed disc that moves in tandem. The end of the brake member away from the braking part is provided with a locking part. When the first pedal is in the first position, the locking part does not interfere with the toothed disc. When the first pedal swings to the second position, the locking part interferes with the toothed disc.

[0015] Preferably, the two brake pads of the wheel extend outward relative to the connecting portion. The wheel includes a tire crown and two tire shoulders. When the first pedal swings to the second position, the two brake pads abut against the two tire shoulders respectively. The axial width of the connecting portion is smaller than the axial width of the pivot portion and the width of the braking portion, forming two grooves. The two brake pads extend integrally into the two grooves. A groove is recessed above the braking portion, and a protrusion is protruding on the side of the first pedal facing the wheel. When the first pedal swings to the second position, the protrusion abuts against the groove. The first pedal is pivotally connected to the housing by a second pivot. The first pedal includes a first pedal end. When the first pedal is in the first position, the first pedal end moves away from the wheel. When the first pedal swings to the second position, the first pedal end swings towards the wheel. The first pedal also includes a top end. The second pivot is located between the first pedal end and the top end. The caster also includes a second pedal, which includes a second... The device includes a pedal end and a sliding end, the sliding end of which slidably abuts against a limiting stop portion of the housing. The abutting end is pivotally connected to the second pedal at a position between the second pedal end and the sliding end via a third pivot. When the first pedal is in the first position, the first pedal end and the second pedal end overlap. When the first pedal swings towards the second position, the abutting end drives the second pedal to swing, causing the first pedal end and the second pedal end to swing away from each other. The device also includes a shaft that is rotatably inserted into the housing. In the housing, one end of the shaft extending into the housing is provided with a co-moving gear disc, and the end of the brake member away from the braking part is provided with a locking part. When the first pedal is in the first position, the locking part does not interfere with the gear disc, and when the first pedal swings to the second position, the locking part interferes with the gear disc. The two side walls are respectively provided with a recess on their opposite sides, and each recess is detachably covered with a cover. The two side walls are respectively provided with a lug, and the second pivot is pivotally connected to the two lugs.

[0016] The advantages of the present invention are:

[0017] The caster provided by this invention can avoid wear on the tire crown of the wheel body, thus reducing the life of the wheel body, thereby improving the durability of the wheel body and ensuring high braking force. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of the image.

[0021] Figures 4 to 5This is a partial operational cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figures 6 to 7 This is a partial operational perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 8 This is a top sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The following examples illustrate possible implementations of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5 This illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the caster includes a housing 1, a brake 2, and a first pedal 3.

[0026] The housing 1 is provided with a wheel 11, which rotates about an axis 12.

[0027] The brake component 2 includes a pivot portion 21, a connecting portion 22 and a braking portion 23. The connecting portion 22 is located between the pivot portion 21 and the braking portion 23. The connecting portion 22 is provided with two brake pads 24 at opposite ends along the axial direction 12. The two brake pads 24 are inclined relative to the connecting portion 22 toward the wheel body 11. The pivot portion 21 is pivotally mounted on the housing 1.

[0028] The first pedal 3 is disposed on the housing 1 and can swing between a first position and a second position. When the first pedal 3 is in the first position (e.g. Figure 4 and 6 As shown), the two brake pads 24 are not in contact with the wheel body 11. When the first pedal 3 swings to the second position (as shown), Figure 5 and 7 As shown), the first pedal 3 abuts against the brake part 23 to make the brake element 2 swing and the two brake pads 24 abut against the wheel body 11, so that the wheel body 11 cannot rotate arbitrarily (i.e., the braking state).

[0029] Therefore, since the connecting part 22 is located between the pivot part 21 and the braking part 23, when the first pedal 3 abuts against the braking part 23, the connecting part 22 is simultaneously pressed by the actuating part and the pivot part 21 and abuts against the wheel body 11, which can make the connecting part 22 have a strong pressing force. Since the two brake pads 24 extend outward relative to the connecting part 22, the wheel body 11 includes a tire crown 111 and two tire shoulders 112. When the first pedal 3 swings to the second position, the two brake pads 24 abut against the two tire shoulders 112 respectively, which can have a larger contact area to improve braking force and can avoid wear on the tire crown 111 of the wheel body 11 and reduce the life of the wheel body 11, thus improving the durability of the wheel body 11.

[0030] Specifically, the pivot 21 is pivotally mounted to the housing 1 via a first pivot 16, the extension direction of which is parallel to the axial direction 12. The housing 1 includes two side walls 13 and a top wall 14, the top wall 14 being connected between the two side walls 13, the wheel 11 being pivotally mounted between the two side walls 13, the brake 2 being located between the wheel 11 and the top wall 14, and a spring piece 25 protruding at the connection between the pivot 21 and the connecting part 22, the spring piece 25 abutting against the top wall 14, allowing the connecting part 22 to swing normally away from the wheel 11.

[0031] The axial width 12 of the connecting part 22 is smaller than the axial width 12 of the pivot part 21 and the width of the braking part 23, forming two grooves 26. The two brake pads 24 extend integrally into the two grooves 26, so the two brake pads 24 are less prone to elastic fatigue.

[0032] Preferably, the brake part 23 has a recessed groove 231 on its upper side, and the first pedal 3 has a protruding protrusion 32 on the side facing the wheel body 11. When the first pedal 3 swings to the second position, the protruding protrusion 32 abuts against the groove 231, which can limit the first pedal 3 to the second position and prevent it from arbitrarily returning to the first position.

[0033] Furthermore, the first pedal 3 is pivotally connected to the housing 1 via a second pivot 33. The first pedal 3 includes a first step end 34. When the first pedal 3 is in the first position, the first step end 34 is away from the wheel body 11. When the first pedal 3 swings toward the second position, the first step end 34 swings toward the wheel body 11.

[0034] In this embodiment, the first pedal 3 further includes a stop 35, and the second pivot 33 is located between the first foot end 34 and the stop 35. The caster further includes a second pedal 4, which includes a second foot end 41 and a sliding end 42. The sliding end 42 slidably abuts against a limiting stop 15 of the housing 1. The stop 35 is pivotally connected to the portion of the second pedal 4 located between the second foot end 41 and the sliding end 42 via a third pivot 43. When the first pedal 3 is in the first position, the first foot end 34 and the second foot end 41 overlap. When the first pedal 3 swings toward the second position, the stop 35 drives the second pedal 4 to swing so that the first foot end 34 and the second foot end 41 swing away from each other.

[0035] Therefore, when it is desired to return the first pedal 3 from the second position to the first position (i.e., the brake is released), simply step on the second pedal end 41 towards the first pedal end 34. The second pedal 4 presses against the top end 35, and the first pedal 3 returns to the first position. This makes operation convenient and simple. Both braking and releasing the brake are done by stepping down from top to bottom, avoiding the problem of scratching the shoe surface or skin. In addition, since the sliding end 42 slides against the housing 1, the second pedal 4 can slide and swing relative to the housing 1. This allows the first pedal end 34 to swing away from the second pedal end 41 with a larger amplitude, making it easier for the second pedal 4 to push the first pedal 3 back to the first position.

[0036] It should be noted that each of the two sidewalls 13 has a recess 141 on the side that is far apart from each other. Each recess 141 is detachably covered with a cover 142. The cover 142 may have a marking part to display a trademark or number, thereby achieving an advertising effect or controlling the number of casters.

[0037] Alternatively, preferably, each of the two sidewalls 13 is provided with a lug 143, and the second pivot 33 is pivotally connected to the two lugs 143, so that the first pedal 3 protrudes more to facilitate stepping.

[0038] The above description describes the preferred embodiments of the present invention and the technical principles applied thereto. For those skilled in the art, any obvious changes such as equivalent transformations or simple substitutions based on the technical solutions of the present invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A caster, characterized in that, include: A housing having a wheel that rotates about an axis; A brake component includes a pivot portion, a connecting portion, and a braking portion. The connecting portion is located between the pivot portion and the braking portion. Two brake pads are provided at opposite ends of the connecting portion along the axial direction. The two brake pads are inclined relative to the connecting portion toward the wheel body. The pivot portion is pivotally mounted on the housing. A first pedal is provided on the housing and can swing to a first position and a second position. When the first pedal is in the first position, the two brake pads are not in contact with the wheel body. When the first pedal swings to the second position, the first pedal abuts against the braking part to make the brake swing and the two brake pads abut against the wheel body. The first pedal is pivotally connected to the housing via a second pivot. The first pedal includes a first tread end and a stop end. The second pivot is located between the first tread end and the stop end. The caster also includes a second pedal, which includes a second tread end and a sliding end. The sliding end slidably abuts against a limiting stop portion of the housing. The stop end is pivotally connected to the portion of the second pedal located between the second tread end and the sliding end via a third pivot. The two brake pads of the wheel extend outward relative to the connecting part. The wheel includes a tire crown and two tire shoulders. When the first pedal swings to the second position, the two brake pads abut against the two tire shoulders respectively.

2. The caster as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pivot is pivotally mounted to the housing via a first pivot, the extension direction of which is parallel to the axial direction.

3. The caster as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The housing includes two side walls and a top wall. The top wall is connected between the two side walls. The wheel is pivotally connected between the two side walls. The brake is located between the wheel and the top wall. A spring plate is protruding at the connection between the pivot and the connection, and the spring plate abuts against the top wall.

4. The caster as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The axial width of the connecting part is smaller than the axial width of the pivot part and the width of the braking part, forming two grooves, and the two brake pads extend integrally into the two grooves.

5. The caster as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The brake part has a recessed groove on its upper part, and the first pedal has a protruding protrusion on the side facing the wheel body. When the first pedal swings to the second position, the protruding protrusion engages with the groove.

6. The caster as described in claim 1, characterized in that, When the first pedal is in the first position, the first pedal end moves away from the wheel body; when the first pedal swings toward the second position, the first pedal end swings toward the wheel body.

7. The caster as described in claim 6, characterized in that, When the first pedal is in the first position, the first foot end and the second foot end overlap. When the first pedal swings toward the second position, the abutment head drives the second pedal to swing so that the first foot end and the second foot end swing away from each other.

8. The caster as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a shaft that is rotatably inserted into the housing. One end of the shaft that extends into the housing is provided with a toothed disc that moves in tandem. The end of the brake component away from the braking part is provided with a locking part. When the first pedal is in the first position, the locking part does not interfere with the toothed disc. When the first pedal swings to the second position, the locking part interferes with the toothed disc.

9. The caster as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The axial width of the connecting part is smaller than the axial width of the pivot part and the width of the braking part, forming two grooves. The two brake pads extend integrally into the two grooves. A groove is recessed above the braking part, and a protrusion is protruding on the side of the first pedal facing the wheel body. When the first pedal swings to the second position, the protrusion engages with the groove. When the first pedal is in the first position, the first pedal end is away from the wheel body. When the first pedal swings towards the second position, the first pedal end swings towards the wheel body. When the first pedal is in the first position, the first pedal end overlaps with the second pedal end. When the first pedal swings towards the second position... The top of the abutment drives the second pedal to swing so that the first pedal end and the second pedal end swing away from each other; it also includes a shaft that is rotatably inserted into the housing, one end of the shaft extending into the housing is provided with a toothed disc that moves in tandem, and the end of the brake member away from the braking part is provided with a locking part. When the first pedal is in the first position, the locking part does not interfere with the toothed disc, and when the first pedal swings to the second position, the locking part interferes with the toothed disc; each of the two side walls is provided with a recess on one side away from each other, and each recess is detachably covered with a cover; each of the two side walls is provided with a lug, and the second pivot is pivotally connected to the two lugs.

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