Caster structure for seat and seat

Abstract

The utility model discloses a caster structure for a seat and the seat, and belongs to the technical field of seats, the caster structure comprises a connecting piece used for being connected with a seat frame of the seat, and the connecting piece is provided with a mounting part; the rolling ball is arranged on the mounting part in a rolling manner; the limiting piece is arranged on the connecting piece, and the limiting piece is in rolling contact with the rolling ball and is used for limiting the rolling ball to the mounting part; and the rolling ball partially extends out of the through hole. The rolling ball can be limited to the installation part through the limiting piece, the rolling ball is in rolling fit with the installation part and the limiting piece, and the rolling ball can roll in any direction. And the rolling ball extends out of the through hole part on the limiting piece, so that the rolling ball can be in rolling contact with the ground. Compared with the scheme that in the prior art, the rolling direction switching of the rolling wheel is achieved through rotation of a rotating shaft, the rolling ball can achieve the rolling direction switching through free rolling, and the steering flexibility is higher.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of seating technology, specifically to a caster structure for a seat and a seat. Background Technology

[0002] Office chairs, gaming chairs, and other similar seating require a high degree of flexibility. Therefore, some chairs on the market are equipped with free-rolling casters for easy movement. Current caster designs typically involve a pivot on the caster that rotates relative to the chair leg, allowing the caster to roll in any direction. However, when the chair bears a heavy load, a significant downward force is applied between the chair leg and the pivot. This force can increase friction between the two, causing the pivot to jam and temporarily preventing the caster from turning. Furthermore, in practical use, prolonged weight-bearing causes most casters to deform, leading to significant wear and tear, and also generating noticeable noise during use. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a caster structure and seat for a seat, which has higher steering flexibility.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] Caster structure for a seat, the caster structure comprising:

[0006] A connector for connecting to the seat frame of a seat, the connector having a mounting portion;

[0007] A rolling ball, which is rotatably disposed on the mounting portion; and,

[0008] A limiting member is disposed on the connecting member, the limiting member making rolling contact with the ball and serving to restrict the ball within the mounting portion;

[0009] The limiting member is provided with a through hole, and the ball extends out from the through hole.

[0010] Preferably, a portion of the inner wall of the perforation is formed with an annular curved surface that rolls into contact with the ball, and the annular curved surface extends into the perforation. The annular curved surface on the inner wall of the perforation allows the limiting member to achieve rolling contact with the ball through the annular curved surface.

[0011] Preferably, the limiting member is detachably disposed on the connecting member. Designing the limiting member to be detachably connected to the connecting member facilitates the assembly operation of the ball.

[0012] Preferably, the mounting portion has a mounting groove, and the ball portion extends into the mounting groove and is rolled relative to the inner wall of the mounting groove.

[0013] Preferably, the caster structure further includes at least two support balls, which are disposed within the mounting groove. The support balls are symmetrically arranged relative to the rolling ball, and the rolling ball makes rolling contact with the support balls. By using support balls, the rolling engagement of the rolling ball with the mounting part is achieved. At the same time, the point contact between the support balls and the rolling ball results in a very small contact area, which reduces wear on the rolling ball and lowers noise.

[0014] Preferably, there are at least three supporting balls, which are arranged around the mounting groove, and any two adjacent supporting balls in the circumferential direction roll into contact. This design reduces circumferential displacement of the supporting balls, ensures a symmetrical distribution of the multiple supporting balls relative to the rolling balls, and prevents the rolling balls from shifting relative to the mounting portion.

[0015] Preferably, both the rolling ball and the supporting ball are rigid bodies. This allows both the rolling ball and the supporting ball to withstand greater weight without deformation, thereby reducing wear and noise.

[0016] Preferably, the bottom wall of the mounting groove is provided with a spherical notch-shaped groove, the number of the grooves is the same as the number of the supporting spheres, and the supporting spheres are rolled in the grooves one by one.

[0017] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, the present invention also adopts the following technical solution:

[0018] A seat, including a seat frame and a caster assembly disposed on the seat frame, the caster assembly including a caster structure as described in any one of the above technical solutions.

[0019] Preferably, the caster assembly further includes self-locking rollers. Because the caster structure provided in this application has high steering flexibility, when used in conjunction with the self-locking rollers, it allows the user to easily lock the caster assembly when they want the seat to remain stable. Simultaneously, because the seat is equipped with the caster structure provided in this application, the caster structure can quickly complete steering when needed.

[0020] Compared to existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: the ball is confined to the mounting portion by a limiting member, and the ball rolls in cooperation with both the mounting portion and the limiting member, allowing it to roll in any direction. The ball extends from the perforated portion on the limiting member, thus enabling it to roll and contact the ground. Compared to existing technologies where the rolling direction is switched by rotating a shaft, the ball in this application can switch rolling directions freely, resulting in greater steering flexibility. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a caster structure for a seat provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the caster structure;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the limiting component;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a sectional view of the caster structure;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of a seat using the caster structure provided in this embodiment.

[0026] Among them, 1. Connector; 10. Mounting groove; 2. Ball; 3. Limiting component; 30. Perforation; 300. Annular curved surface; 4. Support ball; 5. Seat; 50. Seat frame; 51. Self-locking roller. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present invention will now be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, without conflict, the various embodiments or technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, the materials and equipment used in this embodiment are all commercially available. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0028] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on this application. In the description of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise precisely specified.

[0029] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "connected" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a connection through an intermediary, or a connection within two elements or an interaction between two elements. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0030] This embodiment provides a caster structure for a seat, such as... Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, the caster structure includes a connector 1, a ball bearing 2, and a limiting member 3. The connector 1 is connected to the seat frame 50 of the seat 5, and has a mounting portion. The ball bearing 2 is rotatably disposed on the mounting portion. The limiting member 3 is disposed on the connector 1, and rolls in contact with the ball bearing 2, thus confining the ball bearing 2 to the mounting portion. The limiting member 3 confines the ball bearing 2 to the mounting portion, and the ball bearing 2 rolls in contact with both the mounting portion and the limiting member 3, allowing it to roll in any direction. The limiting member 3 has a through hole 30 through which the ball bearing 2 extends. Therefore, the ball bearing 2 can roll in contact with the ground. Compared to existing technologies where the rolling direction is switched by rotating a shaft, the ball bearing 2 in this application can switch rolling directions freely, offering greater steering flexibility.

[0031] Combination Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, a portion of the inner wall of the through hole 30 of the limiting member 3 is formed with an annular curved surface 300. The rolling ball 2 rolls in contact with the annular curved surface 300, and the annular curved surface 300 extends to the through hole 30. The limiting member 3 achieves rolling contact with the rolling ball 2 through the annular curved surface 300. In this embodiment, the limiting member 3 is a block structure with a certain thickness, in which a through hole 30 is provided, and the inner wall of the through hole 30 is processed into an annular curved surface 300 capable of rolling with the rolling ball 2. Furthermore, the limiting member 3 is detachably disposed on the connecting member 1. Specifically, multiple connecting holes are provided on the limiting member 3, and multiple screw holes aligned with the connecting holes are provided on the connecting member 1. By passing screws through the connecting holes and tightening them into the screw holes, the limiting member 3 can be locked and fixed to the connecting member 1. Designing the limiting member 3 to be detachably connected to the connecting member 1 facilitates the assembly operation of the rolling ball 2. In other alternative embodiments, the connector 1 and the limiting member 3 can also be assembled by means of snap-fit ​​connection, adhesive fastening, or other connection methods.

[0032] In this embodiment, a mounting groove 10 is formed in the mounting portion, and the ball 2 extends into the mounting groove 10 and rolls relative to the inner wall of the mounting groove 10. It should be noted that the connecting member 1 in the caster structure provided in this embodiment is rod-shaped, and the end of the connecting member 1 is the mounting portion, with the mounting groove 10 formed at the end of the connecting member 1. In other optional embodiments, the connecting member 1 can also be designed with reference to the chair leg structure of a seat 5 in the prior art. For example, some existing seats 5 have a plate-shaped chair leg structure, which forms three to six protruding ends. Therefore, in other optional embodiments, the aforementioned plate-shaped chair leg structure with multiple protruding ends can also serve as the connecting member 1, and the protruding ends can serve as the mounting portion.

[0033] Furthermore, in combination Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the caster structure provided in this embodiment also includes nine support balls 4, which are disposed within the mounting groove 10. The support balls 4 are symmetrically arranged relative to the rolling balls 2, and the rolling balls 2 and the support balls 4 are in rolling contact. The support balls 4 are configured to achieve rolling engagement between the rolling balls 2 and the mounting portion. Simultaneously, the support balls 4 and the rolling balls 2 have point contact, resulting in a very small contact area, which reduces wear on the rolling balls 2 and lowers noise.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the nine supporting balls 4 are arranged around the mounting groove 10, and any two adjacent supporting balls 4 roll into contact along the circumference. This design reduces the circumferential displacement of the supporting balls 4, ensuring that the multiple supporting balls 4 are symmetrically distributed relative to the rolling ball 2, and preventing the rolling ball 2 from shifting relative to the mounting portion.

[0035] It is readily understood that in other alternative embodiments, the number of support spheres 4 can also be set to two or more. Of course, when there are only two support spheres 4, they cannot roll into contact. Therefore, if it is desired that any two adjacent support spheres 4 can roll into contact, at least three support spheres 4 are required. Furthermore, considering that an excessively large or small volume of the support spheres 4 would affect the dimensional design of the mounting groove 10, a preferred embodiment uses seven to ten support spheres 4.

[0036] In this embodiment, both the rolling ball 2 and the supporting ball 4 are rigid bodies, allowing them to withstand significant weight without deformation, thus reducing wear and noise. Specifically, the rolling ball 2 and the supporting ball 4 can be made of materials such as carbon steel, alloy steel, or stainless steel. Correspondingly, the connecting part 1, which directly rolls into contact with the supporting ball 4, can also be made of the aforementioned materials, as can the limiting part 3, which directly rolls into contact with the rolling ball 2.

[0037] In other alternative embodiments, the supporting ball 4 may not be provided. Instead, a spherical assembly groove (not shown in the figure) can be directly machined into the inner wall of the mounting groove 10. The curved surface of the assembly groove is adapted to the surface of the rolling ball 2, so that the rolling ball 2 can be rolled in the assembly groove, thereby realizing the rolling engagement between the rolling ball 2 and the mounting part.

[0038] Furthermore, the arrangement of the supporting spheres 4 can be further improved. For example, a spherical notch-shaped groove (not shown in the figure) can be provided on the bottom wall of the mounting groove 10, and the curved surface of the groove is adapted to the surface of the supporting sphere 4. The number of grooves is the same as the number of supporting spheres 4, and the supporting spheres 4 are rolled in the grooves one-to-one. Providing grooves can, to a certain extent, prevent the supporting spheres 4 from shifting circumferentially, especially when the number of supporting spheres 4 is small, resulting in adjacent supporting spheres 4 being spaced apart.

[0039] like Figure 5 As shown, the caster structure provided in this embodiment can be applied to seat 5. Seat 5 includes a seat frame 50 and a caster assembly disposed on the seat frame 50, the caster assembly including the caster structure provided in this embodiment. Specifically, the caster assembly in this embodiment also includes a self-locking roller 51. Because the caster structure provided in this application has high steering flexibility, when used in conjunction with the self-locking roller 51, it facilitates locking the caster assembly when the user wants the seat 5 to remain stable. Simultaneously, because the seat 5 is equipped with the caster structure provided in this application, the caster structure can quickly complete the steering when turning is required.

[0040] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only optional embodiments of this utility model and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of this utility model. Any non-substantial changes and substitutions made by those skilled in the art based on this utility model shall fall within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

Claims

1. A caster structure for a seat, characterized in that, The caster structure includes: A connector for connecting to the seat frame of a seat, the connector having a mounting portion; A rolling ball, which is rotatably disposed on the mounting portion; and, A limiting member is disposed on the connecting member, the limiting member making rolling contact with the ball and serving to restrict the ball within the mounting portion; The limiting member is provided with a through hole, and the ball extends out from the through hole.

2. The caster structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the perforation is formed with an annular curved surface that makes rolling contact with the ball, and the annular curved surface extends into the perforation.

3. The caster structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting member is detachably disposed on the connecting member.

4. The caster structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The mounting part has a mounting groove, and the ball portion extends into the mounting groove and is rolled relative to the inner wall of the mounting groove.

5. The caster structure as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The caster structure also includes at least two support balls, which are disposed in the mounting groove. The support balls are symmetrically arranged relative to the rolling ball, and the rolling ball makes rolling contact with the support balls.

6. The caster structure as described in claim 5, characterized in that, There are at least three supporting spheres, which are arranged around the mounting groove, and any two adjacent supporting spheres in the circumferential direction roll into contact.

7. The caster structure as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Both the rolling ball and the supporting ball are rigid bodies.

8. The caster structure as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The bottom wall of the mounting groove is provided with a spherical notch-shaped groove. The number of grooves is the same as the number of supporting spheres, and the supporting spheres are rolled in the grooves one by one.

9. A seat, comprising a seat frame and a caster assembly disposed on the seat frame, characterized in that, The caster assembly includes the caster structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The seat as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that, The caster assembly also includes self-locking rollers.

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