Luggage trundle

Abstract

The utility model relates to a luggage trundle which comprises a trundle support and a trundle body, a trundle locking assembly on the trundle support comprises a driving component and a locking component, a pin tumbler containing hole is formed in the trundle support, and the locking component is a locking pin tumbler arranged in the pin tumbler containing hole. The driving component is configured to be a sliding block which is limited on the trundle support and slides in the longitudinal direction, a locking piece control face on the sliding block comprises a locking keeping face, a middle inclined face and an avoiding face, when the trundle locking assembly is in an unlocking state, the driving component slides to the avoiding face to correspond to the locking marble in position, and the locking marble can move to be separated from the annular locking part; when the trundle locking assembly is in a braking state, the driving component slides to the locking keeping face and corresponds to the locking marble in position, the locking marble is limited by the locking keeping face and is in braking fit with the annular locking part, and the middle inclined face of the sliding block can push the locking marble to move from the unlocking position to the locking position. The driving component is matched with an elastic reset element. The device has the advantages of simple assembly and reliable work.

Description

Luggage Casters Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to luggage accessories, specifically casters that support the movement of luggage. Background Technology

[0002] Existing braking designs for luggage casters include foot brakes with control buttons located on the caster itself, and handbrakes with control buttons moved to the top of the luggage and operated manually via a brake cable. Handbrakes on luggage casters have received widespread attention due to their ease of operation. Therefore, the applicant aims to develop a braking structure different from existing handbrake designs, achieving both simple and convenient assembly and reliable operation. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the defects of the existing technology and provide a luggage caster that is controlled by a brake cable, which has the advantages of simple assembly and reliable operation.

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

[0005] A type of luggage caster includes a caster bracket and a wheel body mounted on the caster bracket. An annular locking portion is provided on the wheel body. A caster locking assembly is provided on the caster bracket. The caster locking assembly includes a drive member connected to a brake cable and a locking member corresponding to and engaging with the annular locking portion. The caster locking assembly has a braking state and an unlocking state where the locking member releases its lock on the annular locking portion. In the braking state, the drive member restricts the locking member to engage with the annular locking portion to achieve wheel braking. The caster bracket has a tumbler receiving hole, one end of which corresponds to the annular locking portion, and the other end of which corresponds to the drive member. The locking member is a locking tumbler disposed in the tumbler receiving hole.

[0006] The driving component is configured as a slider that slides longitudinally on the caster bracket. The slider has a locking control surface, which includes a locking retaining surface, a middle inclined surface, and a clearance surface connected sequentially from bottom to top along the sliding direction of the slider.

[0007] In the unlocked state, the drive member of the caster locking assembly slides to the position of the avoidance surface corresponding to the position of the locking pin, and the locking pin can move away from the annular locking part; in the braking state, the drive member slides to the position of the locking retaining surface corresponding to the position of the locking pin, the locking pin is restricted by the locking retaining surface and braked with the annular locking part, and the middle inclined surface of the slider can push the locking pin to move from the unlocked position to the locked position;

[0008] The drive component is equipped with an elastic reset element that provides the elastic reset force required for the drive component to slide and reset. This elastic reset force can drive the drive component to slide until the clearance surface corresponds to the position of the locking tumbler.

[0009] Preferably, the annular locking part has a plurality of locking slots spaced apart along the circumference, and the locking tumbler engages with the locking slot to form a locking fit.

[0010] Preferably, the caster locking assembly, in its unlocked state, also has a false lock state where the locking pin is stuck in the locking slot. When the wheel rolls, the locking pin can be forced out of the locking slot to release the false lock state.

[0011] Preferably, the locking pin is spherical, and the locking groove is a recess adapted to the locking pin.

[0012] Preferably, the port of the ball receiving hole facing the annular locking part is an assembly port for locking the ball into the ball receiving hole.

[0013] Preferably, the locking pin is coated with grease, and the grease creates a resistance between the locking pin and the wall of the pin receiving hole.

[0014] Preferably, the caster bracket is provided with a longitudinal insertion cavity with a bottom opening and a transversely arranged pin hole. The slider is inserted into the insertion cavity along the bottom opening of the longitudinal insertion cavity and can slide. The slider is provided with a strip-shaped assembly slot extending along the sliding direction of the slider. A transverse pin is inserted into the pin hole and passes through the strip-shaped assembly slot.

[0015] Preferably, the elastic reset element is a helical spring, and a spring insertion hole is provided on the slider, into which the elastic reset element is inserted.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, when the luggage caster brakes, the brake cable pulls the drive component to slide upwards. The middle inclined surface of the drive component pushes the locking pin along the pin receiving hole. When the drive component moves to the locking retaining surface and corresponds to the locking pin, the locking pin and the annular locking part cooperate to achieve braking of the wheel. The annular locking part adopts a locking groove that cooperates with the locking pin, which can reliably lock and stop the wheel, improving braking performance. When unlocking, the traction force of the brake cable on the drive component is released. Under the drive of the elastic reset force of the elastic reset element, the drive component moves downwards and resets to the clearance surface on the drive component and the locking pin. With the corresponding positions of the pins, the locking pins can move along the pin receiving holes, releasing the braking engagement with the annular locking part. Furthermore, when the caster locking assembly is in the unlocked state, where the drive component has just reset to the position corresponding to the clearance surface and the locking pin, the locking pin is still stuck in the locking slot, forming a false lock state on the wheel. That is, the locking pin still exerts a certain restraining force on the wheel's rolling. When an external force is applied to move the equipment (such as pulling a bag), the wheel rolls, forcing the locking pin to exit the locking slot and release the false lock state. The spherical design of the locking pin makes the release of the false lock state smoother and less prone to damage. Moreover, the caster locking assembly has the advantages of simple structure, low cost, and easy assembly.

[0017] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bag caster of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 is a top view of the bag caster of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 3 is a three-dimensional view after being cut along line AOB in Figure 2;

[0021] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the bag caster of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 5 shows the braking state of the bag caster of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the bag caster in the unlocked state of the present invention in a false lock state;

[0024] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the wheel of this utility model in the unlocked state and in the state where the wheel can roll normally. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Referring to Figures 1-7, this utility model discloses a luggage caster, including a caster bracket 1 and a wheel body 2 mounted on the caster bracket 1. An annular locking part 21 is provided on the wheel body 2. A caster locking assembly is provided on the caster bracket 1. The caster locking assembly includes a drive member 4 connected to a brake cable 3 and a locking member corresponding to and cooperating with the annular locking part 21. The drive member 4 has a connecting part 40 for connecting the brake cable 3. In this specific embodiment, one wheel body 2 is mounted on each side of the caster bracket 1. As a conventional configuration, an annular locking part 21 is provided on both wheel bodies 2, and configured... The left and right locking components are used to correspond one-to-one with the annular locking parts 21 on the two wheels 2. The caster locking assembly has a braking state and an unlocking state where the locking components are released from locking the annular locking parts 21. In the braking state, the drive component 4 restricts the locking components to correspond with the annular locking parts 21 to achieve braking of the wheels 2. The caster bracket 1 is provided with a ball receiving hole 11. One end of the ball receiving hole 11 corresponds to the annular locking part 21, and the other end of the ball receiving hole 11 corresponds to the drive component 4. The locking component is a locking device configured in the ball receiving hole 11. Tumbler 5; The driving member 4 is configured to restrict a slider that slides longitudinally on the caster bracket 1 (it should be noted that the longitudinal direction is the height direction based on the caster supporting the equipment (such as a bag), as shown in the X direction in the figure). The slider has a locking control surface 41, which includes a locking retaining surface 411, a middle inclined surface 412, and a clearance surface 413 connected sequentially from bottom to top along the sliding direction of the slider. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, when the caster locking assembly is in the unlocked state, the driving member 4 slides until the clearance surface 413 corresponds to the position of the locking tumbler 5, thus locking. The pin 5 can be moved away from the annular locking part 21. As shown in Figure 5, when the caster locking assembly is in the braking state, the driving member 4 slides until the locking retaining surface 411 corresponds to the position of the locking pin 5. The locking pin 5 is restricted by the locking retaining surface 411 and braked in cooperation with the annular locking part 21. The middle inclined surface 412 of the slider can push the locking pin 5 to move from the unlocked position to the locked position. The driving member 4 is equipped with an elastic reset element 6 that provides the elastic reset force required for the sliding reset of the driving member 4. This elastic reset force can drive the driving member 4 to slide until the clearance surface 413 corresponds to the position of the locking pin 5. The elastic reset element 6 is a helical spring, and a spring insertion hole is provided on the slider. The elastic reset element 6 is inserted into the spring insertion hole.

[0026] To ensure reliable caster braking, the annular locking part 21 has several locking grooves 211 spaced circumferentially. The locking pins 5 engage with the locking grooves 211 to form a locking engagement. When the locking pins 5 abut against the wall of the annular locking part 21 located between two locking grooves 211, the braking is not yet reliable; the wheel may move slightly under external force. However, after this movement, when the locking groove aligns with the locking pin position, the locking pin engages with the locking groove to lock the wheel, achieving reliable braking. In the manually operated handbrake-type caster braking scheme, the energy storage design is formed by the spring components in the brake cable traction mechanism. When the locking pin presses against the annular locking part and the locking groove aligns with the locking pin position, the locking pin engages with the locking groove to achieve locking. Of course, the annular locking part can also be an annular surface, with the locking pin pressing against the annular surface to achieve braking through frictional resistance. However, this design has problems with braking reliability and easy damage. When the luggage caster brakes, the brake cable pulls the drive component to slide upward. The middle inclined surface 412 of the drive component 4 pushes the locking pin 5 to move along the pin receiving hole 11. When the drive component 4 moves to the point where the locking holding surface 411 corresponds to the locking pin 5, the locking pin 5 and the annular locking part 21 cooperate to achieve braking of the wheel body 2. The annular locking part 21 uses a locking groove 211 that cooperates with the locking pin 5 to achieve reliable locking and stopping of the wheel body and improve braking performance. When unlocking, the traction force of the brake cable on the drive component is released. Under the drive of the elastic reset force of the elastic reset element 6, the drive component 4 moves downward to reset until the position of the clearance surface 413 on the drive component 4 corresponds to the position of the locking pin 5. In this way, the locking pin 5 can move along the pin receiving hole and release the braking cooperation with the annular locking part.

[0027] Among them, the locking pin 5, as an easily obtainable and structurally reliable form, is spherical, like a steel ball; of course, the locking pin 5 can also be cylindrical. Based on the design of the locking slot 211, the locking slot 211 is a recess adapted to the locking pin 5, such as a ball-and-socket shaped recess. The spherical design of the locking pin is compact, reliable, readily available on the market, and inexpensive.

[0028] As a simple and reliable implementation scheme, the locking pin 5 disengages passively from the annular locking part 21, meaning the locking pin 5 is not equipped with a reset spring design. This differs from the traditional spring-driven active disengagement method. This design not only simplifies the structure and makes the assembly of the locking pin simpler, as shown in Figure 6, but also allows the caster locking assembly to maintain a false lock state where the locking pin 5 is stuck in the locking slot 211 when it is unlocked. That is, when the driving member 4 slides to the reset position corresponding to the position of the avoidance surface 413 and the locking pin 5, the driving member 4 releases the restriction on the locking pin 5, but the locking pin 5 is still stuck in the locking slot 211, forming a false lock state on the wheel body 2. Therefore, the locking pin 5 still exerts a certain restraining force on the rolling of the wheel body 2. When the equipment (such as a bag) moves, the rolling of the wheel body 2 can force the locking pin 5 to exit the locking slot 211 to release the false lock state. Furthermore, the spherical design of the locking pin makes the disengagement from the false lock state smoother and prevents damage.

[0029] In one embodiment, the locking pin 5 is coated with grease (not shown in the figure), and the grease creates a resistive force between the locking pin 5 and the wall of the pin receiving hole 11. The application of grease can establish the position of the locking pin in the pin receiving hole, thereby preventing the locking pin from accidentally getting stuck in the locking groove and interfering with the rolling of the wheel. Although this interference is not enough to hinder the normal rolling of the caster wheel, this design is convenient and low-cost, and can avoid the above-mentioned interference as much as possible. Therefore, the above design is preferred. At the same time, this design also facilitates the assembly of the locking pin in the pin receiving hole, especially when the locking pin adopts a spherical design.

[0030] Based on the aforementioned passive disengagement scheme for the locking pin 5, only the locking pin needs to be installed in the pin receiving hole 11. One end of the pin receiving hole 11 facing the annular locking part 21 is the assembly port for inserting the locking pin 5 into the pin receiving hole 11. This allows the locking pin to be installed along the outer port of the pin receiving hole, making assembly more convenient. During assembly, before the wheel is fixed to the caster bracket, the locking pin is inserted along the outer port of the pin receiving hole, and then the wheel is installed onto the caster bracket. The wheel then restrains the locking pin, preventing it from falling out of the pin receiving hole. This design, when combined with a grease-based lubrication system, can further prevent the locking pin from falling out of the pin receiving hole during wheel assembly.

[0031] In this specific embodiment, the caster bracket 1 is provided with a longitudinal insertion cavity 12 with a bottom opening and a transversely arranged pin hole 13. The slider is inserted into the insertion cavity 12 along the bottom opening of the longitudinal insertion cavity 12 and can slide. The slider is provided with a strip-shaped assembly groove 42 extending along the sliding direction of the slider. A transverse pin 7 is inserted into the pin hole 13 and passes through the strip-shaped assembly groove 42. During installation, the elastic reset element is placed on the drive component, the drive component is inserted into the longitudinal insertion cavity, and the drive component is pressed until the strip-shaped assembly groove and the pin hole correspond. The transverse pin is then inserted, and the drive component is assembled onto the caster bracket. The installation of the drive component is convenient and reliable.

Claims

1. A luggage caster, comprising a caster bracket and a wheel body mounted on the caster bracket, wherein an annular locking portion is provided on the wheel body, and a caster locking assembly is provided on the caster bracket. The caster locking assembly includes a drive member connected to a brake cable and a locking member corresponding to and cooperating with the annular locking portion. The caster locking assembly has a braking state and an unlocking state in which the locking member releases its lock on the annular locking portion. In the braking state, the drive member restricts the locking member to cooperate with the annular locking portion to achieve wheel braking. The characteristic feature is that: The caster bracket is provided with a tumbler receiving hole. One end of the tumbler receiving hole corresponds to the annular locking part, and the other end of the tumbler receiving hole corresponds to the driving component. The locking component is a locking tumbler disposed in the tumbler receiving hole. The driving member is configured as a slider that slides longitudinally on the caster bracket. The slider has a locking control surface, which includes a locking retaining surface, a middle inclined surface, and a clearance surface connected sequentially from bottom to top along the sliding direction of the slider. In the unlocked state, the driving member slides to the clearance surface, which corresponds to the position of the locking pin, allowing the locking pin to move away from the annular locking part. In the braking state, the driving member slides to the locking retaining surface, which corresponds to the position of the locking pin, allowing the locking pin to be restricted by the locking retaining surface and braked by the annular locking part. The middle inclined surface of the slider can push the locking pin to move from the unlocked position to the locked position. The drive component is equipped with an elastic reset element that provides the elastic reset force required for the drive component to slide and reset. This elastic reset force can drive the drive component to slide until the clearance surface corresponds to the position of the locking tumbler.

2. The luggage caster according to claim 1, characterized in that: The annular locking part has several locking slots spaced apart along the circumference, and the locking tumblers are engaged with the locking slots to form a locking fit.

3. The luggage caster according to claim 2, characterized in that: In the unlocked state, the caster locking assembly also has a false lock state where the locking pin is stuck in the locking slot. When the wheel rolls, the locking pin can be forced out of the locking slot to release the false lock state.

4. The luggage caster according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The locking pin is spherical, and the locking groove is a recess that fits the locking pin.

5. The luggage caster according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The port facing the annular locking part of the tumbler receiving hole is an assembly port for locking the tumbler to be inserted into the tumbler receiving hole.

6. The luggage caster according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The locking pin is coated with grease, and the grease creates a resistance between the locking pin and the wall of the pin receiving hole.

7. The luggage caster according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that: The caster bracket is provided with a longitudinal insertion cavity with a bottom opening and a horizontally arranged pin hole. The slider is inserted into the insertion cavity along the bottom opening of the longitudinal insertion cavity and can slide. The slider is provided with a strip-shaped assembly slot extending along the sliding direction of the slider. A horizontal pin is inserted into the pin hole and passes through the strip-shaped assembly slot.

8. The luggage casters according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that: The elastic reset element is a helical spring, and a spring insertion hole is provided on the slider, into which the elastic reset element is inserted.

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