Braking device for a modular shelf

Abstract

Braking device (10) for a modular shelf (50), wherein the modular shelf (50) comprises a main frame (51) with a plurality of crossbeams (53) and two wheels (56) arranged on one of the crossbeams (53), wherein each of the two wheels (56) has a connecting plate (561), a connecting rod (562), a wheel frame (563), and a wheel body (564), wherein the connecting plate (561) is fixedly arranged on the corresponding crossbeam (53) and has a connecting hole (565) formed through a top and a bottom of the connecting plate (561), the connecting rod (562) is connected to the connecting plate (561), is arranged through the connecting hole (565), and has an upper end extending upward from the top of the connecting plate (561) via the connecting hole (565), and a lower end extending downward from the bottom of the connecting plate (561) extends over the connecting hole (565),and a stop head (566) formed on and protruding from the upper end of the connecting rod (562), wherein the wheel frame (563) is connected to the lower end of the connecting rod (562) below the connecting plate (561) and has two mutually facing connecting wings (567), and the wheel body (564) is rotatably connected to the wheel frame (563) between the connecting wings (567), and the braking device (10) is connected to the two wheels (56) on the corresponding crossbeam (53) and comprising: , two support frames (11) each arranged on the upper sides of the connecting plates (561) of the two wheels (56), and each of the support frames (11) having an arrangement recess (111) formed in the support frame (11); two cam blocks (12) each rotatably arranged in the arranging recesses (111) of the holding frames (11), each of the cam blocks (12) comprising two opposite side walls; a lower surface facing the upper surface of the connecting plate (561) of a corresponding one of the two wheels (56); a cam hole (121) formed through the opposite side walls of the cam block (12) and having a center; a release recess (122) formed on the underside of the cam block (12) and selectively engaging the stop head (566) of the connecting rod (562) of the corresponding wheel (56); and a brake recess (123) formed on the underside of the cam block (12) and selectively engaging the stop head (566) of the connecting rod (562) of the corresponding wheel (56); a directional recess (124) formed on the underside of the cam block (12), selectively abutting the stop head (566) of the connecting rod (562) of the corresponding wheel (56) and disposed between the release recess (122) and the brake recess (123); and a direction disc (125) rotatably disposed on the lower end of the connecting rod (562) of the corresponding wheel (56) and selectively engaging the corresponding wheel (56) to locate a direction of the corresponding wheel (56); wherein a distance between the center of the cam hole (121) and the release recess (122) is defined as (D1), a distance between the center of the cam hole (121) and the brake recess (123) is defined as (D2), a distance between the center of the cam hole (121) and the directional recess (124) is defined as (D3), and the distance (D2) is longer than the distance (D1) and the distance (D3) is between the distance (D1) and the distance (D2); two brake pads (13) each arranged in the wheel frames (563) of the corresponding wheels (56), each arranged around the connecting rods (562) of the corresponding wheels (56), and wherein each of the brake pads (13) comprises a bottom surface arranged in the wheel frame (563) above the wheel body (564) of the corresponding wheel (56); an upper surface extending upward from the wheel frame (563) and facing the underside of the connecting plate (561) of the corresponding wheel (56); a retaining recess (1311) formed in the upper surface of the brake pad (13); at least one engagement surface (1312) formed on the underside of the brake pad (13) and selectively engaging the wheel body (564) of the corresponding wheel (56); and a spring (133) arranged around the connecting rod (562) of the corresponding wheel (56) and resting between the stop head (566) of the connecting rod (562) and the retaining recess (1311) of the brake pad (13) via the connecting hole (565) of the connecting plate (561) of the corresponding wheel (56), and a connecting shaft (14) which is rotatably arranged in the holding frame (11), is fixedly connected to the cam blocks (12) and comprises two free ends each extending towards the support frames (11); a middle; two cam rods (141) each formed at and projecting from the free ends of the connecting shaft (14), each arranged in the support frame (11), and fixedly connected to the cam holes (121) of the cam blocks (12), respectively; and a running surface (142) formed in the center of the connecting shaft (14).

Description

1. Area of ​​the utility model

[0001] The present utility model relates to a braking device, in particular a braking device for a modular shelf which can be stopped quickly and conveniently. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0002] A conventional modular shelving unit is used to store retail products such as food or snacks and consists of a main frame, several support frames, and several brake units. The main frame has a base, a top, several longitudinal beams, several cross beams, a storage compartment, and several wheels. Each of the longitudinal beams has an upper end, a lower end, and an inner side. The inner side of the longitudinal beam faces the inner side of one of the longitudinal beams. The cross beams are connected to the longitudinal beams between the upper and lower ends of the longitudinal beams to form the main frame. The storage compartment is formed in the main body between the longitudinal beams and the cross beams. Wheels are rotatably arranged on the bottom of the main frame to allow users to easily move the conventional modular shelving unit.

[0003] The support frames are arranged transversely within the main frame to divide the storage chamber into several sections for storing different types of items. Each support frame has a connecting side. The connecting side of the support frame is connected to the inside of two of the longitudinal beams. The brake units are arranged at the bottom of the main frame and are connected to each wheel to stop the rotation of the wheels separately.

[0004] When using the traditional modular shelving, if a user wants to position the traditional modular shelving in a specific location, they must step on the brakes separately to stop the wheels, and cannot stop the wheels at once. In addition, if the user wants to change the position of the traditional modular shelving, they must release the brakes separately to allow the wheels to rotate relative to the main frame. This requires time to stop or release the wheels of the traditional modular shelving, making it inconvenient to use.

[0005] The main objective of the present utility model is to provide a braking device for a modular shelf that can be stopped quickly and conveniently.

[0006] The braking device for a modular shelving unit according to the present utility model is connected to two wheels of a main frame of the modular shelving unit and includes two support frames, two cam blocks, two brake pads, and a connecting shaft. The support frames are each mounted on two connecting plates of the two wheels. The cam blocks are each rotatably mounted in the support frames, and each of the cam blocks has a cam hole, a release recess, a brake recess, a directional recess, and a directional disc. The brake pads are each mounted in the wheel frames of the two wheels and are each arranged around the connecting rods of the two wheels. The connecting shaft is rotatably mounted in the support frames and is securely connected to the cam blocks.

[0007] Further objects, advantages and novel features of the utility model will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawings. Description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a braking device for a modular shelf according to the present utility model; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the braking device mounted on the modular shelf in Fig. 1 is arranged; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the braking device in Fig. 1; Fig. 3A is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the braking device in Fig. 3; Fig. 3B is a further enlarged exploded perspective view of the braking device in Fig. 3A; Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the braking device in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged and functional cross-sectional side view of the braking device in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a functional perspective view of the braking device in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a further enlarged and functional cross-sectional side view of the braking device in Fig. 4.

[0008] The Fig. 1 to 3 show a braking device 10 for a modular shelving unit 50 according to the present invention, wherein the modular shelving unit 50 includes a main frame 51. The main frame 51 may be rectangular and has a top, a bottom, multiple longitudinal beams 52, multiple cross beams 53, a storage compartment 54, multiple cover panels 55, and multiple wheels 56.

[0009] The longitudinal beams 52 are parallel to each other, and each of the longitudinal beams 52 has an upper end, a lower end, and an inner side. The inner side of the longitudinal beam 52 is aligned with the inner side of one of the longitudinal beams 52. The cross beams 53 are securely connected to the longitudinal beams 52 to form the rectangular main frame 51. The storage chamber 54 is formed in the main frame 51 between the longitudinal beams 52 and the cross beams 53. The cover plates 55 are connected to the longitudinal beams 52 and the cross beams 53 to be arranged around the main frame 51 and to close the storage chamber 54.

[0010] The wheels 56 are rotatably mounted on the underside of the main frame 51 and are securely connected to two of the crossbeams 53 adjacent to the lower ends of the longitudinal beams 52. With further reference to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, each of the wheels 56 includes a connecting plate 561, a connecting rod 562, a wheel frame 563, and a wheel body 564. The connecting plate 561 is securely mounted on a corresponding crossbeam 53 between two of the longitudinal beams 52 and has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a connecting hole 565. The connecting hole 565 is formed through the top and bottom surfaces of the connecting plate 561.

[0011] The connecting rod 562 is connected to the connecting plate 561, disposed through the connecting hole 565 of the connecting plate 561, and has an upper end, a lower end, and a stop head 566. The upper end of the connecting rod 562 extends upward from the top of the connecting plate 561 through the connecting hole 565. The lower end of the connecting rod 562 extends downward from the bottom of the connecting plate 561 through the connecting hole 565. The stop head 566 may be hemispherical and is formed on and protrudes from the upper end of the connecting rod 562.

[0012] The wheel frame 563 is U-shaped, is connected to the lower end of the connecting rod 562 below the connecting plate 561, and has two mutually facing connecting wings 567. The wheel body 564 is connected between the connecting wings 567 by a wheel axle 568, which is arranged through the wheel body 564 and is connected to the connecting wings 567, rotatable with the wheel frame 563.

[0013] With reference to the Fig. 1 to 3, 3A and 3B, the braking device 10 is connected to two of the wheels 56, which are connected to one of the two corresponding crossbeams 53, and comprises two support frames 11, two cam blocks 12, two brake pads 13, a connecting shaft 14, two protective shells 15 and two limiting plates 16.

[0014] The support frames 11 may be U-shaped, are respectively arranged on the upper surfaces of the connecting plates 561 of the two corresponding wheels 56, and each of the support frames 11 has a mounting recess 111. The mounting recess 111 is formed in the support device 11.

[0015] The cam blocks 12 are each rotatably disposed in the mounting recesses 111 of the support frames 11, and each of the cam blocks 12 has two opposite side walls, a bottom surface, a cam hole 121, a release recess 122, a brake recess 123, a directional recess 124, and a directional disk 125. The bottom surface of the cam block 12 faces the top surface of the connecting plate 561 of the corresponding gear 56. The cam hole 121 may be polygonal, formed through the opposite side walls of the cam block 12, and has a center. The release recess 122 is formed on the underside of the cam block 12 and selectively abuts the stop head 566 of the connecting rod 562 of the corresponding wheel 56. The brake recess 123 is formed on the underside of the cam block 12 and selectively abuts the stop head 566 of the connecting rod 562 of the corresponding wheel 56.The directional groove 124 is formed on the underside of the cam block 12, selectively abuts the stopper head 566 of the connecting rod 562 of the corresponding gear 56, and is located between the release groove 122 and the brake groove 123. In the present utility model application, a distance between the center of the cam hole 121 and the release groove 122 is defined as D1, a distance between the center of the cam hole 121 and the brake groove 123 is defined as D2, and a distance between the center of the cam hole 121 and the directional groove 124 is defined as D3. D2 is longer than D1, and D3 is between D1 and D2 (D2>D3>D1). The direction disc 125 is rotatably mounted on the lower end of the connecting rod 562 and selectively abuts the wheel 56 to position the direction of the wheel 56.

[0016] The brake pads 13 are each arranged in the wheel frames 563 of the corresponding wheels 56, are each arranged around the connecting rods 562 of the corresponding wheels 56, and each of the brake pads 13 has a bottom surface, a top surface, a retaining recess 131, at least one engagement surface 132, and a spring 133. The bottom surface of the brake pad 13 is arranged in the wheel frame 563 above the wheel body 564 of the corresponding wheel 56. The top surface of the brake pad 13 extends upward from the wheel frame 563 and faces the bottom surface of the connecting plate 561 of the corresponding wheel 56. The retaining recess 131 is formed in the top surface of the brake pad 13. The at least one engagement surface 132 is formed on the bottom surface of the brake pad 13 and selectively engages the wheel body 564 of the corresponding wheel 56.The spring 133 is arranged around the connecting rod 562 of the associated wheel 56 and lies between the stop head 566 of the connecting rod 562 and the holding recess 131 of the brake pad 13 via the connecting hole 565 of the connecting plate 561 of the associated wheel 56.

[0017] The connecting shaft 14 is rotatably mounted in the support frame 11, securely connected to the cam blocks 12, and has two free ends, a center, two cam rods 141, a raceway 142, and multiple retaining rings 143. The free ends of the connecting shaft 14 each extend toward the support frame 11.

[0018] The cam rods 14 are each formed at the free ends of the connecting shaft 14 and project therefrom, are each arranged in the support frames 11, and are securely connected to the cam holes 121 of the cam blocks 12. In addition, the cam rods 141 have shapes corresponding to the shapes of the cam holes 121 of the cam blocks 12. The raceway 142 may be U-shaped and is formed in the center of the connecting shaft 14. The retaining rings 143 are arranged around the cam rods 141 and are arranged in the arrangement recesses 111 of the support frames 11 adjacent to the cam blocks 12 to position the positions of the cam blocks 12 relative to the stop heads 566 of the connecting rods 562.

[0019] The protective shells 15 are each arranged around the connecting rods 562 of the corresponding wheels 56 between the connecting plates 561 and the wheel frames 563 to cover the connecting rods 562 and the springs 133. The limiting plates 16 are each arranged around the connecting rods 562 of the corresponding wheels 56 between the connecting plates 561 and the protective shells 15 to limit the movement directions of the connecting rods 562 relative to the wheel frames 563 and the connecting plates 561.

[0020] During assembly, with reference to the Fig. 3, Fig. 3A, Fig. 3B and Fig. 4, when the brake device 10 is arranged on the modular shelf 50, the release recesses 122 of the cam blocks 12 respectively abut the stop heads 566 of the connecting rods 562, and the brake pads 13 respectively detach from the wheel body 564 of the corresponding wheels 56. Then, the corresponding wheels 56 can be rolled and rotated relative to the main frame 51, whereby a user can conveniently change the direction and position of the modular shelf 50.

[0021] When using, with reference to the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, when a user wishes to position the modular shelf 50 according to the present invention at a specific location, the user only needs to step on the running surface 142 of the connecting shaft 14 to rotate relative to the main frame 51. Then, the rotation of the connecting shaft 14 can cause the cam blocks 12 to rotate relative to the support frames 11 and the connecting rods 562 of the corresponding wheels 56, and thereby the release recesses 122 can respectively disengage from the stop heads 566 of the connecting rods 562 and respectively engage the braking recesses 123 of the cam blocks 12. Since the distances D2 are longer than the distances D1, when the stop heads 566 of the connecting rods 562 engage with the brake recesses 123 of the cam blocks 12, the connecting rods 562 are pressed downward relative to the wheel frames 563.Then, the brake pads 13 are moved downward so that the engagement surfaces 1312 can press against the wheel bodies 564 of the corresponding wheels 56, thereby allowing the two corresponding wheels 56 to be stopped once without having to operate each of the brake pads 13 individually, thus saving time during use. When the user needs to change the direction and position of the modular shelf 50, they only need to rotate the connecting shaft 14 to return to the original position. The rotations of the cam blocks 12 allow the brake pads 13 to detach from the wheel bodies 564 of the corresponding wheels 56, enabling convenient use.

[0022] With reference to Fig.7, if the user only wants the corresponding wheels 56 to roll relative to the main frame 51 without rotating, at this time, the user only needs to step on the connecting shaft 14 to allow the cam blocks 12 to rotate relative to the support frames 11, so that the directional recesses 124 of the two cam blocks 12 are respectively engaged with the stop heads 566 of the corresponding connecting rods 562. Then, the directional discs 125 arranged at the lower ends of the connecting rods 562 are respectively abutted against the corresponding wheels 56, so that each wheel 56 can only roll relative to the main frame 51 without rotating, thereby providing another way to move the modular shelf 50. Therefore, the braking device 10 of the present utility model has three different operating states (braking, rolling without rotating, rolling and rotating) and a three-stage operating function and effect.

[0023] Although the foregoing description sets forth numerous features and advantages of the present invention, along with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is for illustrative purposes only. Changes in the details, particularly with respect to shape, size, and arrangement of parts, may be made within the full scope of the principles of the invention, as indicated by the general meaning of the terms in the appended claims.

Claims

[1] Braking device (10) for a modular shelf (50), wherein the modular shelf (50) comprises a main frame (51) with a plurality of crossbeams (53) and two wheels (56) arranged on one of the crossbeams (53), wherein each of the two wheels (56) has a connecting plate (561), a connecting rod (562), a wheel frame (563) and a wheel body (564), wherein the connecting plate (561) is fixedly arranged on the corresponding crossbeam (53) and has a connecting hole (565) formed through an upper side and a lower side of the connecting plate (561), the connecting rod (562) is connected to the connecting plate (561), is arranged through the connecting hole (565) and has an upper end extending upwards from the upper side of the connecting plate (561) via the connecting hole (565), a lower end extending downwards from the lower side of the connecting plate (561) extends over the connecting hole (565),and a stop head (566) formed on and protruding from the upper end of the connecting rod (562), wherein the wheel frame (563) is connected to the lower end of the connecting rod (562) below the connecting plate (561) and has two mutually facing connecting wings (567), and the wheel body (564) is rotatably connected to the wheel frame (563) between the connecting wings (567), and the braking device (10) is connected to the two wheels (56) on the corresponding crossbeam (53) and comprising: two support frames (11) each arranged on the upper sides of the connecting plates (561) of the two wheels (56), and each of the support frames (11) having an arrangement recess (111) formed in the support frame (11); two cam blocks (12) each rotatably arranged in the arranging recesses (111) of the holding frames (11), each of the cam blocks (12) comprising two opposite side walls; a lower surface facing the upper surface of the connecting plate (561) of a corresponding one of the two wheels (56); a cam hole (121) formed through the opposite side walls of the cam block (12) and having a center; a release recess (122) formed on the underside of the cam block (12) and selectively engaging the stop head (566) of the connecting rod (562) of the corresponding wheel (56); and a brake recess (123) formed on the underside of the cam block (12) and selectively engaging the stop head (566) of the connecting rod (562) of the corresponding wheel (56); a directional recess (124) formed on the underside of the cam block (12), selectively abutting the stop head (566) of the connecting rod (562) of the corresponding wheel (56) and disposed between the release recess (122) and the brake recess (123); and a direction disc (125) rotatably disposed on the lower end of the connecting rod (562) of the corresponding wheel (56) and selectively engaging the corresponding wheel (56) to locate a direction of the corresponding wheel (56); wherein a distance between the center of the cam hole (121) and the release recess (122) is defined as (D1), a distance between the center of the cam hole (121) and the brake recess (123) is defined as (D2), a distance between the center of the cam hole (121) and the directional recess (124) is defined as (D3), and the distance (D2) is longer than the distance (D1) and the distance (D3) is between the distance (D1) and the distance (D2); two brake pads (13) each arranged in the wheel frames (563) of the corresponding wheels (56), each arranged around the connecting rods (562) of the corresponding wheels (56), and wherein each of the brake pads (13) comprises a bottom surface arranged in the wheel frame (563) above the wheel body (564) of the corresponding wheel (56); an upper surface extending upward from the wheel frame (563) and facing the underside of the connecting plate (561) of the corresponding wheel (56); a retaining recess (1311) formed in the upper surface of the brake pad (13); at least one engagement surface (1312) formed on the underside of the brake pad (13) and selectively engaging the wheel body (564) of the corresponding wheel (56); and a spring (133) arranged around the connecting rod (562) of the corresponding wheel (56) and resting between the stop head (566) of the connecting rod (562) and the retaining recess (1311) of the brake pad (13) via the connecting hole (565) of the connecting plate (561) of the corresponding wheel (56), and a connecting shaft (14) which is rotatably arranged in the holding frame (11), is fixedly connected to the cam blocks (12) and comprises two free ends each extending towards the support frames (11); a middle; two cam rods (141) each formed at and projecting from the free ends of the connecting shaft (14), each arranged in the support frame (11), and fixedly connected to the cam holes (121) of the cam blocks (12), respectively; and a running surface (142) formed in the center of the connecting shaft (14). [2] A braking device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting shaft (14) comprises multiple retaining rings (143) arranged around the cam rods (141) and in the locating recesses (111) of the support frames (11) adjacent to the cam blocks (12) to position the positions of the cam blocks (12) relative to the stop heads (566) of the connecting rods (562) of the two wheels (56). [3] Braking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the braking device (10) comprises two protective shells (15) each arranged around the connecting rods (562) of the two wheels (56) between the connecting plates (561) and the wheel frames (563) to cover the connecting rods (562) of the two wheels (56) and the springs (133) of the brake pads (13). [4] Braking device according to claim 3, wherein the braking device (10) comprises two limiting plates (16) each arranged around the connecting rods (562) of the two wheels (56) between the connecting plates (561) and the protective shells (15) to limit the directions of movement of the connecting rods (562) of the two wheels (56) relative to the wheel frames (563) and the connecting plates (561) of the two wheels (56). [5] Braking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the braking device (10) comprises two limiting plates (16) each arranged around the connecting rods (562) of the two wheels (56) between the connecting plates (561) and the protective shells (15) to limit the directions of movement of the connecting rods (562) of the two wheels (56) relative to the wheel frames (563) and the connecting plates (561) of the two wheels (56).

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