Folding devices and strollers

Abstract

Regarding folding devices and strollers. [Solution] The folding device includes a pivot joint mechanism equipped with a drive member and switchable between an unfolded state and a folded state; a rotating seat pivotally attached to the pivot joint mechanism and equipped with a driven part for connection to a connecting assembly; and a locking assembly movably connected to at least one of the pivot joint mechanism and the rotating seat, having a locked position and an unlocked position. When the pivot joint mechanism is switched from the unfolded state to the folded state, the pivot joint mechanism moves the locking assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position. When the locking assembly is in the unlocked position, the drive member moves the driven part such that the rotating seat rotates in a first rotational direction relative to the pivot joint mechanism. When the folding device is switched from the unfolded state to the folded state, the rotating seat can be rotated in one direction, allowing for automatic further folding operations and improving ease of operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0004]

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of carts, and particularly to folding devices and baby strollers.

Background Art

[0002] A baby stroller is a utility vehicle designed to facilitate outdoor activities for infants. It is common for baby strollers to have a folding function to reduce the volume of the stroller and improve portability. Conventional baby strollers have a connection assembly (such as an armrest, a dining tray, etc.) for the infant to grip in front of the infant's seating position. Conventional baby strollers cannot fold the connection assembly together with the frame while folding, resulting in the stroller not folding compactly, or the user may need to separately remove and store the connection assembly.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] In view of this, there is a need to provide a folding device and a baby stroller for the problem of folding the connection assembly when folding a baby stroller.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a folding device comprising: a pivot joint mechanism having a drive member and switchable between an unfolded state and a folded state; a rotating seat pivotally attached to the pivot joint mechanism and having a driven part for connection to a connecting assembly; and a locking assembly movably connected to at least one of the pivot joint mechanism and the rotating seat, having a locked position that restricts relative rotation between the rotating seat and the pivot joint mechanism, and an unlocked position that allows relative rotation between the rotating seat and the pivot joint mechanism, wherein when the pivot joint mechanism is switched from the unfolded state to the folded state, the pivot joint mechanism moves the locking assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position, and when the locking assembly is in the unlocked position, the drive member moves the driven part such that the rotating seat rotates in a first rotational direction relative to the pivot joint mechanism.

[0005] In one embodiment, the movement stroke of the driven part is greater than the movement stroke of the driving member.

[0006] In one embodiment, the pivot joint mechanism includes a first restricting groove for restricting the movement stroke of the drive member, and the drive member can slide along the first restricting groove.

[0007] In one embodiment, the pivot joint mechanism has a second regulating groove on the side facing the rotating seat, the driven part is housed in the second regulating groove and moves along the second regulating groove, and the length of the second regulating groove is greater than the length of the first regulating groove.

[0008] In one embodiment, both the driving member and the driven part are housed in the second regulating groove, and the first regulating groove is provided on the wall surface of the second regulating groove.

[0009] In one embodiment, the drive member includes a first elastic member and a drive block located between the first elastic member and the driven part, and when the lock assembly is in the locked position, the drive block is connected to the driven part, and the elastic force of the first elastic member causes the rotating seat to tend to rotate in a first rotational direction.

[0010] In one embodiment, the pivot joint mechanism comprises a first connecting seat and a second connecting seat that are pivotally connected to each other, the first connecting seat being pivotally connected to the rotating seat, the side of the first connecting seat facing the rotating seat being provided with a first regulating groove and a second regulating groove, the drive block being slidable along the first locking groove for regulating the movement stroke of the drive member, the first elastic member having one end connected to one end of the second regulating groove and the other end connected to the drive block, and the first elastic member, the drive block, and the driven part all being located within the second regulating groove.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first regulating groove is provided on the wall surface of the second regulating groove, and / or both the first and second regulating grooves are arc-shaped.

[0012] In one embodiment, the pivot joint mechanism comprises a first connecting seat and a second connecting seat that are pivotally connected to each other, the rotating seat is connected to the first connecting seat, the lock assembly is located between the first connecting seat and the rotating seat, and while the pivot joint mechanism is switched from the extended state to the folded state, the pivot joint mechanism moves the lock assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0013] In one embodiment, the lock assembly comprises a locking member and a moving member. While the pivot joint mechanism is being switched from an extended state to the folded state, the pivot joint mechanism moves the moving member such that the moving member moves the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0014] In one embodiment, the first connecting seat has a first lock groove, the rotating seat has a second lock groove, and when the locking member is in the locked position, a portion of the locking member is located in the first lock groove and at least another portion is located in the second lock groove, and when the locking member is in the unlocked position, the locking member is located in either the first lock groove or the second lock groove.

[0015] In one embodiment, the movable member is positioned in the first lock groove, and while the pivot joint mechanism is switched from an extended state to a folded state, the second connecting seat pushes the movable member toward the rotating seat, causing the movable member to disengage the lock member from the first lock groove and move toward the second lock groove.

[0016] In one embodiment, the first connecting seat has a through hole, the moving member has an extended portion that engages with the through hole and extends toward the second connecting seat, the extended portion has a first inclined surface at one end closer to the second connecting seat, the second connecting seat has a second inclined surface on the side facing the rotating seat, and while the pivot joint mechanism is switched from the deployed state to the folded state, the second connecting seat abuts against and engages with the first inclined surface via the second inclined surface, thereby pushing the moving member and moving it toward the rotating seat.

[0017] In one embodiment, one of the inner walls of the first lock groove and the movable member is provided with a regulating rib, and the other of the inner wall of the first lock groove and the movable member is provided with a recess, and the regulating rib and the recess are slidably engaged with each other.

[0018] In the folding device described above, a lock assembly having a locked position and an unlocked position is added. When the pivot joint mechanism is switched from the unfolded state to the folded state, the lock assembly moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the drive member drives the driven part to move, causing the rotating seat to rotate in one direction relative to the pivot joint mechanism in the first rotational direction. In other words, when the pivot joint mechanism is switched from the unfolded state to the folded state, the rotating seat for rotating the connecting assembly rotates in one direction, making it possible to achieve further folding. Therefore, the folding device described in this application has a simple overall structure, can perform further folding operations automatically, and improves ease of operation.

[0019] In another embodiment, the present invention further provides a stroller comprising: a pivot joint mechanism mounted on a foldable frame and switchable between an unfolded state and a folded state; a swivel seat pivotally attached to the pivot joint mechanism; a connecting assembly connected to the swivel seat and at least a portion of which forms a first plane; and a frame lock mechanism connected to the frame, wherein the frame lock mechanism comprises an operating member, which, when biased in a first direction, switches the pivot joint mechanism from the unfolded state to the folded state, and in at least one step in the switching process, the pivot joint mechanism rotates the connecting assembly in a first rotational direction relative to the pivot joint mechanism such that the angle between the first plane and the first direction gradually increases.

[0020] In one embodiment, the process by which the connecting assembly rotates in the first rotational direction includes a first stage in which the connecting assembly rotates in the first rotational direction by the drive of the drive member, and a second stage in which the connecting assembly continues to rotate in the first rotational direction by an external force.

[0021] In one embodiment, when the pivot joint mechanism is in the extended state, the height of the operating member is lower than the height of the rotating seat. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] Since the above stroller can rotate the connecting assembly in one direction in the first rotation direction when folded, it is avoided from colliding with the user's hand.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is a schematic structural diagram when the pivot joint mechanism of the stroller in one embodiment of the present application is in the deployed state. [Figure 2] It is a schematic structural diagram when the pivot joint mechanism of the stroller in one embodiment of the present application is in the folded state. [Figure 3] It is an exploded view of the folding device in one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] It is a schematic structural diagram of the first connecting seat of the folding device in one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 5] It is a schematic structural diagram of the rotating seat of the folding device in one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] It is a schematic structural diagram of the moving member of the folding device in one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 7] It is a schematic structural diagram of the second connecting seat of the folding device in one embodiment of the present application. [Figure 8] It is a radial sectional view of the folding device when the folding device in one embodiment of the present application is in the deployed state and the cutting position is at the first connecting seat. [Figure 9] It is a radial sectional view of the folding device when the folding device in one embodiment of the present application is in the folded state and the cutting position is at the first connecting seat.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] In the description of this application, if terms such as "center," "vertical direction," "horizontal direction," "length," "width," "thickness," "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inside," "outside," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial direction," "radial direction," and "circumferential direction" exist to be understood, the orientations or positional relationships indicated by these terms are shown based on the drawings and are merely for the purpose of simplifying the description to facilitate the explanation of this application. They do not mean or suggest that the devices or elements mentioned have a specific orientation or must be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be interpreted as limiting this application.

[0025] Where terms such as “attachment,” “connection,” “linking,” and “fixing” exist in this description, unless otherwise explicitly defined and limited, these terms should be understood broadly. Unless otherwise explicitly limited, for example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections. They may also refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections. They may also refer to direct connections, indirect connections via an intermediate medium, internal communication between two elements, or the interaction between two elements. A person skilled in the art will be able to understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application depending on the specific circumstances.

[0026] Referring to Figures 1 to 9, the present invention provides a folding device 100 including a pivot joint mechanism 14, a swivel seat 120, and a lock assembly 150. The pivot joint mechanism 14 is provided with a drive member 111, and the pivot joint mechanism 14 has an unfolded state and a folded state, and is switchable between these two states. The swivel seat 120 is pivotally attached to the pivot joint mechanism 14, and the swivel seat 120 is provided with a driven part 121. The lock assembly 150 is movably connected to at least one of the pivot joint mechanism 14 and the swivel seat 120, and has a locked position and an unlocked position, and the lock assembly 150 can restrict the relative rotation between the swivel seat 120 and the pivot joint mechanism 14 when in the locked position, and allows the relative rotation between the swivel seat 120 and the pivot joint mechanism 14 when in the unlocked position. When the pivot joint mechanism 14 is switched from the deployed state to the folded state, the pivot joint mechanism 14 moves the lock assembly 150 from the locked position to the unlocked position, and when the lock assembly 150 is in the unlocked position, the drive member 111 moves the driven part 121 so that the rotating seat 120 rotates in the first rotational direction relative to the pivot joint mechanism 14.

[0027] In the folding device 100 provided in this application, a lock assembly 150 having a locked position and an unlocked position is added. When the pivot joint mechanism 14 is switched from the unfolded state to the folded state, the lock assembly 150 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the drive member 111 drives the driven part 121 to move, causing the rotating seat 120 to rotate in one direction relative to the pivot joint mechanism 14 in the first rotational direction. That is, when the pivot joint mechanism 14 is switched from the unfolded state to the folded state, the rotating seat 120 rotates in one direction, enabling further folding. Therefore, the folding device 100 described in this application has a simple overall structure, can perform further folding operations automatically, and improves ease of operation.

[0028] Referring to Figures 8 and 9, in the following embodiment, the first rotation direction is defined as the clockwise direction in Figures 8 and 9. Of course, in other embodiments, the first rotation direction may be counterclockwise.

[0029] In this embodiment, referring to Figure 3, the pivot joint mechanism 14 specifically includes a first connecting seat 110 and a second connecting seat 130. The first connecting seat 110 and the second connecting seat 130 are pivotally connected. The pivot joint mechanism 14 can be switched between an extended state and a folded state when the first connecting seat 110 and the second connecting seat 130 rotate relative to each other. The first connecting seat 110, the second connecting seat 130, and the rotating seat 120 are arranged coaxially, and through holes (not shown) are provided in all three. A single pivot shaft 140 is provided through these through holes so that any one of the first connecting seat 110, the second connecting seat 130, or the rotating seat 120 can rotate relative to the other two.

[0030] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the first connecting seat 110 generally includes a disc-shaped first seat body 112 and a first connecting arm 113 connected to the outer surface of the first seat body 112. In the longitudinal direction of the pivot shaft 140, i.e., in the thickness direction of the first seat body 112, the first seat body 112 has a circular opening at one end and the other end becomes the main body wall 1121 of the first seat body 112.

[0031] The second connecting seat 130, like the first connecting seat 110, generally includes a disc-shaped second seat body 131 and a second connecting arm 132 connected to the outer surface of the second seat body 131. The second seat body 131 is located at the end of the first seat body 112 opposite to the rotating seat 120, i.e., the end where the main body wall 1121 of the first seat body 112 is located. In this embodiment, the first connecting seat 110 further includes a third seat body 114 provided at a distance from the first seat body 112 and forming a groove into which the second seat body 131 fits.

[0032] Referring to Figures 3 and 5, the rotating seat 120 is substantially disc-shaped and is provided covering the circular opening of the first seat body 112, that is, on the side of the first seat body 112 opposite to the third seat body 114. The driven part 121 is provided on the side of the rotating seat 120 facing the third seat body 114 and protrudes from the surface of the rotating seat 120 facing the second connecting seat 130 into the first seat body 112.

[0033] To facilitate understanding, the following describes the case where this folding device 100 is applied to the stroller 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Specifically, this stroller 10 has a front leg frame 11, two rear leg frames 12, a handle frame 13, and a connecting assembly 15, and the two folding devices 100 are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the stroller 10. The front leg frame 11 is U-shaped, and both ends are fixedly connected to one second connecting arm 132. The handle frame 13 is also U-shaped, and both ends are fixedly connected to one first connecting arm 113. Both rear leg frames 12 are hinged to the handle frame 13, and the connecting assembly 15 is U-shaped, and both ends are fixedly connected to one swivel seat 120. Two wheels are connected to the front leg frame 11, and one wheel is connected to each of the two rear leg frames 12. When the stroller 10 is folded using this folding device 100, the first connecting seat 110 and the second connecting seat 120 rotate relative to each other, thereby reducing the angle between the front leg frame 11 and the handle frame 13 and causing them to converge. While the stroller is being folded, the drive member 111 rotates the rotating seat 120 via the driven part 121, and as the rotating seat 120 rotates, the connecting assembly 15 rotates, thereby automatically completing the folding process.

[0034] Taking the frame of the stroller 10 shown in Figure 8 as an example, it can be seen that the folding device 100 is in the unfolded state, and the front leg frame 11 and the handle frame 13 are located on almost the same straight line. Taking the frames of the stroller 10 shown in Figures 2 and 9 as examples, the folding device 100 is in the folded state, and the front leg frame 11 and the handle frame 13 are positioned at an acute angle α, with the opening facing downwards.

[0035] Referring to Figures 3, 8, and 9, the lock assembly 150 is positioned between the first seat 112 and the swivel seat 120. In an exemplary embodiment, the lock assembly 150 has a locked position and an unlocked position, and as the first connecting seat 110 and the second connecting seat 130 rotate relative to each other, the lock assembly 150 moves along with them and can switch between the locked and unlocked positions. While the pivot joint mechanism 14 is being switched from the deployed state to the folded state, the lock assembly 150 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, thereby allowing the drive member 111 to move the driven part 121 so that the swivel seat 120 rotates in a first rotational direction relative to the first connecting seat 110. In this way, the process of switching the pivot joint mechanism 14 from the deployed state to the folded state automatically triggers the rotation of the swivel seat 120 in a first rotational direction relative to the first connecting seat 110, improving folding efficiency.

[0036] Furthermore, the lock assembly 150 comprises a movable member 151 and a locking member 152. In this embodiment, the locking member 152 is substantially elongated, and the movable member 151 is substantially circular sheet-shaped, and the movable member 151 and the locking member 152 are connected. While the pivot joint mechanism 14 is being switched from the deployed state to the folded state, the movable member 151 is driven by the pivot joint mechanism 14 to move the locking member 152 from the locked position to the unlocked position. Of course, in other embodiments, the movable member 151 and the locking member 152 may have other shapes such as cylindrical or polygonal, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0037] Furthermore, the first connecting seat 110 is provided with a first lock groove 1122, and the rotating seat 120 is provided with a second lock groove 122. Referring to Figures 4 and 8, as an example, the first connecting seat 110 is provided with a plurality of ribs that protrude from the main body wall 1121 of the first seat body 112 toward the rotating seat 120. Specifically, the first connecting seat 110 is provided with a closed annular first rib 1124 and an arc-shaped second rib 1125 with a larger diameter than the first rib 1124. More specifically, the first lock groove 1122 is located within the region enclosed by the first rib 1124, and some of the first lock grooves 1122 are shaped to fit the lock member 152 so that both longitudinal ends of the lock member 152 can be fitted into the first lock groove 1122. Referring to Figure 5, the second lock groove 122 is formed on the side of the rotating seat 120 facing the first connecting seat 110, and the second lock groove 122 is also shaped to fit the lock member 152 so that the lock member 152 can be fitted into the second lock groove 122.

[0038] In this embodiment, the locked position refers to the position in which the lock assembly 150 is located when at least some of the locking members 152 are located within the first lock groove 1122. When the pivot joint mechanism 14 is in the deployed state, the locking members 152 are in the locked position, and at this time, some of the locking members 152 are in the first lock groove 1122 and other parts of the locking members 152 are in the second lock groove 122, so it is understood that the swivel seat 120 cannot rotate relative to the first connecting seat 110.

[0039] In this embodiment, the unlocked position refers to the position of the lock assembly 150 when the locking member 152 moves from the locked position toward the rotating seat 120, completely separating from the first lock groove 1122 and entering the second lock groove 122. When the pivot joint mechanism 14 is in the folded state, the locking member 152 is in the unlocked position, and at this time, since the locking member 152 is inside the second lock groove 122, it is understood that the locking member 152 can rotate with the rotating seat 120 relative to the first connecting seat 110.

[0040] It should be noted that while the folding device 100 is being switched from the unfolded state to the folded state, the locking member 152 must travel a certain distance before it is fully engaged in the second locking groove 122, and therefore the locking member 152 can be considered to be in the locked position while it is moving in this manner.

[0041] Furthermore, it should be noted that in some other embodiments of the present invention, the locking member 152 may move away from the rotating seat 120 until it is completely separated from the second locking groove 122 and enters the first locking groove 1122. Therefore, in these embodiments, it should be noted that the locking member 152 is in the unlocked position when it is completely separated from the second locking groove 122 and enters the first locking groove 1122.

[0042] In some embodiments, the movable member 151 is positioned within the first lock groove 1122 and abuts against the second connecting seat 130. Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 7-9, the lock member 152 is connected to the movable member 151, and this connection may be by adhesive, welding, abutment, etc., and is not limited to these. Specifically, the main body wall 1121 of the first seat 112 is provided with a through hole 1128, and the movable member 151 is provided with an extension 1512, which abuts against the second seat 131 through the through hole 1128 when the folding device 100 is in the locked position. When the pivot joint mechanism 14 is switched from the deployed state to the folded state, the second seat 131 rotates in the first rotational direction relative to the first seat 112, and the moving member 151 is pushed by the second seat 131 and moves in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the pivot shaft 140, gradually approaching the rotating seat 120, thereby causing the locking member 152 to be pulled into the second lock groove 122 completely, that is, the locking member 152 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, the lock between the rotating seat 120 and the first seat 112 is released, and the rotating seat 120 becomes pivotable relative to the first connecting seat 110.

[0043] Furthermore, referring to Figures 3, 6, and 7, a first inclined surface 15120 is provided at one end of the extension 1512 closest to the second connecting seat 130, and a second inclined surface 1311 is provided on the side of the second connecting seat 130 facing the rotating seat 120. In an exemplary embodiment, the second connecting seat 130 is provided with two second inclined surfaces 1311, each of which is inclined away from the rotating seat 120 in the first rotational direction. The number of first inclined surfaces 15120 and second inclined surfaces 1311 are equal, and each first inclined surface 15120 is in close contact with the second inclined surface 1311 in order to increase the contact area between the extension 1512 and the second connecting seat 130. While the pivot joint mechanism 14 is being switched from the deployed state to the folded state, when the second connecting seat 130 rotates in the first rotational direction relative to the first connecting seat 110, the contact position between the extension portion 1512 and the second inclined surface 1311 gradually moves from the side of the second inclined surface 1311 away from the rotating seat 120 to the side closer to the rotating seat 120. As a result, the moving member 151 moves in the direction closer to the rotating seat 120, and the locking member 152 is carried along and fully enters the second lock groove 122, that is, the locking member 152 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0044] In some embodiments, a regulating rib 115 is provided on the inner wall of the first lock groove 1122 and on the movable member 151, and a recess 1511 is provided on the other that can slidably engage with the regulating rib 115. For example, the movable member 151 is provided with a recess 1511 and the first connecting seat 110 is provided with a regulating rib 115, and the engagement of the regulating rib 115 and the recess 1511 restricts the direction of movement of the movable member 151. For example, referring to Figures 4 and 6, the regulating rib 115 is provided in the first lock groove 1122, and the longitudinal direction of the regulating rib 115 is parallel to the axial direction of the pivot shaft 140. A recess 1511 is formed on the outer circumference of the movable member 151, and this recess 1511 accommodates the regulating rib 115 so that the movable member 151 can move along the longitudinal direction of the regulating rib 115. By providing a recess 1511 in the movable member 151 and engaging the recess 1511 with a restricting rib 115 provided on the first connecting seat 110, the direction of movement of the movable member 151 is restricted, and the movable member 151 can only move in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the pivot shaft 140. This prevents the extension 1512 from entering the through hole 1128 due to the movable member 151 rotating freely, and ensures close contact between the first inclined surface 15120 and the second inclined surface 1311.

[0045] Of course, in some other embodiments, the regulating rib 115 may be provided on the movable member 151 and the recess may be formed on the inner wall of the first lock groove 1122, thereby restricting the direction of movement of the movable member 151 so that it can only move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the pivot shaft 140.

[0046] On the other hand, in some embodiments, the travel stroke of the driven part 121 is greater than the travel stroke of the drive member 111. Referring to Figures 8 and 9, in an exemplary embodiment, when the pivot joint mechanism 14 is switched from an extended state to a folded state, the swivel seat 120 rotates in a first rotational direction relative to the pivot joint mechanism 14. During this time, first the driven part 121 rotates in the first rotational direction driven by the drive member 111, and then when the drive member 111 has rotated to its maximum travel stroke in the first rotational direction, the travel stroke of the driven part 121 is greater than the travel stroke of the drive member 111, so the driven part 121 is no longer driven by the drive member 111 and continues to rotate in the first rotational direction due to an external force. The external force may be gravity, or it may be a pushing force actively applied by the user through their hand or another tool, and is not limited thereto.

[0047] In some embodiments, the pivot joint mechanism 14 is provided with a second regulating groove 1123 located on the side of the pivot joint mechanism 14 facing the rotating seat 120. Referring to Figures 4, 8, and 9, as an example, the second regulating groove 1123 is formed in the first seat 112, specifically, the first rib 1124, the second rib 1125, and the main wall 1121 of the first seat 112 form an arc-shaped second regulating groove 1123. The drive member 111 is positioned within the second regulating groove 1123, and the driven part 121 protrudes into the second regulating groove 1123. While the pivot joint mechanism 14 is being switched from an unfolded state to a folded state, the rotating seat 120 rotates in a first rotational direction relative to the first connecting seat 110, thereby driving the driven part 121 to move. During this time, the second restricting groove 1123 guides the driven part 121 to move in an arc direction, thereby ensuring that the rotating seat 120 is coaxial with the first connecting seat 110 while the rotating seat 120 is pivoting with respect to the first connecting seat 110. A third rib 1126, which forms one end of the second restricting groove 1123, is also provided within the first seat body 112. When the driven part 121 moves within the second restricting groove 1123 until it contacts the third rib 1126, the rotating seat 120 is unable to rotate any further. In this way, the second restricting groove 1123 restricts the rotation angle of the rotating seat 120 relative to the first connecting seat 110, preventing excessive folding of the folding device 100 due to excessive rotation of the rotating seat 120 relative to the first connecting seat 110.

[0048] In some embodiments, the pivot joint mechanism 14 includes a first restricting groove 1127 for restricting the movement stroke of the drive member 111, and the drive member 111 can slide along the first restricting groove 1127. More specifically, the first restricting groove 1127 is located on the side of the pivot joint mechanism 14 facing the rotating seat 120, and the first connecting seat 110 in this embodiment is provided with the first restricting groove 1127. Referring to Figures 8 and 9, the first restricting groove 1127 is provided in the main body wall 1121 of the first seat 112 and is located in the region of the main body wall 1121 of the first seat 112 that corresponds to the second restricting groove 1123. The first regulating groove 1127 is arc-shaped, and the folding device 100 is further provided with a pin 160. The pin 160 penetrates the drive member 111 in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the pivot shaft 140 and enters the first regulating groove 1127, thereby allowing the drive member 111 to slide along the extending direction of the first regulating groove 1127, and the arc-shaped length of the first regulating groove 1127 is the maximum travel stroke of the drive member 111.

[0049] Of course, the first regulating groove 1127 and the second regulating groove 1123 may have shapes other than arc-shaped, and this application does not limit the shapes of the first regulating groove 1127 and the second regulating groove 1123.

[0050] In some embodiments, the driving member 111 and the driven part 121 are both housed in the second regulating groove 1123, and the first regulating groove 1127 is located on the wall surface of the second regulating groove 1123. In an exemplary embodiment, a portion of the surface of the main body wall 1121 facing the rotating seat 120 forms the bottom wall surface of the second regulating groove 1123, and the two opposing sides of the first rib 1124 and the second rib 1125 form the two side wall surfaces of the second regulating groove 1123. The first regulating groove 1127 is provided in the main body wall 1121, that is, the first regulating groove 1127 and the second regulating groove 1123 are in communication at the bottom wall surface of the second regulating groove 1123. Furthermore, the first regulating groove 1127 is provided on the bottom wall surface of the second regulating groove 1123, and the pin 160 enters the second regulating groove 1123 via the first regulating groove 1127. Thus, the engagement between the pin 160 and the first regulating groove 1127 allows the movement stroke of the drive member 111 to be restricted without adding any other complex connecting structures, thus contributing to reducing the structural complexity of the pivot joint mechanism 14. In some other embodiments, the first regulating groove 1127 is provided on the first rib 1124 and / or the second rib 1125, i.e., the first regulating groove 1127 and the second regulating groove 1123 may communicate at the side wall surface.

[0051] Furthermore, in some other embodiments, the second regulating groove 1123 may have only two walls. For example, if the second regulating groove 1123 is a V-shaped groove, the two walls of the second regulating groove 1123 may be in contact and form an angle. Alternatively, the second regulating groove 1123 may have only one wall. For example, the side wall and bottom wall of the second regulating groove 1123 may be smoothly connected, forming an arc-shaped wall. Of course, the second regulating groove 1123 may have four or more walls. In these embodiments, the first regulating groove 1127 may communicate with the second regulating groove 1123 on one wall, or it may communicate with the second regulating groove 1123 on multiple wall surfaces, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0052] In some embodiments, the drive member 111 includes a first elastic member 1111 and a drive block 1112 positioned between the first elastic member 1111 and the driven part 121. Specifically, the first elastic member 1111 is connected to the drive block 1112, and the drive block 1112 is capable of contacting the driven part 121. More specifically, one end of the first elastic member 1111 is connected to one end of the second regulating groove 1123, and the other end of the first elastic member 1111 is connected to the drive block 1112. The pin 160 penetrates the drive block 1112 in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the pivot shaft 140 and enters the first regulating groove 1127, thereby allowing the drive block 1112 to slide in the extending direction of the first regulating groove 1127. Referring to Figures 8 and 9, both the first elastic member 1111 and the drive block 1112 are positioned within the second regulating groove 1123. A fourth rib 1129 is provided within the first seat 112, forming the tip of the second regulating groove 1123. The first elastic member 1111 is a spring, with one end connected to the fourth rib 1129 and the other end connected to the drive block 1112. The driven part 121 is positioned within the second regulating groove 1123, and is capable of contacting the drive block 1112 while retracting into the first seat 112. When the lock assembly 150 is in the locked position, the drive block 1112 is connected to (e.g., in contact with) the driven part 121, and it is understood that, due to the elastic force of the first elastic member 1111, the rotating seat 120 tends to rotate in the first rotational direction. More specifically, when the lock assembly 150 is in the locked position, the first elastic member 1111 is compressed, and the drive block 1112 always tends to move toward the end of the first regulating groove 1127, that is, it tends to rotate in the first rotational direction. Since the drive block 1112 is in contact with the driven part 121, the rotating seat 120 always tends to pivot relative to the first connecting seat 110. By providing the first elastic member 1111 and the drive block 1112, when the folding device 100 is folded, the first elastic member 1111 can pivot the rotating seat 120 more quickly, shortening the time required for folding and also reducing the effort required to fold the folding device 100. In some other embodiments, the first elastic member 1111 may be an elastic member such as a rubber band, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0053] It should be noted that in some embodiments, the pin 160 is not required within the folding device 100. For example, two hook-shaped locking elastic arms are formed extending from the side of the drive block 1112 closest to the first regulating groove 1127. The locking elastic arms can elastically deform and pass through the first regulating groove 1127, and then be locked to the back surface of the first regulating groove 1127. As a result, the drive block 1122 does not detach from the first regulating groove 1127 and can slide along the extending direction of the first regulating groove 1127.

[0054] In some embodiments, the folding device 100 further includes a second elastic member 141. Referring to Figure 3, as an example, the second elastic member 141 is also a spring and is positioned between the rotating seat 120 and the locking member 152, with both ends of the second elastic member 141 connected to the rotating seat 120 and the locking member 152, respectively. When the pivot joint mechanism 14 is switched from the deployed state to the folded state, the locking member 152 moves toward the rotating seat 120 along the longitudinal direction of the pivot axis 140. At this time, the second elastic member 141 is biased and compressed, and as the first connecting seat 110 and the second connecting seat 130 rotate, the first lock groove 1122 and the second lock groove 122 shift toward each other, preventing the locking member 152 from returning to the first lock groove 1122. Furthermore, since the second elastic member 141 is maintained in a compressed state, it applies a force to the locking member 152 moving toward the rotating seat 120, and it is understood that this causes the locking member 152 to tend to move toward the rotating seat 120. When the locking member 152 is fully engaged in the second locking groove 122, if the pivot joint mechanism 14 is switched from the folded state to the unfolded state, the first locking groove 1122 and the second locking groove 122 are realigned, and as a result, the force applied from the second elastic member 141 to the locking member 152 to the first locking groove 1122 causes the locking member 152 to tend to move back to the first locking groove 1122 so that it automatically returns from the unlocked position to the locked position.

[0055] Referring to Figure 8, when the locking member 152 is located within both the first locking groove 1122 and the second locking groove 122, the rotating seat 120 cannot rotate relative to the first connecting seat 110.

[0056] Taking the folding device 100 shown in Figure 8 as an example, when folding this folding device 100, the second connecting seat 130 is rotated clockwise relative to the first connecting seat 110, and the locking member 152 is fully inserted into the second locking groove 122. When the locking member 152 is fully inserted into the second locking groove 122, the rotating seat 120 becomes rotatable relative to the first connecting seat 110, and the locking member 152 rotates together with the rotating seat 120, becoming misaligned with the first locking groove 1122. In this case, the rotating seat 120 can rotate in the first rotational direction relative to the first connecting seat 110 until the driven part 121 contacts the third rib 1126, and the positional relationship between the locking member 152 and the first locking groove 1122 when contact is made is as shown in Figure 9.

[0057] Taking the folding device 100 shown in Figure 9 as an example, when unfolding this folding device 100, the second connecting seat 130 is rotated counterclockwise relative to the first connecting seat 110 until the extension portion 1512 faces the second inclined surface 1311. At this time, the rotating seat 120 is rotated counterclockwise relative to the first connecting seat 110, and when the first lock groove 1122 of the first connecting seat 110 and the second lock groove 122 of the rotating seat 120 are aligned, the biasing force of the second elastic member 141 causes the lock member 152 to re-enter the first lock groove 1122. As a result, the rotating seat 120 is stopped by the lock member 152 and becomes unable to rotate relative to the first seat 112, and the rotating seat 120 is locked again.

[0058] In another embodiment, referring to Figures 1 and 2, the present invention also provides a stroller 10 comprising a frame, a pivot joint mechanism 14, a swivel seat 120, a connecting assembly 15, and a frame locking mechanism 16. The pivot joint mechanism 14 is positioned on the frame and has an extended state and a folded state. The swivel seat 120 is pivotally attached to the pivot joint mechanism 14. The connecting assembly 15 is connected to the swivel seat 120, and at least a portion of the connecting assembly 15 forms a first plane A. The frame locking mechanism 16 is connected to the frame. When the operating member 161 is biased in a first direction, the pivot joint mechanism 14 transitions from an extended state to a folded state. In at least one step of the transition process, the pivot joint mechanism 14 moves the connecting assembly 15 relative to the pivot joint mechanism 14 in a first rotational direction, thereby gradually increasing the angle between the first plane A and the first direction.

[0059] Specifically, the pivot joint mechanism 14 includes the first connecting seat 110 and the second connecting seat 130 in the folding device 100 described above. The frame includes a front leg frame 11, a rear leg frame 12, a handle frame 13, a seat pipe 17, and a linkage pipe 18. The seat pipe 17 is U-shaped and has two first hinge parts 171 and two second hinge parts 172. The two first hinge parts 171 are located at both ends of the seat pipe 17, and the seat pipe 17 is hinged to both ends of the front leg frame 11 via the two first hinge parts 171. The two second hinge parts 172 are located opposite each other, and the seat pipe 17 is hinged to both sides of the rear leg frame 12 via the two second hinge parts 172. The frame lock mechanism 16 includes an operating member 161 and two lock joints 162, each provided at both ends of the operating member 161 and slidably connected to the seat pipe 17. The lock joints 162 are hinged to the first seat body 112 via an interlocking pipe 18.

[0060] The two locking joints 162 are lockable and unlockable relative to the seat pipe 17. For example, the locking joints 162 are provided with locking pins (not shown), and the seat pipe 17 is provided with several locking holes (not shown). When the locking pins engage with the locking holes, the locking joints 162 and the seat pipe 17 are locked, and the frame locking mechanism 16 becomes unable to slide along the extending direction of the seat pipe 17. When the locking pins disengage from the locking holes, the locking joints 162 and the seat pipe 17 are unlocked, and the frame locking mechanism 16 becomes able to slide along the extending direction of the seat pipe 17.

[0061] It should be noted that both ends of the interlocking pipe 18 are hinge-connected to the first connecting seat 110 and the locking joint 162, respectively. When the pivot joint mechanism 14 is switched between the deployed and folded states, the locking joint 162 of the frame locking mechanism 16 slides adaptively in the extending direction of the seat pipe 17, thereby rotating the first connecting seat 110 via the interlocking pipe 18, which adaptively adjusts the angle between the plane in which the seat pipe 17 is located and the plane in which the front leg frame 11 is located, and also adaptively adjusts the angle between the plane in which the seat pipe 17 is located and the plane in which the two rear leg frames 12 are located.

[0062] The connecting assembly 15 can be a component that is connected to and used in combination with a frame, such as an armrest or a dining tray. In this embodiment, the connecting assembly 15 is roughly U-shaped, with each end connected to a single swivel seat 120. In this embodiment, the connecting assembly 15 and the swivel seat 120 are detachably connected, specifically, an engaging portion is provided on the opposite side of the swivel seat 120, and the engaging portion engages with the engaging structure of the connecting assembly 15. In other embodiments, the connection between the connecting assembly 15 and the swivel seat 120 may be fixed.

[0063] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the plane in which the connecting assembly 15 is located is the first plane A. In other embodiments, the entire structure of the connecting assembly 15 is not in the same plane, but at least some of its structure may be in the first plane A.

[0064] Referring to Figure 1, when the operating member 161 is not biased, the frame lock mechanism 16 is locked to the seat pipe 17, and the locking joint 162 cannot slide in the longitudinal direction of the seat pipe 17. When the operating member 161 receives a rotational force, the locking joint 162 of the frame lock mechanism 16 is released from the seat pipe 17, and the locking joint 162 becomes slidable in the longitudinal direction of the seat pipe 17. The operating member 161 is provided with a pull-up portion 1610, and when the pull-up portion 1610 is pulled in the first direction, the operating member 161 receives a rotational force, which releases the frame lock mechanism 16 from the seat pipe 17. The specific implementation of unlocking and locking the frame lock mechanism 16 is prior art and will not be described in detail here. In this embodiment, the first direction is set to a vertically upward direction. In this case, it is easier for the worker to pull the lifting section 1610. However, the first direction may also be set to an angle diagonally upward, that is, the angle between the first direction and the vertically upward direction may be set to an acute angle.

[0065] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the pivot joint mechanism 14 in the deployed state, corresponding to the stroller 10 being in the deployed state, with an acute angle between the first plane A and the first direction. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the pivot joint mechanism 14 in the folded state, corresponding to the stroller 10 being in the folded state, with an obtuse angle between the first plane A and the first direction. It is understood that while the stroller 10 is switched from the deployed state shown in Figure 1 to the folded state shown in Figure 2, the connecting assembly 15 rotates in the first rotational direction, i.e., counterclockwise as shown in Figure 1 (or downward toward the front of the stroller), driven by the first elastic member 1111, thereby gradually increasing the angle between the first plane A and the first direction. The lifting part 1610 may be a member such as webbing or a hose, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0066] Referring to Figures 8 and 9, it should be noted that the process of the connecting assembly 15 rotating in the first rotational direction (counterclockwise as shown in Figure 1) involves a first and a second stage. In the first stage, the first elastic member 1111 moves the drive member 111 to the maximum stroke restricted by the second regulating groove 1123, and in the process the drive member 111 drives the swivel seat 120 to rotate a certain stroke in the first rotational direction, thereby driving the connecting assembly 15 to rotate in one direction. The process of the connecting assembly 15 rotating in the first rotational direction then proceeds to the second stage, in which the connecting assembly 15 continues to rotate in the first rotational direction due to external forces and does not interfere with the first direction. In the second stage, even if the first elastic member 1111 can no longer continue to move the driven part 121 via the drive member 111, the connecting assembly 15 continues to rotate in the first rotational direction due to the external force, completing the folding process. Thus, the connecting assembly 15 is maintained in a unidirectional rotation, and collision with the user's hand is avoided.

[0067] In the stroller 10 according to the present invention, the connecting assembly 15 rotates in the first rotational direction by the drive of the first elastic member 1111. Therefore, the connecting assembly 15 does not rotate backward after rotating upward, so the connecting assembly 15 avoids the user's hands, and the connecting assembly 15 does not automatically fold during the process of folding the stroller 10 and collide with the user's hands, thus preventing discomfort or injury to the operator.

[0068] Referring to Figure 1, in some embodiments, when the pivot joint mechanism 14 is in the deployed state, the height of the operating member 161 is lower than the height of the swivel seat 120. When the lock joint 162 slides along the seat pipe 17, it can drive the first connecting seat 110 via the interlocking pipe 18 to rotate the second connecting seat 130 in the opposite direction to the first rotation direction, thereby facilitating the folding of the handle frame 13 and the front leg frame 11 closer together.

[0069] The folding process of the stroller 10 in this embodiment will be briefly described below with reference to Figures 1 and 2. With the stroller 10 in the unfolded state, the user operates the operating member 161, for example, by pulling the lifting part 1610 upward to unlock the locking joint 162 and the seat pipe 17. The user continues to operate the lifting part 1610 to slide the frame locking mechanism 16 along the seat pipe 17, and then pulls the first connecting seat 110 via the interlocking pipe 18 to pivot and converge it relative to the second connecting seat 130, thereby gradually switching the pivot joint mechanism 14 from the unfolded state to the folded state. During the process of switching the pivot joint mechanism 14, the second connecting seat 130 rotates, causing the moving member 151 to move toward the rotating seat 120. The second inclined surface 1311 gradually pushes the moving member 151, and subsequently, after the locking member 152 disengages from the first locking groove 1122 of the first connecting seat 110 and enters the second locking groove 122, the moving member 151 pushes the locking member 152 toward the rotating seat 120 until the locking member 152 is in the unlocked position. As a result, the rotating seat 120 and the pivot joint mechanism 14 are unlocked. The drive member 111 of the pivot joint mechanism 14 pushes the driven part 121 of the rotating seat 120 while rotating, causing the rotating seat 120 to rotate in a first rotational direction relative to the pivot joint mechanism 14. Furthermore, the connecting assembly 15 connected to the rotating seat 120 also rotates in the first rotational direction, thereby enabling the connecting assembly 15 to rotate and fold along with the frame in the first rotational direction when the frame is folded.

[0070] The unfolding process of the stroller 10 of this embodiment will be briefly described below with reference to Figures 1 and 2. During the frame unfolding process, the pivot joint mechanism 14 is switched from the folded state to the unfolded state. The second connecting seat 120 rotates relative to the first connecting seat 110 until the extension portion 1512 faces the second inclined surface 1311. At this time, the user can slightly lift the connecting assembly 15 or swing the frame to align the second lock groove 122 with the first lock groove 1122, and the lock member 152 can be driven by the second elastic member 141 to re-enter the first lock groove 1122. As a result, the rotating seat 120 is stopped by the lock member 152 and cannot rotate relative to the first connecting seat 110, and the rotating seat 120 is locked again. As the locking member 152 moves toward the first locking groove 1122, it pushes the moving member 151, moving toward the second connecting seat 130, and also brings the first inclined surface 15120 into close contact with the second inclined surface 1311.

[0071] The technical features of the embodiments described above can be combined in any way, and for the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the embodiments described above have been explained. However, as long as these combinations of technical features are not contradictory, they should be considered to fall within the scope described herein.

[0072] The above embodiments merely illustrate some of the embodiments of the present application, and although the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be understood as limiting the scope of the patent. Those skilled in the art should note that several modifications and improvements within the scope of the present application can be made without departing from the spirit of the application. Therefore, the scope of the patent is subject to the attached claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10 Stroller, 11 Front leg frame, 12 Rear leg frame, 13 Handle frame, 14 Pivot joint mechanism, 15 Connecting assembly, 16 Frame lock mechanism, 161 Operating member, 1610 Lifting part, 162 Locking joint, 17 Seat pipe, 171 First hinge part, 172 Second hinge part, 100 Folding device, 110 First connecting seat, 111 Drive member, 1111 First elastic member, 1112 Drive block, 112 First seat body, 1121 Main body wall, 1122 First lock groove, 1123 Second regulating groove, 1124 First rib, 1125 Second rib, 1126 Third rib, 1127 First regulating groove, 1128 Through hole, 1129 Fourth rib, 113 First connecting arm, 114 Third seat body, 115 Regulating rib, 120 Rotating seat, 121 driven part, 122 second lock groove, 130 second connecting seat, 131 second seat body, 1311 second inclined surface, 132 second connecting arm, 140 pivot shaft, 141 second elastic member, 150 lock assembly, 151 moving member, 1511 recess, 1512 extension, 15120 first inclined surface, 152 locking member, 160 pin.

Claims

1. A folding device, It is equipped with a drive member and a pivot joint mechanism that can be switched between an unfolded state and a folded state, A rotating seat pivotally attached to the aforementioned pivot joint mechanism, equipped with a driven part, and connected to a connecting assembly, The lock assembly is movably connected to at least one of the pivot joint mechanism and the rotating seat, and has a locked position that restricts relative rotation between the rotating seat and the pivot joint mechanism, and an unlocked position that allows relative rotation between the rotating seat and the pivot joint mechanism, A folding device characterized in that, when the pivot joint mechanism is switched from the deployed state to the folded state, the pivot joint mechanism moves the lock assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position, and when the lock assembly is in the unlocked position, the drive member moves the driven part such that the rotating seat rotates in a first rotational direction relative to the pivot joint mechanism.

2. The folding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement stroke of the driven part is greater than the movement stroke of the drive member.

3. The folding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pivot joint mechanism includes a first restricting groove for restricting the movement stroke of the drive member, and the drive member can slide along the first restricting groove.

4. The folding device according to claim 3, characterized in that the pivot joint mechanism has a second regulating groove on the side facing the rotating seat, the driven part is housed in the second regulating groove and moves along the second regulating groove, and the length of the second regulating groove is greater than the length of the first regulating groove.

5. The folding device according to claim 4, characterized in that the driving member and the driven part are both housed in the second regulating groove, and the first regulating groove is provided on the wall surface of the second regulating groove.

6. The drive member includes a first elastic member and a drive block located between the first elastic member and the driven part. The folding device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the lock assembly is in the locked position, the drive block is connected to the driven part, and the rotating seat tends to rotate in the first rotational direction depending on the elastic force of the first elastic member.

7. The pivot joint mechanism comprises a first connecting seat and a second connecting seat that are pivotally connected to each other, the first connecting seat being pivotally connected to the rotating seat, and the side of the first connecting seat facing the rotating seat being provided with a first regulating groove and a second regulating groove. The folding device according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive block is slidable along the first lock groove for restricting the movement stroke of the drive member, the first elastic member has one end connected to one end of the second restrict groove and the other end connected to the drive block, and the first elastic member, the drive block, and the driven part are all located within the second restrict groove.

8. It is a stroller, A pivot joint mechanism is provided on a foldable frame, which can be switched between an unfolded state and a folded state, A rotating seat pivotally attached to the aforementioned pivot joint mechanism, A connecting assembly connected to the rotating seat, with at least a portion of which forms a first plane, Includes a frame locking mechanism connected to the frame, The stroller is characterized in that the frame lock mechanism includes an operating member, and when the operating member is biased in a first direction, it switches the pivot joint mechanism from the unfolded state to the folded state, and in at least one step of the switching process, the pivot joint mechanism rotates the connecting assembly in a first rotational direction relative to the pivot joint mechanism such that the angle between the first plane and the first direction gradually increases.

9. The stroller according to claim 8, characterized in that the process of the connecting assembly rotating in the first rotational direction includes a first stage in which the connecting assembly rotates in the first rotational direction by the drive of the drive member, and a second stage in which the connecting assembly continues to rotate in the first rotational direction by an external force.

10. The stroller according to claim 8, characterized in that when the pivot joint mechanism is in the extended state, the height of the operating member is lower than the height of the rotating seat.

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