EP2366372A1

EP2366372A1 - Apparatus for locking a cross frame

Info

Publication number: EP2366372A1
Application number: EP11150277A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mogens Bichel Lauritsen
Original assignee: Handicare AS
Current assignee: Handicare AS
Priority date: 2010-01-07
Filing date: 2011-01-06
Publication date: 2011-09-21
Also published as: NO20100010A1; NO331369B1

Abstract

Locking device (1) for a cross frame construction, the cross frame construction preferably constituting a part of a rollator (22) to facilitate folding of these, and the cross frame construction comprising a first cross bar (4), a first parallel bar (8) and a first hinge bar (6) pivotal connected with the cross bar (4) in a pivot point (11) and with the parallel bar (8). A locking hook part (12) is pivotal arranged at the hinge bar (6), the locking hook part comprising two locking hooks (14, 15) separated by a angle of rotation around a pivot pin (13) for the hook part (12); and at the cross bar (4), on each respective end of the pivot point (11), is arranged a first locking pin (2) for engagement with the locking hook (15) in a use position and a second locking pin (3) for engagement with the locking hook (14) in a transport or storage position. Between the hinge bar (6) and the hook part (12) a spring device (16) is arranged, and the hinge bar(6) is arranged with a stop pin (21) for abutment with a first side of the locking hook part (12). Further, second (23) and third (24) sides of the locking hook part (12) against inner engagement surfaces on each respective locking pin (14, 15) are shaped such that in said use position and storage or transport position so that the locking device (1) "latches" in locking engagement by itself, and that only during release of the locking engagement in the two respective positions that a user must perform an action on the locking device (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a locking device for a cross frame construction, the cross frame construction preferably constituting a part of a rollator to facilitate folding of the rollator. More specific, the invention is relating to a locking device as indicated in the preamble of claim 1.
A rollator is a product primarily intended for elderly and/or disabled users, in which case simple handling evidently is of particular importance. Most rollators may in one way or another be folded, for example by way of a on its own known cross frame construction, to be more easily transported for example in a car, or to occupy less space when not in use. For foldable rollators it is obviously advantageous to have a secure and simple device for locking the rollator both in a use position and in a storage or transport position.
The present invention aims at providing the above and/or other advantages by a locking device as indicated in the characterizing part of claim 1.
Other preferable embodiments of the invention are to be understood by the dependent claims.
In the following a non-limiting embodiment of the locking device according to the invention is disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1a and 1b is a side view of a locking device according to the present invention locking a cross frame construction in a use position and a storage position, respectively.
Fig. 2a and 2b is enlarged partial views of the locking device shown in Fig. 1a and 1b; and
Fig. 3a and 3b are perspective side views of a rollator comprising the locking device and cross frame construction shown in Fig.1 and 2, in a use position and storage position, respectively.

With reference to the drawings, a locking device 1 according to the present invention comprises a first 2 and a second 3 locking pin arranged on a first end section of a first cross bar 4 of a cross frame construction. The cross frame construction further comprises a second cross bar 5, first 6 and second 7 hinge bars and also first 8 and second 9 parallel bar, wherein the first and second cross bars 4, 5 are pivotal connected by a central arranged pin connection 10, wherein a first end of each of the hinge bar 6, 7 are pivotal connected with a first end section of each of the respective cross bars 4, 5 and with a first end of each of the respective parallel bars 8, 9, wherein in the said end section, between the first and the second locking pin 2, 3, is arranged a rotary joint 11 for pivotal connection - via each respective hinge bar 6, 7 - of each respective cross bar 4, 5 to the first end of each respective parallel bar 8, 9, and wherein the second respective end of each cross bar 4, 5 is directly pivotal connected with the other end of each respective parallel bar 8, 9. With particular reference to Fig. 1a and 1b, the cross frame construction is shown in an open and locked use position and in an closed and locked storage and transport position, wherein the construction and function of the locking device 1 is described in further detail below.
As is seen from Fig. 1a and 1b, the locking device 1 further comprises a locking hook part 12 pivotal connected on the first hinge bar 6 by pivot pin 13. The locking hook part 12 comprises to locking hooks 14, 15, wherein each respective locking hook 14, 15 is arranged in each respective end of each locking hook part 12, and wherein the locking hooks is separated by a angle of rotation substantially equal to 180° round the pivot pin 13. In an open use position is the locking hook 15 thus in locking engagement with the first locking pin 2 while the locking hook 14 is free, and in a closed storage or transport position is the locking hook 14 in locking engagement with the second locking pin 3 while the locking hook 15 is free.
Further, between each end of the locking hook part 12 comprising the locking hook 14 and a point on the hinge bar 6 near the rotary joint 11, is there arranged a spring device 16, in the present embodiment comprising a spiral spring 17. The spring device 16 further comprises a wire connected to the said end section of the locking hook element 12 penetrating a sleeve 18 arranged in said point on the hinge bar 6, and that serves as abutment for a end of the spiral spring 17, then ending in a release ring 19 on the other side of the sleeve 18. The spring power of the spiral spring 17 press a first side 20 of the locking hook part 12 in abutment with a stop pin 21 arranged on the hinge bar 6 close to a end of the hinge bar opposite the rotary joint 11, and thus hold the locking hook part 12 in one of the two locked positions mentioned above, and where the locking effect is released by a user pulling the release ring 19 by compressing the spring 17 and rotating the locking hook part. The shape of the side 20 is thus adapted to allow rotation of the locking hook part 12 around the pivot pin under actuation of the release ring 19. A second 23 and third 24 side of the locking hook part is shaped as inclined planes towards inner engagement surfaces for the respective locking hooks 14, 15, and in above mentioned use position and storage or transport position, the locking device 1 enters or "latches" thus locking engagement by itself, such that it is only during release of the locking engagement in the two respective positions that a user must perform an action by pulling the release ring 19.
The present invention thus provides a self-locking function both in a user position with unfolded cross frame construction and in folded storage or transport position. As a rullator 22 with a cross frame construction by way of a locking device 1 of the present invention is secure and easily locked both in a use position and in a storage or transport position ensures both safety during use and during transport or storage, and during handling under transport or storage, for example during on or off-loading on a car is unintentional and sudden unfolding avoided. Simultaneously is it rendered possible to wheel or drive the rollator 22 also in the folded and locked position, which might be advantageously during handling under transport.
As shown in Fig. 3a and 3b, the parallel bars 8, 9 constitutes respective side poles of the rollator 22, in which side poles 8, 9 there are preferably telescopically arranged support handles 25, 26 respectively.
The present invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, and changes are this encompassed within the limits of the accompanying claims. As one example of the latter is it possible to replace the spiral spring 17 with a different type spring or elastomer.

Claims

Locking device (1) for a cross frame construction, the cross frame construction preferably constituting a part of a rollator (22) to facilitate folding of these, and the cross frame construction comprising a first cross bar (4), a first parallel bar (8) and a first hinge bar (6) pivotal connected with the cross bar (4) in a pivot point (11) and with the parallel bar (8), charcterized in that a locking hook part (12) is pivotal arranged at the hinge bar (6), the locking hook part comprising two locking hooks (14, 15) separated by a angle of rotation around a pivot pin (13) for the hook part (12); and at the cross bar (4), on each respective end of the pivot point (11), is arranged a first locking pin (2) for engagement with the locking hook (15) in a use position and a second locking pin (3) for engagement with the locking hook (14) in a transport or storage position, wherein the between hinge bar (6) and the hook part (12) is arranged a spring device (16), and the hinge bar(6) is arranged with a stop pin (21) for abutment with a first side of the locking hook part (12), and that second (23) and third (24) sides of the locking hook part (12) against inner engagement surfaces on each respective locking pin (14, 15) are shaped such that in said use position and storage or transport position so that the locking device (1) "latches" in locking engagement by itself, and that only during release of the locking engagement in the two respective positions that a user must perform an action on the locking device (1).
Locking device according to claim 1, charcterized in that the angle of rotation between the locking hooks (14, 15) is substantially equal to 180 °.
Locking device according to claim 1 or 2, charcterized in that the spring device (16) comprises a spiral spring (17), through which a wire is extended ending in release ring (19), wherein the spiral spring (17) is compressed and the locking hook part (12) is rotated when a user as an action pulls the release ring (19).
Locking device according to any of the proceeding claims, charcterized in that the parallel bar (8) constitute a side pole of the rollator 22, in which there is telescopically arranged a support handle.