DE20007948U1 - Swivel joint with snap coupling - Google Patents

Description

Anton Schiel G 1600

Plastics and Wigs GmbH 02.05.2 000

Brückenstrasse 14
96465 Neustadt/Cbg.

Swivel joint with locking coupling

The invention relates to a swivel joint with a locking coupling with the features specified in the preamble of claim 1.

A generic design of a swivel joint with a locking coupling is known from US 5,056,805, Figure 3.

The well-known swivel joint is used to adjust the inclination of a push bar on a child's pushchair. For this purpose, swivel joints are attached to both push bars of the child's pushchair at the same height, each with a fastening part, while the other fastening parts are connected to one another via a push bar.

Such joints can also be used, for example, for swiveling footrests on a stroller. The areas of application are diverse and not just limited to strollers. They can be used on all frames where one part has to be adjustable in angle relative to the other, for example for adjusting the backrest of a seat or in a chassis.

From DE 195 30 717 A1, a swivel joint with at least two connecting parts for fastening parts that can be adjusted relative to one another with a releasable locking of the connecting parts relative to one another is also known. The connecting parts have a hollow space that is circular in cross-section and is provided with internal teeth. The hollow spaces of the connecting parts are aligned with one another.

one above the other. In the common chamber thus formed, a cylindrical locking part is arranged so as to be axially displaceable, which has an external toothing on its circumference which can be brought into engagement with the internal toothing of the connecting parts in order to couple the two parts.

In this generic rotary joint, too, the gear ring is displaced by actuating an axially mounted actuating element in such a way that it moves from a positive coupling position of the gear wheels of the internal toothing into a position in which the rotary movement of the rotary joint element parts relative to one another is possible.

Furthermore, a generic swivel joint from the

DE 84 00 753 Ul, which is used in particular for musical instruments such as drums and percussion stands. The rotary element shown therein also has a push button that can be actuated in the axial direction and, against the force of a spring, can move a gear ring with an external thread from a coupling position, in which the internal teeth of two rotary joint elements are bridged with one another, into a disengagement position.

Based on the known prior art, the invention is based on the object of providing a different actuating device for moving the clutch ring gear in a rotary joint of the generic type. A further object is to design the device in such a way that a lower actuating force enables the ring gear to be moved to release the clutch for the purpose of releasing a relative position of the rotary joint elements with respect to one another.

The invention solves the problem by designing a rotary joint with the features specified in claim 1.

A rotary joint according to the invention has the advantage that the actuation of the actuating member is not carried out directly in the longitudinal direction by pressing on the protruding or recessed button, but a longitudinal displacement is caused indirectly, namely via a device which transforms a rotary, tilting or pivoting movement of an actuating member into a longitudinal movement of the actuating element.

The invention makes this possible through various design solutions. For example, a tilting or toggle lever can be provided, one lever of which engages in the interior of the housing of the swivel element, in which the actuating member is arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable. The leg engages a pressure surface on the actuating element. The second leg protruding outwards can be folded over, at least in one direction, in which a pressure force is exerted on the pressure surface of the actuating element in order to move the gear ring out of its coupling position. The gear ring can be pushed into a cavity in the first swivel element or into a continuous internal toothing of the same. As soon as the connection point between the two swivel elements is exposed, one swivel element can be adjusted relative to the other. By pivoting back or releasing the actuating element, either the actuating element is returned or the spring against which the gear ring can be moved causes the gear ring to be pushed back into the coupling position after adjustment, so that it is no longer possible for the two swivel joint elements to rotate against each other.

Preferred embodiments using a toggle lever are specified in claims 3 and 4. Such a toggle lever can be attached either to the outer surface, i.e. the cylindrical part of a joint element, or

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also be attached to the front side. The coupling devices can be designed differently in order to exert a movement transformation on the actuating element, which is mounted in a known manner in one of the two swivel joint elements so that it can be moved longitudinally.

Claim 2 specifies a preferred embodiment of a rotary joint, which involves the use of a rotary lever or an adjusting wheel provided on the axle to actuate the actuating element. By pivoting or rotating through a certain angle, one part of the actuating element transforms the rotary movement into a longitudinal movement on the other in order to achieve the desired displacement of the gear ring. It is clear that in both embodiments, the torque that must be applied in each case results in a reduction in force during actuation. The rotary joints are therefore easier to operate for the relative rotation of the two rotary joint elements relative to one another.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in detail in the subclaims 5 to 24. It is clear that by using a rotatable actuating element part or also a radially extending lever that can be actuated, as well as a toggle lever, remote control is made possible in a simple manner, namely by attaching a pulling element, e.g. a cable, a chain or a Bowden cable, to a radially provided connection, which is guided, for example, in a tube and coupled at a remote location to an actuating member that can be pivoted or rotated in order to convert the desired movement transformation of the rotary movement into a longitudinal movement of the actuating element.

This design, which is specified in claims 21 to 24, makes it possible to couple the actuating elements or the actuating members of several rotary joints to one another so that they are adjusted synchronously when a pivoting, tilting or rotating movement is generated on an actuating member. However, a separate actuating member can also be provided which is coupled to the individual actuating element parts or the actuating element via tension elements.

The advantages resulting from this construction are obvious, especially when the swivel joints are arranged in frames according to the teaching of claim 25, preferably in frames of a child's or doll's pram or another pushchair, as stated in claim 26. In this case, a concealed coupling between the individual actuating elements of the swivel joints lying on a swivel axis is possible. Advantageous embodiments of this are self-explanatory in claims 27 and 28.

In claim 29, it is provided that a safety element additionally enables an unintentional actuation of an actuating member, so that an adjustment of an actuating member is only possible in the desired manner when the safety device is unlocked, in order to then enable a relative rotation of the rotary joint elements in the desired manner.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures of the drawings.

The drawings show:

FIG 1 shows a section through a swivel joint according to the invention with a gear ring in a coupling position,

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FIG 2 a swivel joint according to Figure 1 with a gear ring, moved into a release position,

FIG 3 in the form of an exploded view of the individual parts of a swivel joint as shown in Figures 1 and 2,

FIG 4 an application of two swivel joints in connection with a push bar on a stroller

or children's stroller and

FIG 5 two side views of the application shown in Figure 4 with a push bar in a straight and an inclined position.

Figures 1 and 2 show a swivel joint according to the invention which - as can be seen from Figure 3 - consists of a first swivel joint element 1 with an internal toothing 2. On the outer casing - covering parts of the front side - a fastening device 3 in the form of a molded-on piece of pipe is provided, which is placed on a pipe part of a frame, e.g. on the end of a bracket 23 in Figure 4, and is fastened thereto.

A bearing pin 18 in the form of a through sleeve is provided centrally, which projects beyond the edge of the swivel joint element 1. Furthermore, a bearing recess for a screw head or a lock on a fastening bolt 19 is provided at the end of the sleeve in the left end wall. The swivel joint element is expediently made of plastic using an injection molding process and also has a centering groove 26 in the end face, into which a centering ring 25 of the second swivel joint element 4 engages when assembled.

During assembly, a spring 8, which is designed as a helical spring, is placed on the bearing pin 18. This spring 8 is mounted in a blind bore 2 7 of a gear ring 7 and rests on the front face of the

Blind hole. The spring 8 therefore presses the gear ring 7, which is placed with its central hole 28 on the bearing pin 18, in the direction of the second rotary joint element 4. The external toothing of the gear ring 7 is adapted to the internal toothing 2 so that the teeth mesh with one another. They therefore form an adjustable locking coupling. After the gear ring 7 has been placed on the bearing pin 18, a first actuating element part 9 with the central hole 28 is also placed on the bearing pin 18. This first actuating element part 9 rests with a support surface plane-parallel to the front side 12 of the gear ring 7 and can be rotated relative to it. The first actuating element part 9 is cylindrical and has two cut-out curved sections 17, which have inclined sliding surfaces 13a and 13b on their front sides, which have the same pitch. The curved sections 17 formed in this way are inserted in a longitudinally displaceable manner into cross-sectionally adapted guide slots 16 of the front wall 15 of the second swivel element 4 when the second swivel element 4 is connected to the first swivel element 1. The sliding surfaces 13a and 13b thus protrude from the guide slots 16 or end in them, as can be seen in Figure 1. The second swivel element 4 also has an internal toothing 5, the tooth grid and size of which correspond to the internal toothing 2 of the first swivel element, so that during the positive coupling, in which the gear ring 7 is displaced by the spring 8 into the internal ring toothing 5 of the second swivel element 4, a desired coupling and anti-twisting protection of the two swivel elements 1 and 4 against each other is produced. A fastening device 6 is also provided on the second swivel element 4, which can be plugged onto and fastened to a bar of a stroller, for example. The second pivot element 4 further comprises a bearing chamber 29 located behind the front wall 15, into which a second actuating element part 10, which at the same time is an integrated

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tes actuating element 11, namely an adjusting wheel. This second actuating element part 10 has an inner recess which corresponds to the outer diameter of the cylindrical first actuating element part 9, and on the inside corresponding sliding surfaces 14a and 14b which are arranged with the same pitch but in the opposite direction to the sliding surfaces 13a and 13b. In the assembled state, which is shown in Figure 1, the sliding surfaces 13a and 14a or 13b and 14b lie completely against one another, so that the actuating element is relatively short overall. To secure the connection, a guide sleeve 20 is provided which is inserted into a correspondingly designed recess in the actuating element 11 of the second actuating element part and - as can be seen from Figure 2 - engages in an annular blind bore in the end wall 15. The center hole of the guide sleeve 20 corresponds to the diameter of the center hole 28. The length of the bearing pin 18 is dimensioned such that it rests against the front wall 15, as can be seen in Figure 1. After assembly, the fastening bolt 19 can be inserted into the sleeve 20 and secured on the other side of the swivel joint, namely on the front wall of the first swivel joint element 1. Instead of a fastening or connecting bolt 19, a screw connection can also be selected, which holds the entire assembly together.

From Figure 3, but also from Figure 1, it can be seen that a bearing groove 21 is made in the casing wall of the second actuating element part, which serves to accommodate a cable pull 22, which is shown in Figure 3. The connection within the bearing groove 21 is not shown. The pulling cable or pulling element 22 is introduced through a radial bore 30 into the bearing chamber or into the bearing groove 21, so that the pulling element 22 or the pulling cable, e.g. the pulling cable of a Bowden cable, is concealed within the tube of the device.

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stells to enable remote control, which will be discussed later.

Figure 2 shows the swivel joint according to Figure 1, which is composed of the aforementioned parts shown in Figure 3. When the actuating member 11, which is part of the second actuating element part 10, is rotated, namely by an angle of approximately 45° - the rotation is symbolically represented by the circular arrow - the sliding surfaces 13a and 14a or 13b and 14b of the two actuating element parts 9 and 10 that lie against one another are displaced relative to one another. The first actuating element part 9, which is secured against rotation, cannot rotate with it and the rotational movement of the second actuating element part 10 is transformed into a longitudinal movement of the first actuating element part 9, which - as Figure 2 shows - moves to the left and in doing so moves the ring gear 7 in the direction of the arrow so far that the gear wheel comes out of engagement with the internal toothing 5 of the second swivel joint element 4. The two swivel joint elements 1, 4 are thereby released for relative rotation, so that a desired angle of inclination adjustment of the fastening devices 3 and 6 can be carried out against each other.

If the actuating member 11, which is an adjusting wheel, is now released or turned in the opposite direction, the tensioned spring 8 causes the gear ring 7 to be automatically pushed back into the position shown in Figure 1 in order to enable the desired coupling function, so that a relative rotation of the two rotary joint elements against each other is then no longer possible.

In Figure 4, the two swivel joints 25 are arranged in a mirror image in connection with a push bar 23, the ends of which are inserted into the fastening devices 3 and 6. The fastening devices 6

are placed on frame beams 31 and secured thereto. It is also apparent from the illustration that a traction cable 22, the function of which has already been described, is guided through the tubular push bar 23 and is hooked into the connections in the bearing grooves 21 of the second actuating element parts with the ends in each case and is guided over a curved section in the grooves 21 in order to be able to follow the rotary movement of the actuating process, whereby a movement transformation of the rotary movement of the second actuating element part shown on the left is transferred to the second actuating element part of the second rotary joint 25 shown on the right. At the same time, in both rotary joints 25, a movement transformation of the rotary movements takes place into a longitudinal movement of the first actuating element part 9, which causes a desired displacement of the gear rings 7 towards one another in order to synchronously release both rotary joints for relative adjustment. To make operation easier, a lever-shaped actuating member 11 is attached to the second actuating element part 10, protruding outwards, in order to be able to apply the necessary torque with little effort to ensure the displacement over the sliding surfaces 13a and 13b and 14a and 14b. The push bar 23 is shown in Figure 5 in the left illustration as an extension of the frame bars 31, while in the right illustration it is adjusted by a certain angle. Theoretically, adjustment is possible by 360°, but is limited by the contact of the bar with the frame bars.

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List of reference symbols

1 first swivel element

2 Internal gearing

3 Fastening device

4 second swivel element

5 Internal gearing

6 Fastening device

7 Sprocket

8 Spring

9 first actuating element part

10 second actuating element part

11 Actuator

12 Front side (gear ring) 13a, b Sliding surface

14a, b sliding surface

15 Front wall

16 guide slots

17 Arch section

18 bearing journals

19 Fastening bolt 2 0 Guide sleeve

21 Bearing groove

22 Tension element

23 Part

24 Swivel joint

25 Centering ring

26 Centering groove

27 Blind hole

2 8 Center hole

2 9 Storage chamber

3 0 Drilling

31 Frame beam

II

Claims (29)

1. Swivel joint with locking coupling for pivotably connecting at least two mutually adjustable parts, comprising: - at least one first swivel element ( 1 ) with a concentric internal toothing ( 2 ) and at least one fastening device ( 3 ) provided on the outer wall for fastening at least one first part or for fastening to a first part, - at least one second swivel element ( 4 ) with a concentric internal toothing ( 5 ) and at least one fastening device ( 6 ) provided on the outer wall for fastening at least one second part or to a second part, - which two swivel joint elements ( 1 , 4 ) are connected to each other and rotatable relative to each other, - a meshing gear ring ( 7 ) with external teeth engaging in the internal teeth ( 2 , 5 ) and axially displaceable therein, which in a first axial displacement position couples the two internal teeth ( 2 , 5 ) to one another and in a second axial displacement position in a direction against the force of a spring ( 8 ) is only in engagement with the internal teeth ( 2 ) of a rotary joint element ( 1 ), wherein - an axially acting actuating element ( 9 , 10 ) is connected to the gear ring ( 7 ) or rests against it on one side, characterized in that a device cooperates with the actuating element ( 9 , 10 ) which transforms a rotary, tilting or pivoting movement of an actuating member ( 11 ) into a longitudinal movement of the actuating element ( 9 , 10 ) in such a way that at least in one direction of movement at least the gear ring ( 7 ) slides from the coupling position connecting the two internal toothings ( 2 , 5 ) into the one internal toothing ( 2 ). 2. Swivel joint according to claim 1, characterized in that - the actuating element ( 9 , 10 ) has a first actuating element part ( 9 ) which rests against a front side ( 12 ) of the gear ring ( 7 ), is mounted in a rotationally secured manner relative to the latter and is longitudinally displaceable or is fastened to the gear ring ( 7 ), - which has at least one helical sliding surface ( 13 a, 13 b) rising away from the gear ring ( 7 ) and extending over at least a defined arc section, - a corresponding sliding surface ( 14a , 14b ) with the same pitch, but running in the opposite direction, of a second actuating element part ( 19 ) rests on the sliding surface ( 13a , 13b ), or a pressure attachment on the second actuating element part ( 10 ), wherein - the second actuating element part ( 10 ) is designed as a rotary or radial pivoting element and is provided concentrically in or on the second rotary joint element ( 4 ) so as to be relatively rotatable, - in or on the rotary joint element ( 4 ) a pressure abutment for the second actuating element part ( 10 ) is provided in the axial direction, - the oblique, helical sliding surface ( 14a , 14b ) or the pressure attachment is arranged relative to the oblique sliding surface ( 13a , 13b ) of the first actuating element part ( 9 ) in such a way that a relative rotation of the second actuating element part ( 10 ) by a certain angle results in a transformation of the rotary movement into an axial longitudinal movement of the first actuating element part ( 9 ), and - the pitch dimensions and rotation angle limitations are coordinated with one another in such a way that the gear ring ( 7 ) disengages from one of the two internal toothings ( 2 , 5 ) to release the relative rotation of one rotary joint element ( 1 , 4 ) with respect to the other and, when rotating in the opposite direction, bridges both internal toothings ( 2 , 5 ) again. 3. Swivel joint according to claim 1, characterized in that on the swivel joint element, on or in which the actuating element is mounted, a toggle lever is provided which is movable about a pivot axis arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the actuating element, which is operatively connected to the actuating element with one leg and whose second leg forms the actuating member, wherein a movement transformation of the leg movement into a longitudinal displacement movement of the actuating element takes place at least from the coupling position into a release position of the ring gear by pivoting movement of the toggle lever. 4. Swivel joint according to claim 3, characterized in that the toggle lever is articulated on the casing wall of the swivel joint element in which the actuating element is slidably mounted and one leg engages a pressure surface of the actuating element through a longitudinal slot in the casing wall and that by pivoting the toggle lever in the pressure direction the gear ring can be displaced against the force of the spring at least out of the coupling position. 5. Swivel joint according to claim 2, characterized in that a driving projection is fixedly provided on the first actuating element part ( 9 ), which bears against an inclined sliding surface ( 14 a, 14 b) of the second actuating element part ( 10 ). 6. Swivel joint according to claim 2 or 5, characterized in that the inclined sliding surfaces ( 13 a, 13 b; 14 a, 14 b) are end faces of central sleeves or guide curves on a bolt or on a bolt of a bolt/sleeve combination, or are projecting sliding surfaces ( 14 a, 14 b) on the inside of a cylindrical second actuating element part ( 10 ), which rest on the end faces of the corresponding ones of the first actuating element part ( 9 ) or on which a driving projection rests on the sliding surface of the respective other actuating element part ( 9 , 10 ). 7. Swivel joint according to one of claims 1, 2, 5 or 6, characterized in that an actuating projection protrudes from a slot running over a certain angle in the casing wall of the housing of the swivel joint element ( 4 ) or through an opening in the end wall ( 15 ) of the housing of the swivel joint element ( 4 ) in which the second actuating element part ( 10 ) is located, or an opening is provided in the end wall ( 15 ) for inserting an actuating projection on an actuating member to form a frictional connection with the second actuating element part ( 10 ). 8. Swivel joint according to claim 7, characterized in that a radially extending actuating member ( 11 ) in the form of a lever or an adjusting wheel is fastened to the actuating projection projecting at the front, or the actuating member ( 11 ) is inserted with an actuating projection. 9. Swivel joint according to one of claims 2, 5 to 8, characterized in that the rotary movement of the second actuating element part ( 10 ) is limited by stops on the first ( 9 ) or by such in the swivel joint element ( 4 ) into which it is inserted. 10. Swivel joint according to one or more of claims 1, 2, 5 to 9, characterized in that the first actuating element part ( 9 ) is mounted in a guide opening or in guide slots ( 16 ) in the end wall ( 15 ) of the second swivel joint element ( 4 ) in a rotationally secure but axially displaceable manner and the second actuating element part ( 10 ) is designed to be plugged on and is rotatably fixed to the swivel joint element. 11. Swivel joint according to claim 10, characterized in that the first actuating element part ( 9 ) is cylindrical and has at least one cut-out arcuate section ( 17 ) which is guided in an arcuate opening or guide slot ( 16 ) in the end wall ( 15 ) of the housing of the swivel joint element ( 4 ). 12. Swivel joint according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a central bearing pin ( 18 ) is provided in the housing of the first swivel joint element ( 1 ), on which at least the gear ring ( 7 ) is mounted so as to be axially displaceable. 13. Swivel joint according to claim 12, characterized in that the bearing pin ( 18 ) is surrounded by the spring ( 8 ). 14. Swivel joint according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the bearing pin ( 18 ) is designed as a sleeve and a fastening bolt ( 19 ) or a screw is inserted through this, which secures the connection of at least the two swivel joint elements ( 1 , 4 ), the inner gear ring ( 7 ) and the first and second actuating element parts ( 9 , 10 ). 15. Swivel joint according to one of claims 2, 5 to 14, characterized in that the second actuating element part has a central bearing sleeve or a bearing bolt which is guided in a bore in the first actuating element part and at least in a partial section of a bearing bore of the gear ring so as to be longitudinally displaceable. 16. Swivel joint according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that a bolt-shaped connecting element is inserted into the central bearing sleeve and through the gear ring, which is fastened to the housing of the swivel joint element, that the gear ring is displaceable and that the spring which acts on the gear ring rests on the inside between the end face of the housing of this swivel joint element. 17. A swivel joint according to claim 16, characterized in that the connecting element is fastened to the swivel joint element into which the second actuating element part is inserted. 18. Swivel joint according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the connecting element is a screw or a locking bolt or a plastic bolt with outwardly acting locking ends. 19. Swivel joint according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the swivel joint elements ( 1 , 4 ) can be rotated relative to one another by 360°. 20. Swivel joint according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the swivel joint elements are connected to one another solely or additionally by snap-fit connections. 21. Swivel joint according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pulling element ( 22 ) is provided on the actuating member (11) of the toggle lever, on the second actuating element part ( 10 ), on an outer lever arm protruding from the housing of the swivel joint element or on a lever arm ending within the swivel joint element ( 4 ) or on a drive disk or a bearing groove ( 21 ) in the connection provided in the second actuating element part ( 10 ), via which the pivoting movement of the toggle lever or the rotary movement of the second actuating element part ( 10 ) can be remotely controlled. 22. Swivel joint according to claim 21, characterized in that the return of the first actuating element part ( 9 ) into the positive coupling of the inner ring gears ( 2 , 5 ) of the swivel joint elements ( 1 , 4 ) takes place when the second actuating element part ( 10 ) rotates in the opposite direction by the spring ( 8 ) or by pivoting the toggle lever back or turning the rotatable actuating member ( 11 ) back, whereby this at least supports the rotation back of the second actuating element part or the pivoting back. 23. Swivel joint according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the tension element ( 22 ) is a cable, a chain, a Bowden cable or a tension rod. 24. Swivel joint according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the swivel joint elements ( 1 , 4 ) and the first and second actuating element parts ( 9 , 10 ) or the toggle lever are made of plastic. 25. Swivel joint according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the use in a frame with at least two swivel joint elements ( 1 , 4 ) which can be adjusted simultaneously. 26. Frame according to claim 25, characterized in that it is the frame of a child's pram or doll's pram or another pushchair. 27. Swivel joint according to one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that at least the part on the swivel element ( 1 , 4 ) with the second actuating element part ( 10 ) is tubular and the tension element ( 22 ) is guided in the part ( 23 ) and the end is coupled to an actuating member which is provided on the part or on an extension part for this purpose, or that the tension element ( 22 ) is connected to the second actuating element part ( 10 ) or the toggle lever of the at least second swivel joint ( 25 ), wherein when an actuating member ( 11 ) on one of the swivel joints ( 25 ) is actuated, the couplings of at least both swivel joints ( 25 ) can be actuated synchronously. 28. Swivel joint according to claims 25 to 27, characterized in that two swivel joints ( 25 ) are provided on the frame, arranged in a mirror image and spaced apart from one another, the swivel joint elements ( 4 ) of which, in or on which the second actuating element parts ( 10 ) are located, are connected to one another via tube parts ( 23 ), wherein a cross tube element is designed as a rotatable actuating element or an actuating element for the synchronously actuated tension elements is provided on the fixed cross tube element and an actuating element ( 11 ) is provided on at least one of the swivel joints ( 25 ) and the couplings are coupled via the tension element ( 22 ). 29. Swivel joint according to one of claims 25 to 28, characterized in that the actuating member ( 11 ) is provided with safety elements which are additionally to be actuated when the desired adjustment of the swivel joint elements ( 1 , 4 ) is to be triggered by the actuating member ( 11 ).