DE29815824U1 - Locking element for releasably locking a connection, in particular two tubular components of a child's vehicle - Google Patents

Description

PALGEN, SCHUMACHER & KLUIN : : : ;;

DÜ'SSTiTLDO'RF" ESSEN PATENT ATTORNEYS

N: 98 538 K/at Düsseldorf. 4 September 1998

FILE NO. 21

company

PUKY GMBH & CO. KG Fortunastrasse 11

D - 42489 Wülfrath

Locking element for releasably locking a connection, in particular two tubular components of a

Children's vehicle

The invention relates to a locking element according to the type corresponding to the preamble of claim 1 and to a children's vehicle equipped with this locking element.
5

Such locking elements are originally known for the releasable locking of individual segments of multi-part tent tubes. The segments are designed in such a way that they can be pushed into one another over a certain length - here called the connecting area. In the connecting area, the segments have holes in the tube wall that can be brought into overlap with one another.

The locking element used for the releasable locking comprises a leaf spring part inserted into the inner volume of the inserted tube, which has a contact leg in the area of the opening on the inside of the tube and

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has a pressure leg supported on the opposite inner side of the pipe. A locking extension is provided on the support leg which passes through the hole, which is made of solid material and is firmly connected to the spring element by riveting or welding.

Such locking elements have also been used for some time for the optionally detachable fastening of tubular components of children's vehicles in particular. An example of this is the sliding tube from DE 29 03 818 A1 that can be optionally attached to a tubular extension of a children's tricycle, with which an accompanying person can push the children's tricycle in front of them while walking upright and thus also influence the direction and speed of travel of a child riding the tricycle if necessary.

The known locking elements are well suited to absorbing mainly static loads, such as those that occur when connecting the individual segments of tent tubes. However, it has been shown that with predominantly dynamic loads, such as those that act on the locking element in the case of the connection between the sliding tube and the children's tricycle described above, there is a risk of the locking extension coming loose from the spring element. In practice, this is particularly problematic, as in this case there is no longer any locking between the sliding tube and the children's tricycle and the accompanying person suddenly only has part of the sliding tube in their hand and the tricycle with the child is no longer under control.

The failure of the connection between the spring element and the locking extension is particularly serious if the locking element is used, for example, to secure load-bearing frame

parts of a children's vehicle, as may be the case with children's vehicles that can be dismantled for transport.

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a locking element which is improved in terms of its functional reliability even when dynamic loads occur.

This object is achieved by the locking element set out in claim 1. However, the invention is not limited to the locking element per se, but also extends to a children's vehicle equipped with the locking element according to the invention.

Because the spring element and the locking extension are made in one piece, there is no longer any risk of the connection between the locking extension and the spring element coming loose. Another advantage is that the locking element according to the invention, despite its improved functional reliability, can also be manufactured more cost-effectively because of the savings in manufacturing steps. In addition, the locking element according to the invention is also particularly suitable for securing components of small diameter that are pushed into one another, since the small leaf spring width required in this case makes it considerably more difficult to attach a separate locking extension to the spring element according to the prior art and reduces its load-bearing capacity.

The locking element is particularly easy to insert into the connection area of the component to be inserted and is self-locking in this area if it comprises an approximately flat contact leg, onto which the locking extension is formed, and a pressure leg that forms an angle of < 90° with the contact leg. To insert the locking element,

To insert the sealing element into the interior of the pipe, the contact and pressure legs only need to be pressed together and released again in a position in which the locking extension passes through the opening of the component.
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Tests have shown that the locking element is particularly easy to handle when the angle is about 20°.

The locking element is preferably made of spring steel. However, it is also possible to manufacture the locking element from any other material - for example plastics - which have sufficient strength for the intended purpose while at the same time being elastically deformable.
15

If the locking element is made of spring steel, it has been shown that a flat spring steel with a thickness of about 0.8 mm is particularly suitable.

The locking element is preferably shaped such that the locking extension has two approximately parallel locking surfaces, which are preferably connected to one another via a bridge.

The bridge can be of any shape. However, to facilitate the locking into the two overlapping openings of the components to be locked, the bridge is preferably designed to be self-centering. For this purpose, it can, for example, have a constant radius of curvature or be angled three times symmetrically to a plane running in the middle between and parallel to the locking surfaces.

If the locking element is designed in such a way that the locking extension has two approximately parallel locking surfaces, the openings are preferably rectangular in cross section.

This measure ensures that there is a linear or flat contact between the locking element and the opening walls in the direction of the load - i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the components to be connected. The risk of deformation of the locking element and/or the openings, with the result that the locking element could jam, is thereby significantly reduced.

A particularly secure connection of the components is achieved with a locking element according to the invention if means are provided which selectively prevent the locking extension from being pressed into the inner volume of the outer component - in other words: unlocking the connection .

If the locking extension has a length and shape such that there is a clear distance between the underside of the bridge and the top of the outer component to be locked, as is usually the case when the locking element is made of flat material, the means can preferably consist of a locking pin or a locking ring which at least partially surrounds the outer cross section of the outer component.

Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a clip having at least one locking lug, whereby the locking lug can be pressed in between a locking surface of the locking extension and the facing boundary of the openings in the two components with elastic deformation of the locking extension. This embodiment of the securing means has the further advantage that the locking surfaces rest against the boundary surfaces via an intermediate locking lug under a certain pre-tension, which prevents play of the components in the connection direction caused, for example, by manufacturing tolerances.

The drawing shows a children's tricycle with a push tube, which is secured by means of a locking element according to the invention, as well as embodiments of the locking element according to the invention. They show:
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Fig. 1 a children's tricycle with mounted push tube and safety flag in an overall view;

Fig. 2 shows section II in Fig. 1 in an enlarged view;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the fastening part of the sliding tube according to section III-III in Fig.

2;
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Fig. 4 is a detailed representation of a first embodiment of a locking element according to the invention in a side view;

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a locking element according to the invention in a representation corresponding to Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 - partial - a longitudinal section of two structures pushed into each other in the connecting area

parts in which the locking element is secured against re-pressing by means of a split pin;

Fig. 7 - detail - the connection area

two components inserted into one another, whereby the locking element is secured by a ring which is interrupted at one point and can be attached optionally;

Fig. 7a the ring from Fig. 7 in a single view and

Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment in which the securing means comprises two elastically deformed

A safety clip with locking lugs that can be inserted into the opening of the components when the locking extension is inserted.

The children's vehicle shown in Fig. 1 and designated as a whole by 100 consists of a tricycle 20 which comprises a frame 21 which has two parallel tubes 22, 22' which run in the rear area approximately in the longitudinal direction of the tricycle 20. In the rear area of the frame 21, the rear axle 23 with the rear wheels 24, 24' is attached to the tubes 22, 22'. Behind the rear axle 23, the tubes 22, 22' forming the frame 21 are bent back forwards in an arc of 180° and carry at their free ends a seat 25 made of blown plastic which is arranged slightly in front of the rear axle.

Between the tubes 22, 22' there is arranged a pipe section-shaped holder 26 which projects obliquely rearward from the rear axle 2 3 and which is welded with its lower end to an axle support 2 7 serving to support the axle 2 3, the axle support 27 being fastened to the tubes 22, 22' by screw connections.

A sliding tube 28 provided with a handle 29 is inserted into the holder 26, with which the tricycle 20 can be pushed. The sliding tube consists of two pipe sections 28' and 28" of approximately equal length. The pipe section 28', which carries the handle 29 at one end, has an area of smaller diameter at its other end, over the length of which it can be inserted into the other pipe section 28". The releasable locking of the pipe sections

28', 28" is a locking element 40 which passes through two overlapping openings in the connection area of the two pipe sections, the design and function of which are described below.
5

In addition, in the illustrated embodiment of the children's tricycle, a pennant rod 10 is attached to the holder 26, which protrudes slightly backwards from the holder between the handle bar 28 and the seat 25. The assembly of the sliding tube 28 and the pennant rod 10 on the holder forming the holder 26 will be described with reference to Fig. 2.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the pennant pole 10 consists of a lower pole part 11 and an upper pole part 12, with a connecting sleeve 13 pushed over the separation point serving to fix both pole parts coaxially aligned. A pennant 14 is arranged at the upper end of the pennant pole, which consists of a brightly colored textile with a triangular cut.

Fig. 2 shows the receptacle 26 for fastening the sliding tube 28 and a holder 30 for supporting a pennant pole 10. The holder 30 consists of a sleeve 31 in the form of a section of a tube, the inner diameter of which is selected such that it can be pushed onto the receptacle 26 from above. The sleeve 31 has a projection 32 which extends over its entire length and widens upwards in a wedge shape and protrudes radially from the sleeve 31. A blind-ended bore 34 is machined into the upper end face 3 3 of the projection 32 and serves to accommodate the lower rod part 11 of the pennant pole 10.

The receptacle 26 has an opening 35 of rectangular cross-section at approximately 90° to the direction of travel. A corresponding opening 35' is provided offset by 90° to the projection 32 in the lower part of the sleeve 31.
5

The sliding tube 28, which is inserted from above into the receptacle 26 over a length designated S in Fig. 3 - the so-called connecting area 37 - has an opening 38 which can be seen in Fig. 3 and which corresponds approximately to the openings 35, 35' in terms of its size and cross-section. It is arranged offset by approximately 90° to the longitudinal axis T of the handle 29 in such a way that it can be made to overlap with the two openings 35, 35'.

In the interior of the sliding tube 28, in the connecting region 37, a locking element, designated as a whole by 40, is provided, of which two different embodiments are shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The locking element 40, which is made of a flat spring steel strip, comprises a pressure leg 41 which, when inserted into the connecting region 37, is supported on the side opposite the opening 38 in the interior of the sliding tube.

The pressure leg 41 is integrally formed by means of an approximately 160° bend 42 onto a contact leg 43, which extends parallel to the inside of the sliding tube 28 opposite the contact side of the pressure leg 41, with its longitudinal edges facing the tube wall in linear contact. The pressure leg 41 and the contact leg 43 form an angle α of approximately 20
and together form a spring element 39.

In the area shown in Fig. 3 below and in Figs. 4 and 5 on the right, the contact leg 43 is approximately at a right angle.

lig away from the pressure leg 41 and bent back in the opposite direction over a 180° bridge 44 to finally end in a development 45 forming a continuation of the contact leg 43. As a result of this shape, the locking element 40 is provided in one piece with a locking extension, designated as a whole by 50, which has two locking surfaces 51, 52 which run approximately parallel and are connected via the bridge 44. The length of the bridge 44 and the cross section of the openings 35, 35 ' , 38 are coordinated with one another in such a way that the locking surfaces 51, 52, when the locking element 40 is engaged, at least almost lie against the boundary surfaces of the holes 35, 35', 38 which run transversely to the longitudinal extent of the sliding tube.

The bridge 44 can be shaped in any desired way. However, the insertion and locking process of the sliding tube 28 in the receptacle 26 is facilitated by a self-centering shape of the bridge 44, which can be achieved, for example, by an external curvature around a constant radius (Fig. 4) or by a multiple development symmetrical to a plane E running centrally between and parallel to the locking surfaces 51, 52 (Fig. 5).

The sliding tube described as an example is mounted in the receptacle 26 in a known manner by pushing the sliding tube into the receptacle 26 while pressing the locking extension 50 into the inner circumference of the connecting area 37 and moving it relative to it until the locking extension snaps into the opening 35 of the receptacle 26 and fixes the sliding tube in it. The fixing of the sleeve 31, also shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for fastening the pennant rod 10 is carried out in a corresponding manner by either pushing the sleeve 31 into the receptacle 26 before the sliding tube 28 is pushed in

J &igr;&iacgr; ·· ·

has been brought into a position in which the holes 35, 35' overlap, or is brought into this position after inserting the sliding tube and engaging the locking extension.
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The disassembly of the sleeve 31 or the sliding tube 28 is carried out in the reverse manner.

Particularly in cases where an undesired release of the connection secured by means of the locking element 40 could have fatal consequences, it is advantageous to be able to secure the locking extension against being displaced back into the inner circumference of the outer component. Various embodiments of preferred securing means are shown in Figs. 6 to 8 by way of example.

In Fig.6, a commercially available locking pin 54, which is inserted between the underside 53 of the bridge 44 and the outer surface 46, prevents an unintentional loosening of the connection.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 7, a locking ring 55 can be used, the preferred design of which can be seen in Fig. 7a. The ring edge of the single-interrupted locking ring 55 has a cross-section that is larger than the clear width formed between the bridge 44 and the outer surface 46. Extensions 60, 60' protrude from the front sides of the ends 56, 56' that delimit the interruption, allowing engagement between the underside 53 of the bridge 44 and the outer surface 46. This design of the locking ring 55 has the additional advantage that the locking ring is reliably protected against twisting and thus against accidental unlocking.

In a further preferred embodiment according to Fig. 8, the securing means is designed as a clip 59. The clip 59 has two locking lugs 58, 58', which are spaced apart and dimensioned in such a way that they can be brought between the locking surfaces 51, 52 and the boundaries of the openings 65, 65' of the nested components 61, 61' with elastic deformation of the locking extension 50. A cap 62 connecting the two locking lugs prevents the locking extension from being actuated when the clip is in the assembled state. Furthermore, the locking lugs 58, 58' have a self-locking effect, so that in this embodiment too, unintentional loosening of the connection is reliably prevented.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

10 22' Pennant pole 54 56' &phgr; Safety pin 11 lower rod part 55 ·· · · Φ ·
φ φ »&phgr;&phgr;&phgr;&phgr; φ
■ &phgr; · φ φ · Retaining ring 12 24' upper rod part 56, 58' end up 13 Connecting sleeve 57 Walls 14 pennant 58, 60' Locking lugs 20 tricycle 59 61' Clip 21 Frame 60, Extensions 22, , 28" Tube 61, 65' Components 23 Rear axle 62 cap 24, Rear wheels 65, openings 25 Seat 100 Children's vehicle 26 Recording S = Length 27 Axle carrier E = Level 28 Sliding tube T = Longitudinal axis 28' 35' Pipe parts 29 Handle 30 bracket 31 Sleeve 32 head Start 33 upper front surface 34 drilling 35, opening 37 Connection area 38 opening 39 Spring element 40 Locking element 41 Pressure leg 42 160° arc 43 Investment leg 44 Bridge 45 Bending 46 outer surface 50 Locking extension&zgr; 51 Locking surface 52 Locking surface 53 bottom ϕ ϕ
φ ·
φ ·

Claims (20)

1. Locking element ( 40 ) for releasably locking a connection of at least two components pushed into one another in the connecting region ( 37 ), which in the connecting region ( 37 ) each have at least one opening ( 35 , 35 ', 38 ) provided in the component walls, which can be brought into overlap when the components are pushed into one another, in particular tubular components of a children's vehicle ( 100 ),
with a spring element and
with a locking extension ( 50 ) provided on the spring element, which, when spring-loaded, passes through the overlapping openings ( 35 , 35 ', 38 ) in the nested state of the components for locking, but can be displaced against the spring force in such a way that the openings ( 35 , 35 ', 38 ) are released for releasing the connection, characterized in that
that the spring element ( 39 ) and the locking extension ( 50 ) are formed in one piece. 2. Locking element according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element comprises an approximately flat contact leg ( 43 ) on which the locking extension ( 50 ) is formed, and a pressure leg ( 41 ) enclosing an angle (α) < 90° with the contact leg ( 43 ). 3. Locking element according to claim 2, characterized in that the angle (α) is approximately 20°. 4. Locking element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking element ( 40 ) is made of sheet-like material, preferably spring steel. 5. Locking element according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring steel has a thickness of approximately 0.8 mm. 6. Locking element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking extension ( 50 ) has two locking surfaces ( 51 , 52 ) running approximately parallel to one another. 7. Locking element according to claim 6, characterized in that the locking surfaces ( 51 , 52 ) are connected to one another via a bridge ( 44 ). 8. Locking element according to claim 7, characterized in that the bridge ( 44 ) is curved outwards and has a constant radius of curvature. 9. Locking element according to claim 7, characterized in that the bridge ( 44 ) is angled three times symmetrically to a plane (E) running in the middle between and parallel to the locking surfaces. 10. Arrangement for connecting at least two components pushed into one another in the connecting region ( 37 ), which in the connecting region ( 37 ) each have at least one opening ( 35 , 35 ', 38 ) provided in the component walls, which can be brought into overlap when the components are pushed into one another, with a locking element ( 40 ) according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the openings ( 35 , 35 ', 38 ) have an approximately rectangular cross-section. 11. Arrangement for connecting at least two components pushed into one another in the connecting region ( 37 ), which in the connecting region ( 37 ) each have at least one opening ( 35 , 35 ', 38 ) provided in the component walls, which can be brought into overlap when the components are pushed into one another, with a locking element ( 40 ) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that means are provided which selectively prevent the locking extension from being pressed into the inner volume of the outer component. 12. Arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the locking extension ( 50 ) has a length such that there is a clear distance between the underside ( 53 ) of the bridge ( 44 ) and the outer surface of the outer component such that a securing means connecting a pressing of the locking extension into the inner volume of the outer component can be introduced between the bridge and the outer surface of the outer component. 13. Arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that the securing means is a locking pin ( 54 ). 14. Arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that the securing means is a single open securing ring ( 55 ) whose inner contour corresponds approximately to the outer contour of the cross section of the outer component to be locked. 15. Arrangement according to claim 14, characterized in that the locking ring ( 55 ) is made of an elastic material so that it can be brought over the outer cross section of the outer component to be locked by elastically bending the two ends ( 56 , 56 '). 16. Arrangement according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the wall ( 57 ) of the locking ring ( 55 ) has a cross-section which allows insertion of the locking ring ( 55 ) between the bridge ( 44 ) and the outer surface of the outer component. 17. Arrangement according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the wall ( 57 ) of the locking ring ( 55 ) has a cross-section which does not allow insertion of the locking ring ( 55 ) between the bridge ( 44 ) and the outer surface of the outer component and that projections ( 60 , 60 ') which engage under elastic force between the bridge and the outer surface of the outer component are provided on the front sides of the ends ( 56 , 56 '). 18. Arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that a securing clip ( 59 ) having one or more locking lugs ( 58 , 58 ') is provided, the locking lug(s) of which can be inserted against an elastic force between one of the locking surfaces ( 51 , 51 ) and the adjacent boundary of the opening ( 35 , 35 '). 19. Children's vehicle having a locking element according to one of claims 1 to 9. 20. Children's vehicle having an arrangement according to one of claims 10 to 18.