Braking mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9074648-B2
Application number	US-201213650255-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2012
Priority date	Oct 12, 2012
Publication date	Jul 7, 2015
Grant date	Jul 7, 2015

Abstract

A braking mechanism operably engaging at least one wheel where the mechanism is capable of transitioning the at least one wheel between unlocked and locked states is provided. The braking mechanism includes a flipper and a cam. The flipper is adapted to move in X, Y and Z-directions and includes a discontinuous track having an open slot portion and a surface path portion. The open slot portion includes a home position and an engaged position. The cam includes a pin which cooperatively moves along the discontinuous track. When the at least one wheel is in an unlocked state, the pin is in the home position and when the at least one wheel is in a locked state, the pin is in the engaged position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A braking mechanism operably engaging at least one wheel, the mechanism capable of transitioning the at least one wheel between unlocked and locked states and comprising:
a flipper including a discontinuous track having an open slot portion and a surface path portion, the open slot portion including a home position and an engaged position; and
a cam including a pin which cooperatively moves along the discontinuous track;
wherein the unlocked state comprises the pin located in the home position,
wherein transitioning the at least one wheel from the unlocked state to the locked state comprises the pin moving along the open slot portion from the home position to the engaged position; and
wherein transitioning the at least one wheel from the locked state to the unlocked state comprises the pin moving along the open slot portion and then along the surface path portion from the engaged position to the home position.

2. The braking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the flipper is movable in X, Y and Z directions.

3. The braking mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the flipper further comprises a ramp positioned between the open slot portion and the surface path portion, and wherein the pin travels along the ramp from the open slot portion to the surface path portion.

4. The braking mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a plate and a spring biased rod pivotally connecting the plate and flipper.

5. The braking mechanism of claim 2 , further comprising a plate and a spring biased rod pivotally connecting the plate and flipper.

6. A mechanism operatively connected to a plurality of wheels, the mechanism capable of transitioning the plurality of wheels between locked and unlocked states, the mechanism including:
a connecting rod having a first end and a second end;
an activation subassembly attached to the connecting rod;
a cable junction attached to the connecting rod; and
a pedal fixedly attached to the connecting rod first or second end;

wherein the activation subassembly includes:
a plate;
a flipper including a closed loop having an open slot portion and a surface path portion, the open slot portion including a home position and an engaged position;
a spring biased rod pivotally connecting the plate and flipper; and
a cam fixed to the connecting rod, the cam including a pin cooperatively movable along the closed loop;

and wherein the cable junction includes:
a first cable holding portion attached to the connecting rod;
a second cable holding portion; and
a second biasing element connected to the first and second cable holding portions.

7. The mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the mechanism is attached to a furniture supporting platform, the furniture supporting platform comprising a chassis, wherein the plurality of wheels is attached to an underside of the chassis, each wheel including a brake, wherein the plate is fixed to the chassis, and wherein the second cable holding portion is fixed to the chassis.

8. The mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the activation subassembly is proximate the connecting rod first end.

9. The mechanism of claim 8 , wherein the cable junction is proximate the connecting rod second end.

10. The mechanism of claim 7 , wherein when the plurality of wheels are in the unlocked state, the first and second cable holding parts are parallel relative to each other.

11. The mechanism of claim 7 , wherein when the plurality of wheels are in the locked state, the first and second cable holding parts are angled relative to each other.

12. The mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the mechanism further includes a second pedal attached to an opposite end of the connecting rod from the pedal.

13. The mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the furniture supporting platform comprises a chair.

14. The mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the furniture supporting platform comprises a bed.

15. The mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the furniture supporting platform comprises a table.

16. A braking mechanism comprising at least one pedal fixed to an end of a connecting rod, a flipper movable in X, Y and Z-directions and having a discontinuous track, a cam attached to the connecting rod and having a pin cooperatively movable within the discontinuous track, a cable junction attached to the connecting rod, and cables having one end attached to the cable junction and a second end engaging a wheel brake.

17. The braking mechanism of claim 16 , wherein the discontinuous track comprises an open slot portion and a surface path portion, and wherein the open slot portion comprises a home position and an engaged position.

18. The braking mechanism of claim 17 , wherein the mechanism operably engages at least one brake to transition at least one wheel between unlocked and locked states.

19. The braking mechanism of claim 18 , wherein transitioning the at least one wheel from the unlocked state to the locked state comprises moving the pin along the open slot portion from the home position to the engaged position; and wherein transitioning the at least one wheel from the locked state to the unlocked state comprises moving the pin from the engaged position to the home position.

20. The braking mechanism of claim 19 , wherein the flipper further comprises a ramp positioned between the open slot portion and surface path portion, and wherein the pin travels along the ramp from the open slot portion to the surface path portion.

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Spoor Travis

Classifications

• B60T11/046

  Using cables (B60T11/043 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62B5/0433

  foot operated · CPC title

• B62B5/0457

  by locking in a braking position · CPC title

• F16D65/28 Primary

  arranged apart from the brake · CPC title

• B60B33/0078

  characterised by details of the wheel braking mechanism · CPC title