Wheel assembly for an infant support apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9533530-B2
Application number	US-201414567160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2014
Priority date	Dec 11, 2013
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A wheel assembly for an infant support apparatus includes a wheel mount, a wheel pivotally connected with the wheel mount about a pivot axis, and a brake member assembled with the wheel for movement between a braking state and a release state, the brake member when in the release state being rotatable with the wheel relative to the wheel mount, and the brake member when in the braking state engaging with the wheel mount to block rotation of the wheel relative to the wheel mount.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wheel assembly for an infant support apparatus, comprising:
a wheel mount;
a wheel pivotally connected with the wheel mount about a pivot axis; and
a brake member assembled with the wheel and movable relative to the wheel and the wheel mount between a braking state and a release state, the brake member when in the release state being rotatable with the wheel around the pivot axis relative to the wheel mount, and the brake member when in the braking state engaging with the wheel mount to block rotation of the wheel relative to the wheel mount.

2. The wheel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the brake member is movable substantially parallel to the pivot axis.

3. The wheel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel mount includes a plurality of openings arranged around the pivot axis, and the brake member engages with any of the openings to block rotation of the wheel relative to the wheel mount.

4. The wheel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel includes a wheel frame having an inner cavity in which the brake member is arranged, the inner cavity being at least partially delimited by a base surface provided with a hole, and the brake member is guided for sliding displacement through the hole to engage with the wheel mount.

5. The wheel assembly according to claim 4 , further including an actuator member connected with the wheel frame, wherein the actuator member is operable to switch the brake member between the braking state and the release state, and the actuator member is rotatable with the wheel about the pivot axis when the brake member is in the release state.

6. The wheel assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the actuator member is pivotally connected with the wheel frame.

7. The wheel assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the actuator member is pivotally connected with the wheel frame at two locations diametrically opposite to each other relative to the pivot axis.

8. The wheel assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the actuator member has a hole located eccentric from the pivot axis, the brake member being slidably disposed through the hole of the actuator member.

9. The wheel assembly according to claim 8 , further including a spring connected with the brake member and the actuator member, the actuator member having a locking position corresponding to the braking state and an unlocking position corresponding to the release state, the spring biasing the brake member to engage with the wheel mount when the actuator member is in the locking position.

10. The wheel assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the wheel frame has a first and a second engaging portion disposed at two opposite sides with respect to the pivot axis, the actuator member engages with the first engaging portion to hold the brake member in the braking state, and the actuator member engages with the second engaging portion to hold the brake member in the release state.

11. The wheel assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the actuator member is formed as a cap that substantially closes the inner cavity and has a substantially circular periphery centered on the pivot axis.

12. The wheel assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the actuator member has a first and a second region distinct from each other, the first region being depressed to switch to the braking state, and the second region being depressed to switch to the release state.

13. A wheel assembly for an infant support apparatus, comprising:
a wheel mount;
a wheel pivotally connected with the wheel mount about a pivot axis;
a brake member assembled with the wheel and movable relative to the wheel and the wheel mount between a braking state that blocks rotation of the wheel relative to the wheel mount, and a release state allowing rotation of the wheel relative to the wheel mount, the brake member when in the release state being rotatable with the wheel around the pivot axis relative to the wheel mount; and
an actuator member assembled with the wheel and operatively connected with the brake member, wherein the actuator member is movable relative to the wheel between a locking position corresponding to the braking state, and an unlocking position corresponding to the release state, the actuator member when in the unlocking position being rotatable with the wheel about the pivot axis.

14. The wheel assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the actuator member is pivotally connected with the wheel.

15. The wheel assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the actuator member is pivotally connected with the wheel at two locations diametrically opposite to each other relative to the pivot axis.

16. The wheel assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the actuator member has a hole located eccentric from the pivot axis, the brake member being slidably disposed through the hole of the actuator member.

17. The wheel assembly according to claim 13 , further including a spring connected with the brake member and the actuator member, the spring biasing the brake member to engage with the wheel mount when the actuator member is in the locking position.

18. The wheel assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the wheel has a wheel frame provided with a first and a second engaging portion at two opposite sides with respect to the pivot axis, the actuator member engages with the first engaging portion to hold the brake member in the braking state, and the actuator member engages with the second engaging portion to hold the brake member in the release state.

19. The wheel assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the wheel has a wheel frame in which is arranged the brake member, and the actuator member is formed as a cap that substantially closes the inner cavity and has a substantially circular periphery centered on the pivot axis.

20. The wheel assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the actuator member is formed as an integral part having a first and a second region distinct from each other, the first region being depressed to switch to the braking state, and the second region being depressed to switch to the release state.

21. A wheel assembly for an infant support apparatus, comprising:
a wheel mount including a plurality of openings;
a wheel pivotally connected with the wheel mount about a pivot axis, the openings being arranged around the pivot axis; and
a brake member assembled with the wheel and movable relative to the wheel and the wheel mount between a braking state and a release state, the brake member when in the release state being rotatable with the wheel around the pivot axis relative to the wheel mount, and the brake member when in the braking state engaging with any of the openings on the wheel mount to block rotation of the wheel relative to the wheel mount.

22. The wheel assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the brake member is movable substantially parallel to the pivot axis.

23. The wheel assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the wheel includes a wheel frame having an inner cavity in which the brake member is arranged, the inner cavity being at least partially delimited by a base surface provided with a hole, and the brake member is guided for sliding displacement through the hole to engage with the wheel mount.

24. The wheel assembly according to claim 23 , further including an actuator member connected with the wheel frame, wherein the actuator member is operable to switch the brake member between the braking state and the release state, and the actuato

Assignees

• Wonderland Nursery Goods

Inventors

• Hartenstine Curtis M
• Ruggiero Anthony V

Classifications

• B62B9/087 Primary

  by locking in a braking position · CPC title

• B60B33/02 Primary

  with disengageable swivel action {, i.e. comprising a swivel locking mechanism} · CPC title

• B62B5/0461

  with positive engagement · CPC title

• B62B5/0457

  by locking in a braking position · CPC title

• B60B2200/22

  Chairs · CPC title