Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Hand operated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-03
2001-06-19
Green, Mary Ann (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Hand operated
C074S489000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247379
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hand brake control mechanism, and more particularly to such a hand brake control mechanism designed for use with a wheeled apparatus, for example, a walker, and operated to stop the wheels of the walker.
Various folding collapsible and non-collapsible walkers have been disclosed for use to support the user when walking. Exemplars are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,907,794 and 5,020,560. Because regular walkers for this purpose are commonly equipped with wheels, hand brake means is necessary. Conventional hand brakes for walkers cannot be maintained in the braking position when released from the hand. U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,180 (equivalent to Taiwan Pat. No. 199339) discloses a hand brake for walker that can be moved to a temporary braking position, or a continuous braking position. When the operation handle of the hand brake is turned downwards to the continuous braking position, the operation handle is retained engaged with a mounting base, and the brake cable is maintained stretched. This structure of hand brake is still not satisfactory in function. The drawbacks of this structure of hand brake are as follows:
1. Frequently moving the operation handle over the engagement area at the mounting base causes the contact area to wear, and the operation handle becomes unable to be firmly retained in the continuous braking position when the contact area begins to wear.
2. Because the engagement force between the operation handle and the mounting base must surpass the return force of the brake cable, much effort should be applied to the operation handle when turning the operation handle to the continuous braking position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the main object of the present invention to provide a hand brake control mechanism, which is practical and durable in use. A hand brake control mechanism according to the present invention is designed for use in a wheeled apparatus for controlling the operation of a brake cable. The hand brake control mechanism is comprised of a mounting base, an operation handle, an actuating bar, and a link. The mounting base comprises a coupling portion coupled to a part of the wheeled apparatus, an open chamber, and a stop block disposed inside the open chamber. The stop block has a smoothly arched recess. The operation handle is pivoted to the mounting base, comprising a front end inserted into the open chamber of the mounting base, a front end edge at the front end, and two parallel lugs forwardly extended from the front end. The parallel lugs each comprise an elongated sliding slot, and a front notch. The actuating bar is turned about a pivot, which is mounted in the open chamber and inserted through the sliding slots on the lugs of the operation handle, having one end connected to the brake cable in the wheeled apparatus. The link has a first end pivoted to the stop block inside the mounting base, a second end, and two projecting rods bilaterally extended from the second end for engaging into the front notches on the lugs of the operation handle. The operation handle is turned relative to the mounting base between a first position, a second position, and a third position. When the operation handle is turned to the second position, the hand brake control mechanism does no work, and the brake cable is released. When the operation handle is turned upwards from the second position to the first position, the actuating bar is forced forwards by the front end edge of the operation handle, and the brake cable is pulled up. When the user releases the operation handle, the operation handle is moved with the brake cable from the first position to the second position. When the operation handle is pushed downwards from the second position to the third position, the link is moved with the front notches of the lugs of the operation handle and stopped at a part of the actuating bar. At this stage, the brake cable is pulled up, and the operation handle is held in position. Preferably, the sliding slots on the lugs of the operation handle have a substantially (-shaped profile. Further, the actuating bar has a stop portion for engagement with the link when the operation handle is moved to the third position. When the operation handle is moved to the third position, the link and the actuating bar define a 90° contained angle. The stop portion of the actuating bar preferably has a <-shaped profile.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5845539 (1998-12-01), Huang
patent: 5878625 (1999-03-01), Hu
patent: 5896779 (1999-04-01), Biesteker et al.
patent: 5953962 (1999-09-01), Hewson
Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Eurocare Innovation Co., Ltd.
Green Mary Ann
LandOfFree
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