CLUTCH MECHANISM

Abstract

 A clutch mechanism having a first clutch component and a second clutch component is provided. The first clutch component is disposed on a driving wheel of an action aid, and has a first slot and a first latch. The second clutch component is disposed on a body of the action aid, and has a second slot and a second latch. The first slot and the first latch of the first clutch component can be buckled and separated relative to the second latch and the second slot of the second clutch component respectively, and thus to complete a quick assembly or disassembly operation between the first clutch component and the second clutch component.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 106200817 filed on January 17, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a clutch mechanism, and particularly, to a clutch mechanism for use in an action aid to allow for quick assembly and disassembly between a body and a driving wheel of the action aid.

Descriptions of the Related Art

[0003] Action aids such as walking sticks, walking aids, rollators, wheelchairs, electomobiles (wheelchair scooter) are all manufactured to help the physically inconvenienced people to move more conveniently, and the design thereof mostly emphasizes labor saving and convenience in use. Among such action aids, electric wheelchairs moving fast, convenient to use and labor saving have become the preferred choice for many users.

[0004] For most of electric wheelchairs currently available on the market, the transmission modules thereof have been locked to a wheelchair framework before the electric wheelchairs are shipped. Because of complexity of the locking mode, it is difficult to detach the transmission modules within a short period of time. Further, even for electric wheelchairs of the foldable style, they are mostly just folded to reduce the accommodation volume but can not reduce the weight. Therefore, when the user goes out or moves a long distance with an action aid, it is difficult for the others to help with handling and transporting the action aid.

[0005] On the other hand, if what originally purchased by the user is a common wheelchair, then it is difficult to upgrade the wheelchair by additionally attaching a transmission module to the existing wheelchair architecture and, therefore, the user has to buy other wheelchair products, which leads to extra expenditure and waste.

[0006] Accordingly, an urgent need exists in the art to provide a clutch mechanism for use in an action aid, which allows for quick assembly and disassembly between a body and a driving wheel of the action aid to distribute both the weight and the volume of the action aid for convenient movement and transportation thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An objective of the present invention is to provide a clutch mechanism, which allows for quick assembly and disassembly between a body and a driving wheel of an action aid to distribute both the weight and the volume of the action aid for convenient movement and transportation thereof.

[0008] To achieve the aforesaid objective, a clutch mechanism of the present invention comprises a first clutch component and a second clutch component. The first clutch component is disposed on a driving wheel of an action aid, and has a first slot and a first latch. The second clutch component is disposed on a body of the action aid and has a second slot and a second latch. Wherein, the first slot and the first latch of the first clutch component are adapted to be buckled to and separated from the second latch and the second slot of the second clutch component respectively to complete a quick assembly or disassembly operation between the first clutch component and the second clutch component.

[0009] To achieve the aforesaid objective, in the clutch mechanism of the present invention, the first slot and the first latch are disposed at an upper end and a lower end of the first clutch component respectively, and the second slot and the second latch are disposed at a lower end and an upper end of the second clutch component respectively.

[0010] To achieve the aforesaid objective, in the clutch mechanism of the present invention, the first slot has an upward opening, and the second slot has a downward opening.

[0011] To achieve the aforesaid objective, the clutch mechanism of the present invention further comprises a fastening portion disposed on the first clutch component and adjacent to the first slot so that the second latch is held by the fastening portion when the second latch is buckled into the first slot.

[0012] To achieve the aforesaid objective, in the clutch mechanism of the present invention, the fastening portion moves in gang with a control rod, and the control rod is adapted to control the fastening portion to hold or release the second latch.

[0013] To achieve the aforesaid objective, the clutch mechanism of the present invention further comprises a handle disposed on the driving wheel and adjacent to and parallel with the control rod.

[0014] The detailed technology and preferred embodiments implemented for the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] 

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a clutch mechanism of the present invention being installed on an action aid;

FIG 2 is a schematic partial view of the clutch mechanism of the present invention being installed on a body of the action aid;

FIG 3 is a schematic view of the clutch mechanism of the present invention in an assembled state;

FIG 4 is a schematic view of the clutch mechanism of the present invention when a first clutch component and a second clutch component of the clutch mechanism are partially buckled to each other; and

FIG 5 is a schematic view of the clutch mechanism of the present invention in a disassembled state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] As shown in FIG 1 and FIG 2, a clutch mechanism 100 of the present invention is for use in an action aid 200. The action aid 200 has a body 210 and a driving wheel 220 detachably assembled to the body 210. The clutch mechanism 100 comprises a first clutch component 110 and a second clutch component 120.

[0017] Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 together. The first clutch component 110 is disposed on the driving wheel 220 of the action aid 200, and has a first slot 112 and a first latch 114. The second clutch component 120 is disposed on the body 210 of the action aid 200, and has a second slot 122 and a second latch 124. The first slot 112 and the first latch 114 of the first clutch component 110 are adapted to be buckled to and separated from the second latch 124 and the second slot 122 of the second clutch component 120 respectively to complete a quick assembly or disassembly operation between the first clutch component 110 and the second clutch component 120.

[0018] Hereinbelow, the buckling structure between the first clutch component 110 and the second clutch component 120 will be detailed.

[0019] Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 together. The first slot 112 and the first latch 114 of the clutch mechanism 100 are disposed at an upper end and a lower end of the first clutch component 110 respectively, and the second slot 122 and the second latch 124 are disposed at a lower end and an upper end of the second clutch component 120 respectively. Preferably, the first slot 112 has an upward opening, and the second slot 122 has a downward opening.

[0020] As shown, the clutch mechanism 100 further comprises a fastening portion 130 disposed on the first clutch component 110 and adjacent to the first slot 112 so that the second latch 124 is held by the fastening portion 130 when the second latch 124 is buckled into the first slot 112.

[0021] Preferably, the fastening portion 130 of the clutch mechanism 100 moves in gang with a control rod 140, and the control rod 140 is adapted to control the fastening portion 130 to hold or release the second latch 124. Also as shown in FIG. 2, the clutch mechanism 100 further comprises a handle 150 disposed on the driving wheel 220 and adjacent to and parallel with the control rod 140 so that the user can operate the control rod 140 more conveniently.

[0022] With the aforesaid arrangement, when it is desired to separate the first clutch component 110 and the second clutch component 120 of the clutch mechanism 100 from each other, the fastening portion 130 can be operated to release the second latch 124 from the first slot 112 by simply putting the hand on the handle 150 and pulling the control rod 140 backwards (see the schematic view of the first clutch component 110 and the second clutch component 120 being partially buckled each other shown in FIG. 4); and then by lifting the body 210 upwards to release the first latch 114 from the second slot 122, separation between the first clutch component 110 and the second clutch component 120 can be accomplished.

[0023] On the other hand, when it is desired to assemble the first clutch component 110 and the second clutch component 120 together, the aforesaid steps are performed in a reverse order: having the second slot 122 buckled to the first latch 114 downwards, and then buckling the second latch 124 to the first slot 112 to complete an assembly operation between the first clutch component 110 and the second clutch component 120.

[0024] It is worth noting that, when the second latch 124 is buckled to the first slot 112, the fastening portion 130 is adapted to hold the second latch 124 in response. Therefore, it is unnecessary for the user to additionally perform a holding operation on the second latch 124, thus simplifying the assembly operation.

[0025] According to the above descriptions, the arrangement of the clutch mechanism 100 of the present invention allows for quick assembly and disassembly between the body 210 and the driving wheel 220 of the action aid 200 to distribute both the weight and the volume of the action aid 200 for convenient movement and transportation thereof. Moreover, the clutch mechanism 100 of the present invention allows for easy attachment of a transmission module to an existing wheelchair architecture to eliminate the extra expenditure of buying another wheelchair product.

[0026] The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as described without departing from the characteristics thereof. Nevertheless, although such modifications and replacements are not fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have substantially been covered in the following claims as appended.

Claims

1. A clutch mechanism for use in an action aid, the action aid having a body and a driving wheel detachably assembled to the body, comprising:

a first clutch component, being disposed on the driving wheel and having a first slot and a first latch; and

a second clutch component, being disposed on the body and having a second slot and a second latch;

wherein the first slot and the first latch of the first clutch component are adapted to be buckled to and separated from the second latch and the second slot of the second clutch component respectively to complete a quick assembly or disassembly operation between the first clutch component and the second clutch component.

2. The clutch mechanism of Claim 1, wherein the first slot and the first latch are disposed at an upper end and a lower end of the first clutch component respectively, and the second slot and the second latch are disposed at a lower end and an upper end of the second clutch component respectively.

3. The clutch mechanism of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first slot has an upward opening, and the second slot has a downward opening.

4. The clutch mechanism of any of the previous Claims, further comprising a fastening portion disposed on the first clutch component and adjacent to the first slot so that the second latch is held by the fastening portion when the second latch is latched into the first slot.

5. The clutch mechanism of Claim 4, wherein the fastening portion moves in gang with a control rod, and the control rod is adapted to control the fastening portion to hold or release the second latch.

6. The clutch mechanism of Claim 5, further comprising a handle disposed on the driving wheel and adjacent to and parallel with the control rod.

Drawing