Joint device
A joint device includes a first latch, an actuating mechanism, and two connection parts pivotally connected to each other. The first latch is selectively moved to a first locking position for locking the two connection parts or a first unlocking position for unlocking the two connection parts. The actuating mechanism is disposed adjacent to where the two connection parts are pivotally connected. The actuating mechanism is connected to the first latch to be operable to selectively move the first latch to the first locking position or the first unlocking position, and it facilitates operation of unfolding and folding a stroller equipped with the joint device of the invention.
1. A joint device, comprising:
two connection parts pivotally connected to each other;
a first latch capable of being selectively moved to a first locking position for locking the two connection parts or a first unlocking position for unlocking the two connection parts, wherein a first pivotal axis is formed between the two connection parts, and a movement direction of the first latch is parallel to the first pivotal axis, wherein one of the two connection parts has a first engaging slot, and the first latch is inserted into the first engaging slot in the first locking position; and
an actuating mechanism disposed adjacent to where the two connection parts are pivotally connected, the actuating mechanism being connected to the first latch to be operable to selectively move the first latch to the first locking position or the first unlocking position, the actuating mechanism comprising:
a handle pivotally connected to one of the two connection parts;
a second latch selectively locking the handle with the one of the two connection parts, wherein the handle is selectively locked by the second latch, and only when the second latch is released can the first latch be released by rotation of the handle; and
an operation part having an operation driving part and a second engaging slot monolithically formed on the operation part, the movement direction of the first latch being co-linear with a location of the operation driving part, a movement direction of the second latch being co-linear with a location of the second engaging slot, and the second latch being slidably inserted in the second engaging slot, wherein the movement direction of the first latch and the movement direction of the second latch are parallel and not co-linear, and a location of the operation part is substantially level with a location at which the two connection parts are pivotally connected together.
2. The joint device of claim 1 , wherein one of the two connection parts has a pivot hole, and the other one of the two connection parts has a pivot shaft inserted into the pivot hole.
3. The joint device of claim 1 , wherein a first pivotal plane is formed between the two connection parts, and the movement direction of the first latch intersects the first pivotal plane.
4. The joint device of claim 1 , wherein when the first latch is located at the first locking position, the first latch is engaged with the two connection parts.
5. The joint device of claim 1 , wherein when the first latch is located at the first locking position, one of the two connection parts is held between the first latch and the other one of the two connection parts.
6. The joint device of claim 1 , wherein when the first latch is located at the first unlocking position, the first latch is disengaged from one of the two connection parts.
7. The joint device of claim 1 , wherein the actuating mechanism comprises a first resilient part urging against the first latch, and the first resilient part pushes the first latch so that the first latch has a tendency to move to the first locking position.
8. The joint device of claim 7 , wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a first pushing part, and the first pushing part is operable to push the first latch so that the first latch moves to the first unlocking position.
9. The joint device of claim 8 , further comprising a supporting part fixedly connected to one of the two connection parts, the first pushing part being slidably connected to the supporting part, a movement direction of the first pushing part being parallel to the movement direction of the first latch.
10. The joint device of claim 9 , wherein one of the first pushing part and the supporting part has a guiding slot, the other one of the first pushing part and the supporting part has a guiding post slidably connected to the guiding slot, and an extension direction of the guiding slot is parallel to the movement direction of the first latch.
11. The joint device of claim 9 , wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises the operation part pivotally connected to the supporting part, the operation part comprises the operation driving part, the first pushing part comprises a pushing follower in coordination with the operation driving part, and the operation driving part is capable of rotating to drive the pushing follower to move so that the first pushing part slides to push the first latch.
12. The joint device of claim 11 , wherein the second latch is capable of being selectively moved to a second locking position of locking one of the two connection parts and the operation part or a second unlocking position of unlocking one of the two connection parts and the operation part.
13. The joint device of claim 12 , wherein a second pivotal plane is formed between the supporting part and the operation part, and the movement direction of the second latch intersects the second pivotal plane.
14. The joint device of claim 12 , wherein a second pivotal axis is formed between the supporting part and the operation part, and the movement direction of the second latch is parallel to the second pivotal axis.
15. The joint device of claim 12 , wherein when the second latch is located at the second locking position, the second latch is engaged with one of the two connection parts and the operation part, and when the second latch is located at the second unlocking position, the second latch is disengaged from one of the two connection parts.
16. The joint device of claim 12 , wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a second resilient part urging against the second latch, and the second resilient part pushes the second latch so that the second latch has a tendency to move to the second locking position.
17. The joint device of claim 16 , wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a second pushing part, and the second pushing part is operable to push the second latch so that the second latch moves to the second unlocking position.
18. The joint device of claim 17 , wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a button component connected to the second pushing part, the second button component comprises a button and a linking part connecting the button and the second pushing part, and the button is capable of being pressed to drive the linking part to pull the second pushing part so that the second pushing part slides to push the second latch.
19. The joint device of claim 18 , wherein the button is movably disposed on the operation part and comprises a button driving part, the linking part comprises a second linking follower in coordination with the button driving part, and the button driving part is capable of being pressed to drive the second linking follower.
20. The joint device of claim 16 , wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a button component connected to the second latch, the button component comprises a button and a linking part connected to the button, and the button is capable of being pressed to drive the linking part to pull the second latch.
21. The joint device of claim 1 , wherein both the first latch and the second latch are disposed on a same one of the two connection parts.
22. The joint device of claim 1 , wherein both the first latch and the second latch are disposed on the handle.
23. The joint device of claim 22 , wherein the handle comprises the operation part, and the first latch and the second latch are each independently disposed on the operation part.
24. The joint device of claim 1 , wherein the movement direction of the second latch is parallel to the first pivotal axis.
25. The joint device of claim 1 , wherein a button is slidably disposed on the handle for releasing the second latch.