Retainer and frame having same
A foldable frame includes first and second mounting assemblies pivotally connected to each other and rotatable with respect to each other between a folded position and an unfolded position. A foldable frame also includes one or more retainers. A retainer has a first coupler and a second coupler, with one disposed at the first mounting assembly and the other at the second mounting assembly. When the first and second mounting assemblies are in the folded position, the first and second couplers of each retainer engage with each other, and thus retain the first and second mounting assemblies in the folded position and prevent the foldable frame from accidental unfolding.
1. A frame comprising:
a first mounting assembly and a second mounting assembly, each comprising a first bar and a second bar, wherein proximal end portions of the first bars of the first and second mounting assemblies are pivotally coupled with each other and proximal end portions of the second bars of the first and second mounting assemblies are pivotally coupled with each other such that the first and second mounting assemblies are rotatable with respect to each other between a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein when the first and second mounting assemblies is in the folded position, distal end portions of the first bars of the first and second mounting assemblies are adjacent to each other, and distal end portions of the second bars of the first and second mounting assemblies are adjacent to each other; and
one or more retainers configured to retain the first and second mounting assemblies in the folded position, each retainer comprising a first coupler and a second coupler,
wherein:
the first coupler comprising a first base and at least two lever arms, wherein each of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler comprises a first lever portion extended from the first base and a second lever portion extended from the first lever portion and arched outwardly relative to the first lever portion;
the second coupler comprises a second base and a receptacle, wherein the receptacle of the second coupler comprises an opening, an expansion portion and a contraction portion between the opening and the expansion portion;
the first base of the first coupler is disposed at and connected to the distal end portion of the first or second bar of the first mounting assembly and the second base of the second coupler is disposed at and connected to the distal end portion of the first or second bar of the second mounting assembly;
when the first and second mounting assemblies are in the folded position, the first base of the first coupler and the second base of the second coupler are disposed adjacent to each other, and the opening of the second coupler faces the first coupler, thereby allowing insertion of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler into the receptacle of the second coupler;
the expansion portion of the second coupler is recessed to accommodate the second lever portions of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler; and
the contraction portion of the second coupler is positioned corresponding to a junction collectively formed by the first and second lever portions of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler and sized to retain, absent of an external force, the second lever portions of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler in the expansion portion of the second coupler.
2. The frame of claim 1 , wherein for each of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler, the first lever portion is substantially straight.
3. The frame of claim 2 , wherein the first lever portions of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler are splayed out.
4. The frame of claim 3 , wherein the first lever portion of one lever arm and the first lever portion of another lever arm of the first coupler collectively form an angle that is between about 5° and about 30°.
5. The frame of claim 3 , wherein the at least two lever arms of the first coupler collectively form a central axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first base of the first coupler.
6. The frame of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the receptacle of the second coupler is tapered to aid insertion of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler into the receptacle of the second coupler.
7. The frame of claim 1 , wherein tips of the second lever portions of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler are slanted toward each other to aid insertion of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler into the receptacle of the second coupler.
8. The frame of claim 1 , wherein
the one or more retainers comprises two retainers, wherein the first base of the first coupler and the second base of the second coupler of one retainer are coupled with the distal end portions of the first bars of the first and second mounting assemblies, and the first base of the first coupler and the second base of the second coupler of the other retainer are coupled with the distal end portions of the second bars of the first and second mounting assemblies.
9. The frame of claim 8 , wherein the distal end portions of the first and second bars are tubular, and each of the first base of the first coupler and the second base of the second coupler comprises an insertion portion inserted into the distal end portion of the first or second bar.
10. The frame of claim 8 , wherein each of the first base of the first coupler and the second base of the second coupler comprises a wall mounted on a side of the distal end portion of the first or second bar.
11. The frame of claim 8 , further comprising:
a third bar having an end portion coupled with the proximal end portions of the first bars of the first and second mounting assemblies and another end portion coupled with the proximal end portions of the second bars of the first and second mounting assemblies;
a first leg assembly coupled with the first mounting assembly and rotatable with respect to the first mounting assembly;
a second leg assembly coupled with the second mounting assembly and rotatable with respect to the second mounting assembly;
a first supporting assembly pivotally coupled with the first leg assembly to control rotation of the first leg assembly with respect to the first mounting assembly or help stabilize the first leg assembly; and
a second supporting assembly pivotally coupled with the second leg assembly to control rotation of the second leg assembly with respect to the second mounting assembly or help stabilize the second leg assembly.
12. The frame of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second supporting assemblies comprises a first supporting member, a slider and at least two second supporting members, and corresponding to each of the first and second supporting assemblies, the frame comprises a fixing member and a connecting member, wherein:
the first supporting member has an end portion pivotally coupled with the first or second leg assembly;
the slider is coupled with the first supporting member and selectively movable along the first supporting member;
each of at least two second supporting members has an end portion coupled with the slider and another end portion coupled with the fixing member; and
the connecting member pivotally couples the fixing member with the third bar.
13. The frame of claim 12 , wherein the connecting member comprises a hole coupled with a shaft of a third coupler that is disposed at a middle portion of the third bar.
14. The frame of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first clip disposed at the first mounting assembly to grip a leg of the first leg assembly when the first leg assembly is in the storage position; and
a second clip disposed at the second mounting assembly to grip a leg of the second leg assembly when the second leg assembly is in the storage position.
15. The frame of claim 1 , wherein the first and second mounting assemblies are symmetric with respect to each other.
16. A retainer for retaining a first assembly with a second assembly, wherein (i) each of the first and second assemblies comprises a first bar and a second bar, (ii) proximal end portions of the first bars of the first and second mounting assemblies are pivotally coupled with each other and proximal end portions of the second bars of the first and second mounting assemblies are pivotally coupled with each other such that the first and second assemblies are rotatable with respect to each other between a folded position and an unfolded position, (iii) when the first and second mounting assemblies is in the folded position, distal end portions of the first bars of the first and second mounting assemblies are adjacent to each other, and distal end portions of the second bars of the first and second mounting assemblies are adjacent to each other, the retainer comprising:
a first coupler comprising a first base and at least two lever arms, wherein each of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler comprises a first lever portion extended from the first base and a second lever portion extended from the first lever portion and arched outwardly relative to the first lever portion; and
a second coupler comprising a second base and a receptacle, wherein the receptacle of the second coupler comprises an opening, an expansion portion and a contraction portion between the opening and the expansion portion;
wherein:
the first base of the first coupler is configured to be disposed at and connected to the distal end portion of the first or second bar of the first mounting assembly and the second base of the second coupler is configured to be disposed at and connected to the distal end portion of the first or second bar of the second mounting assembly;
when the first and second assemblies are in the folded position, the first base of the first coupler and the second base of the second coupler are disposed adjacent to each other, and the opening of the second coupler faces the first coupler, thereby allowing insertion of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler into the receptacle;
the expansion portion of the second coupler is recessed to accommodate the second lever portions of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler; and
the contraction portion of the second coupler is positioned at or adjacent to a junction collectively formed by the first and second lever portions of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler and sized to retain, absent of an external force, the second lever portions of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler in the expansion portion.
17. The retainer of claim 16 , wherein for each of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler, the first lever portion is substantially straight.
18. The retainer of claim 17 , wherein the first lever portion of one lever arm and the first lever portion of another lever arm of the first coupler collectively form an angle that is between about 5° and about 30°.
19. The retainer of claim 16 , wherein the first lever portions of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler are splayed out.
20. The retainer of claim 16 , wherein each of the at least two lever arms of the first coupler is elastically resilient.
21. The retainer of claim 16 , wherein the distal end portions of the first and second bars are tubular, and each of the first base of the first coupler and the second base of the second coupler comprises an insertion portion inserted into the distal end portion of the first or second bar.
22. The retainer of claim 16 , wherein each of the first base of the first coupler and the second base of the second coupler comprises a wall mounted on a side of the distal end portion of the first or second bar.