US20070000086A1

US20070000086A1 - Roller foot and an electrical apparatus thereof

Info

Publication number: US20070000086A1
Application number: US11/240,532
Authority: US
Inventors: Steve Cheng
Original assignee: Quanta Computer Inc
Current assignee: Quanta Computer Inc
Priority date: 2005-07-04
Filing date: 2005-10-03
Publication date: 2007-01-04
Also published as: TWI272052B; TW200704346A

Abstract

A roller foot, which can be mounted on the bottom of an electrical apparatus, includes a housing, a wheel axle and a wheel. The housing has a top frame, a left frame and a right frame. A right axle hole and a left axle hole are mounted on the inner surface of the right frame and the left frame respectively. The wheel axle is pivotally configured in the left axle hole and the right axle hole. The vertical size of each of the left axle hole and the right axle hole is larger than the wheel axle such that the wheel axle can be moved relative to the center of the left axle hole and the right axle hole. The wheel has a wheel axle hole. The wheel axle is configured in the wheel axle hole.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Application Serial Number 94122619, filed Jul. 4, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a foot mounted on an electrical apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a roller foot mounted on an electrical apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
As information technology progresses, highly technological electrical apparatuses have become very apparent in our daily lives. The designs for those electrical apparatuses not only include the design of the functional module of the electrical apparatus but also the design of the mechanics and aesthetics of the electrical apparatus.
A modern electrical apparatus, for example, a notebook computer, desktop computer, CD player or DVD player, often has at least one slip resistance mounted on the bottom of the electrical apparatus for preventing the electrical apparatus from slipping such that the electrical apparatus can be stable on a desk.
The slip resistance is often mounted on the bottom of the electrical apparatus by an adhesive. However, the slip resistances may come off the electrical apparatus because of the characteristics of the adhesive or because the adhesive has gone bad.
Improvements can be done presently by improving the adhesive and by deepening the recess of the electrical apparatus where the slip resistance is placed. However, improving the adhesive can just lengthen the life of the slip resistances, not solve the problem forever; and making the recess deeper increases the size of the electrical apparatus and thus lessens the competitiveness of the electrical apparatus.
Moreover, the user of the electrical apparatus often needs to lift up the electrical apparatus when the user wants to move the electrical apparatus because the slip resistance often has a surface with a high static friction coefficient. However, if the slip resistance had a surface with a low static friction coefficient, the electrical apparatus would move so easily that it would become unstable on the desk.
For the forgoing reasons, there is a need for fastening the slip resistance on the electrical apparatus firmly while allowing the user to move the electrical apparatus easily.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide a roller foot, which can be mounted on the bottom of the electrical apparatus for solving the problem that the slip resistance may come off the electrical apparatus.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a roller foot, which can be mounted on the bottom of the electrical apparatus such that the user of the electrical apparatus can move the electrical apparatus easily and the roller foot also can prevent the electrical apparatus from slipping.
It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide an electrical apparatus, which has at least one roller foot mounted on the bottom of the electrical apparatus firmly such that the life of the electrical apparatus can be lengthened.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide an electrical apparatus which has at least one roller foot mounted on the bottom of the electrical apparatus such that the user of the electrical apparatus can move the electrical apparatus easily and the roller foot also can prevent the electrical apparatus from slipping.
In accordance with the foregoing and other aspects of the present invention, a roller foot, which can be mounted on the bottom of an electrical apparatus, is provided. The roller foot includes a housing, a wheel axle and a wheel. The housing has a top frame, a left frame and a right frame. The top frame is positioned on the top of the housing. The left frame is positioned on the left of the top frame and extending downward. The left frame has a left axle hole on the inner surface of the left frame. The right frame is positioned on the right of the top frame and extending downward. The right frame has a right axle hole on the inner surface of the right frame. The wheel axle is pivotally configured in the left axle hole and the right axle hole. The vertical size of each of the left axle hole and the right axle hole is larger than the wheel axle such that the wheel axle can be moved relative to the center of the left axle hole and the right axle hole. The wheel has a wheel axle hole. The wheel axle is configured in the wheel axle hole. When the electrical apparatus is set down, the wheel is stopped by contacting the top frame due to the weight of the electrical apparatus bearing down on it; and when the electrical apparatus is lifted to move, the wheel departs from the top frame and is free to roll.
According to one preferred embodiment of present invention, the left axle hole and the right axle hole are elliptic. The major axis of each of the left axle hole and the right axle hole is along a vertical direction. However, the left axle hole and the right axle hole also can be, for example, rectangular, rhomboidal, triangular or circular. Moreover, the shape and the size of the left axle hole and the shape and the size of the right axle hole are the same in this embodiment. But the shape and the size of the left axle hole and the shape and the size of the right axle hole can also be different.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an electrical apparatus is provided. The electrical apparatus includes a base and at least one roller foot. The roller foot is mounted on the bottom of the base. The roller foot can switch a moving and slipping resisting function by changing the position of the wheel in relation to the top frame.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, four individual roller feet are mounted on four corners of the bottom of the base. Furthermore, two bar roller feet can replace the four individual roller feet.
According to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, two slip resistances may be mounted on two bottom corners of the lower part of the base. A bar roller foot can be mounted on the upper part of the bottom of the base. Similarly, the bar roller foot can be replaced by two roller feet.
The user of the electrical apparatus needs to set the electrical apparatus on a desk when the user of the electrical apparatus wants the electrical apparatus to maintain a fixed position. The wheel axle is moved to the upper end of the left axle hole and the right axle hole at this time because of the weight of the electrical apparatus forcing the wheel against the top frame, thus providing the slip resisting function.
The user of the electrical apparatus needs to lift a side of the electrical apparatus when the user of the electrical apparatus wants the electrical apparatus to move. The wheel axle is moved to the bottom end of the left axle hole and the right axle hole at this time such that the wheel departs from the top frame and rolls, thus providing the moving function.
Thus, the roller foot can provide the moving and slipping resisting function as the user requires and thus the user can use the electrical apparatus comfortably. Moreover, the electrical apparatus with the roller foot can avoid the problem of the slip resistance unsticking from the electrical apparatus because the adhesive has gone bad, and the electrical apparatus can thus be more competitive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
FIG. 1A is a front sectional drawing of the roller foot according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 1B is a side sectional drawing of the roller foot according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a solid drawing of the electrical apparatus according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 3 is a solid drawing of the electrical apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 4A is a solid drawing of the electrical apparatus according to still another preferred embodiment of this invention; and
FIG. 4B is a side view of the electrical apparatus according to still another preferred embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
Reference is made to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. FIG. 1A is a front sectional drawing of the roller foot according to one preferred embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 1B is a side sectional drawing of the roller foot according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. A roller foot 100 is provided, which can be mounted on the bottom of an electrical apparatus. The roller foot 100 includes a housing 110, a wheel axle 140 and a wheel 150. The housing 110 has a top frame 111, a left frame 113 and a right frame 112. The top frame 111 is positioned on the top of the housing 110. The left frame 113 is positioned on the left of the top frame 111 and extends downward. The left frame 113 has a left axle hole 130 on the inner surface of the left frame 113. The right frame 112 is positioned on the right of the top frame 111 and extends downward. The right frame 112 has a right axle hole 120 on the inner surface of the right frame.
The wheel axle 140 is pivotally configured in the left axle hole 130 and the right axle hole 120. The vertical size of each of the left axle hole 130 and the right axle hole 120 is larger than the wheel axle 140 such that the wheel axle 140 can be moved relative to the center of the left axle hole 130 and the right axle hole 120. In other words, the wheel can be moved between the upper end 121/131 and the bottom end 122/132 of the left axle hole 130 and the right axle hole 120.
The wheel 150 has a wheel axle hole 151 along the major axis of the wheel. The wheel axle 140 is configured in the wheel axle hole 151. The wheel 150 can be made of plastic, metal, foam or the combination thereof. The surface of the wheel 150 may have grooves for providing the wheel a preferred slip resisting ability.
The user of an electrical apparatus with the roller foot of the present invention needs to put the electrical apparatus on a desk when the user of the electrical apparatus wants the electrical apparatus to be fixed in position. The wheel axle 140 is moved to the upper end 121/131 of the left axle hole 130 and the right axle hole 120 at this time because of the weight of the electrical apparatus forcing the wheel 150 to press against the top frame 111, providing a slip resisting function.
The user of the electrical apparatus needs to lift a side of the electrical apparatus when the user of the electrical apparatus wants the electrical apparatus to move. The wheel axle 140 is moved to the bottom end 122/132 of the left axle hole 130 and the right axle hole 120 at this time such that the wheel 150 departs from the top frame 111 and rolls, providing a moving function.
Reference is made to FIG. 2, which is a solid drawing of the electrical apparatus according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. An electrical apparatus including a base and at least one roller foot is provided in this preferred embodiment. Two slip resistances 230 may be mounted on two bottom corners of the lower part 212 of the base 210. Two roller feet 220 can be mounted on the bottom corners of the upper part 211 of the base 210. The lower part 212 is a part nearest the user of the electrical apparatus.
Reference is made to FIG. 3, which is a solid drawing of the electrical apparatus according to another preferred embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, a bar roller foot 320 can replace the two roller feet (220 in FIG. 2). The bar roller foot 320 is mounted on the bottom of the upper part 311 of the base 310. Two slip resistances 330 may be mounted on two bottom corners of the lower part 312 of the base 310. The lower part 312 is a part nearest the user of the electrical apparatus.
Reference is made to FIG. 4A, which is a solid drawing of the electrical apparatus according to still another preferred embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, an electrical apparatus includes a base, at least one roller foot, at least one slip resistance and at least one pad.
In FIG. 4A, a base 410 has two slip resistances 420 mounted on the two corners of the lower part 412 of the base 410. Each of the slip resistances 420 has a surface with a high static friction coefficient for preventing the electrical apparatus from slipping. In other words, the static friction coefficient of the surface of each of the slip resistances 420 is larger than that of the surface of the base 410.
The base 410 also has a bar roller foot 430 mounted on the bottom of the upper part 411 of the base 410. Similarly, two roller feet can replace the bar roller foot 430.
Reference is made to FIG. 4B, which is a side view of the electrical apparatus according to still another preferred embodiment of this invention. The base 410 has two separate pads 440 mounted on the bottom of the upper part 411 of the base 410 for preventing the base from rubbing on a desk 450. Each of the pads 440 has a surface with a low friction coefficient and preferably a semispherical structure. In other words, the friction coefficient of each of the pads is smaller than that of the surface of the base 410.
Similarly, the user of the electrical apparatus needs to lift the lower part 412 of the base 410 from the desk 450 when the user of the electrical apparatus wants the electrical apparatus to move. The wheel axle of the roller foot is moved to the bottom end of the left axle hole and the right axle hole at this time such that the wheel departs from the top frame and rolls, providing a moving function.
In conclusion, the invention has advantages as follows:
(1) The electrical apparatus with the roller foot can avoid the problem of the slip resistance unsticking from the electrical apparatus because the adhesive has gone bad, and the electrical apparatus can thus be more competitive.
(2) The user of the present invention can move the electrical apparatus easily because the roller foot has the wheel.
(3) The roller foot can provide the moving and slipping resisting functions as the user requires and thus the user can use the electrical apparatus comfortably.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A roller foot mounted on an electrical apparatus, the roller foot comprising:

a housing mounted on the bottom of the electrical apparatus, the housing comprising:

a left axle hole mounted on the inner surface of the left side wall of the housing; and

a right axle hole mounted on the inner surface of the right side wall of the housing;

a wheel axle pivotally configured in the left axle hole and the right axle hole wherein the vertical size of each of the left axle hole and the right axle hole is larger than the wheel axle such that the wheel axle is moved relative to the center of the left axle and the right axle; and

a wheel having a wheel axle hole wherein the wheel axle is configured in the wheel axle hole whereby the wheel is stopped by the top side wall of the housing because of the weight of the electrical apparatus when the electrical apparatus is stationary, and the wheel departs from the top side wall and rolls because a side of the electrical apparatus is lifted when the apparatus is moved.

2. The roller foot of claim 1, wherein the left axle hole and the right axle hole are elliptic and the major axis of each of the left axle hole and the right axle hole is along a vertical direction.

3. The roller foot of claim 1, wherein the left axle hole and the right axle hole are rectangular.

4. The roller foot of claim 1, wherein the left axle hole and the right axle hole are rhomboidal.

5. The roller foot of claim 1, wherein the left axle hole and the right axle hole are triangular.

6. The roller foot of claim 1, wherein the left axle hole and the right axle hole are circular.

7. The roller foot of claim 1, wherein the shape of the left axle hole and the shape of the right axle hole are the same.

8. The roller foot of claim 1, wherein the size of the left axle hole and the size of the right axle hole are the same.

9. An electrical apparatus comprising:

a base; and

at least one roller foot mounted on the bottom of the base, the roller foot comprising:

a housing mounted on the bottom of the base, the housing comprising:

a top frame positioned on the top of the housing;

a left frame positioned on the left of the top frame and extending downward wherein the left frame has a left axle hole on the inner surface of the left frame; and

a right frame positioned on the right of the top frame and extending downward wherein the right frame has a right axle hole on the inner surface of the right frame;

a wheel axle pivotally configured in the left axle hole and the right axle hole wherein the vertical size of each of the left axle hole and the right axle hole is larger than the wheel axle such that the wheel axle is moved relative to the center of the left axle hole and the right axle hole; and

a wheel having a wheel axle hole wherein the wheel axle is configured in the wheel axle hole whereby the wheel is stopped by the top frame because of the weight of the electrical apparatus when the electrical apparatus is stationary, and the wheel departs from the top frame and rolls because a side of the apparatus is lifted when the electrical apparatus is moved.

10. The electrical apparatus of claim 9, wherein the left axle hole and the right axle hole are elliptic and the major axis of each of the left axle hole and the right axle hole are along a vertical direction.

11. The electrical apparatus of claim 9, wherein the left axle hole and the right axle hole are rectangular.

12. The electrical apparatus of claim 9, wherein the left axle hole and the right axle hole are rhomboidal.

13. The electrical apparatus of claim 9, wherein the left axle hole and the right axle hole are triangular.

14. The electrical apparatus of claim 9, wherein the left axle hole and the right axle hole are circular.

15. The electrical apparatus of claim 9, wherein the shape of the left axle hole and the shape of the right axle hole are the same.

16. The electrical apparatus of claim 9, wherein the size of the left axle hole and the size of the right axle hole are the same.

17. The electrical apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one slip resistance mounted on the bottom of the base for preventing the electrical apparatus from slipping.

18. The electrical apparatus of claim 17, wherein the slip resistance has a surface with a high static friction coefficient.

19. The electrical apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one pad mounted on the bottom of the base to prevent the electrical apparatus from damage.

20. The electrical apparatus of claim 19, wherein the pad has a surface with a low friction coefficient.