EP4180593A1

EP4180593A1 - Pocket-sized manual anchoring device, particularly for a collective public transport vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP4180593A1
Application number: EP22204383.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gianpiero Grisetti; Marius Pirlitescu
Original assignee: Hasteron A Socio Unico Srl
Current assignee: Hasteron A Socio Unico Srl
Priority date: 2021-11-11
Filing date: 2022-10-28
Publication date: 2023-05-17
Also published as: IT202100028694A1

Abstract

A pocket-sized manual anchoring device (1) to allow a user holding said device (1) to anchor him/herself to a support, in particular in a public transport vehicle, comprising: a handle body (10) defining an handle body outer surface (18) configured to be held in a user's hand, and an inner handle compartment (12) open towards the outside of said handle body (10) through an opening (13) in said handle body outer surface (18); an anchoring element (30) movably constrained to said handle body (10) between an extracted configuration, in which said anchoring element (30) is at least partially extracted outside said handle body (10) so as to be anchored to said support, and a retracted configuration, in which said anchoring element (30) is accommodated within said inner handle compartment (12), said anchoring element (30) comprising a hook-shaped body (31) which has a first end portion (32) curved in a hook, extending about an anchoring area (39) and defining an inner hook surface (35) facing said anchoring area (39), a second, opposite end portion (33) movably constrained to said handle (10) within said inner handle compartment (12), an intermediate portion (34) which connects said first end portion (32) and said second end portion (33); locking and releasing means (50) configured to lock said anchoring element (30) selectively in said extracted configuration and in said retracted configuration and to release said anchoring element (30) so that it can move from said extracted configuration to said retracted configuration and vice versa.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a pocket-sized manual anchoring device to allow a user, who for example, is travelling standing in a city transport vehicle, to anchor him/herself to a support, in particular to a specific support bar fastened in the transport vehicle, thus avoiding any contact between the user and the surface of the support.

Background art

In certain transport vehicles, for example, city transport vehicles in which standing room is provided, the need is known for the user, or traveler, to hold onto specific fixed supports provided in the vehicle, for example, tubular structures, in order to remain stable during the movements of the vehicle itself.
The aforesaid transport vehicles may include, for example, subways, buses, trams, trains, water buses, ferries, etc., and generally are highly frequented transport vehicles, with frequent stops, in which the user is often standing and is holding onto something.
The support structures specifically provided and fastened in the aforesaid transport vehicles generally consist of tubular elements connected to one another comprising horizontal, vertical or inclined elements.
The user therefore is inclined to hold onto such structures with his/her hands, which, with increased probability, were probably held onto by many other users prior to him/her throughout the day.
Accordingly, there is an increased risk of contact transmission of pathogens, such as, for example, viruses and bacteria, due to the direct physical contact with the surfaces of the support structures previously contaminated from contact by another infected user.
This risk becomes very dangerous during a pandemic with the increased potential of contagion by contact, such as, for example, a Coronavirus.
Therefore, the need is strongly felt to provide a manual anchoring device to allow a user holding said device to anchor him/herself to a support, in particular in a public transport vehicle, thus avoiding any direct contact between the user and the surfaces of the support to which the user intends to anchor him/herself to.
Simultaneously, the need is felt to close the aforesaid device in a configuration of minimum overall dimensions when it is not being used so as to easily transport it in a pocket of a garment or in a small bag without any trouble.
The need is also felt to completely sanitize the aforesaid device after use so as to make it sterile for new use.
The support elements generally used in a public transport vehicle comprise straight tubular elements with smooth outer surfaces.
Therefore, the need is also felt for the aforesaid anchoring device to ensure an anchoring with a stable and secure gripping to the support to which the user intends anchoring him/herself, while avoiding the device from sliding along the support.

Summary of the invention

It is the object of the present invention to devise and provide a manual anchoring device which allows satisfying the aforesaid needs and at least partially overcoming the drawbacks described above with reference to the prior art.
In particular, it is a task of the present invention to provide a manual anchoring device to allow a user holding said device to anchor him/herself to a support fastened in a transport vehicle, thus avoiding any direct contact between the user and the exposed surfaces of said support.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a manual anchoring device capable of taking on a configuration with reduced overall dimensions when not in use so as to allow an easy transport thereof in the pocket of a garment, or in a bag, or to be used secondarily as a key ring.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a manual anchoring device capable of ensuring stable anchoring to a support in a transport vehicle, while avoiding possible sliding of the device along an elongated tubular support, which conventionally is straight.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a manual anchoring device capable of allowing a complete sanitization thereof after a previous use and prior to a successive use.
It is another object again of the present invention to provide a manual anchoring device capable of being stably anchored to supports having different diameters.
These and further objects and advantages are achieved by means of a manual anchoring device according to the independent claim.
Further objects, solutions, and advantages are present in the embodiments described below and claimed in the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention is disclosed below by the description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of a nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a manual anchoring device according to the invention, in an extracted configuration with a coupling element partially extracted from the overall dimensions of the handle so as to allow a user holding the anchoring device to anchor him/herself to a support, for example, in a public transport vehicle, in which the coupling element is depicted in the drawing with a dashed line for the part remaining inside the handle;
Figure 2 shows the side view of Figure 1, in a stored configuration, in which the coupling element is completely accommodated within the handle so as to make the device easily transportable, for example, in a pocket or bag;
Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the device in Figure 1, by means of the cross-section plane III shown in Figure 4;
Figure 4 shows a front view of the device in Figure 1, according to direction IV shown in Figure 1;
Figure 5 shows a sectional view of the device according to the invention, in the stored configuration shown in Figure 2, by means of the cross-section plane V shown in Figure 6;
Figure 6 shows a front view of the device according to the invention in the stored configuration in Figure 2, according to direction VI shown in Figure 2;
Figure 7 shows a sectional view of the anchoring device according to the invention shown in Figure 1, by means of the cross-section plane VII shown in Figure 1;
Figure 8 shows a sectional view of the anchoring device according to the invention shown in Figure 2, by means of the cross-section plane VIII shown in Figure 2;
Figure 9 shows a sectional view of the anchoring device in Figure 1, by means of the cross-section plane IX shown in Figure 1;
Figures 10 and 12 show two interchangeable friction elements which are applicable to the hook-shaped body, respectively, to improve the gripping of the gripping device to the support;
Figures 11 and 13 show respective cross sections of the friction elements shown in Figures 10 and 12, applied to the hook-shaped body;
Figures 14, 15 show two perspective views of the anchoring device in Figure 1, in the extracted configuration;
Figures 16, 17, 18 show three respective exploded views of the anchoring device in Figure 1.

Description of preferred embodiments

With reference to the drawings, a pocket-sized manual anchoring device according to the invention is indicated as a whole by numeral 1.
The anchoring device 1 is configured to allow a user holding said device 1 to anchor him/herself to a support, in particular in a public transport vehicle.
For example, the public transport vehicle is of a type providing the transportation of standing people, for example, a subway, bus, tram, trolleybus, boat, or the like.
Such public transport vehicles comprise a support specifically provided to anchor the traveler by means of gripping with his/her hand, and such a support generally comprises elongated elements, such as, for example, tubular elements, which generally have a circular section.
The anchoring device 1 comprises a handle body 10 defining an handle body outer surface 18 configured to be held in a user's hand, and an inner handle compartment 12 open towards the outside of said handle body 10 through an opening 13 in said handle body outer surface 18.
The anchoring device 1 further comprises an anchoring element 30 adapted to be anchored to said support, said anchoring element 30 being movably constrained to said handle body 10 between an extracted configuration in which said anchoring element 30 is at least partially extracted outside said handle body 10 so as to be anchored to said support, and a retracted configuration in which said anchoring element 30 is accommodated within said inner handle compartment 12.
Thereby, when the anchoring device 1 is in the retracted configuration, it has reduced overall dimensions, preferably so as to easily store the anchoring device 1 in a pocket of a garment or in a bag.
Preferably, the anchoring element 30 is completely accommodated and contained within said inner handle compartment 12, or within said handle body 10, or within the overall dimensions of said handle body 10, or within said handle body outer surface 18, in the retracted configuration. Said anchoring element 30 comprises a hook-shaped body 31 which has a first end portion 32 curved in a hook, extending about an anchoring area 39 and defining an inner hook surface 35 facing said anchoring area 39, a second, opposite end portion 33 movably constrained to said handle 10 within said inner handle compartment 12, an intermediate portion 34 which connects said first end portion 32 and said second end portion 33.
Hook-shaped body indicates generally a "U"- or "J"shaped curved and pointed body, and encompasses therein an anchoring area 39 which is adapted to accommodate therein the support to which the anchoring device 1 is to be anchored.
The anchoring device 1 comprises locking and releasing means 50 configured to retain said anchoring element 30 selectively in said extracted configuration and in said retracted configuration, and to free said anchoring element 30 so that it can move from said extracted configuration to said retracted configuration and vice versa.
According to an embodiment, the hook-shaped body 31 is rotatably constrained to said handle body 10 about an anchoring element rotation axis 36 at said second end portion 33.
According to an embodiment, the hook-shaped body 35 lies on a lying plane orthogonal to the anchoring element rotation axis 36.
According to an embodiment, said inner hook surface 35 extends along a semi-circumference having preset radius and with preset center of curvature.
According to an embodiment, the hook-shaped body is made with a bent elongated element, preferably with a bent bar having constant cross section, preferably with a circular section, preferably made of metal.
According to an embodiment, said first end portion 32 curved in a hook is in the shape of one half of a circular ring, and the anchoring area 39 is in the shape of a half circle.
According to an embodiment, the intermediate portion 34 is substantially "S"-shaped.
According to an embodiment, the hook-shaped body 31 is substantially in the shape of a question mark.
According to an embodiment, said first end portion 32 curved in the shape of an open arc extends following a semi-circumference of circle having a radius of curvature with a preset value.
According to an embodiment, said hook-shaped body 31 is a bent elongated body having circular cross section.
According to an embodiment, said locking and releasing means 50 comprise a locking element 53 comprising a first contrast surface 56 configured to retain said anchoring element 30 against a first, opposite contrast counter-surface 26 in said extracted configuration of said anchoring element 30, and a second contrast surface 57 configured to retain said anchoring element 30 against a second, opposite contrast counter-surface 27 in said retracted configuration of said anchoring element 30, in which said locking element 53 is movable between a locking position, in which said first contrast surface 56 or said second contrast surface 57 hinders the rotation of the anchoring element 30, and a unlocking position, in which said first contrast surface 56 and said second contrast surface 57 allow the rotation of the anchoring element 30.
Thereby, the locking element 53 itself acts as contrast for the anchoring element 30 both in the extracted configuration and in the retracted configuration, thus giving said locking and releasing means 50 increased structural robustness and construction simplicity, which results in increased work life, or duration, of the device and production cost efficiency.
According to an embodiment, said first contrast counter-surface 26 and/or said second contrast counter-surface 27 are or comprise flat surfaces.
According to an embodiment, said first contrast surface 56 and/or said second contrast surface 57 are or comprise flat surfaces.
According to an embodiment, said second, opposite end portion 33 has opposite flat surfaces adapted to abut against said first and second contrast surfaces 56 and 57 and said first and second contrast counter-surfaces 26 and 27.
According to an embodiment, said locking and releasing means 50 comprise a button 51 exposed outside said outer surface of the handle body, which is movable between a compressed position and a non-compressed position, in which, in said compressed position, said button 51 actuates the locking element 53 in said unlocking position, and in which, in said non-compressed position, said button 51 actuates the locking element 53 in said locking position.
According to an embodiment, the locking element 53 is a lever element having a first end hinged to the handle body 10 about a locking element rotation axis 55 and an opposite second end comprising said first contrast surface 56 and said second contrast surface 57, and contrasted by a spring 54 arranged so as to push said locking body 53 towards the locking position thereof, and in which said button 51 is arranged to act against said locking element 53 in an area interposed between said locking element rotation axis 55 and said second end.
According to an embodiment, the locking element rotation axis 55 is orthogonal to the anchoring element rotation axis 36.
According to an embodiment, button 51 is hinged to the handle body 10 about a button rotation axis 58.
According to an embodiment, the button rotation axis 58 is parallel to the locking element rotation axis 55.
According to an embodiment, device 1 comprises elastic thrust means 37 configured to push said coupling element 30 elastically from said retracted configuration to said extracted configuration.
Preferably, said elastic thrust means 37 comprise a torsion spring.
According to an embodiment, the handle body 10 comprises an abutment surface 11 configured to receive in abutment the intermediate portion 34 of the hook-shaped body 31 when said anchoring element 30 is in said extracted configuration.
According to an embodiment, the anchoring device 1 comprises a friction element 40 configured to cover said inner hook surface 35 at least partially.
According to an embodiment, the friction element 40 extends up to covering a portion of the intermediate portion 34.
According to an embodiment, the friction element 40 is made of an elastomeric material and is configured so as to engage the hook-shaped body 31 by shape coupling by elastically embracing it about said inner hook surface 35.
Preferably, said elastomeric material has a Shore hardness between 50 Shore and 90 Shore, even more preferably, between 60 Shore and 80 Shore.
According to an embodiment, said bent elongated body forming said hook-shaped body 31, defines a main extension axis and a cross section orthogonal to said main extension axis, and wherein said friction element 40 is configured to embrace said hook-shaped body 31 over more than one half of said cross section.
According to an embodiment, said friction element 40 is removably and interchangeably couplable to said hook-shaped body 31.
Thereby, the friction element 40 can be easily removed from the anchoring element 30 after use and can be completely sanitized or disinfected prior to a new application, or replaced with a new sterile one.
Moreover, the anchoring device 1 may be equipped with a plurality of interchangeable friction elements 40 of different colors so as to allow a personalization of the appearance of the anchoring device 1.
According to an embodiment, the anchoring device 1 comprises at least a further friction element 40' which is interchangeable with respect to said friction element 40, having a radially inner radius of curvature R1 measured according to a radial direction with respect to said inner hook surface 35 which is different from a corresponding radially inner radius of curvature R of said friction element 40.
Thereby, the anchoring device can be easily adapted to different diameters of the anchoring support present in the transport vehicle.
According to an embodiment, said handle body 10 comprises two half- bodies 16, 17 which are couplable together to form said handle body 10 and to form said inner handle compartment 12 therebetween.
According to an embodiment, the anchoring device 1 comprises a covering shell 70 adapted to cover said handle body outer surface 18.
According to an embodiment, the covering shell 70 is configured to retain the two half- bodies 16, 17 assembled with each other.
For example, the covering shell 70 has a structural elasticity to embrace the outer surface of the handle body 18 elastically so as to allow the replacement thereof by the user.
Thereby, the covering shell can be easily sanitized or disinfected by the user after removing it from the handle body 10.
According to an embodiment, the anchoring device 1 is equipped with a plurality of interchangeable covering shells 70, for example, of different colors, for example, to allow the user to personalize the appearance of the anchoring device 1.
According to an embodiment, the handle body 10 is arranged at one end of an umbrella pole or shaft or is arranged at one end of a cane or walking stick.
Thereby, the umbrella or cane or walking stick takes on a dual function, that is, it may be used as anchoring device itself when it is not used following the main function thereof.
According to an embodiment, for example, the handle body 10 forms the handle of the umbrella and is mounted on the opposite side with respect to the hinging collar of the umbrella stretchers.
According to an embodiment, the anchoring element 30 can face the opposite side with respect to the hinging collar of the umbrella stretchers.
According to an embodiment, the handle body 10 forms the grip of the cane or walking stick. Thereby, the user can use the cane itself to anchor him/herself in the transport vehicle.
According to an embodiment, the handle body 10 is made in one piece with, at one end of an umbrella pole or shaft or with one end of a cane or walking stick.
According to an embodiment, said handle body 10 comprises a removable fastener for removably fastening said handle body 10 to an object.
For example, the removable fastener 60 comprises a ring or spring hook coupling, as shown in the drawings, or at least one between: a screw coupling; a bayonet coupling; an interlocking coupling; a magnetic coupling; a spring hook or ring coupling.
Such a removable fastener 60 allows fastening the anchoring device 1 to an object, for example, an umbrella or a cane or a walking stick, or also to another object carried by the user, so as to associate the anchoring device 1 with such an object only when needed and to remove it when not needed.
According to an embodiment, the removable fastener 60 is arranged at one end of the handle body 10, opposite to the anchoring element 30.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the aforesaid objects and advantages are met by an umbrella comprising an anchoring device 10 having any one of the above-described features, which is fastened or can be removably fastened, to a free end of a pole or shaft of said umbrella.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the aforesaid objects and advantages are met by a cane or walking stick comprising an anchoring device 10 having any one of the above-described features, which is fastened, or can be removably fastened, to a free end of said cane or walking stick.
Those skilled in the art may make changes and adaptations to the embodiments of the device described above, or replace elements with others which are functionally equivalent, in order to meet contingent needs, without departing from the scope of the following claims. Each of the features described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be achieved irrespective of the other embodiments described.
The figures are not necessarily to scale.
All the features described here may be combined in any combination, except for the combinations in which at least some of such features mutually exclude one another.

Claims

A pocket-sized manual anchoring device (1) to allow a user holding said device (1) to anchor him/herself to a support, in particular in a public transport vehicle, comprising:
- a handle body (10) defining an handle body outer surface (18) configured to be held in a user's hand, and an inner handle compartment (12) open towards the outside of said handle body (10) through an opening (13) in said handle body outer surface (18);

- an anchoring element (30) movably constrained to said handle body (10) between an extracted configuration, in which said anchoring element (30) is at least partially extracted outside said handle body (10) so as to be anchored to said support, and a retracted configuration, in which said anchoring element (30) is accommodated within said inner handle compartment (12), said anchoring element (30) comprising a hook-shaped body (31) which has a first end portion (32) curved in a hook, extending about an anchoring area (39) and defining an inner hook surface (35) facing said anchoring area (39), a second, opposite end portion (33) movably constrained to said handle body (10) within said inner handle compartment (12), an intermediate portion (34) which connects said first end portion (32) and said second end portion (33);

- locking and releasing means (50) configured to retain said anchoring element (30) selectively in said extracted configuration and in said retracted configuration and to free said anchoring element (30) so that it can move from said extracted configuration to said retracted configuration and vice versa.
An anchoring device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said hook-shaped body (31) is rotatably constrained to said handle body (10) about an anchoring element rotation axis (36) at said second end portion (33).
An anchoring device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said locking and releasing means (50) comprise a locking element (53) comprising a first contrast surface (56) configured to retain said anchoring element (30) against a first, opposite contrast counter-surface (26) in said extracted configuration of said anchoring element (30), and a second contrast surface (57) configured to retain said anchoring element (30) against a second, opposite contrast counter-surface (27) in said retracted configuration of said anchoring element (30), wherein said locking element (53) is movable between a locking position, in which said first contrast surface (56) or said second contrast surface (57) hinders the rotation of the anchoring element (30), and an unlocking position, in which said first contrast surface (56) and said second contrast surface (57) allow the rotation of the anchoring element (30).
An anchoring device (1) according to claim 3, wherein said locking and releasing means (50) comprise a button (51) exposed outside said outer surface of the handle body, which is movable between a compressed position and a non-compressed position, and wherein, in said compressed position, said button (51) actuates the locking element (53) in said releasing position, and wherein, in said non-compressed position, said button (51) actuates the locking element (53) in said locking position.
An anchoring device (1) according to claim 2, comprising elastic thrust means (37) configured to push said coupling element (30) elastically from said retracted configuration to said extracted configuration.
An anchoring device (1) according to at least one preceding claim, wherein the handle body (10) comprises an abutment surface (11) configured to receive in abutment the intermediate portion (34) of the hook-shaped body (31) when said anchoring element (30) is in said extracted configuration.
An anchoring device (1) according to at least one preceding claim, wherein said first end portion (32) curved in a hook extends along a semi-circumference with preset radius and center, and/or wherein said hook-shaped body (31) is a bent elongated body.
An anchoring device (1) according to at least one preceding claim, comprising a friction element (40) configured to cover said inner hook surface (35) at least partially.
An anchoring device (1) according to claim 8, wherein said bent elongated body that forms said hook-shaped body (31) defines a main extension axis and a cross section orthogonal to said main extension axis, and wherein said friction element (40) is configured to embrace said hook-shaped body (31) over more than one half of said cross section.
An anchoring device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the friction element (40) is made of an elastomeric material and is configured so as to engage the hook-shaped body (31) by shape coupling by elastically embracing it about said inner hook surface (35) .
An anchoring device (1) according to at least one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said friction element (40) is removably and interchangeably couplable to said hook-shaped body (31).
An anchoring device (1) according to claim 11, comprising at least a further friction element (40') which is interchangeable with respect to said friction element (40), having a radially inner radius of curvature (R1) measured according to a radial direction with respect to said inner hook surface (35), which is different from a corresponding radially inner radius of curvature (R) of said friction element (40).
An anchoring device (1) according to at least one preceding claim, wherein said handle body (10) comprises two half-bodies (16, 17) which are couplable together to form said handle body (10) and to form said inner handle compartment (12) therebetween, and/or wherein said anchoring device (1) comprises a covering shell (70) adapted to cover said handle body outer surface (18).
An anchoring device (1) according to at least one preceding claim, wherein the handle body (10) is arranged at one end of an umbrella pole or shaft or is arranged at one end of a cane or walking stick.
An anchoring device (1) according to at least one preceding claim, wherein said handle body (10) comprises a removable fastener (60) for removably fastening said handle body (10) to a support.