JP2003074528A - Connecting structure of leg body and connected member, and connecting tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connecting structure and connecting tool capable of easily installing a connected member in a leg body of a chair or the like by handwork without a large-scale jig and also visually confirming whether the connecting structure and tool are installed in a designated angle position of the leg body in a peripheral direction and further confirming whether the connecting tool is surely installed in the leg body and furthermore easily separating from the leg body so as to separately collect a recycling resource such as a metallic pipe or the like and the connecting tool which is a non-recycling resource. SOLUTION: In the connecting structure, a through-hole 13 to a radial direction is arranged on the tubular leg body 10, and the connecting tool 20 having a connecting portion 21, in which a connecting projection portion 25 capable of fitting into the leg body 10 in a moving back and forth state and connecting with the through-hole 13 of the leg body 10 is arranged, is inserted. The leg body 10 and connected member 30 are connected each other by inserting a connecting shaft 31 of the connected member 30 to an inserting hole 23 of the connecting shaft of the connecting tool 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is attached to the lower ends of tubular legs such as furniture such as chairs and tables and office machines, and these legs and casters or adjusters for length adjustment and the like. The present invention relates to a connecting structure for connecting a connecting member and a connecting tool.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Chairs, tables, and other furniture using metal pipes as legs and office machines (hereinafter referred to as chairs) have casters attached to the lower ends of the legs to facilitate movement. There are things that have been done. When connecting casters to these chairs, etc., a leg cap made of a synthetic resin material and provided with an insertion hole for the caster connecting shaft is forcibly pressed into the lower end of the leg body, By inserting the connecting shaft of the caster, the leg cap is used as a connecting tool to intervene between the leg and the caster to connect the leg and the caster.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the conventional connecting device. In FIG. 6, 100 is a connecting tool, P is a leg of a chair made of a metal pipe, and S is a connecting shaft attached to the upper part of a housing that pivotally supports wheels of casters. The connector 100 is molded from a synthetic resin material, and is fitted with an axial rib on the outer periphery of a substantially cylindrical shape that can be press-fitted into the opening PO (that is, the opening of the pipe) at the lower end of the leg P. A joining portion A, a flange B that abuts the lower end edge of the leg P, and a connecting shaft insertion hole C that axially penetrates the fitting portion A and the flange B and into which the connecting shaft S of the caster can be inserted. Have Then, when the caster is connected to the leg P, the fitting portion A is forcibly press-fitted into the leg P and fitted, and the connecting shaft S is inserted into the connecting shaft insertion hole C. , The leg P and the caster were connected.

[0004]

However, when the connecting member 100 is press-fitted and fixed to the leg P, it is necessary to press-fit with a jig at a pressure of about several t / cm ² . When the caster is attached to the leg P, the caster needs to be attached at an angle (caster angle) of about 2 to 5 degrees with respect to the central axis of the leg P in order to facilitate the turning of the caster. There is. Therefore, when the connecting shaft S is inserted, the connecting shaft S of the caster is angled with respect to the central axis of the leg P, the connecting shaft insertion hole C is
The connector 100 is opened at an angle of 2 to 5 degrees with respect to the central axis of the connector 100. Therefore, the caster needs to be attached at a predetermined angular position in the circumferential direction of the leg P.

Further, even when the adjuster for adjusting the length is attached to the leg P, the adjuster is adjusted by tightening and fixing the auxiliary screw which can extend in the axial direction by tightening the adjusting screw. It becomes necessary to attach the position to a position where adjustment work is easy. Therefore, similarly to the case of the caster described above, it is necessary to attach the leg P at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction.

According to the connector 100 having the above structure, a large jig is required to press-fit the connector 100 into the leg P. Also, when press-fitting into the leg P,
It is not possible to easily confirm whether or not it is inserted at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction, and even if the position in the circumferential direction is displaced, it is difficult to correct the position after press fitting. Furthermore, since it is inserted with a large pressure, the connector 100
Is not easy to remove from the leg P, and it is difficult to separately collect when disposing of the chair.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tubular leg body with a radial through hole so that the leg body can be freely moved back and forth. A connecting tool having a fitting portion provided with an engaging projection that engages with the through hole of the leg is fitted, and the connecting shaft of the connected member is inserted into the connecting shaft insertion hole of the connecting tool. By connecting the leg and the member to be connected to each other, the member to be connected can be easily attached to a leg such as a chair by a manual work or the like without a large jig. It is possible to visually confirm whether or not it is attached at a predetermined angular position in the circumferential direction, and further whether or not the connecting tool is securely attached to the leg body. Recycling resources such as metal pipes and not becoming recycling resources A binding device for separate collection, to provide a connection structure and connector can be easily separated and leg.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connecting structure for connecting a leg member and a member to be connected, which is a tubular leg member having a radial through hole and a connecting shaft connected to the leg member. A connecting structure for connecting with a connected member having, a fitting portion that is fitted in the leg body so as to be capable of advancing and retracting from below, and provided with an engaging protrusion that engages with the through hole. A coupling tool including a flange that engages with a lower end edge of the leg body and a coupling shaft insertion hole into which the coupling shaft is inserted is fitted in the leg body, and the coupling tool is coupled to the coupling shaft insertion hole of the coupling tool. It is characterized in that a shaft is inserted to connect the leg and the connected member.

A connecting device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a connecting device for connecting a tubular leg body having a radial through hole and a connected member having a connecting shaft connected to the leg body. A fitting portion that is fitted in the leg body so as to be able to move forward and backward, a flange that engages with an end edge of the leg body, and a coupling shaft insertion hole into which the coupling shaft is inserted; Is characterized in that an engaging protrusion engaging with the through hole is provided.

In the case of the first and second aspects of the invention, in order to attach the connecting tool to a leg body such as a chair, first, the fitting portion of the connecting tool is fitted into the open portion at the lower end of the leg body. At this time, since the fitting portion can be fitted in the leg body so as to be able to move back and forth, the fitting portion can be fitted with a pressing force that can be manually performed. Since the fitting protrusion is provided in this fitting portion, when the fitting portion is pushed into the through hole opened below the leg body, the engaging projection engages with the through hole and is connected. The tool is securely fitted to the leg without falling off.

Since the through hole is provided in the radial direction of the leg body, the state in which the engaging projection is engaged with the through hole can be easily visually confirmed from the outside of the leg body, and the connecting tool is It is possible to easily judge whether or not the fitting is securely fitted to the leg body, and since the connecting tool is fixed to the leg body at a predetermined angular position in the circumferential direction, the connecting tool is circumferentially arranged in the leg body. It is not necessary to perform the alignment so that the predetermined angular position of is obtained.

When the connecting tool is pulled out from the leg, the engaging protrusion engaging with the through hole of the leg is pressed from outside the leg by a driver or the like, and the engaging protrusion is removed from the through hole. Since the connecting tool can be pulled out from the leg in the detached state, the connecting tool can also be pulled out manually, and the separate collection can be easily performed.

A connector according to a third aspect of the present invention is the connector according to claim 2, wherein the engagement protrusion has two notches formed by axially cutting the tubular fitting portion from an end thereof. It is characterized in that it is provided on an engaging piece formed between them.

In the case of the third aspect of the invention, since the engaging projection is provided on the engaging piece formed between the two cutouts formed by cutting out the tubular fitting portion from the end in the axial direction, When the fitting part is pushed into the through hole opened below the leg, the engaging piece bends inward in the radial direction, and the engaging projection is provided in the fitting part with a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the leg. Even when the connector is present, the connector can be easily pushed into the through hole.

A connector according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the connector according to the second aspect, wherein the engaging projection has radial flexibility due to a cutout groove provided in the tubular fitting portion. It is characterized in that it is provided on the engagement piece formed as described above.

In the case of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the engaging projection is provided on the engaging piece formed to have flexibility in the radial direction by the cutout groove provided in the tubular fitting portion. The engaging piece has a biasing force in the radial direction, the engaging protrusion provided on the engaging piece is positively engaged with the through hole, and the connecting tool is less likely to drop from the leg.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state where casters are attached to a chair using the connecting tool of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 10 is the leg of the chair,
It is made of metal pipe. The lower end of the tubular leg 10 is open. 20 is a connector according to the present invention,
It is fitted into the opening portion of the leg body 10. Reference numeral 30 is a caster, and the connecting shaft of the caster 30 is inserted into and fixed to the connecting tool 20 fitted to the leg 10. In this way, the caster 30 is attached to the leg body 10 with the coupling tool 20 interposed.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of the connector 20 according to the present invention, FIG. 2B is a front view, and FIG. 2C is a perspective view.
FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of the connection structure of the present invention. Connector 2
0 is molded with a synthetic resin material such as ABS resin,
The fitting portion 21 fitted into the leg body 10 and the leg body 10
And a flange 22 that abuts the lower end edge 12 of the connecting shaft insertion hole 23. The connecting shaft insertion hole 23 is formed so as to penetrate the fitting portion 21 and the flange 22 in the axial direction.

The fitting portion 21 has a cylindrical shape having ribs 21a, 21a, ... The fitting portion 21 is provided with two cutout portions 24, 24 having a fan-shaped cross section from the end portion of the fitting portion 21 in the axial direction, and the base end portion is provided between the cutout portions 24, 24. Is the fitting part 2
A prismatic engagement piece 21b that is continuous with 1 is erected.

At the tip of the outer peripheral surface of the engaging piece 21b, a cylindrical engaging projection 25 is provided so as to project radially outward. The engagement protrusion 25 is engaged with the circular through hole 13 provided in the lower portion of the leg body 10 when the fitting portion 21 is fitted into the leg body 10, so that the through hole 13 is formed. It is formed with a slightly smaller diameter.

The flange 22 is formed to have a diameter larger than that of the fitting portion 21 by a thickness of the leg body 10 so that the flange 22 can be brought into contact with the lower end edge 12 of the leg body 10. The outer peripheral surface of the leg 10 and the outer peripheral surface of the flange 22 are substantially flush with each other. Further, the lower surface of the flange 22 is formed to be an inclined surface which is inclined about 3 degrees from the horizontal plane.

A connecting shaft insertion hole 23 is opened by penetrating the fitting portion 21 and the flange 22 in the axial direction. The connecting shaft insertion hole 23 is formed from the tip of the fitting portion 21 to the fitting portion 2
1. A hole 23a (FIG. 4) opened along the central axis of the connecting tool 20 in the middle of the length direction 1 and an angle (caster angle) of about 3 degrees with respect to the central axis of the connecting tool 20 are provided. And an oblique hole 23b that obliquely travels. The oblique hole 23b is formed in a tapered shape in cross section so as to have a smaller diameter from the opening toward the inner side in the axial direction, and the connecting shaft 31 extending upward is provided above the housing of the wheel of the caster 30. Is inserted. In addition, the annular groove 3 is formed on the outer periphery of the tip of the connecting shaft 31.
2, a C ring 33 having a diameter slightly larger than that of the connecting shaft 31 is rotatably fitted in the annular groove 32.

The connecting structure using the connecting tool 20 constructed as described above is, as shown in the sectional views showing the attached state of FIGS. 3 and 4, in the open portion of the lower end of the leg 10, The fitting portion 21 of the connector 20 is fitted. At this time, since the outer diameter of the fitting portion 21 is such that the fitting portion 21 can be fitted into the leg body 10 so as to be able to move forward and backward, the fitting portion 21 can be fitted with a pressing force that can be manually performed. The joint portion 21 can be fitted into the leg body 10. Further, a portion of the engagement piece 21b where the engagement protrusion 25 is provided is larger in diameter than the inner diameter of the leg body 10, but the engagement piece 21b bends inward in the radial direction. The fitting portion 21 can be inserted into the through hole 13 in a state where the engagement piece 21b is bent inward in the radial direction, and when the engagement protrusion 25 is inserted to this position, the engagement portion 21 is engaged. The protrusion 25 engages with the through hole 13, and the connector 20 is securely fitted to the leg 10.

Further, the state in which the engaging projection 25 is engaged with the through hole 13 can be easily visually confirmed from the through hole 13, so that the connector 20 is securely fitted to the leg 10. It is possible to easily determine whether or not the connection is performed, and since the connector 20 is fixed to the leg body 10 at a predetermined angular position in the circumferential direction, there is no need to perform circumferential alignment.

Then, after the connecting tool 20 is fixedly mounted in the leg body 10, the connecting shaft insertion hole 2 of the connecting tool 20 is attached.
The connecting shaft 31 of the caster 30 is inserted into the shaft 3. When the connecting shaft 31 is inserted into the connecting shaft inserting hole 23 of the connecting tool 20, the inclined hole 23b of the connecting shaft inserting hole 23 is formed so that the diameter thereof becomes slightly smaller toward the inside. A C ring 33 attached to the tip of the connecting shaft 31 presses the inner peripheral wall of the oblique hole 23b in the radial direction. As a result, the entire fitting portion 21 is fixed in the leg body 10 while being pressed substantially evenly in the radial direction. Therefore, since the engagement piece 21b provided on the fitting portion 21 is also pressed in the radial direction, the engagement protrusion 25 does not drop out from the through hole 13, and the caster 30 is attached to the connector 20. When the connecting shaft 31 is inserted, the connecting tool 20 can be securely fitted to the leg body 10.

When the chair is discarded, first, the caster 30 is pulled out from the coupling tool 20, and thereafter, the caster 30 is engaged with the through hole 13 of the leg body 10 from the outside of the leg body 10 by a driver or the like. The engaging projection 25 is pressed, and the through hole 1
The coupling tool 20 is pulled out from the leg 10 in a state where the engaging protrusion 25 is disengaged from 3. At this time, the fitting portion 21 is connected to the leg 1
Although it is forcibly fitted in 0, since it is fitted with a pressing force such that it can be fitted by hand, extraction can also be done manually. In this way, since the connector 20 molded of the synthetic resin material can be easily separated from the metal leg body 10, the separate collection can be easily performed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In the connector 40 shown in FIG. 5, parts corresponding to the respective parts of the connector 20 shown in FIG. 2 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the connector 20 of FIG. 2, and description thereof will be omitted.

The fitting portion 21 is provided with a cutout groove 41 which is formed by cutting out a groove in a substantially U-shape, and a portion separated on three sides by the cutout groove 41 is formed as an engaging piece 42.
The base portion side of the engagement piece 42 is continuous with the fitting portion 21 at the tip end side of the fitting portion 21. As long as the base of the engagement piece 42 is continuous with the fitting portion 21, the shape of the cutout groove 41 is not limited to the substantially U shape, and may be, for example, a substantially horseshoe shape or a substantially C shape. The shape does not matter.

Since the base portion of the engagement piece 42 of the coupling tool 40 is continuous with the tip end side of the fitting portion 21, when the urging force of the engagement piece 42 in the radial direction decreases. Even if there is, since the action in the radial expansion direction acts on the pulling-out direction of the connecting tool 40, the connecting tool 40 is less likely to fall out of the leg body 10.

[0031]

As described above in detail, according to the connecting structure of the leg and the member to be connected according to claim 1 and the connecting device according to claim 2, the connecting device is a leg such as a chair. First, the fitting portion of the connector is fitted into the open portion of the lower end of the leg body. At this time, since the fitting portion can be fitted in the leg body so as to be able to move back and forth, the fitting portion can be fitted with a pressing force that can be manually performed. Since the fitting protrusion is provided in this fitting portion, when the fitting portion is pushed into the through hole opened below the leg body, the engaging projection engages with the through hole and is connected. The tool is securely fitted to the leg without falling off.

Since this through hole is provided in the radial direction of the leg, the state in which the engaging projection is engaged with the through hole can be easily visually confirmed from the outside of the leg, and the connecting tool It is possible to easily judge whether or not the fitting is securely fitted to the leg body, and since the connecting tool is fixed to the leg body at a predetermined angular position in the circumferential direction, the connecting tool is circumferentially arranged in the leg body. It is not necessary to perform the alignment so that the predetermined angular position of is obtained.

When the connecting device is pulled out from the leg, the engaging protrusion engaging with the through hole of the leg is pressed from the outside of the leg with a screwdriver or the like to remove the engaging protrusion from the through hole. Since the connecting tool can be pulled out from the leg in the detached state, the connecting tool can also be pulled out manually, and the separate collection can be easily performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the engaging projection is formed by cutting the tubular fitting portion axially from the end of the fitting portion.
Since it is provided in the engagement piece formed between the notches of the strip, when the fitting portion is pushed into the through hole opened below the leg body, the engagement piece bends inward in the radial direction, and at the fitting portion. Even when the engaging protrusion is provided with a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the leg, the connector can be easily pushed into the through hole.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the engaging projection is formed so as to have flexibility in the radial direction by the cutout groove provided in the tubular fitting portion. Since the engaging piece has a biasing force in the radial direction, the engaging protrusion provided on the engaging piece is reliably engaged with the through hole, and the connecting tool is a leg body. It becomes difficult to fall out of.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a caster connected to a leg of a chair by a connecting tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 (a) is a plan view of a connector according to the present invention, (b).
Is a front view and (c) is a perspective view.

FIG. 3 is an exploded side view showing a connecting structure in which a connecting tool is inserted into a leg and casters are inserted into the connecting tool.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the connector according to the present invention is inserted into the leg body.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional connecting tool.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 legs 13 through holes 21 Fitting part 22 Flange 23 Connection shaft insertion hole 25 Engagement protrusion 31 Connection shaft 21b, 42 engagement pieces

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A connecting structure for connecting a tubular leg body having a radial through hole and a connected member having a connecting shaft connected to the leg body, wherein the connecting structure has a lower side inside the leg body. A fitting part that is fitted in a retractable manner from the engaging hole and is provided with an engaging protrusion that engages with the through hole; a flange that engages with the lower edge of the leg; and a connection into which the connecting shaft is inserted. A connecting tool including a shaft insertion hole is fitted in the leg body, and the connecting shaft is inserted into the connecting shaft insertion hole of the connecting tool to connect the leg body and the connected member. A characteristic connecting structure between a leg and a member to be connected. 2. A coupling tool for coupling a tubular leg body having a radial through hole and a coupled member having a coupling shaft coupled to the leg body, which is movable back and forth in the leg body. And a coupling shaft insertion hole into which the coupling shaft is inserted, the coupling portion being engaged with the through hole. A coupling tool provided with a mating engagement protrusion. 3. The engagement protrusion is provided on an engagement piece formed between two cutouts axially cut out from the end of the tubular fitting portion. The connector according to claim 2. 4. The engagement protrusion is provided on an engagement piece formed to have flexibility in a radial direction by a cutout groove provided in the tubular fitting portion. The connector according to claim 2.