JP2008207748A - Caster and article with caster - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a caster capable of more easily riding over a projected step by wheels than conventionally even if there is the projected step on a traveling road for the casters, and a handcart with the casters capable of easily riding over the projected step. <P>SOLUTION: This caster CA1 comprises wheels 1, wheel support frames 2, and rotary members 100 for riding over a projected step rotatably supported by the frames 2 independently from the wheels 1 at a support shaft 102. The rotary members 100 are rotatably supported by the frames 2 in an area upper than bottom ends of the wheels 1 and at a rotation radius larger than a rotation radius r1 of the wheel 1, and are supported by the frames 2 in such a manner that a front portion 101' of the bottom end 101 at least in a wheel traveling direction projects forward in the wheel traveling direction from the wheel bottom end 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a caster (caster) that is used by being attached to an article in order to move the article with human power or a battery. The present invention also relates to an article with casters to which the casters are attached.

  Children's vehicles such as wheelbarrows, carriages, wheelchairs and other wheelchairs that carry various types of equipment and other loads, children's tricycles and children's toys powered by batteries, etc., usually have casters as wheel devices. (As a wheel for steering in wheelchairs, etc.) Also, for carrying bags, bags, cases, etc. for carrying, bags and cases, electrical appliances such as refrigerators, household and office furniture, organs, pianos, musical instruments, office machines and other machines, Casters may be attached to make it easier to move them manually.

  An example of a conventional caster is shown in FIG. The caster CA ′ of FIG. 8 supports the wheel 1 ′ by the wheel shaft 11 ′ so as to be rotatable at the lower end of the wheel support frame 2 ′, and the arm 3 ′ is attached to the portion of the frame 2 ′ that extends to above the wheel 1 ′. The shaft 4 ′ in the vertical direction is rotatably supported by a bearing portion 31 ′ provided on the arm, and the attachment member 5 to the loading platform 91 ′ (see FIG. 9) of the handcart 9 ′ is supported on the upper end of the shaft 4 ′. 'Is provided.

Although not shown, the mounting member 5 ′ has a plurality of bolt holes for bolting the mounting member 5 ′ to the loading platform 91 ′.
The plane parallel to the rotation center line 4c ′ of the vertical axis 4 ′ including the rotation center line C ′ of the wheel 1 ′ is separated from the rotation center line 4c ′ by a distance X ′.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the casters CA ′ have four casters CA ′ by fixing the mounting members 5 ′ with bolts to the four corners of the lower surface of the rectangular loading platform 91 ′ which is a part of the handcart 9 ′. Can be attached to form a wheelbarrow 9 '. A hand pushing arm 92 'is provided upright at the rear end of the loading platform 91'.

  According to this wheelbarrow 9 ', the load W is loaded on the loading platform 91', the arm 92 'for pushing is pushed, and the wheel 1' of each caster CA 'rolls on the traveling path F and advances in the direction of arrow A. It can also be retracted in the opposite direction if necessary.

  When pushing the wheelbarrow 9 ′ forward or backward, in each caster CA ′, the wheel 1 ′ and its support frame 2 ′ can be rotated by the shaft 4 ′ with respect to the mounting member 5 ′, and the shaft 4 ′. The wheel axis center line C ′ moves the wheelbarrow 9 ′ because there is a separation X ′ between the plane including the wheel rotation center line C ′ parallel to the rotation center line 4c ′ and the rotation center line 4c ′. In the direction to be moved, the wheel 4 'is positioned behind the rotation center line 4c' of the shaft 4 ', thereby improving the directionality of the wheel 1' and facilitating the movement of the handcart 9 '.

  Conventional casters are generally as described above, but there are some types in which the wheel support frame 2 'is directly fixed to the loading platform 91'. Further, the wheel 1 ′ and its support frame 2 ′ are attached to the loading platform 91 ′ so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis. The rotation center line passes through the rotation center line C ′ of the wheel 1 ′, and Some of them do not have such a distance X ′.

  In the caster CA ′ described above, the wheel 1 ′ is integrally formed as a whole, but the spoke portion between the hub portion and the rim portion is used as a wheel having shock absorption (cushioning property). A wheel formed of a spring material and provided with cushioning properties as a whole (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-127201), and a spoke portion between the hub portion and the rim portion having an elastically deformable bending structure, A caster having wheels (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-29201) or the like having cushioning properties is also known.

JP-A-8-127201 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-29201

  In any case, however, the conventional caster has a convex stepped portion f as shown in FIG. In many cases, it is difficult to get on the convex stepped portion f.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the handcart 9 ′ is pushed with a force of 4P (see FIG. 9) on the normal traveling path F in the direction A, the wheel 1 ′ Suppose that it hits the convex step part f. As for the caster CA 'that has reached the stepped portion f, a force P that is approximately a quarter of the force 4P is applied to the wheel shaft 11' of the caster. At this time, the wheel 1 ′ receives a reaction force R ′ in the direction of the axle 11 ′ from the contact position β between the convex step portion f and the wheel 1 ′. A force having a magnitude corresponding to the upward component U 'of the reaction force R' acts as a force for causing the wheel 1 'to ride on the convex stepped portion f.

  However, since the angle θ ′ formed by the reaction force R ′ direction and the upward component force U ′ direction is large from the size of a general caster wheel 1 ′, the force U ′ is small according to the large angle θ ′. It is only force, and it becomes difficult for the wheel 1 'to ride on the stepped portion f. In that case, a much larger force must be applied to the wheelbarrow 9 ′ and consequently to the caster CA ′ than to move the wheelbarrow 9 ′ on the normal travel path F, so that the wheel 1 ′ rides on the convex stepped portion f. With difficulty.

  Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a caster that can make the wheel ride on the convex stepped portion more easily than before even when the caster traveling path has a convex stepped portion.

  Further, the present invention is an article having casters attached thereto, and when the article is moved by the casters, even when the caster travel path has a convex step portion, the wheel is more easily connected to the convex step portion. It is a second object to provide a caster-equipped article that can be moved forward to advance the article.

In order to solve the first problem, the present invention provides:
Wheels,
A wheel support frame that supports the wheel rotatably on a wheel shaft and extends upward;
A convex stepped-up turning member supported by the wheel support frame so as to be rotatable independently of the wheel by a support shaft parallel to the wheel shaft;
The convex step climbing turning member is supported by the wheel support frame in a region above the lower end of the wheel and pivotable with a turning radius larger than the turning radius of the wheel. A caster in which at least a portion on the front side in the traveling direction of the wheel is supported by the wheel support frame so as to protrude forward from the lower end of the wheel in the traveling direction of the wheel.

  The caster according to the present invention is provided with a rotating member for climbing a convex step, and the rotating member is rotated in an upper region from the lower end of the wheel, so that when the traveling path of the caster is flat, Therefore, the rotating member for riding on the convex step does not come into contact with the traveling road surface, and therefore there is no problem in the caster traveling on the flat road surface.

  In the cast member according to the present invention, the convex step-up riding turning member may be such that at least a portion of the lower end thereof that is the front side in the traveling direction of the wheel protrudes forward from the lower end of the wheel in the traveling direction of the wheel. In this state, if the wheel is advanced on the flat traveling road, even if a convex stepped portion with respect to the flat traveling road appears, the rotating member for riding on the convex step rises before the wheel contacts the convex stepped portion. Contact the convex step.

  If the caster is continuously advanced in this state, the turning radius of the convex step climbing turning member is larger than the turning radius of the wheel, so that the wheel protrudes in a state where the wheel starts to directly contact the convex step portion. It is possible to ride on the convex stepped-up turning member with a smaller force than when riding on the stepped portion. Further, by moving the caster forward, the continuous wheel can be easily ridden on the convex stepped portion with a smaller force than when the wheel is ridden on the stepped portion in the state of being in direct contact with the convex stepped portion as in the prior art. be able to.

  The support shaft of the turning member for riding on the convex step in the caster according to the present invention can be provided on the wheel support frame, for example, above the wheel. Moreover, the form of the convex step climbing rotation member may be any form that can start climbing on the convex step portion prior to the wheel, but as a typical example, the lower end surface is viewed from the side of the rotary member. And those formed in a curved surface having an arc centered on the support shaft center.

  Further, the convex step climbing turning member is supported by the support shaft by its own weight, so that at least a portion of the lower end portion which is the front side in the traveling direction of the wheel is forward of the wheel traveling direction from the lower end portion of the wheel. However, the spring may have a protruding posture in which at least a portion of the lower end portion that is the front side in the traveling direction of the wheel projects forward from the lower end portion of the wheel in the traveling direction of the wheel.

  Moreover, this invention provides the articles | goods with a caster (for example, handcart etc.) provided with the caster which concerns on the said this invention in order to solve the said 2nd subject.

The caster according to the present invention can be used with its wheel support frame attached to an article to be caster attached.
When the wheel support frame is attached to the article to be caster attached, the frame may be attached to the article directly by bolting or the like. For example, a vertical axis standing on the frame, or projecting laterally from the frame, for example You may attach to the caster attachment object using the up-down direction axis | shaft standingly arranged by the made member so that rotation is possible centering on the axis | shaft.

  Since the caster-equipped article according to the present invention is provided with the caster according to the present invention as a caster, even when there is a convex step portion on the caster traveling path, the wheel is easily climbed on the convex step portion. The article can be advanced.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a caster that can easily ride the wheel on the convex step portion even when the caster travel path has a convex step portion.

  Further, according to the present invention, when an article is attached to a caster, and the article is moved by the caster, even if the caster travel path has a convex step portion, the wheel is more easily moved than the conventional one. It is possible to provide a caster-equipped article that can be ridden on a part and advance the article.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
The caster example according to the present invention described below can be used by being attached to the article in order to move the article with human power or a battery. Such articles include, for example, bags for shopping and travel, bags and cases, and other welfare articles such as wheelbarrows, prams, and wheelchairs that carry various kinds of equipment and other luggage (the casters of the present invention are wheelchairs, etc.) Can be used as steering wheels, etc.), electrical appliances such as refrigerators, household and office furniture, organs, musical instruments such as pianos, office machines and other machines, etc., which are attached to the present invention. An article with casters according to the above can be provided.

  It can also be used as a wheel in children's vehicles such as children's tricycles, children's automobile toys, etc.

  The caster according to the present invention is suitable for use as a simple small caster in terms of structure and strength as compared with wheels of automobiles and bicycles, and is not limited thereto. Is suitable for use as a small caster of about 70 mm to about 250 mm.

First, an example CA1 of a caster according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a side view of the caster CA1, and FIG. 2 is a view of a part of the caster CA1 as viewed from the right side in FIG.
The caster CA1 includes a pair of circular wheels 1 having the same outer diameter as the wheels 1 ′ in the conventional caster CA ′ shown in FIG. I have.

  The pair of wheels 1 and the rotating member 100 are respectively supported by the wheel support frame 2. The frame 2 includes a pair of frame portions 21 and 21 integrated at the upper end. One wheel 1 is disposed inside one frame portion 21 and is rotatably supported by the wheel shaft 11, and the other wheel 1 is disposed inside the other frame portion 21 and is disposed on the wheel shaft 11. And is rotatably supported by the portion. The rotating member 100 is disposed between the pair of wheels 1 and is rotatably supported by the frame 2 on the support shaft 102 above the wheel shaft 11 and above the wheel 1.

  Although the rotation member 100 is not limited to this, in this example, when viewed from the side, it has a fan-like shape. The lower end surface 101a is formed in an arcuate curved surface that exhibits an arc centered on the center line C2 of the support shaft 102 when viewed from the side.

  A turning radius (turning radius about the center C2 of the support shaft 102) r2 of the turning member 100 is larger than a turning radius r1 of the wheel 1 about the center C1 of the wheel shaft 11. Although not limited thereto, an example in which the wheel turning radius r1 is 85 mm and the turning radius r2 of the turning member 100 is about 100 mm, or the wheel turning radius r1 is 100 mm and the turning radius r2 of the turning member 100 is 150 mm. An example of about 200 mm can be given.

  In any case, the rotating member 100 rotates in a region above the lower end of the wheel 1. In the example of FIG. 1, the lower end surface 101 a of the rotating member 100 is positioned slightly above the lower end of the wheel 1 regardless of the rotation of the rotating member (a position closer to the lower end of the wheel than the wheel shaft 11, further speaking , Position near the lower end of the wheel).

As shown in FIG. 1, the rotating member 100 is supported by a support shaft 102 and suspended. When taking a stationary position due to its own weight, each of the outer end portions 101 ′ and 101 ″ of the lower end portion 101 takes a posture of projecting outward from the lower end portion 12 of the wheel 1. The portion (portion 101 ′ or 101 ″) on the front side in the traveling direction of the wheel 1 can protrude forward from the wheel lower end portion 12 in the traveling direction of the wheel.

  In the caster CA1, the arm member 3 protrudes laterally from the upper end portion of the wheel support frame 2, and the vertical shaft 4 is rotatably mounted on a bearing portion 31 provided on the arm member. A plate-like attachment member 5 is provided. The attachment member 5 is formed with a bolt through hole (not shown) for bolting this to the article to be caster attached.

  A plane parallel to the rotation center line 4c of the vertical axis 4 including the rotation center line C1 of the wheel 1 is separated from the rotation center line 4c by a distance X.

  The caster CA1 can be used by being attached to various caster-attached articles as described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the caster CA1 is attached to each of the four corners of the lower surface of the rectangular loading platform 91 that is a part of the handcart 9. Four wheelbarrows 9 can be formed by attaching four members 5 by fixing them with bolts. A hand pushing arm 92 is erected at the rear end of the loading platform 91.

  According to this wheelbarrow 9, the load W is loaded on the loading platform 91, and the hand pushing arm 92 is pushed by the force of 4P, for example, to push the wheelbarrow 9 in the horizontal direction of the arrow A, for example, so that the wheel 1 of each caster CA1 travels. It can be moved forward in the direction of the arrow A while rolling on the road F in the CCW direction, and can be moved back in the opposite direction as necessary.

  When pushing the wheelbarrow 9 forward or backward, in each caster CA1, the wheel 1 and its support frame 2 can be rotated by the shaft 4 with respect to the mounting member 5, and the rotation center line 4c of the shaft 4 and the wheel The rotation center line C1 of the wheel 1 causes the rotation center line C1 of the wheel 1 to be positioned behind the rotation center line 4c of the shaft 4 in the direction in which the handcart 9 is moved. Can be moved easily.

  The caster CA1 includes a convex step climbing turning member 100. The turning member turns in a region above the lower end of the wheel 1. Therefore, when the caster traveling path is flat, the caster CA1 is turned. The moving member 100 does not come into contact with the traveling road, and therefore there is no problem with the caster traveling on the flat road surface. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the handcart 9 to which the caster CA <b> 1 is attached can be advanced in the target direction A on the flat traveling path F, and can be moved backward.

  Further, the convex step climbing turning member 100 in the caster CA1 is a front portion of the lower end portion 101 in the traveling direction of the wheel 1 (in the caster CA1 in FIG. 1, the frame 2 is turned around the vertical axis 4). In view of the possible relationship, the portion 101 ′) on the left side in FIG. 1 normally protrudes forward from the wheel lower end portion 12 in the wheel traveling direction. Accordingly, when the wheelbarrow 9 is moved forward in the target direction A, if a convex stepped portion f with respect to the flat travel path F appears, the wheel 1 protrudes before contacting the convex stepped portion f as shown in FIG. The step climbing turning member 100 starts to contact the convex stepped portion f.

  When the loading platform 91 (and thus the caster CA1) is further advanced in the target direction A in a state in which the turning member 100 is in contact with the convex stepped portion f, the turning radius r2 of the turning member 100 is larger than the turning radius r1 of the wheel 1. Therefore, compared with the conventional case where the wheel 1 rides on the convex stepped portion f in a state where the wheel 1 starts to directly contact the convex stepped portion f, the rotating member 100 is moved to the convex stepped portion f with a smaller force. You can get on.

  More specifically, when the caster CA1 is further advanced while the rotating member 100 is in contact with the convex stepped portion f, the reaction force R1 generated from the mutual contact position α between the convex stepped portion f and the rotating member 100 is The force acting in the direction passing through the center C2 of the support shaft 102 of the rotating member 100 and the force corresponding to the upward component force U1 of the reaction force R1 starts the riding on the rotating member 100 on the convex stepped portion f. The angle formed by R1 and the upward component force U1 is θ1 (<θ ′ of the conventional example), and the upward component force U1 is approximately the same as the force applied to the caster CA1 when the caster CA1 is advanced on the flat travel path F. Even when the force P is applied (U1> conventional U ′), the rotating member 100 can thus easily start climbing on the convex stepped portion f.

  From another point of view, it is as if a large wheel having a radius (r2) from the center C2 of the shaft 102 to the contact position α between the convex stepped portion f and the rotating member 100 is mounted on the convex stepped portion f. However, the rotating member 100 can be easily ridden on the convex stepped portion f.

  In this state, by further moving the loading platform 91, and thus the caster CA1 in the target direction A, as shown in FIG. 5, the rotating member 100 rotates backward in the CCW direction around the support shaft 102. The wheel 1 starts to ride on the convex stepped portion f. At this time, the reaction force R2 generated from the mutual contact position α ′ between the wheel 1 and the stepped portion f acts in a direction passing through the center C1 of the wheel shaft 11. At this time, a force corresponding to the upward component force U2 of the reaction force R2 causes the wheel 1 to ride on the convex stepped portion f, but the angle formed between the reaction force R2 and the upward component force U2 is θ2 (<θ in the conventional example) '), And the upward component U2 is large even when a force P is applied to the caster CA1 that is similar to the force applied when the caster CA1 is advanced on the flat traveling path F (U2> conventional). U ′), so that the wheel 100 can easily climb on the convex stepped portion f.

  When the wheel 1 finishes climbing on the convex stepped portion f, the rotating member 100 returns to the posture due to its own weight (the posture shown in FIG. 1).

  When the convex stepped portion f is low, the wheel 1 may start to directly contact the stepped portion and may continue to ride on the stepped portion, but that is not a problem.

FIG. 6 shows another example CA2 of the caster according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 shows still another example CA3 of the caster according to the present invention.
The caster CA2 in FIG. 6 is not only to leave the posture of the rotating member 100 to its own weight in the caster CA1 shown in FIG. 1, but also to positively control the posture with the springs s1 and s2. That is, a spring support arm a1 is projected from the wheel support frame 2, the arm a1 and the front end of the rotating member 100 are connected by a tension spring s1, and the spring connecting portion a2 provided on the frame 2 and the rotating member are connected. The rear end portion of 100 is connected by a tension spring s2. Other parts are the same as the caster of FIG. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are assigned to the same parts and parts as those of the caster in FIG.

  According to the caster CA2 of FIG. 6, when the rotating member 100 is not applied with an external force due to contact with the convex stepped portion f, the portions 101 ′ on both sides of the lower end portion 101 are acted upon by the action of the springs s1 and s2. , 101 ″ can stably take a posture of projecting to both outer sides of the lower end portion 12 of the wheel 1. The rotating member 100 can rotate both in the clockwise direction CW and in the counterclockwise direction CCW against the spring. It is.

A caster CA3 in FIG. 7 employs a rotating member 100 ′ having a size that is approximately half the size of the rotating member 100 in place of the rotating member 100 in the caster CA1 shown in FIG. The lower end surface of the rotation member 100 ′ is the same circular arc curved surface 101a ′ as the lower end surface of the rotation member 100 except for the circumference. The turning radius is also r2 like the member 100.
One end of a coil spring s3 wound around the support shaft 102 is connected to the rotating member 100 ′, and the other end is connected to a spring connecting portion a3 provided on the wheel support frame 2. Other parts are the same as the caster of FIG. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are assigned to the same parts and parts as those of the caster in FIG.

  According to the caster CA3 in FIG. 7, the rotating member 100 ′ is urged in the clockwise direction CW in the drawing by the action of the spring s3 when the rotating member 100 ′ is in contact with the convex stepped portion f and no external force is applied. The front part in the caster advance direction of the part takes a posture protruding forward in the caster advance direction from the wheel lower end part 12. When an external force is applied, for example, when the protruding portion comes into contact with the convex stepped portion f, it can be rotated counterclockwise CCW in the figure against the spring s3.

  The casters CA2 and CA3 can also easily climb on the convex stepped portion as in the case of the caster CA1, and as a result, the wheels 1 can easily climb on the convex stepped portion.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is a caster that is used by being attached to an article or the like that is moved by human power or the like, and can be used to provide a caster that can easily ride a wheel on a convex step portion and an article to which the caster is attached.

It is a side view of one example of the caster concerning the present invention. It is the figure which looked at a part of caster shown in FIG. 1 from the right side in FIG. It is a side view of the handcart using the caster of FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode when the rotation member for convex step riding of the caster of FIG. 1 hits the convex step part. It is a figure which shows a mode that a caster wheel begins to ride on a convex level | step difference part. It is a side view of the other example of the caster concerning the present invention. It is a side view of the further another example of the caster concerning the present invention. It is a side view of the example of a conventional caster. It is a side view of the handcart provided with the caster of FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode when the caster of FIG. 8 hits the convex step part.

Explanation of symbols

CA1, CA2, CA3 Caster 1 Wheel 11 Wheel shaft 12 Wheel lower end portion C1 Wheel shaft center r1 Wheel rotation radius 2 Wheel support frame 21 Frame 2 portion 100, 100 'Convex step climbing turning member 101, 101' Turning member 100 lower end 101 ′, 101 ″ projecting portions 101a, 101a ′ of lower end 101 from lower end of wheel Rotating member lower end surface (arc curved surface)
102 Support shaft C2 Support shaft center a1 Spring support arms a2, a3 Spring connecting portions s1, s2, s3 Spring 3 Arm member 31 Bearing portion 4 Vertical shaft 5 Mounting member 9, 9 'Handcart 91, 91' Carriage 92, 92 'Hand arm W Luggage F Caster runway f Convex step

Claims (5)

Wheels,
A wheel support frame that supports the wheel rotatably on a wheel shaft and extends upward;
A convex stepped-up turning member supported by the wheel support frame so as to be rotatable independently of the wheel by a support shaft parallel to the wheel shaft;
The convex step climbing turning member is supported by the wheel support frame in a region above the lower end of the wheel and pivotable with a turning radius larger than the turning radius of the wheel. A caster characterized in that at least a portion on the front side in the traveling direction of the wheel is supported by the wheel support frame so as to protrude forward from the lower end of the wheel in the traveling direction of the wheel.   The support shaft of the convex step climbing rotation member is provided on the wheel support frame above the wheel, and the lower end surface of the convex step climbing rotation member is viewed from the side of the rotation member. The caster according to claim 1, wherein the caster is formed in a curved surface having an arc centered on the center of the support shaft.   The rotating member for climbing the convex step protrudes forward in the wheel traveling direction from the wheel lower end portion at least at the front side in the wheel traveling direction of the lower end portion due to its own weight while being supported by the support shaft. The caster according to claim 1 or 2.   2. The protruding step climbing turning member takes a projecting posture in which at least a portion of the lower end portion that is the front side in the traveling direction of the wheel projects forward from the lower end portion of the wheel in the traveling direction of the wheel by a spring. 2. The caster according to 2.   An article with casters comprising the caster according to any one of claims 1 to 4.