JP2503349Y2 - Castor device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a caster device, and more particularly to a caster device which is particularly convenient for use in strollers, shopping carts, so-called elderly cars and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Up to now, many caster devices having similar uses have been announced. And almost all of them, if you want to disable the caster effect,
The casters do not rotate freely by operating the stoppers provided on the left and right wheels with casters, respectively. This is because one caster wheel is provided with one stopper and one stopper operating member, and one stopper operating member acts only on one caster.

[0003]

In the prior art, the stopper operating member and the caster have a one-to-one correspondence, and when the caster effect of the pair of left and right wheels with casters is disabled, the vicinity of each wheel is eliminated. It was necessary to separately operate the left and right caster operating members adjacent to each other.
For this reason, there are cases in which the operation is time-consuming and often the stopper operating member is not used at all. Further, when both caster effects are disabled once the caster effect is disabled and the caster effect is required again, it is necessary to release the left and right stopper operation members separately as well. Some people felt the same. Therefore, as a result, many people did not enjoy the effective operation even if they had the caster device. This is because it is necessary and time-consuming to operate the stopper operating member on each side of the vehicle body. The present invention solves such a point.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a pair of left and right stoppers are moved by a flexible wire, and one stopper operating member is used to release both stoppers at once. Is. Further, this stopper operating member can be attached to both the leg portion and the push rod, thereby completely eliminating the difficulty of the operation so far.

[0005]

The pair of stoppers acting on the pair of casters are simultaneously actuated by one stopper operating member, so that the casters can be disabled and the disabled can be released very easily.

[0006]

1 shows a pair of caster holders 10 and 12 equipped with the caster device of the present invention. These caster holders 10 and 12 are fixed to the left and right leg portions 14 and 16 of the stroller by known means, respectively. The caster holders 10 and 12 are connected to each other by a horizontal bar 18 of the stroller. The horizontal bar 18 may be formed of a single member or a pair of members whose one end is pivotally attached to each of the caster holders 10 and 12 and the other end is pivotally supported to each other so that they can be folded together. It may be a horizontal bar. The pair of caster holders are generally symmetrical with each other and are preferably integrally molded of plastic. More specifically, the right holder 10 in FIG. 1 is equipped with a lever device described later. Therefore, the side surface thereof is slightly different from the left holder 12, as will be described later.

FIG. 2 shows the right side surface of the caster holder 10 on the right side. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the left and right caster holders 10 and 12 are composed of an upper portion 22 for receiving the legs 14 and 16, and a lower portion 22 for receiving a caster operating device, which will be described later. Further, a circular board 24 is formed on the upper portion 20 for mounting a wire winding device described later. A shaft 26 projects from the center of the circular plate 24, and a circular wall 28 stands up on the outer periphery of the shaft 26.
A portion of the circular wall 28 is preferably provided with a notch 29 extending tangentially. The left caster holder 12 is not provided with such a circular plate.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a caster holder 10 equipped with the caster device of the present invention. As described above, the lower end of the leg portion 14 is received and fixed to the upper portion 20 of the caster holder 10. on the other hand,
The lower portion 22 accommodates a wire operating device described later and the like. A wire winding tool 30 having a substantially circular shape shown in FIG. On the inner surface of the wire winding tool 30, a circular convex portion 32 that is accommodated in the circular wall 28 of the circular plate 24 is formed. On the other hand, the outer surface 3
4 has a long groove 36 (FIG. 6) formed therein. This long groove 3
6 extends almost tangentially to the outside of the convex portion 32 on the inner side surface, so that a part of the wire winding tool projects from the circular shape. Outer side surface 34 and convex portion 32
Is a neck portion 38 having a diameter smaller than that of the convex portion 32.
(FIG. 5). A hole 40 for receiving the shaft 26 of the circular plate 24 is provided at the center of the inner surface. A recess 42 for receiving a wire end described later is provided on the outside of the hole 40, and the recess 42 has a groove 44 extending outward from the recess 42. A wire is accommodated in this groove 44. The wire winding tool 30 can be integrally molded of resin or the like.

A pin 48 of a lever 46 shown in FIG. 7 is fitted in a long groove 36 provided on the outer surface 34 of the wire winding tool 30 whose inner surface is housed in the circular plate 24.
That is, the lever 46 is composed of an operating piece 50 for operating the lever 46 and a bent portion 56 that is bent at a substantially right angle from the operating piece 50. The lever 46 is attached to the bent portion 56 at the upper portion 2 of the caster holder 10.
A pin receiving hole 54 for rotatably attaching to the leg portion 14 through the attachment hole 52 at the upper end of the 0 is provided. Further, a part having the pin 48 is formed at a part of the bent part 56 behind the surface having the pin receiving hole 54. This is to prevent the lever 46 from colliding with the wire winding tool 30 when the lever 46 is operated. This lever 46 is therefore free to rotate with respect to the leg 14 around the pin 58 provided in the pin receiving hole 54 in FIG. Along with this rotation, the wire winding tool 30 can rotate in the direction of arrow 60 (FIG. 3) about the shaft 26 provided on the circular plate 24 of the leg 14 via the pin 48 of the lever 46 and the long groove 36. . In this way, the wire winding tool 30 and the lever 46 form a wire operating means.

The lower parts 22, 22 of the caster holders 10, 12 accommodate pivot members 62, 62 in the center and lock plates 64, 64 on the sides thereof, respectively.
For the sake of simplicity, only one caster holder 10 will be described below, but the other caster holder 12 also has the same configuration. Axis member 62
Comprises a tubular member as shown in FIG. 10, for example. As shown in FIG. 3, the tubular member 62 has an upper part housed in the caster holder 10 and a lower part contained in the caster rotating member 66.
It is housed in.

The lock plate 64 is usually formed of a single plate-shaped member as shown in FIGS. The member includes a central guide portion 68, a spring guide portion 70 extending upward from the center of the guide portion 68, a lock portion 72 extending downward, and a wire guide portion 74 on the back surface of the guide portion 68. . The spring guide portion 70 is formed by cutting out a part of the central guide portion 68 depending on the spring size (see FIG. 11).

FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway sectional view of FIG. 3 seen from the right side. This drawing shows in detail the mounting state of the lock plate 64 with respect to the caster holder 10. The lock plate 64 is housed in a space 76 provided in the center of the caster holder 10 and in a space 78 provided on the side of the portion housing the pivot member 62. The width of the space 78 is substantially equal to the width of the lock plate 64, and the thickness thereof is substantially equal to the thickness of the lock plate 64.
4 can move up and down in the space 78, but cannot move in the left-right direction. At the left and right upper ends of the void 78, a pair of holes 8 penetrating above the lower portion 22 is formed.
0, 82 are formed. One end of the wire 84 penetrates one of the holes 80, and a known wire holder 86 is attached to the one end. One end of the wire 84 further extends upward from the wire holder 86 (see FIG. 3), and the recess 42 is formed through the groove 44 of the wire winder 30.
(Fig. 4). A well-known retainer 92 is provided at one end of the wire 84, and the retainer 92 is housed in the recess 42 and holds the end of the wire therein as outlined by a broken line in FIG. The wire 84 passes through the wire guide portion 74 having the circular component of the lock plate 64 from the end portion thereof to the other hole 82, and is further accommodated in the similar space 78 through the hole provided in the other caster holder 12. Through the wire guide portion 74 of the lock plate 64, the other hole penetrates to the outside of the caster holder 12.
Similarly, the other end of the wire 84 is also retained so that even if one end of the wire is pulled, the other end of the wire is not pulled into the caster holder 12. As is apparent from FIGS. 3 and 13, the locking plate 6
4 is urged downward via a spring guide portion 70 by a spring 88 pressing one end to the caster holders 10 and 12 and the other end to the lock plates 64 and 64.

The lower portion of the pivot member 62 is housed in a hole 90 (FIG. 14) in the caster rotating member 66.
The caster rotating member 66 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 17, it is preferably made of an integrally molded product, and has a flange portion 94 at the upper portion and a main body portion 96 at the lower portion thereof. The caster rotating member 66 has a flange portion 94.
There is a hole 90 in the central portion from the to the body portion 96. A hexagonal nut receiving hole 98 is provided below the hole 90 so as to communicate therewith, and a round hole 100 is provided below the hole 98.
Is provided, and this round hole 100 penetrates to the lower portion of the main body portion.

The caster rotating member 66 is the pivot member 62.
As shown in FIG. 13, the caster holders 10 and 12 are fixed with retaining metal fittings 102 by screws 106 while being able to freely rotate around. The retaining metal fitting 10
The lower end 104 of 2 is bent inward and supports the lower surface of the circular flange portion 94 of the caster rotating member 66. This allows the caster rotating member 66 to rotate with respect to the caster holders 10, 12 but is prevented from separating therefrom. The flange portion 94 is preferably radially opposed to a pair of rectangular openings 108, 110.
Is provided. The lock portion 7 of the lock plate 64 is provided in this opening.
2 can be inserted. The reason why the pair of openings is provided is that the caster effect is quickly lost when the lock portion 72 goes straight regardless of the position of the wheel 134.

The body portion 96 of the caster rotating member 66.
A nut 112 is fitted in a hexagonal nut receiving hole 98 provided in the. A lateral hole 114 is provided across the hole 90. A pin 116 is received in the lateral hole 114. Both ends of the pin 116 extend through the lateral hole 114 to the front hole 120 of the caster front wheel bearing 118. As shown in FIG. 19, the caster front bearing 118 includes a pair of plate members 122 and 124 sandwiching the caster rotating member 66 from both sides, and upper and lower bridging members 126 and 128 connecting these members. These plate members 12
2, 124 has rear holes 130, 130 in the rear of the front hole 120 in addition to the front hole 120. This rear hole 130, 1
A pin 132 is inserted into the pin 30, and wheels 134 are pivotally attached to both ends of the pin by known means.

The caster rotating member 66 has flat surfaces 136 on both side surfaces thereof for receiving the plate members 122 and 124 of the caster front wheel bearing 118. A recess 138 is formed on the lower surface of the member 66 as shown in FIGS. This recess 138 is shown in FIG.
A cushion plate 140 as shown in FIG. One end 142 of the cushion plate 140 has a recess 1
It bends upwards along a curved wall portion 144 that bends upwards from 38, and is suspended above the pin 132 that receives the wheel 134, providing cushioning properties to the vehicle body and the wheel. The cushion plate 140 has its hole 1
It is fixed by a screw 148 that is screwed into the nut 112 of the nut receiving hole 98 through the 46 and the round hole 100.

Next, the operation will be described.

When the lever 46 is in the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, the pin 48 of the lever 46 is in the lower position (see FIG. 6) of the long groove 36 of the wire winding tool 30. At this time, one end of the wire 84 is in the position of FIG. 4 and the wire 84 is in the extended position. Therefore, the lock plates 64, 64 are springs 88,
The lock portions 72, 72 of the lock plates 64, 64 are pressed downward by 88 and the opening 1 of the caster rotating member 66 is closed.
08 or 110 is in a position to be press-fitted. That is, when the wheels 134 are oriented in the straight traveling direction, the lock portions 72, 72 are inserted into one of the openings 108, 110, and the caster effect disappears. This is because the caster rotating member 66 is integrated with the lock plate 64 and the caster rotating member 66 cannot rotate. At this time, the wheels 134 can only go straight.

If the lever 46 is moved around the pin 58 as shown in FIG.
When the lever 48 is rotated to the position indicated by the broken line, the pin 48 of the lever 46 moves to the upper position in the long groove 36 of the wire winding tool 30.
Accordingly, the wire winder 30 rotates about the shaft 26 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. Therefore, the wire 84 is pulled upward in FIG. Therefore, the lock plates 64, 6
4 is pulled upward against the force of the springs 88, 88, and the lock portions 72, 72 are pulled out from the openings 108, 110. Therefore, the caster rotating members 66, 66 can freely rotate again with respect to the caster holders 10, 12, and the caster effect is generated.

Incidentally, when the lever 46 is in the position shown by the broken line in FIG.
The lever 48 pulls back the lever 46, but at this position, the pin 48 comes to the other end of the long groove 36 beyond the dead point where the spring returns the force, and therefore the engagement between the pin 48 and the long groove 36. The stop provides the rest of the lever 46. The lever 46 can easily move beyond its dead center by applying a counterclockwise force to its upper end.

[0021]

The length of the wire 84 is constant, and while the lever 46 is in the position shown in FIG.
The springs 88, 88 hold the lock plates 64, 64 in the lower position to prevent the caster effect.
6 is moved to the position of the broken line in FIG. 3, the wire 84 is pulled and resists the force of the springs 88, 88, and the pair of locking plates 64,
At the same time, 64 is pulled up from the caster rotating member 66. In this way, by operating the single lever 46, the caster effect of both wheels can be easily controlled simultaneously.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a pair of caster holders equipped with a caster device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a right side surface of a caster holder on the right side.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a caster holder equipped with the caster device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an inner side view of the wire winder.

FIG. 5 is a lateral side view of the wire winder.

FIG. 6 is an outer side view of the wire winder.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lever.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the lever.

FIG. 9 is a right side view of the lever.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pivot member.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a lock plate.

FIG. 12 is a side view of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the caster device of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a caster rotating member.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a caster rotating member.

FIG. 16 is a top view of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a cushion plate.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a caster front axle bearing.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 12: Caster holder 14, 16: Leg 26: Shaft 30: Wire winding tool 36: Long groove 46: Lever 48: Pin 62: Pivot member 64: Lock plate 66: Caster rotating member 72: Lock part 84: Wire 88 : Spring 108, 11
0: Opening 118: Caster front axle bearing 134: Wheel 140: Cushion plate

Claims (5)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A pair of caster devices used for a cart of a stroller or the like, wherein a lock plate 6 is biased in one direction by springs 88, 88.
4, 64, caster holders 10 and 12 accommodating the lock plates 64 and 64, caster front axle bearings 118 and 118 having front wheels 134 attached to one end thereof, and caster front axle bearings 118. , 118 on which the other ends of the caster rotating members 66 and 66 are mounted, and having openings capable of receiving the lock plates 64 and 64 biased in one direction by the elastic force of the springs 88 and 88. The caster rotating members 66, 66 that are rotating, one end is supported by the caster holders 10, 12, and the other end is supported by the caster rotating members 66, 66.
As a result, the pivot members 62, 62 that rotatably mount the caster rotating members 66, 66 on the caster holders 10, 12 and one end thereof are fixed to one side portion of the one caster holder 12, and the spring 88 After receiving the elastic force of the one lock plate 64 which is urged by the elastic force of the one, it passes through the other side part of the one caster holder 12 and then enters the one side part of the other caster holder 10 in the same manner. The other lock plate 64 to which the elastic force of the spring 88 is urged
A single wire 84 extending through the other side of the other caster holder 10 after receiving the elastic force of
And wire operating means 30 and 46 movably holding the other end of the wire 84. By operating the wire operating means 30 and 46, the wire 84 is moved to the front springs 88 and 88. The left and right lock plates 64, 64 are simultaneously operated against the force,
A caster device characterized in that the engagement between 64 and the caster rotating members 66, 66 can be freely selected. 2. A wire operating means is rotatably provided on one of the caster holders 10, and a wire 84 is provided.
2. The caster device according to claim 1, further comprising: a wire winding tool 30 that holds the other end of the wire winding tool; and a lever 46 that rotates the wire winding tool 30 with respect to the caster holder 10. 3. Casters rotating members 66,66 have openings 108,110 for receiving lock plates 64,64.
The caster device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a plurality of casters. 4. The lock plate is lifted up from below in order to lift the pair of front lock plates 64, 64 in a direction in which the wire 84 opposes the elastic force of the front springs 88, 88. Castor device. 5. The caster device according to claim 1, wherein the caster rotating member 66 and the axle 134 are elastically connected by a cushion plate 140.