JP3551935B2 - Leg length adjustment device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a leg length adjusting device capable of switching a projection length of a pillar with one touch.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, as a leg length adjusting device for furniture or home appliances, a nut member is provided in a buried manner at a lower portion of furniture, home appliances, or the like, and a pillar composed of a screw shaft having a leg seat at a lower end is screwed to the nut member. A configuration in which a leg length is adjusted by rotating a leg post is widely used.
However, this type of leg length adjusting device is suitable for fine adjustment of the leg length due to the fact that the leg is screwed into the nut member. There is a problem that it is necessary to perform the operation and the adjustment work becomes complicated.
[0003]
Therefore, various leg length adjusting devices have been proposed and put into practical use, in which the lock position of the nut member with respect to the screw shaft can be adjusted in the axial direction with one touch by operating a button or a lever.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-82881 as a first publication provides a nut member having an insertion hole through which a pillar is inserted, and this nut member is provided at a middle portion thereof with a support shaft orthogonal to the axis of the insertion hole. The female screw is formed so as to be rotatable around the inner surface and the female screw part is formed in a substantially semi-cylindrical shape symmetrically with the support shaft at the upper inner surface and the lower inner surface of the insertion hole, and the nut member is rotated around the support shaft. By doing so, it is described that both female screw portions can be switched between a locked position where the female screw portions are engaged with the pillar and a release position where both female screw portions are separated from the pillar.
[0004]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-42981 as a second publication discloses a pair of engagement pieces each having a partially cylindrical female screw portion engageable with the pillar on both sides of a pillar composed of a screw shaft. The upper end of the engaging piece is rotatably supported around a support shaft orthogonal to the pillar, and the female screw is engaged with the pillar by rotating the engaging piece about the support shaft. It describes that the position can be switched between a locked position and a release position in which both female screw portions are separated from the pillars. Further, in this publication, a slide member slidable in the horizontal direction is provided below the engagement piece as operating means for rotating the engagement piece between the lock position and the release position, and the slide member is substantially provided with the slide member. While forming a C-shaped guide groove, an engaging piece is formed on the engaging piece to engage with the guide groove, and the pushing operation of the slide member causes the engaging protrusion to move along the guide groove. When the two engaging pieces rotate to the release position side and release the hand from the sliding member, the sliding member returns to the original position by the urging force of the spring member, and the two engaging pieces return to the locked position. Is disclosed.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The leg length adjusting device described in the first publication has a simple structure, but in order to ensure a sufficient engagement area between the female screw portion and the pillar, the nut member becomes large in the vertical direction. was there.
On the other hand, in the leg length adjusting device described in the second publication, the nut member can be configured to be small in the vertical direction while sufficiently securing the engagement area between the female screw portion and the pedestal. Since the position of the engagement piece is switched to the release position by the pushing operation, the switching operability is not very good. That is, when the leg length adjustment device is applied to a home appliance such as a relatively thin-walled projector that can hold a side portion by hand, the leg length adjustment device in a state where both sides of a front portion of the home appliance are held by hand. Is preferable, but the operation of the slide member in the horizontal direction is difficult to operate while holding the side of the home electric appliance, and the switching operability is not very good.
[0006]
Further, in the leg length adjusting device described in the second publication, the engaging projection is guided by the guide groove so that the engaging piece can be operated between the lock position and the release position. When a vertical impact load is applied, the frictional resistance between the guide groove and the engaging projection prevents the turning of the two engaging pieces to the release position side, and the engagement between the pillar and the two engaging pieces. There is a problem that a large load acts on the mating portion and a large load acts on the engaging portion between the guide groove and the engaging projection, and these members are damaged. Further, the returning operation of the both engagement pieces from the release position to the lock position is performed by indirectly attaching the both engagement pieces to the lock position side via the guide groove and the engagement protrusion by the spring member for urging the slide member. However, due to frictional resistance between the guide groove and the engaging projection, both engaging pieces may not return smoothly. Furthermore, when the lower ends of both female screw portions are located closer to the center of the pillar than the upper end portion due to manufacturing errors and the like, when a large upward impact load acts on the pillar, both female screw portions are There has been a problem that the lower end pivots in a direction in which it engages with the pillar, and the female screw portions of both engaging pieces and the male screw portion of the pillar are damaged, and the support shaft of the engaging piece is damaged.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a leg length adjusting device which is excellent in operability and durability and which can prevent damage to an engagement piece or a pillar even when a large impact load acts on the pillar. That is.
[0008]
Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions
The leg length adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing, a pillar vertically extending through a front portion of the casing, and having an uneven portion on an outer peripheral surface, and a pillar inside the front portion of the casing. a left and right pair of engagement pieces arranged on both sides, provided engageable engaging portion from the side to the concave-convex portion of the pillar to the facing portion of a pillar, to protrude upper and lower sides before the end A pair of support shafts are provided substantially in parallel with the pillar, and are rotatably supported by the casing about the support shaft, and a locking position in which the engaging portion is engaged with the recess and protrusion portion of the pillar, and a recess and protrusion of the pillar. A pair of engagement pieces that can be switched in position over a release position separated from the part, and a pair of engagement pieces that are mounted in concave grooves formed in outer portions of lower front ends of the two engagement pieces so that both engagement pieces are locked. First biasing means for directly biasing the casing, and a biasing force of the first biasing means incorporated in a rear portion of the casing . Operating means for operating both engagement pieces to the release position side against the front end, comprising a slope guide surface formed at the free end side portion of both engagement pieces, and a cam portion engaged with the slope guide surface. And a second urging means for urging the operating lever downward, and operating the operating lever upward to press the inclined guide surface with the cam portion. Operating means for rotating both engagement pieces to the release position side about the support shaft .
[0009]
In this leg length adjusting device, the engaging means is operated to the release position by operating means to release the engagement between the engaging piece and the pillar, and in this state, the length of projection of the pillar from the casing is adjusted. Will do. Then, when the operating means is released in a state where the length of the pillar is adjusted, the two engaging pieces are returned to the locked position by the urging force of the first urging means, and the concave and convex portions of the pillar are engaged with the engaging piece. The pillar is fixed to the position where the length is adjusted by engaging with the joint.
[0010]
Further, in this leg length adjusting device, the engagement pieces arranged on both sides of the pillar are pivotally supported so as to be rotatable around a support shaft arranged substantially parallel to the pillar and between the lock position and the release position. Even if the pivot position of the support shaft is slightly displaced due to a manufacturing error or the like, both engagement pieces are surely rotated to the release position side due to an upward load acting on the pillar. For this reason, when a large upward impact load is applied to the pillar, both engaging pieces rotate in the release direction against the urging force of the first urging means, and the engaging portions of the two engaging pieces It is possible to prevent the uneven portion of the pedestal and the pillar from being damaged, and prevent the support shaft from being damaged. In addition, since both engagement pieces are urged directly to the lock position by the first urging means, the locks are released from the release position as compared with the case where they are urged via the guide groove or the engagement protrusion. The return operation to the position is performed smoothly, and by appropriately setting the urging force of the first urging means, when a large upward impact load acts on the pillar as described above, The engagement piece and the pillar can be reliably prevented from being damaged.
Further, as operating means, an operating lever having an inclined guide surface formed on the free end side portion of both engagement pieces, a cam portion engaging with the inclined guide surface, and vertically mounted in the casing, and an operating lever are provided. A second urging means for urging downward, and operating the operation lever upward to press the inclined guide surface with the cam portion to move both engagement pieces to the release position side around the support shaft. When the operating means for rotating operation is provided, it is applied to a relatively thin-walled home electric appliance or the like which can hold the side portions and the like by hand. The length of protrusion can be adjusted, which is preferable in improving the operability of the leg length adjusting device. In addition, by providing the second urging means for urging the operation lever downward, the number of components is slightly increased, but the reliability and stability of the downward return operation of the operation lever operated upward can be improved. preferable.
[0011]
Here, a threaded shaft may be used as the pillar, and a partially cylindrical female screw portion screwed to the screw shaft may be formed in the engaging portion of the engaging piece. As the uneven portion, an annular or partially annular engaging projection may be formed on the outer surface of the pillar at regular intervals in the length direction, or a male screw may be formed. The use of a pedestal made of a screw shaft having a male screw formed on the outer surface as an uneven portion can reduce the manufacturing cost of the pedestal, and can be performed by rotating the pedestal in a state where the pedestal is held at the lock position. It is possible to finely adjust the length of the column projecting from the casing.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a leg length adjusting device 1 includes a device main body 3 attached to a lower portion of a machine frame 2 such as furniture or a home appliance, and a pillar 4 provided with the device main body 3 inserted vertically. And One or more leg length adjusting devices 1 are arranged at the lower portion of the machine frame 2 and individually adjust the length of projections of the pillars 4 protruding downward from the device main body 3 so as to adjust the height of furniture, household appliances, and the like. The light projection angle is adjusted by adjusting the pod inclination or adjusting the length of projection of the front or rear pillar 4 in the projector.
[0015]
A male screw portion 4a is formed on the pillar 4 over substantially the entire length thereof, and a disc-shaped leg seat 5 is attached to the lower end of the pillar 4. An insertion hole 2 a through which the pillar 4 is inserted is formed in the machine frame 2, an intermediate portion of the pillar 4 is projected upward through the apparatus body 3 and the machine frame 2, and is inserted into an upper end of the pillar 4. A stopper plate 7 having a diameter larger than that of the hole 2a is fixed by a screw member 8, and the stopper plate 7 is engaged with the apparatus main body 3 in the vicinity of the insertion hole 2a so that the pillar 4 does not fall off from the apparatus main body 3. It is configured. Note that the male screw portion 4a corresponds to the uneven portion.
[0016]
The apparatus main body 3 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 12 formed by combining an upper casing 10 and a lower casing 11 is provided, and the upper wall and the lower wall of the casing 12 are provided. Has an insertion hole 6 through which the pillar 4 is inserted. A pair of front and rear engaging pieces 13 extending downward are respectively formed on the left and right side walls of the upper casing 10, and each of the engaging pieces 13 is formed with a vertically elongated slit 14, and the side wall of the lower casing 11 is provided with a side. A wedge-shaped engaging projection 15 protruding toward the bottom is formed corresponding to the engaging piece 13. The edge is engaged with the lower surface of the engagement protrusion 15 so that the edge is engaged so as not to be separated. However, the coupling structure of the upper and lower casings 10, 11 can be arbitrarily configured.
[0017]
At the rear of the upper surface of the upper casing 10, a hook portion 16 is formed to protrude upward, and at the front of the lower casing 11, a cylindrical portion 17 extending to the upper surface of the upper casing 10 is integrally formed. A square hole 18 is formed in the machine frame 2 corresponding to the hook 16, and a through hole 19 is formed in correspondence with the cylinder 17. The casing 12 engages the hook 16 with the square hole 18. In this state, the screw member 20 is fastened to the cylindrical portion 17 through the through hole 19 and is fixed to the machine frame 2. In this manner, when the hook portion 16 is attached to the square hole 18 and fixed with the screw member 20, the assemblability of the casing 12 can be improved, and the casing 12 can be stably attached to the machine frame 2 with one screw member 20. Can be fixed.
[0018]
In the front portion of the casing 12, a pair of left and right engagement pieces 21 are provided on both sides of the pillar 4 with the left and right engagement pieces 21 interposed therebetween. A semi-cylindrical female screw portion 22 to be screwed is formed. A pair of upper and lower support shafts 23 are formed integrally at the front ends of the left and right engagement pieces 21 at the front end of the left and right engagement pieces 21 at the center of the casing 12 in the left and right direction. A pair of left and right pivot support holes 24 for rotatably supporting the support shaft 23 are formed in the wall portion and the lower wall portion, respectively. The lock position illustrated in FIG. 5 in which the male screw portion is screwed to the male screw portion 4a of the pillar 4 and the release position illustrated in FIG. It is housed in a casing 12. However, the support shaft 23 may be erected and fixed to the casing 12, and an insertion hole through which the support shaft 23 is inserted may be formed in the engagement piece 21.
[0019]
A concave groove 25 is formed in the outer portion of the lower front end of each of the engagement pieces 21, and a concave groove 25 is formed in the groove 25 to contact the front wall of the casing 12 and urge the engagement piece 21 toward the lock position. A spring member composed of a compression coil spring is mounted as the urging means 26. In the present embodiment, the first urging means 26 is arranged adjacent to the support shaft 23. However, if the installation space permits, the first urging means 26 may be located at a position as far away from the support shaft 23 as possible. That is, it is preferable to dispose it on the free end side of the engagement piece 21 because a large pressing force can be applied to the pillar 4 with a small urging force. As the first urging means 26, a spring member other than a coil spring or an elastic member such as synthetic rubber may be used.
[0020]
Next, the operation means 30 for operating the engagement piece 21 to the release position will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, an operation lever having a lever portion 31 extending rearward in the rear portion of the casing 12 is shown. 32 is mounted so as to be vertically movable. A right-angled triangular concave portion 34 is formed in the lower portion of the rear surface of the left and right engaging pieces 21, and a cam portion 35 that projects forward and extends into the concave portion 34 of the left and right engaging pieces 21 is formed in the lower portion of the front surface of the operation lever 32. When the operation lever 32 is operated upward, the inclined portion 36 of the cam portion 35 slides on the inclined guide surface 37 of the concave portion 34, and the left and right engagement pieces 21 are operated to the release position side around the support shaft 23. It is configured to be.
[0021]
The operating lever 32 is provided with a pair of left and right second urging means 33 for abutting the upper wall of the casing 12 and urging the operating lever 32 downward, and the second urging means 33 is provided by a compression coil spring. The operating lever 32 is configured to be operated downward by the urging force of the second urging means 33 when a finger is released from the operating lever 32. As the second biasing means 33, a spring member other than a coil spring or an elastic body such as synthetic rubber may be used. The second biasing means 33 is provided to improve the stability of the operation of the operation lever 32, and may be provided at a central portion in the left-right direction, or may be omitted. It is.
[0022]
The pillar 4, the engagement piece 21, the casing 12, and the operation lever 32 may be made of a metal material or a synthetic resin material. However, the portions other than the pillars 4 are preferably made of a synthetic resin material in consideration of moldability because of their complicated shapes.
[0023]
In this leg length adjusting device 1, by operating the operation lever 32 upward against the urging force of the second urging means 33, the cam portions 35 of the operation lever 32 are inclined to the inclined guide surfaces of the left and right engagement pieces 21. By pressing 37, the left and right engagement pieces 21 are operated to the release position side, and the engagement between the male screw portion 4a of the pillar 4 and the female screw portion 22 of the engagement piece 21 is released. In this state, the pedestal 4 can freely move in the vertical direction. For example, the lower end of the pedestal 4 is brought into contact with the floor while supporting furniture, household electric appliances, and the like by hand. Adjust the projecting length of the pillar 4 from the front. Then, the finger is released from the operation lever 32 with the length of the pillar 4 adjusted, the operation lever 32 is moved downward by the second urging means 33, and the right and left engagement is performed by the first urging means 26. The combination piece 21 is moved to the lock position, and the female screw portions 22 of the left and right engagement pieces 21 are engaged with the male screw portions 4a of the pillars 4 to support furniture, home appliances, and the like at a desired height position. Will be. Furthermore, when finely adjusting the height of the pillar 4, the pillar 4 is rotated to adjust the screwing position between the engaging piece 21 and the pillar 4.
[0024]
Further, in the leg length adjusting device 1, since the left and right engagement pieces 21 are held at the lock position by the urging force of the first urging means 26, when an excessive load is applied to the pillar 4, The left and right engagement pieces 21 move to the release position side against the urging force of the first urging means 26. For this reason, it is possible to prevent an unreasonable force from acting between the female screw portion 22 of the engaging piece 21 and the male screw portion 4a of the pillar 4, and to reliably prevent the screws 22, 4 a from being crushed.
[0025]
When the leg length adjustment device 1 is applied to a projector to adjust the light projection angle of the projector, a pair of left and right leg length adjustment devices 1 is provided below the front end of the machine frame 2 of the projector, and the right leg length adjustment device 1 is provided. The left and right leg length adjusting devices 1 are arranged such that the lever portion 31 of the operating lever 32 projects rightward and the lever portion 31 of the operating lever 32 of the left leg length adjusting device 1 projects leftward. When adjusting the projection angle of the projector, by holding the left and right front portions of the projector with both hands and supporting the front portion of the projector, by operating the lever portion 31 with an index finger or the like upward, The left and right engagement pieces 21 are rotated to the release position, and the engagement between the engagement pieces 21 and the pillar 4 is released. Then, while the lower end of the pedestal 4 is in contact with the installation surface of the projector, the length of the pedestal 4 protruding from the apparatus main body 3 is adjusted. It will be fixed to the apparatus main body 3.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, the pillar 4 has a male screw portion 4a formed on the outer surface thereof. However, the pillar 4 has annular or partially annular uneven portions formed at regular intervals in the length direction. Is also good. However, in this case, instead of the female screw portion 22, the engaging piece 21 is formed with an engaging portion having an uneven portion having a shape adapted to the uneven portion of the pillar 4.
Further, instead of the operation means 30, a member configured to be able to operate both engagement pieces 21 to the release position side by sliding operation in the horizontal direction is used, or the both engagement pieces 21 are moved to the release position side by rotation operation. It is also possible to use one configured so that it can be operated.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the leg length adjustment apparatus which concerns on this invention, when a large upward impact load acts on a pillar, breakage of both engaging pieces and a pillar can be prevented reliably. In addition, since both engagement pieces are directly urged toward the lock position by the first urging means, the returning operation of the both engagement pieces from the release position to the lock position is smoothly performed.
Further, as operating means, an operating lever having an inclined guide surface formed on the free end side portion of both engagement pieces, a cam portion engaging with the inclined guide surface, and vertically mounted in the casing, and an operating lever are provided. A second urging means for urging downward, and operating the operation lever upward to press the inclined guide surface with the cam portion to move both engagement pieces to the release position side around the support shaft. When the operating means for rotating operation is provided, it is applied to a relatively thin-walled home electric appliance or the like which can hold the side portions and the like by hand. The protrusion length of the leg can be adjusted, so that the operability of the leg length adjusting device can be improved. In addition, by providing the second urging means for urging the operation lever downward, the number of components is slightly increased, but the reliability and stability of the downward return operation of the operation lever operated upward can be improved.
[0028]
Here, when a pillar made of a screw shaft is used, and a partially arcuate female screw portion that engages with the screw shaft is formed in the engaging portion of the engaging piece, the manufacturing cost of the pillar can be significantly reduced, By rotating the pillar in the state where the pillar is held at the lock position, it is possible to finely adjust the length of projection of the pillar from the casing.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a leg length adjusting device. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a leg length adjusting device. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a device main body. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an engagement piece. Illustration [Fig. 6] Illustration of operation of leg length adjusting device [Description of reference numerals]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Leg length adjustment device 2 Machine frame 2a Insertion hole 3 Device main body 4 Pillar 4a Male screw part 5 Leg seat 6 Insertion hole 7 Stopper plate 8 Screw member 10 Upper casing 11 Lower casing 12 Casing 13 Engaging piece 14 Slit 15 Engaging projection Reference Signs List 16 hook part 17 cylinder part 18 square hole 19 through hole 20 screw member 21 engaging piece 22 female screw part 23 support shaft 24 pivot support hole 25 concave groove 26 first urging means 30 operating means 31 lever part 32 operating lever 33 2 urging means 34 concave portion 35 cam portion 36 inclined portion 37 inclined guide surface

Claims (2)

A substantially rectangular casing,
A pillar having a concave and convex portion formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, which is vertically inserted through a front portion of the casing ,
A pair of left and right engaging pieces disposed on both sides of a pillar in a front portion of the casing , and provided with engaging portions that can be laterally engaged with concave and convex portions of the pillar at a portion facing the pillar. , before providing a pair of support shafts projecting into upper and lower sides end substantially parallel to the pedestal, it is rotatably supported by the casing around the shaft, engaging in the uneven portion of the engaging portion pedestals A pair of engagement pieces that are position switchable between a combined lock position and a release position separated from the uneven portion of the pillar;
First biasing means mounted in a concave groove formed in an outer portion of a lower front end of the both engagement pieces to directly bias both engagement pieces toward the lock position;
Operating means incorporated into the rear portion of the casing for operating both engagement pieces to the release position side against the urging force of the first urging means , the inclined guide being formed at the free end side portion of both engagement pieces. An operating lever having a cam portion engaged with the inclined guide surface, the operating lever being movably mounted in the casing in a vertically movable manner, and second urging means for urging the operating lever downward. Operating means for pressing the inclined guide surface with the cam portion to rotate both engagement pieces to the release position side around the support shaft by operating
A leg length adjusting device provided with. 2. The leg length adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the pillar comprises a screw shaft, and a partially cylindrical female screw portion screwed to the screw shaft is formed in the engaging portion of the engaging piece.

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