JPH0138681B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a stopper device for a caster.

The above-mentioned casters are used, for example, by attaching them to the legs of chairs, wagons, boxes for transporting parts, and other objects to facilitate their movement. It is common practice to have a stopper device for locking the wheels.

Currently, the above-mentioned stopper devices are known to have various structures, and those having a lock button and a lock release button are often used.

This is done by pushing the lock button against the elastic force of the energized spring, engaging the stopper with a stopper recess provided around the wheel to lock it, and pushing the lock release button to disengage the spring. solve the combination,
It was designed to release the lock by returning the stopper.

However, with the stopper configured as described above, considering that locking and unlocking operations are generally performed by foot, the locking and unlocking buttons are arranged side by side, making it difficult to perform locking and unlocking operations. , there is a problem with which one to select, which makes it easy to operate incorrectly, and structurally, since the lock button is held in the pressed position, the part that engages with the spring is likely to wear out, and a slight external force may be applied. This has problems such as the lock being released due to vibration, and the manufacturing cost being high due to the large number of parts.

Therefore, as in Utility Model Publication No. 51-32178,
A stopper device has also been proposed that uses a ballpoint pen type knob mechanism and locks and unlocks the lock simply by pushing the knob, but the ballpoint pen type knob mechanism is not appropriate for this device. This mechanism, as well as the deterrent mechanism that is activated by it, are located outside the caster, and as a result, not only are they bulky and unsightly, but also
It is not satisfactory in terms of operability and simplicity of configuration.

Therefore, as a result of studies in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a single push button, and by repeatedly pressing the push button, the wheels can be locked and unlocked easily and reliably. In addition to allowing the wheels to be pivoted, the push button is slidably inserted into the mounting hole that opens in the center radial direction of the frame that supports the wheel. A parallel and rotatable stopper/rotor is resiliently biased in the extrusion direction by a return spring, and the stopper portion at the end thereof is removably attached to a stopper recess provided around the wheel. The actuating part provided in the middle part is placed inside, and the width of the opening on the upper side is set to the width in the short axis direction of the said actuating part, and one side edge of the opening is made into a vertical edge. The substantially middle part thereof is formed into a recess that is recessed toward the outside, while the other side edge is formed into an inclined edge that is widened toward the outside, and an upward step is formed at the lower end thereof, The cam groove is installed in such a way that the operating section can be guided and rotated by pushing the stopper/rotor by the push button and returning by the spring, and can be locked and held in stages in the direction of movement. The above-mentioned stopper/rotor provided in the hole serves as an actuating part with both ends being flat stopper parts, the middle part being long in one axis direction in two orthogonal axes directions, and the center of both ends in the long axis direction being a recess part. The push button is formed by opposing legs having a stopper and a rotor insertion hole on both sides of the lower part, and a cam groove is formed in the center by cutting out the middle wall of the frame. By doing this, all the mechanisms can be housed comfortably within the caster frame, and only the push button can be protruded, which not only makes it less bulky but has an excellent appearance. By appropriately configuring and arranging the cam grooves, it is possible to provide a stopper device that ensures smooth operability and that can be manufactured at low cost using an extremely small number of parts.

The drawings showing specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail below.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the caster 1 has an outer wall 1a whose side surface is approximately semicircular.
A frame 1 is integrally formed by connecting a central boss 1b with an intermediate wall 1c, and wheels 2, 2 are rotatably supported by an axle 3 on both sides of the frame 1. The mounting shaft 4 is eccentrically supported via a bush 5 so as to be rotatable.

In the stopper device of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a mounting hole 6 is formed in the center radial direction of the frame 1 by removing the outer wall 1a and the intermediate wall 1c, and the mounting hole 6 is pressed into the mounting hole 6. A button 7 is slidably inserted into the push button 7, and as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the push button 7 is formed with leg portions 7a, 7a facing each other at appropriate intervals on both left and right sides of the lower side. , both leg portions 7a, 7
A stopper/rotor 9 is rotatably penetrated through the insertion holes 8, 8, which are arranged opposite to each other in parallel to the axle 3.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the stopper/rotor 9 has an operating portion 9a at its intermediate portion, support portions 9b and 9b having a circular cross section at both left and right sides, and an outer portion of the rotor 9. The flange 9c is formed into a shaft shape with an annular groove 9d on the other outer side and flat stopper parts 9e, 9e on both left and right ends, and the support parts 9b, 9b serve as push buttons. It is rotatably inserted into the insertion holes 8, 8 of 7, and the actuating part 9a is positioned between the legs 7a, 7a, and one end is latched to the flange 9c and the annular groove 9d as shown in FIG. The spring 10 that acts as a stopper and rotor 9 against the push button 7
The latching is being carried out.

Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the actuating portion 9a is formed to be elongated in one direction in two orthogonal axes, and the center portions of both ends in the long axis direction are formed into recessed portions 9a', 9a. As a result, the left and right sides are provided with protrusions 9a'', 9a'', and are guided and rotated within cam grooves to be described later.

Further, the spring 10 is attached to the intermediate wall 1c of the frame 1.
The push button 7 and the stopper/rotor 9 are elastically biased against the mounting hole 6 by a restoring force in the extrusion direction. The stopper portions 9e, 9e of the stopper/rotor 9 are removably engaged with the stopper recesses 13 provided around both wheels 2, 2, and the wheels 2, 2 are locked, and the push button 7 is pushed into the frame 1. By pushing in the axial direction of the stopper part 9 and moving the stopper/rotor 9, the stopper part 9
The engagement between e and 9e and the stopper recess 13 is released and the lock is released.

Further, inside the mounting hole 6, a cam groove 14 is provided by cutting out the intermediate wall 1c of the frame 1.
An operating portion 9a of the stopper/rotor 9 is housed in the cam groove 14.

Here, as clearly shown in FIG. 9, the cam groove 14 is formed so that the width l of the opening 14a is approximately equal to or slightly wider than the width l' in the short axis direction of the actuating portion 9a. , one side edge of the opening 14a is formed as a vertical edge 14b, a substantially middle portion thereof is provided as a concave portion 14c recessed toward the outside, while the other side edge is provided as an inclined edge 14d that is inclined toward the outside, The lower part thereof is provided in an upwardly facing step part 14e, and the pushing operation of the stopper/rotor 9 by the push button 7 and the spring 1
0, the actuating portion 9a can be guided and rotated, and can be locked and held in stages in the direction of movement.

Also, on both sides of the cam groove 14, there are grooves shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
As shown in the figure, ribs 15, 15 are arranged vertically in parallel, and the legs 7a, 7a of the push button 7 are fitted between the ribs 15, 15, and can be slid in a predetermined direction. It's like this.

In the above configuration, the push button 7 and the stopper/rotor 9 are resiliently biased in the pushing direction by the spring 10, and at this time, the actuating portion 9a is inserted into the opening 1 in the cam groove 14, as shown in FIG.
At point A, which is maintained in an elongated state along the vertical edge 14b of the wheel 4a, the stopper portions 9e, 9e are engaged with the stopper recesses 13, 13 of the wheels 2, 2, and are locked.

In the above-mentioned locked state, when the push button 7 is pushed against the elastic force of the spring 10, the stopper/rotor 9 is pushed in synchronously with this, so that the actuating portion 9a
is pushed into the cam groove 14 in the same position from point A shown by the solid line in FIG.
It hits the , rotates counterclockwise, and tilts counterclockwise as shown at point B.

Next, when the pushing force of the push button 7 is released, it is pushed out by the spring 10, so the actuating part 9a also rises as shown in FIG. Therefore, the other protrusions 9a'', 9a'' abut against the vertical edge 14b and the inclined edge 14d and are locked, being held at point C and unlocked.

Next, when the push button 7 is pushed in the above-mentioned unlocked state, the actuating part 9a of the stopper/rotor 9 synchronized with this moves down, and its one end surface is aligned with the cam groove.
It hits the step 14e of No.4.

At this time, the actuating portion 9a rotates toward the lower edge 14c'' of the recessed portion 14c located below the stepped portion 14e, that is, in the counterclockwise direction, and becomes in the state shown by the two-dot chain line.
Next, when the push button 7 is released, it returns to the upper position in the same position, and the other end surface is in the recess 14.
c abuts against the upper edge 14c' of the cam groove 14, the actuating part 9a is further rotated counterclockwise until it is vertically oriented.
It ascends to point a while being guided by the vertical edge 14b and returns to point
It is engaged and locked.

As explained above, according to the caster stopper device according to the present invention, the locking and unlocking of the wheels 2, 2 is performed by the push operation of the single push button 7, so the operability is improved compared to the two-button type. Not only can the locking or unlocking state be confirmed by the protruding length of the push button 9 from the mounting hole 6, but also the operating part 9a of the stopper and rotor 9 penetrating through the push button 7 and the mounting Since it is configured to be held in the unlocked position by relative engagement with the cam groove 14 provided inside the hole 6, the operation is not only smooth, but also because the actuating portion 9a is located at the center of the push button 7. , the pressing force of the push button 7 always acts on the center of the stopper/rotor 9, ensuring locking and unlocking operations even when there is play between each component or uneven component dimensions. There is an advantage that it can be done.

Further, in the present invention, the stopper/rotor 9 has both ends formed into flat stopper parts 9e, an intermediate part long in one axis direction in two orthogonal axes directions, and a recessed part 9a' at the center of both ends in the long axis direction. Actuation part 9a
The push button 7 is formed with leg parts 7a, 7a having an insertion hole 8 for a stopper/rotor 9 arranged oppositely on both left and right sides of the lower part, and a cam groove 1.
4 is formed in the center by cutting out the middle wall 1c of the frame 1, all the mechanisms can be easily accommodated within the frame 1 of the caster, and only the push button 7 can protrude. Not only can it be made bulky and have an excellent appearance, but also smooth operability can be ensured by appropriately arranging the push button 7, the stopper/rotor 9, and the cam groove 14.

Furthermore, the device has a very simple structure and can be manufactured with only a few components, excluding the frame 1, the push button 7, the stopper/rotor 9, and the spring 10, and after the push button 7 is inserted into the mounting hole 6, Since the assembly can be simplified by inserting the stoppers/rotors 9 into the holes 8, 8 from the lateral direction, the manufacturing cost can be significantly reduced compared to the conventional example, and the product can be provided at low cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a caster equipped with a stopper device according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a -
3 is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a side view showing the frame of the caster, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. Figures 6 and 7 are a plan view and a longitudinal sectional side view showing the push button and stopper/rotor in the same stopper device, Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line - in Figure 7, and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the stopper device. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the cam groove and the actuating part of the stopper and rotor in FIG. 1... Frame, 1c... Intermediate wall, 2... Wheel, 3... Axle, 6... Mounting hole, 7... Push button, 7a... Leg, 8... Insertion hole, 9... Stopper Rotor, 9a... Actuation part, 9e... Stopper part, 10... Spring, 13... Stopper recessed part, 1
4... Cam groove, 14a... Opening, 14b... Vertical edge, 14c... Concave recess, 14d... Inclined edge,
14e...Upward step, l...Width of opening,
l′...Width of the operating part in the short axis direction.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A push button that is slidably inserted into a mounting hole that opens in the center radial direction of the frame that supports the wheel is attached to a push button that is parallel to the axle and rotatably serves as a stopper and a return spring that urges the rotor in the pushing direction. The stopper part at the end is attached to the stopper recess provided around the wheel so that it can be freely engaged and detached.
The operating part provided in the middle part of the stopper and rotor is installed inside, and the width of the opening on the upper side is
The width of the operating portion in the short axis direction is dimensioned to fit inside, one side edge of the opening is formed as a vertical edge, and the approximately middle portion thereof is formed as a recess recessed toward the outside;
The other side edge is an inclined edge that is inclined outward in width, and an upward step is formed at the lower end thereof, and the above-mentioned operation is performed by the push-in operation of the stopper/rotor by the push button and the return operation by the spring. A cam groove is provided in the mounting hole so that the part can be guided and rotated, and can be locked and held in stages in the direction of movement. The part is long in one axis direction in two orthogonal axes directions, and is formed as an actuating part with a recessed part at the center of both ends in the long axis direction, and the push button has a leg that serves as a stopper and has a rotor insertion hole on both left and right sides of the lower part. A stopper device for a caster, characterized in that the cam groove is formed in the center by cutting out an intermediate wall of the frame.