JPH0856780A - Steering caster system in bed or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable direction changing operation by providing a caster serving as a rotary center, in the center part (gravity center position) of the bed. CONSTITUTION: A caster shank 18 is rotatably mounted between front ends of a pair of support arms 17 provided to a crosswise shaft 16 in the center part of a base frame 11 provided thereto with casters 12 having a built-in lock mechanism which are interlocked together, and a steering caster 20 is provided to the caster shank 18 through the intermediary of a caster support column 19. A gas damper 20 is attached to the caster shank 18 through the intermediary of a rotary arm 21 having its front end which is therefore urged to be counterclockwise displaced, and further, a depressing mechanism 27 is provided so as to press the rotary arm in the opposite direction, overcoming the urging force of the gas damper 22. The depressing mechanism 27 has a pedal type actuating lever. With this arrangement, the steering caster provided in the center part of the base frame is made into contact with the floor surface so as to turn the direction of a bed or the like, thereby it is possible to enhance the handlability.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering caster system for a bed or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a bed or the like is provided with a mechanism capable of lifting and lowering the entire bed or a floor plate and undulating and adjusting, and various accessory parts to complicate the structure and increase the weight.
Therefore, in many cases, casters are provided on the bed legs for easy movement. In addition, such casters are provided with a lock mechanism.When the bed is transported to a predetermined position, the pedal for operating the lock mechanism is depressed to lock the casters so that the bed is fixed so as not to move. ing.

[0003]

However, as the weight of the bed increases, it becomes difficult to move the bed by one person. For example, when changing the moving direction of the bed 1, one of the casters 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d is fixed and the other casters 2b to 2d are left free, and the end of the bed 1 is grasped and moved. However, when trying to change the direction by grasping the end of the bed 1 on the side opposite to the fixed caster 2a, the bed 1 is fixed on the fixed caster 2a.
The center of rotation is the center of rotation, and the distance from the caster 2a on the fixed side to the end of the bed to be operated is the radius of rotation. Therefore, the force to change direction is small, but the carrier must make a large turn (Fig. 6). reference). On the other hand, when the caster 2c on the operating side is fixed, the turning radius is small, but a large force is required (see FIG. 7). According to the present invention, if the caster 3 serving as the center of rotation is provided in the central portion (position of the center of gravity) of the bed 1 (see FIG. 8), the radius of rotation and the force for changing the direction are not required so much. It was devised based on the idea that a direction changing operation would be possible.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a leg portion of a bed or the like, the leg portion includes casters having a lock mechanism built in a base frame, and these casters are locked. An operation pedal for operating / releasing the mechanism is provided, and the casters adjacent to each other in the frame width direction are connected so that the lock mechanisms are interlocked with each other, and the casters at both ends of the frame are interlocked with each other by the lock mechanism. And a pair of support arms that hang down on the horizontal axis at the center of the base frame, a caster base shaft that is rotatably mounted between the tips of the pair of support arms, and caster columns that project from the caster base shaft. And a steering caster mounted on the tip of the caster column, and a turning arm is provided so as to project on the caster base shaft. The urging means urged to extend is connected, and the urging means is attached to the horizontal frame near one end side of the base frame, while the rotating arm is coaxial with the urging means. A pressing operation mechanism that presses the rotating arm from the opposite side against the urging force of the urging means via the provided interlocking shaft is provided, and this pressing operation mechanism urges the rotating arm via the interlocking shaft. The caster base shaft and the caster support column are displaced under the action of the urging force of (1) so that the steering caster is brought into contact with the floor surface or is detached from the floor surface. In the above-mentioned configuration, the urging means is a gas damper, and the gas damper includes a cylinder and a rod urged in a direction in which the cylinder expands by the pressure of the gas enclosed in the cylinder, and the cylinder is provided on the rotating arm. While connecting, the tip of the rod is mounted on a horizontal frame near one end of the base frame. Further, the pressing operation mechanism includes a stepping operation lever rotatably attached to a base body mounted on the lateral frame of the base frame along the axial direction of the biasing means and the interlocking shaft, and an integral body of this operation lever. Drive arm that is mechanically connected and a link that is rotatably connected to the drive arm are attached, the tip of this link and the interlocking shaft are rotatably connected, and these links and the interlocking shaft are connected. The connecting shaft to be connected to the elongated hole formed in the base,
It is mounted so that it can move freely, and the drive arm and the link are made to be in a straight line by the operation of the operation lever, so that the drive arm and the link rotate from the opposite side of the biasing means through the interlocking shaft against the biasing force of the biasing means. The present invention is characterized in that the arm is bent or bent downward around the connection point between the drive arm and the link under the action of the urging force of the urging means.

[0005]

When the operation pedal of any one of the casters in the base frame is depressed, the lock mechanism of the casters adjacent in the frame width direction can be interlocked / unlocked by the rotating shaft, and both ends of the base frame can be locked. The locking mechanism of the caster can be locked / unlocked by the operation force transmitted by the interlocking rod connecting the rotating shafts. When pushing a bed or the like and going straight, the casters on the base frame are freed by the operation pedals, and when the steering casters are grounded, the operation lever in the pressing operation mechanism is depressed to lift the steering casters from the floor. To do. Then, the drive arm is displaced, and the drive arm and the link are aligned with each other. At this time, the connecting shaft of the link and the interlocking shaft moves in the elongated hole of the base body, the rotating arm displaces against the urging force of the gas damper, the caster base shaft and the caster support column rotate, and the steering caster moves to the floor. Can be detached from the surface. Next, when the bed or the like approaches a corner or the like and the direction needs to be changed, the operation is performed so that the operation lever of the pressing operation mechanism is flipped up. Then, the drive arm is displaced,
The urging force of the gas damper pushes the connecting shaft between the link and the interlocking shaft from the rotating arm through the interlocking shaft to move the elongated hole of the base body, so that the drive arm and the link bend downward from the connecting portion. So that it bends. At this time, the rotating arm is displaced by the urging force of the gas damper, and the caster column is rotated by the rotation of the caster base shaft, so that the steering caster can be grounded on the floor surface. Since the rotating arm of the caster base shaft of the steering caster is constantly subjected to the biasing force of the gas damper, even if the grounding surface of the steering caster is uneven, the steering caster is biased to ground. Therefore, it does not float up following the irregularities. The bed rotates around the steering caster with the distance from the steering caster to the end of the bed as the turning radius.
Turn around.

[0006]

EXAMPLES Next, an example of a steering caster system for a bed according to the present invention will be given.
The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 2
The leg part 10 in the bed to which the steering caster system is applied is shown in FIG. The leg portion 10 is one in which a caster 12 having a lock mechanism (not shown) is attached to a base frame 11. Note that the casters 12 with a built-in lock mechanism are shown in an omitted view. The lock mechanism may have a well-known structure, and the description thereof is omitted here.

The casters 12 are respectively provided with operation pedals 13 for operating / releasing the lock mechanism, and the lock mechanisms of the casters 12 at both ends of the base frame 11 are interlocked with each other at both ends of the base frame 11. Therefore, the rotary shaft 14 is connected. Further, the rotating shafts 14 at both ends are connected by an interlocking rod 15 so as to be interlockable with each other.

At the center of the base frame 11, a pair of support arms 17 hang down on a horizontal shaft 16 oriented in the bed width direction, and a caster base shaft rotatably mounted between the tips of the pair of support arms 17. 18, a steering caster 20 is provided via a pair of caster columns 19. Further, the caster base shaft 18 is provided with a turning arm 21 for turning the caster base shaft 18 around the axis. The gas damper 22 is attached to the tip of the rotating arm 21.
While installing the cylinder 23 that constitutes the
In order to displace the tip of the rotating arm 21 counterclockwise in the drawing, the tip of the rod 24, which is provided so as to be able to project by gas pressure from 3, is attached to the horizontal frame 25 provided near one end of the base frame 11. I am biased. On the other hand, the rotating arm 2
1 is provided with a pressing operation mechanism 27 that presses the rotating arm 21 from the opposite side against the urging force of the gas damper 22 via an interlocking shaft 26 provided in the coaxial direction of the gas damper 22.

The pushing operation mechanism 27 is a toggle mechanism, and is formed on the lateral frames 28 and 29 of the base frame 11 on a base body 30 having a U-shaped cross section mounted along the axial direction of the gas damper 22 and the interlocking shaft 26. The rotatably mounted stepping operation lever 31, the drive arm 32 integrally connected to the operation lever 31, and the link 33 rotatably connected to the drive arm 32 are mounted. . A connecting shaft 34 that rotatably connects the tip end of the link 33 and the interlocking shaft 26 and that connects the link 33 and the interlocking shaft 26 to each other is provided in an elongated hole 35 formed in the base body 30.
It is installed freely. The drive arm 32 and the link 3
3 is configured to be linear and bend downward by operating the operation lever 31.

The steering caster system for a bed or the like according to the present invention is configured as described above. Next, the operation of the system will be described. Base frame 11
Operation pedal 13 of any one of the casters 12 in
When the pedal is depressed, the casters 12 adjacent to each other in the frame width direction can be interlocked and unlocked by the rotary shaft 14, and the caster 12 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the base frame 11 can be locked by the rotary shaft 14. Interlocking rod 1 that connects one another
The interlocking lock / cancellation can be performed by using 5.

When the bed or the like is pushed to move straight, the caster 12 of the base frame 11 is made free by the operation pedal 13, and when the steering caster 20 is grounded, the steering caster 20 is pushed to be lifted from the floor surface. The operation lever 31 of the operation mechanism 27 is depressed. Then, the drive arm 32 is displaced, and the drive arm 32 and the link 33 are aligned in a straight line,
Since the length formed by the drive arm 32 and the link 33 extends,
The connecting shaft 34 between the link 33 and the interlocking shaft 26 moves through the elongated hole 35 of the base 30, and the turning arm 21 is moved by the interlocking shaft 26.
The caster base shaft 18 and the caster support column 19 rotate by being displaced clockwise in the drawing against the urging force of the gas damper 22, and the steering caster 20 can be detached from the floor surface (see FIG. 3).

Next, when the bed or the like approaches a corner or the like and it is necessary to change the direction, the operation lever 31 of the pressing operation mechanism 27 is operated to flip up. Then
The drive arm 32 is displaced, and the urging force of the gas damper 22 pushes the connecting shaft 34 of the link 33 and the interlocking shaft 26 from the rotating arm 21 via the interlocking shaft 26, so that the long hole 3 of the base body 30 is pushed.
5, the drive arm 32 and the link 33 bend so as to bend downward from the connection point. At this time, the rotating arm 21 is moved by the urging force of the gas damper 22.
It is displaced counterclockwise in the figure, and the caster support shaft 19 is rotated by the rotation of the caster base shaft 18, so that the steering caster 20 can be grounded to the floor surface (see FIG. 4). Since the pair of steering casters 20 is provided, the grounding force is large, and the direction of the bed or the like can be easily changed around the steering casters 20. Further, the rotating arm 21 of the caster base shaft 18 of the steering caster 20 is always provided with the gas damper 22.
Since the steering caster 20 is biased so as to come into contact with the ground even if the ground surface of the steering caster 20 is uneven, the steering caster 20 does not float up following the unevenness. No (see Figure 5).

An embodiment of the steering caster system in a bed or the like according to the present invention has been described above.
As described above, instead of the gas damper 22, any other means such as a spring member may be used as long as the means is urged in the extending direction. Further, the steering caster 20 functions sufficiently even with one wheel.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation pedal provided on one caster can lock / unlock other casters in an interlocking manner, so that a bed or the like can be easily fixed or transported. In addition to the above, the pressing operation mechanism can ground the steering caster provided in the central portion of the base frame to the floor surface to change the direction of the bed or the like, and the handling property is significantly improved.

[0015]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view of legs of a bed or the like to which a steering caster system according to the present invention is applied.

2 is an explanatory plan view of a leg portion shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view for explaining the function of the steering caster system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining the function of the steering caster system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the function of the steering caster system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the function of a conventional bed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a function of a conventional bed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the concept of the function of the bed in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Legs 11 Base Frame 12 Casters 13 Operation Pedals 14 Rotating Shafts 15 Interlocking Shafts 16 Horizontal Shafts 17 Support Arms 18 Castor Base Shafts 19 Castor Columns 20 Steering Casters 21 Rotating Arms 22 Gas Dampers 23 Cylinders 24 Rods 25 Horizontal Frames 26 Interlocking Shafts 27 Operating mechanism 28, 29 Horizontal frame 30 Base 31 Operating lever 32 Driving arm 33 Link 34 Connecting shaft 35 Slotted hole

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a leg portion of a bed or the like, the leg portion is provided with casters having a lock mechanism built in a base frame, and these casters have an operation pedal for operating / releasing the lock mechanism, and a frame width. The casters that are adjacent in the direction are connected so that the lock mechanisms are interlocked with each other, and the casters at both ends of the frame are connected so that the lock mechanisms are interlocked with each other, and the casters hang down on the horizontal axis of the central portion of the base frame. The caster base shaft is provided with a pair of support arms, a caster base shaft rotatably mounted between the front ends of the pair of support arms, a caster support post protruding from the caster base shaft, and a steering caster mounted on the caster support base end. And a biasing means biased so as to extend in the axial direction is connected to the tip of the rotating arm. The biasing means is mounted on the lateral frame near one end side of the base frame, while the rotary arm is provided with a biasing force of the biasing means via an interlocking shaft provided in the coaxial direction of the biasing means. A pressing operation mechanism that presses against the opposite side is provided, and by this pressing operation mechanism, the caster base shaft and the caster support pillar are displaced through the interlocking shaft under the action of the urging force of the urging means. A steering caster system for a bed or the like, wherein the steering caster is configured to be in contact with the floor surface or to be separated from the floor surface. 2. The urging means is a gas damper, and the gas damper comprises a cylinder and a rod urged in a direction in which the cylinder expands due to the pressure of the gas enclosed in the cylinder, and the cylinder is mounted on a rotating arm. The steering caster system for a bed or the like according to claim 1, wherein the rod tip is attached to a lateral frame near one end of the base frame while being connected. 3. The pressing operation mechanism includes a stepping operation lever rotatably attached to a base mounted on a lateral frame of a base frame along an axial direction of a biasing means and an interlocking shaft, and this operation. A drive arm that is integrally connected to the lever and a link that is rotatably connected to the drive arm are mounted, and the tip of this link and the interlocking shaft are rotatably connected, and interlock with these links. A connecting shaft for connecting with the shaft is movably mounted in an elongated hole formed in the base body, and the driving arm and the link are aligned in a straight line by the operation of an operating lever, so that the driving shaft and the link are urged through the interlocking shaft. The rotating arm is pressed from the opposite side of the biasing means against the biasing force of the means, or bent downward under the action of the biasing force of the biasing means, centering on the connection point between the drive arm and the link. The bed, etc. according to claim 1, characterized in that Steering caster system in.