JPH11147470A - Framework of a carrying cart - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow the carrying cart to maintain a self-sustaining state when it is folded in an intermediate state. SOLUTION: In a framework of a foldable carrying cart, front frames 20 are rotatably mounted on the upper side of main frames 10, 10 on both sides. A wheel is mounted on the lower end portion of the main frame 10 and a front frame 20. A movable member 18 that moves each of the main frame 10 in vertical direction is provided. Connecting grams 25, 25 for connecting movable members 18, 18 and the lower portion of the front frame 20 are mounted rotatably at the connecting portion on both ends of the connecting arms. The frame work is released when the movable member 18 is positioned below the main frame 10, and the frame work is folded when it is positioned above it. Even if the movable member 18 is positioned between the portions below the main frame 10 and the above it and further a weight of the mounted cargo is loaded, the neutral state is maintained with the installation of fixing means for fixing the movable member to the main frame that hinders a downward movement of the movable member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a frame such as a foldable carrying cart or the like. Applicable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a carrying cart having only two wheels, a main frame is provided to hang behind a luggage placing portion, and wheels are provided at lower ends of main frames on both sides. The loading section is turned to the rear side of the main frame and folded to be in a non-use state. The state is simply a state where the luggage placement unit is rotated and folded, and does not make any sense. In other words, it is impossible at all to place the luggage in the intermediate state. Also, 4
In a foldable carrying cart or the like provided with two wheels, only two states are maintained: a use state in which the skeleton is opened and a non-use state in which the skeleton is folded, and an intermediate state between these two states. There was no one in which the skeleton could stand on its own and maintain that state.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional first carrying cart or the like, when the luggage is placed on the carrying cart and used, the carrying cart itself has a size of its skeleton in an opened use state. Cannot be changed at all, and it is impossible to make the carrying cart itself smaller. On the other hand, in the conventional second four-wheel carrying cart described above, it is possible to slightly reduce the size of the frame during use by slightly folding the frame, but in a slightly reduced state (open state). The intermediate state between the used state and the folded non-used state) could not be maintained by the frame, and the balance was easily lost. Therefore, in the present invention, when the carrying cart or the like is used, for example, when getting into various vehicles such as a bus or a train, it is necessary to fold the carrying cart a little smaller, and when the carrying cart is folded to an intermediate state, the skeleton is required. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device capable of reliably and stably maintaining an independent state. The carrying cart according to the present invention can be used not only for carrying luggage but also as a substitute for a walker in, for example, an elderly car.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention is to maintain two states, a use state in which the skeleton is opened and a non-use state in which the skeleton is folded. In a foldable carrying cart or the like that can be folded, the carrying cart or the like is characterized in that the skeleton can maintain an independent state in an intermediate state between a use state in which the skeleton is opened and an unused state in which the skeleton is folded. It is a skeleton. Here, the skeleton can maintain its independence state
A state in which the frame is in an intermediate state between the open state and the folded state, and continues to maintain that state, and does not transition to these states unless force is applied from the intermediate state to the folded state or the open state. I do. The term "carrying cart" as used herein is a concept that includes not only the carrying cart but also various carts such as a shopping cart and an elderly car. As a result, in the carrying cart and the like according to the present invention, even when riding on a congested vehicle or the like, the frame can be maintained in an intermediate state where the frame is slightly folded down.

[0005] A second aspect of the present invention is a foldable carrying cart or the like which can maintain two states of a use state in which the skeleton is opened and a non-use state in which the skeleton is folded. Frames 10, 10,
A front frame 20 rotatably mounted on the upper portion of each of the main frames 10 and 10, wheels are mounted on lower ends of the main frame 10 and the front frame 20, respectively, and the main frame 10 is moved up and down. The movable member 18 is connected to each main frame 10.
The movable members 18, 18 and the front frame 20
The connecting arms 25, 25 connecting the lower portions of the main frame 10 are rotatably mounted at the connecting portions at both ends thereof. When the movable member 18 is located at the lower portion of the main frame 10, the frame is opened, and the movable member 18 is connected to the main frame. When the frame is folded at the upper part of the main frame 10, the movable member 18 is located at the middle part between the lower part and the upper part of the main frame 10, and the weight of the loaded luggage or the like is loaded. Also, by providing fixing means for fixing the movable member 18 to the main frame 10, the movable member 18 does not move downward.

The movable member 18 can move up and down on the main frame 10 by applying a force thereto. Therefore, when the movable member 18 is in an intermediate state where the weight of the load is merely loaded, the movable member 18 moves on the main frame 10. Although it slides downward, the movable member 18 is fixed at an arbitrary position in the middle on the main frame 10 by the action of the fixing means, so that in a state intermediate between when the skeleton is opened and when the skeleton is folded, The self-sustaining state can be surely maintained.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings all illustrate embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an open state, which is a use state of a skeleton of a carrying cart according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from behind. The skeleton of the cart is entirely made of metal and has two
Each of the main frames 10 and 10 is formed of a pipe extending substantially vertically in the vertical direction, and a wheel support portion 11 for supporting a rear wheel 50 is provided at a lower end of each main frame 10. I have.

The wheel supporting portion 11 has a substantially U-shape, and comprises a connecting surface 12 connected to the main frame 10 and extended surfaces 13 extending downward from both ends thereof. , 13 and rear wheels 50 are arranged at the lower ends of the extension surfaces 13, 13. The substantially U-shaped wheel support portion 11 is not particularly limited to this form, and may be directly mounted on the lower end of the main frame 10.

A joint 15 is fixed to an upper end of each of the main frames 10, and a front frame 20 is rotatably attached to the joints 15, 15. The front frame 20 has a substantially U-shape, and includes a horizontal portion 21 and extension portions 22 extending downward from both ends of the horizontal portion 21. A front wheel 70 is attached to the lower end of each extension 22.
The front wheels 70, 70 are rotatable about the lower end of the extension 22 and can freely change the direction of the wheels. The front wheel 70 need not be rotatable at the tip of the extension 22.

Since the front frame 20 is rotatably supported at both ends of the horizontal portion 21 by the joint portions 15, the extension portions 22, 22 are connected to the main frames 10, 10.
, And operates so as to be able to be separated from the side. The front frame 20 may not have a substantially U-shape,
The horizontal portion 21 and the extension portion 22 need not be continuous. That is, it is only necessary that the horizontal portion 21 connects the main frames 10 on both sides or the joint portions 15 on both sides, and that the upper end of each extension portion 22 is rotatably attached to each joint portion 15. Further, the horizontal portion 21 may not be provided, and the extension portions 22 on both sides may be provided.
The upper end of 22 may be rotatably attached to each joint 15 or main frame 10.

Each main frame 10 is provided with a movable member 18 which slides on the main frame 10 up and down. In addition, these movable members 18, 18
And connecting arms 25, 25 for connecting the lower end portions of the extending portions 22, 22 of the front frame 20. The connecting portions at both ends of these connecting arms 25 are rotatably supported by the movable member 18 and the extension portion 22, respectively. Accordingly, the front frame 20 can be folded so as to approach the main frame 10 and be folded.
A connecting rod 19 is stretched between the movable members 18, 18, and the connecting rod 19 is connected to the movable members 1 at both ends.
8, 18 extend obliquely upward toward the center and further upward, and have a shape in which the center 19c is horizontally connected. By moving the movable member 1 upward or downward.
8, 18 can be slid up and down on both main frames 10, 10.

The movable member 18 is provided with an insertion hole in the vertical direction at the center thereof, and the main frame 10 is inserted through the insertion hole. Thereby, the movable member 18 can slide up and down on the main frame 10. This movable member 1
8 is provided with a fixing means for fixing the movable member 18 to the main frame 10. Although the fixing means is not clearly shown in FIG. 1, by rotating the knob 17, the pressing body projects from the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole of the movable member 18 and presses the outer peripheral surface of the main frame 10. Thus, the movable member 18 is fixed to the main frame 10.

That is, a cam-shaped eccentric rotating body (pressing body) is provided inside the movable member 18, and the rotating body is rotated by the knob 17 so that the long-diameter portion of the eccentric rotating body is inserted into the insertion hole. If it is formed so as to be able to protrude inward from the peripheral surface so that the outer peripheral surface of the main frame 10 can be pressed, the rotating body (pressing body) serves as a fixing means, and the movable member 18 is placed above the main frame 10. By moving the fixing means in the intermediate state in which the skeleton is slightly folded, the skeleton can be locked in the intermediate state, and the skeleton is surely self-supported in this intermediate state,
Can be fixed. Therefore, in a state between the open state shown in FIG. 1 and the completely folded non-use state, even when the carrying cart is loaded with a load, that is, the influence of the weight of the load is reduced. Even if received, the movable member 18 does not move downward on the main frame 10 by the fixing means.

26 are extension portions 2 on both sides of the front frame 20.
Reference numeral 27 denotes a connection frame that connects the lower end portions of the two, and reference numeral 27 denotes a connection frame that connects the main frames 10 and 10 to each other. Further, an inverted U-shaped handle 40 is provided above the joints 15 on both sides. The handle 40 includes an upper horizontal grip 41 and both ends of the grip 41. Extensions 42, 4 extending downward from
The lower extension portions 42, 42 are fitted into fitting holes provided in the joint portions 15, 15, and the handle portion 40 is vertically expandable and contractible. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower extension portions 42 are formed so that an upper portion thereof curves backward (to the left in the drawing). With such a shape, when an elderly person or the like uses the cart, the upper end of each lower extension portion 42 is gripped and pushed forward, so that the weight is easily applied to the front and the walker It can be a substitute.

The set screw 15s provided on each joint 15 is for fixing the handle portion 40 which expands and contracts up and down at a desired height position in accordance with the height of the user. Although not shown, the carrying cart composed of the above-described skeleton includes a bag-shaped luggage storage portion that includes the horizontal portion 21 of the front frame 20 and the connection frames 26 and 2.
7 is attached. In addition, this carrying cart has a substantially U-shaped stool frame K for connecting frame 2.
7, a substantially U-shaped leg L is rotatably provided on the stool frame K at the tip of the stool frame K. The stool frame K and the leg L are connected to the main frame 10 when not in use.
It can be folded to the side. Needless to say, the canvas K is stretched over the stool frame K.

Further, the skeleton of the carrying cart includes:
A braking stop mechanism is provided, and this braking stop mechanism
The main frames 10 are provided on the main frames 10 near the upper portions of the wheel supporting portions 11 provided at the lower ends. The braking stop mechanism includes an operating arm 30 pivotally supported by the main frame 10, an operating rod 31 rotatably mounted below the operating arm 30, and a contact pin for stopping the operation of the operating rod 31. 32 and an operating rod 31
Is penetrated through a hole provided in the connection surface 12 of the wheel support portion 11, and its tip extends to the outer peripheral surface of the wheel.
The hole provided in the connection surface 12 serves as a support for the operating rod 31. The mounting portion to which the operating rod 31 is attached to the operating arm 30 is supported by bending the upper end of the operating rod 31 at a substantially right angle and increasing the outer diameter of the end. The operating arms 30, 30 are connected to each other by a connecting rod 35 at an upper end portion thereof. By operating the connecting rod 35 by hand, the operating arms 30, 3 on both sides are operated.
0 can be operated simultaneously.

The operation of this braking stop mechanism is as follows. The state illustrated in FIG. 1 shows a state in which the braking stop has been released, and the operating arm 30 is rotated clockwise about the support shaft 36 to a position substantially along the main frame 10. is there. At this position, the operating rod 31 is in a state of being lifted upward, and the operating portion 33 which is the distal end thereof
Is away from the outer peripheral surface of the wheel. Next, the connecting rod 3
When the user grips 5 with his hand and pulls it rearward, the operating arm 30 rotates around the support shaft 36 in the left rotation direction indicated by the arrow P in the figure. Accordingly, the operating rod 31 is moved from the upper
4 and moves downward through a hole provided in the connection surface 12. Along with this downward movement, the operating portion 33 at the lower end of the operating rod 31 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the wheel to perform braking. In response to the rotation of the working rod 31, the operating rod 31 is rotated clockwise about the inner peripheral edge of the hole as a fulcrum.
Is in contact with the contact pin 32, the operating arm 30 and the like are locked, and the stop lock of both rear wheels 50, 50 is performed.

The principle of the stop-lock state is based on the positional relationship between the operating arm 30 and the operating rod 31. When the operating rod 31 receives a reaction force from the wheels, the operating arm 3 is turned off.
0 remains in a state of being left-handedly rotated about the support shaft 36, and in this state, the operating rod 31 comes into contact with the contact pin 32, and this state is maintained, whereby the locked state is established.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view showing the carrying cart according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 in a completely folded non-use state. Movable member 18
Is moved upward from below on the main frame 10, whereby the front frame 2 is connected via the connecting arm 25.
0 is drawn toward the main frame 10 and folded along the main frame 10, and the whole
Is completely folded as shown in FIG. In the illustrated state, the carrying cart itself is fixed to the main frame 10 by the fixing means, and the state shown in the figure is maintained.
In this figure, the luggage storage section N is indicated by a virtual line, and this bag-shaped luggage storage section is attached to the horizontal section 21 of the front frame 20 and the connection frames 26 and 27 as described above. .

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view showing an intermediate state in which the carrying cart according to the embodiment of the present invention is slightly folded. That is, the state shown in FIG.
2 is in a used state in which the skeleton is completely opened, and a non-use state in which the skeleton is completely folded as shown in FIG. The movable member 18 is located at a position slightly raised from the lowermost position shown in FIG. 1, and the front frame 20 is slightly drawn toward the main frame 10 at the position of the movable member 18. In this intermediate state, the skeleton of the carrying cart is fixed to the movable member 18 by the fixing means.
Is fixed to the main frame 10 so that an independent state can be reliably maintained. In this way, in the intermediate state where the frame is slightly folded, the frame is kept in an independent state, so that when carrying a congested bus or train, the carrying frame can be slightly folded. It can do so without getting in the way of other passengers.

Although the embodiment has been described above, the form can be changed as follows. The framework such as the carrying cart according to the present invention can be configured in various ways other than the above-described embodiment. First, the main frame 10 extends upward from the rear wheel 50, and any part thereof may be used as long as the movable member 18 can move up and down, and other shapes and configurations are completely free. The upper handle portion 40 may be formed so as not to expand and contract vertically, and the shape thereof may not be an inverted U shape, and may be formed as a handle having a grip portion at the upper end of the main frame 10 on both sides. it can.

The joint portion 15 need not be provided, and the front frame 20 is directly provided above the main frame 10.
May be rotatably mounted. As described above, the front frame 20 does not have to have a substantially U-shape, and the horizontal portion 21 is provided so as to span the upper portions of the main frames 10 on both sides, and is separate from the horizontal portion 21. The upper end of the extension 22 may be rotatably attached to the upper end of the main frame 10. Further, the front frame 20 is, as described above, a horizontal portion 21.
, The upper end of each extension 22 may be rotatably attached to the upper part of the main frame 10 or to the joint 15. The present invention can be implemented without providing a brake stop mechanism, and a brake stop mechanism having another configuration can be freely provided.

The size and shape of the movable member 18 can be designed completely freely. The fixing means for fixing the movable member 18 to the main frame 10 may be of any structure as long as the design can be changed and the movable member 18 can be fixed to the main frame 10. For example, the fixing means can be constituted by a simple screw, and a screw hole is formed at an appropriate position of the movable member 18 so as to penetrate toward the main frame 10 side. The movable member 18 can be fixed to the main frame 10 by screwing the thumb screw and tightening the thumb screw so that the tip thereof presses the outer peripheral surface of the main frame 10.

Further, through holes are formed in the movable member 18 in a direction orthogonal to the insertion holes through which the main frame 10 is inserted, and a plurality of through holes corresponding to the through holes are provided on the main frame 10 side. The movable member 18 can be fixed at an appropriate position between the upper part and the lower part of the main frame 10 by aligning these two through holes and inserting a pin therethrough. In addition, in a structure in which the tube is inserted through the insertion hole, any existing fixing means for fixing the tube in the insertion hole can be used. Lastly, the skeleton according to the present invention is applied to the carrying cart in the above embodiment, but can be applied to various other carts such as a shopping cart and an elderly car.

[0025]

The present invention has the following effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, a frame such as a carrying cart can be maintained in an independent state in a state intermediate between a completely folded non-use state and a completely open use state. When it is necessary to reduce the size of the frame slightly, for example, when riding on the vehicle or the like, the frame can be maintained in an intermediate state in which the frame is slightly folded, so that it can be prevented from obstructing other passengers.

Also in the second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the above-described effects, by adding a fixing means for fixing the movable member to the main frame, an intermediate state between the time of opening the used state and the time of folding the unused state can be obtained. In this state, the movable member can be securely fixed, and the intermediate self-standing state in which the skeleton of the carrying cart or the like is slightly folded can be reliably and stably maintained. As described above, the present invention has a simple configuration and exerts a great effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an open state in which a skeleton of a carrying cart according to an embodiment of the present invention is used, as viewed obliquely from the rear.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view illustrating a non-use state in which the skeleton of the carrying cart according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1 is completely folded.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view illustrating an intermediate state in which the carrying cart according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is slightly folded.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Main frame 11 ... Wheel support part 15 ... Joint part 18 ... Movable member 20 ... Front frame 21 ... Horizontal part 22 ... Extension part 25 ... Connection arm 26, 27 ... Connection frame 40 ... Handle part 50, 70 ... Wheel

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A foldable carrying cart or the like which can maintain two states of a use state in which a skeleton is opened and a non-use state in which the skeleton is folded. A frame, such as a carrying cart, wherein the frame can maintain an independent state in a state intermediate between a folded state and a non-use state. 2. A main frame on both sides of a foldable carrying cart or the like which can maintain two states of a use state in which the skeleton is opened and a non-use state in which the skeleton is folded. And a front frame (20) rotatably attached to upper portions of the main frames (10) and (10), respectively. Wheels are provided at lower ends of the main frame (10) and the front frame (20), respectively. A movable member (18) for moving the main frame (10) up and down is provided on each main frame (10), and these movable members (18) (18) and a lower part of the front frame (20) are attached. The connecting arms (25) and (25) to be connected are rotatably mounted at the connecting portions at both ends thereof, and when the movable member (18) is located below the main frame (10), the frame is opened, and the movable member (25) is opened. The frame is folded when 18) is located above the main frame (10). The movable member (18) is located at an intermediate portion between the lower portion and the upper portion of the main frame (10), so that the movable member (18) can be moved even when the weight of the loaded luggage or the like is loaded. Frame (1
(0), the movable member (1
8) A frame, such as a carrying cart, which does not move downward.