Foldable leg structure

Abstract

To provide a foldable leg structure that while being a structure having three legs being foldable inside at a bottom of a body, can secure longer leg lengths than those of conventional structures and also enables compact storage.SOLUTION: A foldable three leg structure provided at a bottom of a container body is composed of leg bodies, rotation shafts, and fittings. In arrangement of the foldable leg structure, the leg bodies are arranged so that in a state of the leg bodies being folded, a regular triangle is depicted by crossing three lines, of the respective leg bodies, each going from a root side end toward a tip side end or their extension lines E and the leg bodies are attached to the bottom of the container body via the fittings and the rotation shafts, where a length of each leg body is longer than a length from the root side end to the center of the bottom of the container body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a three-legged folding structure, and more particularly to a folding leg structure technology that ensures legs that are longer from the base end to the center than in conventional structures, while allowing the legs to be folded inward without overlapping. [Background technology]

[0002] It is a well-known technique to attach legs to the bottom of a flat plate or other object as an effective means of raising the bottom while keeping it parallel. However, there are many different shapes of legs, such as square, A-line, I-line, X-line, and rectangular columns. The number of legs also affects stability, so the number of legs should be selected appropriately depending on the purpose. In particular, for tables, chairs, fire pits, barbecue grills, and other outdoor items, it is desirable to have a collapsible or foldable leg structure that can be easily loaded into a car.

[0003] In particular, for outdoor equipment such as bonfire stands and barbecue stoves, depending on the campsite, there are regulations on the height of the bottom of the container, and there are cases where the condition is "approximately 20 cm or more from the ground". If it is less than 20 cm, additional materials such as fireproof materials are required to raise the bottom. It is easy to ensure a leg length of 20 cm or more for large, assembled barbecue stoves, but it is not possible to meet this requirement for those that are brought to barbecues or bonfires held by a small number of people. In addition, compared to four-legged stoves, three-legged stoves have the advantage of being stable and simple in structure because all the legs are in contact even if the ground is not flat, but if the bottom is folded up, the length is from the base to the center of the bottom, so there is a disadvantage that the bottom cannot be raised high if the structure is left as it is.

[0004] Also, when considering the hassle of using it outdoors, a structure with foldable legs is more effective than a complicated assembly structure. However, many small barbecue grills are circular, and in this case, the existing structure of folding inwards requires the body to have a diameter of approximately 40 cm or more to ensure a leg length of more than 20 cm. Therefore, a new leg structure is needed that can be folded inwards without increasing the diameter of the body, and that can ensure a height of 20 cm or more from the ground when standing.

[0005] In view of this situation, various technical proposals have been made in the past. The title of the invention is "Ironing Board" and the problem to be solved is "to be able to easily and reliably fold and stand a pair of support legs with one touch, and to reliably fix the open support legs when standing, so that ironing can be done with peace of mind." The specific solution is described as "A pair of support legs are attached to the back of the ironing board body via a locking member so that they can be folded and stood. Each support leg is always biased toward the tip of the ironing board body by a spring. Each support leg has a locking pin standing upright. When each support leg is folded or stood up, the locking pin engages with a locking hole formed in the locking member. When each support leg is folded or stood up, the locking pin can be released from the locking hole by pulling each support leg toward the rear of the ironing board body against the bias of the spring." However, in this technology, the legs are arranged overlapping each other when the legs are folded. In contrast, in the present invention, the legs do not overlap when folded, and therefore there is a large difference in thickness when folded.

[0006] The name of the invention is "Tripod Installation Aid", the purpose to be solved is "a tripod installation aid that enables the tripod base to be stably installed in a horizontal state regardless of the inclination direction or unevenness of the installation surface", and the specific solution is "a tripod installation aid used when installing a tripod having a base and three legs on an installation surface, the tripod installation aid includes a mounting part for mounting the tripod and three support legs that support the mounting part from below, the mounting part has three holding parts on its upper surface that respectively hold the lower ends of the tripod legs, and each support leg has a height adjustment structure that adjusts the vertical height from the installation surface to the mounting part." This technology is considered to achieve overall parallelism by adjusting the height of each of the three legs that expand and contract in the longitudinal direction of the legs, and the technical means for solving the problem is different from that of the present invention, in which the three legs are the same length and the height direction is adjusted by that angle.

[0007] The name of the invention is "Table", the purpose to be solved is "to provide a technology for stabilizing a table when the folding area of ​​the table is set wide in a table having a disk-shaped top and three legs as components", and the specific solution is "a table in which three legs are erected on the back surface of the top. The top is configured in a disk shape with a first top component and a second top component connected by hinges on the back surface of the top, and has a folding line at a position off the center of a circle whose outer periphery is an arc of the top. In other words, the top is configured so that the second top component can be folded downward. Meanwhile, the legs are erected on the back surface of the first top component on a concentric circle whose center is the circle whose outer periphery is an arc, and are arranged so that the triangle formed by connecting the connection points of the back surface of the top and the legs is a non-equilateral isosceles triangle." The technology in question has a part of the configuration in common with the present invention in that it is three-legged. However, since it is not foldable, it is different from the technical means for solving the problem of the present invention. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. H11-114300 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-169984 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2011-115539 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] To provide a technology for a three-legged folding leg structure that can be folded compactly inward without overlapping while ensuring longer legs from the base end to the center compared to conventional folding leg structures. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention provides a three-foldable leg structure provided at the bottom of a container body, the folding leg structure consisting of a leg body, a pivot shaft, and a connecting metal fitting, and the folding leg structure is arranged so that when the leg body is folded, three lines extending from the base end to the tip end of each leg body, or their extension line E, intersect to form an equilateral triangle, and the container body and the leg body are attached to the bottom of the container body via the connecting metal fittings and the pivot shaft, and a configuration is adopted in which the length of the leg body is longer than the length from the base end to the center of the bottom of the container body.

[0011] The present invention can also adopt a configuration in which the leg body is provided with an elastic member for maintaining the angle when it rotates relative to the connecting fitting, the elastic member being positioned across the pivot axis and sandwiched in the gap between the leg body and the connecting fitting, the elastic member having an approximately U-shaped shape in a plan view and a curved shape in a side view.

[0012] In addition, the present invention can also adopt a configuration in which the leg body has a stopper portion for when the leg is standing, which abuts against the bottom of the container body to regulate movement when the leg is standing and when the leg is stored, at the base end of the leg body.

[0013] In addition, the present invention can also adopt a configuration in which the fire pit is provided with the folding leg structure. Effect of the Invention

[0014] When using a stove outdoors, the height from the ground to the bottom of the stove is often regulated at some campsites. Therefore, the length of the legs is required to ensure this height. The folding leg structure of the present invention has the excellent effect of making the legs longer than the conventional three-legged structure.

[0015] In addition, according to the folding leg structure of the present invention, the three legs do not interfere with each other or overlap when folded, which has the excellent effect of allowing for compact storage and easy loading into a car, etc.

[0016] Furthermore, the folding leg structure of the present invention has the excellent effect of allowing the legs to be longer than the length from the base end to the center of the container body, yet still be folded and stored without overlapping, and allowing the container body to be raised to a higher position than with conventional three-legged folding structures.

[0017] Furthermore, according to the folding leg structure of the present invention, an elastic member 60 is provided for maintaining the rotation at any angle within a range in which the rotational movement exceeds 90 degrees when the leg body is unfolded and the movement is restricted by the standing leg stopper portion. This allows the rotational position to be freely positioned within the adjustment range, providing the excellent effect of making the container level even in places where the ground is not flat. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a basic configuration explanatory diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a folding leg structure according to the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the arrangement of the leg body in the folding leg structure according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the folding leg structure according to the present invention is used; FIG. [Figure 4] 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the configuration of elastic members in the folding leg structure according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The present invention is a three-leg folding structure provided at the bottom of a container body, the folding leg structure being composed of a leg body, a pivot, and a metal fitting, the folding leg structure being arranged so that when the leg body is folded, three lines extending from the base end of each leg body to the tip end thereof or their extensions E intersect to form an equilateral triangle, the container body and the leg body are attached to the bottom of the container body via the metal fitting and the pivot, and the length of the leg body is longer than the length from the base end to the center of the bottom of the container body. The following description will be made based on the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the shapes and configurations shown in the drawings, and may be modified within the scope of the effect of the invention as a creation of the technical idea.

[0020] Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining the basic configuration of the folding leg structure according to the present invention, in which Fig. 1(a) shows a bottom view of an existing folding structure at the top and a front view at the bottom, and Fig. 1(b) shows a bottom view of the folding leg structure according to the present invention at the top and a front view at the bottom. Note that side views, rear views, and plan views are omitted.

[0021] The folding leg structure 1 is a three-leg folding structure 1 provided on the bottom 20 of the container body 10, and the folding leg structure 1 is composed of a leg body 30, a pivot 40, and a connecting metal fitting 50, and the folding leg structure 1 is arranged so that when the leg body 30 is folded, three lines L connecting the base end 31 to the tip end 32 of each leg body 30 or their extension lines E intersect to form an equilateral triangle, the container body 10 and the leg body 30 are attached to the bottom 20 of the container body 10 via the connecting metal fitting 50 and the pivot 40, and the length H of the leg body 30 is longer than the length T from the base end 31 to the center of the bottom 20 of the container body 10. Each component will be described below.

[0022] The container body 10 is a container for storing liquid or solid matter. Specifically, for example, if it is liquid, it can be used as a tank for sports drinks. If it is used as a campfire pit, it becomes a combustion chamber for putting in solid combustion material such as firewood and burning it. The bottom of the container body 10 is provided with legs, and by standing on the legs, it can be lifted horizontally upward from the ground. Although the drawing shows a cylindrical shape, the shape is not limited to this shape, and the shape can be changed within the scope of the same effect as the creation of the technical idea of ​​the invention.

[0023] The bottom 20 refers to the outside of a plate-like member provided to close the bottom end of the cylindrical container body 10 .

[0024] The leg body 30 is provided to raise the container body 10 in the folding leg structure 1 according to the present invention to a predetermined height from the ground.

[0025] The base end 31 is one end of the leg body 30 and is the end that is attached to the container body by the connecting fitting 50.

[0026] The tip end 32 is one end of the leg body 30, the end opposite the connecting fitting 50, and is the end that comes into contact with the ground.

[0027] The pivot shaft 40 is an axis for attaching the leg body 30 to the container body 10 so that the leg body 30 can pivot freely.

[0028] The connecting metal fitting 50 is a metal fitting for rotatably mounting the leg body 30 to the container body 10 via the pivot shaft 40, and is attached to the bottom 20 of the container body 10 by welding or the like.

[0029] Angle K is the angle at which the leg body 30 is maintained by the elastic member 60 when it rotates relative to the connecting fitting 50, and is the angle that is 90 degrees or more from the folded state in which the leg body 30 abuts against the bottom 20 of the container body 10 by the storage stopper portion SS, to the open position in which the leg body 30 abuts against the bottom 20 of the container body 10 by the standing stopper portion RS.

[0030] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the leg body 30 in the folding leg structure 1 according to the present invention, comparing the length of the leg body 30 with the length from the base end 31 to the center of the container body 10. Fig. 2(a) shows the length of the legs in an existing three-legged structure, Fig. 2(b) shows that the length from the base end to the tip end is longer than the length from the base end to the center compared to the arrangement of the legs in an existing three-legged structure, and Fig. 2(c) shows that the length from the base end to the tip end can be even longer than the length from the base end to the center of the container body.

[0031] The three lines L are lines L that connect the base end 31 to the tip end 32 of each of the three leg bodies 30 when the three leg bodies 30 are folded. These three lines L are the base axes for arranging the three leg bodies 30 to form an equilateral triangle.

[0032] The extension line E is a line expressed by extending a line connecting the base end 31 and the tip end 32 of the leg main body 30. In the folding leg structure 1 according to the present invention, a technical feature is that the leg main body 30 is arranged so that the three lines L including the extension line E form an equilateral triangle.

[0033] The length H refers to the length from the root end 31 to the tip end 32 .

[0034] The standing state R refers to the state when the folding legs are unfolded and the legs are raised.

[0035] When stored, S refers to the state in which the foldable base end is folded up.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the use of the folding leg structure according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the container body 10 is placed on the legs, and firewood or other combustible material is burned inside the container body 10. At this time, the deployed legs exceed 90 degrees, and their rotation is restricted at a certain angle K, and all the toes are placed on the ground, which is a characteristic of the three-legged structure. Therefore, it is difficult to set up a fire pit or the like horizontally, especially in outdoor places that are not leveled and have unevenness, or in campsites that are leveled but are divided into compartments covered with gravel or grass. The example shown in FIG. 3 shows that by adjusting the spread of the legs according to the unevenness of the ground, it is possible to unfold them at the same height and place the fire pit F horizontally.

[0037] The bonfire pit F is a bonfire pit that can be positioned at a high position by using the folding leg structure 1 of the present invention, so that when used as a bonfire pit at a campsite or the like, a specified distance can be maintained from the ground.

[0038] Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the elastic member configuration for explaining the configuration of the elastic member in the folding leg structure according to the present invention, Fig. 4(a) shows the state in which the leg body 30 is attached to the bottom 20 of the container body 10 by the connecting metal fitting 50 and the rotating shaft 40, and Fig. 4(b) shows the shape and configuration of the elastic member. The leg body 30 shown by the wavy line in Fig. 4(a) is provided with a standing stopper part RS that restricts the unfolding operation and a storage stopper part SS that restricts the storage operation, and when the leg body 30 is unfolded, it abuts against the bottom 20 of the container body 10 to restrict the opening operation, and also abuts against the bottom 20 of the container body 10 to restrict the closing operation. The upper part of Fig. 4(b) shows a plan view of the elastic member, the middle part shows a front view, and the lower part shows a bottom view. 4(b), the elastic member 60 is sandwiched and disposed in the gap between the leg main body 30 and the connecting metal fitting 50 across the pivot shaft 40, and has a generally U-shaped shape in plan view and is curved in side view. The presence of the elastic member 60 serves to maintain the extension of the legs within a range of a predetermined angle K beyond 90 degrees.

[0039] The standing stopper portion RS comes into contact with the bottom portion 20 of the container body 10 to restrict the opening operation.

[0040] The storage stopper portion SS comes into contact with the bottom portion 20 of the container body 10 to regulate the closing operation.

[0041] The elastic member 60 is a member provided to hold the leg body 30 at any angle when it is rotated until the rotation exceeds 90 degrees and the movement is restricted by a stopper, and is provided by being clamped in the gap between the connecting fitting 50 and the leg body 30. By being able to freely position the rotation position within this adjustment range, the container body 10 can be made horizontal even on places where the ground is not flat. [Industrial Applicability]

[0042] The folding leg structure of the present invention allows folding tables, chairs, equipment, etc. to be folded up compactly while maintaining the desired leg length, making them convenient to load into a car or carry, and is therefore considered to have high industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1 Folding leg structure 10. Body 20 bottom 30 Script Format 31 Base end 32 Distal end 40 Rotating Axis 50 Connecting hardware 60 Elastic member E extension line L Three Lines F. Bonfire stand H Length K angle R During stance S When stored RS Standing stopper SS Storage stopper

Claims

1. A three-foldable leg structure (1) provided on the bottom (20) of a container body (10), The folding leg structure (1) comprises: A script (30); A pivot shaft (40), A fitting (50) is also included. The folding leg structure (1) is arranged such that, when the leg body (30) is folded, three lines (L) connecting the base end (31) to the tip end (32) of each leg body (30) or their extensions (E) intersect to form an equilateral triangle; The container body (10) and the leg body (30) are attached to the bottom (20) of the container body (10) via the connecting metal fitting (50) and the pivot shaft (40); The folding leg structure (1) is characterized in that the length (H) of the leg body (30) is longer than the length (T) from the base end (31) to the center of the bottom (20) of the container body (10).

2. The folding leg structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with an elastic member (60) for maintaining the angle (K) when the leg main body (30) rotates relative to the connecting fitting (50), the elastic member (60) is positioned sandwiched in the gap between the leg main body (30) and the connecting fitting (50) across the pivot axis (40), and the shape of the elastic member (60) is approximately U-shaped in a plan view and is curved in a side view.

3. The folding leg structure (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the leg body (30) is provided with a standing stopper portion (RS) and a storage stopper portion (SS) at the base end portion (31) of the leg body (30) that abut against the bottom (20) of the container body (10) to restrict movement when the leg is standing (R) and when the leg is stored (S), respectively.

4. A fire pit (F) equipped with the folding leg structure (1).

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