Operation column and dolly

Abstract

To enable an operator to easily grab an operation column when the operator moves a dolly.SOLUTION: A dolly 1 includes an operation column 4 that is a column for operating a dolly, held by a wagon body 2 to which wheels 3 are attached on the lower surface side, and equipped with a grip portion 10 at one end portion in an axial direction of the column. The grip portion 10 includes a stationary grip portion 11 and a movable grip portion 12. The stationary grip portion 11 is configured such that an axial direction of the stationary grip portion 11 extends along the axial direction of the operation column 4. The movable grip portion 12 is movable between the orientation in which an axial direction of the movable grip portion 12 extends along the axial direction of the stationary grip portion 11 and the orientation in which the axial direction of the movable grip portion 12 is inclined toward the axial direction of the stationary grip portion 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating support column suitable for being provided on a cart for placing and transporting luggage, materials, etc., and a cart provided with the operating support column.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional cart for placing and transporting luggage, materials, etc., there is known a transport cart including a cart frame having front wheels and rear wheels, a loading platform provided on the cart frame and capable of placing luggage, a lifting mechanism for making the loading platform liftable with respect to the cart frame, an operating member for an operator to operate and transport, and a plurality of operating member attachment portions provided on the cart frame outside the loading platform and to which the operating member is detachably attached (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above conventional cart, the operating member that an operator operates when moving the cart is, specifically, a single pipe, that is, a cylindrical member whose axial direction is along the vertical direction, and it is not easy for an operator to grip. For this reason, there is a problem that it is not easy to operate the cart with luggage, materials, etc. placed thereon, and by extension, there is a problem that the safety is reduced by hitting the cart against people or structures around.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide, on one side, a technology capable of making it easier for an operator to grip an operating support column when moving the cart.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the operating support column according to the present invention is a support column for operating a carriage that is held by a carriage body with wheels attached to the lower surface side. A hand-held portion is provided at one end in the axial direction of the operating support column. The hand-held portion has a fixed hand-held portion and a movable hand-held portion. The axial direction of the fixed hand-held portion is along the axial direction of the operating support column, and the movable hand-held portion is rotatable between a posture in which the axial direction of the movable hand-held portion is along the axial direction of the fixed hand-held portion and a posture in which the axial direction of the movable hand-held portion is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the fixed hand-held portion.

[0007] In the operating support column according to the present invention, the movable hand-held portion may rotate inwardly of the carriage body with respect to the fixed hand-held portion, and the axial direction of the movable hand-held portion may be inclined inwardly of the carriage body with respect to the axial direction of the fixed hand-held portion.

[0008] In the operating support column according to the present invention, the angle formed between the axial direction of the fixed hand-held portion and the axial direction of the movable hand-held portion may be 45° or more and 90° or less.

[0009] In the operating support column according to the present invention, the other end in the axial direction of the operating support column may be rotatably connected to the carriage body.

[0010] In the operating support column according to the present invention, the thickness of the hand-held portion in a side view may be 1 / 2 of the thickness of the other end in the axial direction of the operating support column in a side view.

[0011] Further, the carriage according to the present invention has a carriage body with wheels attached to the lower surface side and at least two operating support columns held by the carriage body, and at least one of the operating support columns may be any one of the operating support columns described above.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, on the one hand, it becomes possible to make it easier for an operator to grasp the operating support column when moving the carriage.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Figure 18

Figure 19

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] In the description of the present invention, as shown in each figure, along each axis of the three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, the vertical direction is defined, and the upward and downward directions are defined according to the direction of each arrow. Also, the front-rear direction is defined, and the frontward and backward directions are defined according to the direction of each arrow. Further, the left-right direction is defined, and the rightward and leftward directions are defined according to the direction of each arrow. The front-rear direction and the left-right direction are orthogonal to each other in the same plane (specifically, the horizontal plane), and the vertical direction is orthogonal to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction (and thus the horizontal plane). The line of sight from the front side along the front-rear direction is a front view, and the line of sight from the rear side is a rear view. Also, the line of sight along the left-right direction is a side view, and further, the line of sight from the upper side along the vertical direction is a plan view. However, the front (front) and rear (rear), as well as the left and right, are merely distinctions for explaining the present invention and do not define the orientation and direction in the usage state of the cart according to the present invention.

[0016] In the following description, the method of attaching and joining each member is not limited to a specific method as long as it is a method capable of fixing one member to another member or fixing and joining a plurality of members to each other. For example, among methods such as connection by bolts and nuts, screwing, riveting, and welding, an appropriate method is appropriately selected after considering the material of the members to be attached or joined.

[0017] In this embodiment, the case where the operation support column 4 is applied to the cart 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 will be described as an example.

[0018] (Overall Configuration) FIG. 1 is a view showing a cart 1 according to an embodiment as an example of a specific configuration mode of an operating support column according to the present invention, and is a side view of a state where the operating support column 4 is horizontally laid down. FIG. 2 is a rear view of a state where the operating support column 4 of the cart 1 according to the embodiment is horizontally laid down. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a state where the operating support column 4 of the cart 1 according to the embodiment is horizontally laid down. FIGS. 4 to 6 are a side view, a rear view, and a plan view of a state where the operating support column 4 of the cart 1 according to the embodiment is vertically erected.

[0019] The cart 1 has a cart body 2, wheels 3 attached to the lower surface side of the cart body 2, and operating support columns 4 held at the four corners of the cart body 2.

[0020] The cart body 2 has a substantially rectangular outer shape in plan view, and has corner members 5 disposed at the four corners, a pair of left and right outer frame members 6A, a pair of front and rear outer frame members 6B, and two inner frame members 7.

[0021] The left and right outer frame members 6A are disposed in a posture where the longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction, and connect the corner members 5 that are in a position relationship of facing each other in the front-rear direction. The left and right outer frame members 6A are provided as a pair of members that are disposed along the front-rear direction while being separated from each other in plan view and facing each other in parallel.

[0022] The front and rear outer frame members 6B are disposed in a posture where the longitudinal direction is along the left-right direction, and connect the corner members 5 that are in a position relationship of facing each other in the left-right direction. The front and rear outer frame members 6B are provided as a pair of members that are disposed along the left-right direction while being separated from each other in plan view and facing each other in parallel.

[0023] Both ends of each of the pair of left and right outer frame members 6A in the longitudinal direction (i.e., the front-rear direction), and both ends of each of the pair of front and rear outer frame members 6B in the longitudinal direction (i.e., the left-right direction) are connected by a total of four corner members 5, and a rectangular frame-shaped frame body is formed in plan view. The corner members 5 are disposed at positions corresponding to the corners (in other words, the four corners) of the cart body 2 that form a rectangle in plan view.

[0024] The inner frame member 7 is disposed in a posture where its longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction, and connects the intermediate portions in the left-right direction of each of the pair of front and rear outer frame members 6B that face each other parallel to each other in the front-rear direction. In the example shown in the figure, between the pair of front and rear outer frame members 6B, two inner frame members 7 that are disposed along the front-rear direction while being spaced apart from each other in plan view and face each other parallel to each other are disposed. Only one inner frame member 7 or three or more inner frame members 7 may be disposed between the pair of front and rear outer frame members 6B.

[0025] Note that the inner frame member 7 is not an essential component in the cart according to the present invention, and the inner frame member 7 may not be disposed on the cart body 2. Further, for example, other reinforcing members or the like may be provided on the cart body 2 as necessary, such as to improve strength.

[0026] The left and right outer frame members 6A, the front and rear outer frame members 6B, and the inner frame member 7 may be constituted by, for example, corner tube-shaped metal members.

[0027] At each of the position near the front end and the position near the rear end on the lower surface side of the cart body 2, a wheel support member 8 is attached in a posture where its longitudinal direction is along the left-right direction and is bridged between the pair of left and right outer frame members 6A. In the example shown in the figure, the wheel support member 8 is constituted by a substantially plate-shaped metal member.

[0028] A total of four wheels 3 are attached to each of the position near the left end and the position near the right end on the lower surface side of the front and rear wheel support members 8. In the example shown in the figure, the wheels 3 are horizontally rotatable and are constituted by casters with brakes that are provided with brakes.

[0029] On the upper side of the carriage body 2, specifically on the upper surfaces of the left and right outer frame members 6A and the inner frame member 7, a top plate 9 is attached. Luggage, materials, etc. are placed on the upper surface of the top plate 9.

[0030] The top plate 9 is spanned between a pair of left and right outer frame members 6A that face each other in parallel in the left - right direction, and is attached within a range corresponding to the front - rear direction between the wheel support members 8 in plan view. That is, the top plate 9 is not attached above the wheel support members 8.

[0031] Therefore, the portion of the wheel support member 8 is recessed with respect to the upper surface of the top plate 9. When the carriage 1 is stacked vertically with the operating support column 4 laid down horizontally, the wheels 3 of the upper carriage 1 fit into the portion of the wheel support member 8 of the lower carriage 1 in the vertically stacked state (that is, the recessed portion). Thereby, it becomes difficult for the upper carriage 1 to be displaced with respect to the lower carriage 1, and a plurality of carriages 1 can be stably stacked in the vertical direction.

[0032] The upper surfaces of the left and right outer frame members 6A and the inner frame member 7 are lower than the upper surface of the front - rear outer frame member 6B by the thickness of the top plate 9. And the upper surface of the front - rear outer frame member 6B, the upper surface of the top plate 9, and the upper edge of the corner member 5 are at the same height (in other words, in the same plane, flush). Thereby, when luggage, materials, etc. are placed on the upper surface of the top plate 9, the luggage, materials, etc. are also supported by the upper surface of the front - rear outer frame member 6B and the upper edge of the corner member 5 at the same time, and it becomes stable.

[0033] (Corner member, operating support column) Figs. 7 to 9 and Figs. 11 to 13 are views showing the corner member 5 disposed on the right side of the front side of the carriage body 2 in the example shown in the figure.

[0034] The corner member 5 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 and FIGS. 11 to 13 has a columnar support holding portion 51 with an axial direction along the vertical direction, a pair of left - right direction mounting pieces 52 that project leftward and face each other from one of the outer surfaces of the four outer surfaces of the support holding portion 51 (specifically, the left side surface), and a pair of front - rear direction mounting pieces 53 that project rearward and face each other from the outer surface of one of these pair of left - right direction mounting pieces 52 (specifically, the rear side surface of the rear left - right direction mounting piece 52).

[0035] The support holding portion 51 is formed in a rectangular - tubular shape with an axial direction along the vertical direction and has a hollow portion 511 that communicates the upper and lower opening surfaces along the vertical direction.

[0036] Note that the corner member 5 disposed on the left side of the front side of the cart body 2 is symmetric with respect to the corner member 5 disposed on the right side of the front side of the cart body 2 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 and FIGS. 11 to 13 with respect to a plane along the front - rear direction and the vertical direction (i.e., a vertical plane along the front - rear direction). Also, the corner member 5 disposed on the right side of the rear side of the cart body 2 is symmetric with respect to the corner member 5 disposed on the right side of the front side of the cart body 2 with respect to a plane along the left - right direction and the vertical direction. Further, the corner member 5 disposed on the left side of the rear side of the cart body 2 is symmetric with respect to the corner member 5 disposed on the left side of the front side of the cart body 2 with respect to a plane along the left - right direction and the vertical direction. And the corner member 5 disposed on the right side of the front side of the cart body 2 and the corner member 5 disposed on the left side of the rear side of the cart body 2 have the same form, and the corner member 5 disposed on the left side of the front side of the cart body 2 and the corner member 5 disposed on the right side of the rear side of the cart body 2 have the same form.

[0037] Regarding the corner member 5 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 and FIGS. 11 to 13, the end portion in the longitudinal direction (i.e., the left - right direction) of the front - rear outer frame member 6B is clamped between the pair of left - right direction mounting pieces 52, and the end portion of the front - rear outer frame member 6B is fixed to the corner member 5.

[0038] Further, the end portions of the left and right outer frame members 6A in the longitudinal direction (i.e., the front-rear direction) are clamped between a pair of front-rear direction mounting pieces 53, and the end portions of the left and right outer frame members 6A are fixed to the corner member 5.

[0039] To each of the corner members 5 disposed at the four corners of the carriage body 2, the left and right outer frame members 6A and the front and rear outer frame members 6B are fixed in a mutually perpendicular relationship by the left and right direction mounting pieces 52 and the front and rear direction mounting pieces 53, thereby forming a rectangular frame-shaped frame body in plan view.

[0040] The pair of front-rear direction mounting pieces 53 are provided at positions that do not vertically overlap with the column support portion 51 in plan view and at positions that do not front-rear overlap with the column support portion 51 in front view (and rear view).

[0041] FIG. 10 is a view showing an operating column 4 held by the corner member 5 disposed on the right side of the front side of the carriage body 2 in the example shown in the figure.

[0042] The operating column 4 has a rod-shaped / columnar base end portion 41 and a rod-shaped / columnar tip end portion 42, and the base end portion 41 and the tip end portion 42 are connected along the longitudinal directions of each. The base end portion 41 and the tip end portion 42 may each be constituted by, for example, a square tubular metal member.

[0043] The base end portion 41 and the tip end portion 42 are connected by a pair of connecting members 43 that face each other in the left and right direction and sandwich and span the base end portion 41 and the tip end portion 42. The connecting member 43 is attached in a manner that protrudes in the left and right direction from the right side surface or the left side surface of the base end portion 41 and the tip end portion 42.

[0044] The operating column 4 is rotatably connected to the corner member 5 at the end portion of the base end portion 41 on the side opposite to the side where the tip end portion 42 is connected (referred to as the "connection end portion"). Thereby, the operating column 4 rotates between a horizontally laid state and a vertically erected state. The connection end portion of the base end portion 41 can also be said to be the portion held by the carriage body 2.

[0045] The corner members 5 are disposed at respective positions corresponding to the corners (in other words, the four corners) of the carriage body 2 that forms a quadrilateral in plan view. Accordingly, the operation support columns 4 (specifically, the connection ends of the base ends 41) are connected to respective positions corresponding to the corners (in other words, the four corners) of the carriage body 2 that forms a quadrilateral in plan view.

[0046] A long hole 411 that opens in an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction of the base end 41 (and thus the operation support column 4) is formed at the connection end of the base end 41 (note that the base end 41 may be formed to penetrate in the left - right direction). The end of the long hole 411 on the side of the corner member 5 is formed to be at a position approximately half the dimension in the front - rear direction of the base end 41 of the operation support column 4 in the state of being erected vertically, upward from the edge of the base end 41.

[0047] A support shaft 54 is disposed at a position near the upper end of the support column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5 in a posture where the axial direction is along the left - right direction (note that the support shaft 54 may be disposed to penetrate the support column holding portion 51 in the left - right direction). In the example shown in the figure, a bolt (and nut) is attached as the support shaft 54 to the corner - cylindrical support column holding portion 51.

[0048] The shaft portion of the support shaft 54 (in the example shown in the figure, the body portion / threaded portion of the bolt) projects into the hollow portion 511 of the corner - cylindrical support column holding portion 51 (note that it may penetrate the support column holding portion 51 in the left - right direction) and slidably engages with the long hole 411 formed in the base end 41 of the operation support column 4.

[0049] By the long hole 411 of the base end 41 of the operation support column 4 and the support shaft 54 of the support column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5, the operation support column 4 is connected and supported to the corner member 5 so as to be movable in the vertical direction by the dimension of the long hole 411 and rotatable along a vertical plane along the front - rear direction with the support shaft 54 as the rotation axis.

[0050] The support shaft 54 is disposed at a position approximately half the dimension in the front-rear direction of the base end portion 41 of the operating support column 4 in a vertically standing state, downward from the upper end edge of the support column holding portion 51.

[0051] As a structure for connecting the operating support column 4 to the corner member 5 so as to be movable in the vertical direction and rotatable, a support shaft may be provided at the base end portion 41 of the operating support column 4 and a long hole may be formed in the support column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5.

[0052] A recess 512 is formed at the upper end portion of the cylindrical wall on the side (specifically, the rear side in the examples shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 and FIGS. 11 to 13) of the support column holding portion 51 that faces the support column holding portion 51 of another corner member 5 in the front-rear direction with the corner member 5 disposed at the four corners of the carriage body 2.

[0053] The recess 512 of the support column holding portion 51 is formed in a shape and size substantially the same as or slightly larger than the shape and size of the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the base end portion 41 of the operating support column 4.

[0054] The operating support column 4 is tilted from a state (see FIG. 12) where it is pulled up until the support shaft 54 provided in the support column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5 abuts against the lower end edge of the long hole 411, toward the side where the recess 512 of the support column holding portion 51 is formed (see FIG. 11).

[0055] In order to avoid contact with the inner wall surface of the hollow portion 511 of the support column holding portion 51 at this time and enable the operating support column 4 to rotate without hindrance, among the end portions on the corner member 5 side of the base end portion 41 of the operating support column 4, the portion that is on the upper side in the state of being tilted horizontally (see FIG. 11) is cut away so as to incline downward toward the inner wall surface of the hollow portion 511, and an inclined portion 412 is formed.

[0056] When the operating support column 4 is tilted horizontally, the side of the connecting end portion of the base end portion 41 enters the recess 512 of the support column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5.

[0057] At the middle part in the front-rear direction of each of the pair of left and right outer frame members 6A, a horizontal support receiving portion 61 is attached. In the example shown in the figure, two horizontal support receiving portions 61 are attached to each of the pair of left and right outer frame members 6A, being spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction.

[0058] The horizontal support receiving portion 61 is attached in a manner of horizontally projecting outward from the left and right outer frame member 6A in the left-right direction toward the outside of the carriage body 2. And the operating support 4 is supported by the horizontal support receiving portion 61, thereby maintaining a horizontal state.

[0059] In the example shown in the figure, the horizontal support receiving portion 61 is configured by attaching a rod-shaped member bent in a U-shape in plan view so as to horizontally project outward from the left and right outer frame member 6A in the left-right direction toward the outside of the carriage body 2.

[0060] When the operating support 4 is horizontally laid down, it is preferable that the upper surface of the operating support 4 is substantially flush (flush) with the upper surface of the top plate 9 of the carriage body 2.

[0061] The operating support 4 is also slidably inserted into the hollow portion 511 of the support holding portion 51 of the corner member 5 with the side of the connecting end portion of the base end portion 41 in a vertically erected state (see FIG. 13).

[0062] In any of the states where the operating support 4 is horizontally laid down, vertically erected, and rotated between these horizontally laid down state and vertically erected state, the support shaft 54 slidably enters into the long hole 411 of the base end portion 41 of the operating support 4, and the long hole 411 and the support shaft 54 are engaged with each other.

[0063] The operating support column 4 is vertically erected, and with the connecting end side of the base end portion 41 inserted into the hollow portion 511 of the support column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5, the connecting end side of the base end portion 41 is pivotally supported by the long hole 411 and the support shaft 54, and the outer surface (specifically, the four side surfaces) of the connecting end side of the base end portion 41 abuts against the inner wall surface (specifically, the four side surfaces) of the hollow portion 511 and is supported, so that rotation is restricted and the vertically erected posture is maintained.

[0064] Here, a support column receiving shaft 55 is disposed at a position near the lower end of the support column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5 in a posture where the axial direction is along the front-rear direction. The support column receiving shaft 55 may be disposed so as to penetrate the support column holding portion 51 in the front-rear direction. In the example shown in the figure, as the support column receiving shaft 55, a bolt (and nut) that penetrates the support column holding portion 51 in the front-rear direction is attached.

[0065] Further, a bearing recess 44 is formed on the side of the end portion of the base end portion 41 of the operating support column 4 on the corner member 5 side that is opposite to the side where the inclined portion 412 is formed.

[0066] Then, with the operating support column 4 vertically erected and the connecting end side of the base end portion 41 inserted into the hollow portion 511 of the support column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5, the support column receiving shaft 55 of the corner member 5 enters and engages into the bearing recess 44 of the operating support column 4. As a result, in the state where the operating support column 4 is vertically erected, the dimension of the connecting end side of the base end portion 41 of the operating support column 4 inserted into the hollow portion 511 of the support column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5 becomes larger, and the supporting force, holding force, and restraining force of the connecting end side of the base end portion 41 of the operating support column 4 are improved. For this reason, the operating support column 4 is held more stably by the support column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5.

[0067] When the operating support column 4 is pulled up from the vertically standing state (see Fig. 13), it moves until the lower edge of the long hole 411 abuts against the support shaft 54 (see Fig. 12). In this state, there may be an inclined portion 412 formed at the connecting end portion of the base end portion 41 of the operating support column 4. For the operating support column 4 that attempts to rotate with the support shaft 54 as the rotation axis, the outer surface on the side of the connecting end portion of the base end portion 41 (specifically, the outer surface in the front-rear direction) is not supported by the inner wall surface of the hollow portion 511 (specifically, the inner wall surface in the front-rear direction).

[0068] Therefore, the operating support column 4 can rotate until it falls horizontally and the side of the connecting end portion of the base end portion 41 enters the concave portion 512 of the support holding portion 51 of the corner member 5 (see Fig. 11).

[0069] In the example shown in the figure, about 1 / 3 of the overall dimension in the longitudinal direction of the operating support column 4 is the base end portion 41, and about 2 / 3 is the tip end portion 42. However, the ratio between the base end portion 41 and the tip end portion 42 of the operating support column 4 is not limited to the ratio in the example shown in the figure.

[0070] In a state where two operating support columns 4 that are in a position relationship facing each other in the front-rear direction are both fallen horizontally, the tip end portion 42 of one operating support column 4 is adjusted to be on the lower side, and the tip end portion 42 of the other operating support column 4 is adjusted to be on the upper side.

[0071] The tip end portion 42 is formed such that the dimension in the vertical direction (in other words, the thickness) in the horizontally fallen state is approximately 1 / 2 of the dimension in the vertical direction (in other words, the thickness) of the base end portion 41 in the horizontally fallen state. In other words, the tip end portion 42 is formed such that the dimension (in other words, the thickness) in the side view is approximately 1 / 2 of the dimension (in other words, the thickness) of the base end portion 41 in the side view.

[0072] When both of the two operating columns 4 in a position facing each other in the front-rear direction are horizontally laid down, the dimensions of each of the two operating columns 4 in the vertical direction are approximately 1 / 2 of the dimensions of the base end portion 41 in the vertical direction (in other words, the dimensions in a side view are approximately 1 / 2 of the dimensions of the base end portion 41 in a side view), and the tip portions 42 overlap each other vertically, and both of the two operating columns 4 assume a horizontal posture.

[0073] With the above configuration, when the carriage 1 is not in use, the operating columns 4 are horizontally laid down and folded at positions adjacent to the left and right sides of the top plate 9, respectively. At this time, the tip portions 42 of the two operating columns 4 in a position facing each other in the front-rear direction overlap each other vertically, and both of the two operating columns 4 assume a horizontal posture.

[0074] Also, when the carriage 1 is in use, the operating columns 4 are vertically erected and the side of the connecting end portion of the base end portion 41 is inserted into the hollow portion 511 of the column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5. At this time, the upper edge of the long hole 411 of the base end portion 41 abuts against the support shaft 54 provided on the column holding portion 51, and the upper edge of the bearing recess 44 of the base end portion 41 abuts against the column receiving shaft 55 provided on the column holding portion 51, thereby restricting the downward movement of the operating column 4. Further, the outer surface of the side of the connecting end portion of the base end portion 41 abuts against the inner wall surface of the hollow portion 511, thereby maintaining the state in which the operating column 4 is vertically erected.

[0075] Also, when the use of the carriage 1 is terminated, the operating column 4 is pulled up until the lower edge of the long hole 411 of the base end portion 41 of the operating column 4 abuts against the support shaft 54 provided on the column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5, and the supporting force (in other words, the restriction of rotation) of the operating column 4 by the column holding portion 51 is released, and the operating column 4 is horizontally laid down.

[0076] (Handheld part) Figs. 14 to 16 are views showing a hand-held portion 10 provided on an operation support column 4 held by a corner member 5 disposed on the right side of the front side of the carriage body 2 in the example shown in the figures. Fig. 17 is a rear view showing a state where the operation support column 4 of the carriage 1 according to the embodiment is vertically erected and the hand-held portion 10 provided on the operation support column 4 is opened.

[0077] The operation support column 4 according to the embodiment is a support column for carriage operation held by a carriage body 2 having wheels 3 attached to the lower surface side. A hand-held portion 10 is provided at one end in the axial direction of the operation support column 4. The hand-held portion 10 has a fixed hand-held portion 11 and a movable hand-held portion 12. The axial direction of the fixed hand-held portion 11 is along the axial direction of the operation support column 4, and the movable hand-held portion 12 is rotatable between a posture where the axial direction of the movable hand-held portion 12 is along the axial direction of the fixed hand-held portion 11 and a posture where the axial direction of the movable hand-held portion 12 is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the fixed hand-held portion 11.

[0078] The hand-held portion 10 provided on the operation support column 4 has a fixed hand-held portion 11, a movable hand-held portion 12, a rotation shaft 13, and a fixed connection portion 14.

[0079] The hand-held portion 10 is provided on the opposite side of the tip portion 42 of the operation support column 4 from the base end portion 41. In the example shown in the figure, the hand-held portion 10 is attached by being inserted into the hollow portion of the tip portion 42, which is a cylindrical member, through the opening of the hollow portion and then fixed by screws with the fixed connection portion 14 formed at one end.

[0080] Similar to the tip portion 42 of the operation support column 4, the hand-held portion 10 is formed such that the dimension in the vertical direction (in other words, the thickness) in the state of being horizontally laid down is approximately 1 / 2 of the dimension in the vertical direction (in other words, the thickness) of the base end portion 41 in the horizontally laid down state. In other words, the hand-held portion 10 is formed such that the dimension (in other words, the thickness) in the side view is approximately 1 / 2 of the dimension (in other words, the thickness) of the base end portion 41 in the side view.

[0081] When the operating support column 4 having the hand-held part 10 is horizontally laid down and folded, the tip parts 42 of the two operating support columns 4 that are in a positional relationship facing each other in the front-rear direction and the hand-held part 10 overlap vertically, and the dimensions of these tip parts 42 and the hand-held part 10 in a side view are approximately 1 / 2 of the dimensions of the base end part 41 in a side view. Therefore, both of the two operating support columns 4 are in a horizontal posture.

[0082] The fixed hand-held part 11 of the hand-held part 10 is a part along the axial direction of the operating support column 4 (and thus, the tip part 42).

[0083] The rotation shaft 13 is disposed at a position of the hand-held part 10 closer to the tip part 42 of the operating support column 4 in a posture where the axial direction is along the front-rear direction.

[0084] The movable hand-held part 12 is rotatably attached via the rotation shaft 13. Specifically, in a state where the operating support column 4 is vertically erected, the movable hand-held part 12 is attached via the rotation shaft 13 disposed in a posture where the axial direction is along the front-rear direction so as to be rotatable along a plane along the left-right direction and the up-down direction (that is, a vertical plane along the left-right direction).

[0085] That is, the axial direction of the fixed hand-held part 11 of the hand-held part 10 is along the axial direction of the operating support column 4, and the movable hand-held part 12 of the hand-held part 10 is rotatable between a posture where the axial direction of the movable hand-held part 12 is along the axial direction of the fixed hand-held part 11 and a posture where the axial direction of the movable hand-held part 12 is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the fixed hand-held part 11.

[0086] A state where the axial direction of the fixed hand-held part 11 and the axial direction of the movable hand-held part 12 are aligned (see FIG. 14) is expressed as "the state where the hand-held part 10 is closed", and a state where the axial direction of the movable hand-held part 12 is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the fixed hand-held part 11 (see FIGS. 15 and 16) is expressed as "the state where the hand-held part 10 is open". Also, the movement of the fixed hand-held part 11 and the movable hand-held part 12 opening and closing is expressed as "the hand-held part 10 is openable and closable".

[0087] In the example shown in the figure, the axial direction of the fixed holding part 11 and the axial direction of the movable holding part 12 are orthogonal to each other (in other words, the angle formed by the axial direction of the fixed holding part 11 and the axial direction of the movable holding part 12 is 90°; see Fig. 16), and the axial direction of the movable holding part 12 is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the fixed holding part 11 until they are orthogonal. However, the open state of the movable holding part 12 is not limited to the state where the axial direction of the movable holding part 12 is orthogonal to the axial direction of the fixed holding part 11.

[0088] For example, the position of the movable holding part 12 may be fixed (in other words, further rotation may be restricted) in a state where the angle formed by the axial direction of the fixed holding part 11 and the axial direction of the movable holding part 12 is 45° (see Fig. 15), and this state may be the open state of the holding part 10 and the use state. Also, the position of the movable holding part 12 may be fixed (in other words, further rotation may be restricted) in a state where the angle formed by the axial direction of the fixed holding part 11 and the axial direction of the movable holding part 12 is greater than 90°, and this state may be the open state of the holding part 10 and the use state.

[0089] That is, the angle formed by the axial direction of the fixed holding part 11 and the axial direction of the movable holding part 12 may be, for example, 45° or more and 135° or less, preferably 45° or more and 90° or less, and more preferably 90°. By doing so, it becomes easier for the operator to grasp the movable holding part 12 and, by extension, the operating support column 4.

[0090] The fixed hand-held part 11 and the movable hand-held part 12 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. As shown in the example in the figure, the fixed hand-held part 11 may be located outside / externally (with respect to the cart body 2), and the movable hand-held part 12 may be located inside / internally (with respect to the cart body 2). However, the positional relationship between the fixed hand-held part 11 and the movable hand-held part 12 is not limited to the positional relationship in the example shown in the figure. The fixed hand-held part 11 may be located inside / internally (with respect to the cart body 2), and the movable hand-held part 12 may be located outside / externally (with respect to the cart body 2), or the fixed hand-held part 11 may be located in the front side / front (with respect to the cart body 2), and the movable hand-held part 12 may be located in the rear side / rear (with respect to the cart body 2).

[0091] That is, the axial direction of the movable hand-held part 12 may be inclined inward / internally (with respect to the cart body 2) with respect to the axial direction of the fixed hand-held part 11, or may be inclined outward / externally (with respect to the cart body 2) or inclined rearward / externally (with respect to the cart body 2).

[0092] For the cart 1, the operating support column 4 is erected vertically, and loads, materials, etc. are placed on the upper surface of the top plate 9 (furthermore, the upper surface of the front and rear outer frame members 6B and the upper edge of the corner member 5). In this state, when the operator moves the cart 1, the movable hand-held part 12 of the hand-held part 10 provided at the upper end of the operating support column 4 is rotated from the posture along the vertical direction to the posture along the left-right direction.

[0093] (Function and effect) According to the operating support column 4 according to the embodiment, since the hand-held part 10 is configured to be openable and closable, it becomes possible to easily grip the operating support column 4 when the operator moves the cart 1, and thus it becomes possible to improve the safety when moving the cart 1.

[0094] Moreover, according to the cart 1 according to the embodiment, since the hand-held portion 10 of the operating column 4 is configured to be openable and closable, it becomes possible to easily grip the operating column 4 when the operator moves the cart 1, and by extension, it becomes possible to improve the safety when moving the cart 1.

[0095] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the specific configuration aspects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and forms in which modifications and changes are made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

[0096] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the operating column 4 including the hand-held portion 10 is rotatably connected to the cart body 2 (specifically, the corner member 5). However, the operating column 4 may be configured as a member independent of the cart body 2 without being connected to the cart body 2. In this case, when using the cart 1, the operating column including the hand-held portion 10 may be inserted vertically into each of the hollow portions 511 of the column holding portions 51 of the respective corner members 5. Further, some of the operating columns may be rotatably connected to the cart body 2 (specifically, for example, the corner member 5), and the other operating columns may be configured as members independent of the cart body 2 without being connected to the cart body 2.

[0097] In addition, when the operating column 4 is rotatably connected to each of the corner members 5 at the four corners of the cart body 2 as in the above-described embodiment, the cart 1 can be assembled and stored only by standing the operating column 4 vertically or laying it horizontally, and it becomes possible to reduce the labor for assembling and storing the cart 1.

[0098] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the operating support column 4 is configured by a square tubular member. However, the operating support column 4 may be configured by a cylindrical member instead of a square tubular member. For example, the operating support column 4 may be configured by a single pipe, and the hand-held portion 10 may be fixed to the single pipe for attachment. In this case, in a state where the cylindrical single pipe is inserted into the hollow portion 511 of the support column holding portion 51 of the corner member 5, in order not to rotate with the axial center of the single pipe as the rotation axis, for example, a structure that engages with each other is provided on each of the outer periphery of the single pipe and the inner wall of the hollow portion 511.

[0099] Also, in the above-described embodiment, all the hand-held portions of the four operating support columns 4 held at the four corners of the cart body 2 are configured to be openable and closable. However, at least one of the hand-held portions of the operating support columns 4 may be configured to be openable and closable.

[0100] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the operating support columns 4 are held at the four corners of the cart body 2, and a total of four operating support columns 4 are held. However, the number of the operating support columns 4 is not limited to four. Specifically, at least two of the four corners of the cart body 2 may be provided with the operating support columns. Therefore, at least two operating support columns may be held on the cart body 2. That is, the cart according to the present invention may be provided with at least two operating support columns, and at least one of the hand-held portions of the two or more operating support columns may be configured to be openable and closable. In other words, at least one of the two or more operating support columns may be the operating support column 4.

[0101] Moreover, the form of the hand-held part 10 is not limited to the form of the hand-held part 10 in the above-described embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the shape of the entire hand-held part 10 in a plan view may be formed in a circular shape, and the movable hand-held part 12 may be configured to enter the fixed hand-held part 11. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 19, the shape of the entire hand-held part 10 in a plan view may be formed in a circular shape, and the shapes of the fixed hand-held part 11 and the movable hand-held part 12 in a plan view may each be semi-circular. When the hand-held part 10 is in the form shown in FIG. 18 or FIG. 19, when the operation support column 4 provided with the hand-held part 10 is horizontally laid down and folded, the tip portions 42 of the two operation support columns 4 facing each other in the front-rear direction and the hand-held parts 10 may not overlap vertically (specifically, the longitudinal dimension of the operation support column 4 may be adjusted to a dimension such that they do not overlap each other).

Explanation of Signs

[0102] 1 Cart 2 Cart Body 3 Wheel 4 Operation Support Column 41 Base End Portion 411 Long Hole 412 Inclined Portion 42 Tip Portion 43 Connecting Member 44 Bearing Recess 5 Corner Member 51 Support Column Holding Portion 511 Hollow Portion 512 Recess 52 Left-Right Direction Mounting Piece 53 Front-Rear Direction Mounting Piece 54 Support Shaft 55 Support Column Receiving Shaft 6A Left-Right Outer Frame Member 6B Front-Rear Outer Frame Member 61 Horizontal Support Column Receiving Portion 7 Inner Frame Member 8 Wheel Support Member 9 Top Plate 10 Hand-Held Portion 11 Fixed Hand-Held Portion 12 Movable Hand-Held Portion 13 Rotation Axis 14 Fixed connection part

Claims

1. A support column for cart operation, which is held by a cart body with wheels attached to the lower side, and has a hand-held part at one end in the axial direction of the support column for operation, wherein the hand-held part has a fixed hand-held part and a movable hand-held part, the fixed hand-held part has its axial direction along the axial direction of the support column for operation, and the movable hand-held part is rotatable between a posture where the axial direction of the movable hand-held part is along the axial direction of the fixed hand-held part and a posture where the axial direction of the movable hand-held part is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the fixed hand-held part. The support column for operation is characterized by the above.

2. The movable hand-held part rotates inward of the cart body with respect to the fixed hand-held part, and the axial direction of the movable hand-held part inclines inward of the cart body with respect to the axial direction of the fixed hand-held part. The support column for operation according to Claim 1 is characterized by the above.

3. The angle formed by the axial direction of the fixed hand-held part and the axial direction of the movable hand-held part is 45° or more and 90° or less. The support column for operation according to Claim 1 is characterized by the above.

4. The other end in the axial direction of the support column for operation is rotatably connected to the cart body. The support column for operation according to Claim 1 is characterized by the above.

5. The thickness of the hand-held part in a side view is 1 / 2 of the thickness of the other end in the axial direction of the support column for operation in a side view. The support column for operation according to Claim 4 is characterized by the above.

6. A cart having a cart body with wheels attached to the lower side, and at least two support columns for operation held by the cart body, wherein at least one of the support columns for operation is the support column for operation according to any one of Claims 1 to 5. The cart is characterized by the above.

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