Load platform structure for cart, and cart

Abstract

To prevent breakage of a brake operation pedal of a caster while improving its visibility.SOLUTION: A cart 1A comprises a load platform (specifically, a frame body 2 and a load receiving plate 6) and a caster 7A attached to the underside of the load platform. The load platform is provided with an opening for ensuring visibility of a brake operation pedal 74 of the caster 7A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a platform structure of a dolly used for carrying and transporting goods or luggage, and to the dolly. [Background technology]

[0002] A known hand truck for transporting goods and luggage is constructed by connecting a number of aluminum alloy extrusions to each other with fixing means, providing wide-bottom grooves on the side surfaces of two opposing sides, and fixing caps having wide-bottom grooves of the same shape as the wide-bottom grooves to the other two opposing sides, attaching buffer belts to these wide-bottom grooves to form a loading platform, and attaching casters to the undersides of the extrusions (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 01-039168 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Braked casters equipped with a braking function that locks the rotation of the wheels are sometimes used as casters for hand trucks used to load and transport goods, luggage, etc. Braked casters are equipped with a brake operation pedal that is operated to apply the brakes to lock the wheels or to unlock the wheels.

[0005] Furthermore, if the trolley runs on an inclined surface, the trolley will start moving due to its own weight, requiring the brakes on the brake-equipped casters to be applied immediately. If the worker cannot immediately recognize the brake pedal on the caster when the trolley suddenly starts moving, he or she will be unable to operate the brake pedal. Therefore, to enable the worker to immediately recognize the brake pedal on the caster, it is conceivable to lengthen the longitudinal dimension of the brake pedal so that the operating portion of the brake pedal is positioned further outward than the platform frame members of the trolley in a plan view. However, while this improves the visibility of the brake pedal operating portion on the caster, the brake pedal operating portion protrudes further outward than the platform frame members of the trolley, which poses a problem of the brake pedal operating portion hitting surrounding objects and being damaged while the trolley is moving.

[0006] Therefore, in one aspect, the present invention aims to provide a technique that can improve visibility while preventing damage to the brake operation pedal of a caster. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, the platform structure for a trolley of the present invention may be such that, in a trolley including a platform and casters attached to the underside of the platform, an opening is provided in the platform for visually observing the brake operating pedal or wheel of the caster.

[0008] In the platform structure for a dolly according to the present invention, the platform may have a load receiving plate, and the opening may not be covered by the load receiving plate.

[0009] The platform structure for a trolley according to the present invention may be configured such that the casters are attached to the underside of the platform via caster support members, and the caster support members have openings formed therein that function as at least a part of the opening.

[0010] The trolley loading platform structure of the present invention may be configured so that the caster support members are made up of a pair of members, and when multiple trolleys are stacked one on top of the other, the lower portions of the wheels of the casters of the upper trolley fit between the pair of caster support members of the lower trolley.

[0011] In the dolly platform structure according to the present invention, the color of the portion of the brake operation pedal that is to be operated may be different from the color of the portion of the brake operation pedal other than the portion that is to be operated.

[0012] In the platform structure for a trolley according to the present invention, the color of the portion of the brake operation pedal that is to be operated and the color of the caster receiving member may be different from each other.

[0013] Furthermore, the dolly according to the present invention may be equipped with any one of the dolly loading platform structures described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve visibility while preventing damage to the brake operation pedal of the caster. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of a dolly provided with a dolly platform structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the cart of FIG. 1 (casters not shown). [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the carriage of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the carriage of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of left and right caster support members of the cart of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bogie in FIG. 1 near the rear end and left end in a plan view. [Figure 7] 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bogie of FIG. 1 near the rear end and the left end in a plan view, in which the operating portion of the brake operation pedal is colored. [Figure 8] 2 is a side view showing the state in which the carts of FIG. 1 are stacked one above the other. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a side view of a dolly provided with a dolly platform structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of the carriage in FIG. 9 near the rear end and left end in a plan view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] In the description of the present invention, the up-down direction is defined along each of the mutually orthogonal axes (specifically, each axis of a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system) shown in each drawing, and upward and downward directions are defined according to the direction of the arrows, the front-rear direction is defined along with forward and backward directions according to the direction of the arrows, and the left-right direction is defined along with left and right directions according to the direction of the arrows. The up-down direction is along a vertical plane, and the front-rear direction and left-right direction are along a horizontal plane.

[0018] A view from above along the vertical direction is a plan view, and a view from below is a bottom view, a view from the front along the front-to-rear direction is a front view, a view from the rear along the back direction is a rear view, and a view from the left to right direction is a side view. Also, for each component, the surface seen in the plan view is the front surface, the surface seen in the bottom view is the back surface, and the surface seen in the side view is the side surface.

[0019] However, the terms top (surface), bottom (back), front (front face), rear (back face), and left and right (side faces) are merely distinctions for the purpose of explaining the present invention, and do not stipulate the direction or orientation from a particular viewpoint when using the platform structure for a trolley or the trolley according to the present invention.

[0020] (Embodiment 1) In the first embodiment, a description will be given of an example in which a platform structure for a dolly according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a dolly 1A whose overall configuration is shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

[0021] (Overall structure of the cart) 1 to 4 are diagrams showing a dolly 1A according to embodiment 1, which is an example of a specific configuration of the dolly according to the present invention and is provided with a dolly platform structure 10A according to embodiment 1. In Fig. 2, casters 7A are not shown in consideration of the ease of understanding the structure as viewed from the bottom.

[0022] The following components that make up the bogie 1A are assembled by joining together, for example, by welding, or by fixing together parts that are not slidable, rotatable, or pivotable, with fastening members such as screws and bolts, or joining members such as rivets. In other words, in the present invention, the methods of connecting, joining, and attaching the components to each other are not limited to any particular method, but an appropriate method is selected based on the characteristics of each component.

[0023] The cart 1A has a frame body 2 composed of multiple frame members, a load receiving plate 6 attached to the upper surface of the frame body 2, and casters 7A attached to the lower surface of the frame body 2. The frame body 2 and the load receiving plate 6 correspond to the loading platform of the cart 1A.

[0024] The frame body 2 of the trolley 1A has a frame frame 3 formed by combining and joining tubular (in other words, cylindrical, rod-shaped) frame members into a frame body shape (in other words, a picture frame shape), and an inner frame 4 formed by arranging and joining tubular (cylindrical, rod-shaped) frame members inside the frame frame 3.

[0025] The frame 3 is formed by connecting four frame members to form a rectangular frame (picture frame) in plan view.

[0026] Specifically, the frame 3 is configured by assembling a front frame member 31, a rear frame member 32, and a pair of left and right side frame members 33 to form a rectangular frame body (picture frame) in a plan view.

[0027] The front frame member 31 and the rear frame member 32 are disposed such that the longitudinal direction of the members extends along the left-right direction and are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction.

[0028] The pair of left and right side frame members 33 are arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the member is aligned along the front-to-rear direction and are spaced apart from each other in the left-to-right direction. One of the pair of left and right side frame members 33 is arranged between the left ends of the front frame member 31 and the rear frame member 32, and the other is arranged between the right ends of the front frame member 31 and the rear frame member 32.

[0029] In the example shown in the figure, a pair of front and rear L-shaped hooks 34 are attached to the underside of each of a pair of left and right side frame members 33. The L-shaped hooks 34 are structures for hooking a cargo securing belt or the like to prevent cargo placed on the frame body 2 and the cargo receiving plate 6 (i.e., the cargo bed) from shifting. The L-shaped hooks 34 may be attached to at least one of the pair of left and right side frame members 33 and the front frame member 31 and the rear frame member 32. The number of L-shaped hooks 34 is not limited to a specific number. Note that the L-shaped hooks 34 are not an essential component of the present invention, and may not be attached.

[0030] Corner members 5 are disposed at the four corners of a frame 3 that is rectangular in plan view.

[0031] The corner member 5 is used to connect and join the frame members that make up the frame frame 3, and has a connecting plate portion 51 that bends and extends along the left-right and front-to-back directions, and an insertion hole portion 52 that is provided in the bending portion of the connecting plate portion 51 along the up-down direction.

[0032] The connecting plate portion 51 of the corner member 5 has a portion extending in the left-right direction that is connected to the front frame member 31 or the rear frame member 32 and fixed to each other, and a portion extending in the front-to-rear direction that is connected to the side frame member 33 and fixed to each other.

[0033] The insertion hole 52 of the corner member 5 is formed as a hollow portion into which a pipe material (specifically, a single pipe, a steel pipe, or the like; not shown) can be inserted and removed freely in the vertical direction. Specifically, the insertion hole 52 may be formed of a hollow cylindrical member.

[0034] In the example shown in the figure, a buffer member 54 is attached to the outer surface of the corner member 5. The buffer member 54 is intended to reduce the impact when a corner of the cart 1A (specifically, a corner of the frame body 2 in a plan view) hits a surrounding object. The buffer member 54 is formed, for example, from a member having elasticity so that it can absorb the impact at the time of collision.

[0035] A flat receiving member 53 is attached to the lower end of the insertion hole 52, and the pipe material inserted vertically from the upper end opening of the insertion hole 52 is supported by hitting the receiving member 53. The pipe material inserted and supported in the insertion hole 52 is used as an operating rod that functions like a handle and is grasped by the worker when moving the cart 1A.

[0036] The inner frame 4 is configured by assembling eight frame members inside the frame 3 that forms a rectangular frame body in a plan view.

[0037] Specifically, the inner frame 4 is configured by two longitudinal frames 41, four outer lateral frames 42, and two inner lateral frames 43, which are arranged and assembled in a mutually orthogonal manner.

[0038] The two longitudinal frames 41 are each arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the frame member 41 is aligned along the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. The two longitudinal frames 41 are each fixedly attached at their front ends to the rear surfaces of the front frame members 31 of the frame 3 and at their rear ends to the front surfaces of the rear frame members 32 of the frame 3.

[0039] The four outer left-right frames 42 are each arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the frame extends along the left-right direction and are spaced apart from one another in the front-to-rear direction. Two outer left-to-right frames 42 are arranged between the right side frame member 33 and the right front-to-rear frame 41, and two outer left-to-right frames 42 are arranged between the left side frame member 33 and the left front-to-rear frame 41. Each of the four outer left-to-right frames 42 has one left-to-right end fixed to a side surface of the side frame member 33 and the other left-to-right end fixed to a side surface of the front-to-rear frame 41.

[0040] The two inner left-right frames 43 are each arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the member extends along the left-right direction and are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The two inner left-right frames 43 are arranged between the pair of left and right front-rear frames 41. Both left and right ends of each of the two inner left-right frames 43 are fixed and attached to the side surfaces of the pair of left and right front-rear frames 41.

[0041] The material of each frame member (in other words, pipe material, cylindrical material, rod material) that constitutes the frame body 2 is not limited to a specific type of material, but an appropriate material is selected as appropriate, taking into consideration, for example, strength and weight. Specific examples of the material of each frame member that constitutes the frame body 2 include aluminum alloy. Furthermore, each frame member that constitutes the frame body 2 may be, for example, a member formed in the shape of a square pipe.

[0042] The frame members that make up the frame body 2 are not limited to tubular members. For example, the outer left-right frame 42 and the inner left-right frame 43 may be members whose cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction has an L-shaped angle shape (also called a cold angle shape or a pin angle shape).

[0043] The cargo receiving plate 6 of the cart 1A is used to place articles, luggage, etc., and is formed in a plate shape and attached to the upper surface side of the frame body 2.

[0044] The cargo receiving plate 6 has a main body 61 stretched between a pair of left and right side frame members 33, a front protruding portion 62 whose central portion protrudes forward from the main body 61, and a rear protruding portion 63 whose central portion protrudes rearward from the main body 61, and is formed in a rectangular shape with the four corners cut off when viewed in a plane.

[0045] The four corners of the top surface of the frame body 2, which is rectangular in plan view, namely the left and right end portions at the front end and the left and right end portions at the rear end, are not covered by the load receiving plate 6.

[0046] The casters 7A of the cart 1A are attached via caster receiving members 8 to the four corners of the underside of the frame body 2, which is rectangular in plan view.

[0047] The caster 7A may be a swivel caster / swivel caster that can rotate around an axis in the vertical direction, or may be a fixed caster in which the rotation direction of the wheel (in other words, the direction of travel) is fixed in the front-to-rear direction.

[0048] The caster 7A has a pair of arm-shaped fork parts 71 that extend downward while facing each other in the horizontal direction from a mounting part (specifically, for example, a top plate (mounting base)) that is attached to the underside of the frame body 2. A wheel 73 is rotatably supported on the lower end of the fork parts 71 via a rotation shaft 72 whose axis is arranged along the horizontal direction.

[0049] A support portion 71a is provided so as to protrude from the upper portion of each of the pair of fork portions 71 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotary shaft 72. The support portion 71a is a structure for supporting a brake operation pedal 74.

[0050] The support portion 71a has a vertical cross section that is U-shaped with an opening facing downward, and is formed above the wheel 73 so as to straddle the upper end portion of the wheel 73 in a plan view.

[0051] The support portion 71a has a pair of arm-shaped fork portions 71 that face each other in the horizontal direction, and a pair of side plate portions 711 that face each other in the horizontal direction and extend in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 72.

[0052] A swing shaft 75, which serves as the swing axis of the brake operating pedal 74, is disposed between the pair of side plate portions 711. The swing shaft 75 is disposed between the pair of side plate portions 711 in an attitude in which the axis direction of the member is aligned horizontally.

[0053] The brake operation pedal 74 is a structure for applying and releasing the brakes on the wheels 73. The upper end portion of the brake operation pedal 74 is sandwiched between a pair of side plate portions 711 of the support portion 71a, and the brake operation pedal 74 is supported so as to be able to swing freely relative to the support portion 71a by inserting a swing shaft 75 into a through-hole formed in the sandwiched portion.

[0054] The brake operation pedal 74 is disposed in such a manner that the cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of both end portions in the longitudinal direction is formed in a U-shape, and is open forward and downward.

[0055] The brake operating pedal 74 has one end supported so as to be freely swingable relative to the support part 71a via a swing shaft 75, and the other end, the operating part 741, swings between a position away from the wheel 73 and a position close to the wheel 73.

[0056] When the operating part 741 of the brake operating pedal 74 is positioned away from the wheel 73, the lock (rotation restriction) is released and the wheel 73 is in an unlocked state (state shown in Figure 3) in which it becomes rotatable, and when it is positioned close to the wheel 73, it is in a locked state in which the wheel 73 is fixed so that it cannot rotate.

[0057] A generally arc-shaped cam groove 76 is formed below the oscillation shaft 75 of each of the pair of side plate portions 711 of the support portion 71a, with the center being the axis of the oscillation shaft 75. The cam groove 76 is formed as a generally arc-shaped through-hole that is recessed in side view.

[0058] A locking shaft 77 is disposed near the swing shaft 75 at a position overlapping with the cam groove 76 in a side view when the brake operating pedal 74 is swingably supported on the support portion 71a, and the axial direction of the locking shaft 77 is aligned horizontally and passes through the brake operating pedal 74 and the cam groove 76. The locking shaft 77 moves within the cam groove 76 in accordance with the swing of the brake operating pedal 74.

[0059] Due to the engagement between the cam groove 76 and the locking shaft 77, the brake operation pedal 74 is maintained in an unlocked state in which the brake operation pedal 74 is not pressed in and the locking shaft 77 is positioned at one end of the cam groove 76 (the state shown in FIG. 3, specifically the rear end) until the brake operation pedal 74 is pressed in by the operator / user's foot or the like.

[0060] Due to the engagement between the cam groove 76 and the locking shaft 77, the brake operation pedal 74 is pressed in and the locked state in which the locking shaft 77 moves within the cam groove 76 and is positioned at the other end of the cam groove 76 is maintained until the brake operation pedal 74 is pushed up by the operator / user with their foot or the like.

[0061] (Cart platform structure) The trolley loading platform structure 10A of embodiment 1 is a trolley 1A including a loading platform (specifically, a frame body 2 and a loading receiving plate 6) and a caster 7A attached to the underside of the loading platform, and is configured so that an opening is provided in the loading platform for visually observing the brake operating pedal 74 of the caster 7A.

[0062] The platform structure 10A for a dolly according to the first embodiment is configured as a structure including a caster receiving member 8.

[0063] The caster receiving member 8 is formed so that the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the member has an L-shaped angle shape (also called a cold angle shape or a pin angle shape).

[0064] The caster receiving members 8 are disposed in pairs on the left and right at each of the four corners of the frame body 2, which is rectangular in plan view. One caster 7A is supported by the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 (i.e., two caster receiving members 8).

[0065] The pair of left and right caster support members 8 are each arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the member is aligned with the front-to-rear direction, and one face of the L-shape in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the member is aligned with a horizontal plane, and the other face is aligned with a vertical plane (see Figure 5; Figure 5 shows only the pair of left and right caster support members 8, and does not show other members). The portion of the angle-shaped caster support member 8 with an L-shaped cross section that forms one face that is aligned with the horizontal plane is referred to as the "horizontal surface portion 81," and the portion that forms the other face that is aligned with the vertical plane is referred to as the "vertical surface portion 82."

[0066] Each of the pair of left and right caster support members 8 is disposed in a position where the vertical surface portion 82 is located on the side of the opposing caster support member 8 in the left-right direction. In other words, each of the pair of left and right caster support members 8 is disposed in a position where the horizontal surface portion 81 of each of the pair of left and right caster support members 8 is located outside the space between the vertical surface portions 82 of each of the pair of left and right caster support members 8, not between the vertical surface portions 82 of each of the pair of left and right caster support members 8.

[0067] A pair of left and right caster support members 8 supporting casters 7A at positions near the left end and near the right end on the underside of the frame body 2, which is square in plan view, have their front ends fixed and attached to the rear surface of the front frame member 31 of the frame frame 3, and their rear ends fixed and attached to the front surface of the outer left-right frame 42 of the inner frame 4 that is closest to the front frame member 31.

[0068] A pair of left and right caster support members 8 that support casters 7A at positions near the left end and near the right end on the underside of the frame body 2, which is square in plan view, have their front ends fixed and attached to the rear surface of the outer left-right frame 42 of the inner frame 4 that is closest to the rear frame member 32, and their rear ends fixed and attached to the front surface of the rear frame member 32 of the frame frame 3.

[0069] The casters 7A are attached to the horizontal surface portions 81 of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 via, for example, top plates (mounting bases).

[0070] Of the top surface of the frame body 2, which is rectangular in plan view, the four corners, i.e., the left and right end portions at the front end and the left and right end portions at the rear end, are not covered by the load-receiving plate 6. In addition, the vertical surface portions 82 of each of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 are spaced apart from each other, and the horizontal surface portion 81 is located outside the space between the vertical surface portions 82. This allows a view below the caster receiving member 8 between the vertical surface portions 82 (see Figure 6).

[0071] Therefore, when an operator grasps the pipe material inserted and supported in each of the insertion holes 52 of the left and right corner members 5 on the rear side of the frame body 2 and pushes the trolley 1A, the operating portion 741 of the brake operating pedal 74 of the caster 7A can be seen from above the load receiving plate 6 in the areas near the left end and the right end near the rear end of the frame body 2, between the vertical surface portions 82 of each of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 (particularly, in the areas behind the mounting portion of the caster 7A).

[0072] The portion of the upper surface of the frame body 2 that is not covered by the load receiving plate 6 and the space between the vertical surface portions 82 of each of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 (particularly the rear portion of the mounting portion of the caster 7A) correspond to the opening in the loading platform of the trolley 1A, through which the operating portion 741 of the brake operating pedal 74 of the caster 7A attached to the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 can be seen.

[0073] In other words, the trolley loading platform structure 10A of embodiment 1 is configured so that the opening for visually observing the brake operating pedal 74 of the caster 7A is not covered by the load receiving plate 6, and the caster receiving member 8 has an opening that functions as at least a part of the opening (specifically, between the vertical surface portions 82 of each of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8, particularly the rear portion of the mounting portion of the caster 7A).

[0074] Here, the operating portion 741 of the brake operating pedal 74 may be different in color from the portions of the caster 7A (particularly, the brake operating pedal 74) other than the operating portion 741. In this case, for example, the colors may be different because the operating portions 741 are made of different materials, or the operating portions 741 may be colored to be different in color, or another member may be attached to the operating portion 741 to be different in color.

[0075] The operating part 741 of the brake operating pedal 74 may also be different in color from the caster receiving member 8. In this case, too, the colors may be different from each other by using different materials for the operating part 741, or the operating part 741 may be colored to be different in color, or another member may be attached to the operating part 741 to be different in color.

[0076] The operating part 741 of the brake operating pedal 74 is the main part to be operated when operating the brake operating pedal 74 (i.e., the swing end, the main part that is placed on by the toes, etc.), and in the example caster 7A shown in the figure, it is formed by extending rearward as the rear end part of the brake operating pedal 74.

[0077] If the color of the operating portion 741 of the brake operating pedal 74 (i.e., the portion of the brake operating pedal that is operated) is different from the color of the portions of the caster 7A (particularly, of the brake operating pedal 74) other than the operating portion 741 or different from the color of the caster receiving member 8, when the operating portion 741 of the brake operating pedal 74 of the caster 7A is visually recognized from above the load receiving plate 6 between the vertical surface portions 82 of each of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8, the operating portion 741 is distinguished from other members and portions (in other words, it stands out) and becomes easier to recognize (see Figure 7).

[0078] When placing items, luggage, etc. on the load receiving plate 6, they should be placed in front of the left and right end portions of the rear frame member 32 so as not to obstruct / hinder the visibility of the operating portion 741 of the brake operating pedal 74 of the caster 7A between the vertical surface portions 82 of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8, and so as not to block the rear portion of the mounting portion of the caster 7A between the vertical surface portions 82 of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8.

[0079] The carts 1A may be stacked one above the other (see Fig. 8). Specifically, the cart loading platform structure 10A according to the first embodiment may be configured such that, when a plurality of carts 1A are stacked one above the other, the lower portions of the wheels 73 of the casters 7A of the upper cart 1A fit between the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 of the lower cart 1A.

[0080] At this time, the wheels 73 of each caster 7A of the upper trolley 1A are positioned in the respective parts of the lower trolley 1A that are not covered by the load receiving plate 6 (i.e., each of the four corner parts of the frame body 2, which is square in plan view), and furthermore, the parts of each wheel 73 near the lower end fit between the vertical surface portions 82 of each of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 of the lower trolley 1A.

[0081] Furthermore, the wheels 73 of the casters 7A of the upper trolley 1A are supported between the vertical surface portions 82 of each of the pair of left and right caster support members 8 of the lower trolley 1A by abutting against the upper surface of the mounting portion (specifically, for example, the top plate (mounting base)) of the casters 7A of the lower trolley 1A.

[0082] The front ends of the spaces between the vertical surface portions 82 of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 at the front end portions of the four corners of the frame body 2 that is rectangular in plan view are closed by the rear surfaces of the front frame members 31. The rear ends of the spaces between the vertical surface portions 82 of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 at the rear end portions of the four corners of the frame body 2 that is rectangular in plan view are closed by the front surfaces of the rear frame members 32.

[0083] As a result, when multiple carts 1A are stacked one above the other, the wheels 73 of the casters 7A of the upper cart 1A fit between the vertical surface portions 82 of the pair of left and right caster support members 8 of the lower cart 1A at each of the four corners of the frame body 2, which is rectangular in plan view, and the position of the wheels 73 of the casters 7A of the upper cart 1A is held / maintained by the vertical surface portions 82 of the pair of left and right caster support members 8 of the lower cart 1A and the front frame member 31 and rear frame member 32, restricting the movement of the wheels 73. This prevents the wheels 73 of the casters 7A of the upper cart 1A from sliding off the frame body 2 of the lower cart 1A, improving the stability of the multiple carts 1A stacked one above the other.

[0084] (Embodiment 2) In the second embodiment, a description will be given of an example in which the platform structure for a dolly according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a dolly 1B whose overall configuration is shown in FIG.

[0085] Figure 9 is a diagram showing a trolley 1B according to embodiment 2 as an example of a specific configuration of the trolley according to the present invention, which is equipped with a trolley platform structure 10B according to embodiment 2 as an example of a specific configuration of the trolley platform structure according to the present invention.

[0086] While the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration of the wheels, the other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. The same components of the second embodiment as those of the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and a repeated description thereof will be omitted.

[0087] The trolley loading platform structure 10B of embodiment 2 is a trolley 1B including a loading platform (specifically, a frame body 2 and a loading receiving plate 6) and casters 7B attached to the underside of the loading platform, and is configured so that an opening is provided in the loading platform for visually observing the wheels 73 of the casters 7B.

[0088] The cart 1B in embodiment 2 has casters 7B, and the casters 7B are attached to each of the four corners of the underside of the frame body 2, which is square in plan view, via a pair of left and right caster support members 8, as in embodiment 1 above.

[0089] The caster 7B may be a swivel caster / swivel caster that can rotate around an axis in the vertical direction, or may be a fixed caster in which the rotation direction of the wheel (in other words, the direction of travel) is fixed in the front-to-rear direction.

[0090] The caster 7B has a pair of arm-shaped fork parts 78 that extend downward while facing each other in the horizontal direction from a mounting part (specifically, for example, a top plate (mounting base)) that is attached to the underside of the frame body 2. A wheel 73 is rotatably supported on the lower end of the fork parts 78 via a rotation shaft 72 whose axis is arranged along the horizontal direction.

[0091] The brake operation pedal 79 is a structure for applying and releasing the brakes on the wheels 73. The brake operation pedal 79 is disposed so that the longitudinal direction of the member is perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 72, and is supported so as to be swingable relative to the fork portion 78 by inserting the rotating shaft 72 into a through-hole formed in the center of the member in the longitudinal direction.

[0092] The brake operation pedal 79 is inclined around the rotation shaft 72 with the longitudinal direction of the member aligned in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotation shaft 72 .

[0093] Specifically, the brake operating pedal 79 has an operating portion 791 formed at one end of the longitudinal direction of the member, which swings between a position higher than when the brake operating pedal 79 is in a horizontal position and a position lower than when the brake operating pedal 79 is in a horizontal position.

[0094] When the operating part 791 of the brake operating pedal 79 is in a higher position than when the brake operating pedal 79 is in a horizontal position, the lock (rotation restriction) is released and the wheels 73 are in an unlocked state (state shown in Figure 9) in which they can rotate, and when it is in a lower position, the wheels 73 are in a locked state in which they are fixed so that they cannot rotate.

[0095] In the second embodiment, when an operator grasps the pipes inserted and supported in the insertion holes 52 of the left and right corner members 5 on the rear side of the frame body 2 and pushes the cart 1B, the wheels 73 of the casters 7B can be seen from above the load receiving plate 6 in the areas near the left and right ends near the rear end of the frame body 2, between the vertical surfaces 82 of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 (particularly, the areas behind the mounting portions of the casters 7B) (see FIG. 10). In addition, because the brake operating pedal 79 is located next to the wheels 73, the position of the operating portion 791 of the brake operating pedal 79 can be estimated.

[0096] The portion of the upper surface of the frame body 2 that is not covered by the load receiving plate 6 and the space between the vertical surface portions 82 of each of the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 (particularly the rear portion of the mounting portion of the caster 7B) correspond to the opening in the loading platform of the trolley 1B, through which the wheels 73 of the casters 7B attached to the pair of left and right caster receiving members 8 can be seen.

[0097] Incidentally, the carriage 1B of the second embodiment may also be configured so that a plurality of carriages 1B are stacked one above the other.

[0098] (Action and effect) According to the trolley loading platform structures 10A, 10B and the trolleys 1A, 1B of embodiments 1 and 2, an opening for visually observing the brake operating pedal 74 of the caster 7A is provided in the loading platform (specifically, the frame body 2 and the load receiving plate 6), thereby improving visibility while preventing damage to the brake operating pedal of the caster, and making it possible to improve the convenience of the trolleys 1A, 1B.

[0099] According to the trolley loading platform structures 10A, 10B and the trolleys 1A, 1B of embodiments 1 and 2, when multiple trolleys 1A, 1B are stacked one on top of the other, the lower portions of the wheels 73 of the casters 7A, 7B of the upper trolley 1A, 1B fit between the pair of left and right caster support members 8 of the lower trolley 1A, 1B, thereby improving the stability of the multiple trolleys 1A, 1B stacked one on top of the other and making it possible to improve the convenience of the trolleys 1A, 1B.

[0100] The above describes the embodiments of the present invention, but the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the present invention also includes forms in which modifications and changes are made to the above embodiments within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0101] For example, in the above embodiment, the platform structure 10A for a trolley according to the embodiment is applied to the platform 1A whose overall configuration is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and the platform structure 10B for a trolley according to the embodiment is applied to the platform 1B whose overall configuration is shown in FIG. 9. However, the platform structures for a trolley according to the present invention are not limited to the platform structures 1A and 1B in the above embodiment. The platform structure for a trolley according to the present invention may be applied to various types of trolleys having a structure equivalent to the load-receiving plate 6 in the above embodiment. Just to be clear, the platform structure for a trolley according to the present invention is not limited to the platform structures in which pipes are inserted into the insertion holes 52 of the corner members 5, such as the platform structures 1A and 1B in the above embodiment. For example, the platform structure for a trolley according to the present invention may be applied to a trolley having a push unit / push structure rotatably connected to the frame body 2 so that the platform structure can be raised or lowered. The trolley to which the trolley loading platform structure of the present invention can be applied is not limited to a trolley having a load receiving plate 6 such as the trolleys 1A and 1B in the above embodiments, but may also be a trolley in which the loading platform does not have a load receiving plate 6 and is composed only of frame members (frame body 2 in the above embodiments).

[0102] In the above embodiment, the platform structure for a trolley (10A, 10B) according to the present invention is applied to all four corners of the frame body 2, which is rectangular in plan view. However, the platform structure for a trolley according to the present invention may be applied, for example, to only the left and right corners near the rear end of the frame body 2 out of the four corners of the frame body 2, which is rectangular in plan view.

[0103] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the caster receiving member 8 is formed so that the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the member has an L-shaped angle. However, the form of the caster receiving member 8 in the dolly loading platform structure according to the present invention is not limited to the caster receiving member 8 in the above embodiment. The caster receiving member in the dolly loading platform structure according to the present invention may be formed, for example, as a tubular (in other words, cylindrical or rod-shaped) frame member. In this case, too, it is possible to see underneath the pair of left and right tubular frame members serving as the caster receiving members from between these tubular frame members. In this case too, when multiple trolleys 1A, 1B are stacked one on top of the other, the wheels 73 of the casters 7A, 7B of the upper trolley 1A, 1B fit between the pair of left and right tubular frame members serving as caster support members of the lower trolley 1A, 1B, and the pair of left and right tubular frame members serving as caster support members of the lower trolley 1A, 1B, as well as the front frame member 31 and the rear frame member 32, hold / maintain the position of the wheels 73 of the casters 7A, 7B of the upper trolley 1A, 1B, restricting the movement of the wheels 73.

[0104] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the caster support member is configured as a pair of left and right caster support members 8. However, the form of the caster support member in the dolly loading platform structure according to the present invention is not limited to a pair of left and right caster support members. The caster support member in the dolly loading platform structure according to the present invention may be configured as a single plate-shaped member, for example. In this case, an opening is provided in the single plate-shaped member serving as the caster support member to allow the brake operation pedal operating portion and wheels of the caster attached to said member to be viewed (in other words, at a position where they can be viewed). [Industrial Applicability]

[0105] The trolley loading platform structures 10A, 10B and trolleys 1A, 1B of the present invention can improve the convenience of the trolleys 1A, 1B, and are therefore useful, for example, in technical fields related to hand-pushed trolleys for loading and transporting goods and luggage. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 1A Cart (Embodiment 1) 1B Cart (Embodiment 2) 2 Frame body 3 Border Frame 31 Front frame member 32 Rear frame member 33 Side frame member 34 L-shaped hook 4 Inner frame 41 Front and rear frame 42 Outside left and right frame 43 Inner left and right frame 5 Corner parts 51 Connecting plate part 52 Insertion hole 53 Receiving member 54 Buffer material 6 Loading plate 61 Main body 62 Front protrusion 63 Posterior protrusion 7A Caster (Embodiment 1) 71 Fork section 71a Support part 711 Side plate part 72 Rotation axis 73 Wheels 74 Brake operation pedal 741 Control unit 75 Swing axis 76 Cam groove 77 Locking shaft 7B Caster (Embodiment 2) 78 Fork section 79 Brake operation pedal 791 Operation section 8 Caster support member 81 Horizontal part 82 Vertical section 10A Platform structure for trolley (embodiment 1) 10B Platform structure for trolley (embodiment 2)

Claims

1. A dolly including a loading platform and casters attached to the underside of the loading platform, An opening is provided in the loading platform for visually observing the brake pedal or wheel of the caster. A platform structure for a trolley.

2. The loading platform has a loading plate, The opening is not covered by the load receiving plate.

2. The platform structure for a trolley according to claim 1.

3. The casters are attached to the underside of the platform via caster receiving members, An opening that functions as at least a part of the opening is formed in the caster support member.

2. The platform structure for a trolley according to claim 1.

4. The caster receiving member is composed of a pair of members, When the plurality of carts are stacked one above the other, the lower portions of the wheels of the casters of the upper cart enter between the pair of caster receiving members of the lower cart.

4. The platform structure for a trolley according to claim 3.

5. a color of an operation target portion of the brake operation pedal and a color of a portion of the brake operation pedal other than the operation target portion are different from each other; 2. The platform structure for a trolley according to claim 1.

6. The color of the operation target portion of the brake operation pedal and the color of the caster receiving member are different from each other.

4. The platform structure for a trolley according to claim 3.

7. A trolley platform structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, A bogie characterized by:

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