Collective locking operation device for a plurality of casters

Abstract

To provide a collective lock operation device of a plurality of casters capable of collectively and easily operating lock levers of the plurality of casters and fixing the lock levers in a fixed direction by regulating the rotation of the casters around a rotary shaft.SOLUTION: A collective lock operation device 1 for a plurality of casters for collectively operating lock levers L of a plurality of caster devices C having the lock levers L includes an operation handle 1 extending over the plurality of caster devices C, and a fixing device 3 for detachably fixing the operation handle 1 to the lock lever L of each caster device C. In a state where the operation handle 2 is fixed to the lock lever L of each caster device C by the fixing device 3, the rotation of each caster device C around the rotation axis along the vertical direction is prevented, and the locking operation and the unlocking operation of the lock lever L of each caster device C are allowed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for simultaneously locking a plurality of casters attached to the bottom of a piece of movable furniture, a dolly, or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, furniture such as cabinets installed as bedside storage in hospital rooms have been equipped with multiple casters to allow them to be moved as needed. Each caster can rotate around a vertical axis and has wheels that roll on the floor.

[0003] To prevent furniture from accidentally moving from its designated location, each caster is provided with a locking mechanism that locks the rotation of the wheel, and the rotation of the wheel can be locked by operating the lock lever up and down. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The casters are attached to the bottom surface of the base plate of the furniture, etc., and since the gap between the base plate and the floor is not very wide, when trying to move the furniture, etc., the operator must insert their fingers into the narrow gap and operate the lock lever once for each caster.

[0005] Furthermore, because the casters can rotate around their axes of rotation, the position of the lock lever in the rotation direction is not fixed for each caster, and if the lock lever is located on the far side from the edge of the bottom plate, it becomes very difficult to operate the lock lever, and if you want to move furniture slightly forward or backward, the casters will not be aligned in the same direction, making it impossible to move smoothly.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a device for operating a collective lock on multiple casters, which can easily operate the lock levers of multiple casters at the same time, and which can restrict the rotation of the casters around their rotation axes and fix the lock levers in a certain direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention is a collective lock operation device for multiple casters for collectively operating the lock levers of multiple caster devices each having a lock lever, and is equipped with an operating handle extending across the multiple caster devices and a fixing device that detachably fixes the operating handle to the lock lever of each caster device, and is configured so that when the operating handle is fixed to the lock lever of each caster device by the fixing device, rotation of each caster device around a rotation axis along the vertical direction is prevented and locking and unlocking operations of the lock lever of each caster device are permitted.

[0008] According to the collective locking device for multiple casters of the present invention, even if each caster is configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis along the vertical direction, by fixing the operating handle to the lock lever of each caster device with a fixing device, the rotational movement of each caster around the rotation axis can be restricted, and the rolling direction of the wheels of the multiple casters can be aligned in one direction (forward and backward, for example). Furthermore, by operating a common operating handle, the lock levers of the multiple caster devices can be operated collectively, allowing for easy and quick locking and unlocking of the lock levers of the multiple caster devices. Furthermore, when it is desired to freely move furniture or the like, each caster device can be freely rotated around its rotation axis by removing the fixing device and moving the operating handle away from each lock lever.

[0009] The operating handle may be a long member with a U-shaped cross section, and the lock levers of each caster device may be held at different positions along the length within the U-shaped opening. This allows for a simple structure while providing excellent ease of installation and locking operability.

[0010] The operating handle may extend across the pair of two caster devices, one on the left and one on the right. The operating handle may prevent rotation of the pair of two caster devices around the rotation axis. The operating handle may be detachably fixed to the lock levers of the pair of two caster devices. According to this, for example, by attaching the operating handle to the two front casters of movable furniture, it is possible to restrict rotation of the two front casters, which are located relatively far from the wall of a room, around the rotation axis, thereby preventing the furniture from moving unexpectedly in the event of an earthquake, etc. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily operate the lock levers of multiple casters attached to existing mobile furniture, carts, etc. all at once, and to restrict the rotation of the casters around their rotation axes so that the lock levers are fixed in a certain direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a collective locking operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the collective locking operation device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] 1 and 2 show a state in which a total of four caster devices C (pairs of left and right caster devices C) are attached to two locations, front and rear, on the bottom surface of a base plate B of furniture or the like, and a collective locking operation device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is attached to the two front pairs of caster devices C. Each caster device C may be attached to the base plate B so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation, or so as not to rotate. However, the collective locking device 1 of the present invention is useful when attached to multiple caster devices that can rotate about a rotation axis. Each caster device C also includes a wheel W that rolls on the floor surface and a locking mechanism that locks the wheel W so as to be releasably operable to prevent it from rolling. The locking mechanism has a locking lever L. When the locking lever L is in the locked position shown by solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wheel W is locked. When the locking lever L is in the unlocked position shown by phantom lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wheel W is unlocked and allowed to roll. The locking mechanism may have any suitable structure. Furthermore, the portion of the lock lever L that is fixed to the collective locking operation device 1 may be operated to move up and down, or may be operated to move left and right.

[0015] The collective lock operating device 1 includes an operating handle 2 extending across two pairs of caster devices C on the front left and right sides, and a fixing device 3 that detachably fixes the operating handle 2 to the lock lever L of each caster device C.

[0016] The operating handle 2 is a long member with a U-shaped cross section, and the lock lever L of the left-side caster device C is inserted and held near the left end within the U-shaped opening, and the lock lever L of the right-side caster device C is inserted and held near the right end within the U-shaped opening.

[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, the fixing device 3 is constituted by a tightening bolt threadedly attached to the operating handle 2, and fixes each lock lever L to the operating handle 2 by pressing each lock lever L held in the U-shaped opening from either the top or bottom against the inner surface of the elongated member with a U-shaped cross section that constitutes the operating handle 2. By loosening the tightening bolt 3, the operating handle 2 can be easily detached from the lock lever L.

[0018] According to this embodiment, the operating handle 2 extends across a pair of two caster devices C (left and right), prevents the pair of two caster devices C from rotating about their vertical rotation axes, and is detachably fixed to their lock levers L. When the operating handle 2 is fixed to the lock levers L of each caster device C by the fixing device 3, the rotation of each caster device C about its vertical rotation axis is prevented, while the locking and unlocking operations of the lock levers L of each caster device C are permitted. On the other hand, when the operating handle 2 is detached from the lock levers L, the rotation of each caster device C about its vertical rotation axis is permitted.

[0019] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the design can be modified as appropriate. For example, a second operating handle that links the lock levers of the pair of left and right rear caster devices can be provided, and the two front and rear operating handles can be linked together using an appropriate link mechanism, allowing the lock levers of the two caster devices to be operated simultaneously. [Explanation of symbols]

[0020] 1. Bulk locking operation device 2 Operating handle 3 Fixing device

Claims

1. A collective lock operation device for multiple casters for collectively operating the lock levers of multiple caster devices each having a lock lever, the device comprising: an operation handle extending across the multiple caster devices; and a fixing device for detachably fixing the operation handle to the lock lever of each caster device; A collective locking operation device for multiple casters, configured so that when the operating handle is fixed to the lock lever of each caster device by the fixing device, rotation of each caster device around a rotation axis along the vertical direction is prevented, while allowing the locking and unlocking operations of the lock lever of each caster device.

2. The operating handle is a long member with a U-shaped cross section, and the lock levers of each caster device are held at different positions in the longitudinal direction within the U-shaped opening of the operating handle.

3. The device for operating a plurality of casters at once as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the operating handle extends across the pair of two caster devices on the left and right, prevents the pair of two caster devices on the left and right from rotating around the rotation axis, and is removably fixed to the lock levers of the pair of two caster devices.

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