Push bars and trolleys

Abstract

To provide a cart suitable for carrying flexible container bags. [Solution] The push bar of the present invention is erected at at least two of the four corners of the platform of a cart and comprises a bar that extends vertically when erected, a horizontal member attached to the bar and protruding away from the center of the bar, and a vertical member extending upward from the horizontal member and having an open top end.The cart of the present invention has a push bar, a platform, and wheels, and the push bar is erected at at least two of the four corners of the platform and comprises a bar that extends vertically when erected, a horizontal member attached to the bar and protruding away from the center of the bar, and a vertical member extending upward from the horizontal member and having an open top end.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a push bar and a trolley, and in particular to a push bar and a trolley for constructing a trolley suitable for loading flexible container bags (hereinafter abbreviated as "flexible container bags"; sometimes also called ton bags, ton bags, etc.). [Background technology]

[0002] At construction sites and the like, various types of cargo need to be transported, and tools such as dollies and flexible container bags are used for transportation. Safety is also extremely important at construction sites and the like, and various technologies have been proposed to protect the hands of people operating the dollies from getting caught between the dollies and surrounding obstacles. Patent Document 1 discloses a transport dolly in which protective members are attached to push members that are erected vertically at the four corners. By attaching a disk-shaped protective member to at least one of the top and bottom of the part of the long push member that is grasped by the hand (grip portion), the hand grasping the grip portion is protected from getting caught between the dolly and surrounding obstacles.

[0003] Meanwhile, flexible container bags are used to store various cargoes at construction sites and other locations. Because flexible container bags are made of fabric and cannot stand on their own, various stands have been proposed and used. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a flexible container bag stand equipped with four support posts, two side bars, multiple protrusions, and at least four clamps. It is said to facilitate the simultaneous pouring of contents into the openings of multiple adjacent flexible container bags and the subsequent removal of the bags. To support and spread the flexible container bag in the rectangular space enclosed by the four support posts and two side bars, connectors are attached to the intersections of the four support posts and two side bars, and the flexible container bag is suspended by the hanging belts at its four corners (see paragraph 0041, Figures 3 and 7 of the same document). Furthermore, if no connectors are available, the flexible container bag can also be supported by suspending the four corners of its opening from the protrusions 13 (see paragraph 0043). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-39491 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-98682 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As described in Patent Document 1, a cart with pipes erected at the four corners of the loading platform has pipes called push members that can be grasped to move the cart, and as mentioned above, consideration is given to protecting the hands grasping the pipes from contact with surrounding obstacles, but no consideration is given to loading flexible container bags. This is thought to be because flexible container bags are generally lifted and transported, as stated in paragraph 0005 of Patent Document 2, for example, which states, "Flexible container bags are equipped with a lifting belt with a loop, and when the flexible container bag is full, the hook of a lifting machine is hooked onto the loop to lift and collect just the flexible container bag."

[0006] The inventors have realized that construction sites are not always outdoors, and therefore it may not be possible to lift and transport flexible container bags.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a dolly suitable for transporting flexible container bags.

[0008] The means for solving these problems will be described below, but other problems and novel features will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The push bar of the present invention comprises a bar that is erected at at least two of the four corners of the platform of a cart and extends vertically when erected, a horizontal member attached to the bar and protruding away from the center of the bar, and a vertical member that extends upward from the horizontal member and has an open upper end.

[0010] The trolley of the present invention has a push bar, a loading platform, and wheels, and the push bar is erected at at least two of the four corners of the loading platform. The push bar comprises a rod that extends vertically when erected, a horizontal member attached to the rod and protruding away from the center of the rod, and a vertical member that extends upward from the horizontal member and has an open upper end. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The effects obtained by the present invention can be briefly explained as follows: That is, a dolly suitable for transporting flexible container bags can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing one embodiment of a cart according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a first embodiment of the push bar of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of the push bar of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a third embodiment of the push bar of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the push bar of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of one embodiment of a fall-off prevention device. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of another embodiment of the fall-off prevention device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of a method for attaching a hook. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of a method for attaching a hook. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing still another embodiment of a method for attaching a hook. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of mounting a height adjustment mechanism on a push bar. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of mounting a height adjustment mechanism on a push bar. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing yet another example of mounting a height adjustment mechanism on a push bar. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of the cart of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view showing still another embodiment of the cart of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] 1. Overview of the embodiment First, an outline of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present application will be described. In the outline of the exemplary embodiments, reference numerals in parentheses in the drawings merely illustrate components included in the concept of the components to which the reference numerals are attached.

[0014] [1] Hand bar for trolley equipped with hooks for hanging belts for flexible container bags (Figures 1 to 10) A representative embodiment disclosed in this application is a push bar (10) that can be erected at at least two of the four corners of the loading platform (20) of a trolley (100), and comprises a bar (1) that extends vertically when erected, a horizontal member (2) attached to the bar and protruding away from the center of the bar, and a vertical member (3) that extends upward from the horizontal member and has an open upper end.

[0015] This makes it possible to provide a cart suitable for transporting flexible container bags (80). Here, "open" means a state in which there is a gap between the upper end of the vertical member (3) and the upper end of the rod (1). Furthermore, the push bar (10) of the present invention is sufficient as long as it can be in an open state, and may be in both an open and closed state. For example, it may be configured so that the hanging belt (81) of the flexible container bag (80) is hung in the open state, and then closed when the contents are loaded or when transporting.

[0016] [2] Protection of hands gripping the push bar (Figures 2-5) In the push bar of [1], the horizontal member protrudes outward from the loading platform, and the bar has a gap between it and the vertical member so that a person operating the cart can insert their hand and grasp the bar.

[0017] This prevents the hands holding the push bar (10) from coming into contact with obstacles outside the cart (100). This means that even when the cart (100) is not loaded with flexible container bags (80), the vertical members (3) and the horizontal members (2) function to protect the hands holding the upper end of the push bar (10) to operate the cart (100).

[0018] [3] Prevention of falling off (Fig. 6, 7) In the push bar of [1] or [2], the vertical and horizontal members are hooks onto which the hanging belts (81) of the flexible container bags (80) placed on the loading platform are hung, the upper ends of the vertical members are at roughly the same height as the upper ends of the bars, and the push bar further comprises anti-slip devices (6-8) attached to the upper ends of at least one of the bars or the vertical members to prevent the hanging belts from coming off.

[0019] This reduces the risk of the hanging belt (81) coming off the hook formed by the horizontal member (2) and the vertical member (3) due to vibrations caused by transportation or when articles are put into the flexible container bag (80).

[0020] [4] Multiple hooks on one push rod (Figures 8, 13, 15) In the push bar of [1], the bar to which the horizontal member and the vertical member are attached has another horizontal member attached that protrudes away from the center of the bar, and has another vertical member that extends upward from the other horizontal member and has an open upper end.

[0021] This allows a plurality of hooks (for example, in Figs. 8 and 13, a hook consisting of 2-1 and 3-1, and a hook consisting of 2-2 and 3-2) to be attached to each push bar (10).

[0022] [5] Installing the hook (Figure 8) In the push bar of any one of [1] to [4], the hook including the horizontal member and the vertical member has integral mounting portions (4-1, 4-2) that can attach the horizontal member and the vertical member to the bar.

[0023] This allows the hooks (the hook consisting of 2-1 and 3-1 and the hook consisting of 2-2 and 3-2) to be attached to the rod (1) by screwing or the like, and also makes it possible to detach them or change their attachment position as needed.

[0024] [6] Installing hooks at the same height (Fig. 8, 14, 15) In any one of the push bars of [1] to [5], the horizontal member, the vertical member and the mounting part of the hook have a size within an angle range of 90° or less with the bar as the center when the bar is viewed from above.

[0025] This allows multiple hooks to be attached at the same height on the pole. For example, two hooks (one consisting of 2-1 and 3-1, and the other consisting of 2-2 and 3-2) can be attached at the same height at a 90° angle to each other, and in addition to the function of hooks for hooking and holding the hanging belt (81) of the flexible container bag (80) or the like, the hooks can also function as hooks for attaching a horizontal push member (31) or a support member (32) for supporting the flexible container bag (80) from the side, etc., in appropriate combinations.

[0026] [7] Height adjustment mechanism (Figures 11-13) In the push bar (10) according to any one of [1] to [6], the bar has a height adjustment mechanism.

[0027] This allows the height of the hook to be adjusted to match the size of the flexible container bag (80) when the horizontal member and the vertical member function as hooks for the hanging belt (81) of the flexible container bag (80), or the height of the grip to be adjusted when the hook functions as a protective part for the hand gripping the push bar (10).

[0028] [8] Combination of unit sleeves with and without hooks (Figure 13) The push bar (10) is set up at at least two of the four corners of the loading platform (20) of the cart (100), and is configured by stacking a support (11) set up at one of the four corners of the loading platform, one or more unit sleeves (14) having an inner diameter that can be fitted over the support, and one or more unit sleeves (15) with hooks, each of which has the horizontal member and the vertical member attached to a pipe having the same diameter as the unit sleeve, and then fitting the unit sleeve over the support.

[0029] This allows for flexibility in the position and number of hooks attached to the push bar (10). The support pole, the unit sleeve (14) placed over it, and the pipe that constitutes the hook-equipped unit sleeve (15) correspond to the "pole" in [1] to [7]. Note that the hook-equipped unit sleeve (15) may have multiple hooks (horizontal member 2 and vertical member 3) attached to it.

[0030] [9] Cart equipped with hooks for hanging belts for flexible container bags (Figure 1, 15) A representative embodiment disclosed in the present application is a trolley (100) having a push bar (10) according to any one of [1] to [8], the loading platform, and wheels (21), and the push bar is set up at at least two of the four corners of the loading platform.

[0031] This makes it possible to provide a dolly (100) suitable for transporting flexible container bags (80). For example, the vertical members (3) and horizontal members (2) function as hooks for hooking and holding the hanging belts (81) of the flexible container bags (80). When the flexible container bags (80) are placed on the dolly (100), the upper opening of the flexible container bags (80) is widened, and the upper ends of at least two of the four corners of the flexible container bags (80) are held at a high position, thereby maintaining the capacity of the flexible container bags (80). Furthermore, holding the hanging belts (81) at all four corners reduces the risk of the flexible container bags (80) slipping off when the dolly (100) is moved. In addition, the vertical members (3) and horizontal members (2) can be configured as a push bar (10) as described in [2], thereby preventing the hand holding the push bar (10) to operate the dolly (100) from coming into contact with surrounding obstacles.

[0032]

[10] Horizontal push member (Figures 14 and 15) or side support member for flexible container bags (Figure 15) In the dolly [9], two of the push bars equipped with the horizontal member and the vertical member are erected at two of the four corners of the loading platform along the sides of the loading platform. The horizontal members of the two push bars are attached at approximately the same height from the loading surface of the loading platform. The dolly further includes long members (31, 32) supported approximately horizontally along the sides of the loading platform by the horizontal member and the vertical member attached to each of the two push bars.

[0033] This allows the long member to be used as a horizontal push member (31) or a side support member (32) that supports the flexible container bag (80) from the side.

[0034] 2. Details of the embodiment The embodiment will be described in further detail.

[0035] [Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a dolly 100 of the present invention. The dolly 100 includes a platform 20, wheels 21, and push bars 10 erected at the four corners of the platform 20. The push bar 10 includes a rod 1 that extends vertically when erected, a horizontal member 2 attached to the rod and protruding away from the center of the rod 1, and a vertical member 3 that extends upward from the horizontal member 2 and has an open top. Here, "open" refers to a state in which there is a gap between the top end of the vertical member 3 and the top end of the rod 1, as described above. In addition to the open state, the dolly 10 may also be in a closed state, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 6.

[0036] The horizontal members 2 and vertical members 3 attached to the pole 1 function as hooks for hooking the hanging belt 81 of the flexible container bag 80. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 1, by attaching the hook consisting of the horizontal members 2 and vertical members 3 to the upper end of the pole 1 and hooking the hanging belt 81 of the flexible container bag 80 placed on the loading platform 20, the upper periphery of the flexible container bag 80 can be lifted and the flexible container bag 80 can be supported in a wide spread. The push bar 10 with hooks can be erected at at least two of the four corners of the loading platform 20, but it is more preferable to erect it at all four corners, as shown in FIG. 1, because this allows the flexible container bag 80 to be supported by spreading it out three-dimensionally, maximizing the carrying capacity. Note that the hanging belt 81 of the flexible container bag 80 is not limited to a configuration that intersects at the bottom of the flexible container bag 80 body, as illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, it may be a loop-shaped belt sewn at four points around the upper periphery of the flexible container bag 80.

[0037] The platform 20 of the cart 100 may be, for example, a rectangle measuring 123 cm x 78 cm when viewed from above, or a square with sides measuring 78 cm, with insertion holes at the four corners so that pipes (for example, standard 48.6 mm diameter steel single-tube pipes) can be placed upright. The materials and attachment method for the push bar 10 and hooks are arbitrary, but for example, the push bar 10 can be constructed by using cylindrical steel materials such as pipes as the horizontal member 2 and vertical member 3, and welding them to the steel pipe rod 1. Alternatively, a single member may be bent to function as the horizontal member 2 and vertical member 3.

[0038] This pipe is the rod 1 mentioned above, which is erected on the loading platform 20 and is held by the person operating the trolley 100 (operator) with both hands to move the trolley 100 forward, backward, left or right, etc. In order to operate the trolley 100, the rods 1 need only be erected at two of the four corners of the loading platform 20, located at both ends of one side of the loading platform 20, but if the rods 1 are erected at all four corners, this is more preferable as it allows operation from any direction around the periphery of the trolley 100 and also serves the function of holding down the load on the loading platform 20 to prevent it from falling.

[0039] 2 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the push bar 10 of the present invention. Between the bar 1 and the vertical member 3, there is a gap that allows a person operating the cart 100 to insert their hand to grip the bar 1. This prevents the hand gripping the push bar 10 from coming into contact with an obstacle outside the cart 100. This means that even when the cart 100 is not loaded with flexible container bags 80, the vertical member 3 and the horizontal member 2 function to protect the hand gripping the push bar 10 to operate the cart 100.

[0040] The appropriate length of the push bar 10 is 90 cm to 100 cm, following the example of the trolley 100 above. This is the height at which the operator can apply the most force when gripping the upper end, and it also serves as a guideline for warning not to load cargo higher than that. Therefore, the attachment position of the hook consisting of the horizontal member 2 and the vertical member 3 should be such that the upper ends of the bar 1 and the vertical member 3 are at the same height, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0041] The gap between the rod 1 and the vertical member 3 and the attachment position are not limited to the first embodiment exemplified here, but are similarly applicable to the other embodiments of the push bar 10. Note that, without being limited to this example, the push bar 10 may be configured so that it can rotate by inserting a pipe, which is the rod 1, into insertion holes at the four corners of the loading platform 20. This allows the position of the hook, which is made up of the horizontal member 2 and the vertical member 3, to be adjusted, for example, so that it faces inward when it protrudes outward beyond the loading platform 20 of the cart 100 and gets in the way when passing through narrow spaces.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the push bar 10. While FIG. 1 illustrates the push bar 10 in which cylindrical iron cross members 2 and vertical members 3, such as pipes, are welded to the rod 1, which is an iron pipe, this embodiment uses plate-shaped members as the cross members 2 and vertical members 3. For example, the iron plate of the vertical member 3 is bent into an arc shape, and the iron plate of the cross member 2 is welded along the rod 1, which is a pipe. The cross member 2 and vertical members 3 may be formed by bending a single iron plate, or by welding two iron plates together. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the cross member 2 may be inclined relative to the horizontal direction. By making the cross member 2 plate-shaped, it is possible to reduce the protrusion of the cart 100 into the surrounding area and prevent it from interfering with the cart 100 when passing through narrow spaces such as elevators.

[0043] Although an example has been shown in which cylindrical and plate-shaped members are selected for the horizontal member 2 and the vertical member 3, the materials and shapes can be arbitrary. Also, although an example has been shown in which the horizontal member 2 and the vertical member 3 are fixed to the rod 1, they may be detachable as described below, or may be foldable (stored in the rod 1 or folded along the rod 1 when not in use), etc.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic diagram showing a third embodiment of a push bar 10. The push bar 10 of this embodiment is configured by attaching a plate-like vertical member 3 bent into an arc to a portion of the outer periphery of a circular horizontal member 2 through which the push bar 1 passes. The horizontal member 2 does not need to extend in one direction from the push bar 1 to the vertical member 3, but may extend in all directions around the push bar 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal member 2 may be a circular plate extending concentrically from the center of the push bar 1. This protects the hands gripping the push bar 1 all around, even if, for example, cargo on the loading platform 20 falls onto the push bar 10. Furthermore, the shape is not limited to a circle, and may be a square, hexagon, octagon, or other shape.

[0045] 5 is a schematic perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a push bar 10. The push bar 10 of this embodiment is constructed by attaching arc-shaped, plate-like vertical members 3 to two locations on the outer periphery of a circular plate-shaped horizontal member 2 that passes through the bar 1. One of the vertical members 3 can be directed toward the loading platform 20 and function primarily as a hook for hanging a suspending belt 81 of a flexible container bag 80, while the other vertical member 3 can be directed toward the outside of the loading platform 20 and function primarily as a protector that protects the hand holding the bar 1 from contact with surrounding obstacles, allowing for multiple functions.

[0046] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic cross section of one embodiment of a fall prevention device. This embodiment is suitable for attachment to a push bar 10 having a hook composed of a plate-shaped horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3, as shown in FIG. 3. When the bar 1 has a through-hole through which a pipe reaches the upper end surface, the fall prevention device of this embodiment is configured by inserting a plug-type cap 6 into the through-hole to close the upper end surface of the bar 1, and extending a beam 7 from the plug-type cap 6 toward the upper end of the vertical member 3. While any material is acceptable, elastic rubber is preferable, configured to be fitted onto the upper end surface of the pipe that forms the bar 1. Because the upper openings of the bar 1 and the vertical member 3 can be closed, when the hanging belt 81 of the flexible container bag 80 is hooked onto the bar 1 or the vertical member 3 and held in place, the hanging belt 81 is less likely to come off even when materials are loaded into the flexible container bag 80 or when the cart 100 is vibrated during transport.

[0047] Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic cross section of another embodiment of a fall prevention device. This embodiment is also suitable for attachment to a push bar 10 having a hook made of a plate-shaped horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3, as shown in Fig. 3. The fall prevention device of this embodiment has a configuration in which an anti-slip member 8 made of a non-slip material and / or surface shape is placed over the plate-shaped vertical member 3. Rather than narrowing the opening above the bar 1 and the vertical member 3, the hanging belt 81 of the flexible container bag 80 is made less slippery, making it less likely for the hanging belt 81 to come off.

[0048] 6 and 7 may be configured such that the plug-type cap 6, beam 7, and anti-slip member 8 that make up the fall-off prevention device are connected together. After the hanging belt 81 of the flexible container bag 80 is inserted into the opening above the rod 1 and vertical member 3 and hooked onto the hook, the connected fall-off prevention device is attached, but the risk of the hanging belt 81 falling off is significantly reduced.

[0049] This section explains how to attach a hook consisting of a horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3 to a rod 1. The examples so far have mainly described a mode in which an iron horizontal member 2 is welded to the rod 1, but for example, the disk-shaped horizontal member 2 shown in Figures 4 and 5 may have a mounting hole in its center, through which the rod 1 passes and is secured with some kind of stopper. Alternatively, an opening may be formed in the side of the disk-shaped horizontal member 2, and the rod 1 may be inserted from the side. The rod 1 may then pass through the opening and reach the mounting hole in the center of the horizontal member 2. The opening may then be closed with a separately prepared closing member to return the shape of the horizontal member 2 to its original disk shape and secure it to the rod 1. In this way, the hook consisting of the horizontal member 2 and the vertical member 3 may be attached to the rod 1 in any manner.

[0050] Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of how to attach a hook. The upper right shows a perspective view, and the upper left shows a perspective view from slightly above the front. The central axis of rod 1 is the Z axis, the X1-Y1 plane is near the height of vertical member 3, and the X2-Y2 plane is near the height of mounting part 4. The center left shows a cross-sectional view of the X1-Y1 plane, and the lower left shows a cross-sectional view of the X2-Y2 plane.

[0051] The hook, which is made up of a horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3, has an integral mounting part 4, which is attached to the rod 1 with a screw 5. This makes it possible to detach the hook and change the mounting position as needed.

[0052] Multiple hooks can be attached to one rod 1. As shown in Figure 8, a first hook consisting of a horizontal member 2-1, a vertical member 3-1, and an attachment portion 4-1, and a second hook consisting of a horizontal member 2-2, a vertical member 3-2, and an attachment portion 4-2 are attached at the same height on the same rod 1. Here, suffix numbers in the reference numerals, such as horizontal members 2-1 and 2-2, are used when there are multiple identical components. When there is only one identical component, or when there are multiple components but no need to distinguish between them, the component is indicated by a reference numeral without a suffix, such as horizontal member 2. The same applies to other components in this specification and drawings.

[0053] The first hook consisting of the horizontal member 2-1, vertical member 3-1, and mounting portion 4-1, and the second hook consisting of the horizontal member 2-2, vertical member 3-2, and mounting portion 4-2 each have a size within a range of an angle of 90° or less with the pole 1 as the center when viewed from above. This allows multiple hooks to be attached at the same height on the pole 1. For example, two hooks (in the example of FIG. 8, the first hook consisting of the horizontal member 2-1, vertical member 3-1, and mounting portion 4-1, and the second hook consisting of the horizontal member 2-2, vertical member 3-2, and mounting portion 4-2) can be attached at the same height at an angle of 90° to each other, and can be combined appropriately to perform functions such as hooking and holding the hanging belt 81 of the flexible container bag 80, as well as functions such as attaching a horizontal push member 31 or a side support member 32 that supports the flexible container bag from the side, as will be described later in embodiment 3.

[0054] The method of attaching the hook to the push bar 10 is not limited to the embodiment shown in Figure 8 and can be arbitrary. For example, the attachment part can be cylindrical and placed over the bar 1, and secured by welding or riveting, or it can be configured so that the attachment position can be adjusted by screwing or providing a latch mechanism. Alternatively, the bar 1 can be a hollow pipe, and the hook can be attached to a plug-type cap 6 that fits into the hollow part and is secured in place.

[0055] Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of a hook attachment method. Two examples, [A] and [B], are shown, with a perspective view on the top and a cross-sectional view on the bottom. Both are partially enlarged views of the vicinity of the upper end of the rod 1. The hook of this embodiment is constructed by attaching a horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3 to a plug-type cap 6 that is attached to the upper end of the rod 1, which is a hollow pipe. The plug-type cap 6 has a protruding portion that protrudes significantly from the upper end of the rod 1, and is equipped with a horizontal member 2 that extends horizontally from near the contact point with the upper end when attached to the rod 1, and a vertical member 3 that extends upward from the distal end of the horizontal member 2 away from the rod 1.

[0056] The hanging belt 81 of the flexible container bag 80 is hooked and held in place in the opening formed by the protruding portion and the vertical member 3, so the higher the protruding portion, the more difficult it is for the hanging belt 81 to come off. [A] is an example in which the protruding portion of the plug-type cap 6 is semi-spindle-shaped, and [B] is an example in which the protruding portion of the plug-type cap 6 is cylindrical. Both have the same outer diameter as the rod 1, but they may have a different diameter than the rod 1. Also, it does not necessarily have to be circular when viewed from above; for example, it may be configured by attaching a plate parallel to the vertical member 3 to the upper end of the plug-type cap 6, or it may have a barbed shape instead of a semi-spindle or cylindrical shape.

[0057] The plug-type cap 6 may be molded as a single piece, or may be formed by gluing or combining individual parts. For example, the plug-type cap 6 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber, as explained with reference to Figure 6, while the horizontal member 2 and vertical member 3 may be made of a different material such as plastic or metal. In this case, the connection between the horizontal member 2 and the plug-type cap 6 may be made by making the connecting part of the horizontal member 2 a ring-shaped part with the same diameter as the rod 1, and fitting the plug-type cap 6 from above and sandwiching it between the top end of the rod 1 to secure it (not shown).

[0058] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing yet another embodiment of a hook attachment method. Two examples, [A] and [B], are shown, each with a perspective view on the top and a cross-sectional view on the bottom. Both are partially enlarged views of the vicinity of the upper end of the rod 1. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the push rods 10 in [A] and [B] each have a plug-type cap 6 attached to the upper end of the rod 1, which is a hollow pipe, and a horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3 that form the hook. Furthermore, similar to the example described with reference to FIG. 2, they also have a function to protect the hand gripping the rod 1. Similar to FIG. 9[A], the plug-type cap 6 in [A] has a semi-spindle-shaped protrusion that protrudes significantly from the upper end of the rod 1. It also has a horizontal member 2 that extends laterally from near the contact point with the upper end when attached to the rod 1, a vertical member 3 that extends upward from the distal end of the horizontal member 2 away from the rod 1, and a grip protector 9 that extends downward from the distal end. An operator of the cart 100 inserts his / her hand into the gap between the rod 1 and the grip protection part 9, grips the rod 1 and operates the cart 100, and when the cart comes into contact with a surrounding obstacle, the back of the hand gripping the rod 1 is covered and protected by the grip protection part 9.

[0059] Figure 10[B] shows an example in which the vertical member 3 also functions to protect the hand gripping the rod 1. The plug-type cap 6 comprises an attachment part 4 that extends downward along the rod 1 from near the point where it contacts the upper end when attached to the rod 1, a horizontal member 2 that extends laterally from the lower end of the attachment part 4, and a vertical member 3 that extends upward from the distal end of the horizontal member 2 that is away from the rod 1. The operator of the cart 100 inserts his / her hand into the gap between the rod 1 and the vertical member 3 and grips the rod 1 together with the attachment part 4 to operate the cart 100, and the back of the hand gripping the rod 1 is covered and protected by the vertical member 3 when coming into contact with a surrounding obstacle.

[0060] [Embodiment 2] The push bar 10 can be provided with a height adjustment function.

[0061] Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an implementation of a height adjustment mechanism for the push bar 10. [A] is a cross-sectional view of the upper part, [B] and [C] are cross-sectional views of lower parts of different heights, [D] is a perspective view of a low push bar 10 that combines the upper part of [A] with the lower part of [B], and [E] is a perspective view of a high push bar 10 that combines the upper part of [A] with the lower part of [C].

[0062] [A] is the upper part, with the horizontal member 2 and vertical member 3 attached to the upper end of the sleeve 12. The lower parts [B] and [C] consist of a support 11 and stoppers 13-1 and 13-2 attached to its lower end, with stopper 13-1 of [B] being shorter than stopper 13-2 of [C]. The sleeve 12 and stoppers 13-1 and 13-2 are, for example, pipes cut to an appropriate length, and the support 11 is a pipe with an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe. The stoppers 13-1 and 13-2 may be welded to the support 11, or may be connected in any manner, such as by rivets or screws, as shown in FIG. 11.

[0063] When the upper part of [A] is placed over the support 11 of the lower part of [B], the sleeve 12 stops at the top end of the stopper 13-1, resulting in a rod 1 whose length is the sum of the lengths of the sleeve 12 and the stopper 13-1. As a result, as shown in [D], a push rod 10 is formed with a hook consisting of a horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3 attached to the top end of the rod 1. Similarly, when the upper part of [A] is placed over the support 11 of the lower part of [C], the sleeve 12 stops at the top end of the stopper 13-2, resulting in a rod 1 whose length is the sum of the lengths of the sleeve 12 and the stopper 13-2. As a result, as shown in [E], a push rod 10 is formed with a hook consisting of a horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3 attached to the top end of the rod 1. Because the stopper 13-1 of [B] is shorter than the stopper 13-2 of [C], the push rod 10 of [D] is shorter than the push rod 10 of [E]. If a plurality of types of lower parts with different lengths of the stopper 13 are prepared, a plurality of types of push bars 10 with different lengths can be configured.

[0064] Alternatively, the lower part may be of one type, the length of the support 11 may be relatively long, and the position where the sleeve 12 of the upper part is fixed may be adjustable by screwing or the like. Furthermore, the sleeve 12 may be configured so that its height can be adjusted by sliding it up and down while it is placed over the support 11, and it may be configured so that it can be fixed at any height. For example, a tapped screw hole may be provided in the sleeve 12, and a screw may be screwed into the hole and the head of the screw may be tightly fastened to the outer periphery of the support 11 to fix it.

[0065] [Embodiment 3] Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of how a height adjustment mechanism is implemented on a push bar. In embodiment 2, the height adjustment unit is located at a relatively low position on the push bar 10, whereas in this embodiment, the height adjustment unit is located at a relatively high position. [A] is a cross-sectional view of the upper part, [B] is a cross-sectional view of the lower part, and [C] and [D] are perspective views showing the push bar 10 formed by combining the upper part of [A] with the lower part of [B]. [C] is an example in which the hook consisting of the horizontal member 2 and the vertical member 3 is fixed at a low position, and [D] is an example in which it is fixed at a high position.

[0066] As shown in [A], the upper part is composed of a hook-equipped unit sleeve 15 and an inner tube 16 according to the third embodiment described below. The unit sleeve portion of the hook-equipped unit sleeve 15 is a short pipe with the same inner and outer diameters as the sleeve 12, with the inner tube 16 inserted and welded or glued. A horizontal member 2 is attached relatively low on the outer periphery of the pipe, and a vertical member 3 is attached upward to the end of the horizontal member 2 opposite the connection with the pipe. For example, the horizontal member 2 and the vertical member 3 can be formed by bending a single steel plate, and the pipe and horizontal member 2 can be connected by welding. As shown in [B], the lower part is a sleeve 12, which is a pipe of an appropriate length. The inner tube 16 of the upper part is composed of a pipe or cylinder with an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 12, and is configured to be inserted into the hollow portion of the sleeve 12 of the lower part so that it can slide up and down.

[0067] In [C], the inner tube 16 of the upper part is inserted deeply into the lower part, and the hook consisting of the horizontal member 2 and the vertical member 3 is fixed at a low position. In [D], the inner tube 16 of the upper part is inserted shallowly into the lower part, and the hook consisting of the horizontal member 2 and the vertical member 3 is fixed at a high position. In either case, if necessary, the inner tube 16 of the upper part may be fixed from the outside of the sleeve 12 of the lower part with screws 5, as exemplified in FIG. 12. For example, several tapped female screw holes may be formed on the outer periphery of the sleeve 12 of the lower part, and an appropriate number of screws 5 may be screwed into appropriate locations to fix the inner tube 16 of the upper part by firmly pressing against the outer periphery. Other latch functions may also be provided.

[0068] [Embodiment 4] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing yet another implementation example of a height adjustment mechanism for a push bar. While the height of the hook is adjusted by changing the length of the push bar 10 in the second and third embodiments, the position at which the hook is attached is adjustable in this embodiment. [A] is a perspective view of the lower part consisting of the support 11 and stopper 13, and [B] is a cross-sectional view thereof. This is the same as the lower part of the second embodiment, except that the support 11 is long enough to reach the top of the push bar 10. [C] is a perspective view of a hook-equipped unit sleeve 15 in which a hook consisting of a horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3 is attached to the unit sleeve 14, and [D] is a cross-sectional view thereof. [E] is a unit sleeve 14 without a hook attached, and [F] is a cross-sectional view thereof. The unit sleeve 14 is a pipe with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the support 11. For example, it is made by cutting the sleeve 12 of the upper part in the second embodiment into a shorter length. For example, it is made by cutting a pipe to a length of approximately 15 cm.

[0069] [G] is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the push bar 10 of the third embodiment. The push bar 10 is constructed by stacking and covering the support 11 of the lower part shown in [A] and [B] with unit sleeves 15 with hooks shown in [C] and [D] or unit sleeves 14 without hooks shown in [E] and [F], as appropriate. Starting from the bottom, three layers of unit sleeves 14 without hooks are stacked, followed by unit sleeves 15 with hooks, and then two layers of unit sleeves 14 without hooks, with unit sleeves 15 with hooks stacked on top of them. If the unit sleeves are 15 cm long, the attachment positions of the upper hooks are within a range of 15 cm from the top, and the attachment positions of the lower hooks are within a range of 45 cm to 60 cm from the top. The attachment positions of the hooks can be adjusted in 15 cm increments, which is the length of the unit sleeves. In this way, any number of hooks can be attached to any height.

[0070] The shorter the length of the unit sleeve 14, the more precisely the height can be adjusted. The length of the unit sleeve 14 may be shorter than the overall length of the hook, as long as the cross member 2 can be stably attached and the sleeve with the hook can be stably supported by the support 11. For example, when reducing the length of the unit sleeve to 3 cm, the difference between the outer diameter of the support 11 and the inner diameter of the unit sleeve 14 can be reduced to reduce wobbling and ensure stable support. The hook only needs to function to hold the hanging belt 81 of the flexible container bag 80 at a high position, and if it does not need to withstand a large load, the length of the unit sleeve 14 may be short. Sleeves of different lengths may also be prepared and used in combination.

[0071] [Embodiment 4] As explained in each of the above embodiments, the hook attached to the push bar 10 is mainly used to hook and support the hanging belt 81 of the flexible container bag 80, but it may also be configured to be able to support long horizontal members.

[0072] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of a dolly 100 according to the fourth embodiment. Two of the push bars 10, each equipped with a hook consisting of a horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3, are erected at two of the four corners of the platform 20, along two of the sides (short sides in FIG. 14 ) of the platform 20. The horizontal members 2 are attached to the two push bars 10 at approximately the same height from the loading surface of the platform 20, and the horizontal members 2 and vertical members 3 attached to each of the two push bars 10 support the long member approximately horizontally along the side of the platform 20. If the long member is held at a relatively high position, as illustrated in FIG. 14 , it functions as a horizontal push member 31 for the dolly 100. More specifically, if the hook consisting of the horizontal member 2 and the vertical member 3 is attached at a height suitable for protecting the hand gripping the upper end of the bar 1, as illustrated in FIG. 2 , the long member can function as a horizontal push member 31. On the other hand, when the hook is attached at a low position, the elongated member can function as a side support member 32 that supports the flexible container bags 80 loaded on the loading platform 20 from the sides, as will be described later.

[0073] [Embodiment 5] Figure 15 is a schematic perspective view of a dolly 100 of yet another embodiment. In the dolly 100 illustrated in Figure 15, hooks consisting of horizontal members 2 and vertical members 3 are attached to the push bars 10 at both ends on two sides along the long sides of the loading platform 20 at roughly the same height, and long members are supported on these hooks, functioning as side support members 32 that support the flexible container bag 80 from the sides. In addition, hooks consisting of horizontal members 2 and vertical members 3 are attached to the push bars 10 at both ends on two sides along the short sides of the loading platform 20 at roughly the same height, and long members are supported on these hooks, functioning as side support members 32 that support the flexible container bag 80 from the other side.

[0074] Furthermore, in Figure 15, the push bars 10 at both ends of the short side on the front right side have hooks attached to their upper ends, each consisting of a horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3, and long members are supported on these, functioning as horizontal push bars 31. At this time, the same hooks also function to hook and hold the hanging belts 81 of the flexible container bag 80. Meanwhile, the push bars 10 at both ends of the short side on the opposite side also have hooks attached to their upper ends, each consisting of a horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3, but these only function to hook and hold the hanging belts 81 of the flexible container bag 80.

[0075] In this way, the flexible container bag 80 is supported while being expanded to approximately the same volume as the capacity that can be loaded onto the cart 100, so materials and the like can be loaded into the bag in a widely expanded state, and then the bag can be transported as is on the cart 100. Therefore, compared to the conventional method of lifting the bag from a separate flexible container bag stand and then transferring it to the cart for transport, the number of situations in which the bag can be utilized can be increased and work efficiency can be improved.

[0076] As explained above, a single push rod 10 can be fitted with multiple hooks to hook onto and support the hanging belt 81 of the flexible container bag 80, protecting the hand holding the rod 1 from coming into contact with surrounding obstacles, or supporting a long horizontal member, thereby providing a variety of functions.

[0077] The invention made by the inventor has been specifically described above based on an embodiment, but it goes without saying that the invention is not limited thereto and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the hook has been described as "a hook consisting of a horizontal member 2 and a vertical member 3," the hook may be configured to include other members, such as an attachment portion 4, in addition to the horizontal member 2 and the vertical member 3. Furthermore, while the hook has been described assuming that it is used to hook and support the hanging belt 81 of the flexible container bag 80, it may also be used to support other equipment, devices, belts, chains, etc. The side support member 32 has been described assuming that it supports the sides of the flexible container bag 80, but it may also be used to support other equipment, devices, materials, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1 stick 2,2-1,2-2 Lateral member 3,3-1,3-2 Vertical members 4, 4-1, 4-2 Mounting part 5 screws 6 Plug-type cap 7 Beam 8 Anti-slip material 9 Grip protection part 10 Push Stick 11 Posts 12 sleeves 13 Stopper 14 Unit Sleeve 15 Unit sleeve with hook 16 Inner cylinder 20 Cargo bed 21 wheels 31 Horizontal push member 32 Side support member 80 flexible container bags 81 Hanging Belt

Claims

1. A hand bar that can be set up at at least two of the four corners of the platform of the cart, The device comprises a rod that extends vertically when erected, a horizontal member that is attached to the rod and protrudes in a direction away from the center of the rod, and a vertical member that extends upward from the horizontal member and has an open top end. Push stick.

2. In claim 1, The horizontal member protrudes outward from the loading platform, and the rod has a gap between the vertical member and the horizontal member that allows a person operating the dolly to insert their hand and grip the rod. Push stick.

3. In claim 1, The vertical members and horizontal members are hooks onto which hanging belts of flexible container bags to be placed on the loading platform are hung, the upper end of the vertical member is generally flush with the upper end of the rod; The push bar further includes a fall prevention device attached to an upper end of at least one of the bar or the vertical member to prevent the suspension belt from coming off. Push stick.

4. In claim 1, The rod to which the horizontal member and the vertical member are attached has another horizontal member attached thereto that protrudes in a direction away from the center of the rod, and has another vertical member that extends upward from the other horizontal member and has an open upper end. Push stick.

5. In claim 1, The hook including the horizontal member and the vertical member has an integral attachment portion that can attach the horizontal member and the vertical member to the rod. Push stick.

6. In claim 1, The horizontal member, the vertical member, and the mounting portion of the hook have a size within an angle range of 90° or less with the rod as the center when viewed from above. Push stick.

7. In claim 1, The rod has a height adjustment mechanism. Push stick.

8. A hand bar that can be set up at at least two of the four corners of the platform of the cart, The unit is configured by stacking a support pole erected at one of the four corners of the loading platform, one or more unit sleeves having an inner diameter that can be fitted over the support pole, and one or more unit sleeves with hooks, each having the horizontal member and the vertical member attached to a pipe having the same diameter as the unit sleeve, and then fitting the unit sleeve over the support pole. Push stick.

9. A cart comprising the push bar of any one of claims 1 to 8, the loading platform, and wheels, wherein the push bar is set upright at at least two of the four corners of the loading platform.

10. In claim 9, Two of the push rods having the horizontal member and the vertical member are erected at two locations along the sides of the loading platform among the four corners of the loading platform, The two push bars are attached such that the cross members are at approximately the same height from the loading surface of the loading platform; The dolly further includes a long member supported generally horizontally along the sides of the platform by a horizontal member and a vertical member attached to each of the two push bars. Cart.

Images