Dolly

Abstract

We will create a trolley that is more convenient than conventional models. [Solution] The trolley (1) has a base plate insertion part (15) on the back side of the mounting part (30) into which the base plate (51) of the caster (50) can be inserted, and a caster lock member mounting part (16) to which a caster lock member (60) can be attached. The caster lock member (60) has a restricting recess (61) that grips the base plate (51) and restricts the vertical movement of the base plate (51).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a truck. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, Patent Document 1 describes a transporting truck to which casters can be easily attached to a cargo bed. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-027755 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In the transporting truck described in Patent Document 1, since the lock member is exposed on the upper surface side of the cargo bed, a step is formed on the loading surface on which a load is placed. Due to this step, when a load is placed on the loading surface, the load is easily caught on the step. In addition, dirt easily accumulates in the step portion.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to implement a truck with improved convenience compared to conventional ones. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, the trolley according to the present disclosure is a trolley on which casters can be attached and detached, the trolley comprising: a mounting section having a mounting surface on which luggage is placed; a base plate insertion section configured on the back side opposite to the mounting surface so as to be able to insert the base plate of the caster; a caster lock member for fixing the caster to the base plate insertion section; and a caster lock member mounting section located on the back side and configured so as to be able to attach the caster lock member, wherein the caster lock member comprises a restricting recess that grips the base plate inserted into the base plate insertion section and restricts the vertical movement of the base plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a trolley with improved convenience compared to conventional trolleys can be realized. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A perspective view showing a trolley according to one embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a carriage according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from below. [Figure 3] This figure shows a connecting bar provided in a trolley according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This figure shows a support block provided by a trolley according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] This is a view from below of a support block provided in a trolley according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view from below of a support block provided in a trolley according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] Figure 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA. [Figure 8] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view corresponding to the enlarged view of Figure 7, showing the state as seen from the front to the rear at the position of the fitted portion, excluding the caster lock member and caster. [Figure 9]It is a diagram showing a caster lock member provided in the cart according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] It is a schematic diagram for explaining attachment of a caster to the base plate insertion portion 15 and attachment of the caster lock member to the caster lock member attachment portion. [Figure 11] It is a diagram showing a connecting bar lock member provided in the cart according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] It is a schematic diagram for explaining attachment of the connecting bar lock member to the connecting bar lock member attachment portion. [Figure 13] It is a plan view of the cart according to an embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from below. [Figure 14] It is a perspective view showing the caster lock member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] It shows the caster lock member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a perspective view from the plane / front side, a bottom view, and a rear view of the caster lock members arranged at the left rear and right rear in FIG. 13. [Figure 16] It is a partially enlarged view of the support block according to an embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from below. [Figure 17] It is a partially enlarged front view of the support block according to an embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from the side. [Figure 18] It is a partially enlarged perspective view of the support block according to an embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from below. [Figure 19] It is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view corresponding to a view taken along line B-B in FIG. 13. [Figure 20] It is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view corresponding to a view taken along line C-C in FIG. 13. [Figure 21] It is a schematic diagram for explaining attachment of the caster and the caster lock member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail. In the description of the drawings referred to in the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, reference numerals may be omitted for convenience of explanation. In the following description, the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction are defined as indicated by the arrows in each drawing. The term "rectangular shape" is not limited to a strict rectangular shape, and is intended to include shapes that can be visually recognized as a generally rectangular shape as a whole even if, for example, the corners are curved. In addition, the term "right angle" is not limited to a strict right angle, and is intended to include shapes that can be visually recognized as a right angle as a whole even if, for example, the corners are curved. In addition, when terms expressing positional and directional relationships, such as "orthogonal", "coaxial", "along" and the like, are used in this specification, these terms allow manufacturing errors or slight variations.

[0010] (Overview of the cart) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cart 1 includes support blocks 10 at four corners. The support blocks 10 are respectively connected by connecting bars 20. In the cart 1, the support blocks 10 are connected to each other via the connecting bars 20, thereby forming a substantially rectangular frame-shaped placement portion 30 as viewed from above. The placement portion 30 serves as a loading platform on which articles are placed.

[0011] The cart 1 includes casters 50 that are configured to be attachable to and detachable from the support blocks 10. The caster 50 includes a base plate 51, a leg portion 52 connected to the base plate 51, and a wheel 53 connected to the leg portion 52 (see FIG. 7). With respect to the base plate 51, the wheel 53 may be configured to be rotatable 360° in the horizontal direction with the leg portion 52 as a rotation axis, or may be configured not to rotate.

[0012] The mounting section 30 has an opening that opens in the vertical direction, and is configured to allow luggage (such as a box-shaped container) to be placed on it. The mounting section 30 also has a mounting surface 31. The mounting surface 31 is formed by the upper surface of the support block 10. Alternatively, the upper surface of the first plate portion 21 of the connecting bar 20, which will be described later, may function as the mounting surface 31, or the upper surface of the support block 10 and the upper surface of the first plate portion 21 may cooperate to function as the mounting surface 31.

[0013] The trolley 1 is configured to allow free adjustment of the size of the mounting section 30 (horizontal size in the front, back, left, and right directions) by changing the length of the connecting bar 20. Alternatively, even if the length of the connecting bar 20 remains the same, the trolley may be configured to allow adjustment of the length of the connection between the connecting bar 20 and the support block 10.

[0014] For example, the engagement between the connecting bar 20 and the support block 10 may be configured to be adjustable so that the length can be adjusted in 1 to 3 stages. In this way, the trolley 1 is configured to be able to adjust the size of the mounting section 30.

[0015] (Contact bar) As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the connecting bar 20 extends along the side direction (left-right direction, front-back direction) of the mounting portion 30 and has through holes 23 that penetrate vertically and intersect with the side direction on the tip side. The connecting bar 20 has four through holes 23. However, the number of through holes 23 may be set appropriately to match the number of engaging protrusions 46 provided by the connecting bar lock member 40, which will be described later. Note that "tip side" does not necessarily have to be the tip of the connecting bar 20, but rather a position near the right end or near the left end of the connecting bar 20.

[0016] The connecting bar 20 is configured to be insertable into the support block 10 described later, and is a component integrally molded so that the side ends of the first plate portion 21 and the second plate portion 22 intersect at a right angle. A through hole 23 is provided in the first plate portion 21 of the connecting bar 20. The connecting bar 20 is molded in an L-shape in cross-section and is made of, for example, aluminum. Multiple connecting bars 20 are provided for one trolley 1. In this embodiment, the trolley 1 is provided with four connecting bars 20.

[0017] The material of the connecting bar 20 is not limited to aluminum; for example, it may be integrally molded from a synthetic resin such as polypropylene. Furthermore, the connecting bar 20 is not limited to an L-shape in cross-section; it may have an inverted L-shape in cross-section (where the second plate portion 22 extends downward from the first plate portion 21), a rectangular prism with a square cross-section, or a cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section. In this case, the support block 10 only needs to have the connecting bar insertion portion 11 molded to match the cross-sectional shape of the connecting bar 20.

[0018] (Support block) The details of the support block 10 will be explained below with reference to Figures 4 to 6. The support block 10 is a component that makes up the four corners of the trolley 1 and is integrally molded from a synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. As shown in Figure 4, the support block 10 is equipped with a connecting bar insertion part 11 into which the connecting bar 20 can be inserted.

[0019] (Contact bar insertion area) The connecting bar 20 is inserted into the connecting bar insertion section 11 from its tip to a predetermined length. The "predetermined length" can be appropriately set depending on the total length of the connecting bar 20, the size of the connecting bar insertion section 11, etc. For example, it is sufficient that the connecting bar 20 is inserted to such an extent that the through hole 23 of the connecting bar 20 is located inside the entrance of the connecting bar insertion section 11 (to the rear in the case of the connecting bar insertion section 11 located on the front right in Figure 4, and to the right in the case of the connecting bar insertion section 11 located on the rear left). In other words, the connecting bar insertion section 11 only needs to be configured to be able to receive the connecting bar 20 from its end to a predetermined length.

[0020] The connecting bar insertion portion 11 is molded to match the shape of the connecting bar 20. In other words, in this embodiment, the connecting bar insertion portion 11 is molded to match the shape of the connecting bar 20, and when viewed from the front, it is molded to have the same L-shape as the connecting bar 20. The shape of the connecting bar insertion portion 11 may be appropriately designed to match the shape of the connecting bar 20. As described above, since the connecting bar 20 and the connecting bar insertion portion 11 are formed in an L-shape, the second plate portion 22 plays a role in restricting the outward movement of the article placed on the mounting portion 30.

[0021] (Regulatory Department 1, Regulatory Department 2) The connecting bar insertion section 11 includes a first restricting section 12 positioned below the connecting bar 20 when the connecting bar 20 is inserted, which restricts the downward displacement of the inserted connecting bar 20. The connecting bar insertion section 11 also includes a second restricting section 13 positioned above the connecting bar 20 when the connecting bar 20 is inserted, which restricts the upward displacement of the inserted connecting bar 20.

[0022] In other words, when the connecting bar 20 is inserted into the connecting bar insertion section 11, the connecting bar 20 is positioned vertically between the first restricting section 12 and the second restricting section 13. The presence of the first restricting section 12 and the second restricting section 13 allows them to act as guides when inserting the connecting bar 20 into the connecting bar insertion section 11. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the connecting bar 20 can be easily inserted while restricting its vertical displacement.

[0023] Furthermore, the downward displacement of the connecting bar 20 inserted into the connecting bar insertion section 11 may be restricted by the first restricting section 12 alone, or the downward displacement of the connecting bar 20 may be restricted by the cooperation of the first restricting section 12 and the connecting bar locking member 40 described later. By restricting the downward displacement of the connecting bar 20 in cooperation with the connecting bar locking member 40, more stable restriction becomes possible compared to the case where the downward displacement of the connecting bar 20 is restricted by the first restricting section 12 alone.

[0024] Furthermore, the first restricting section 12 and the second restricting section 13 are formed with their positions offset horizontally so that they do not overlap each other in the vertical direction. "Horizontal direction" refers to the front-to-back direction, for example, when explaining with the connecting bar insertion section 11 located to the front right of the support block 10 shown in Figure 4. It also refers to the left-to-right direction, when explaining with the connecting bar insertion section 11 located to the rear left of the support block 10 shown in Figure 4. In addition, although the entirety of the first restricting section 12 and the second restricting section 13 are formed with their positions offset horizontally so that they do not overlap each other in the vertical direction, parts of the first restricting section 12 and the second restricting section 13 may be formed with their positions offset horizontally so that they do not overlap each other in the vertical direction.

[0025] Because the first restricting portion 12 and the second restricting portion 13 are arranged in this manner, when the support block 10 is viewed from above, an opening is formed between the second restricting portions 13 and above the first restricting portion 12. Also, when the support block 10 is viewed from below, an opening is formed between the first restricting portions 12 and below the second restricting portion 13.

[0026] (Convex receptive part) As shown in Figure 5, the lower side of the second restricting portion 13 is provided with a projection receiving portion 130 configured to receive the engaging projection 46 of the communication bar lock member 40, which will be described later. The projection receiving portion 130 has a non-penetrating recess shape, but it may also be formed to penetrate in the vertical direction. Two projection receiving portions 130 are provided in one communication bar insertion portion 11, but the arrangement position and location of the projection receiving portions 130 may be set appropriately according to the number of engaging projections 46 of the communication bar lock member 40. In other words, there may be one projection receiving portion 130 or three projection receiving portions 130.

[0027] (Mounting section for connecting bar lock member) As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the support block 10 is provided with a connecting bar lock member mounting portion 14 on its lower surface. The connecting bar lock member 40, described later, is attached to the connecting bar lock member mounting portion 14. The connecting bar lock member mounting portion 14 only needs to be configured to be able to receive the connecting bar lock member 40 according to its shape and size.

[0028] The connecting bar lock member mounting portion 14 includes an insertion portion 17 and a locking portion 18 for fixing the connecting bar lock member 40. The insertion projection 43 of the connecting bar lock member 40 is inserted into the insertion portion 17. The locking projection 44 of the connecting bar lock member 40 is locked into the locking portion 18. The insertion portion 17 and the locking portion 18 only need to be molded to match the shape of the insertion projection 43 and the locking projection 44 of the connecting bar lock member 40.

[0029] The insertion portion 17 and the locking portion 18 are each provided at two locations on the connecting bar lock member mounting portion 14. The positions and number of insertion portions 17 and locking portions 18 may be set as appropriate to match the connecting bar lock member 40. In other words, there may be three insertion portions 17 and locking portions 18, or just one.

[0030] (Base plate insertion section) As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the support block 10 is provided with a base plate insertion section 15 on the back side (bottom side) opposite to the mounting surface 31. The base plate insertion section 15 is configured to allow the base plate 51 of the caster 50 to be attached.

[0031] In Figure 5, for the sake of explanation, only the base plate 51 in the state where it is placed on the base plate insertion section 15 is schematically shown with a dashed line.

[0032] The base plate insertion section 15 is equipped with ribs 151 on which the base plate 51 is placed. Note that the ribs 151 are not an essential component and may consist of surfaces on which the base plate 51 can be placed.

[0033] The base plate insertion section 15 is positioned adjacent to the caster lock member mounting section 16, which will be described later. The base plate insertion section 15 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view and has a peripheral wall 152 that surrounds the side edges of the placed base plate 51.

[0034] The peripheral wall 152 includes a folded wall 153 extending inward (left side in Figure 5) from the outer edge (right edge in Figure 5). The base plate insertion section 15 restricts the vertical movement of the base plate 51, as well as its outward (right side, rear side, and front side in Figure 5), through the rib 151, the folded wall 153, and the peripheral wall 152.

[0035] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the base plate insertion portion 15 is designed to be shorter than the total length (length in the left-right direction) of the base plate 51. Specifically, the base plate insertion portion 15 is designed so that the inner edge (left edge in Figure 5) of the placed base plate 51 overlaps the caster lock member mounting portion 16 in the vertical direction in a plan view.

[0036] The ribs 151, peripheral wall 152, and folded wall 153 of the base plate insertion section 15 may each be made of the same material or different materials.

[0037] (Caster lock component mounting part) Figures 5 to 9 will be used to describe the details of the caster lock member mounting portion 16 and the caster lock member 60. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the support block 10 is provided with a caster lock member mounting portion 16 on its back side (bottom side) that is configured to allow the caster lock member 60 to be attached. The caster lock member mounting portion 16 is molded so that the caster lock member 60 can be inserted from the side of the support block 10. The caster lock member mounting portion 16 is also molded in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is approximately rectangular in plan view.

[0038] In detail, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 includes a partition wall 163 that surrounds the outer circumference of the caster lock member 60 when the caster lock member 60 is attached. In this embodiment, some of the partition wall 163 is also used as part of some of the ribs 151 (the ribs 151 on the caster lock member mounting portion 16 side in Figure 7).

[0039] Of the partition wall 163, the upper wall (on the mounting surface 31 side) constitutes a part of the mounting surface 31 (mounting section 30). In other words, a part of the mounting surface 31 (mounting section 30) constitutes the upper wall of the partition wall 163. Furthermore, the lower wall (on the back side) of the partition wall 163 is composed of the support section 162.

[0040] Furthermore, the partition wall 163 may be provided with guide ribs on its inner surface along the insertion direction in which the caster lock member 60 is inserted. These guide ribs may be provided on the outer surface of the caster lock member 60 rather than on the inner surface of the partition wall 163. Even if the partition wall 163 is provided with guide ribs on its inner surface, the wall of the partition wall 163 on the mounting surface 31 side can still be said to be composed of the mounting surface 31.

[0041] The support portion 162 is positioned below the attached caster lock member 60 and plays a role in supporting the caster lock member 60 from below. More specifically, the support portion 162 only needs to be configured to support at least the first restricting wall 611 and the third restricting wall 613 from below.

[0042] By supporting the first restricting wall 611 and the third restricting wall 613 from below, the downward movement of the base plate 51 can be restricted by the cooperation of the restricting recess 61 and the support part 162, which will be described later. In addition, since the load from the casters 50 generated when the trolley 1 is used can be distributed, the risk of damage due to the concentration of load on the base plate insertion part 15 can be reduced.

[0043] Furthermore, "supporting from below" means supporting the first restricting wall 611 and the third restricting wall 613 from below. Also, if the partition wall 163 (support portion 162) is equipped with the guide ribs described above, the first restricting wall 611 and the third restricting wall 613 are supported by the support portion 162 via these guide ribs.

[0044] Furthermore, even if the partition wall 163 is equipped with guide ribs, the back side of the partition wall 163 can be said to be composed of the support portion 162.

[0045] When the partition wall 163 is equipped with guide ribs, friction is reduced when inserting the caster lock member 60 into the caster lock member mounting portion 16, making it easier to insert the caster lock member 60. Similarly, when guide ribs are provided on the outer surface of the caster lock member 60, friction is reduced, making it easier to insert the caster lock member 60.

[0046] As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 is provided with a communication portion 161 that is formed in communication with the base plate insertion portion 15. As shown in Figure 6, the communication portion 161 is a hole that extends from the base plate insertion portion 15 in the left-right direction (left side in Figure 6) with a width approximately the same as the width of the base plate insertion portion 15 in the front-rear direction, and the base plate 51 is inserted into this hole. In other words, the peripheral wall 152 is not provided on the side of the base plate insertion portion 15 that has the communication portion 161.

[0047] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 includes a fitting portion 164 configured to accommodate the tongue piece 62 of the caster lock member 60, which will be described later. The fitting portion 164 is located on the lower side (back side) of the support block 10.

[0048] In detail, the fitting portion 164 is positioned in the support portion 162, which is the lower (back) wall of the partition wall 163. The fitting portion 164 is a roughly rectangular hole in a plan view from below, and is a through hole that penetrates vertically. The fitting portion 164 only needs to be able to accommodate the tongue piece 62, and may be designed appropriately to match the shape of the tongue piece 62.

[0049] As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 is provided with a receiving recess 165 configured to receive the lock member projection 63 of the caster lock member 60, which will be described later.

[0050] The receiving recess 165 is provided in a position opposite to the locking member projection 63 when the caster locking member 60 is inserted into the caster locking member mounting portion 16. In Figures 6 and 8, the receiving recess 165 is provided on the front wall surface of the partition wall 163. As shown in Figure 8, the receiving recess 165 is a circular hole in a front view from the front, and is a through hole that penetrates in the front-to-back direction.

[0051] The shape of the receiving recess 165 is not limited to a circle; it may be polygonal or of any other shape. In other words, the receiving recess 165 may be designed appropriately to match the shape of the protrusion 63 of the locking member.

[0052] When the caster lock member 60 is attached to the caster lock member mounting portion 16, the lock member projection 63 is received by the receiving recess 165, and the top of the lock member projection 63 is exposed from the receiving recess 165.

[0053] As described above, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 is configured such that when inserting the base plate 51 into the base plate insertion portion 15, the caster 50 can be tilted diagonally and inserted into the communication portion 161. Now, let's consider the case where the base plate 51 is placed on the base plate insertion portion 15 while moving it in the vertical direction, as in the conventional method. In this case, it is necessary to form the base plate insertion portion 15 such that the total width of the base plate 51 in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions does not overlap with the peripheral wall 152 of the base plate insertion portion 15 in the vertical direction.

[0054] However, in this embodiment, the trolley 1 is equipped with a connecting portion 161, which allows the caster 50 to be placed on the base plate insertion portion 15 while inserting the end of the base plate 51 on the side of the connecting portion 161 into the connecting portion 161.

[0055] As a result, it is not necessary to secure a formation area for the base plate insertion portion 15 so that the base plate 51 and the peripheral wall 152 of the base plate insertion portion 15 do not overlap in the vertical direction, and the formation area of ​​the base plate insertion portion 15 can be made smaller than in the conventional method.

[0056] (Caster lock component) Here, the details of the caster lock member 60 will be explained using Figure 9. The caster lock member 60 is molded in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, and is designed to be attachable to the caster lock member mounting portion 16. The caster lock member 60 can be integrally molded from a synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

[0057] The caster lock member 60 is equipped with a restricting recess 61 that grips the base plate 51 inserted into the base plate insertion portion 15, thereby restricting the vertical movement of the base plate 51.

[0058] The restricting recess 61 comprises a first restricting wall 611, a second restricting wall 612, and a third restricting wall 613. The first restricting wall 611 is a wall located on the back side of the base plate 51 when the base plate 51 is being held between the walls. The first restricting wall 611 can be any wall that abuts against or is close to the back side of the base plate 51.

[0059] The second restricting wall 612 is a wall located on the mounting surface 31 side of the base plate 51 when the base plate 51 is being held in place. The second restricting wall 612 can be any wall that is in contact with or close to the mounting surface 31 side of the base plate 51.

[0060] The third restricting wall 613 connects the ends of the first restricting wall 611 and the second restricting wall 612, is positioned opposite the insertion direction (from right to left in Figure 7) into which the base plate 51 is inserted, and extends vertically. The third restricting wall 613 only needs to be a wall that abuts against or is close to the side of the base plate 51 (in the insertion direction into which the base plate 51 is inserted).

[0061] Furthermore, the term "direction from right to left" is intended to include diagonal directions (such as diagonally upwards and diagonally downwards), and the third regulatory wall 613 only needs to be positioned opposite (facing) these directions.

[0062] Furthermore, with the regulating recess 61 clamping the base plate 51, the end of the first regulating wall 611 on the base plate insertion portion 15 side (the right end shown in Figure 7) is positioned vertically closer to the base plate insertion portion 15 than the end of the support portion 162 on the base plate insertion portion 15 side. However, this is not limited to this configuration; the end of the first regulating wall 611 on the base plate insertion portion 15 side (the right end shown in Figure 7) may be positioned vertically at the same location as the end of the support portion 162 on the base plate insertion portion 15 side (the right end shown in Figure 7).

[0063] "The state in which the base plate 51 is sandwiched" refers to the state in which the base plate 51 is sandwiched between the first restricting wall 611 and the second restricting wall 612 in the vertical direction, as shown in Figure 7.

[0064] Furthermore, the caster lock member 60 includes a tongue 62 and a lock member projection 63. The tongue 62 is configured to fit into a fitting portion 164 provided on the caster lock member mounting portion 16. The tongue 62 is pivotally supported on the caster lock member 60 and is configured to be elastically deformable via this pivot. As shown in Figure 9, the tongue 62 has a triangular claw-shaped projection when viewed from the side.

[0065] The locking member projection 63 is a projection that protrudes from the end face in the insertion direction into which the caster locking member 60 is inserted, along the insertion direction. As shown in Figure 9, the locking member projection 63 is configured in a substantially cylindrical shape and has an inclined surface that slopes toward the top. The presence of this inclined surface makes it easier to insert into the receiving recess 165 provided by the caster locking member mounting portion 16. Furthermore, the shape of the locking member projection 63 is not limited to a substantially cylindrical shape; it may be configured as a rectangular prism, or it may be configured with ribs to form an X shape when viewed from the top. In other words, the locking member projection 63 may be appropriately designed to match the shape of the receiving recess 165.

[0066] Furthermore, of the ends of the restricting recess 61 in the long direction, the end on the side of the locking member projection 63 is open and, in side view, is shaped like a U, so no wall is provided. This is so that when the caster locking member 60 is inserted into the caster locking member mounting portion 16, the end of the base plate 51 that has entered the communication portion 161 can be received by the restricting recess 61.

[0067] On the other hand, the end opposite to the protruding portion 63 of the locking member is closed off by a wall, resulting in a flat wall when viewed from the side. This is to restrict the outward movement of the base plate 51 that has entered the communication portion 161 when the caster locking member 60 is inserted into the caster locking member mounting portion 16. By shaping the caster locking member 60 in this way, the area of ​​the flat surface on the outer surface of the support block 10 can be increased. As a result, even if debris bounced back via the caster 50 adheres to it, the dirt can be easily removed.

[0068] (Connecting bar lock member) The connecting bar lock member 40 will be explained using Figure 11. The connecting bar lock member 40 plays the role of fixing the connecting bar 20 inserted into the connecting bar insertion portion 11 of the support block 10. The connecting bar lock member 40 is integrally molded from a synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

[0069] The connecting bar locking member 40 covers the connecting bar 20 inserted into the connecting bar insertion portion 11 from the back end face of the support block 10 and has an engaging projection 46 that engages with the through hole 23 formed in the connecting bar 20.

[0070] The connecting bar lock member 40 is configured to engage with the connecting bar lock member mounting portion 14 provided on the support block 10, and also serves as a cover that completely covers the opening partitioned and formed by the connecting bar lock member mounting portion 14 from the back end face of the support block 10.

[0071] Specifically, as shown in Figure 11, the connecting bar lock member 40 includes a rectangular base, which is a lid surface 41, a pair of side walls 42 extending upward from the side ends of the lid surface 41 (the long side ends of the connecting bar lock member 40 shown in Figure 11), a positioning projection 45, and a jig insertion recess 47.

[0072] The positioning projection 45 is formed between a pair of side walls 42 and extends from the lid surface 41 in a direction perpendicular to the surface direction of the lid surface 41 (up and down direction). Multiple positioning projections 45 are provided on the lid surface 41, and in this embodiment, three are provided. The positioning projections 45 serve as positioning guides when attaching the connecting bar lock member 40 to the connecting bar lock member mounting portion 14.

[0073] Of the pair of side walls 42, one side wall 42 is provided with two insertion projections 43 configured to be inserted into the insertion portion 17 of the support block 10. The other side wall 42 is provided with two locking projections 44 configured to lock into the locking portion 18 of the support block 10. Although it has been explained that the insertion projections 43 and locking projections 44 are provided in two locations each, they are not limited to two locations.

[0074] For example, the locking projection 44 may be provided in one location and the insertion projection 43 in two locations, or the insertion projection 43 and locking projection 44 may each be provided in only one location. Furthermore, the insertion projection 43 and locking projection 44 may each be provided in three or more locations. In other words, the number of insertion projections 43 and locking projections 44 may be appropriately set depending on the size of the connecting bar lock member 40, etc.

[0075] The insertion projection 43 and the locking projection 44 are configured to be elastically deformable inward (towards the positioning projection 45) via the side wall 42, and when a force is applied from the outside, they are slightly displaced inward.

[0076] The engaging projection 46 is provided on the top of the positioning projection 45 (the side of the positioning projection 45 that is furthest from the lid surface 41). In the communication bar lock member 40 of this embodiment, of the three positioning projections 45, two positioning projections 45 located at the outer end of the lid surface 41 are equipped with the engaging projection 46.

[0077] As shown in Figure 11, the engaging projection 46 is configured in a substantially cylindrical shape and has an inclined surface that slopes toward the top. The presence of this inclined surface makes it easier to insert into the projection receiving portion 130. Furthermore, the shape of the engaging projection 46 is not limited to a substantially cylindrical shape; it may be configured as a rectangular prism, or it may be configured with ribs to form an X shape when viewed from the top.

[0078] The engaging projection 46 may be appropriately designed to match the shape of the projection receiving portion 130. The engaging projection 46 may be provided on the top of all of the positioning projections 45, or it may be provided on the top of only one of the three positioning projections 45.

[0079] The connecting bar lock member 40 has two tool insertion recesses 47 on the side wall 42 where the locking projection 44 is provided. The tool insertion recesses 47 are recesses into which a tool is inserted when removing the connecting bar lock member 40 attached to the connecting bar lock member mounting part 14. The tool used is, for example, a flathead screwdriver. Therefore, when removing the connecting bar lock member 40 from the connecting bar lock member mounting part 14, the locking state can be released by inserting a flathead screwdriver into the tool insertion recess 47.

[0080] In the connecting bar lock member 40 configured as described above, the insertion projection 43, the locking projection 44, and the engaging projection 46 are arranged in the same straight line when viewed from above (from the side of the engaging projection 46).

[0081] Furthermore, the "back end face" of the support block 10 is not limited to being flush with the lower surface of the support block 10. For example, the lid surface 41 of the connecting bar lock member 40 may be located further below the lower end face of the support block 10. Alternatively, the lid surface 41 of the connecting bar lock member 40 may be located above (inside the support block 10) the lower surface of the support block 10.

[0082] In other words, the lid surface 41 does not need to be flush with the lower surface of the support block 10, as long as the entire opening demarcated by the contact bar lock member mounting portion 14 to which the contact bar lock member 40 is attached is covered by the lid surface 41. Also, the lid surface 41 does not need to be flush with the lower surface of the support block 10, as long as the opening demarcated by the contact bar lock member mounting portion 14 to which the contact bar lock member 40 is attached is closed by the lid surface 41.

[0083] (Attachment of the connecting bar lock member to the connecting bar lock member mounting section) Using Figure 12, the attachment of the connecting bar lock member 40 to the connecting bar lock member mounting section 14 (support block 10) will be explained.

[0084] First, the connecting bar 20 is inserted into the connecting bar insertion section 11 provided on the support block 10. Figure 12 shows a cross-section of the connecting bar 20 inserted from left to right as an example.

[0085] The support block 10 is designed such that when the connecting bar 20 is inserted into the connecting bar insertion section 11, the through hole 23 of the connecting bar 20 and the protruding receiving section 130 of the second restricting section 13 are aligned coaxially in the vertical direction.

[0086] Next, with the connecting bar 20 inserted into the connecting bar insertion section 11, the insertion projection 43 of the connecting bar locking member 40 is inserted into the insertion section 17 of the support block 10. With the insertion projection 43 inserted into the insertion section 17, the connecting bar locking member 40 can be rotated in the direction of arrow Q shown in Figure 12.

[0087] When the connecting bar lock member 40 is rotated upward (towards the connecting bar 20) as shown in Figure 12, the locking projection 44 comes into contact with the support block 10. When it is rotated further upward, the locking projection 44 slides against the support block 10 and locks into the locked portion 18. At this time, the locking projection 44 slides upward while slightly elastically deforming inward (from the rear to the front in Figure 12) via the side wall 42, and reaches the locked portion 18. At almost the same time that the locking projection 44 reaches the locked portion 18, the engaging projection 46 is received by the projection receiving portion 130.

[0088] In this way, the communication bar lock member 40 is attached to the communication bar lock member mounting portion 14. In other words, the communication bar lock member 40 is configured to be detachable between a locked state, in which it is attached to the communication bar lock member mounting portion 14, and an unlocked state, in which it is removed from the communication bar lock member mounting portion 14.

[0089] With the connecting bar lock member 40 attached to the connecting bar lock member mounting portion 14, as shown in Figure 2, the connecting bar lock member 40 and the support portion 162 are arranged side by side in the long side direction (side side direction), which is the left-right direction of the trolley 1.

[0090] In detail, for example, in the case of the support block 10 located to the front right as shown in Figure 2, the caster 50, support part 162, and connecting bar lock member 40 are arranged in that order from right to left.

[0091] As a result, even when the trolley 1 is moved in the left-right direction, the rear end surface of the support block 10 in the direction of travel of the trolley 1, that is, in the direction in which the casters 50 rotate and splash up dirt, can be covered by the connecting bar lock member 40 and the support part 162.

[0092] Furthermore, since the connecting bar lock member 40 and the support part 162 are arranged in the same straight line in the direction of travel of the trolley 1, the area of ​​the flat surface on the back of the support block 10 can be increased. As a result, even if dirt or debris bounced up via the casters 50 adheres to it, it can be easily removed. The connecting bar lock member 40 and the support part 162 may be arranged side by side in the short side direction (side side direction), which is the front-to-back direction of the trolley 1.

[0093] (Installation of casters and caster lock components) Using Figure 10, the attachment of the caster 50 to the base plate insertion part 15 and the attachment of the caster lock member 60 to the caster lock member mounting part 16 will be explained.

[0094] As shown in Figure 10, the base plate 51 of the caster 50 is inserted into the base plate insertion section 15 provided on the back side of the support block 10 in the direction of arrow AW1.

[0095] In detail, the base plate 51 is tilted diagonally, and its left end is inserted into the connecting section 161. Then, the base plate 51 is placed on the rib 151, and its right end is pulled back to the right (towards the folded wall 153). By inserting the caster 50 into the base plate insertion section 15 in this way, the base plate 51 can be positioned as shown in Figure 5.

[0096] In other words, when the caster 50 is placed in the base plate insertion section 15, the end of the base plate 51 on the side of the communication section 161 fits into the communication section 161, and the end opposite to the communication section 161 fits between the folded wall 153 and the rib 151.

[0097] After the base plate 51 has been positioned, the caster lock member 60 is inserted into the caster lock member mounting portion 16 in the direction of arrow AW2. As the caster lock member 60 is inserted in the direction of arrow AW2, the tongue 62 comes into contact with the partition wall 163 of the caster lock member mounting portion 16. As the caster lock member 60 is further inserted in the direction of arrow AW2, the tongue 62 slides inside the caster lock member mounting portion 16 (inside the partition wall 163) while slightly elastically deforming upward via its axis, and reaches the fitted portion 164. When the tongue 62 reaches the fitted portion 164, the tongue 62, which was elastically deformed upward, returns to its downward position and is fitted into the fitted portion 164. At this time, the protrusion 63 of the lock member reaches the receiving recess 165, and the top of the protrusion 63 of the lock member is exposed from the receiving recess 165.

[0098] In this way, the caster lock member 60 is attached to the caster lock member mounting portion 16. When the caster lock member 60 is attached to the caster lock member mounting portion 16, the caster 50 is locked and fixed to the base plate insertion portion 15. The regulating recess 61 then clamps the portion of the base plate 51 inserted into the base plate insertion portion 15 that is on the side of the communication portion 161.

[0099] As described above, the caster 50 can be attached to the base plate insertion section 15, and the caster lock member 60 can be attached to the caster lock member mounting section 16. This allows the caster 50 (base plate 51) to be tilted diagonally and inserted from the base plate insertion section 15 into the communication section 161.

[0100] Furthermore, even when the caster lock member 60 is not attached to the caster lock member mounting portion 16, the base plate 51 overlaps with the support portion 162 in the vertical direction. This allows the caster lock member 60 and the support portion 162 to work together to distribute the load from the casters 50 generated when the trolley 1 is in use.

[0101] This reduces the risk of damage due to concentrated load on the base plate insertion section 15, and also firmly restricts the movement of the caster 50 (base plate 51) in the vertical, horizontal, and forward / backward directions.

[0102] (Removal of casters and caster lock components) Using Figure 10, the removal of the caster 50 and the caster lock member 60 will be explained. Push the tongue 62 of the caster lock member 60, which is attached to the caster lock member mounting portion 16, upward (towards the mounting surface 31).

[0103] When the tongue piece 62 is pushed upward (towards the mounting surface 31), the tongue piece 62 is slightly elastically deformed upward via its axis and displaced to a position where it can slide inside the caster lock member mounting portion 16 (inside the partition wall 163).

[0104] With the tongue piece 62 displaced to a position where it can slide inside the caster lock member mounting portion 16, the top of the lock member protrusion 63 exposed from the receiving recess 165 is pushed out with a finger or the like in the direction opposite to arrow AW2.

[0105] This allows the caster lock member 60 to move inside the caster lock member mounting portion 16 (inside the partition wall 163) in the direction opposite to arrow AW2. In this way, the caster lock member 60 is removed from the support block 10.

[0106] When the caster lock member 60 is removed, the caster 50 changes from a locked state, fixed to the base plate insertion part 15, to an unlocked state. After it becomes unlocked, the base plate 51 is pushed slightly in the direction of arrow AW1, the space of the communication part 161 is used to tilt the caster 50 diagonally, and then the caster 50 is pulled out in the opposite direction of arrow AW1. This allows the caster 50 to be removed from the base plate insertion part 15.

[0107] (modified version) The following modifications can be applied to this embodiment as appropriate.

[0108] (Variation 1) In the above-described embodiment, the communication bar insertion portion 11 is formed in an L-shape, and the second plate portion 22 plays a role in restricting the outward movement of the article placed on the mounting portion 30. However, this is not the only possible configuration. For example, the communication bar insertion portions 11 of two of the four support blocks 10 may not be L-shaped, and may not have an insertion portion corresponding to the second plate portion 22.

[0109] In this case, for example, the connecting bar insertion portion 11 of the two support blocks 10 located on the right side of Figure 1 does not have walls extending vertically. Therefore, when an item placed on the mounting portion 30 is slid from left to right, it becomes possible to remove the item from the mounting portion 30.

[0110] (Modification 2) The above-described embodiment describes a trolley 1 having a frame-shaped mounting section 30, but it is not limited to this. For example, it can also be applied to a mounting section (loading platform) that is not frame-shaped, that is, a mounting section (loading platform) with a base plate structure that does not have connecting bars 20 and support blocks 10, but has a rib structure on the back side. In this case, it is not necessary to have a connecting bar lock member 40 and a connecting bar lock member mounting section 14. Even with a mounting section (loading platform) that is not frame-shaped, it is possible to provide a base plate insertion section 15 and a caster lock member mounting section 16.

[0111] According to this modification, the exposure of the caster lock member 60 for fixing the caster 50 to the mounting surface 31 can be reduced. This increases the area of ​​the flat surface on the mounting surface 31. Therefore, a trolley with improved convenience compared to conventional designs can be realized.

[0112] (Variation 3) In the above-described embodiment, when the caster lock member 60 is attached to the caster lock member mounting portion 16, the lock member projection 63 is received in the receiving recess 165, and the top of the lock member projection 63 is exposed from the receiving recess 165. However, the embodiment is not limited to this.

[0113] For example, if a jig or a finger can be inserted into the receiving recess 165, the top of the locking member projection 63 does not need to be formed so that it is exposed from the receiving recess 165. In this case, the receiving recess 165 should be configured so that the caster locking member 60 attached to the caster locking member mounting portion 16 can be pushed out in the opposite direction to arrow AW2 (see Figure 10) with a jig (e.g., a flathead screwdriver) or a finger. In other words, the locking member projection 63 is not an essential component.

[0114] (Modification 4) In the embodiments described above, as shown in Figures 6 and 10, the caster lock member 60 is configured to be inserted from the outside of the support block 10 (the entrance to the caster lock member mounting portion 16) in the direction of arrow AW2. However, this is not the only configuration, and for example, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 may be configured so that the caster lock member 60 can be inserted from the receiving recess 165 side (the rear side in Figure 10). In this case, the receiving recess 165 only needs to be located on the outside of the support block 10. Alternatively, for example, a rib (hereinafter referred to as a bottom rib) may be provided on the bottom surface (back side) of the support block 10 (or the mounting portion of the base plate structure), and a notch or through hole may be provided in the bottom rib on the side inward from the outer edge of the support block 10 (or the mounting portion of the base plate structure) to serve as the entrance to the caster lock member mounting portion 16.

[0115] (Variation 5) The caster lock member mounting portion 16 is not limited in its orientation as long as it is provided along one of the four side ends of the base plate 51 when it is placed on the base plate insertion portion 15. For example, in Figure 6, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 is provided along the front-rear direction, but it may also be provided along the left-right direction. Also, in Figure 6, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 is provided adjacent to the left side of the base plate insertion portion 15, but it may also be provided to the right side of the base plate insertion portion 15.

[0116] (Experimental variation 6) In the above-described embodiment, the fitting portion 164 into which the tongue piece 62 is fitted is described as being located on the lower side (back side) of the support block 10, but this is not the only configuration. For example, the fitting portion 164 may be provided on a partition wall 163 that is perpendicular to the mounting surface 31 (a wall perpendicular to the support portion 162). By providing the fitting portion 164 on a wall other than the lower side (back side) of the support block 10 in this way, the exposure of the fitting portion 164 and the tongue piece 62 fitted to the fitting portion 164 to the lower side can be eliminated. As a result, the number of flat surfaces on the lower side (back side) can be increased, so even if debris bounced back via the caster 50 adheres to it, the dirt can be easily removed.

[0117] (Example 7) In the above-described embodiment, the base plate 51 is inserted into the base plate insertion section 15 in the direction of arrow AW1, and then pulled back in the direction opposite to arrow AW1. However, the embodiment is not limited to this.

[0118] For example, first, insert the base plate 51 into the base plate insertion section 15 in the direction opposite to arrow AW1, positioning the end of the base plate 51 between the folded wall 51 and the rib 151. Next, after placing the base plate 51 flat in the base plate insertion section 15, attach the caster lock member 60. The base plate insertion section 15 and the caster lock member attachment section 16 may be configured in such a way that the caster 50 can be attached to the base plate insertion section 15. In this case, the base plate insertion section 15 only needs to be configured so that the base plate 51 can be placed flat.

[0119] (Variation 8) In the above-described embodiment, the base plate 51 is inserted between the folded wall 153 and the rib 151 provided in the base plate insertion section 15, but this is not the only possible configuration. For example, the base plate 51 may be designed so that two opposing sides, two adjacent sides, or three sides can be inserted between the folded wall 153 and the rib 151, and the caster lock member 60 can be attached after insertion. In this case, it is sufficient that the folded wall 153 is provided on the side of the base plate 51 that is to be inserted.

[0120] (Extreme variation 9) In the above-described embodiment, the end of the base plate 51 that has entered the communication portion 161 is received in the restricting recess 61, but this is not the only configuration. For example, of the four sides of the base plate 51, two sides may be insertable between the folded wall 153 and the rib 151, and the remaining two sides may be configured to be received in the restricting recess 61. For example, if two opposing sides of the base plate 51 are received in the restricting recess 61, it is sufficient to provide two caster lock members 60 and two caster lock member mounting portions 16. In this case, the folded wall 153 may be omitted, and both ends of the base plate 51 may be restricted by the caster lock members 60.

[0121] Furthermore, for example, if two adjacent sides of the base plate 51 are to be received by the restricting recess 61, the caster lock member 60 can be formed into an L-shape in plan view, and similarly the restricting recess 61 can also be formed into an L-shape. In this case, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 only needs to be formed to match the shape of the caster lock member 60.

[0122] Furthermore, for example, if three sides of the base plate 51 are to be received by the restricting recess 61, the caster lock member 60 can be formed into a U-shape in plan view, and similarly the restricting recess 61 can also be formed into a U-shape. In this case, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 only needs to be formed to match the shape of the caster lock member 60.

[0123] (Effects and Benefits) As described above, the following effects and advantages can be obtained according to this embodiment.

[0124] A trolley 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure is a trolley 1 on which casters 50 can be attached and detached, the trolley 1 comprises a mounting section 30 having a mounting surface 31 on which luggage is placed, a base plate insertion section 15 configured on the back side opposite to the mounting surface 31 so that the base plate 51 of the caster 50 can be inserted, a caster lock member 60 for fixing the caster 50 to the base plate insertion section 15, and a caster lock member mounting section 16 arranged on the back side so that the caster lock member 60 can be attached, wherein the caster lock member 60 comprises a restricting recess 61 that grips the base plate 51 inserted into the base plate insertion section 15 and restricts the vertical movement of the base plate 51.

[0125] According to the above configuration, the caster lock member 60 is equipped with a restricting recess 61, which restricts the vertical movement of the caster 50 inserted into the base plate insertion part 15. In addition, a caster lock member mounting part 16 is arranged on the back side, which is opposite the mounting surface 31, so that the caster lock member 60 can be attached to it. This reduces the portion of the caster lock member 60 that locks the caster 50 that is exposed to the outside (mounting surface 31 side). Therefore, the possibility of luggage placed on the mounting surface 31 getting caught on the step of the caster lock member 60 is reduced, and the possibility of dirt accumulating in the step is also reduced. Thus, a trolley 1 with improved convenience compared to conventional trolleys can be realized.

[0126] The trolley 1 according to aspect 2 of the present disclosure may be configured such that, in aspect 1 above, the restricting recess 61 comprises a first restricting wall 611 located on the back side of the base plate 51 while the base plate 51 is being held in place, a second restricting wall located on the surface 31 side of the base plate 51, and a third restricting wall 613 connecting the ends of the first restricting wall and the second restricting wall 612.

[0127] According to the above configuration, the restricting recess 61 comprises a first restricting wall 611, a second restricting wall 612, and a third restricting wall 613. This allows the movement of the base plate 51 inserted into the base plate insertion section 15 to be restricted in the upward, downward, and insertion directions.

[0128] In the trolley 1 according to embodiment 3 of the present disclosure, in embodiment 1 described above, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 has a communication portion 161 that communicates with the base plate insertion portion 15, and the caster lock member 60 may be configured to clamp the portion of the base plate 51 inserted into the base plate insertion portion 15 that is on the side of the communication portion 161.

[0129] According to the above configuration, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 has a communication portion 161. Since the communication portion 161 communicates with the base plate insertion portion 15, the portion of the base plate 51 placed on the base plate insertion portion 15 that is on the side of the communication portion 161 can be inserted. This allows the caster 50 to be placed on the base plate insertion portion 15 while tilting the caster 50 diagonally and inserting the base plate 51 into the communication portion 161. Thus, the area of ​​the base plate insertion portion 15 can be reduced.

[0130] In the fourth aspect of this disclosure, the trolley 1 may be configured such that, in the first aspect described above, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 is provided with a support portion 162 that supports the caster lock member 60 from below, located below the caster lock member 60 to which it is mounted.

[0131] According to the above configuration, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 is equipped with a support portion 162. As a result, the caster lock member 60 is supported by the support portion 162, and the support portion 162 and the restricting recess 61 work together to more firmly restrict the vertical movement of the caster 50.

[0132] The trolley 1 according to aspect 5 of the present disclosure may be configured such that, in aspect 4 above, the restricting recess 61 is located on the back side of the base plate 51, with the base plate 51 being held in place, and comprises a first restricting wall 611 located on the surface 31 side of the base plate 51, and a third restricting wall 613 connecting the ends of the first restricting wall 611 and the second restricting wall 612, and the support portion 162 supports the first restricting wall 611 and the third restricting wall 613 from below.

[0133] With the above configuration, the first restricting wall 611 and the third restricting wall 613 can be supported from below. This allows the restricting recess 61 and the support portion 162 to work together to restrict the downward movement of the base plate 51.

[0134] The trolley 1 according to embodiment 6 of the present disclosure may be configured such that, in embodiment 4 above, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 includes a partition wall 163 surrounding the outer circumference of the caster lock member 60 when the caster lock member 60 is attached, the wall of the partition wall 163 on the side of the aforementioned mounting surface 31 is made of the aforementioned mounting surface 31, and the wall of the partition wall 163 on the back side is made of the support portion 162.

[0135] According to the above configuration, the caster lock member mounting section 16 is equipped with a partition wall 163. The wall of the partition wall 163 on the mounting section 30 side is composed of a mounting surface 31, and the wall on the back side of the partition wall 163 is composed of a support section 162. As a result, the partition wall 163 surrounding the outer circumference of the caster lock member 60 is positioned inward from the mounting surface 31. In addition, the portion of the caster lock member 60 attached to the caster lock member mounting section 16 that is exposed to the outside can be reduced. Furthermore, since the wall of the partition wall 163 on the mounting section 30 side is composed of a mounting surface 31, the step height of the mounting surface 31 can be reduced. Therefore, the possibility of luggage placed on the mounting surface 31 getting caught on the step height of the caster lock member 60 is reduced, and the possibility of dirt accumulating in the step height is also reduced.

[0136] The trolley 1 according to embodiment 7 of the present disclosure may be configured such that, in embodiment 4 above, the restricting recess 61 includes a first restricting wall 611 located on the back side of the base plate 51 while the base plate 51 is being held in place, and the end of the first restricting wall 611 on the base plate insertion portion 15 side is located at the same position as the end of the support portion 162 on the base plate insertion portion 15 side, or is located closer to the base plate insertion portion 15 than the end of the support portion 162 on the base plate insertion portion 15 side.

[0137] According to the above configuration, the end of the first restricting wall 611 on the base plate insertion portion 15 side is positioned at the same location as the end of the support portion 162 on the base plate insertion portion 15 side. Furthermore, the end of the first restricting wall 611 on the base plate insertion portion 15 side is positioned closer to the base plate insertion portion 15 than the end of the support portion 162 on the base plate insertion portion 15 side.

[0138] This makes it easier to insert the caster 50 into the base plate insertion section 15, and once the caster lock member 60 is attached, the base plate 51 can be firmly supported.

[0139] In the embodiment 8 of this disclosure, the trolley 1 may be configured such that, in embodiment 2 described above, one end of the regulating recess 61 is open and the other end is closed.

[0140] According to the above configuration, one end of the restricting recess 61 is open, while the other end is closed. This allows the end of the base plate 51 to be received in the restricting recess 61, thereby increasing the area of ​​the flat surface on the outer surface of the caster lock member 60, and consequently, on the outer surface of the support block 10.

[0141] The trolley 1 according to aspect 9 of the present disclosure may be configured such that, in any one of aspects 1 to 8 above, the caster lock member 60 is provided with a tongue 62 that can be fitted into the caster lock member mounting portion 16, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 is provided with a fitting portion 164 into which the tongue 62 is fitted, and when the tongue 62 is fitted into the fitting portion 164, the caster 50 is locked and fixed to the base plate insertion portion 15.

[0142] According to the above configuration, the caster lock member 60 comprises a tongue piece 62 that can be fitted into the caster lock member mounting portion 16, and a fitted portion 164 into which the tongue piece 62 is fitted. This makes it possible to maintain the locked state of the caster 50.

[0143] The trolley 1 according to embodiment 10 of the present disclosure may be configured such that, in embodiment 9 above, the caster lock member 60 has a lock member projection 63 that protrudes along the insertion direction from the end face in the insertion direction into which the caster lock member 60 is inserted, the caster lock member mounting portion 16 is configured to be able to receive the lock member projection 63 at a position opposite to the lock member projection 63 when the caster lock member 60 is inserted, and has a receiving recess 165 in which the top of the lock member projection 63 is exposed, and in the locked state, the lock member projection 63 is received in the receiving recess 165.

[0144] According to the above configuration, the caster lock member 60 is equipped with a lock member projection 63, and the caster lock member mounting portion 16 is equipped with a receiving recess 165. As a result, the movement of the base plate 51 inserted into the base plate insertion portion 15 in the insertion direction (towards the caster lock member 60) is not restricted by the restricting recess 61 alone, but rather the restricting recess 61, the lock member projection 63, and the receiving recess 165 work together to restrict its movement.

[0145] Furthermore, by providing the locking member projection 63 and the receiving recess 165, the load transmitted from the caster 50 when the trolley 1 is in use can be distributed by multiple elements: the caster locking member 60, the locking member projection 63, and the receiving recess 165. This suppresses damage to the base plate insertion portion 15 due to the concentration of load transmitted from the caster 50.

[0146] [Embodiment 2] Next, the trolley 100 of Embodiment 2 will be described using Figures 13 to 21. For the sake of clarity, components having the same function as those described in the above embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0147] The trolley 100 of this embodiment differs from the trolley 1 of Embodiment 1 in the structure of the caster lock member mounting portion 160 provided on the support block 110, and the structure of the caster lock member 601 attached to the caster lock member mounting portion 160.

[0148] (Caster lock component) The specific shape and function of the caster lock member 601 will be explained using Figures 14 and 15. The caster lock member 601 may be integrally molded from a synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The caster lock member 601 comprises a rectangular parallelepiped base portion 602 and a cylindrical lock member projection 63 that protrudes from one end of the base portion 602 along the insertion direction.

[0149] The caster lock member 601 has multiple restrictive recesses 610 on its side surface for gripping the base plate 51 of the caster 50. As shown in Figure 15, in this embodiment, the restrictive recesses 610 are provided on one side surface of the caster lock member 601. Two restrictive recesses 610 are provided, arranged vertically perpendicular to the center line M (see Figure 14) of the base portion 602 constituting the caster lock member 601, with a width that allows the base plate 51 to be inserted. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the restrictive recesses 610 are arranged vertically symmetrically with respect to the center line M (see Figure 14) of the base portion 602 constituting the caster lock member 601.

[0150] The caster lock member 601 shown in Figures 14 and 15 has a restricting recess 610 on one side, but is not limited to this. For example, the restricting recess 610 may be arranged symmetrically on both the left and right sides of the center line M. Furthermore, the restricting recess 610 may be arranged symmetrically both horizontally and vertically.

[0151] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 14, 15, and 19, each restricting recess 610 includes a first restricting wall 611, a second restricting wall 612, and a third restricting wall 613.

[0152] The first restricting wall 611 is a wall located on the back side (bottom side) of the base plate 51 when the base plate 51 is being held between the walls. The second restricting wall 612 is a wall located on the mounting surface 31 side of the base plate 51 when the base plate 51 is being held between the walls. The third restricting wall 613 is a wall that connects the ends of the first restricting wall 611 and the second restricting wall 612.

[0153] In this embodiment, since a pair of restricting recesses 610 are provided vertically, one first restricting wall 611 is provided on the upper side and one on the lower side, and the second restricting wall 612 is provided between them. Furthermore, the third restricting wall 613 connects the ends of the first restricting wall 611 and the second restricting wall 612, which are provided on the upper and lower sides, respectively.

[0154] The first restricting wall 611, the second restricting wall 612, and the third restricting wall 613 restrict the movement of the base plate 51 in the vertical and insertion directions.

[0155] As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the caster lock member 601 is attached to the caster lock member mounting portion 160 and is equipped with an engaging portion 620 for restricting movement in the insertion direction.

[0156] The engaging portion 620 consists of an elastically deformable plate-shaped base plate portion 621 and a claw-shaped tongue piece 62 formed at the tip of the base plate portion 621, which is fitted into the fitting portion 164 described later. In this embodiment, the caster lock member 601 has a shape that is vertically symmetrical with respect to the center line M (see Figure 14). That is, the base plate portion 621 and the tongue piece 62 are arranged vertically symmetrically.

[0157] The engaging portion 620 is located in a different position from the restricting recess 610. Specifically, as shown in Figure 14, the restricting recess 610 is provided on the side surface of the caster lock member 601, while the engaging portion 620 is provided on the upper surface of the caster lock member 601.

[0158] As described above, the engaging portion 620 and the restricting recess 610 are located on different surfaces, so that their functions do not interfere with each other, thus ensuring both a reliable locking function and a base plate holding function.

[0159] Note that "different position" may refer to a different surface from the surface on which the restrictive recess 610 is provided, as in this embodiment. Alternatively, it may refer to a surface on the opposite side of the center line M from the surface on which the restrictive recess 610 is provided, as in this embodiment. Furthermore, even within the same surface, it may refer to a position that does not overlap with the location of the restrictive recess 610 in the vertical or horizontal direction.

[0160] Multiple engaging portions 620 are provided on the caster lock member 601 (two in this embodiment). As shown in Figure 15, the multiple engaging portions 620 are arranged symmetrically above and below the center line M of the base portion 602 that constitutes the caster lock member 601. This allows the caster lock member 601 to perform the same function even when it is inverted.

[0161] In other words, in this embodiment, the caster lock member 601 has restricting recesses 610 arranged symmetrically vertically, and the engaging portion 620, which is fitted into the fitting portion 164 described later, is also arranged symmetrically vertically with respect to the center line M of the base portion 602.

[0162] As a result, the caster lock member 601 can be attached to the caster lock member mounting section 160 regardless of the insertion direction (up / down, left / right). Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, the same caster lock member 601 can be used for any of the support blocks 110 at the four corners of the trolley 100 (left rear, left front, right rear, and right front). Consequently, the number of parts can be reduced, parts management can be made easier, and incorrect assembly during assembly or caster replacement can be prevented.

[0163] (Support block and caster lock member mounting section) Next, the structure of the support block 110 and the caster lock member mounting portion 160 will be described using Figures 16 to 18.

[0164] The support block 110 is provided with a base plate insertion portion 15 on its back side and a caster lock member mounting portion 160 adjacent to the base plate insertion portion 15. The base plate insertion portion 15 and the caster lock member mounting portion 160 are connected via a connecting portion 161.

[0165] As shown in Figures 16 and 18, the base plate insertion portion 15 is provided with a rib 151. The rib 151 extends in a direction along the insertion direction into which the caster 50 is inserted, and an inclined rib 1510 is provided at the end of the rib 151 closer to the communication portion 161, which slopes upward as it moves from the rib 151 toward the caster lock member mounting portion 160. As will be described later, this inclined rib 1510 serves as a guide when inserting the base plate 51 of the caster 50 into the communication portion 161.

[0166] The caster lock member mounting portion 160 includes a partition wall 163 that defines the space into which the caster lock member 601 is inserted. The caster lock member mounting portion 160 also includes a fitted portion 164 into which one of the multiple engaging portions 620 is fitted, and a receiving portion 166 into which the other is received.

[0167] As shown in Figures 16 and 18, the fitting portion 164 is formed as a through hole opening on the lower side of the support block 110. The tongue piece 62 of the engaging portion 620 fits into this fitting portion 164, thereby fixing the caster lock member 601 to the caster lock member mounting portion 160.

[0168] As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the receiving portion 166 is located on the opposite side (upper side in this embodiment) from the fitted portion 164 in the caster lock member mounting portion 160. The receiving portion 166 is composed of a pair of receiving ribs 1661 that extend along the insertion direction of the caster lock member 601.

[0169] The pair of receiving ribs 1661 are formed to protrude downward from the partition wall 163 of the caster lock member mounting portion 160. When the caster lock member 601 is inserted, the pair of receiving ribs 1661 receive the engaging portion 620 (tongue piece 62) on the side that does not engage with the fitted portion 164, guide the engaging portion 620 in the insertion direction of the caster lock member 601, and also support the caster lock member 601. The pair of receiving ribs 1661 may also serve as guide ribs as detailed in Embodiment 1. By providing the pair of receiving ribs 1661, the rigidity of the caster lock member mounting portion 160 is increased, enabling stable support.

[0170] As shown in Figures 19 and 20, the pair of receiving ribs 1661 receive the engaging portion 620, thereby preventing unnecessary elastic deformation of the engaging portion 620 on the side that does not engage with the fitted portion 164 when the caster lock member 601 is installed.

[0171] This prevents the base plate portion 621 from sagging (plastic deformation), and ensures that a reliable locking function can be maintained over a long period of time, even when the caster lock member 601 is used in reverse.

[0172] The amount of the receiving rib 1661 protruding from the partition wall 163 may be approximately the same as the amount of the tongue piece 62 protruding, or it may be a small amount such that the top of the tongue piece 62 abuts against the partition wall 163 (on the mounting surface 31 side) of the receiving portion 166.

[0173] Furthermore, the receiving ribs 1661 do not necessarily have to be in pairs; at least one is sufficient. Even without the receiving ribs 1661, the objective of using the same caster lock member 601 for any of the four support blocks 110 at the corners of the trolley 100 can still be achieved.

[0174] Furthermore, instead of the receiving portion 166, a recessed portion with a concave shape configured to receive, for example, the tongue piece 62 may be used. The recessed portion may be formed extending in the direction of insertion of the caster lock member 601, or it may be provided to correspond to the location where the tongue piece 62 is positioned when the caster lock member 601 is inserted.

[0175] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 19, the receiving rib 1661 is in contact with or close to the first restricting wall 611 and the base portion 602. Also in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 17, 18, and 19, of the pair of receiving ribs 1661, the rear rib 1662 (corresponding to the aforementioned guide rib) is provided further towards the base plate insertion portion 15 (towards the opening of the restricting recess 610 when the caster lock member 601 is inserted) than the receiving rib 1661 on the base plate insertion portion 15 side, extending along the insertion direction of the caster lock member 601.

[0176] The rear rib 1662 connects the peripheral wall 152 and the end of the inclined rib 1510, and the end of the rear rib 1662 is the same as that of the pair of receiving ribs 1661 and extends to the outside of the support block 10 (slightly inside the entrance of the caster lock member mounting portion 160). The amount of protrusion of the rear rib 1662 from the partition wall 163 is the same as the amount of protrusion of the receiving rib 1661 from the partition wall 163, and as shown in Figure 19, it is in contact with or close to the first restricting wall 611.

[0177] (Installation of casters and caster lock components) The procedure for installing the caster 50 and the caster lock member 601 will be explained using Figure 21.

[0178] First, the worker inserts the base plate 51 of the caster 50 into the base plate insertion section 15 at an angle, as indicated by the arrow X. Specifically, one end of the base plate 51 is inserted into the communication section 161 using the inclined rib 1510 as a guide, and the other end of the base plate 51 is positioned so as to slide between the folded wall 153 and the rib 151.

[0179] Next, the caster lock member 601 is inserted into the caster lock member mounting portion 160 as indicated by the arrow Y. As the caster lock member 601 is inserted, the base plate portion 621 of one of the engaging portions 620 (the lower engaging portion of the caster lock member 601 in the inserted state in Figure 21) elastically deforms, and when the tongue 62 reaches the position of the fitted portion 164, it elastically returns to its original position and fits into the fitted portion 164.

[0180] As a result, the caster lock member 601 is fixed and locked. At this time, the other engaging portion 620 (the upper engaging portion of the caster lock member 601 in the inserted state in Figure 21) is received and supported by the receiving portion 166.

[0181] When the caster 50 is locked in the base plate insertion portion 15, the restricting recess 610 of the caster lock member 601 grips the end of the base plate 51 from above and below, and the caster 50 is firmly fixed to the support block 110.

[0182] The details will be explained with reference to Figure 19. Figure 19 shows the left rear support block 110 (hereinafter referred to as the left support block 110) on the left side, and the left front support block 110 (hereinafter referred to as the right support block 110) on the right side. In other words, the support blocks 110 are arranged symmetrically on both sides.

[0183] When the caster lock member 601 is inserted into the left support block 110, the movement of the base plate 51 is restricted by a restricting recess 610 enclosed by a first restricting wall 611 located on the lower side, a second restricting wall 612 located closer to the mounting surface 31 than the first restricting wall 611, and a third restricting wall 613. In this case, the first restricting wall 611, which is located above the second restricting wall 612, does not restrict the movement of the base plate 51.

[0184] When the caster lock member 601 is inserted into the right support block 110, the movement of the base plate 51 is restricted by a restricting recess 610 surrounded by a first restricting wall 611 located on the lower side (corresponding to the first restricting wall 611 above the second restricting wall 612 when used with the left support block 110), a second restricting wall 612 located closer to the mounting surface 31 than the first restricting wall 611, and a third restricting wall 613.

[0185] In other words, whether inserted into the right or left support block 110, the restricting recess 610 acts as a first restricting wall 611 located on the back side (underside) of the base plate 51 while clamping the base plate 51.

[0186] Consider, for example, the case in which the caster lock member 601 used for the left support block 110 is used for the right support block 110.

[0187] In this case, the caster lock member 601 used on the left support block 110 can be used on the right support block 110 simply by inverting it vertically (rotating it 180 degrees in the front-to-back direction). Similarly, the caster lock member 601 can be used interchangeably among the four support blocks 110 shown in Figure 13 by rotating it 180 degrees in the front-to-back direction or 180 degrees in the left-to-right direction.

[0188] To remove the caster 50 and the caster lock member 601, push in the tongue piece 62 that is fitted into the fitting portion 164 with your finger or the like to release the fitting, push out the top of the protrusion 63 of the lock member that is exposed from the receiving recess 165 in the direction opposite to arrow Y with your finger or the like, and pull out the caster lock member 601 from the caster lock member mounting portion 160.

[0189] (Effects and Benefits) As described above, the following effects and advantages can be obtained according to this embodiment.

[0190] The trolley 100 according to aspect 11 of the present disclosure is the trolley 100 described in aspect 1, wherein the regulating recess 610 is arranged symmetrically on both sides of the center line M of the base 602 constituting the caster lock member 601, and / or in a vertical direction perpendicular to the center line M.

[0191] According to the above configuration, the restricting recesses 610 are arranged symmetrically or vertically with respect to the center line M of the caster lock member 601, so that the same function can be performed even if the caster lock member 601 is inverted vertically or horizontally. Therefore, the caster lock member 601 can be attached to any of the support blocks 110 of the trolley 100, thereby improving assembly efficiency and reducing costs through parts sharing.

[0192] The trolley 100 according to aspect 12 of the present disclosure is the trolley 100 according to any one of aspects 1 to 8 and aspect 11, wherein the caster lock member 601 has an engaging portion 620 configured to engage with the caster lock member mounting portion 160, and the regulating recess 610 is located at a position different from the engaging portion 620.

[0193] According to the above configuration, the engaging portion 620 engages with the caster lock member mounting portion 160, while the restricting recess 610 holds the base plate 51 of the caster 50 by clamping it. Since the two components are located in different positions, they do not interfere with each other, enabling both a reliable locking function and a stable holding function.

[0194] The trolley 100 according to aspect 13 of the present disclosure is the trolley 100 described in aspect 12, wherein the caster lock member 601 comprises a plurality of engagement portions 620, the plurality of engagement portions 620 are arranged symmetrically on the vertical axis with respect to the center line M of the base portion 602 constituting the caster lock member 601, and the caster lock member mounting portion 160 comprises a fitted portion 164 into which one of the plurality of engagement portions 620 is fitted, and a receiving portion 166 into which the other is received.

[0195] According to the above configuration, the caster lock member 601 can be installed even if it is inverted, and the same part can be used for either the left or right support block 110. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and incorrect assembly can be prevented. In addition, the receiving portion 166 prevents excessive deformation of the engaging portion 620 on the side that does not engage with the fitted portion 164, preventing wear of the elastic member and maintaining reliability over a long period of time.

[0196] The trolley 100 according to aspect 14 of the present disclosure is the trolley 100 according to aspect 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of engagement portions 620 comprises an elastically deformable base plate portion 621 and a tongue piece 62 formed on the base plate portion 621 and fitted into the fitted portion 164.

[0197] With the above configuration, since the base plate portion 621 constituting the engaging portion 620 is elastic, the tongue piece 62 elastically deforms and smoothly fits into place when the caster lock member 601 is inserted, ensuring secure fixation. Furthermore, when replacing the caster 50, the fit can be easily released by pressing the tongue piece 62, improving workability and maintainability.

[0198] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining each modification, are also included in the technical scope of this disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0199] 1,100 carts 15 Base plate insertion section 16, 160 Caster lock component mounting part 30 Mounting section 31 Mounting surface 50 casters 51 Base Plate 60, 601 Caster lock component 61, 610 Restrictive recess

Claims

1. A trolley with detachable casters, The aforementioned trolley is, A mounting section having a mounting surface on which luggage is placed, On the back side opposite to the mounting surface, there is a base plate insertion section configured to allow the base plate of the caster to be inserted, A caster locking member for fixing the caster to the base plate insertion part, The caster lock member mounting portion is located on the rear side and is configured to allow the caster lock member to be attached, Equipped with, The aforementioned caster lock member is A restricting recess that holds the base plate inserted into the base plate insertion portion and restricts the vertical movement of the base plate, It is equipped with A trolley characterized by the following features.

2. The restricting recess, when the base plate is clamped, The first restricting wall located on the back side of the base plate, A second restricting wall located on the aforementioned mounting surface side of the base plate, A third restricting wall connecting the ends of the first restricting wall and the second restricting wall, It is equipped with The trolley according to feature 1.

3. The aforementioned caster lock member mounting portion is, It has a communication portion that communicates with the base plate insertion portion, The aforementioned caster lock member is The portion of the base plate inserted into the base plate insertion section that is on the side of the communication section is clamped, The trolley according to feature 1.

4. The aforementioned caster lock member mounting portion is, A support portion is provided below the attached caster lock member, which supports the caster lock member from below. The trolley according to feature 1.

5. The restricting recess, when the base plate is clamped, The first restricting wall located on the back side of the base plate, A second restricting wall located on the aforementioned mounting surface side of the base plate, A third restricting wall connecting the ends of the first restricting wall and the second restricting wall, Equipped with, The aforementioned support portion is The first restricting wall and the third restricting wall are supported from below, The trolley described in feature 4.

6. The aforementioned caster lock member mounting portion is, With the caster lock member attached, a partition wall is provided to surround the outer periphery of the caster lock member. The wall on the side of the partition wall facing the aforementioned mounting surface is made of the aforementioned mounting surface, and the wall on the back side of the partition wall is made of the support portion. The trolley described in feature 4.

7. The restricting recess, when the base plate is clamped, The base plate is provided with a first restricting wall located on the back side, The end of the first restricting wall on the base plate insertion side is, The trolley according to claim 4, characterized in that the support portion is positioned at the same location as the end of the support portion on the base plate insertion portion side, or is located closer to the base plate insertion portion than the end of the support portion on the base plate insertion portion side.

8. The trolley according to claim 2, characterized in that one end of the regulating recess is open and the other end is closed.

9. The aforementioned restricting recess is, The components are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the center line of the base that constitutes the caster lock member, and / or in a vertical direction perpendicular to the center line. The trolley according to feature 1.

10. The aforementioned caster lock member is The caster lock member mounting portion is equipped with an engaging portion configured to engage with the aforementioned caster lock member mounting portion, The aforementioned restricting recess is, The engagement portion is located at a different position from the aforementioned engagement portion. A trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that

11. The caster lock member comprises a plurality of engagement portions, The multiple engagement portions are, The base portion constituting the caster lock member is arranged symmetrically on both the upper and lower lines, with respect to the center line of the base portion. The aforementioned caster lock member mounting portion is, The trolley according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a fitted portion into which one of the plurality of engagement portions is fitted, and a receiving portion into which the other is received.

12. The trolley according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one of the plurality of engagement portions comprises an elastically deformable base plate portion and a tongue formed on the base plate portion and fitted into the fitted portion.

Images