Joint and clothes drying device using the same

Abstract

To provide a joint capable of fixing a pipe at one side to the joint by a fixing work of the pipe at the other side, in connecting the pipes through the joint.SOLUTION: In a joint 30 including: a cylindrical first insertion portion 31 to which one of pipes is inserted; a cylindrical second insertion portion 32 which is projected outward from an outer peripheral surface of the first insertion portion 31 and to which the other pipe is inserted; and a fastening member 60 externally fitted to the second insertion portion 32, the first insertion portion 31 has an opening portion 36 which is formed toward a second insertion portion 32 side and communicates with an external space from an internal space of the first insertion portion 31, and a presser member 37 disposed in the opening portion 36, the second insertion portion 32 is reduced in diameter by externally fitting the fastening member 60, and the fastening member 60 externally fitted to the second insertion portion 32, is constituted to press the presser member to an internal space side of the first insertion portion 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a joint for connecting pipes, and to a clothes drying device assembled using this joint. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, various types of joints have been proposed for connecting pipes together, including joints for connecting the ends of pipes together in a straight line or at a right angle, i.e., joints for connecting two pipes at a specified angle, and joints for connecting pipes in a T-shape by connecting the end of one pipe to the middle of the other pipe.

[0003] One example of a structure for fixing a pipe to a joint is one in which a cylindrical insertion part that is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe is provided in the joint, and the pipe is hammered in. Another structure is one in which a cylindrical insertion part that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pipe is provided in the joint, the insertion part is divided into half cylinders in the axial direction (longitudinal direction), and after the pipe is inserted, a tightening tool is attached so that the outer shape of the insertion part becomes smaller, thereby fixing the pipe.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a connection structure between a fitting and a pipe, which comprises a fitting body having a protruding fitting portion that supports the pipe end, and a fastener which is an insertion tube that is fitted onto the outside of the pipe end and is fitted into the fitting portion together with the pipe end, wherein a tapered surface is formed in the circumferential direction of the inner side surface of the fitting portion of the fitting body, and the outer side surface of the insertion tube of the corresponding fastener has protrusions at positions and in a number of places that correspond to the tapered surface, and a nut portion is formed on the periphery of the insertion tube, and when the fastener with the pipe end fitted into it is fitted into the fitting portion of the fitting body and the nut portion is rotated a predetermined angle, the protrusions of the fastener are strongly pressed against the tapered surface of the inner side surface of the fitting portion, thereby firmly connecting the pipe to the fitting. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-13512 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] According to the above-mentioned connection structure between the fitting and the pipe, the fitting and the pipe are connected in a stable manner in terms of strength, and the fitting can be used without concerns about its strength even after repeated use, especially in applications where a strong force is applied. However, it was necessary to provide an insertion tube for each pipe to be connected to the fitting, which could make the connection work complicated.

[0007] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and provides a joint which, when connecting pipes via a joint, enables one pipe to be fixed to the joint by simply fixing the other pipe. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the joint according to the present invention is a joint including a first cylindrical insertion portion into which one pipe is inserted, a second cylindrical insertion portion that protrudes outward from the outer circumferential surface of the first insertion portion and into which the other pipe is inserted, and a fastening member that is fitted onto the second insertion portion, the first insertion portion having a pressing member, and the second insertion portion having a reduced diameter due to the fastening member being fitted onto the second insertion portion. 、 The pressing member is a fastening member fitted onto the second insertion portion. and the first insertion portion is in contact with the inner space of the first insertion portion. When pressed, it presses one of the pipes inserted into the first insertion portion. Tamo That is why.

[0009] Furthermore, the clothes drying rack of the present invention is a clothes drying device that uses the joint, and is characterized in that it comprises a pipe-shaped vertical member and a horizontally arranged pipe-shaped leg portion connected to the lower end of the vertical member via the joint, the vertical member being inserted into the second insertion portion and the leg portion being inserted into the first insertion portion. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the joint of the present invention, the first pipe can also be fixed by the fastening member for fixing the second pipe to the joint, which makes it easy to connect the pipes.

[0011] Alternatively, the clothes drying device of the present invention is equipped with a pipe-shaped vertical member and a pipe-shaped leg arranged horizontally and connected to the lower end of the vertical member via a joint, so that by loosening the tightening of the joint, the leg can be rotated around the vertical member as an axis. Therefore, when used as a clothes drying device, the leg can be oriented in a predetermined direction, and when not in use, the leg can be changed in orientation or fixed position to save space and store away. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a clothes drying tool using a joint according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 in another state of use. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the joint in FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the joint of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, 10 is a leg portion as one pipe, 20 is a vertical member as the other pipe, and 30 is a joint according to the present invention, and the joint 30 according to the present invention connects the leg portion 10 as one pipe and the vertical member 20 as the other pipe. Also, the clothes drying tool 100 according to the present invention uses the joint 30 to connect the leg portion 10 and the vertical member 20.

[0014] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are explanatory diagrams showing one embodiment of a clothes drying tool 100 according to the present invention, Fig. 1 shows the case where it is used as a clothes drying tool, and Fig. 2 shows the case where it is in a space-saving state for putting away after use of the clothes drying tool. Fig. 2 is a view of the clothes drying tool 100 in Fig. 1 in the space-saving state as seen from the arrow A.

[0015] The clothes drying device 100 includes vertical members 20 arranged on the left and right, a horizontal member 40 installed between the vertical members 20, and a leg 10 attached to the lower end of the vertical member 20 via a joint 30, and is formed into a rectangular shape by the vertical members 20 and the horizontal members 40. In this embodiment, the vertical members 20, the horizontal members 40, and the leg 10 are metal round pipes, and in the following description, unless otherwise specified, they will be described as metal round pipes, but they may have other shapes, for example, an elliptical cross section or a rectangular cross section. In addition, composite materials such as so-called clad pipes, which are made by combining aluminum alloys, steel, stainless steel, and metal foils, may also be used as materials.

[0016] The left end of the upper horizontal member 40 is connected to the upper end of the left vertical member 20 via an L-shaped joint 51. The opposite right end is connected to the upper end of the right vertical member 20 via a T-shaped joint 52. A pipe-shaped overhanging horizontal member 41 having a smaller diameter than the horizontal member 40 is attached to the T-shaped joint 52 on the opposite side of the horizontal member 40, and the horizontal member 40 and the overhanging horizontal member 41 are arranged in a straight line. The overhanging horizontal member 41 can move in the longitudinal direction. FIG. 1 shows the overhanging horizontal member 41 in an overhanging state, and FIG. 2 shows the overhanging horizontal member 41 in a stored state after passing through the inside of the T-shaped joint 52 and being inserted into the horizontal member 40.

[0017] The lower horizontal member 40 has both left and right ends connected to the lower parts of the left and right vertical members 20, 20 via L-shaped joints 53, 53. Specifically, the L-shaped joints 53, 53 have a cylindrical through-hole 53a through which the vertical member 20 passes in the up-down direction, and a cylindrical insertion portion 53b that protrudes laterally from the upper end of the through-hole 53a and into which the end of the horizontal member 40 is inserted. This allows the lower horizontal member 40 to change its vertical height position via the left and right L-shaped joints 53, 53.

[0018] Next, the connection structure between the leg 10 and the joint 30 will be described. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of line BB in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the joint 30 in FIG. 1. The joint 30 has a cylindrical first insertion portion 31 into which the leg 10 is inserted. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the leg 10 penetrates the first insertion portion 31, and caps 11, 11 are attached to both ends. Since the outer diameter of the cap 11 is larger than the inner diameter of the first insertion portion 31, the cap 11 cannot be inserted into the first insertion portion 31. As a result, when the joint 30 is loose, the leg 10 can move to any position in the longitudinal direction relative to the first insertion portion 31 between the caps 11, 11 at both ends.

[0019] Next, a connection structure and a fixing method between the vertical member 20 and the joint 30 will be described. The joint 30 includes a cylindrical second insertion portion 32 that protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the first insertion portion 31 and into which the vertical member 20 is inserted, and a fastening member 60 that is fitted onto the second insertion portion 32. In this embodiment, the second insertion portion 32 protrudes in the radial direction of the first insertion portion 31. Note that, in FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of only the fastening member 60 is shown on the right side.

[0020] After the lower end of the vertical member 20 is inserted into the second insertion portion 32, the tightening member 60 is fitted onto the second insertion portion 32, whereby the second insertion portion 32 is reduced in diameter and the inner peripheral surface of the second insertion portion 32 presses the inserted vertical member 20. As a result, the vertical member 20 is fixed by the second insertion portion 32.

[0021] More specifically, the fastening member 60 is cylindrical, and the inner peripheral surface is tapered so that the diameter is larger on the lower side, which is the side of the first insertion portion 31, and the diameter is smaller on the opposite side. A female thread portion 61 is formed on this tapered inner peripheral surface.

[0022] On the other hand, the second insertion portion 32 has a slit 33 formed in the protruding direction, which is the insertion direction of the vertical member 20. In this embodiment, the slit 33 reaches the outer circumferential surface of the first insertion portion 31 and is formed at an opposing position of the side wall portion 34 forming the second insertion portion 32, and the side wall portion 34 is divided into two. Furthermore, a male thread portion 35 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the side wall portion 34, and by fitting the fastening member 60 to the outside of the second insertion portion 32 so that the male thread portion 35 screws into the female thread portion 61, the second insertion portion 32 is reduced in diameter, and the inner circumferential surface of the side wall portion 34 presses the vertical member 20. As a result, the vertical member 20 is fixed by the second insertion portion 32. In this embodiment, a male threaded portion 35 is formed on the side wall portion 34 and a female threaded portion 61 is formed on the fastening member 60; however, it is sufficient that the fastening member 60 is engaged with the side wall portion 34 (second insertion portion 32) and the second insertion portion 32 is reduced in diameter, so although not shown, it is sufficient that a female threaded portion is formed on the side wall portion 34 and a male threaded portion is formed on the fastening member 60.

[0023] Next, a method for fixing the leg 10 to the joint 30 will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the joint 30. The first insertion portion 31 is formed toward the second insertion portion 32 and has an opening 36 that communicates from the internal space of the first insertion portion 31 to the external space. In this embodiment, the opening 36 is elongated along the longitudinal direction of the first insertion portion 31 and communicates with both slits 33, 33 of the second insertion portion 32. A pressing member 37 is disposed within the opening 36.

[0024] In this embodiment, the pressing member 37 is formed to be slightly smaller than the internal space of the opening 36. Both ends of the pressing member 37 have protrusions 38 that rise outward, and the protrusions 38 communicate with the slits 33. In other words, the protrusions 38 are disposed within the space formed by the slits 33, and are positioned so that the protrusions 38 and the lower end of the tightening member 60 overlap in a plan view.

[0025] As a result, when the fastening member 60 is inserted into the second insertion portion 32 and moved toward the first insertion portion 31, the lower end of the fastening member 60 comes into contact with the protrusion 38, and further presses the protrusion 38 toward the internal space of the first insertion portion 31, thereby pressing the leg 10 inserted into the first insertion portion 31 downward. Therefore, the leg 10 is fixed inside the first insertion portion 31 by the pressed pressing member 37.

[0026] In this embodiment, the pressing member 37 is partially connected to the inner circumferential surface of the opening 36. Specifically, a longitudinal middle portion of the pressing member 37 is connected to the inner circumferential surface of the opening 36, and the pressing member 37 extends from this connection point toward both side ends of the opening 36, with the middle portion of the pressing member 37 being a so-called fixed end and both ends being so-called free ends.

[0027] This eliminates the need to prepare the joint 30 and the pressing member 37 separately. In this embodiment, the pressing member 37 is formed integrally with the joint 30 from a synthetic resin. When the force of the lower end of the fastening member 60 pressing the protrusion 38 of the pressing member 37 downward acts by the extrapolation operation of the fastening member 60, the vicinity of the protrusion 38 elastically deforms downward and presses the leg 10 in the first insertion part 31 downward. Since the leg 10 can be pressed downward, the leg 10 can be fixed in the first insertion part 31. The gap between the inner peripheral surface of the opening 36 and the pressing member 37 can be appropriately set within a range where the vicinity of the protrusion 38 does not interfere with the inner peripheral surface of the opening 36 when the vicinity of the protrusion 38 elastically deforms downward.

[0028] The protrusion 38 may be formed only on one end of the pressing member 37, i.e., there may be only one protrusion 38 that abuts against the fastening member 60; however, having two protrusions 38, as in this embodiment, is preferable because it enables the leg 10 to be more firmly fixed.

[0029] It is also preferable that the vertical member 20 can be disposed between the protrusions 38, 38 of the pressing member 37. This allows the vertical member 20 to be inserted into the second insertion portion 32 all the way to the back.

[0030] In this way, by using the joint 30 according to the present invention, the operation of connecting the leg 10 and the vertical member 20 becomes easy. That is, by the extrapolation operation of extrapolating the fastening member 60 onto the second insertion portion 32, not only the vertical member 20 but also the leg 10 can be fixed. In addition, the degree of fixation of the leg 10 and the vertical member 20 can be further strengthened by additional tightening during the extrapolation operation. Therefore, the operation of fixing the leg 10 and the vertical member 20 separately is not required.

[0031] Furthermore, in the leg 10 and the vertical member 20 connected by the joint 30 according to the present invention, the position of the leg 10 can be changed by loosening the fastening member 60. That is, the vertical member 20 can rotate about the longitudinal axis in the second insertion portion 32, so that the leg 10 inserted into the first insertion portion 31 of the joint 30 can rotate about the vertical member 20 as the axis. This allows the longitudinal direction of the leg 10 to be easily changed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

[0032] In addition, the fixed state of the leg 10 in the first insertion portion 31 also loosens, so that the positional relationship between the leg 10 and the joint 30 can be changed. For example, there is a case where the vicinity of the longitudinal center of the leg 10 is fixed to the joint 30 as shown in Fig. 1, and a case where the vicinity of the end of the leg 10 is fixed to the joint 30 as shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, after changing the orientation or fixed position of the leg 10, the aforementioned extrapolation operation of the fastening member 60 can be performed to fix the leg 10 at that position.

[0033] Furthermore, the clothes drying device 100 according to the present invention can change the orientation of the legs 10 and their fixed positions relative to the joints 30 by loosening the fastening members 60, so that when used as a clothes drying device, the legs 10 can stand on their own by arranging the longitudinal direction of the legs 10 in a direction perpendicular to the cross member 40 as shown in Fig. 1. On the other hand, when putting the clothes drying device away, the longitudinal direction of the legs 10 can be changed to the longitudinal direction of the front cross member 40 as shown in Fig. 2, thereby changing the state to one that saves space.

[0034] Although the joint 30 and the clothes drying tool 100 according to the present invention have been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various modifications that a person skilled in the art can make without departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0035] For example, the joint 30 in this embodiment is a T-type joint that connects the end of one pipe to the middle of the other pipe, but if one end of the first insertion portion 31 is closed, it can be used as an L-type joint that connects the ends of pipes together.

[0036] The joint 30 of the present invention is a joint 30 comprising a cylindrical first insertion portion 31 into which one pipe (leg portion 10) is inserted, a cylindrical second insertion portion 32 protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface of the first insertion portion 31 and into which the other pipe (vertical member 20) is inserted, and a fastening member 60 fitted onto the second insertion portion 32, wherein the first insertion portion 31 is formed toward the second insertion portion 32 and has an opening 36 communicating from the internal space of the first insertion portion 31 to the external space, and a pressing member 37 arranged within the opening 36, and the second insertion portion 32 is reduced in diameter by the fastening member 60 being fitted onto the outside, and the fastening member 60 fitted onto the outside of the second insertion portion 32 may press the pressing member 37 towards the internal space of the first insertion portion 31.

[0037] As a result, by extrapolating the tightening member 60 onto the second insertion portion 32, the other pipe (vertical member 20) inserted into the second insertion portion 32 can be fixed, and also one pipe (leg portion 10) inserted into the first insertion portion 31 can be fixed.

[0038] In addition, in the present invention, it is preferable that the second insertion portion 32 has a slit 33 formed along the insertion direction of the other pipe (vertical member 20), the slit 33 communicating with the opening 36, and the pressing member 37 has a protrusion portion 38 communicating with the slit 33.

[0039] As a result, the second insertion portion 32 is easily reduced in diameter by the extrapolation operation of the fastening member 60, making it easier to fix the other pipe (vertical member 20). In addition, the protrusion 38 of the pressing member 37 is easily positioned below the fastening member 60, making it easier to press the pressing member 37 toward the internal space side of the first insertion portion 31 by the extrapolation operation of the fastening member 60.

[0040] In the present invention, it is preferable that the pressing member 37 has a protrusion 38 formed at one end and the other end connected to the inner peripheral wall of the opening 36 , and is elastically deformable by the pressure of the fastening member 60 .

[0041] This eliminates the need to prepare the joint 30 and the pressing member 37 separately.

[0042] Furthermore, the clothes drying device 100 of the present invention is a clothes drying device 100 that uses the joint 30, and is characterized in that it comprises a pipe-shaped vertical member 20 and a horizontally arranged pipe-shaped leg portion 10 that is connected to the lower end of the vertical member 20 via the joint 30, and the vertical member 20 is inserted into the second insertion portion 32, and the leg portion 10 is inserted into the first insertion portion 31.

[0043] As a result, by loosening the fastening of the joint 30, the leg 10 becomes rotatable around the vertical member 20 as an axis, and its position can be changed relative to the joint 30. Therefore, when used as a clothesline, the leg 10 can be oriented in a predetermined direction, and when not in use, the direction of the leg 10 or the fixed position relative to the joint 30 can be changed to a space-saving state and put away. [Industrial Applicability]

[0044] The joint of the present invention can be used to connect two pipes, and since it can fix one pipe at the same time as fixing the other pipe, it can be ideally used in clothes drying equipment that uses a combination of multiple pipes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10 Legs 11 Cap 20 Vertical members 30 Joints 31 First insertion part 32 Second insertion part 33 Slit 34 Side wall 35 Male thread 36 Opening 37 Holding member 38 Protrusion 40 Crosspiece 41 Overhanging cross member 51 L-type joint 52 T-joint 53 L-joint 53a Penetration 53b Insertion part 60 Fastening member 61 Female thread 100 Clothes drying equipment

Claims

1. a cylindrical first insertion portion into which one of the pipes is inserted; a cylindrical second insertion portion that protrudes outward from an outer circumferential surface of the first insertion portion and into which the other pipe is inserted; a fastening member fitted onto the second insertion portion, The first insertion portion has a pressing member, The second insertion portion is reduced in diameter by the fastening member being fitted therearound, The pressing member is abutted against a tightening member fitted onto the outside of the second insertion portion and pressed toward the internal space of the first insertion portion, thereby pressing one of the pipes inserted into the first insertion portion.

2. A clothes drying tool using the joint according to claim 1, A pipe-shaped vertical member, a transversely disposed pipe-shaped leg portion connected to the lower end portion of the vertical member via the joint; The vertical member is inserted into the second insertion portion and the legs are inserted into the first insertion portion.

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