Handrail device

Abstract

To suppress plastic deformation of a handle caused by a long time use, in a clamp mechanism for maintaining an extended state of a handrail device.SOLUTION: A handrail device includes: a column part formed so as to freely extend / contract by sliding a sub column material against a main column material; and an operation part which includes a mounting base mounted on the main column material and a connection body connected to the mounting base so as to be moved and operated freely between a connection position and a connection release position, and in which, according to the movement of the connection body to the connection position, both ends of the column part are pressed to a ceiling surface and a floor surface, and both ends are maintained in a pressed state at the connection position. At the connection body, a clamp device is connected for converting an initial movement operation force of the connection body to the connection position into a clamp force by tightening the column part and for holding the column part. The connection body is connected by a nut and a bolt penetrating a through-hole of the connection body and a through-hole of the clamp device while sandwiching the clamp device, and at least at one of the side on which a head of the bolt is positioned and the side on which the nut is positioned, a plate spring member is sandwiched.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a handrail device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been a demand for handrail devices that can be easily retrofitted in various locations, for example, to assist care recipients receiving home care in rising from a bed and subsequently walking. A known device that meets this demand is described in Patent Document 1 below. These handrail devices include a support pillar formed by sliding a secondary support pillar on a main support pillar, which can be extended and retracted. By pressing both ends of the support pillar against the ceiling and floor, the device can be erected, for example, near the center of a bedroom. By attaching a handrail to this support pillar, the care recipient can be assisted in walking in the center of the bedroom. Furthermore, by placing the support pillar next to the bed, the support pillar itself can serve as a vertical handrail to assist the care recipient in rising from the bed. The length of the support pillar can be adjusted to match the distance between the ceiling and floor by sliding the secondary support pillar on the main support pillar. Furthermore, after adjusting the length, the support pillar is extended to press both ends against the ceiling and floor, and an operating unit with a lever-like handle is attached to the support pillar to prevent subsequent retraction and maintain the pressed state. In order to maintain this pressed state, the following Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose operation units that are provided with a clamp mechanism that holds the support posts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-206640 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6222870 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the operating section of the above-mentioned patent document, plastic deformation of the handle occurs with repeated use, and there is a risk that the clamping mechanism's ability to hold the post may decrease. An object of the embodiment of the present disclosure is to suppress plastic deformation of the handle that occurs with repeated use in a clamping mechanism that maintains the extended state of a handrail device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A handrail device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a support post, an operating unit, and a stopper. The support post is formed so as to be extendable and retractable by sliding a secondary support member on a main support member. The operating unit includes a mounting base attached to the main support member and a connecting body connected to the mounting base so as to be movable between a connecting position that connects the main support member and the secondary support member and a disconnecting position that releases the connection. The operating unit also drives the support post to extend a predetermined length as the connecting body moves to the connecting position, pressing both ends against the installation ceiling surface and the installation floor surface, and maintaining the both ends in a pressed state at the connecting position to erect the support post. The stopper is non-detachably held by the mounting base while exposed to the outside, and is movable between a locking position that locks the connecting body in the connected position and a locking release position that releases the locking state. The stopper is also positioned in a position that is not visible from the front side when the connecting body moves from the disconnecting position to the connecting position. The stopper engages and disengages the connector at the connected position by moving between the engaged position and the unlocked position to engage with and release the locked portion formed on the connector. The stopper is also biased toward the engaged position to resiliently engage with the locked portion. The connector is rotatably connected to the support post. The handrail device also has a link rotatably connected to the support post and the connector, which constitutes a link mechanism together with the connector. The support post is extended by the link mechanism as the connector rotates from the unlocked position to the connected position. A clamping device is connected to the connector, which converts the initial operating force of the connector toward the connected position into a clamping force that tightens against the support post, thereby holding the support post. When the clamping device is in the unlocked state, the linkage between the connector and the connector by the link mechanism is released. The connector is connected with the clamping device sandwiched between the clamping device and the support post by bolts and nuts that pass through two through holes in the connector and two through holes in the clamping device. The connector also has a leaf spring member sandwiched in at least one of the side where the head of the bolt is located and the side where the nut is located.

[0006] When the connecting body moves from the disconnected position to the connected position, the extra stroke of the connecting body can repeatedly clamp the clamping device, causing plastic deformation of the connecting body. However, with the above configuration, this extra stroke is absorbed by the spring force of the leaf spring member attached to the bolt connecting the connecting body to the clamping device, thereby suppressing plastic deformation of the connecting body.

[0007] In addition, in the handrail device, it is desirable that the leaf spring member be made of a disc spring. Disc springs can withstand large loads in a small installation space, making it possible to install them in the limited connection space between the connector and the clamp device.

[0008] In addition, in the handrail device, it is desirable that a plurality of the disc springs are sandwiched on at least one of the side where the bolt head is located and the side where the nut is located. By providing a plurality of disc springs, the spring force can be strengthened.

[0009] In addition, in the handrail device, it is desirable that the multiple disc springs are arranged facing in opposite directions on at least one of the bolt head side and the nut side. Arranging the disc springs in opposite directions means arranging the disc springs so that the small diameter portions or large diameter portions of the approximately truncated cone-shaped disc springs are in contact with each other. By arranging the disc springs in this way, the stroke that the disc springs can absorb can be increased.

[0010] In addition, in the handrail device, it is desirable that a disc spring assembly, in which multiple disc springs are stacked in the same direction, be arranged facing in opposite directions on at least one of the sides where the bolt head is located and the nut is located. By using a disc spring assembly in which multiple disc springs are stacked in the same direction, the spring force of the disc spring can be increased.

[0011] In addition, in the handrail device, it is desirable that the disc spring assembly be located on both the side where the bolt head is located and the side where the nut is located. By arranging them in this way, the disc spring assembly increases the spring force, while minimizing unevenness in the bolt projection dimensions caused by concentrating the disc springs on one side of the bolt.

[0012] Furthermore, in the handrail device, the links are connected by bolts that pass through two through holes in the links and two through holes in the mounting base, with the mounting base sandwiched between them. The through holes on the head side of the bolts are formed as screw holes with female threads, and the through holes on the tip side of the bolts are formed as loose holes. The through holes through which the bolts that connect the links and mounting base pass are female-threaded only on the head side, and the tip side is a loose hole without female threads, which eliminates tightening of the bolts due to repeated rotational movement of the connecting body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] Since the embodiments of the present disclosure are configured as described above, it is possible to suppress plastic deformation of the handle that occurs with repeated use in a clamp mechanism that maintains the extended state of the handrail device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a handrail device according to the present invention, and is an overall side view. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the connecting body and its surroundings when the connecting body is in the connecting position. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the periphery of the connector when it is in the disconnected position. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of parts around the connector. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the central essential part illustrating the structure and operation of the connecting body and its surroundings, showing the state when the connecting body is in the disconnected position. [Figure 6]FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the central essential part illustrating the structure and operation of the connecting body and its surroundings, showing the initial stage of transition from the disconnected position to the connected position. [Figure 7] The connecting portion between the link and the mounting base is shown in the cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Figure 3, with the bolts removed. [Figure 8] The connecting portion between the connecting body and the clamping device is shown in a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. [Figure 9] A modified example of the connecting portion between the connecting body and the clamping device will be shown. [Figure 10] A modified example of the connecting portion between the connecting body and the clamping device will be shown. [Figure 11] A modified example of the connecting portion between the connecting body and the clamping device will be shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] 1 to 8 show an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, a handrail device 100 has a support section 3 formed to be freely retractable, and a clamp device 22 as an operating section for operating and controlling the retracting movement of the support section 3. In the following explanation, up and down are defined based on the installed state shown in Fig. 1.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the support section 3 has a main support member 1 made of a large-diameter pipe and a sub-support member 2 made of a small-diameter pipe that can slide freely within the main support member 1. The support section 3 is also made telescopically expandable by sliding the sub-support member 2 out of the main support member 1 or storing it within the main support member 1. The main support member 1 and the sub-support member 2 are made of straight tubular material. In this embodiment, where the main support member 1 is arranged on the lower side, the support section 3 expands and contracts by adjusting the length of the sub-support member 2 that is pulled upward from the main support member 1.

[0017] In addition, in order to ensure effective installation on the indoor installation ceiling surface 4 and installation floor surface 5, the support portion 3 is provided with a ceiling-side support portion 23 on the upper end side of the secondary support material 2 and a floor-side support portion 24 on the lower end side of the main support material 1, as shown in Figure 1.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 2, the clamp device 22 has a connector 6 formed as a handle, and an attachment base 29 for rotatably attaching the connector 6 to the support column 3. As shown in Figs. 2 to 6, the attachment base 29 has a tubular portion 29a that is slightly larger than the main support member 1, with the upper half formed in an approximately cylindrical shape with a substantially C-shaped cross section and the lower half formed in a cylindrical shape, and an appropriate number of screw holes 29b formed through the side wall surface of the tubular portion 29a. The attachment base 29 is attached to the support column 3 by inserting the upper end of the main support member 1 into the tubular portion 29a and then pressing the outer circumferential surface of the main support member 1 with screws (not shown) that are screwed into the screw holes 29b. In addition, a side wall surface at the longitudinal middle of the tubular portion 29a is deformed convexly so as to be pushed inward from the outer periphery toward the inner periphery beyond the outer diameter of the main support material 1, thereby forming a retaining portion 29d (see Figures 5 and 6) for preventing the main support material 1 from slipping out upward.

[0019] Furthermore, at the bottom of the cylindrical portion 29a, as shown in Figures 3 to 7, a box-shaped protrusion 29e with an open bottom is provided along the longitudinal direction, protruding from the open edge of the C-shaped cross section. On both side surfaces of this protrusion 29e, elongated holes 29f that are long in the vertical direction and communicate with each other in the horizontal direction are drilled, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Furthermore, the upper half of the cylindrical portion 29a is formed into a substantially C-shaped cross section as described above, and this portion serves as a storage portion 29g (see Figure 4) for the clamping device 12, which will be described later.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the connecting body 6 is configured as a lever-shaped handle body 30. The handle body 30 is hollow and has an intermediate wall 48 formed inside it at a position toward the center in the longitudinal direction, with the stopper accommodating portion 15 located on the base end side of the intermediate wall 48. A locking opening 48a is also formed in the intermediate wall 48 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). A pair of through holes 30d are formed near the tip of the handle body 30, i.e., at a position closer to the mounting base 29, and a pair of through holes 30e are formed at a position slightly further away from the mounting base 29 (see FIG. 4). A pair of cam receiving members 14 are attached to the inside of the tip of the handle body 30. A communication hole 14c that communicates with the through hole 30d of the handle body 30 is formed on the inner surface of the cam receiving member 14, and surfaces 14d corresponding to the release position receiving surface and surfaces 14e corresponding to the connection position receiving surface are formed alternately in the circumferential direction around the communication hole 14c. The connecting body 6 is connected to the above-mentioned mounting base 29 via a link 10, as shown in Figure 3.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4, the link 10 has through-holes 10a at both ends, and is rotatably connected to the connecting body 6 by passing a bolt 32A inserted into a through-hole 30e of the handle body 30 through one end and fastening the end with a nut 32Aa. The other end is connected to the mounting base 29 in a crank-slider fashion by passing a bolt 32B inserted into an elongated hole 29f in the mounting base 29 through the other end. This allows the connecting body 6 to be rotatably connected to the mounting base 29, i.e., the main support member 1, with a certain degree of freedom. The link 10 is formed by connecting the central portions of a pair of link pieces 10b, 10b, which are slightly narrower than the width dimension of the stopper accommodating portion 15 of the handle body 30 and slightly wider than the width dimension of the protruding piece 29e, with a connecting piece 10c. The above-mentioned through-holes 10a are provided at both ends of each link piece 10b. Of the four through holes 10a, only one, where the head side of the bolt 32B is located, has a female thread cut on the inside, and the other three are loose holes 10a1 that do not have a female thread cut.

[0022] As shown in Figure 7, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 3, a pair of link pieces 10b of link 10 sandwich a protruding piece 29e of mounting base 29. In this state, link 10 is connected by bolt 32B passing through two through holes 10a formed in link 10 and two elongated through holes 29f formed in mounting base 29. The through hole 10a on the head side of bolt 32B is formed as a threaded hole with an internal thread, while the through hole 10a on the tip side of bolt 32B is formed as a loose hole 10a1. With this configuration, the tip side of bolt 32B is not screwed to link 10, so repeated rotation of connecting body 6 prevents bolt 32B from excessively tightening link piece 10b between the head side and tip side.

[0023] In addition, in order to operate and control the pulling out of the above-mentioned secondary support material 2 from the main support material 1, a clamping device 12 capable of clamping the secondary support material 2 is attached to the connecting body 6 as shown in Figures 2 to 6. This clamping device 12 has a clamping portion 33 with a hollow portion whose cross section is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the above-mentioned secondary support material 2 as shown in Figure 4.

[0024] The clamp portion 33 has a clamp body 33a formed in a cylindrical shape with a C-shaped cross section, the inner diameter of which is slightly larger than that of the sub-support member 2, and which is radially expandable and contractible. The clamp body 33a has a pair of clamping pieces 33b, 33b extending from the open end of the C-shaped cross section toward the outer periphery at a predetermined distance. The clamp portion 33 is made of a metal material. A through-hole 33d is bored in each pair of clamping pieces 33b, and a cam surface 11 is formed around the through-hole 33d. The cam surface 11, together with the cam receiving member 14, forms a cam mechanism.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4 , the connecting body 6 sandwiches the clamp device 22, specifically the clamp portion 33. In this state, the bolt 32C and nut 32Ca are connected by passing through two through holes 30d in the connecting body 6 and two through holes 33d in the clamp portion 33. Furthermore, a leaf spring member 50, each composed of a disc spring 51, is sandwiched between the head of the bolt 32C and the nut 32Ca. While the leaf spring member 50 may be sandwiched between at least one of the bolt head side and the nut side, it is preferable that the leaf spring member 50 be sandwiched between both sides, as in this embodiment. This state is shown in FIG. 8 , which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 2 . That is, a plurality of disc springs 51 are sandwiched between at least one of the head of the bolt 32C and the nut 32Ca side, specifically both sides. Depending on the specifications of the handrail device 100, the number of disc springs 51 may be one, but it is preferable to use multiple disc springs as in this embodiment. Furthermore, multiple disc springs 51 are arranged facing opposite directions on the side where the head of the bolt 32C is located. The multiple disc springs 51 arranged in opposite directions may also be arranged on the side where the nut 32Ca is located. Furthermore, a disc spring assembly 52, in which multiple disc springs 51 are stacked in the same direction, is arranged on both the side where the head of the bolt 32C is located and the side where the nut 32Ca is located. Two sets of disc spring assembly 52 are arranged facing opposite directions on the side where the head of the bolt 32C is located. The two sets of disc spring assembly 52 may also be arranged on the side where the nut 32Ca is located. By combining multiple disc springs 51 in the same direction to form a disc spring assembly 52, the spring force of the disc spring 51 can be increased. In this embodiment, two sets of assembled disc springs 52, each made up of three disc springs 51 stacked in the same direction, are arranged facing opposite directions on the side where the head of the bolt 32C is located, while one set of assembled disc springs 52 is arranged on the side where the nut 32Ca is located. The significance of this leaf spring member 50 will be described later.

[0026] By inserting the secondary support material 2 into the clamp body 33a of the clamp device 12 described above, the secondary support material 2 can be clamped or unclamped by rotating the connector 6. This makes it possible to fix the connector 6 to a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the secondary support material 2, or to allow relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the secondary support material 2. As described above, the clamp body 33a is formed in an approximately cylindrical shape and has a certain length along the longitudinal direction of the secondary support material 2, i.e., the support portion 3, so that the clamped state of the secondary support material 2 is stable.

[0027] Furthermore, in addition to the clamp device 12, the connecting body 6 is also rotatably connected to the mounting base 29, i.e., the main support member 1, via the link 10, as described above. Therefore, when the sub-support member 2 is clamped with the clamp portion 33, the relative movement between the sub-support member 2 and the main support member 1 is restricted, making it easier to maintain the support member 3 at a predetermined length. Furthermore, by releasing the clamp, it becomes easier to change the length of the support member 3. Meanwhile, the connecting body 6 is connected to the main support member 1 via the link 10, which is connected to the mounting base 29, i.e., the main support member 1, in the form of a crank slider, as described above. Therefore, when the sub-support member 2 is clamped with the clamp portion 33 as described above, the connecting body 6, link 10, and support member 3 perform a link function, thereby forming a crank slider mechanism.

[0028] Therefore, when the secondary support member 2 is inserted into the clamp body 33a, the connecting body 6 can rotate from a position slightly above the perpendicular position relative to the support member 3 (disconnected position) as shown in Figure 5 to a position (initial position) where it rotates slightly downward as shown in Figure 6 due to the rotation of the link 10 accompanied by the sliding movement of the crank slider mechanism described above. At this time, the axis of the bolt 32B connecting the link 10 to the mounting base 29 moves downward from a position near the upper end of the elongated hole 29f as shown in Figure 5, as the link 10 is pushed in by the rotating connecting body 6. In the disconnected position, the clamp device 12 is in an unclamped state, so the secondary support member 2 can be moved relative to the clamp device 12. Therefore, the support member 3 can be freely extended or retracted by manually gripping the secondary support member 2 and moving it back and forth relative to the main support member 1.

[0029] Meanwhile, in the initial position, the cam receiving member 14 clears the release position receiving surface 35 and rides up to a certain extent against the connection position receiving surface 36. Accordingly, the clamp body 33a also undergoes a contracting deformation, causing the clamp device 12 to transition to the clamped state. Further downward rotation of the connecting body 6 from this position causes the link 10 to rotate in a direction that pulls the secondary support member 2 out of the primary support member 1, i.e., the support member 3 extends and rotates. When the connecting body 6 rotates to its lowest position (the connection position) along the support member 3, as shown in FIG. 4, the cam receiving member 14 reaches the connection position receiving surface 36, and the link 10 is positioned so that it is substantially aligned with the support member 3. The axis of the bolt 32B is positioned near the center of the elongated hole 29f. At this time, the handle body 30 and the mounting base 29 are positioned so that the protrusion 29e is accommodated in the stopper accommodating portion 15.

[0030] At this time, depending on the thickness of the sub-support member 2, the clamping force of the cam receiver member 14 against the clamping piece 33b may be sufficient by the time the connecting body 6 is rotated to the connected position. If the connecting body 6 is further rotated to the connected position, the extra stroke applies excessive clamping force to the cam receiver member 14, and repeated rotation of the cam receiver member 14 may cause plastic deformation of the cam receiver member 14. However, in this embodiment, a total of three sets of assembled disc springs 52, each of which is made up of three disc springs 51 as the leaf spring member 50 stacked in the same direction, are sandwiched between the bolt 32C that connects the clamping piece 33b and the cam receiver member 14. Two sets of assembled disc springs 52 are arranged facing opposite directions on the side where the head of the bolt 32C is located, and one set is arranged on the side where the nut 32Ca is located. With this arrangement, the spring force of the disc spring 51 is tripled by forming the disc spring assembly 52, and each of the three disc spring assembly 52 absorbs the excess stroke described above.

[0031] Furthermore, when the connector 6 is returned from the connected position to the disconnected position again, the column 3 is retracted, the bolt shaft rises within the elongated hole 29f, and the clamp device 12 enters an unclamped state, allowing the column 3 to be grasped by hand and extended or retracted. Therefore, with the connector 6 in the disconnected position, the handrail device is manually aligned in advance so that both ends of the column 3, i.e., the ceiling-side support portion 23 and the floor-side support portion 24, come into contact with the installation ceiling surface 4 and the installation floor surface 5. Next, when the connector 6 is rotated to the connected position, the column 3 extends, pressing the ceiling-side support portion 23 and the floor-side support portion 24 against the installation ceiling surface 4 and the installation floor surface 5. This allows the column 3 to be firmly erected in a tensioned manner between the installation ceiling surface 4 and the installation floor surface 5. Furthermore, if the connecting body 6 is subsequently returned to the disconnection position, the ceiling support part 23 etc. is released from its pressed state against the installation ceiling surface 4 etc., and the support part 3 can be easily removed from between the installation ceiling surface 4 and the installation floor surface 5. Furthermore, when the connecting body 6 is returned to the disconnection position, the clamp device 12 also transitions to the clamping release state, so that the sub-support material 2 can be stored inside the main support material 1 using its own weight, and the support part 3 can also be shortened in this state.

[0032] In other words, the clamp device 22 includes an attachment base 29 attached to the main support member 1, and a connecting body 6 connected to the attachment base 29 so as to be movable between a connecting position where the main support member 1 and the sub-support member 2 are connected, and a disconnecting position where the connected state is released. As the connecting body 6 moves to the connecting position, the support portion 3 is extended to a predetermined length, pressing both ends against the installation ceiling surface 4 and the installation floor surface 5, and the both ends are maintained in a pressed state at the connecting position to erect the support portion 3.

[0033] Furthermore, the clamping device 22 converts the initial operating force for moving the connecting body 6 to the connecting position into a clamping force on the support column 3 by means of a cam mechanism formed by the cam surface 11 and the cam receiving member 14, thereby holding the support column 3. Furthermore, when the clamping device 22 is in the released state, the support column 3 is released from its linkage with the connecting body 6 by the link mechanism.

[0034] The handrail device 100 also includes a stopper 7 to prevent the connecting body 6 from being moved in an uncontrolled manner from its connected position, which would result in the support post 3 being dismounted. As shown in Fig. 4, the stopper 7 is formed with a locking portion 43 at one end and an elastically deformable leg 44 at the other end, which is formed by bending a plate material into an S-shape. In addition, a long hole 45 is formed in the middle of the stopper 7, as shown in Fig. 4, which matches the long hole 29f of the mounting base 29 described above.

[0035] The width of the stopper 7 is slightly narrower than the width of the protrusion 29e formed on the mounting base 29, and is inserted from the open underside of the protrusion 29e as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The stopper 7 is held in place by passing a bolt 32B, which is inserted into the through-hole 10a of the link 10 and the elongated hole 29f of the mounting base 29, through the elongated hole 45, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. A set screw 32F is screwed into the protrusion 29e, abutting the tip end of the elastically deformable leg 44 from the opposite side to the locking portion 43. When held by the mounting base 29, the locking portion 43 of the stopper 7 protrudes downward from the open underside of the protrusion 29e, and the position of the locking portion 43 coincides with the position of the locking opening 48a of the connecting body 6.

[0036] Therefore, the stopper 7 is biased by the set screw 32F in a direction in which the locking portion 43 protrudes from the protruding piece 29e. Due to this bias, when the connecting body 6 is in the connected position, the locking portion 43 is positioned (locked position) to enter the locking opening 48a, thereby restricting movement of the connecting body 6 from the connected position. At this time, the stopper 7 is accommodated in the stopper accommodating portion 15 of the connecting body 6 together with the protruding piece 29e. Note that, to detach the locking portion 43 from the locking opening 48a, a key or the like can be inserted from the lower end of the connecting body 6 into the locking opening 48a and the locking portion 43 can be pushed in a direction to push it out of the locking opening 48a. This causes the elastically deformable leg 44 to bend and the locking portion 43 to move to a position where it disengages from the locking opening 48a (unlocked position), thereby releasing the restriction on movement of the connecting body 6 from the connected position.

[0037] In other words, the stopper 7 is non-detachably held by the mounting base 29 while exposed to the outside. The stopper 7 is freely movable between an engagement position, which restrains the connecting body 6 in the connected position, and an engagement release position, which releases the restrained state, and is positioned in a position that is not visible from the front side when the connecting body 6 moves from the engagement release position to the connected position. Furthermore, the stopper 7 restrains and releases the connecting body to the connected position by engaging with and disengaging from an engagement opening 48a, which serves as an engaged portion, formed in the connecting body 6 as the stopper 7 moves between the engagement position and the engagement release position, and is biased toward the engagement position to resiliently engage with the engagement opening 48a, which serves as the engaged portion.

[0038] The disc spring 51 shown in FIG. 8 has a flat truncated cone shape. If the small-diameter portion of the disc spring 51 is referred to as the "head" and the large-diameter portion as the "leg," the assembled disc spring 52 in FIG. 8 is arranged on the head side of the bolt 32C with its legs in contact and facing in opposite directions. Therefore, on the nut 32Ca side, the assembled disc spring 52 is arranged with its head in contact with the nut 32Ca. The arrangement of the assembled disc spring 52 is not limited to this. For example, as shown in a modified example in FIG. 9, the assembled disc springs 52 may be arranged on the head side of the bolt 32C in the same manner as in FIG. 8, while on the nut 32Ca side, the legs of the assembled disc spring 52 may be arranged with a plain washer 53 interposed between them and the nut 32Ca. Furthermore, as shown in a modified example in FIG. 10, the assembled disc springs 52 may be arranged on the nut 32Ca side in the same manner as in FIG. 8, while on the head side of the bolt 32C, the legs may be arranged with their heads in contact and facing in opposite directions, with a plain washer 53 interposed between them and the head of the bolt 32C. Furthermore, as shown in a modified example in Fig. 11, the head side of bolt 32C may be arranged similarly to Fig. 10, and the nut 32Ca side may be arranged similarly to Fig. 9. The flat washer 53 used in the modified examples in Figs. 9 to 11 is used to prevent the contact surface from becoming convex when the legs of disc spring 51 face toward the head of bolt 32C or nut 32Ca, preventing the contact portion from changing. In either case, the same spring force and stroke absorption effect as the arrangement in Fig. 8 can be achieved.

[0039] In the above-described embodiment, the clamping mechanism is configured by a cam mechanism made up of the cam surface 11 and the cam receiving member 14. However, the clamping mechanism referred to in this application is not limited to such a cam mechanism, and any mechanism that converts the initial moving operating force of the connecting body 6 to the connecting position into a clamping force by tightening the connecting body 6 to the support part 3 and holds the support part 3 can be used as the clamping mechanism without any particular limitations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 Main support member 2 Sub-support member 3 Support member 4 Installation ceiling surface 5 Installation floor surface 6 Connecting body 7 Stopper 10 Link 10a Through hole 10a1 Loose hole 10b Link piece 10c Connecting piece 11 Cam surface 12 Clamping device 14 Cam receiving member 14c Communication hole 14d Release position receiving surface corresponding surface 14e Connecting position receiving surface corresponding surface 15 Stopper accommodating portion 22 Operating portion 23 Ceiling side support portion 24 Floor side support portion 29 Mounting base 29a Cylinder portion 29b Screw hole 29d Stopper portion 29e Projection piece 29f Elongated hole 29g Accommodating portion 30 Handle body 30d Through hole 30e Through hole 32A Bolt 32Aa Nut 32B Bolt 32C Bolt 32Ca Nut 32F Set screw 33 Clamp portion 33a Clamp body 33b Clamping piece 33d Through hole 35 Release position receiving surface 36 Connecting position receiving surface 43 Locking portion 44 Elastically deformable leg 45 Slotted hole portion 48 Intermediate wall 48a Locking opening 50 Leaf spring member 51 Disc spring 52 Set of disc springs 53 Flat washer 100 Handrail device

Claims

1. a support portion formed by sliding a sub-support member on a main support member so as to be expandable and contractible; an operating unit that includes an attachment base attached to the main support member, and a connecting body that is connected to the attachment base so as to be movable between a connecting position that connects the main support member and the sub-support member and a disconnecting position that disconnects the connected state, and that drives the support member to extend to a predetermined length as the connecting body moves to the connecting position, pressing both ends against the installation ceiling surface and the installation floor surface, and maintaining both ends in a pressed state at the connecting position to erect the support member; a stopper that is held non-detachably on the mounting base in an exposed state to the outside, that is movable between a locking position that locks the connecting body in the connected position and a release position that releases the locking state, and that is positioned in a position that cannot be seen from the front side when the connecting body moves from the release position to the connected position; the stopper restrains and releases the connecting body at the connecting position by engaging and disengaging with a locked portion formed on the connecting body as the stopper moves between the locking position and the unlocking position, and is biased toward the locking position to resiliently engage with the locked portion; The connecting body is connected to the auxiliary support member of the support member by a clamping device so as to be rotatable and movable, a link that is rotatably connected to the support column and the connecting body and that constitutes a link mechanism together with the connecting body; The link mechanism extends the support column as the connecting body rotates from the disconnected position to the connected position, a clamping device is connected to the connecting body, which converts an initial movement operating force of the connecting body to a connecting position into a clamping force by fastening the connecting body to the sub-support material of the support part, and holds the sub-support material of the support part; When the clamping device is released from the clamping state, the support column is released from the link mechanism with the connecting body, The connecting body is connected to the clamp device by a bolt and a nut that pass through two through holes provided in the connecting body and two through holes provided in the clamp device, with the clamp device sandwiched between them, and leaf spring members formed of assembled disc springs in which multiple disc springs are stacked in the same direction are sandwiched on both the side where the head of the bolt is located and the side where the nut is located, two sets of the assembled disc springs facing in opposite directions are provided on the side where the bolt head is located, and one set of the assembled disc springs facing in the opposite direction to one of the two sets of the assembled disc springs provided on the side where the bolt head is located is provided on the side where the nut is located; a cam surface having a connection position receiving surface and a release position receiving surface is provided around the through hole provided in the clamp device; The connecting body has a surface corresponding to the connecting position receiving surface and a surface corresponding to the releasing position receiving surface, and together with the cam surface, forms a cam mechanism.

2. A handrail device as described in claim 1, wherein the height of the bolt head is formed lower than the height of the nut.

3. 3. A handrail device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the links are connected by bolts that pass through two through holes provided in the links and two through holes provided in the mounting base while sandwiching the mounting base, and the through holes on the head side of the bolts are formed as screw holes with female threads, and the through holes on the tip side of the bolts are formed as loose holes.

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