Luggage holding device

Abstract

To provide a load holder capable of appropriately releasing a load.SOLUTION: A load holder (10) holds a load mounted on a flying object, and comprises: a body (12); a pair of engaging claws (13 and 14) supported at both ends of the body (12) in a width direction so as to face each other; and a switching mechanism (15) for switching the pair of engaging claws (13 and 14) between an engaging attitude of being respectively engaged with a pair of engaged parts provided above the center of the load and a releasing attitude of being disengaged from the pair of engaged parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a luggage holding device that holds luggage while mounted on a drone. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, in order to transport cargo using drones and other devices, transport equipment has been developed that grasps cargo while mounted on the drone and releases the cargo when the drone reaches its destination.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a transporting device for transporting goods that includes a first arm that extends vertically along one side of the luggage, a second arm that extends vertically along the other side of the luggage, and protrusions that protrude from the lower ends of the first arm and the second arm in directions approaching each other and grip the underside of the luggage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-89941 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, if the center of gravity of the item being held by the transport device is off-center, the item may tilt when released, which can result in the item getting caught on the protruding portion and preventing it from being released properly.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a luggage holding device that can appropriately release luggage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve such technical problems, the present invention provides a luggage holding device that holds luggage while mounted on an aircraft, the luggage holding device comprising: a main body; a pair of engaging claws supported on both ends of the main body in a width direction so as to face each other; and a switching mechanism that switches the pair of engaging claws between an engaging position in which the pair of engaging claws engage with a pair of engaged portions provided above the center of the luggage, respectively, and a releasing position in which the engagement with the pair of engaged portions is released. The main body is composed of a first main body supporting one of the pair of engaging claws, and a second main body supporting the other of the pair of engaging claws and coupled to the first main body so as to be slidable in the width direction in accordance with the dimensions of the luggage, the first main body having a first support part supporting one of the pair of engaging claws and a first protruding part protruding from an upper end of the first support part toward the second main body, the second main body having a second support part supporting the other of the pair of engaging claws and a first protruding part protruding from an upper end of the second support part toward the first main body so as to be slidable in the width direction. and a second protruding portion coupled to the first support portion, the pair of engagement claws projecting from the first support portion and the second support portion in a direction in which they approach each other to assume the engagement posture, and retracting into the first support portion and the second support portion in a direction in which they move away from each other to assume the release posture, and the switching mechanism has a first motor supported by the first support portion on one side of the center in a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction, and switching the posture of one of the pair of engagement claws, and a second motor supported by the second support portion on the other side of the center in the depth direction, and switching the posture of the other of the pair of engagement claws. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a luggage holding device that can appropriately release luggage. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a usage mode of the luggage holding device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a luggage holding device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a front view of a luggage holding device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a plan view of a luggage holding device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] 5A and 5B are diagrams showing a disengaged position and an engaged position of an engaging claw according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a luggage holding device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a disengaged position and an engaged position of an engaging claw according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a luggage holding device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an engaging position and a disengaging position of an engaging claw according to a third embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a luggage holding device and an engaged member according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a luggage holding device according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [First embodiment] A luggage holding device 10 according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment of the present invention described below is an example of how the present invention can be realized, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope of the described embodiment. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented by adding various modifications to the embodiment.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a usage mode of a luggage holding device 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the luggage holding device 10 holds luggage 2 while attached to an attachment 1. The attachment 1 is attached to a drone (not shown) and supports the luggage holding device 10. In other words, the luggage holding device 10 holds luggage 2 while mounted on the drone via the attachment 1.

[0012] The attachment 1 is composed of a mounting part 3 and a pair of legs 4, 5. The mounting part 3 is located at the upper end of the attachment 1. A drone is attached to the upper surface of the mounting part 3. The pair of legs 4, 5 extend diagonally downward from the mounting part 3. Alternatively, the mounting part 3 may be omitted, and the pair of legs 4, 5 may be attached directly to the underside of the drone. Then, the luggage holding device 10 is placed in the space surrounded by the mounting part 3 and the pair of legs 4, 5. More specifically, the luggage holding device 10 is fixed to the inside of the pair of legs 4, 5 with bolts or the like.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, a luggage holding device 10 holds luggage 2 at a departure point. Next, a drone flies from the departure point to a destination together with the luggage holding device 10 holding the luggage 2. Then, when the drone lands at the destination, the luggage holding device 10 automatically releases the luggage 2 (in other words, under the control of a control board, which will be described later). Note that specific examples of flying objects are not limited to drones, and include anything that can fly in the air, such as a helicopter, an airplane, a glider, or a balloon.

[0014] The luggage holding device 10 holds the luggage 2 by inserting engaging claws 13, 14 (see FIG. 2) into a pair of through-holes 6, 7 provided in the luggage 2. The luggage holding device 10 also releases the luggage 2 by retracting the engaging claws 13, 14 from the pair of through-holes 6, 7. The luggage 2 is, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped cardboard box containing any object. The pair of through-holes 6, 7 are an example of engaged portions provided on both left and right side surfaces of the luggage 2 and above the center. The through-holes 6, 7 may be portions that serve as handles when a person holds the luggage 2, or may be newly formed portions that allow the luggage holding device 10 to hold the luggage 2.

[0015] The width in the left-right direction of the luggage 2 that can be held by the luggage holding device 10 is, for example, within a range of 100 mm to 1000 mm (more typically, 125 mm to 800 mm). The height from the top surface of the luggage 2 that can be held by the luggage holding device 10 to the through-holes 6, 7 is, for example, within a range of 10 mm to 200 mm (more typically, 22.5 mm to 90 mm). The greater the width in the left-right direction of the luggage 2, the higher the height from the top surface of the luggage 2 to the through-holes 6, 7 (typically, H is proportional to W2). However, the dimensions of the luggage 2 are not limited to the above-mentioned example.

[0016] In addition, the "left-right direction" in this specification and drawings is an example of the width direction of the luggage 2 and the luggage holding device 10. Furthermore, the "front-rear direction" in this specification and drawings is an example of the depth direction of the luggage 2 and the luggage holding device 10. The width direction and the depth direction are directions that are perpendicular to the up-down direction and are also perpendicular to each other. However, the combination of directions described above is an example, and is not limited to the above example.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the luggage holding device 10 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front view of the luggage holding device 10 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the luggage holding device 10 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the disengaged position (A) and engaged position (B) of the engaging claw 14 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the luggage holding device 10 mainly includes a tray 11, a main body 12, a pair of engaging claws 13 and 14, and a switching mechanism 15.

[0018] The tray 11 is supported on the upper surface of the main body 12. The tray 11 supports a control board (not shown) in addition to the battery 8. The battery 8 stores power for supplying power to the drone and motors 22 and 23 described below. The control board controls the operation of the drone and the luggage holding device 10 (for example, power supply to the motors 22 and 23 described below). However, the battery and control board of the drone may be provided separately from the tray 11.

[0019] The main body 12 supports the tray 11, a pair of engagement claws 13, 14, and a switching mechanism 15. The main body 12 is composed of a first main body 16 and a second main body 17 that are coupled to each other so as to be slidable relative to each other in the left-right direction. The first main body 16 is composed of a first support portion 18 and a first protruding portion 19. The second main body 17 is composed of a second support portion 20 and a second protruding portion 21.

[0020] The first support portion 18 supports the engaging claw 13 so that its posture can be changed. The first support portion 18 also supports a motor 22, a rotating arm (not shown), and a coil spring (not shown), which are part of the switching mechanism 15. The first protruding portion 19 protrudes to the right (towards the second main body 17) from the upper end of the first support portion 18. In other words, the first support portion 18 extends downward from the left end of the first protruding portion 19 (the end opposite the second main body 17).

[0021] The second support portion 20 supports the engaging claw 14 so that its posture can be changed. The second support portion 20 also supports a motor 23, a rotating arm 24, and a coil spring 25, which are part of the switching mechanism 15. The second protrusion portion 21 protrudes leftward (toward the first main body 16) from the upper end of the second support portion 20. In other words, the second support portion 20 extends downward from the right end of the second protrusion portion 21 (the end opposite the first main body 16).

[0022] Furthermore, an elongated hole 26 is formed in the front surface (surface facing the depth direction) of the second overhanging portion 21. The elongated hole 26 penetrates the front surface of the second overhanging portion 21 in the thickness direction (front-rear direction) and extends in the left-right direction. Although not shown, an elongated hole is also formed in the back surface (surface facing the depth direction) of the second overhanging portion 21. Furthermore, nuts 27, 28 are fixed to the front and back surfaces (surfaces facing the depth direction) of the first overhanging portion 19.

[0023] A bolt 29 inserted into an elongated hole 26 formed in the front surface of the second overhanging portion 21 is screwed into a nut 27, and a bolt 30 inserted into an elongated hole (not shown) formed in the back surface of the second overhanging portion 21 is screwed into a nut 28. By loosening the bolts 29, 30, the first body 16 and the second body 17 become slidable to match the width of the luggage 2. By tightening the bolts 29, 30, the sliding of the first body 16 and the second body 17 is restricted (the width dimension of the body 12 is fixed). In other words, the first body 16 and the second body 17 are configured to be slidable relative to each other in the width direction manually by the user.

[0024] The engagement claws 13, 14 are supported below the first overhanging portion 19 and the second overhanging portion 21 on a first support portion 18 and a second support portion (i.e., both left and right ends of the main body 12) that are spaced apart in the left-right direction so as to face each other. The engagement claws 13, 14 are supported on the main body 12 so as to be switchable (position changeable) between an engaged position and a released position. The engagement claws 13, 14 according to the first embodiment are configured to be slidable in the left-right direction between the engaged position and the released position. The position of the engagement claws 13, 14 is switched by a switching mechanism 15.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, in the engaged position, the engagement claw 13 protrudes from the right surface (the surface facing the second support portion 20) of the first support portion 18 toward the second support portion 20. In the engaged position, the engagement claw 14 protrudes from the left surface (the surface facing the first support portion 18) of the second support portion 20 toward the first support portion 18. That is, the engagement claws 13, 14 protrude from the first support portion 18 and the second support portion 20 in directions approaching each other, thereby assuming the engaged position. As a result, the engagement claws 13, 14 in the engaged position enter the through holes 6, 7 (engage with the engaged portions). When the engagement claws 13, 14 are in the engaged position, the distance between the tips of the engagement claws 13, 14 is W1.

[0026] In the release position, the engaging claw 13 is in a position where it is immersed in the first support portion 18. In the release position, the engaging claw 14 is in a position where it is immersed in the second support portion 20. That is, the engaging claws 13, 14 are immersed in the first support portion 18 and the second support portion 20 in a direction away from each other, and are in the release position. As a result, the engaging claws 13, 14 in the floor position retract from the through holes 6, 7 (they are released from engagement with the engaged portions). When the engaging claws 13, 14 are in the release position, the distance between the tips of the engaging claws 13, 14 is W2 or more. Note that the distance W2 (>W1) is the distance between the right surface of the first support portion 18 and the left surface of the second support portion 20 (i.e., the surfaces facing each other).

[0027] Furthermore, the distance W2 between the mutually facing surfaces of the first support portion 18 and the second support portion 20 and the height H between the lower surfaces of the first overhang portion 19 and the second overhang portion 21 and the upper surfaces of the engaging claws 13, 14 are set within the range of 0.1≦H / W2≦0.3, more typically 0.12≦H / W2≦0.18. Examples of a product lineup of luggage holding devices 10 that satisfy the above ratios include 125 mm≦W2≦200 mm and H=22.5 mm, or 250 mm≦W2≦400 mm and H=45 mm, or 500 mm≦W2≦800 mm and H=90 mm. However, the relationship between W2 and H of the luggage holding device 10 is not limited to the above example.

[0028] The switching mechanism 15 switches the positions of the engagement claws 13 and 14. The switching mechanism 15 is made up of a motor 22 (first motor), a rotating arm (transmission mechanism) (not shown), and a coil spring (biasing member) (not shown) that switch the position of the engagement claw 13, and a motor 23 (second motor), a rotating arm 24 (transmission mechanism), and a coil spring 25 (biasing member) that switch the position of the engagement claw 14. Since the configuration for switching the position of the engagement claws 13 and 14 is common, the configuration for switching the position of the engagement claw 14 will be described below.

[0029] The motors 22 and 23 are, for example, servo motors. As shown in Fig. 4, the motor 22 is supported by the first support part 18 in front of (one side of) an imaginary line L that passes through the center of the main body 12 in the front-rear direction and extends in the left-right direction. On the other hand, the motor 23 is supported by the second support part 20 in the rear of (the other side of) the imaginary line L. In other words, the motors 22 and 23 are arranged alternately on either side of the center of the main body 12 in the front-rear direction.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5, the pivot arm 24 is housed inside a recess 31 that is recessed downward from the upper surface of the engagement claw 14. The recess 31 may or may not penetrate the engagement claw 14 in the vertical direction. A base end 24a of the pivot arm 24 is fixed to an output shaft of the motor 23 that extends in the vertical direction. On the other hand, a tip end 24b of the pivot arm 24 is a free end. A coil spring 25 is disposed between the engagement claw 14 and the back plate 20a of the second support part 20. The coil spring 25 biases the engagement claw 14 from the release position toward the engagement position (i.e., leftward).

[0031] When the motor 23 is rotated in the first direction, the pivot arm 24 rotates clockwise in Fig. 5. As a result, as shown in Fig. 5(A), the tip 24b of the pivot arm 24 presses the wall surface defining the recess 31 to the right. As a result, the engagement claw 14 is switched from the engaged position to the released position against the biasing force of the coil spring 25. In other words, the pivot arm 24 transmits the rotation of the motor 23 in the first direction in a direction that switches the engagement claw 14 from the engaged position to the released position.

[0032] On the other hand, when the motor 23 is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the pivot arm 24 rotates counterclockwise in Fig. 5. As a result, as shown in Fig. 5(B), the tip 24b of the pivot arm 24 moves away from the wall surface that defines the recess 31. As a result, the engaging claw 14 changes its position from the released position to the engaged position due to the biasing force of the coil spring 25. In other words, the pivot arm 24 does not transmit the rotation of the motor 23 in the second direction to the engaging claw 14.

[0033] According to the first embodiment, for example, the following advantageous effects are achieved.

[0034] The luggage holding device 10 according to the first embodiment holds the luggage 2 by inserting the engaging claws 13, 14 into the through-holes 6, 7 provided above the center of the luggage 2. This prevents the luggage 2 from getting caught on the first overhanging portion 19 and the second overhanging portion 21 when released, even if the center of gravity of the luggage 2 is offset. In other words, the luggage 2 can be released appropriately.

[0035] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the switching mechanism 15 causes the engaging claws 13, 14 to appear and disappear (i.e., change their position) from the first support portion 18 and the second support portion 20, and the user manually slides the first body 16 and the second body 17 to match the width of the luggage 2. In this way, by separating the configuration for changing the position of the engaging claws 13, 14 from the configuration for extending and retracting the first body 16 and the second body 17, the configuration of the switching mechanism 15 can be simplified and the motors 22, 23 can be made smaller.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the motors 22 and 23 are arranged alternately on either side of the center in the front-to-rear direction of the main body 12. This allows the center of gravity to be closer to the center of the luggage holding device 10. As a result, the drone equipped with the luggage holding device 10 can fly stably.

[0037] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, since both of the pair of engaging claws 13, 14 are configured to be able to change their posture, it is possible to increase the difference between the distance W1 between the engaging claws 13, 14 in the engaged posture and the distance W2 between the engaging claws 13, 14 in the released posture. As a result, the load 2 can be released more appropriately.

[0038] Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, by employing the switching mechanism 15 shown in Fig. 5, the postures of the engaging claws 13, 14 can be changed with a simple configuration. More specifically, the switching mechanism 15 shown in Fig. 5 can be used even when the dimensional accuracy of the components constituting the switching mechanism 15 and the dimensional tolerances during assembly are large. Another advantage of the switching mechanism 15 shown in Fig. 5 is that it is less susceptible to the effects of contamination.

[0039] [Second embodiment] A luggage holding device 10A according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the luggage holding device 10A according to the second embodiment. Figure 7 is a diagram showing the disengaged position (A) and engaged position (B) of the engaging claw 14A according to the second embodiment. Note that components common to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted, with differences being mainly described.

[0040] Although the specific shape of the main body 12 shown in Fig. 6 is different from that of Fig. 2, the basic configuration is the same as that of Fig. 2. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 6, the luggage holding device 10A according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the engagement claw 13A is a fixed claw fixed to the first main body 16, and the engagement claw 14A is a movable claw supported by the second main body 17 so as to be switchable between an engaged position and a released position. That is, in the second embodiment, the distance between the tips of the engagement claws 13A and 14A changes as the position of only the engagement claw 14A of the engagement claws 13A and 14A changes.

[0041] Also, the switching mechanism 15A according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it switches the posture of only the engagement claw 14A out of the engagement claws 13A and 14A. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 7, the configuration of the switching mechanism 15A according to the second embodiment differs from the switching mechanism 15 according to the first embodiment. More specifically, the switching mechanism 15A is made up of a motor 23, a rack gear 32 and a pinion gear 33 (transmission mechanism), and a coil spring 34 (biasing member).

[0042] 7, the rack gear 32 is fixed to the upper surface of the engagement claw 14A and extends in the left-right direction. The pinion gear 33 is attached to the output shaft of the motor 23. The rack gear 32 and the pinion gear 33 are meshed with each other. The coil spring 34 is disposed between the engagement claw 14A and the back plate 20a of the second support part 20, and biases the engagement claw 14A from the released position toward the engaged position.

[0043] When the motor 23 is rotated in the first direction, the pinion gear 33 rotates clockwise in FIG. 7. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7(A), the rack gear 32 meshed with the pinion gear 33 moves to the right together with the engagement claw 14A. As a result, the engagement claw 14A is switched from the engaged position to the disengaged position against the biasing force of the coil spring 34. On the other hand, when the motor 23 is set to servo-free, the pinion gear 33 becomes able to rotate idly in the counterclockwise direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7(B), the position of the engagement claw 14A changes from the disengaged position to the engaged position due to the biasing force of the coil spring 34.

[0044] According to the second embodiment, the posture of only the engagement claw 14A of the engagement claws 13A and 14A is changed, so the configuration of the switching mechanism 15A can be further simplified compared to the switching mechanism 15 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, the specific configuration for transmitting the driving force of the motor 23 to the engagement claw 14A, as in the switching mechanism 15A according to the second embodiment, is not limited to the example of the first embodiment.

[0045] [Third embodiment] A luggage holding device 10B according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the luggage holding device 10B according to the third embodiment. Figure 9 is a diagram showing an engaging position (A) and a disengaging position (B) of an engaging claw 13B according to the third embodiment. Note that components common to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted, with differences being mainly described.

[0046] Although the specific shape of the main body 12 shown in Fig. 8 is different from that of Fig. 2, the basic configuration is the same as that of Fig. 2. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 8, the engagement claws 13B, 14B according to the second embodiment differ from the engagement claws 13, 14 according to the first embodiment in that the engagement claws 13B, 14B are supported by the first support portion 18 and the second support portion 20 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction.

[0047] As shown in Figure 8, the engagement claws 13B and 14B according to the third embodiment are arranged so that their tips face each other when in the engaged position. That is, the left-right distance between the tips of the engagement claws 13B and 14B is narrowest when in the engaged position. On the other hand, the tips of the engagement claws 13B and 14B when in the released position are directed downward more than when in the engaged position. That is, the left-right distance between the tips of the engagement claws 13B and 14B when in the released position is wider than when in the engaged position.

[0048] 9, the configuration of a switching mechanism 15B according to the third embodiment differs from that of the switching mechanism 15 according to the first embodiment. More specifically, the switching mechanism 15B includes, as components for switching the position of the engagement claw 13B, a motor 22, a rotating shaft 35, a torsion coil spring 36 (biasing member), a restricting member 37, and a link 38. Although not shown, the switching mechanism 15B also includes, as components for switching the position of the engagement claw 14B, a motor, a rotating shaft, a biasing member, a restricting member, and a link. Because the configuration for switching the position of the engagement claws 13B and 14B is common, the configuration for switching the position of the engagement claw 13B will be described below.

[0049] The rotation shaft 35 extends in the front-rear direction and is supported by the first support portion 18. The rotation shaft 35 rotatably supports the engagement claw 13B. The torsion coil spring 36 is supported by the rotation shaft 35. One end of the torsion coil spring 36 is attached to the engagement claw 13B, and the other end is attached to the first support portion 18. The torsion coil spring 36 biases the engagement claw 13B from the engagement position toward the release position (in other words, in a direction that presses the tip of the engagement claw 13B downward).

[0050] The restricting member 37 is provided to extend in the front-rear direction above and to the left of the rotating shaft 35 (opposite the tip of the engaging claw 13B). The restricting member 37 is connected to the output shaft of the motor 22 via a link 38. The link 38 moves the restricting member 37 from the permitted position to the restricted position when the motor 22 rotates in a first direction. The link 38 moves the restricting member 37 from the restricted position to the permitted position when the motor 22 rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 9(A), the restricting member 37 in the restricting position is in a position to the left of the rotation shaft 35 and abuts against the upper surface of the engaging claw 13B in the engaged posture. That is, the restricting member 37 in the restricting position is in a position that restricts the engaging claw 13B from changing its posture from the engaged posture to the released posture. Also, as shown in Fig. 9(B), the restricting member 37 in the allowing position is in a position that retreats from the upper surface of the engaging claw 13B and allows the engaging claw 13B to change its posture from the engaged posture to the released posture.

[0052] With the engaging claws 13B and 14B in the engaged position and the restricting member 37 in the restricted position, the luggage 2 is inserted between the first support part 18 and the second support part 20 from below. As a result, the engaging claws 13B and 14B, whose lower surfaces are pushed up by the luggage 2, rotate so that their tips point upward against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 36. Next, when the engaging claws 13B and 14B face the through-holes 6 and 7, they return to the engaged position by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 36. Next, when the drone lands at its destination, the motor 22 is rotated in the second direction, causing the restricting member 37 to move from the restricted position to the allowed position. As a result, the engaging claws 13B and 14B change position from the engaged position to the released position by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 36, and the luggage 2 is released.

[0053] To switch the engaging claws 13B, 14B from the released position to the engaged position, the motor 22 may be rotated in the first direction while manually pushing up the tips of the engaging claws 13B, 14B, to move the restricting member 37 from the permitted position to the restricted position. Alternatively, the luggage holding device 10B may be provided with a mechanism that automatically returns the engaging claws 13B, 14B to the engaged position.

[0054] The third embodiment can also provide the same effects as the first embodiment. That is, when changing the posture between the engaged posture and the released posture, the engaging claws 13 and 14 are not limited to sliding in the left-right direction (first embodiment), but the engaging claws 13B and 14B may be rotated (third embodiment).

[0055] [Fourth embodiment] A luggage holding device 10C according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 10 to 12. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the luggage holding device 10C and an engaged member 40 according to the fourth embodiment. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the engaged member 40. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the luggage holding device 10C according to the fourth embodiment. Note that components common to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and detailed description will be omitted, with differences being mainly described.

[0056] The luggage 2C according to the fourth embodiment differs from the luggage 2 according to the first embodiment in that an engaged member 40 is attached to the upper surface. As shown in FIG. 10, the engaged member 40 is placed on the upper surface of the luggage 2C and secured to the luggage 2C by belts 2a and 2b. Through holes 6 and 7 may be formed on both side surfaces of the luggage 2C, or the through holes 6 and 7 may be omitted. As shown in FIG. 11, the engaged member 40 is composed of a main body 41, a pair of engaged claws 42 and 43 (engaged portions), belt insertion grooves 44 and 45, and a plurality of locking claws 46.

[0057] The main body 41 is a plate-shaped member. To reduce weight, the main body 41 has a plurality of through-holes formed therein that penetrate in the vertical direction. The engaged claw 42 protrudes leftward from the left end of the main body 41. The engaged claw 43 protrudes rightward from the right end of the main body 41. In other words, the engaged claws 42 and 43 protrude in opposite directions from both ends of the main body 41 in the width direction.

[0058] The belt insertion groove 44 extends in the front-rear direction on the top surface of the main body 41. The belt insertion groove 44 extends in the left-right direction on the top surface of the main body 41. That is, the belt insertion grooves 44, 45 extend in directions perpendicular to each other on the top surface of the main body 41. The belt insertion grooves 44, 45 receive the belts 2a, 2b. The locking claws 46 protrude inward from both ends of the belt insertion grooves 44, 45 to prevent the belts 2a, 2b inserted in the belt insertion grooves 44, 45 from coming out.

[0059] Furthermore, the main body 12C according to the fourth embodiment differs from the main body 12 according to the first embodiment in that it does not have the ability to slide to match the width of the luggage 2C. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the main body 12C is an integrated unit made up of a first support portion 47, a second support portion 48, and a connecting portion 49. The first support portion 47 supports the engagement claw 13C, which is a fixed claw. The second support portion 48 supports the engagement claw 14C, which is a movable claw, so that its position can be changed. The connecting portion 49 connects the upper ends of the first support portion 47 and the second support portion 48, which are spaced apart in the left-right direction.

[0060] Furthermore, the luggage holding device 10C according to the fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the engaging claw 13C is a fixed claw fixed to the first support portion 47, and the engaging claw 14C is a movable claw that appears and disappears (i.e., changes its posture) from the surface of the second support portion 48 facing the first support portion 47. That is, in the fourth embodiment, the posture of only the engaging claw 14C of the engaging claws 13C and 14C changes, thereby changing the distance between the tips of the engaging claws 13C and 14C. Then, the engaging claws 13C and 14C in the engaged posture engage with the engaged claws 42 and 43 of the engaged member 40.

[0061] 10 and 12, the configuration of a switching mechanism 15C according to the fourth embodiment differs from that of the switching mechanism 15 according to the first embodiment. More specifically, the switching mechanism 15C is configured with a motor 23, a rack gear 50, and a pinion gear 51 as components that switch the position of the engagement claw 14C. The rack gear 50 is fixed to the upper surface of the engagement claw 14C and extends in the left-right direction. The pinion gear 51 is attached to the output shaft of the motor 23. The rack gear 50 and the pinion gear 51 are meshed with each other.

[0062] When the motor 23 is rotated in a first direction, the pinion gear 51 rotates counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. 12. As a result, the rack gear 50 meshed with the pinion gear 51 moves leftward together with the engagement claw 14C. As a result, the engagement claw 14C is switched from the disengaged position shown in FIG. 12 to the engaged position shown in FIG. 10. When the motor 23 is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the pinion gear 51 rotates clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 10. As a result, the rack gear 50 meshed with the pinion gear 51 moves rightward together with the engagement claw 14C. As a result, the engagement claw 14C is switched from the engaged position shown in FIG. 10 to the disengaged position shown in FIG. 12.

[0063] According to the fourth embodiment, instead of the through holes 6, 7 formed in the luggage 2, the engaged claws 42, 43 are provided on the engaged member 40 that can be attached to and detached from the luggage 2C, so that luggage 2C of any shape (i.e., luggage 2C without through holes 6, 7) can be held. Also, since the mechanism for extending and retracting the main body 12C can be omitted, the configuration of the luggage holding device 10C becomes even simpler. The combination of the luggage holding device 10C and the engaged member 40 according to the fourth embodiment can be expected to have particularly advantageous effects, for example, when sending luggage between multiple points.

[0064] The configurations of the first to fourth embodiments can be combined in any way without going against the spirit of the present invention. As an example, the switching mechanisms 15, 15A to 15C of the first to fourth embodiments are interchangeable. As another example, the engaging claws 13, 13B of the first and third embodiments may be fixed claws, and the engaging claws 13A, 13C of the second and fourth embodiments may be movable claws. As yet another example, the engaged member 40 may be applied to the first to third embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1...attachment, 2, 2C...luggage, 2a, 2b...belt, 3...mounting portion, 4, 5...leg portion, 6, 7...through hole, 8...battery, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C...luggage holding device, 11...tray, 12, 12C, 41...main body, 13, 13A, 13B, 13C, 14, 14A, 14B, 14C...engagement claws, 15, 15A, 15B, 15C...switching mechanism, 16...first main body, 17...second main body, 18, 47...first support portion, 19, 48...first extension portion, 20...second support portion, 20a...back plate, 21...second protrusion portion, 22, 23...motor, 24...rotating arm, 24a...base end, 24b...tip end, 25, 34...coil spring, 26...long hole, 27, 28...nut, 29, 30...bolt, 31...recess, 32, 50...rack gear, 33, 51...pinion gear, 35...rotating shaft, 36...torsion coil spring, 37...regulating member, 38...link, 40...engaged member, 42, 43...engaged claw, 44, 45...belt insertion groove, 46...locking claw, 49...connecting portion

Claims

1. A luggage holding device that holds luggage while mounted on an aircraft, The main body and a pair of engaging claws supported at both ends in the width direction of the main body so as to face each other; a switching mechanism for switching the pair of engaging claws between an engaging position in which the engaging claws engage with a pair of engaged portions provided above the center of the luggage, and a releasing position in which the engaging claws are released from the pair of engaged portions, The body includes: a first body supporting one of the pair of engaging claws; a second body that supports the other of the pair of engaging claws and is coupled to the first body so as to be slidable in the width direction in accordance with the size of the luggage, The first body includes: a first support portion that supports one of the pair of engaging claws; a first protruding portion protruding from an upper end of the first support portion toward the second main body, The second body includes: a second support portion that supports the other of the pair of engaging claws; a second protruding portion that protrudes from an upper end of the second support portion toward the first body and is coupled to the first protruding portion so as to be slidable in the width direction; the pair of engagement claws project from the first support portion and the second support portion in a direction in which they approach each other to assume the engagement posture, and retract into the first support portion and the second support portion in a direction in which they move away from each other to assume the release posture, The switching mechanism is a first motor supported by the first support portion on one side of the center in a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction and configured to switch the posture of one of the pair of engaging claws; a second motor supported by the second support portion on the other side of the center in the depth direction, for switching the posture of the other of the pair of engaging claws.

2. A luggage holding device that holds luggage while mounted on an aircraft, The main body and a pair of engaging claws supported at both ends in the width direction of the main body so as to face each other; a switching mechanism for switching the pair of engaging claws between an engaging position in which the engaging claws engage with a pair of engaged portions provided above the center of the luggage, and a releasing position in which the engaging claws are released from the pair of engaged portions, The switching mechanism is A motor; a biasing member that biases the engaging claw toward the engaging posture; A luggage holding device characterized by having a transmission mechanism that transmits rotation of the motor in a first direction to the engagement claw in a direction that switches from the engagement position to the release position, and does not transmit rotation of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

3. A luggage holding device that holds luggage while mounted on an aircraft, The main body and a pair of engaging claws supported at both ends in the width direction of the main body so as to face each other; a switching mechanism for switching the pair of engaging claws between an engaging position in which the engaging claws engage with a pair of engaged portions provided above the center of the luggage, and a releasing position in which the engaging claws are released from the pair of engaged portions, The pair of engaging claws are the engagement posture in which the distance between the tips is narrowest; the engaging portion is supported by the main body so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction between the engaging position and the disengaging position in which the tip thereof faces downward, The switching mechanism is A motor; a biasing member that biases the engaging claw toward the release position; a restricting member that is moved by the driving force of the motor between a restricting position where it abuts against the upper surfaces of the pair of engaging claws in the engaged position to restrict a change in position to the released position, and an allowing position where it retreats from the upper surfaces of the pair of engaging claws to allow a change in position to the released position.

4. The first body and the second body are a nut fixed to a surface of the first main body facing a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction; The luggage holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the luggage holding device is connected so as to be slidable relative to the width direction by a bolt that penetrates the surface of the second body facing the depth direction, is inserted into a long hole that extends in the width direction, and is screwed into the nut.

5. The pair of engaging claws are In the engaging position, the pair of engaging portions enter through openings provided above the center of both sides of the luggage in the width direction, 5. The luggage holding device according to claim 1, wherein in the released position, the luggage exits through through-holes provided on both sides of the luggage.

6. The pair of engaging claws are In the engagement position, the bag engages with a pair of engaged portions detachably attached to the top surface of the baggage, 5. The luggage holding device according to claim 1, wherein, in the released position, the pair of engaged portions are released from engagement with each other.

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