Hand guard for hand truck

Abstract

To provide a novel hand guard for a hand cart that does not impair handle operability even in a case of a hand cart having a narrow handle width.SOLUTION: A hand guard for a hand cart includes a pair of fitting bodies 111, 112 fitted to corner portions 224, 224 of a handle 220 including a downward U-shape pipe body 221 so as to sandwich the corner portions 224, 224 from inside and outside, and further includes a guard plate 120 in the fitting body 111 located in the outside. As a result, the hand guard can be easily fitted to the curved corner portions of the handle 220 and even in a case of a hand cart having a narrow handle width, the width can be effectively utilized, so that handle operability is not impaired.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hand guard that is attached to the handle of a hand truck to protect both hands. [Background technology]

[0002] Push carts used for transporting heavy or large objects typically have a handle attached to the cart body with casters. This handle is made of a metal pipe shaped like a U, with both ends fixed to the cart body, and the worker grasps the horizontal part at the top of the handle and pushes or pulls it to move it in any direction. Some handles also have a foldable base.

[0003] When operating such a conventional hand truck, the worker grips the horizontal part at the top end of the handle with both hands as described above, but the worker may operate the truck with their hands shifted to the corners of the handle, which can cause the worker's hands to hit an obstacle such as a pillar or the corner of a door during transport and cause injury, as shown in Figure 13. For this reason, the present inventors have attached flange-shaped protective equipment called hand guards to both ends of the horizontal part of the handle, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, to prevent the hands from accidentally moving to the corners of the handle. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-104705 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, since many conventional hand trucks have curved corners on both sides of the handle, the guard-like devices as shown in Patent Document 1 are, in principle, attached to both ends of the horizontal part of the handle, avoiding the curved parts. Therefore, in the case of a narrow handle such as that of a small truck, the width of the horizontal part is also narrow, so the distance between the guards is also short, making it difficult to operate the handle precisely with both hands, which can reduce operability.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention was devised to solve these problems, and its purpose is to provide a new hand guard for a push cart that does not impair the handle operability even for push carts with narrow handle widths. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the first invention is a hand guard that is attached to a pushcart having a handle consisting of a downward U-shaped pipe body with both corners curved, and is characterized in that it has a pair of mounting bodies that are attached to the corners of the handle so as to sandwich the pipe body from the inside and outside, and the outermost mounting body of the pair of mounting bodies is equipped with a guard plate.

[0008] With this configuration, it can be attached to the curved corner of the handle, which is made of a downward U-shaped pipe body, so that even if the handle width of a hand truck is narrow, the width can be effectively utilized and handle operability is not impaired.

[0009] In a second invention, the pair of mounting bodies are characterized in that the inner circumferential surface that contacts the pipe body has an arc-shaped small-diameter surface and a large-diameter surface that is larger in diameter than the small-diameter surface. With this configuration, if the diameter of the pipe body that forms the handle of the handcart to be attached is small, the small-diameter surfaces of both flange members will be in surface contact with the surface of the pipe body, so the flange members can be securely attached without rattling or shifting.

[0010] On the other hand, if the diameter of the pipe is larger than this, the large diameter surfaces of both flange members will be in surface contact with the surface of the pipe, so the flange members can be securely attached without rattling or shifting. In this way, one type (pair) of mounting body can be used for at least two different pipe diameters.

[0011] The third invention is a hand guard for a hand truck, characterized in that a recess is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outermost one of the pair of mounting bodies. With this configuration, the inner circumferential surface of the outermost mounting body can be tightly fitted to the surface of the curved pipe, thereby increasing the mounting strength.

[0012] The fourth invention is a hand guard for a hand truck, characterized in that a notch is formed in the edge of the inner circumferential surface of the innermost one of the pair of mounting bodies. With this configuration, the edge of the inner circumferential surface of the innermost mounting body does not interfere with the curved pipe, thereby further increasing the mounting strength. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the handle can be securely attached to the curved corner of the handle made of a pipe, so there is no need to sacrifice the space in the straight section as in the past. This allows the width of the handle to be effectively utilized even in a hand truck with a narrow handle, improving handle operability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a hand cart 200 to which hand guards 100, 100 according to the present invention are attached. [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged perspective view mainly showing a horizontal portion 223 of the handle 220 of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a front view showing a state in which a hand guard 100 according to the present invention is attached. [Figure 4]1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a hand guard 100 according to the present invention. [Figure 5] 1A is a plan view showing an outer mounting body 111 and a guard plate 120 integrated therewith that constitute a hand guard 100, and FIG. 1B is a side view thereof. [Figure 6] 1 is a front view showing an outer mounting body 111 and a guard plate 120 integrated therewith that constitute a hand guard 100 according to the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a rear view showing an outer mounting body 111 and a guard plate 120 integrated therewith that constitute a hand guard 100 according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an inner mounting body 112 that constitutes the hand guard 100 according to the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a front view of an inner mounting body 112 that constitutes the hand guard 100 according to the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view showing part A in FIG. [Figure 11] 1A is an explanatory diagram showing the curvature of the small diameter surface P1 formed on the inner peripheral surface P of the outer mounting body 111, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing the curvature of the large diameter surfaces P2, P2 formed on the same inner peripheral surface P. [Figure 12] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing that the inner peripheral surface P of the outer mounting body 111 is concave. [Figure 13] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the inconvenience caused when gripping the corner of the dolly handle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of a push cart 200 equipped with a hand guard 100 of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the upper part of the handle 220. As shown in the figure, this push cart 200 has a structure in which a push handle 220 is provided at the end of a cart body 210 equipped with multiple casters C.

[0016] This handle 220 is made by processing a metal pipe 221 such as aluminum or iron into a downward U-shape with both corners curved, and is composed of a pair of vertical sections 222, 222 extending vertically and a horizontal section 223 connecting the upper ends of the vertical sections 222, 222 horizontally. Furthermore, gently curved sections 224, 224 are formed between this horizontal section 223 and the pair of vertical sections 222, 222, respectively.

[0017] The lower ends of the vertical portions 222, 222 are fixed to the ends of the carriage body 210 so as to stand up substantially vertically, and an operator can operate them by holding with both hands the upper horizontal portion 223. As shown in the figure, there is also a type in which the upper ends of the vertical portions 222, 222 are bent so as to tilt backward at an angle of about 30 to 45 degrees from the vertical state.

[0018] As shown in the figure, hand guards 100 according to the present invention are attached to gently curved portions 224, 224 on both ends of handlebar 220. By attaching hand guards 100, 100 according to the present invention to curved portions 224, 224, which are corners of handlebar 220, the worker is forced to place his or her hands between hand guards 100, 100, which prevents the worker's hands from accidentally sliding into the corners (curves).

[0019] Furthermore, since the space of the horizontal portion 223 of the handle 220 does not have to be sacrificed in order to attach these hand guards 100, 100 as in the past, the entire width of the horizontal portion 223 can be effectively utilized even on a pushcart with a narrow handle width, and handle operability is not impaired. The material and size of this hand guard 100 are not particularly limited, but it can be made of, for example, an injection-moldable resin such as ABS resin or polypropylene (PP).

[0020] 3 to 11 show one specific embodiment of a hand guard 100 according to the present invention. First, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, this hand guard 100 is mainly composed of a pair of mounting bodies 111, 112 attached so as to sandwich from the inside and outside a pipe body 221 of a curved portion 224, which is a corner of a handlebar 220, and a flange-shaped guard plate 120 formed integrally with outer mounting body 111, which is located on the outside of these mounting bodies 111, 112.

[0021] These mounting bodies 111, 112 have approximately the same structure, and each has bolt holes 114, 114 formed on both sides of an arch-shaped main body 113, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. As shown in Figure 3, the outer mounting body 111 is positioned on the outside (outer periphery) of a pipe body 221 that constitutes the curved portion 224 of the handle 220, and the inner mounting body 112 is positioned on the inside (inner periphery) of the outer mounting body 111, sandwiching the pipe body 221 between the inside and outside, and with the bolt holes 114, 114 aligned, bolts 115, 115 are inserted from the inner mounting body 112 side and screwed into nuts 116, 116 attached to the outer mounting body 111 side, thereby connecting the two.

[0022] Of the mounting bodies 111, 112, the outer mounting body 111, which is located on the outside, is further provided with a flange-shaped guard plate 120 integrally therewith, as shown in Figures 5 to 7. As shown, this guard plate 120 is attached so as to be inclined at approximately 40 to 45 degrees with respect to the axis of the bolt hole 114 of the outer mounting body 111. When the outer mounting body 111 is attached to the curved portion 224 of the handle 220 as shown in Figure 3, this guard plate 120 faces in a substantially vertical direction, extending upward from the vertical portion 222 of the handle 220. One surface (outer surface) of this guard plate 120 is provided with a reinforcing rib 121. The shape and size of this guard plate 120 are not particularly limited, and for example, a disc-shaped plate with a diameter of approximately 10 to 15 cm can be used.

[0023] 10, an arc-shaped small diameter surface P1 and large diameter surfaces P2, P2 located on both sides of the small diameter surface P1 are formed on the inner peripheral surfaces P of these mounting bodies 111, 112 that come into contact with the pipe body 221. The small diameter surface P1 has the same curvature as the circumference of a perfect circle with a diameter of, for example, 28 mm as shown in Fig. 11(A), while the large diameter surfaces P2, P2 have the same curvature as the circumference of an even larger perfect circle, for example, a perfect circle with a diameter of 34 mm as shown in Fig. 11(B).

[0024] Therefore, as shown in the figure, if the pipe diameter of the handle 220 of the existing hand cart 200 is 28 mm, the small diameter surface P1 can be securely attached by being in surface contact with the handle 220 in its entirety. On the other hand, if the pipe diameter of the handle 220 is 34 mm, the large diameter surfaces P2, P2 on both sides of the small diameter surface P1 can be securely attached by being in surface contact with the handle 220 in its entirety.

[0025] 12, of these mounting bodies 111, 112, the inner peripheral surface P of the outer mounting body 111 located on the outside is concave and recessed inward perpendicular to the circumferential direction, so that when attached to the curved portion 224, it comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, notches 117, 117 are also formed on both edge portions of the inner peripheral surface P of the other inner mounting body 112, so that when attached to the curved portion 224, these edge portions do not interfere with the inner peripheral surface of the curved portion 224.

[0026] In this way, hand guard 100 of the present invention can be securely attached to the curved corners (curved portions 224, 224) of handle 220 consisting of downward U-shaped pipe body 221, without sacrificing the space of horizontal portion 223 as in the past. This allows the width of even a pushcart with a narrow handle to be effectively utilized, so handle operability is not impaired.

[0027] Furthermore, since the inner peripheral surface P of the mounting bodies 111, 112 that contacts the pipe body 221 is composed of an arc-shaped small diameter surface P1 and larger diameter surfaces P2, P2, the inner peripheral surface P comes into surface contact with the surface of the pipe body 221, so even if the pipe diameter of the handle 220 is different, the mounting bodies 111, 112 can be securely attached without shifting. Furthermore, versatility is improved and the number of manufacturing processes and molds can be reduced, resulting in significant reductions in manufacturing costs and inventory management costs.

[0028] Furthermore, by forming a recess on the inner surface of the outer mounting body 111 and forming notches 117, 117 on the edge of the inner surface of the inner mounting body 112, the inner surfaces P of the inner and outer mounting bodies 111, 112 can be closely fitted to the surface of the curved pipe body, thereby further increasing the mounting strength. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 100...Handguard 111...Mounting body (outside) 112...Mounting body (inside) 113...Main body 114...Bolt hole 115...volts 116...Nat 117...Notch 120...Guard plate 200...Handcart 220...Handle 221...Pipe body 222…Vertical part 223…Horizontal part 224...Curved part (corner) P…Inner peripheral surface P1…Small diameter surface P2: Large diameter surface

Claims

1. A hand guard attached to a hand truck equipped with a handle made of a downward U-shaped pipe body with both corners curved, A hand guard for a hand truck has a pair of mounting bodies that are attached to the curved portion of the handle so as to sandwich the pipe body from the inside and outside of the curved portion, and the outermost mounting body of the pair of mounting bodies is provided with a guard plate that extends approximately vertically upward from the mounting body.

2. The hand guard for a hand truck according to claim 1, A hand guard for a hand truck, characterized in that the pair of mounting bodies each have an inner surface that contacts the pipe body, which has an arc-shaped small diameter surface and a large diameter surface that is larger in diameter than the small diameter surface.

3. The hand guard according to claim 1 or 2, A hand guard for a hand truck, characterized in that a recess is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outermost one of the pair of mounting bodies.

4. The hand guard according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A hand guard for a hand truck, characterized in that a notch is formed in the edge of the inner peripheral surface of the innermost one of the pair of mounting bodies.

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