cart

Abstract

To provide a small and lightweight cart that can be carried when walking a pet or shopping and that can be easily unfolded and folded. [Solution] A cart that can be easily unfolded and folded is constructed by combining a drive frame, a driven frame, and a loading platform frame, all of which are made of rod-shaped members, particularly lightweight metal pipes, via a pivot, and by attaching casters to the installation surface. To improve portability when folded, it is also possible to provide a frame locking mechanism to fix the relative positions of the frames, and a caster locking mechanism to prevent unexpected movement when the cart is placed, contributing to improved safety. The loading platform frame can also be fitted with various baskets or housings as needed, ensuring convenience.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cart for transporting animals or luggage, and more particularly to a cart that can be folded compactly when not in use and easily unfolded when in use. [Background technology]

[0002] The recent pet boom and the development of medical systems for pets have led to longer lifespans and aging pets. Dogs need to be walked, but elderly dogs have problems such as being unable to walk more than a certain distance continuously. Even for dogs that are not elderly, there are places on walking routes that are difficult to walk or where you do not want to walk them. In addition, there is demand for easily portable carts not only for pets but also for use in shopping and other activities.

[0003] However, conventional carts have a complicated folding structure, making it difficult to fold compactly and carry around when shopping or walking a dog. When shopping or walking a dog, the cart needs to be moored in a designated place or monitored, and it needs to be returned to where it was parked after the walk or shopping is finished.

[0004] There are many strollers on the market that are similar to foldable carts. Patent Document 1 discloses a frame folding mechanism including a frame, a seat, and interlocking parts, wherein the frame includes a handle, front legs, and rear legs, the handle, the front legs, and the rear legs are coaxially pivoted to form a first center of rotation, the front legs are pivoted to the seat to form a second center of rotation, one end of the interlocking part is pivoted to the seat to form a third center of rotation, and the other end of the interlocking part is pivoted to the handle to form a fourth center of rotation, the first center of rotation, the second center of rotation, the third center of rotation, and the fourth center of rotation D4 are distributed at intervals, and by rotating and folding the frame, the seat is rotated and folded by the interlocking parts.

[0005] However, the frame folding mechanism disclosed therein is intended for carrying an infant, and there is room for improvement in view of the limitations on the size of luggage or animals that can be carried. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-511856 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a small, lightweight cart that can be carried when walking a pet or going shopping, and that can be easily unfolded and folded. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventors conducted extensive research into the configuration of a frame, i.e., a frame body, made of lightweight tubular members and connecting members made of lightweight plastic or the like, and as a result, they came up with the present invention.

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a cart comprising: a drive frame body, which is made of rod-shaped members configured in a substantially rectangular shape and has a pair of first casters at both ends of one short side, and which has, on each long side, a first through-hole through which the rod-shaped member on the long side is slidably inserted and a first joint member having a first rotation shaft for rotatably attaching another member; a driven frame body, which is made of rod-shaped members configured in a substantially rectangular shape and has one short side rotatably attached to the side of the first rotation shaft on which the drive frame body moves by pushing the drive frame body, and has a pair of second casters at both ends of the other short side; a loading platform frame body, which is made of rod-shaped members configured in a substantially rectangular shape and has one short side rotatably attached to a second rotation shaft provided in the vicinity of the first joint member of the driven frame body; and a loading platform frame body, which has one end rotatably attached to a third rotation shaft provided on the one short side of the drive frame body. a first support member having one end attached to the fourth pivot shaft of a second joining member, the other end of which is provided on a long side of the driven frame, through which a rod-shaped member on the long side passes, and a fourth pivot shaft for pivotally attaching two other members individually; and a second support member having one end attached to the fourth pivot shaft of the second joining member, the other end of which is provided on a long side of the loading platform frame, through which a rod-shaped member on the long side passes, and a fifth pivot shaft for pivotally attaching another member; wherein the pair of second casters are provided on ends of the pair of long sides of the driven frame opposite to the side attached to the drive frame, in a direction parallel to the short side of the driven frame; eight The caster holder has one end rotatably attached to a rotation shaft of the caster holder, and the other end of the caster holder is attached to the rotation shaft of the caster holder so as to be rotatable with respect to the ground surface. eight a sixth rotation axis is provided in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the first support member, and the sixth rotation axis is provided in the vicinity of the second joint member; eightA seventh rotation axis is provided in a direction parallel to the sixth rotation axis, and a rod-shaped connecting member is provided between the sixth rotation axis and the seventh rotation axis, with both ends of the connecting member being rotatable about the respective rotation axes.

[0010] In addition, a cart according to one aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a tubular member is attached to the first joint member, the tubular member being perpendicular to the rod-shaped member that constitutes the long side of the drive frame body and having a pin inside that can slide longitudinally, and the pin engages with a bottomed hole or a through hole provided in the rod-shaped member that constitutes the long side of the drive frame body, thereby having a locking mechanism that can fix the relative positions of the drive frame body, the driven frame body, and the loading platform frame body.

[0011]

[0012] In addition, a cart according to one aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the first caster has a stopper having a friction pad that can rotate in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the wheel and press against the outer periphery of the caster. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The cart according to the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, so that the loading platform frame can secure a certain amount of space, can carry pets such as dogs and various items, can be folded up to be lightweight and compact, and can be locked in the folded state with a locking mechanism, so that when walking a dog, you can hold the dog's lead with one hand and pull the cart with the other. Furthermore, as described above, the second caster can be attached to the first caster. eight By attaching the first, sixth, and seventh pivot axes to the pivot axis provided on the caster holder, which is supported by the connecting member, the pivot axis can be held approximately perpendicular to the contact surface of the second caster whether the cart is unfolded or folded, and the direction of travel can be freely controlled.Therefore, when shopping, even if the cart of the present invention is pulled around a store in a folded state, it does not interfere with the walking of other shoppers.

[0014] Furthermore, even when folded, the casters of the drive frame and driven frame can touch the ground at the same time, and the cart can stand on its own even when released, making it suitable for situations where you want to use both hands at the same time, such as when cleaning up dog waste. Furthermore, by providing bottomed or through-holes in predetermined positions for engaging pins on the drive frame, the cart can be secured in place whether folded or unfolded, contributing to improved safety.

[0015] In addition, due to its structural features, a sufficient horizontal distance can be secured between the upper end of the drive frame body that is pushed by the hand and the casters attached to the drive frame body when the cart is unfolded, preventing the feet from hitting the casters and allowing for comfortable walking. Furthermore, by making some or all of the casters swivel casters, it becomes easier to control the direction of travel, and the movement of the cart can be stopped by a stopper provided on the first caster, which also contributes to improved safety. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of an example of a cart according to the present invention in an unfolded state; [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of an example of a cart according to the present invention in an unfolded state; [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a front view of an example of a cart according to the present invention in a folded state. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of an example of a cart according to the present invention in a folded state; [Figure 5] An example of a state in which a basket is mounted on the cart according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a locking mechanism capable of fixing the relative positions of the drive frame body, the driven frame body, and the bed frame body according to the present invention, in a locked state. [Figure 7] Cross section AA of Figure 6 [Figure 8] Front view of Figure 6 [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a locking mechanism that can fix the relative positions of the drive frame, the driven frame, and the bed frame according to the present invention, in an unlocked state. [Figure 10]Cross section AA of Figure 9 [Figure 11] Front view of Figure 9 [Figure 12] 12(a) is a side view of the caster lock mechanism according to the present invention in an unlocked state, and FIG. 12(b) is a side view of the caster lock mechanism in a locked state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to specific drawings.

[0018] Fig. 1 is a front view of an example of a cart according to the present invention in an unfolded state, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the example of a cart according to the present invention in an unfolded state. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a drive frame body, which is configured by assembling rod-shaped members made of lightweight metal pipes such as aluminum into a rectangular shape. A pair of long sides of the drive frame body 1 have first through-holes (not shown) through which the rod-shaped members on the long sides can be inserted, and are provided with first joint members 2 having a first rotation shaft (not shown) that is slidable in the lengthwise direction of the rod-shaped members and for rotatably mounting one end of the long side of the rod-shaped members that constitute the driven frame body 4.

[0019] Arrow 13 shown in Figure 1 indicates the sliding direction of the first joint member. When the cart is unfolded, the first joint member slides in the downward direction in the figure, as indicated by arrow 13. A first caster 3 is attached to the lower end of drive frame 1 in the figure.

[0020] The driven frame 4 is a rectangular metal pipe similar to the drive frame 1, with one short side facing the first circuit. motionThe driven frame 4 is rotatably attached to the first pivot shaft 6, and a second connecting member 10 is attached to its long side. Arrow 14 indicates the rotation direction of the driven frame 4 around the first pivot shaft. When the cart is unfolded, the driven frame 4 rotates downward in the direction indicated by arrow 14. Similarly to the drive frame 1 and the driven frame 4, the platform frame 7 is assembled from metal pipes into a rectangular shape. Its short side is attached to the second pivot shaft 6, and a third connecting member 11 is attached to it, slidable along its long side. Arrow 15 indicates the rotation direction of the platform frame 7 around the second pivot shaft 6. When the cart is unfolded, the platform frame 7 rotates upward in the direction indicated by arrow 15. Arrow 17 indicates the sliding direction of the third connecting member 11. When the cart is unfolded, the third connecting member 11 slides to the right in the direction indicated by arrow 17.

[0021] Between the fourth rotation shaft 18 of the second joint member 10 and the third rotation shaft 8 attached to the lower short side of the drive frame 1 shown in FIG. 2, a first support member 9 is attached in a state in which it can rotate about the third rotation shaft 8 and the fourth rotation shaft 18. Furthermore, between the fourth rotation shaft 18 of the second joint member 10 and a fifth rotation shaft (not shown) provided on the third joint member 11 of the bed frame 7, motion Between the shafts, the second support member 12 is attached in a state in which it can rotate about a fourth rotation shaft 18 and a fifth rotation shaft. Arrow 16 indicates the direction in which the first support member 9 and the second support member 12 rotate about the fourth rotation shaft 18. When the cart is unfolded, the first support member 9 rotates downward in the figure, and the second support member 12 rotates upward in the figure.

[0022] The driven frame 2 has a second end opposite to the end attached to the first joining member 2. eight The caster holder 19 having the first and second rotation axes 20 and 21 is eight A connecting member 23 is attached between a sixth rotating shaft 21 provided on the caster holder 19 and a seventh rotating shaft 22 provided on the first support member 9 via a rotating shaft 20, with both ends of the connecting member 23 being rotatable relative to the respective rotating shafts.

[0023] The second caster 5 shown here is a swivel caster, with the fork 5a attached to the caster holder 19 via a rotation shaft (not shown), which is disposed approximately perpendicular to the ground surface. 24 shown in Fig. 2 is a caster locking mechanism, 25 is a frame locking mechanism that can fix the relative positions of the drive frame, driven frame, and bed frame, and 26 is a bottomed hole or through-hole with which a pin used in the frame locking mechanism 25 engages.

[0024] Fig. 3 is a front view of an example of a cart according to the present invention in a folded state, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an example of a cart according to the present invention in a folded state. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the second caster 5 is supported by a link having a rotation axis at four locations, so that the rotation axis can be maintained in a state approximately perpendicular to the ground surface whether the pet cart is unfolded or folded, which allows for extremely smooth direction changes when moving the cart and makes it easy to handle in narrow spaces.

[0025] 5 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a basket 27 is mounted on the loading platform frame 7 of the cart according to the present invention. Various baskets can be mounted on the loading platform frame 7, and can be fastened with a belt, buckle, or other fastening member (not shown). By using a foldable basket, the cart can be made compact when folded.

[0026] 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are diagrams showing a locking mechanism according to the present invention that can fix the relative positions of the drive frame, the driven frame, and the bed frame. Fig. 6 is a plan view in a locked state, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a front view in the locked state. Fig. 9 is a plan view in an unlocked state, Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 is a front view in the unlocked state. In Figs. 6 and 7, a pair of first joint members 2 are connected by a connecting pipe 28. A pair of small-diameter pipes 29, each having a pin 30 at one end and a cylindrical member 31 at the other end, are inserted into the connecting pipe 28. The small-diameter pipes 29 are pressed in the left-right direction in the figure by a compression spring 34 and engage with a bottomed hole or a through-hole provided in the long-side rod-shaped member 1a of the drive frame, thereby locking the frame bodies together.

[0027] Furthermore, the small diameter pipe 29 is connected to a sleeve 33 via a spring pin 32, and the connecting pipe 28 has a slot (not shown) for the spring pin 32, so that the pair of pipes 29 move in unison by sliding the sleeve 33. In Figures 10 and 11, sliding the slider 41 upward in the figures pushes up a contact point 45 between levers 42 and 43, causing the lever to rotate in the direction of arrow 46 around its rotation center 44, and pushing the sleeve 33 into the state shown in the figure, whereby the pin 30 comes out of the hole provided in the long side rod-shaped member 1a of the drive frame, thereby achieving an unlocked state.

[0028] Figure 12 shows the caster lock mechanism of the present invention. Figure 12(a) is a side view of the caster in the unlocked state, and Figure 12(b) is a side view of the caster in the locked state. In Figure 12(a), a lock lever 35 that rotates around a lock lever rotation center 37 above the first caster 3 and a holder 36 that holds the lock lever 35 are fixed to the long rod-shaped member 1a of the drive frame. The lock lever 35 is integrated with a friction pad whose center of rotation is eccentric. In the unlocked state, a spring (not shown) causes the tip of the lever to point upward, creating a gap between the friction pad and the caster. In Figure 12(b), rotating the lock lever 35 downward, as indicated by the arrow 38, brings the eccentric friction pad into contact with the caster, forming a contact point 39. Since this contact point 39 is located beyond the apex 40 of the eccentric friction pad portion, the lock lever 35 will not rotate upward in the direction of arrow 38 and will be in a locked state unless a force greater than the spring force of a spring (not shown) attached to the lock lever 35 acts on it.

[0029] As described above, according to the present invention, a small and lightweight pet cart with a relatively simple structure can be provided that can be easily unfolded and folded and can be carried around when walking a pet, thereby enabling safer and more stress-free walks and outings with pets. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and any design changes that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention, including various modifications and alterations that would be conceivable to a person with ordinary skill in the art, are of course included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 Drive frame body 1a Long side rod-shaped member of drive frame body 2 First joint member 3 First caster 4. Follower frame 5. Second caster 5a ··· Fork 6 ··· Second pivot shaft 7 ··· Cargo bed frame 8... Third rotating shaft 9... First supporting member 10 Second joining member 11 Third joining member 12 Second support member 13 Arrow indicating the sliding direction of the first joining member 14 Arrow indicating the direction of rotation of the driven frame around the first rotation axis 15 Arrow indicating the direction of rotation of the bed frame 16 Rotation direction of the driven frame around the second joining member 17 Arrow indicating the sliding direction of the third joining member 18 ··· Fourth pivot axis 19 ··· Caster holder 20 ··· Chapter eight Pivot shaft 21 - Sixth pivot shaft 22 Seventh pivot shaft 23 Connecting member 24 Caster lock mechanism 25 Frame lock mechanism 26: A bottomed hole or through hole into which a pin used in the frame locking mechanism engages 27 Basket 28 Connecting pipe 29 Small diameter pipe 30 Pin 31 Cylindrical member 32 Spring pin 33 Sleeve 34 Compression spring 35 Lock lever 36 Holder 37 Lock lever rotation center 38 Arrow indicating the direction of rotation of the lock lever 39. Contact point between friction pad and outer periphery of caster 40: Apex of eccentric friction pad 41 Slider 42 Lever 43 Lever 44: Center of rotation of lever 45: Contact point between slider and lever 46 Arrow indicating the direction of lever rotation

Claims

1. a drive frame body formed by a rod-shaped member in a substantially rectangular shape, having a pair of first casters at both ends of one short side, and having a first through-hole on each long side through which the rod-shaped member on the long side is slidably inserted, and a first joint member having a first rotation shaft for rotatably mounting another member; a driven frame body formed by a rod-shaped member in a substantially rectangular shape, one short side of which is rotatably attached to the first rotation shaft on the side where the drive frame body moves by pressing the drive frame body, and the other short side of which has a pair of second casters at both ends; a loading platform frame formed by configuring a rod-shaped member into a substantially rectangular shape, one short side of which is rotatably attached to a second rotation shaft provided in the vicinity of the first joint member of the driven frame; a first support member, one end of which is rotatably attached to a third rotation shaft provided on one of the short sides of the drive frame body, and the other end of which is rotatably attached to the fourth rotation shaft of a second joining member, the second joining member having a second through-hole provided on a long side of the driven frame body, through which a rod-shaped member on the long side is inserted, and a fourth rotation shaft for individually rotatably attaching two other members; A cart having a second support member rotatably attached to the fifth rotation shaft of a third joint member, the second support member having one end attached to the fourth rotation shaft of the second joint member and the other end of the third joint member having a third through-hole provided on a long side of the loading platform frame, through which a rod-shaped member on the long side is slidably inserted, and a fifth rotation shaft for rotatably attaching another member, The pair of second casters are swivel casters rotatably attached to a caster holder, one end of which is rotatably attached to an eighth rotation shaft provided at the end of a pair of long sides of the driven frame body opposite the end attached to the drive frame body, in a direction parallel to the short side of the driven frame body; a sixth rotation shaft is provided at the other end of the caster holder in a direction parallel to the eighth rotation shaft; a seventh rotation shaft is provided on the first support member near the second connecting member, in a direction parallel to the eighth rotation shaft; and a rod-shaped connecting member is provided between the sixth rotation shaft and the seventh rotation shaft, both ends of which are rotatable about the respective rotation shafts.

2. 2. The cart according to claim 1, characterized in that a tubular member is attached to the first joint member, the tubular member being perpendicular to the rod-shaped member that constitutes the long side of the drive frame body and having a pin inside that can slide in the longitudinal direction, and the pin engages with a bottomed hole or a through hole provided in the rod-shaped member that constitutes the long side of the drive frame body, thereby fixing the relative positions of the drive frame body, the driven frame body, and the loading platform frame body.

3. 3. The cart according to claim 1, wherein the first caster has a stopper having a friction pad that can rotate in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the wheel to press against the outer periphery of the caster.

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