Dolly

Abstract

To obtain a dolly and an obstacle run-over mechanism which can run over a step easily with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A dolly 10 includes: a base part 12 on which packages may be placed; front wheels 14 attached to a lower surface of a front part in the base part 12; rear wheels 16 attached to a lower surface of a rear part in the base part 12; a step 40 which is provided at the lower surface side of the rear part in the base part 12 and configured to slide between a storage position where the step 40 is stored at the lower surface side of the base part 12 and a use position where the step 40 protrudes rearward from the base part 12 and a user can step on the step 40 with its foot; and a cover plate 42 which is provided below the step 40 and fixed to the base part 12 and sandwiches the step 40 with the base part 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a cart.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an auxiliary device for step-over that is configured to be attachable to an existing cart later. This auxiliary device for step-over includes a fan-shaped front auxiliary wheel disposed between a pair of front wheels and a rear auxiliary wheel on the fan side disposed between a pair of rear wheels. When the front auxiliary wheel abuts against a step ahead of the front wheels, the front part of the cart is configured to step over the step. Similarly, when the rear auxiliary wheel abuts against a step ahead of the rear wheels, the rear part of the cart steps over the step.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the device described in Patent Document 1 above, since it has a complicated structure in which the oscillating auxiliary wheels are connected by coil springs, a cart that can easily step over a step with a simpler structure is desired.

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a cart that can easily step over a step with a simple structure.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The trolley according to claim 1 comprises: a base on which luggage can be placed; front wheels attached to the lower surface of the front of the base; rear wheels attached to the lower surface of the rear of the base; a step provided on the lower side of the rear of the base and configured to slide between a storage position stored on the lower side of the base and a usage position that protrudes rearward from the base and can be stepped on by the user; and a cover plate provided below the step and fixed to the base, sandwiching the step between itself and the base. Furthermore, in the aforementioned usage position, the front end of the step extends to the position of the rear wheel when viewed from the side. .

[0007] In the trolley described in claim 1, front wheels are attached to the underside of the front of the base on which cargo can be placed. Rear wheels are attached to the underside of the rear of the base. Furthermore, a step is provided on the underside of the rear of the base, and the step is configured to slide between a storage position where it is stored on the underside of the base and a usage position where it protrudes rearward from the base. In the usage position, the user can step on the step with their foot, thereby lifting the front wheels and allowing the trolley to overcome obstacles. At this time, the step is sandwiched between a cover plate fixed to the base and the base, which prevents the step from detaching from the base. When not in use, the step can be slid to the storage position so that it does not get in the way when transporting cargo.

[0008] The trolley described in claim 2 is, in claim 1, In the aforementioned step, the portion on which the user's feet are placed has both its upper and lower surfaces formed in a flat shape throughout its entire surface.

[0010] The trolley described in claim 3 is, in claim 1, The base portion includes a flange formed by bending the front end of the mounting surface downward, and a shaft extending back and forth is inserted through the flange while it is fitted into a notch formed in the cover plate, and the step is configured to be movable back and forth along the shaft. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] As described above, the trolley according to the present invention can easily overcome steps with a simple structure. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a side view of the bogie according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is an enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged view of the bottom surface of the trolley according to the first embodiment, and shows the step in the retracted position. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged view of the bottom surface of the trolley according to the first embodiment, and shows the step in the position for use. [Figure 4] This is a side view of the bogie according to the first modified example. [Figure 5] This is a side view of the bogie according to the second modified example. [Figure 6] This is a side view of the bogie according to the third modified example. [Figure 7] This is a side view of the trolley according to the fourth modified example. [Figure 8] This is an enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged view of the bottom surface of the trolley according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] This is an enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged view of the bottom surface of the trolley according to the third embodiment. [Figure 10] This is an enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged view of the bottom surface of the trolley according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] This is an enlarged perspective view showing a magnified view of the bottom surface of the trolley according to the fifth modified example. [Figure 12] This is an enlarged perspective view showing a magnified view of the bottom surface of the trolley according to the sixth modified example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] <First Embodiment> The trolley 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The arrows FR and UP indicated in each figure as appropriate indicate the direction of movement of the trolley 10 (forward side in the front-rear direction) and the upward side in the up-down direction, respectively. Hereafter, when simply referring to the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions, unless otherwise specified, they refer to the front-rear in the front-rear direction, the up-down in the up-down direction, and left-right when facing forward.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view of the cart 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the cart 10 of the present embodiment mainly includes a base portion 12, front wheels 14, rear wheels 16, a handle 18, an inclined member 26, and a step deployment mechanism 28.

[0016] The base portion 12 is substantially rectangular in plan view and is formed of resin or the like. Further, the upper surface of the base portion 12 is an area where luggage is placed. A handle 18 is provided at the rear end on the upper surface side of the base portion 12, and front wheels 14 and rear wheels 16 are provided on the lower surface side of the base portion 12.

[0017] The handle 18 is a substantially U-shaped member with the lower side open, and the lower ends are fixed to the base portion 12 via brackets 20, respectively. Further, the upper part of the handle 18 is bent rearward and is shaped to be easy for the user to grip.

[0018] The handle 18 is fixed to a rotating shaft (not shown) provided on the bracket 20 and is configured to be able to rotate forward. Further, a locking mechanism (not shown) is provided between the handle 18 and the bracket 20, and in the normal use state, the handle 18 is locked by the locking mechanism so as not to rotate. And when not in use, by releasing the locked state and rotating the handle 18 forward, the handle 18 can be folded.

[0019] The front wheels 14 are attached as a pair on the left and right to the lower surface of the front portion of the base portion 12, and the rear wheels 16 are attached as a pair on the left and right to the lower surface of the rear portion of the base portion 12.

[0020] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged bottom surface of the cart 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the front wheel 14 includes a front wheel mounting base 30, a front wheel support plate 32, and a front caster 34. The front wheel mounting base 30 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the flange at the upper end is fastened to the lower surface of the base portion 12, so that it protrudes downward from the lower surface of the base portion 12.

[0021] The front wheel support plates 32 are provided on both the left and right sides of the lower end of the front wheel mounting base 30 and are formed in a roughly rectangular plate shape when viewed from the side. The front caster 34 is positioned between the pair of left and right front wheel support plates 32. The front caster 34 is pivotally supported on the front wheel support plates 32.

[0022] On the other hand, the rear wheel 16 is composed of a rear wheel support plate 36 and a rear caster 38. The rear wheel support plate 36 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the base portion 12, and a pair of left and right rear wheel support plates 36 are arranged facing each other. The rear caster 38 is disposed between the pair of rear wheel support plates 36 and is pivotally supported on the rear wheel support plates 36.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the front arm 22 and the rear arm 24 extend downward from the lower surface of the base portion 12. The front arm 22 is positioned slightly behind the front wheel 14 and is provided in a pair, left and right. The rear arm 24 is positioned behind the front arm 22 and is also provided in a pair, left and right. In addition, the rear arm 24 is longer in the vertical direction than the front arm 22.

[0024] (Inclined member 26) An inclined member 26 is attached to the lower ends of the front arm 22 and the rear arm 24. In this embodiment, the inclined member 26 is formed by bending both ends of a metal plate, and consists of a lower surface 26A facing downward and side surfaces 26B extending upward from both ends in the width direction of the lower surface 26A. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the inclined member 26 when viewed from the front or rear direction is a flattened, roughly U-shape with the upper side open.

[0025] The front arm 22 is superimposed on the inner wall of the side surface 26B at the front end of the inclined member 26, and the front arm 22 and the inclined member 26 are mechanically fastened together by bolts and nuts through an elongated hole formed in the inclined member 26.

[0026] The rear arm 24 is superimposed on the outer wall of the side surface 26B at the rear end of the inclined member 26, and the rear arm 24 and the inclined member 26 are mechanically fastened together by bolts and nuts. For this reason, at least a portion of the inclined member 26 in this embodiment is located between the front wheel 14 and the rear wheel 16. Here, "between the front wheel 14 and the rear wheel 16" refers to the region between the rotation center of the front wheel 14 and the rotation center of the rear wheel 16, and broadly includes embodiments in which a portion of the inclined member 26 overlaps with the front wheel 14 and the rear wheel 16 in a side view.

[0027] The inclined member 26 is attached to the front arm 22 and the rear arm 24 so as to be inclined downward from the front to the rear. Therefore, the lower surface 26A of the inclined member 26 is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the front to the rear.

[0028] Here, the imaginary line CL shown in Figure 1 is an imaginary line that extends vertically through the midpoint between the front wheel 14 and the rear wheel 16, and the front end of the lower surface (inclined surface) 26A of the inclined member 26 is located between the imaginary line CL and the front wheel 14. In other words, the front end of the inclined surface is located forward of the midpoint between the front wheel 14 and the rear wheel 16.

[0029] Furthermore, the rear end of the lower surface (inclined surface) 26A of the inclined member 26 is located in front of the rear wheel 16 and below the rotation axis center of the rear wheel 16. Although not shown in the diagram, the rotation axis center of the rear wheel 16 coincides with the center of the rear caster 38.

[0030] (Step deployment mechanism 28) As shown in Figure 2, the step deployment mechanism 28 mainly consists of a step 40, a cover plate 42, and a shaft 44. The step 40 is formed of a metal plate that is roughly rectangular in shape in plan view and is located on the lower side of the rear of the base portion 12. The step 40 also consists of a mounting surface 40A on which the user's foot is placed and a flange 40B formed by bending the front end of the mounting surface 40A downward.

[0031] In Figure 2, step 40 is positioned in a hidden storage location on the underside of the base portion 12, except for its rear end.

[0032] The cover plate 42 is positioned below the step 40 and fixed to the base portion 12. As a result, the step 40 is configured to move back and forth while sandwiched between the base portion 12 and the cover plate 42.

[0033] A notch 42A is formed at the front end of the cover plate 42, into which the flange 40B of the step 40 fits. A shaft 44 is also provided in the notch 42A.

[0034] The shaft 44 extends in the front-rear direction, and its rear end is fixed to a rear fixing part 46 mounted on the cover plate 42. The front end of the shaft 44 is fixed to a front fixing part (not shown) provided on the base part 12. Since the flange 40B of the step 40 passes through the shaft 44, the step 40 is configured to move back and forth along the shaft 44. The shaft 44 is also provided with a compression coil spring (not shown) that biases the flange 40B of the step 40 toward the rear.

[0035] Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the bottom surface of the trolley 10 according to this embodiment, and shows the step 40 in the working position. As shown in Figure 3, when the step 40 is positioned in the working position, the mounting surface 40A protrudes rearward from the base portion 12.

[0036] Furthermore, in the operating position, the flange 40B of step 40 is in contact with the rear end of the notch 42A of the cover plate 42, and the sliding range of step 40 is limited by the flange 40B being locked in place.

[0037] Furthermore, a latch 48 is provided on the lower surface of the base portion 12. The latch 48 in this embodiment is a magnetic latch, with a magnet positioned on its retaining surface (rear surface). When the step 40 is in the storage position, the flange 40B of the step 40 is held by the retaining surface of the latch 48 by magnetic force. For this reason, the magnetic force acting between the step 40 and the latch 48 is adjusted to be greater than the biasing force of the compression coil spring provided on the shaft 44.

[0038] When step 40 is in the retracted position, if the latch 48 is pressed through step 40, the action of the spring inside the latch 48 causes the flange 40B to separate from the latch 48, and the biasing force of the compression coil spring provided on the shaft 44 slides step 40 to the use position. Also, by sliding step 40 against the biasing force of the compression coil spring towards the latch 48, the flange 40B is held by the latch 48 again, and step 40 is placed in the retracted position. In this way, step 40 is configured to slide back and forth between a use position that protrudes rearward from the base portion 12 and a retracted position that is stored on the lower surface of the base portion 12. Furthermore, step 40 is configured to slide to the use position when pressed forward from the retracted position.

[0039] (action) Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

[0040] In the trolley 10 of this embodiment, front wheels 14 are attached to the underside of the front of the base portion 12 on which cargo can be placed. Rear wheels 16 are attached to the underside of the rear of the base portion 12. Furthermore, an inclined member 26 is provided on the underside of the base portion 12. At least a portion of the inclined member 26 is provided between the front wheels 14 and the rear wheels 16. The underside 26A of the inclined member 26 is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the front to the rear. As a result, after the front wheels 14 ride up onto a step, the step comes into contact with the underside 26A, causing an upward reaction force to act on the inclined surface from the step, making it easier for the rear wheels 16 to ride over the step.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inclined member 26 functions to facilitate overcoming steps while fixed to the base portion 12, allowing for overcoming steps with a simple structure. Moreover, since the inclined member 26 itself does not require components such as coil springs, it is also superior in terms of maintainability.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the front end of the inclined member 26 is located in front of the midpoint between the front wheel 14 and the rear wheel 16, the inclination angle of the inclined surface is gentler compared to a structure where the inclined surface is located only at the rear, allowing the vehicle to overcome steps with less force.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the rear end of the lower surface 26A (inclined surface) of the inclined member 26 is located below the rotation axis center of the rear caster 38, the rear wheel 16 can smoothly overcome the step without getting caught.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a step 40 protrudes rearward from the base portion 12, and this step 40 is configured so that the user can step on it with their foot when in use. As a result, the user can lift the front wheel 14 by stepping on the step 40 with their foot.

[0045] Furthermore, the step 40 is configured to slide back and forth between a usage position that protrudes rearward from the base 12 and a storage position that is housed in the underside of the base 12. This allows the step 40 to be slid into the storage position when not in use, preventing it from getting in the way. Moreover, the step 40 can be slid back into the usage position simply by pushing it with a foot or the like, making it easy to extend and retract the step 40 without any cumbersome operations.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the shape of the inclined member 26 is substantially straight in side view, but it is not limited to this. For example, the structures described in the first to fourth modified examples shown in Figures 4 to 7 may be adopted.

[0047] (First variation) Figure 4 is a side view of the trolley 10 according to the first modified example. As shown in Figure 4, in this modified example, the inclined member 27 is bent. Specifically, the inclined member 27 is bent so that the middle portion in the front-rear direction bulges downward, and the lower surface 27A of the inclined member 27 is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the front to the rear as a whole.

[0048] (Second variation) Figure 5 is a side view of the trolley 10 according to the second modified example. As shown in Figure 5, in this modified example, the inclined member 29 is curved. Specifically, the inclined member 29 is curved so as to bulge downward, but the lower surface 27A of the inclined member 27 is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the front to the rear as a whole.

[0049] (Third variation) Figure 6 is a side view of the trolley 10 according to the third modified example. As shown in Figure 6, in this modified example, the inclined member 31 is bent. Specifically, the inclined member 31 is bent so that the middle portion in the front-rear direction bulges upward, but the lower surface 31A of the inclined member 31 is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the front to the rear as a whole.

[0050] (Fourth variation) Figure 7 is a side view of the trolley 10 according to the fourth modified example. As shown in Figure 7, in this modified example, the inclined member 33 is curved. Specifically, the inclined member 33 is curved so as to bulge upward, but the lower surface 33A of the inclined member 33 is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the front to the rear as a whole.

[0051] Even with the trolley 10 according to the first to fourth modified examples described above, the lower surface of the inclined member is an inclined surface, similar to this embodiment, and therefore has the same effects as this embodiment.

[0052] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that components similar to those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0053] Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view showing the bottom surface of the trolley 60 according to the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 8, the trolley 60 of this embodiment is provided with an inclined member 62 on the lower surface of the base portion 12.

[0054] At least a portion of the inclined member 62 is located between the front wheel 14 and the rear wheel 16. Furthermore, the lower surface 62A of the inclined member 62 is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the front to the rear.

[0055] In this embodiment, the inclined member 62 is integrally formed with the base portion 12 from a resin material. Therefore, the inclined member 62 is made of the same material as the base portion 12.

[0056] The inclined member 62 is configured in a block shape, including a lower surface 62A, a side surface 62B, a rear surface 62C, and a front surface (not shown). It may also be equipped with a step deployment mechanism 28, similar to the first embodiment.

[0057] In the trolley 60 according to this embodiment, the inclined member 62 is integrally formed with the base portion 12, so there is no need to separately attach the inclined member 62. Other functions are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0058] <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that components similar to those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0059] Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the bottom surface of the trolley 70 according to the third embodiment. As shown in Figure 9, the trolley 70 of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it is provided with a pair of inclined members 72 on the left and right sides.

[0060] One of the inclined members 72 is provided at the right end of the trolley 70, between the front wheel 14 and the rear wheel 16, and may be integrally formed with, for example, a fixing bracket for fixing the front wheel 14 or the rear wheel 16. The other inclined member 72 is provided at the left end of the trolley 70, between the front wheel 14 and the rear wheel 16.

[0061] Each of the pair of inclined members 72 has an inclined surface, the lower surface 72A of which slopes downward from the front to the rear. The inclined member 72 also has a decorative surface 72B that connects the widthwise end of the lower surface 72A, which is the inclined surface, to the base portion 12.

[0062] The design surface 72B is decorated with advertisements such as the name of an arbitrary company and product, intended to be visible to the surroundings. In this embodiment, for example, the design surface 72B and the side surface of the base portion 12 are flush.

[0063] In this embodiment, since a pair of inclined members 72 are provided on the left and right sides, even if there are obstacles such as fallen objects or protrusions on the road surface, the obstacles can be passed over without interfering with the inclined members 72. In other words, in this case, the obstacles are passed over the pair of left and right front wheels 14, so that the obstacles do not interfere with the inclined members 72.

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the inclined member 72 has a design surface 72B, if an advertisement or the like is displayed on the design surface 72B, the advertisement can be made visible to those around when the trolley 70 is in use.

[0065] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the design surface functions as a guide to prevent feet from getting caught, thus preventing the feet of the user and people around them from getting caught when using the trolley 70. Other functions are the same as in the first embodiment. The design surface 72B may be provided with reflective material that utilizes retroreflection, or with fluorescent material or phosphorescent material. In this case, the presence of the trolley 70 can be made recognizable to those around when used at night or in dark places. Similarly, the design surface 72B may be configured to illuminate the surroundings by embedding light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

[0066] <Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that components similar to those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0067] Figure 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing the bottom surface of the trolley 80 according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in Figure 10, the trolley 80 of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a plurality of through holes 86C are formed in the inclined member 86.

[0068] Front arms 82 and rear arms 84 are provided on the underside of the base portion 12 of the bogie 80. The front arms 82 are positioned slightly behind the front wheels 14 and are provided in pairs, one on each side. The rear arms 84 are positioned further back than the front arms 82 and are formed in a block shape. The rear arms 84 are also longer than the front arms 82.

[0069] An inclined member 86 is attached to the lower ends of the front arm 82 and the rear arm 84. In this embodiment, the inclined member 86 is formed, for example, by bending both ends of a metal plate, and consists of a lower surface 86A facing downward and side surfaces 86B extending upward from both ends in the width direction of the lower surface 86A. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the inclined member 86 when viewed from the front or rear direction is a flattened, roughly U-shape with the upper side open.

[0070] The lower surface 86A is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the front to the rear. In addition, numerous through holes 86C are formed in the lower surface 86A.

[0071] In this embodiment, since a number of through holes 86C are formed in the lower surface 86A of the inclined member 86, even if a gap is formed between the inclined member 86 and the base portion 12, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of liquids such as water on the upper surface side of the inclined member 86.

[0072] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inclined member 86 can be made lighter by forming the through hole 86C. As a result, the overall weight of the trolley 80 can be reduced. Other functions are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0073] Although the first to fourth embodiments have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the first embodiment described above, a trolley 10 provided with an inclined member 26 was described, but an obstacle-climbing mechanism including an inclined member may be retrofitted to a general trolley.

[0074] As an obstacle-climbing mechanism that can be retrofitted to a trolley, a structure can be adopted in which a front arm and a rear arm that can be attached to the underside of the base of the trolley are provided, and inclined members are attached to the front arm and the rear arm. When the obstacle-climbing mechanism is retrofitted to the trolley, at least a part of it is located between the front and rear wheels, and the underside is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the front to the rear. In this way, even a general-purpose trolley can be fitted with inclined members similar to those in the first embodiment, and steps can be easily overcome with a simple structure.

[0075] Furthermore, although the first embodiment described above describes a structure that includes both an inclined member 26 and a step deployment mechanism 28, the invention is not limited to this, and a structure that includes only an inclined member 26 may also be used.

[0076] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the inclined member 26 itself is in contact with the step, but the structure is not limited to this. For example, a sheet-like member may be attached to the lower surface 26A of the inclined member 26. As the sheet-like member, a material with a low coefficient of friction is preferable to reduce the frictional force acting between it and the step. Also, the structure may be designed so that the sheet-like member can be easily replaced when it deteriorates.

[0077] Furthermore, although the shape of the step 40 is a rectangular thin plate in the first embodiment described above, it is not limited to this and may be in other shapes. For example, the rear end of the step 40 may be bent diagonally upward to make it easier to press with the user's toes.

[0078] Furthermore, while the step deployment mechanism 28 of the first embodiment uses a magnetic latch 48 as shown in Figure 3, it is not limited to this, and other methods may be used to store and deploy the step. For example, a structure may be adopted in which a sensor for detecting steps is attached to the front end of the base, and a single-axis actuator for electrically deploying and storing the step is attached to the rear of the base. In this case, when the sensor detects a step, a signal is transmitted to the actuator, and the step slides from the stored position to the usage position. Alternatively, based on the signal from the sensor, the step may be configured to slide from the usage position to the stored position after a predetermined time has elapsed following overcoming a step. In this case, the sensor is not limited to an infrared sensor or a laser sensor, and an optical camera may be used as the sensor. Steps may be detected by image recognition of images captured by the optical camera. Furthermore, instead of the magnetic latch 48, a manual locking mechanism may be provided. For example, a mechanism may be provided to physically lock the step when it has been slid to the storage position. In this case, by providing switches for operating the locking mechanism on the handle 18 or the like, the user can perform locking and unlocking operations at their fingertips.

[0079] Furthermore, although the above embodiment uses a structure with a pair of left and right front wheels 14 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 16, it is not limited to this. For example, a structure with additional wheels between the front wheels 14 and the rear wheels 16 may be adopted. Alternatively, a structure with only one front wheel 14 or one rear wheel 16 may be adopted. Furthermore, a structure with three or more front wheels 14 or rear wheels 16 in the width direction may be adopted.

[0080] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the rear end of the lower surface 26A of the inclined member 26 is located below the rotation axis center of the rear wheel 16, but this is not limited to that. For example, the rear end of the lower surface 26A of the inclined member 26 may be located above the rotation axis center of the rear wheel 16. Also, in the above embodiment, the front end of the lower surface 26A of the inclined member 26 is located above the rotation axis center of the front wheel 14, but this is not limited to that. For example, the front end of the lower surface 26A of the inclined member 26 may be located below the rotation axis center of the front wheel 14.

[0081] Furthermore, the structures described in the fifth modified example shown in Figure 11 and the sixth modified example shown in Figure 12 may also be adopted.

[0082] <Fifth variation> Figure 11 is an enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged view of the bottom surface of the trolley 10 according to the fifth modified example. As shown in Figure 11, in this modified example, the inclined member 26 is provided with a gripping portion 35 that can be grasped by the user.

[0083] The gripping portion 35 is provided on the side surface 26B of the inclined member 26. In this modified example, the gripping portion 35 is formed in a substantially U-shape, with both ends of the U-shape fixed to the side surface 26B of the inclined member 26. The gripping portion 35 is provided on the right side surface 26B and the left side surface 26B, respectively.

[0084] According to this modified version, when the trolley 10 is not in use, the user can carry the trolley 10 by gripping the gripping part 35. For example, the user can easily lift the trolley 10 by gripping the gripping part 35 with the handle 18 folded, so that it can be carried in places where the trolley 10 cannot travel, such as stairs.

[0085] Alternatively, the gripping portion 35 may be mounted parallel to the base portion 12 of the trolley 10. In this case, for example, a bracket extending upward from the side surface 26B of the inclined member 26 can be attached, and the rear side of the gripping portion 35 can be attached to this bracket, thereby making the gripping portion 35 and the base portion 12 approximately parallel.

[0086] <Sixth variation> Figure 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged view of the bottom surface of the trolley 70 according to the sixth modified example. As shown in Figure 12, in this modified example, the inclined member 72 is provided with a gripping portion 35 that can be grasped by the user.

[0087] Each of the pair of inclined members 72 has an inclined surface, the lower surface 72A of which slopes downward from the front to the rear. The inclined member 72 also has a decorative surface 72B that connects the widthwise end of the lower surface 72A, which is the inclined surface, to the base portion 12.

[0088] Furthermore, a recess 72A is formed on the inner side of the inclined member 72 in the width direction, and this recess 72A constitutes a gripping portion that the user can grasp. That is, the user can easily grasp the inclined member 72 by placing their fingers in the recess 72A. The inner wall of the recess 72A may be provided with protrusions or the like to make it easier for the user to place their fingers. The recess 72A may also penetrate to the design surface 72B. In this case, for example, the user can insert their arm into the recess 72A and transport the trolley 70. Furthermore, a slit or the like may be formed on the lower surface 72A to make it easier for the user to grasp the inclined member 72. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 10 carts 12 Base section 14 Front Wheel 16 Rear wheels 26 Inclined member 26A Bottom surface (slanted surface) 27 Inclined member 27A Bottom surface (slanted surface) 29 Inclined member 29A Bottom surface (slanted surface) 31 Inclined member 31A Bottom surface (slanted surface) 33 Inclined member 33A Bottom surface (slanted surface) 35 Gripping part 60 trolleys 62 Inclined member 62A Bottom surface (slanted surface) 70 bogies 72 Inclined member 72A Below (sloping surface) 72C concave part (grip part) 80 vehicles 86 Inclined Components 86A Below (sloping surface) 86C Through Hole

Claims

1. A base on which luggage can be placed, The front wheel is attached to the lower surface of the front part of the base portion, The rear wheel is attached to the lower rear surface of the base portion, A step provided on the lower rear side of the base portion, configured to slide between a storage position where it is housed on the lower side of the base portion and a usage position where it protrudes rearward from the base portion and can be stepped on by the user's foot, A cover plate is provided below the step and fixed to the base portion, sandwiching the step between itself and the base portion, A trolley having a step, wherein, in the position of use, the front end of the step extends to the position of the rear wheel when viewed from the side.

2. The trolley according to claim 1, wherein the portion on which the user's feet are placed in the step has its upper and lower surfaces formed in a flat shape over its entire surface.

3. The base portion is configured to include a flange formed by bending the front end of the mounting surface downward, The flange is inserted into a notch formed in the cover plate, and a shaft extending from front to back is inserted through it. The trolley according to claim 1, wherein the step is configured to be movable back and forth along the shaft.

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