Cart handle structure

Abstract

To provide a foldable handgrip structure enabling the selective use of three modes of a state where the handgrip can be moved freely in a prescribed range, an upright fixing state of the handgrip and a backward inclination fixing state of the handgrip.SOLUTION: A horizontally arranged elastic bar 3 is journaled to be vertically movable at a base part 2 provided at each of both corners 10 on the backward side of a carriage 1, and a plurality of insertion holes 20, 21, 22 for a lock pin 6 are provided. A lower end part 72 of a vertical pipe 7 is turnably journaled to a rotating shaft 5 provided on the base part 2, an upright grip T interfering with the elastic bar 3 at more backward and lower positions than the rotating shaft 5 can rotate to a backward inclination state, or the grip T can be folded in a forward inclination state by releasing the interference of the elastic bar 3. By pushing the lock pin 6 into any one of the insertion holes 20, 21, 22 of the base part 2, an inclination state of the grip T can be selected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a foldable handle structure for a trolley that transports a conveyed object. More specifically, it belongs to the technical field of a handle structure for a trolley that can select and use three modes: a state where the inclination state of the handle can be freely moved within a predetermined angle range, a state where it is upright and fixed, and a state where it is rearwardly inclined and fixed.

Background Art

[0002] In a general trolley, the handle is fixed in an upright state. However, when moving the trolley by pulling it backward when it cannot turn in a narrow place or the like, since the distance between the handle and the trolley is short, the user's foot may collide with the trolley or be caught under the trolley, often causing problems. Therefore, the applicant has developed and put on the market a handle structure in which the handle 2 can be inclined backward (rearward inclination) at an angle of 120°. In this handle structure, substantially fan-shaped holes 17b that can receive a flat bar 19 and are rotatable are provided on both side walls 17a of a folding fitting 17. The flat bar 19 inserted into the hole 17b is always pulled upward by a spring 20 at one end. When the footrest portion 19a of the flat bar 19 is stepped on with the foot, it disengages from the notch groove 17c and the handle 2 rotates. The hole 17b is provided with a notch groove 17c into which the upper end portion of the flat bar 19 fits at positions corresponding to a plurality of preset angles of the handle 2. At the angles where the handle 2 is upright or rearwardly inclined, the upper end portion of the flat bar 19 is fitted into the notch groove 17c to fix and hold the handle 2 at each desired angular position (see paragraphs

[0032] to

[0034] , FIGS. 5 and 6 of the same document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The handle structure described in Patent Document 1 maintains the angle of the handle 2 by inserting a flat bar 9 into a notched groove 17c of the folding fitting 17 of the handle 2 and a vertical hole 2b provided in the frame part 2a (pipe). However, due to the play required for fitting, looseness occurs, which can make the user feel that the handle 2 is unreliable and cause anxiety when using the trolley. This has been pointed out as a problem that needed to be solved.

[0005] Therefore, the objective of the present invention is not only to develop a handle structure that provides a sense of rigidity even when it is foldable, but also to pursue a more user-friendly trolley by providing a handle structure that can achieve multiple handle configurations on a single trolley. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As a means to solve the above problems, Claim 1 The invention described above relates to a foldable handle structure for a trolley 1 used for transporting objects, A horizontally arranged elastic bar 3 is pivotally supported on bases 2 provided at both rear corners 10, 10 of the trolley 1 so as to be able to move up and down, and multiple insertion holes 20, 21 for lock pins 6 are provided. The lower end 72 of the vertical pipe 7 forming the handle T is pivotally supported on a rotating shaft 5 provided on the base 2, and the handle T, which interferes with the elastic bar 3 in an upright position behind and below the rotating shaft 5, is rotatable to a rearward tilted position, or can be folded into a forward tilted position by releasing the interference with the elastic bar 3. The handle's tilt can be selected by inserting a locking pin into any of the insertion holes 20, 21, or 22 of the base.

[0008] Claim 2The invention described herein is characterized in that a vertically elongated hole 4 for pivotally supporting the elastic bar 3 is provided in the base 2 at a position where the rear portion 71 of the lower end 72 of the vertical pipe 7, which is in an upright position, abuts against the elastic bar 3, the elastic bar 3 is constantly biased upward within the elongated hole 4 and is configured to move up and down, the interference by the elastic bar 3 can be released by the lower end 72 of the vertical pipe 7 pushing down the elastic bar 3, and in the state of released interference, the handle T is tilted forward and foldable, claim 1 This is the handle structure of the trolley described in [reference].

[0009] Claim 3 The invention described herein is characterized in that a front insertion hole 20 for the lock pin 6 is provided in a position forward and below the rotation axis 5, such that the front portion 70 of the lower end portion 72 of the vertical pipe 7 can contact the lock pin 6 when the handle T is in an upright position, and the upright position of the handle T is maintained by inserting the lock pin 6 into the front insertion hole 20 when the elastic bar 3 is in interference, 1 or 2 This is the handle structure of the trolley described in [reference].

[0010] Claim 4 The invention described herein is characterized in that a downward insertion hole 21 for the lock pin 6 is provided below the rotating shaft 5 at a position where the rear portion 71 of the lower end portion 72 of the vertical pipe 7 can contact the lock pin 6 in a backward-tilted state, and a stopper portion 8 is provided on the base portion 2 which is rearward and above the rotating shaft 5, the handle T tilts backward and stops at the stopper portion 8, and the maximum backward-tilted state of the handle T is maintained by inserting the lock pin 6 into the downward insertion hole 21 in that maximum backward-tilted state, claim 1 This is the handle structure of the trolley described in [reference].

[0011] Claim 5 The invention described herein is characterized in that the base portion 2 is provided with a holder insertion hole 22, the lock pin 6 is normally inserted into the holder insertion hole 22 for storage, and the lock pin 6 stored in the holder insertion hole 22 is inserted into either of the insertion holes 20, 21 to maintain a desired inclined state. 1~4The handle structure of the trolley is one of the following:

[0012] Claim 6 The invention described herein is characterized in that the lock pin 6 is equipped with a mechanism to prevent it from coming loose, 1~5 The handle structure of the trolley is one of the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The trolley handle structure of the present invention provides the following effects. (1) Although it is a single trolley, the user can select from multiple tilt positions of the handle, resulting in a high degree of flexibility in the handle position and ease of use. (2) The handle can be folded, and it can be moved freely within a range from a 90° upright position to a 120° backward tilt. When pushing or pulling the cart, the handle is tilted to 120° backward, so it can be moved with less force than a cart with a typical 90° upright handle. Furthermore, when the unit is stationary or stored, the handle can be positioned upright at a 90° angle, preventing it from protruding from the trolley plate and keeping it out of the way. Additionally, a holder insertion hole for storing the locking pin is provided at the base, so the locking pin can be stored in the holder insertion hole when not in use, keeping it out of the way, and can be easily retrieved and used when needed, making it highly convenient. (3) When moving heavy loads, the lock pin can be inserted into the front or lower insertion hole to fix the load in a 90° upright position or a 120° backward tilt position, which provides a sense of rigidity and allows the user to use it with confidence. Furthermore, the handle structure allows it to be tilted backward at a 120° angle, making it less likely to malfunction when moving the cart by pulling it with your back hand. Compared to a typical handle that stands upright at 90°, the force required to move the cart is greater in the direction of travel, and it is also easier to lift the front to overcome steps. Additionally, the moment applied to the base is reduced, making it less prone to breakage. (4) When turning with the handle tilted backward at a 120° angle, the point of force application (handle), which was directly above the fulcrum in the 90° upright position, shifts, allowing the handle to be turned with less force due to the lever principle. (5) When using the cart with the casters of the fixed wheel attached to the handle side, since the fixed wheel is located at the center of the cart, during turning with the handle tilted backward at an angle of 120°, it is possible to perform an operation close to a spin turn with the fixed wheel as the fulcrum.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] [Figure 1] It is an explanatory drawing showing, from the side direction, the situation where the handle in the handle structure of the cart of the present invention can move freely between the upright state and the tilted-back state. [Figure 2] (A) is an explanatory drawing showing, from the side direction, the situation where the vertical pipe of the handle presses down the elastic bar and is free from forward tilting, and (B) is an explanatory drawing showing the state where the handle is finally folded, from the side direction. [Figure 3] It is an explanatory drawing showing, from the side direction, the state where the lock pin is inserted into the front insertion hole and fixed upright in the upright state of the handle. [Figure 4] (A) is an explanatory drawing showing, from the side direction, the situation where the vertical pipe of the handle presses down the elastic bar and is free from forward tilting while maintaining the lock pin in FIG. 3, and (B) is an explanatory drawing showing the finally folded state, from the side direction. [Figure 5] It is a rear view (A) and a plan view (B) showing the center of the handle in the upright fixed state in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] It is an explanatory drawing showing, from the side direction, the state where the handle is brought into contact with the stopper portion in the tilted-back state and the lock pin is inserted into the lower insertion hole and fixed in the tilted-back state. [Figure 7] It is an explanatory drawing showing, from the side direction, the state where the tilted-back fixed state of the handle in FIG. 6 is realized by using different stopper portions. [Figure 8] It is an enlarged side view showing the base in the upright fixed state in FIG. 3. [Figure 9] It is an enlarged side view showing the base in the tilted-back fixed state in FIG. 6. [Figure 10] It is an enlarged view showing, from the plane direction, the corner portion in the state where the lock pin is inserted. [Figure 11]These are perspective views (A), front view (B), top view (C), and side view (D) of a resin washer attached to a rotating shaft. [Figure 12] This is a perspective view showing a wheeled trolley with a handle in an upright position. [Figure 13] This is a perspective view showing a wheeled trolley with the handle tilted backward. [Figure 14] This is a side view of a wheeled trolley showing the handle in its upright position (and in its tilted position, represented by dashed lines). [Figure 15] This is a side view of a crawler-equipped trolley showing the handle in an upright position (and a tilted position shown by dashed lines). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The handle structure of the trolley according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This trolley handle structure is suitable, for example, as the handle structure of a transport trolley 1 with casters 12 for transporting goods, as shown in Figures 12 to 14, but it can also be similarly implemented as the handle structure of a transport trolley 1 with crawlers 13, as shown in Figure 15. A distinctive feature is that the handle T can be folded forward (Figures 2 and 4), and can be used in three different configurations: freely movable within a range of tilt angles from 90° to 120° (Figure 1), fixed upright at 90° (Figure 3), or fixed tilted backward at 120° (Figures 6 and 7).

[0016] If the direction in which the trolley 1 moves is considered to be the forward direction, the base portion 2 to which the handle T of the trolley 1 is attached is installed in pairs on the left and right of planar mounting portions 11 provided at the left and right corners 10, 10 on the rear side of the trolley plate that makes up the trolley 1. Each of these base portions 2 is formed in a U-shape with side walls 2a, 2a rising from the left and right sides of a plate-shaped bottom surface 2b, with openings in the upward and front-rear directions, and the bottom surface 2b is fixed to the mounting portion 11 by bolts 2c (see Figures 10 and 12). A horizontally positioned elastic bar 3 (a round bar in this embodiment) is pivotally supported across the pair of left and right bases 2, 2 so as to be able to move up and down (Figures 5, 12, etc.). That is, as shown in Figure 8, a vertically elongated hole 4 for pivotally supporting the elastic bar 3 is provided in the base 2 at a position where the rear portion 71 of the lower end 72 of the vertical pipe 7 that forms the upright handle T abuts against the elastic bar 3. The elastic bar 3 is constantly biased upward by the elastic body 30 and is configured to move freely up and down within the elongated hole 4.

[0017] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the lower end 72 of the vertical pipe 7 forming the handle T is pivotally supported on a rotating shaft 5 provided between the side walls 2a, 2a of the base 2, and is positioned so as to interfere with the elastic bar 3 in the forward tilting direction of the handle T at a position rearward and below the rotating shaft 5. Therefore, the handle T is rotatable from a state where it interferes with the elastic bar 3 and stands upright perpendicular to the trolley plate, to a state where it tilts backward and interferes with the stopper portion 8 provided on the base 2 (Figure 1). On the other hand, the lower end portion 72 of the vertical pipe 7 pushes down the elastic bar 3, which releases the interference caused by the elastic bar 3, allowing the handle T to tilt forward and be folded (Figure 2). In other words, if the vertical pipe 7 above the rotation axis 5 moves forward around the rotation axis 5, the lower end 72 of the vertical pipe 7 below the rotation axis 5 moves backward (see enlarged view of Figure 8). Therefore, when the elastic bar 3 is at the upper end of the elongated hole 4, the vertical pipe 7 interferes and does not rotate forward from the upright position. However, as shown in Figures 2A and 4A, by pushing down the elastic bar 3 that is in contact with the vertical pipe 7 and releasing the lower end 73 of the vertical pipe 7, it becomes possible to rotate forward around the rotation axis 5, creating a structure that can be tilted forward and folded (Figures 2B and 4B). Furthermore, a plate-shaped reinforcing piece 7a, with a width that perfectly fits the diameter of the vertical pipe, is inserted from the lower base 73 of the vertical pipe 7, along its entire length, to cover the contact point of the vertical pipe 7 where interference occurs, thereby preventing the vertical pipe 7 from being crushed (Figures 5, 8, and 9). Furthermore, a resin washer 9, as shown in Figure 11, is interposed between the side walls 2a, 2a of the base 2 on the rotating shaft 5 and the vertical pipe 7 to provide resistance (Figures 8, 9, and 10). This resin washer 9 has a recess 9a along the outer circumference of the vertical pipe 7 and rotates together with the vertical pipe 7 around the rotating shaft 5 while sliding against the sides of the side walls 2a. When the handle T is tilted at 0°, 90°, and 120°, the outer circumference of the vertical pipe 7 is held in the recess 9a of this resin washer 9, adding resistance to changing the position of the handle T and ensuring safety by preventing it from moving unintentionally. When pushing the trolley 1 with the handle T rotating freely between 90° and 120°, it is difficult to push without resistance. In particular, if there is resistance when the handle T is folded to 0°, the handle T will remain at 0°. Therefore, when standing the trolley 1 upright while it is folded to save space during storage, etc., if the handle T remains at 0°, the handle will not move unnecessarily and will be easier to handle.

[0018] Next, we will describe the front insertion hole 20, the lower insertion hole 21, and the holder insertion hole 22 provided in the base 2 for inserting the lock pin 6. The front insertion hole 20 is located in front of and below the rotation axis 5, and is positioned so that the front portion 70 of the lower end 72 of the vertical pipe 7 can contact the lock pin 6 when the handle T is in an upright position. Therefore, as shown in Figure 8, the upright position of the handle T is maintained by inserting the lock pin 6 into the front insertion hole 20 while the elastic bar 3 is in contact. The lower insertion hole 21 is located below the rotation axis 5, and the rear portion 71 of the lower end 72 of the vertical pipe 7 is tilted backward, allowing it to contact the lock pin 6 (Figure 9). In this embodiment, the holder insertion hole 22 is located at the rear of the base 2 in a place that does not affect other parts. Normally, the lock pin 6 is inserted into this holder insertion hole 22 for storage and is less likely to be lost, and when used by inserting it into the front insertion hole 20 or the lower insertion hole 21, it is designed to be easily removed from this holder insertion hole 22. If a ball lock pin is used as the lock pin 6 inserted into the aforementioned insertion holes 20, 21, and 22, accidental dislodgement can be effectively prevented. As an example, a commercially available ball lock pin is suitable, which has a pin body with a head 6b with a ring 6a at its base end, and a small ball that extends and retracts at the tip of the pin, serving as a dislodgement prevention mechanism 6c (see Figure 10). Although not shown in the diagram, other mechanisms to prevent the pin from coming loose include inserting a cotter pin into the through-hole at the tip of the lock pin after it has been inserted, or threading a screw into the through-hole so that it protrudes from the hole.

[0019] The stopper portion 8 will now be described. As shown in Figure 5A, the stopper portion 8, which consists of a horizontal fixing bolt, is provided on the base 2, located behind and above the rotation axis 5, and is positioned between the left and right side walls 2a, 2a of the base 2 (Figure 1, etc.). Therefore, when the handle T is rotated backward around the rotation axis 5, the vertical pipe 7 hits the stopper portion 8 provided on the rear side of the base 2, and the handle T maintains its backward tilt in its maximum backward tilt state (Figures 6, 13, etc.). In this way, the handle T is held by the elastic bar 3 and stopper portion 8 that abut against the rear portion 71 of the lower end 72 of the vertical pipe 7, and the pushing force of the handle T is received by the pipe diameter, eliminating any looseness. Alternatively, instead of the stopper portion 8, the rearmost part of the base portion 2 may be made into a thickened portion, or an embodiment can be adopted in which the thickened portion 8' has a shape 80 that follows the inclination of the vertical pipe 7 so that stress does not concentrate at the contact point of the pipe and the contact point is made as wide as possible (see Figure 7).

[0020] The three methods of using the handle T, based on the handle structure described above, will be explained in detail. (A) Use by moving within a range of 90° to 120°. When using the handle T in a free state between upright and tilted positions, the procedure is as shown in Figures 1 and 13 to 15. The lock pin 6 is inserted into the holder insertion hole 22 so that it can be easily removed when it is necessary to fix it in an upright or tilted position. The elastic bar 3, which is constantly biased at the upper end of the elongated hole 4, abuts against the rear side of the outer circumference of the lower end 72 of the vertical pipe 7, stopping the handle T in an upright position at 90°. However, it can rotate to the rear and hit the rear stopper portion 8 provided on the base 2, stopping the handle T in a 120° backward-tilted position. This allows the handle T to be used in a backward-tilted position, which is convenient as it eliminates the difficulty of using the handle in an upright position, such as when moving the cart by pulling it with your back hand in a narrow space where it cannot be turned. Furthermore, as in the cart in Figure 14, if the front wheels are equipped with free-moving casters 12 and the rear wheels on the handle side are equipped with fixed casters 12', when turning with the backward-tilted handle T, the cart can be swung around the fixed casters 12' as a pivot point, like a spin turn. This allows the handle T to be used in a backward-tilted position as needed, making it highly convenient. Furthermore, by returning the trolley's handle T to an upright position, the handle T will not protrude from the trolley plate when stationary or stored, thus preventing it from getting in the way. Furthermore, when the handle T is pressed, the force is received across the entire diameter of the vertical pipe 7, resulting in a sense of rigidity and no looseness in the handle T, which gives the user a sense of security. Furthermore, when the unit is in an upright position, if the elastic bar 3 is pushed down to the lower end of the elongated hole 4 as shown in Figure 2, the vertical pipe 7 will no longer interfere with the elastic bar 3, the lower end 72 of the vertical pipe 7 will move out of the way, the handle T will be able to tilt forward, and the unit can be folded, making it compact and convenient for storage.

[0021] (B) Use in an upright, fixed position. To use the cart like a conventional upright handle trolley, the handle T should be fixed in an upright position as shown in Figure 3. Take out the lock pin 6 stored in the holder insertion hole 22 of the base 2 and use it. Insert the lock pin 6 into the front insertion hole 20, and the handle T will be fixed in an upright position by being sandwiched between the pipe diameter by the lock pin 6 and the elastic bar 3 (see enlarged views of Figures 5 and 8). Therefore, since the pipe is held upright by fixed round rods in contact with the front and rear of the pipe in the radial direction, there is no play whatsoever, resulting in a rigid, upright handle T. This gives the user a sense of security when using the trolley, and in this state, if the elastic bar 3 is pushed down to the lower end of the elongated hole 4, the vertical pipe 7 no longer interferes with the elastic bar 3, as shown in Figure 2, and the lower end 72 of the vertical pipe 7 moves away, resulting in a handle structure that allows the handle T to tilt forward and fold freely (Figure 4). Furthermore, if you want to change the handle configuration, simply insert the lock pin 6 into any other through-hole, and you can quickly switch to a different handle configuration.

[0022] (C) Use while fixed at an angle. To fix the handle T in a backward-tilted position so that the trolley 1 can be easily moved, such as when carrying heavy loads and going over steps, the procedure is as shown in Figures 6 and 7. When the handle T is tilted backward and the vertical pipe 7 is in contact with the stopper portion 8 or thick-walled portion 8' on the rear side of the base 2, inserting the lock pin 6 into the downward insertion hole 21 causes the lock pin 6 to come into contact with the rear portion 71 of the vertical pipe 7. As a result, the vertical pipe 7 is prevented from rotating around the rotation axis 5, neither tilting forward nor backward, and the handle T is fixed in the backward-tilted position for use (see enlarged view of Figure 9). Therefore, compared to the case where the handle is upright, the force is transmitted in the direction of travel, making it easier for the user to move the trolley 1, and the moment acting on the handle T is also reduced, which has the advantage of increasing the durability of the handle T of the trolley 1. Furthermore, since this fixing method prevents rattling, just like the upright fixing method, it provides a sense of security to the user when using the trolley. If you want to change the handle configuration, you can simply insert the lock pin 6 into one of the other insertion holes, making it easy and convenient to change to a different handle configuration.

[0023] Although embodiments have been described above based on the drawings, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples and includes design modifications and variations in application that are ordinarily performed by those skilled in the art, without departing from the technical concept. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0024] T handle 1 cart 10 Rear corner 11 Mounting part 2 base 20 Front insertion hole 21 Lower insertion hole 22 Holder insertion holes 2a side wall 2b Bottom 2c bolt 3 Elastic Bar 4 long hole 5. Rotation axis 6 lock pins 7 Vertical pipes 70 Front section 71 Posterior part 72 Lower end 73 Bottom 7a Reinforcement piece 8. Stopper section 9 washers

Claims

1. In a foldable handle structure for a trolley used to transport goods, At the bases provided at both rear corners of the aforementioned trolley, horizontally arranged elastic bars are pivotally supported so as to be able to move up and down, and multiple insertion holes for locking pins are provided. The lower end of the vertical pipe forming the handle is pivotally supported on a rotating shaft provided at the base, and the handle, which interferes with the elastic bar when in an upright position behind and below the rotating shaft, is rotatable to a rearward-tilted position, or can be folded into a forward-tilted position by releasing the interference with the elastic bar. A trolley handle structure characterized in that the inclination state of the handle can be selected by inserting a locking pin into one of the insertion holes of the base.

2. A vertically elongated hole for pivotally supporting the elastic bar is provided at the base at a position where the rear part of the lower end of the vertical pipe, which is in a vertical position, abuts against the elastic bar; the elastic bar is constantly biased upward within the elongated hole and is configured to move up and down freely; interference by the elastic bar can be released by the lower end of the vertical pipe pushing down on the elastic bar; and in the state where interference is released, the handle is tilted forward and foldable, characterized in that, the handle structure of a trolley according to claim 1.

3. A handle structure for a trolley according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a front insertion hole for the locking pin is provided in a position forward and below the rotation axis, such that the front portion of the lower end of the vertical pipe can contact the locking pin when the handle is in an upright position, and the upright position of the handle is maintained by inserting the locking pin into the front insertion hole when the elastic bar is in interference.

4. A handle structure for a trolley according to claim 1, characterized in that a downward insertion hole for the lock pin is provided below the rotation axis at a position where the rear part of the lower end of the vertical pipe can contact the lock pin in a backward-tilted state, and a stopper is provided at the base rearward and above the rotation axis, the handle tilts backward and stops at the stopper, and the maximum backward-tilted state of the handle is maintained by inserting the lock pin into the downward insertion hole in that maximum backward-tilted state.

5. A handle structure for a trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the base portion is provided with a holder insertion hole, the lock pin is normally inserted into the holder insertion hole for storage, and the lock pin stored in the holder insertion hole is inserted into any of the insertion holes to maintain a desired inclined state.

6. The handle structure for a trolley according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lock pin is provided with a mechanism to prevent it from coming loose.

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