JP7522013B2 - Locking device for pillars and cross members - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device that detachably engages the locking claw of a latch device attached to the end of a cross member with the top of a pillar.

For example, a folding portable workbench is provided with handrail bars located near the corners of the tabletop and rising upward from the tabletop, and further provided with handrail bars that connect a pair of adjacent handrail bars on the girder side of the tabletop in a freely detachable manner. In this case, the handrail bars form pillars and the handrail bars form cross members, and the ends of the cross members are provided with locking devices that can be freely detached and locked to the tops of the pillars.

Patent No. 5412456 Patent No. 5443441

In the case of Patent Document 1, the locking device is configured to receive the end of the cross member from below using a bracket attached to the top of the pillar, and at that time, a pin protruding from the cross member via a biasing means is inserted into the locking hole of the bracket to lock it.

However, when metal fittings such as brackets are protruding from the top of pillars as in Patent Document 1, there are problems such as the metal fittings being deformed when struck by a foreign object, and the worker's body being caught in the metal fittings and being injured.

In contrast, in the case of Patent Document 2, a spring-made locking means attached to the end of the cross member is configured to be freely engaged and detached toward a locking portion that protrudes inside an opening opened at the top of the pillar member. The locking means is configured as a locking claw that can be deformed by bending a leaf spring, and when inserted into the opening, it moves backward against a resilient force, and after insertion, it moves forward due to the resilient force to engage with the locking portion. Furthermore, an operating piece is provided at the end of the cross member, and by operating this, the locking claw is moved backward and removed from the opening.

Therefore, according to Patent Document 2, it is possible to solve the problems pointed out in Patent Document 1. However, when the locking means of Patent Document 2 is inserted into the opening, the leaf spring locking claw deforms inside the opening, making positioning difficult and the insertion operation not easy.

Furthermore, even when the locking claw is inserted into the opening and locked into the locking portion, if a lateral force is applied to the cross member, the locking claw can deform inside the opening, causing the problem that the locking state of the cross member is not stable and firm.

For this reason, it is desirable for the locking device to be configured so that when the locking claw of the latch device provided at the end of the cross member is inserted into the opening at the top of the pillar to lock it in place, the insertion operation is easy, and the locking state after insertion is stable and firm.

The present invention provides a locking device for a pillar and a cross member that solves the above-mentioned problems, and the means for doing so are configured as a device for freely locking a locking claw of a latch device attached to the end of a cross member to a locking portion protruding inside an opening at the top of the pillar, and with respect to the forward and backward direction X, which includes a forward direction X1 facing the locking portion and a backward direction X2 moving away from the locking portion, the latch device comprises a fixed base fixed to the end of the cross member, a movable base having legs protruding downward from the fixed base, a locking claw protruding from the legs of the movable base in a resiliently biased state in the forward direction X1, and an operating means operable from the outside of the fixed base, The locking claw is normally in a locked position where it receives a biasing force in the forward direction X1, and is configured to move to an unlocked position in the backward direction X2 when the operating means is operated, and is further configured to move to a backward position where it automatically moves in the backward direction X2 against the biasing force due to the inclined guide portion of the lower edge when inserted into the opening, and the fixed base is provided with a restricting plate along the side of the leg of the movable base, and the restricting plate is configured to protrude in the forward direction from the side of the restricting plate when the locking claw is in the locked position, and to overlap the side of the restricting plate when the locking claw is in the backward position and the unlocked position.

Regarding the width dimension in the forward and backward directions, it is preferable that the regulating plate is configured so that it does not move freely in the forward and backward directions inside the opening when inserted into the opening. In this case, it is preferable to provide a pair of regulating plates along both side surfaces of the movable base.

According to the present invention, when the locking claw 15 is pushed into the opening 12, the restricting plate 22 inserted into the opening 12 restricts the positional shift in the forward/backward direction X, so there is no risk of the locking claw 15 moving wildly on the edge of the opening 12 due to the resilient biasing force of the biasing means 18, and the insertion and locking operation of the locking claw 15 can be easily performed. Moreover, even when the locking claw 15 is locked to the locking portion 13 of the opening 12, the restricting plate 22 is fixed inside the opening 12, so a stable and firm locking state is possible.

1 is a perspective view showing a workbench in which an embodiment of the present invention is implemented; FIG. FIG. 13 is a front view showing how to unfold the folded main landing gear in relation to how the work platform is used. Regarding how to use the workbench, (A) is a front view showing how to erect the handrail bars that constitute the pillar members, and (B) is a front view showing how to install the handrail rails that constitute the cross members on the handrail bars. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cross section of components in an exploded state. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a latch device attached to the end of a cross member facing the top of a pillar member. FIG. With respect to the device shown in FIG. 7, (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB. 10A is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the movable base in an unlocked position, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the movable base in a retracted position. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a locking claw has entered an opening, in relation to the operation of the latch device. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the latch device when the locking claw is in a retracted position inside the opening. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a locking claw in a locked position is locked to a locking portion, in relation to the operation of the latch device; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the latch device, illustrating a state in which the latch is released by pushing the operating means to place the latch claw in an unlocked position. FIG. 13A shows a device according to another embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the locking claw has entered the opening, and (B) is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the locking claw has been put into a locked position and is engaged with the locking portion.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(Work table configuration)
The present invention is a device for releasably engaging the locking claw of a latch device attached to the end of a cross member with a locking portion protruding on the inside of an opening at the top of a pillar member, and is generally used between a pillar member and a cross member. As an example, a workbench is shown in Figures 1 to 4.

In the illustrated example, the workbench 1 has a roughly rectangular top plate 2, with both longitudinal edges of the top plate 2 as girder sides and both lateral edges in the lateral direction as gable sides, with main legs 3 provided on each gable side. Although details are not shown, each main leg 3 is configured in a ladder shape with steps installed on a pair of leg bodies 4, 4, and each leg body 4 is pivotally connected to the four corners of the top plate 2 via a folding mechanism 5. As a result, both main legs 3, 3 are configured to be able to change their position between a stored position in which they are rotated toward the bottom of the top plate 2 as shown by the dashed lines in Figure 3, and an deployed position in which they are supported outward from the gable side of the top plate 2 as shown by the solid lines.

The leg body 4 is provided with pillars 6 located near the corners of the tabletop 2, which constitute a total of four handrails 6a that stand up toward the top of the tabletop 2, and the lower ends of each of the pillars 6 are attached to the outer surface of the main leg body 4 via a raising mechanism 7. Therefore, the pillars 6 are configured to be able to change their position between a stored position in which they are aligned with the outer surface of the main leg body 4 as shown by the dotted line in Figure 4 (A) and an upright position in which they are raised upward as shown by the solid line.

As shown in Figure 4 (B), of a pair of pillars 6, 6 facing each other on the girder side, the base end of a cross member 8 constituting a handrail rail 8a is pivotally connected to the upper end of one of the pillars 6 via a pivot bracket 9, and the tip end 8E of the cross member 8 is configured to be freely engaged and disengaged with the upper end 6U of the other pillar 6.

The cross member 8 is constructed so that it can be expanded and contracted by assembling multiple pipe members in a nested manner. When contracted, it can rotate freely via the pivot bracket 9, and can be changed between a stored position along the pillar member 6 as shown by the solid line in Figure 4 (A) and an expanded position facing sideways as shown by the dashed line. When extended in the expanded position, the tip 8E is engaged with the upper end 6U of the other pillar member 6 as shown in Figure 4 (B), forming a work space above the top plate 2 with the girder side surrounded by the cross member 8.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the base end of a safety rail 10 is pivotally connected to the upper end of one of a pair of pillars 6, 6 facing each other on the gable side, and the tip of the safety rail 10 is configured to be freely engaged and detached with the upper end of the other pillar 6. The safety rail 10 is configured to be able to change its position between a stored position aligned with the pillar 6 as shown in Figure 2 and an deployed position facing sideways as shown in Figure 1, and by engaging the tip of the safety rail 10 with the upper end of the other pillar 6 in the deployed position, a work space is formed on the tabletop 2 with the gable side surrounded by the safety rail 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the locking device of the present invention is provided between the tip end 8E (hereinafter simply referred to as the end 8E) of the cross member 8, which constitutes the handrail rail 8a by pivoting the base end to one of the pillars 6, and the upper end 6U of the other pillar 6.

As described above, the workbench 1 is used by changing the position of the main legs 3, the pillars 6 constituting the handrail 6a, the cross members 8 constituting the handrail rails 8a, and the safety rails 10 between a folded storage position and an unfolded position. Therefore, it is desirable that the locking device that locks the end 8E of the cross member 8 to the upper end 6U of the pillars 6 be configured so that the locking operation can be easily performed with a single touch, and also so that a stable and firm locking state can be achieved to ensure the safety of the worker in the work space above the top plate.

(One embodiment)
5-13 show one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the locking device is composed of a socket 11 attached to the upper end 6U of the pillar 6 and a latch device 14 attached to the end 8E of the cross member 8.

The socket 11 is attached to the upper end 6U of the pillar 6, which is made of a metal pipe, and has an opening 12 at the top of the pillar 6, with a locking portion 13 protruding inward from the opening 12.

In response to this, the latch device 14 is provided with a locking claw 15 that can be freely engaged and disengaged with the locking portion 13. The direction including the forward direction X1 relative to the locking portion 13 and the backward direction X2 away from it is defined as the forward/backward direction X, and the direction perpendicular to the forward/backward direction X is defined as the width direction Y.

The latch device 14 is composed of a fixed base 16 fixed to the end 8E of the cross member 8, a movable base 17 provided with the locking claw 15, and a biasing means 18 consisting of a coil spring that biases the movable base 17 in the forward direction X1.

The fixed base 16 has a case portion 19 that is inserted and fixed to the end portion 8E of the cross member 8, and a cap portion 20 that is attached to the end surface of the cross member 8.

The case portion 19 has a support portion 21 formed by a bottom portion configured to protrude inwardly from the lower ends of a pair of side walls arranged side by side in the width direction Y, and integrally forms a pair of regulating plates 22 extending downward from the support portion 21, and the cap portion 20 has a control hole 23 that penetrates in the forward and backward direction X.

The movable base 17 is integrally formed with a head 24 that is fitted inside the case 19, an operating means 25 that extends from the head 24 in the forward direction X1 and is inserted into the control hole 23, and a leg 26 that extends downward from the head 24, and the locking claw 15 is provided near the lower end of the leg 26 so as to protrude in the forward direction X1.

At this time, the head 24 of the movable base 17 forms an inclined surface 27 on the upper surface that slopes downward at an angle θ toward the backward direction X2, and forms a support surface 28 on the lower surface that protrudes from both sides of the leg 26. In addition, an inclined guide portion 29 that slopes upward toward the forward direction X1 is formed on the lower edge of the locking claw 15.

The movable base 17 is attached by inserting the operating means 25 through the control hole 23 of the cap portion 20, inserting the head 24 inside the case portion 19, placing the mounting surface 28 on the support portion 21, inserting the legs 26 between the restricting plates 22, 22, and inserting and fixing the case portion 19 of the fixed base 16 into the end portion 8E of the cross member 8 in a state in which the head 24 is resiliently biased in the forward direction X1 by inserting the biasing means 18 into the case portion 19. At this time, the end portion 8E of the cross member 8 is provided with a window portion 30 that cuts out the bottom wall from the end edge, and the restricting plate 22 of the fixed base 16 and the legs 26 of the movable base 17 are allowed to protrude downward from the window portion 30.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the control hole 23 and the operating means 25 are configured to form a gap 23a below the operating means 25, which allows the movable base 17 to tilt with the upper end of the head 24 near the fulcrum (s) (see Figure 10).

The movable base 17 provided with the locking claw 15 is normally held in a locked position P1 inside the case portion 19 while receiving a resilient force in the forward direction X1 from the biasing means 18, and at this time, the locking claw 15 protrudes from the side of the regulating plate 22 in the forward direction X1 (see Figure 7).

The movable base 17 is movable in the forward and backward direction X by sliding the mounting surface 28 of the head 24 against the support part 21. When the operating means 25 is pressed from the outside of the cap part 20, it moves in the backward direction X2 against the biasing means 18 to the unlocked position P2, at which point the locking claw 15 overlaps the side of the restricting plate 22 (see Figure 9 (A)).

Furthermore, when the locking claw 15 is pushed in the backward direction X2 from the locking position P1, it is tilted around the above-mentioned fulcrum (s) to the backward position PM, at which point the locking claw 15 can be tilted until it is overlapped with the side of the restricting plate 22 (see FIG. 9(B)).

As shown in FIG. 7, the plate width dimension W1 of the restricting plate 22 in the forward/backward direction X is formed to be approximately equal to the inner dimension of the opening 12, and is configured so that when inserted into the opening 12, it does not move freely in the forward/backward direction X inside the opening 12.

As shown in FIG. 8(B), the outer dimension W2 of the juxtaposed restricting plates 22, 22 in the width direction Y is formed to be approximately equal to the inner dimension of the opening 12, and is configured so that when inserted into the opening 12, it does not move freely in the width direction Y inside the opening 12.

(Action)
When the latch device 14 of the cross member 8 is to be engaged with the opening 12 of the pillar member 6, the restricting plate 22 is simply pushed into the opening 12 as shown in FIGS.

When pressed in, the inclined guide portion 29 of the locking claw 15 abuts against the edge of the opening 12 and moves downward, which pushes the locking claw 15 in the backward direction X2 and tilts the movable base 17 to the backward position PM. When the movable base 17 is tilted, the restricting plate 22 is held so as not to move freely inside the opening 12, thereby maintaining the positioning of the locking claw 15 relative to the opening 12. In other words, if there is no positioning by the restricting plate 22, there is a risk that the elastic force of the biasing means 18 will cause the locking claw 15 to move wildly on the edge of the opening 12.

When the locking claw 15 passes through the opening 12, as shown in FIG. 12, the movable base 17 is returned to the locked position P1 by the biasing means 18, locking the locking claw 15 to the underside of the locking portion 13. Even in this state, the restricting plate 22 is fixed so as not to move freely inside the opening 12, so that the movable base 17 is not moved in the forward/backward direction X by an external force, enabling a stable and firm locking state. In other words, if there was no fixation by the restricting plate 22, the latch device 14 would move in the forward/backward direction X relative to the opening 12, and there would be a risk that the locking claw 15 would come off the locking portion 13.

To release the latch device 14 from the locking claw 15, as shown in FIG. 13, the operating means 25 is pushed in from the outside of the cap portion 20, and the movable base 17 is moved in the backward direction X2 against the biasing means 18 to assume the unlocked position P2. At this time, the locking claw 15 is released from the locking portion 13 and placed over the side of the restricting plate 22, so it can be pulled out from the opening 12 together with the restricting plate 22.

(Another embodiment)
FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the latch device 14. The movable base 17 is formed by bending a leaf spring, as in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, and includes a fixed leg 31 fixed to the case portion 19 of the fixed base 16, and a movable leg 33 resiliently biased in the forward direction X1 via a biasing means 32 formed by a bent portion relative to the fixed leg 31. The movable leg 33 is further bent to provide a locking claw 15 that protrudes in the forward direction X1, and an inclined guide portion 29 is formed below the locking claw 15.

A button-shaped operating means 25 is fixed to the movable leg 33 and protrudes to the outside through the cap portion 20 of the fixed base 16.

In FIG. 14(A), the state shown by the dotted line is the locked position P1 of the movable base 17 including the locking claw 15, and the state shown by the solid line is the retracted position PM.

In FIG. 14(B), the state shown by the solid line is the locked position P1 of the movable base 17 including the locking claw 15, and the state shown by the dotted line is the unlocked position P2.

As in the above-described embodiment, the case portion 19 of the fixed base 16 is integrally formed with a pair of downwardly extending restricting plates 22 that are aligned with the sides of the fixed leg portion 31 and the movable leg portion 33.

The restricting plate 22 is configured to protrude in the forward direction from the side of the restricting plate 22 when the engaging claw 15 is in the locked position P1, and to overlap the side of the restricting plate 22 when the engaging claw 15 is in the retracted position PM and the unlocked position P2.

Similar to the above-described embodiment, the plate width dimension of the regulating plate 22 in the advancing/retreating direction X is formed to be approximately equal to the inner dimension of the opening 12, and is configured so that when inserted into the opening 12, it does not move freely in the advancing/retreating direction X inside the opening 12. In addition, the outer dimension of the juxtaposed regulating plates 22, 22 in the width direction Y is formed to be approximately equal to the inner dimension of the opening 12, and is configured so that when inserted into the opening 12, it does not move freely in the width direction Y inside the opening 12.

As a result, as shown in Figure 14 (A), when the locking claw 15 is pushed into the opening 12, the restricting plate 22 inserted into the opening 12 restricts the positional shift in the forward/backward direction X, so there is no risk of the locking claw 15 moving wildly on the edge of the opening 12 due to the resilient biasing force of the biasing means 32. Also, as shown in Figure 14 (B), when the locking claw 15 is engaged with the locking portion 13 of the opening 12, the restricting plate 22 is fixed and held inside the opening 12, providing a stable and firm locking state.

Reference Signs List 1 Work platform 2 Top plate 3 Main landing gear 4 Leg body 5 Folding mechanism 6 Pillar material 6a Handrail rod 6U Upper end 7 Lifting mechanism 8 Cross member 8a Handrail rail 8E End (tip)
Reference Signs List 9 Pivot bracket 10 Safety rail 11 Socket 12 Opening 13 Locking portion 14 Latch device 15 Locking claw 16 Fixed base 17 Movable base 18 Pressing means 19 Case portion 20 Cap portion 21 Support portion 22 Restricting plate 23 Control hole 23a Gap 24 Head portion 25 Operating means 26 Leg portion 27 Inclined surface 28 Placement surface 29 Inclined guide portion 30 Window portion 31 Fixed leg portion 32 Pressing means 33 Movable leg portion

Claims (3)

The device is a device for releasably engaging a locking claw (15) of a latch device (14) attached to the end of a cross member with a locking portion (13) protruding inside an opening (12) opened at the top of a pillar member, and with respect to the forward and backward directions X including a forward direction X1 facing the locking portion and a backward direction X2 moving away from the locking portion,
The latch device (14) includes a fixed base (16) fixed to an end of a cross member, a movable base (17) having a leg (26) protruding downward from the fixed base, a locking claw (15) protruding from the leg (26) of the movable base and resiliently biased in a forward direction X1, and an operating means (25) for operating the movable base from outside the fixed base.
The locking claw (15) is normally in a locked position (P1) in which it is biased in a forward direction X1, and is configured to be moved to an unlocked position (P2) in which it is moved in a backward direction X2 when the operating means (25) is operated, and further configured to be automatically moved in the backward direction X2 against the biasing force by an inclined guide portion (29) at the lower edge to a backward position (PM) when it is inserted into the opening (12),
The fixed base (16) is provided with a regulating plate (22) that fits along the side of the leg (26) of the movable base (17), and the regulating plate (22) is configured so that the engaging claw (15) in the locked position (P1) protrudes in the forward direction X1 from the side of the regulating plate (22) and the engaging claw (15) in the rearward position (PM) and the unlocked position (P2) overlap the side of the regulating plate (22). Regarding the width dimension in the forward and backward direction, the restricting plate (22) is configured so that it does not move freely inside the opening (12) in the forward and backward direction X when inserted into the opening. The locking device for pillars and cross members as described in claim 1. The locking device for pillars and cross members according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a pair of regulating plates (22, 22) are provided along both sides of the leg (26) of the movable base (17).

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