JP7759645B2 - Luggage holding device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a luggage holding device that holds luggage while mounted on a drone.

In recent years, in order to transport cargo using drones and other devices, cargo transport devices have been developed that grasp cargo while mounted on the drone and release the cargo when the drone reaches its destination.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a transport device for transported goods that includes a first arm that extends vertically along one side of the luggage, a second arm that extends vertically along the other side of the luggage, and protrusions that protrude from the lower ends of the first arm and the second arm in directions that approach each other and grip the underside of the luggage.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-89941

However, if the center of gravity of the cargo being held by the transport device is off-center, it may tilt when released. As a result, there is a problem that the cargo may get caught on the protrusion and not be released properly.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a luggage holding device that can properly release luggage.

In order to solve the technical problems, the present invention provides a luggage holding device that holds luggage while mounted on an aircraft, the luggage holding device comprising: a main body; a pair of engaging claws supported at both ends of the main body in a width direction so as to face each other; and a switching mechanism that switches the pair of engaging claws between an engaging position in which the pair of engaging claws engage with a pair of engaged portions provided above the center of the luggage, respectively, and a releasing position in which the engagement with the pair of engaged portions is released , the main body being made up of a first main body that supports one of the pair of engaging claws, and a second main body that supports the other of the pair of engaging claws and is joined to the first main body so as to be slidable in the width direction in accordance with the size of the luggage, the first main body being made up of a first support portion that supports one of the pair of engaging claws, and a first overhang that overhangs from an upper end of the first support portion towards the second main body. the second body has a second support part supporting the other of the pair of engaging claws, and a second protruding part protruding from an upper end of the second support part toward the first body and connected to the first protruding part so as to be slidable in the width direction, the pair of engaging claws protruding from the first support part and the second support part in a direction approaching each other to assume the engaged position, and retracting into the first support part and the second support part in a direction moving away from each other to assume the released position, the switching mechanism having a first motor supported by the first support part on one side of the center in a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction and switching the position of one of the pair of engaging claws, and a second motor supported by the second support part on the other side of the center in the depth direction and switching the position of the other of the pair of engaging claws .

The present invention provides a luggage holding device that can properly release luggage.

1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a usage mode of the luggage holding device according to the first embodiment. 1 is a perspective view of a luggage holding device according to a first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view of the luggage holding device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the luggage holding device according to the first embodiment. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating a disengaged position and an engaged position of the engaging claw according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a luggage holding device according to a second embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a disengaged position and an engaged position of an engaging claw according to a second embodiment; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a luggage holding device according to a third embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an engaging position and a disengaging position of an engaging claw according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a luggage holding device and an engaged member according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a luggage holding device according to a fourth embodiment.

[First embodiment]
A luggage holding device 10 according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment of the present invention described below is an example of how the present invention can be realized, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope of the described embodiment. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented by adding various modifications to the embodiment.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing how the luggage holding device 10 according to the first embodiment is used. As shown in Figure 1, the luggage holding device 10 holds luggage 2 while attached to an attachment 1. The attachment 1 is attached to a drone (not shown) and supports the luggage holding device 10. In other words, the luggage holding device 10 holds luggage 2 while mounted on the drone via the attachment 1.

The attachment 1 is composed of a mounting portion 3 and a pair of legs 4, 5. The mounting portion 3 is located at the upper end of the attachment 1. The drone is attached to the upper surface of the mounting portion 3. The pair of legs 4, 5 extend diagonally downward from the mounting portion 3. Alternatively, the mounting portion 3 may be omitted, and the pair of legs 4, 5 may be attached directly to the underside of the drone. The luggage holding device 10 is then placed in the space surrounded by the mounting portion 3 and the pair of legs 4, 5. More specifically, the luggage holding device 10 is fixed to the inside of the pair of legs 4, 5 with bolts or the like.

As shown in Figure 1, the luggage holding device 10 holds the luggage 2 at the departure point. Next, the drone flies from the departure point to the destination together with the luggage holding device 10 holding the luggage 2. Then, when the drone lands at the destination, the luggage holding device 10 automatically releases the luggage 2 (in other words, under the control of a control board, which will be described later). Note that examples of flying objects are not limited to drones, but include anything that can fly in the air, such as a helicopter, airplane, glider, or balloon.

The luggage holding device 10 holds the luggage 2 by inserting engaging claws 13, 14 (see Figure 2) into a pair of through-holes 6, 7 provided in the luggage 2. The luggage holding device 10 also releases the luggage 2 by retracting the engaging claws 13, 14 from the pair of through-holes 6, 7. The luggage 2 is, for example, a rectangular cardboard box containing any object. The pair of through-holes 6, 7 are an example of engaging portions provided on both left and right sides of the luggage 2 and above the center. The through-holes 6, 7 may be handles for a person to hold the luggage 2, or may be newly formed portions for the luggage holding device 10 to hold the luggage 2.

The width of the luggage 2 in the left-right direction that can be held by the luggage holding device 10 is, for example, within the range of 100 mm to 1000 mm (more typically, 125 mm to 800 mm). Furthermore, the height from the top surface of the luggage 2 that can be held by the luggage holding device 10 to the through-holes 6, 7 is, for example, within the range of 10 mm to 200 mm (more typically, 22.5 mm to 90 mm). The greater the width of the luggage 2 in the left-right direction, the greater the height from the top surface of the luggage 2 to the through-holes 6, 7 (typically, H is proportional to W2). However, the dimensions of the luggage 2 are not limited to the above-mentioned example.

Note that the "left-right direction" in this specification and drawings is an example of the width direction of the luggage 2 and the luggage holding device 10. Furthermore, the "front-rear direction" in this specification and drawings is an example of the depth direction of the luggage 2 and the luggage holding device 10. The width direction and depth direction are directions that are perpendicular to the up-down direction and are also perpendicular to each other. However, the combination of directions described above is merely an example, and is not limited to the above example.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the luggage holding device 10 according to the first embodiment. Figure 3 is a front view of the luggage holding device 10 according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 is a plan view of the luggage holding device 10 according to the first embodiment. Figure 5 is a diagram showing the disengaged position (A) and engaged position (B) of the engaging claw 14 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the luggage holding device 10 mainly comprises a tray 11, a main body 12, a pair of engaging claws 13, 14, and a switching mechanism 15.

The tray 11 is supported on the top surface of the main body 12. The tray 11 supports the battery 8 as well as a control board (not shown). The battery 8 stores power to supply power to the drone and motors 22 and 23 (described below). The control board controls the operation of the drone and the luggage holding device 10 (for example, power supply to motors 22 and 23 (described below)). However, the drone's battery and control board may be provided separately from the tray 11.

The main body 12 supports the tray 11, the pair of engagement claws 13, 14, and the switching mechanism 15. The main body 12 is composed of a first main body 16 and a second main body 17, which are connected so as to be able to slide relative to each other in the left-right direction. The first main body 16 is composed of a first support portion 18 and a first protruding portion 19. The second main body 17 is composed of a second support portion 20 and a second protruding portion 21.

The first support portion 18 supports the engagement claw 13 so that its posture can be changed. The first support portion 18 also supports the motor 22, pivot arm (not shown), and coil spring (not shown), which are part of the switching mechanism 15. The first protrusion portion 19 protrudes to the right (toward the second main body 17) from the upper end of the first support portion 18. In other words, the first support portion 18 extends downward from the left end of the first protrusion portion 19 (the end opposite the second main body 17).

The second support portion 20 supports the engagement claw 14 so that its posture can be changed. The second support portion 20 also supports the motor 23, pivot arm 24, and coil spring 25, which are part of the switching mechanism 15. The second protrusion portion 21 protrudes to the left (toward the first body 16) from the upper end of the second support portion 20. In other words, the second support portion 20 extends downward from the right end of the second protrusion portion 21 (the end opposite the first body 16).

Furthermore, an elongated hole 26 is formed in the front surface (surface facing the depth direction) of the second protrusion 21. The elongated hole 26 penetrates the front surface of the second protrusion 21 in the thickness direction (front-to-back direction) and extends in the left-to-right direction. Although not shown, an elongated hole is also formed in the back surface (surface facing the depth direction) of the second protrusion 21. Furthermore, nuts 27 and 28 are fixed to the front and back surfaces (surfaces facing the depth direction) of the first protrusion 19.

A bolt 29 inserted into an elongated hole 26 formed on the front surface of the second protruding portion 21 is threaded onto a nut 27, and a bolt 30 inserted into an elongated hole (not shown) formed on the back surface of the second protruding portion 21 is threaded onto a nut 28. By loosening the bolts 29 and 30, the first body 16 and the second body 17 can slide to match the width of the luggage 2. By tightening the bolts 29 and 30, the sliding of the first body 16 and the second body 17 is restricted (the width dimension of the body 12 is fixed). In other words, the first body 16 and the second body 17 are configured to be able to slide relative to each other in the width direction manually by the user.

The engagement claws 13, 14 are supported facing each other on the first support portion 18 and second support portion (i.e., both left and right ends of the main body 12), which are spaced apart in the left-right direction, below the first overhang portion 19 and second overhang portion 21. The engagement claws 13, 14 are supported on the main body 12 so that they can be switched (changed) between an engaged position and a released position. The engagement claws 13, 14 according to the first embodiment are configured to be slidable in the left-right direction between the engaged position and the released position. The position of the engagement claws 13, 14 is switched by a switching mechanism 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the engaged position, the engaging claw 13 protrudes from the right surface of the first support portion 18 (the surface facing the second support portion 20) toward the second support portion 20. In the engaged position, the engaging claw 14 protrudes from the left surface of the second support portion 20 (the surface facing the first support portion 18) toward the first support portion 18. In other words, the engaging claws 13, 14 protrude from the first support portion 18 and the second support portion 20 toward each other, thereby assuming the engaged position. As a result, the engaging claws 13, 14 in the engaged position enter the through holes 6, 7 (engage with the engaged portions). When the engaging claws 13, 14 are in the engaged position, the distance between the tips of the engaging claws 13, 14 is W1.

In the release position, the engagement claw 13 is retracted into the first support portion 18. In the release position, the engagement claw 14 is retracted into the second support portion 20. That is, the engagement claws 13, 14 retract into the first support portion 18 and the second support portion 20 in a direction away from each other, thereby reaching the release position. As a result, the engagement claws 13, 14 in the floor position retract from the through holes 6, 7 (they are released from engagement with the engaged portions). When the engagement claws 13, 14 are in the release position, the distance between the tips of the engagement claws 13, 14 is greater than or equal to W2. Note that the distance W2 (>W1) is the distance between the right surface of the first support portion 18 and the left surface of the second support portion 20 (i.e., the surfaces facing each other).

Furthermore, the distance W2 between the opposing surfaces of the first support portion 18 and the second support portion 20 and the height H between the lower surfaces of the first overhang portion 19 and the second overhang portion 21 and the upper surfaces of the engaging claws 13, 14 are set in the range of 0.1≦H/W2≦0.3, more typically 0.12≦H/W2≦0.18. Possible product lineups for luggage holding devices 10 that satisfy the above ratios include, for example, 125mm≦W2≦200mm and H=22.5mm, or 250mm≦W2≦400mm and H=45mm, or 500mm≦W2≦800mm and H=90mm. However, the relationship between W2 and H of the luggage holding device 10 is not limited to the above example.

The switching mechanism 15 switches the position of the engagement claws 13, 14. The switching mechanism 15 is composed of a motor 22 (first motor), a pivot arm (transmission mechanism) (not shown), and a coil spring (biasing member) (not shown) that switch the position of the engagement claw 13, and a motor 23 (second motor), a pivot arm 24 (transmission mechanism), and a coil spring 25 (biasing member) that switch the position of the engagement claw 14. Since the configuration for switching the position of the engagement claws 13, 14 is common, the configuration for switching the position of the engagement claw 14 will be described below.

Motors 22 and 23 are, for example, servo motors. As shown in FIG. 4 , motor 22 is supported by first support portion 18 in front of (one side of) imaginary line L, which passes through the center of the front-rear direction of main body 12 and extends in the left-right direction. On the other hand, motor 23 is supported by second support portion 20 in the rear of imaginary line L (the other side). In other words, motors 22 and 23 are arranged alternately on either side of the center of the front-rear direction of main body 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pivot arm 24 is housed inside a recess 31 that recesses downward from the upper surface of the engagement claw 14. The recess 31 may or may not penetrate the engagement claw 14 in the vertical direction. The base end 24a of the pivot arm 24 is fixed to the output shaft of the motor 23, which extends in the vertical direction. Meanwhile, the tip end 24b of the pivot arm 24 is a free end. The coil spring 25 is disposed between the engagement claw 14 and the back plate 20a of the second support part 20. The coil spring 25 biases the engagement claw 14 from the release position toward the engagement position (i.e., to the left).

When the motor 23 is rotated in the first direction, the pivot arm 24 rotates clockwise in Figure 5. As a result, as shown in Figure 5(A), the tip 24b of the pivot arm 24 presses the wall surface defining the recess 31 to the right. As a result, the engagement claw 14 is switched from the engaged position to the released position against the biasing force of the coil spring 25. In other words, the pivot arm 24 transmits the rotation of the motor 23 in the first direction in a direction that switches the engagement claw 14 from the engaged position to the released position.

On the other hand, when the motor 23 is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the pivot arm 24 rotates counterclockwise in Figure 5. As a result, as shown in Figure 5(B), the tip 24b of the pivot arm 24 moves away from the wall surface defining the recess 31. As a result, the engaging claw 14 changes position from the released position to the engaged position due to the biasing force of the coil spring 25. In other words, the pivot arm 24 does not transmit the rotation of the motor 23 in the second direction to the engaging claw 14.

The first embodiment provides the following advantages, for example:

The luggage holding device 10 according to the first embodiment holds the luggage 2 by inserting the engaging claws 13, 14 into the through-holes 6, 7 located above the center of the luggage 2. This prevents the luggage 2 from getting caught on the first overhang 19 and the second overhang 21 when released, even if the center of gravity of the luggage 2 is offset. In other words, the luggage 2 can be released appropriately.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the switching mechanism 15 causes the engaging claws 13, 14 to appear and disappear (i.e., change their position) from the first support portion 18 and the second support portion 20, and the user manually slides the first body 16 and the second body 17 to match the width of the luggage 2. In this way, by separating the configuration for changing the position of the engaging claws 13, 14 from the configuration for extending and retracting the first body 16 and the second body 17, the configuration of the switching mechanism 15 can be simplified and the motors 22, 23 can be made smaller.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the motors 22, 23 are arranged alternately on either side of the center of the main body 12 in the front-to-rear direction. This allows the center of gravity to be closer to the center of the luggage holding device 10. As a result, the drone equipped with the luggage holding device 10 can fly stably.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, both of the pair of engaging claws 13, 14 are configured to be able to change their position, so it is possible to increase the difference between the spacing W1 between the engaging claws 13, 14 in the engaged position and the spacing W2 between the engaging claws 13, 14 in the released position. As a result, the luggage 2 can be released more appropriately.

Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, by employing the switching mechanism 15 shown in Figure 5, the posture of the engagement claws 13, 14 can be changed with a simple configuration. More specifically, the switching mechanism 15 shown in Figure 5 can be used even when the dimensional accuracy of the components that make up the switching mechanism 15 and the dimensional tolerances during assembly are large. Another advantage of the switching mechanism 15 shown in Figure 5 is that it is less susceptible to contamination.

Second Embodiment
A luggage holding device 10A according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the luggage holding device 10A according to the second embodiment. Figure 7 is a diagram showing the disengaged position (A) and the engaged position (B) of the engaging claw 14A according to the second embodiment. Note that components common to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted, with differences being mainly described.

The main body 12 shown in Figure 6 has a different specific shape from that shown in Figure 2, but the basic configuration is the same as that shown in Figure 2. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 6, the luggage holding device 10A according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the engaging claw 13A is a fixed claw fixed to the first main body 16, and the engaging claw 14A is a movable claw supported on the second main body 17 so that it can be switched between an engaged position and a released position. That is, in the second embodiment, the distance between the tips of the engaging claws 13A and 14A changes as the position of only the engaging claw 14A of the engaging claws 13A and 14A changes.

The switching mechanism 15A according to the second embodiment also differs from the first embodiment in that it switches the position of only the engagement claw 14A out of the engagement claws 13A and 14A. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the configuration of the switching mechanism 15A according to the second embodiment differs from the switching mechanism 15 according to the first embodiment. More specifically, the switching mechanism 15A is composed of a motor 23, a rack gear 32 and a pinion gear 33 (transmission mechanism), and a coil spring 34 (biasing member).

As shown in Figure 7, the rack gear 32 is fixed to the upper surface of the engagement claw 14A and extends in the left-right direction. The pinion gear 33 is attached to the output shaft of the motor 23. The rack gear 32 and pinion gear 33 are meshed with each other. The coil spring 34 is disposed between the engagement claw 14A and the back plate 20a of the second support part 20, and biases the engagement claw 14A from the released position toward the engaged position.

When the motor 23 is rotated in the first direction, the pinion gear 33 rotates clockwise in Figure 7. As a result, as shown in Figure 7(A), the rack gear 32 meshed with the pinion gear 33 moves to the right together with the engagement claw 14A. As a result, the engagement claw 14A switches from the engaged position to the disengaged position against the biasing force of the coil spring 34. On the other hand, when the motor 23 is servo-free, the pinion gear 33 becomes able to rotate freely counterclockwise. As a result, as shown in Figure 7(B), the engagement claw 14A changes position from the disengaged position to the engaged position due to the biasing force of the coil spring 34.

According to the second embodiment, the posture of only the engagement claw 14A of the engagement claws 13A and 14A is changed, which allows for an even simpler configuration of the switching mechanism 15A compared to the switching mechanism 15 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, the specific configuration for transmitting the driving force of the motor 23 to the engagement claw 14A, as in the switching mechanism 15A according to the second embodiment, is not limited to the example of the first embodiment.

[Third embodiment]
A luggage holding device 10B according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the luggage holding device 10B according to the third embodiment. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an engaged position (A) and a released position (B) of an engaging claw 13B according to the third embodiment. Note that components common to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted, with differences being mainly described.

The main body 12 shown in Figure 8 has a different specific shape from that shown in Figure 2, but the basic configuration is the same as that shown in Figure 2. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 8, the engagement claws 13B, 14B according to the second embodiment differ from the engagement claws 13, 14 according to the first embodiment in that they are supported by the first support portion 18 and the second support portion 20 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the front-to-rear direction.

As shown in Figure 8, the engaging claws 13B, 14B of the third embodiment are positioned so that their tips face each other when in the engaged position. That is, the left-right distance between the tips of the engaging claws 13B, 14B is narrowest when in the engaged position. On the other hand, the tips of the engaging claws 13B, 14B in the released position face downward more than when in the engaged position. That is, the left-right distance between the tips of the engaging claws 13B, 14B in the released position is wider than when in the engaged position.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, the configuration of the switching mechanism 15B according to the third embodiment differs from that of the switching mechanism 15 according to the first embodiment. More specifically, the switching mechanism 15B includes, as components for switching the position of the engagement claw 13B, a motor 22, a rotating shaft 35, a torsion coil spring 36 (biasing member), a restricting member 37, and a link 38. Although not shown, the switching mechanism 15B also includes, as components for switching the position of the engagement claw 14B, a motor, a rotating shaft, a biasing member, a restricting member, and a link. Because the configuration for switching the position of the engagement claws 13B and 14B is the same, the configuration for switching the position of the engagement claw 13B will be described below.

The pivot shaft 35 extends in the front-to-rear direction and is supported by the first support portion 18. The pivot shaft 35 rotatably supports the engagement claw 13B. The torsion coil spring 36 is supported by the pivot shaft 35. One end of the torsion coil spring 36 is attached to the engagement claw 13B, and the other end is attached to the first support portion 18. The torsion coil spring 36 biases the engagement claw 13B from the engaged position toward the released position (in other words, in a direction that pushes the tip of the engagement claw 13B downward).

The restricting member 37 extends in the front-to-rear direction above and to the left of the pivot shaft 35 (opposite the tip of the engagement claw 13B). The restricting member 37 is connected to the output shaft of the motor 22 via a link 38. The link 38 moves the restricting member 37 from the permitted position to the restricted position when the motor 22 rotates in a first direction. The link 38 moves the restricting member 37 from the restricted position to the permitted position when the motor 22 rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

As shown in Figure 9 (A), the restricting member 37 in the restricting position is in a position to the left of the pivot shaft 35, abutting against the upper surface of the engaging claw 13B in the engaged position. In other words, the restricting member 37 in the restricting position is in a position that restricts the engaging claw 13B from changing its position from the engaged position to the released position. As shown in Figure 9 (B), the restricting member 37 in the allowing position is in a position that retracts from the upper surface of the engaging claw 13B, allowing the engaging claw 13B to change its position from the engaged position to the released position.

With the engaging claws 13B, 14B in the engaged position and the restricting member 37 in the restricted position, the luggage 2 is inserted between the first support part 18 and the second support part 20 from below. As a result, the engaging claws 13B, 14B, whose undersides are pushed up by the luggage 2, rotate so that their tips point upward against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 36. Next, when the engaging claws 13B, 14B face the through-holes 6, 7, the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 36 returns them to the engaged position. Next, when the drone lands at its destination, the motor 22 is rotated in the second direction, moving the restricting member 37 from the restricted position to the allowed position. As a result, the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 36 causes the engaging claws 13B, 14B to change position from the engaged position to the released position, and the luggage 2 is released.

To switch the engagement claws 13B and 14B from the released position to the engaged position, the tips of the engagement claws 13B and 14B can be manually pushed up while the motor 22 is rotated in the first direction to move the restriction member 37 from the permitted position to the restricted position. Alternatively, the luggage holding device 10B may be equipped with a mechanism that automatically returns the engagement claws 13B and 14B to the engaged position.

The third embodiment also achieves the same effects as the first embodiment. That is, when changing between the engaged and disengaged positions, the engagement claws 13 and 14 do not necessarily slide left and right (first embodiment), but the engagement claws 13B and 14B may also be rotated (third embodiment).

[Fourth embodiment]
A luggage holding device 10C according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 12. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the luggage holding device 10C and the engaged member 40 according to the fourth embodiment. Figure 11 is a perspective view of the engaged member 40. Figure 12 is a perspective view of the luggage holding device 10C according to the fourth embodiment. Note that components common to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted, with differences being mainly described.

The luggage 2C according to the fourth embodiment differs from the luggage 2 according to the first embodiment in that an engaged member 40 is attached to the upper surface. As shown in FIG. 10, the engaged member 40 is placed on the upper surface of the luggage 2C and secured to the luggage 2C by belts 2a and 2b. Note that through-holes 6 and 7 may be formed on both sides of the luggage 2C, or the through-holes 6 and 7 may be omitted. As shown in FIG. 11, the engaged member 40 is composed of a main body 41, a pair of engaged claws 42 and 43 (engaged portions), belt insertion grooves 44 and 45, and multiple locking claws 46.

The main body 41 is a plate-shaped member. To reduce weight, the main body 41 has multiple through holes that run vertically. The engaged claw 42 protrudes leftward from the left end of the main body 41. The engaged claw 43 protrudes rightward from the right end of the main body 41. In other words, the engaged claws 42 and 43 protrude in opposite directions from both ends of the main body 41 in the width direction.

The belt insertion groove 44 extends in the front-to-rear direction on the top surface of the main body 41. The belt insertion groove 44 extends in the left-to-right direction on the top surface of the main body 41. In other words, the belt insertion grooves 44, 45 extend in directions perpendicular to each other on the top surface of the main body 41. The belt insertion grooves 44, 45 receive the belts 2a, 2b. The locking claws 46 protrude inward from both ends of the belt insertion grooves 44, 45 to prevent the belts 2a, 2b inserted in the belt insertion grooves 44, 45 from coming out.

Furthermore, the main body 12C according to the fourth embodiment differs from the main body 12 according to the first embodiment in that it does not have the ability to slide to match the width of the luggage 2C. More specifically, as shown in Figures 10 and 12, the main body 12C is an integrated unit composed of a first support portion 47, a second support portion 48, and a connecting portion 49. The first support portion 47 supports the fixed engaging claw 13C. The second support portion 48 supports the movable engaging claw 14C so that its position can be changed. The connecting portion 49 connects the upper ends of the first support portion 47 and the second support portion 48, which are spaced apart in the left-right direction.

Furthermore, the luggage holding device 10C according to the fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the engaging claw 13C is a fixed claw that is fixed to the first support portion 47, and the engaging claw 14C is a movable claw that appears and disappears (i.e., changes its posture) from the surface of the second support portion 48 that faces the first support portion 47. That is, in the fourth embodiment, the distance between the tips of the engaging claws 13C and 14C changes as the posture of only the engaging claw 14C of the engaging claws 13C and 14C changes. Then, the engaging claws 13C and 14C in the engaged posture engage with the engaged claws 42 and 43 of the engaged member 40.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 10 and 12, the configuration of the switching mechanism 15C according to the fourth embodiment differs from that of the switching mechanism 15 according to the first embodiment. More specifically, the switching mechanism 15C is composed of a motor 23, a rack gear 50, and a pinion gear 51 as components that switch the position of the engagement claw 14C. The rack gear 50 is fixed to the upper surface of the engagement claw 14C and extends in the left-right direction. The pinion gear 51 is attached to the output shaft of the motor 23. The rack gear 50 and pinion gear 51 are meshed with each other.

When the motor 23 is rotated in a first direction, the pinion gear 51 rotates counterclockwise from the state shown in Figure 12. As a result, the rack gear 50 meshed with the pinion gear 51 moves to the left together with the engagement claw 14C. As a result, the engagement claw 14C switches from the disengaged position shown in Figure 12 to the engaged position shown in Figure 10. When the motor 23 is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the pinion gear 51 rotates clockwise from the state shown in Figure 10. As a result, the rack gear 50 meshed with the pinion gear 51 moves to the right together with the engagement claw 14C. As a result, the engagement claw 14C switches from the engaged position shown in Figure 10 to the disengaged position shown in Figure 12.

According to the fourth embodiment, instead of the through-holes 6, 7 formed in the luggage 2, the engageable claws 42, 43 are provided on the engageable member 40 that can be attached to and detached from the luggage 2C, making it possible to hold luggage 2C of any shape (i.e., luggage 2C without through-holes 6, 7). Furthermore, since the mechanism for extending and retracting the main body 12C can be omitted, the configuration of the luggage holding device 10C is further simplified. The combination of the luggage holding device 10C and engageable member 40 according to the fourth embodiment is expected to be particularly advantageous when, for example, sending luggage between multiple locations.

The configurations of the first to fourth embodiments can be combined in any way without departing from the spirit of the present invention. As one example, the switching mechanisms 15, 15A to 15C of the first to fourth embodiments are interchangeable. As another example, the engaging claws 13, 13B of the first and third embodiments may be fixed claws, and the engaging claws 13A, 13C of the second and fourth embodiments may be movable claws. As yet another example, the engaged member 40 may be applied to the first to third embodiments.

1...Attachment, 2, 2C...Luggage, 2a, 2b...Belt, 3...Mounting portion, 4, 5...Leg portion, 6, 7...Through-through opening, 8...Battery, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C...Luggage holding device, 11...Tray, 12, 12C, 41...Main body, 13, 13A, 13B, 13C, 14, 14A, 14B, 14C...Engagement claws, 15, 15A, 15B, 15C...Switching mechanism, 16...First main body, 17...Second main body, 18, 47...First support portion, 19, 48...First extension portion, 20...Second support 20a...back plate, 21...second protrusion, 22, 23...motor, 24...rotating arm, 24a...base end, 24b...tip end, 25, 34...coil spring, 26...long hole, 27, 28...nut, 29, 30...bolt, 31...recess, 32, 50...rack gear, 33, 51...pinion gear, 35...rotating shaft, 36...torsion coil spring, 37...regulating member, 38...link, 40...engaged member, 42, 43...engaged claw, 44, 45...belt insertion groove, 46...locking claw, 49...connection portion

Claims (6)

A luggage holding device that holds luggage while mounted on an aircraft,
The main body and
a pair of engaging claws supported at both ends in the width direction of the main body so as to face each other;
a switching mechanism for switching the pair of engaging claws between an engaging position in which the engaging claws engage with a pair of engaged portions provided above the center of the luggage, and a releasing position in which the engaging claws are released from the pair of engaged portions,
The body includes:
a first body supporting one of the pair of engaging claws;
a second body that supports the other of the pair of engaging claws and is coupled to the first body so as to be slidable in the width direction in accordance with the size of the luggage,
The first body includes:
a first support portion that supports one of the pair of engaging claws;
a first protruding portion protruding from an upper end of the first support portion toward the second main body,
The second body is
a second support portion that supports the other of the pair of engaging claws;
a second protruding portion that protrudes from an upper end of the second support portion toward the first body and is coupled to the first protruding portion so as to be slidable in the width direction;
the pair of engagement claws project from the first support portion and the second support portion in a direction in which they approach each other to assume the engagement posture, and retract into the first support portion and the second support portion in a direction in which they move away from each other to assume the release posture,
The switching mechanism is
a first motor supported by the first support portion on one side of the center in a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction and configured to switch the posture of one of the pair of engaging claws;
a second motor supported by the second support portion on the other side of the center in the depth direction, for switching the posture of the other of the pair of engaging claws. A luggage holding device that holds luggage while mounted on an aircraft,
The main body and
a pair of engaging claws supported at both ends in the width direction of the main body so as to face each other;
a switching mechanism for switching the pair of engaging claws between an engaging position in which the engaging claws engage with a pair of engaged portions provided above the center of the luggage, and a releasing position in which the engaging claws are released from the pair of engaged portions,
The switching mechanism is
A motor;
a biasing member that biases the engaging claw toward the engaging posture;
A luggage holding device characterized by having a transmission mechanism that transmits rotation of the motor in a first direction to the engagement claw in a direction that switches from the engagement position to the release position, and does not transmit rotation of the motor in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A luggage holding device that holds luggage while mounted on an aircraft,
The main body and
a pair of engaging claws supported at both ends in the width direction of the main body so as to face each other;
a switching mechanism for switching the pair of engaging claws between an engaging position in which the engaging claws engage with a pair of engaged portions provided above the center of the luggage, and a releasing position in which the engaging claws are released from the pair of engaged portions,
The pair of engaging claws are
the engagement posture in which the distance between the tips is narrowest;
the engaging portion is supported by the main body so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction between the engaging position and the disengaging position in which the tip thereof faces downward,
The switching mechanism is
A motor;
a biasing member that biases the engaging claw toward the release position;
a restricting member that is moved by the driving force of the motor between a restricting position where it abuts against the upper surfaces of the pair of engaging claws in the engaged position to restrict a change in position to the released position, and an allowing position where it retreats from the upper surfaces of the pair of engaging claws to allow a change in position to the released position. The first body and the second body are
a nut fixed to a surface of the first main body facing a depth direction perpendicular to the width direction;
The luggage holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the luggage holding device is connected so as to be slidable relative to the width direction by a bolt that penetrates the surface of the second body facing the depth direction, is inserted into a long hole that extends in the width direction, and is screwed into the nut. The pair of engaging claws are
In the engaging position, the pair of engaging portions enter through openings provided above the center of both sides of the luggage in the width direction,
5. The luggage holding device according to claim 1, wherein in the released position, the luggage exits through through-holes provided on both sides of the luggage. The pair of engaging claws are
In the engagement position, the bag engages with a pair of engaged portions detachably attached to the top surface of the baggage,
5. The luggage holding device according to claim 1, wherein in the released position, the pair of engaged portions are released from engagement with each other.