JP7823907B2 - Wheelbarrow - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to pushcarts such as silver carts and walking carts.

This type of pushcart has left and right front wheel legs at its lower ends that support the front wheels so that they can roll freely, and left and right rear wheel legs at its lower ends that support the rear wheels so that they can roll freely, supported from above. It also has left and right handle support columns that support the left and right ends of the handle that extends left and right from below, allowing the user to walk safely while pushing the pushcart by holding the handle.

A known example of such a pushcart is one that has a seat that protrudes substantially horizontally forward from each front wheel leg, allowing the user to sit on this seat with their back to the handlebars (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2016-141237 A

However, when a user sits on the seat with their back against the handle, their back may come into contact with the handle in some places. In this case, even if the user sits on the seat, if they straighten their back, their back will come into contact with the handle, making it impossible for them to relax.

The present invention was made in light of these issues, and its purpose is to provide a pushcart that allows the user to sit on the seat with their back against the handle, preventing their back from coming into contact with the handle, allowing them to relax in comfort.

To achieve the above object, the present invention is based on a pushcart having left and right front wheel legs, the lower ends of which support the front wheels for free rollability, and left and right rear wheel legs, the lower ends of which support the rear wheels for free rollability, supported from above, and left and right handle support columns , the left and right ends of a handle extending in the left-right direction supported from below. The handle further includes a handle member extending in the left-right direction, bending portions that bend the left and right ends of the handle member rearward, and grip portions that extend rearward from the rear ends of the bending portions and are grasped by the user's hands, the handle member being positioned forward of the handle support columns. A seat portion is also provided between the front wheel legs, protruding substantially horizontally forward so that a user can sit with their back to the handle , and the left and right rear ends of the seat portion are supported by the front wheel legs. The handle member is characterized by having a curved portion at the center in the left-right direction that curves backward to prevent the back of the user from locally contacting the handle member when the user sits on the seat.

The left and right rear ends of the seat portion may be supported so as to be freely rotatable around horizontal axes extending in the left-right direction relative to the front wheel legs, and may be configured to be convertible between a seating position in which it protrudes approximately horizontally forward relative to the front wheel legs, and a lying position in which it lies downward along the handle support portions or a lying position in which it lies downward along the front wheel legs.

A storage basket is provided between the front wheel legs, and is positioned substantially horizontally and opens upward to store luggage. The seat may also serve as a lid to open and close the opening of the storage basket.

Furthermore, the curved portion may be provided with a cushioning means that actively reduces contact with the back when seated on the seat surface.

In short, the handle has a curved portion that curves backward in the left-right center to prevent the user's back from locally contacting the handle when sitting on the seat portion that protrudes forward approximately horizontally. As a result, even when the user sits on the seat portion with their back to the handle, the curved portion prevents the user's back from locally contacting the handle, allowing them to sit up straight and relax in comfort when sitting on the seat portion.

The seat is also supported rotatably around the horizontal axis of each front wheel leg, and can be switched between a seated position in which it protrudes substantially horizontally forward relative to each front wheel leg, and a collapsed position in which it either collapses upward along each handle support or collapses downward along each front wheel leg. This allows the frame to be converted from the seated position to the collapsed position when the user is not sitting on the seat, improving the convenience of the pushcart.

The seat also doubles as a lid to open and close the opening of the storage basket located between each front wheel leg. This allows the seat to shield the interior of the storage basket, improving appearance while reducing the number of parts.

Furthermore, by using the seat as a lid for the storage basket, it is possible to efficiently secure seating space in the seat while placing the storage basket between each front wheel leg.

Furthermore, by providing the curved portion with a cushioning means that actively cushions the impact of the back when sitting on the seat, the impact of the back coming into contact with the curved portion of the handle when the user sits on the seat with their back to the handle is effectively cushioned, enhancing the feeling of relaxation when the user sits on the seat.

1 is a perspective view of a pushcart according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from the front, with the seat portion converted into a seating position and the front and rear wheel legs unfolded. FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view of the pushcart of FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a side view of the pushcart of FIG. 1 as seen from the side. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pushcart of FIG. 1 . 1 with the seat portion in a reclined position, as viewed from diagonally front. FIG. FIG. 6 is a front view of the pushcart of FIG. 5 . FIG. 6 is a side view of the pushcart of FIG. 5 . FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pushcart of FIG. 5 with the front and rear wheel legs folded down, as seen obliquely from the front. FIG. 9 is a front view of the pushcart of FIG. 8 . FIG. 9 is a side view of the pushcart of FIG. 8 as seen from the side. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pushcart according to a second embodiment of the present invention, seen from diagonally forward with the seat portion converted into a seating position and the front and rear wheel legs unfolded. FIG. 12 is a front view of the pushcart of FIG. 11 . FIG. 12 is a side view of the pushcart of FIG. 11 as seen from the side. 12 is a perspective view of the pushcart of FIG. 11 with the seat portion in a reclined position, as seen from diagonally forward. FIG. FIG. 15 is a front view of the pushcart of FIG. 14 . FIG. 15 is a side view of the pushcart of FIG. 14 . FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the pushcart of FIG. 14 with the front and rear wheel legs folded down, as seen obliquely from the front. FIG. 18 is a front view of the pushcart of FIG. 17; FIG. 18 is a side view of the pushcart of FIG. 17 as seen from the side. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pushcart according to a third embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from the front, with the front wheel legs and the rear wheel legs unfolded. FIG. 21 is a front view of the pushcart of FIG. 20 . FIG. 21 is a side view of the pushcart of FIG. 20 as seen from the side. FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the pushcart of FIG. 20 with the front and rear wheel legs folded down, as seen obliquely from the front. FIG. 24 is a front view of the pushcart of FIG. 23 . FIG. 24 is a side view of the pushcart of FIG. 23 . FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pushcart according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, viewed obliquely from the front, with the front wheel legs and the rear wheel legs unfolded. FIG. 27 is a front view of the pushcart of FIG. 26 . FIG. 27 is a side view of the pushcart of FIG. 26 as seen from the side. FIG. 27 is a rear view of the pushcart of FIG. 26 . FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the pushcart of FIG. 26 with the front and rear wheel legs folded down, as seen from diagonally forward. FIG. 31 is a front view of the pushcart of FIG. 30 . FIG. 31 is a side view of the pushcart of FIG. 30 .

The following describes a pushcart according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pushcart according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from diagonally forward, with the seat portion converted into a seating position and the front and rear wheel legs unfolded. Figure 2 shows a front view of the pushcart of Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a side view of the pushcart of Figure 1, and Figure 4 shows a rear view of the pushcart of Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, this pushcart 1 is used as a walking vehicle and includes a pair of front wheel legs 11, 11, a pair of rear wheel legs 12, 12, and a handle frame 13.

The left and right front wheel legs 11, 11 each have a front wheel 14, 14 supported for free rolling at their lower ends. The lower ends of the front wheel legs 11 are connected by a front frame 15 extending in the left-right direction. Meanwhile, the left and right rear wheel legs 12, 12 each have a rear wheel 16, 16 supported for free rolling at their lower ends. The rear wheel legs 12 are connected at their approximate midpoints by a rear frame 17 extending in the left-right direction. This rear frame 17 is connected in the left-right direction while protruding diagonally forward, ensuring space for the user's feet.

In addition, brakes 21 that brake each rear wheel 16 are rotatably supported at the lower ends of the left and right rear wheel legs 12, 12. Each brake 21 is provided at the rear end of a brake arm 23 that extends in the front-to-rear direction and has its middle portion supported at the lower end of each rear wheel leg 12 so that it can swing freely around a horizontal shaft 22. The front ends of each brake arm 23 are connected to both ends of a brake frame 24 that extends in the left-to-right direction. In this case, the brake frame 24 is connected in the left-to-right direction while protruding diagonally upward, ensuring space at the user's feet.

The handle frame 13 includes a handle 25. The handle 25 includes a handle member 26 extending in the left-right direction, bent portions 27, 27 that bend both left and right ends of the handle member 26 rearward, and grip portions 28 that extend rearward from the rear end of each bent portion 27 and are grasped by the user's hand. A brake lever 29 that operates each brake 21 is provided below each grip portion 28. The front end of each brake lever 29 is supported by support brackets 30, 30 provided at both left and right ends of the handle 25, i.e., between each bent portion 27 and each grip portion 28.

The front end of each brake lever 29 is connected to the corresponding brake arm 23 via a brake wire (not shown) so that braking can be performed. At this time, the front end of each brake arm 23 is connected to both ends of the brake frame 24, respectively, so that braking of the left and right rear wheels 16, 16 by each brake 21 can be performed by operating at least one of the left and right brake levers 29, 29.

The handle frame 13 also includes handle support columns 31, 31 that support the left and right support brackets 30, 30 from below. Each handle support column 31 is formed in a generally circular cross section and extends vertically in a straight line, with its upper end inserted and fixed to the support bracket 30 from below. Each handle support column 31 is also supported from below by a handle support column support 32. Each handle support column 32 includes left and right side frames 33, 33 that extend vertically in a straight line so as to be slidably inserted into the respective handle support column 31 from below, and a generally U-shaped lower end frame 34 that opens upward and has its left and right upper ends integrally connected to the lower ends of the left and right side frames 33, 33.

Sliding brackets 35, 35 that slide up and down along the left and right frames 33, 33 are supported on the left and right frames 33, 33 of the handlebar support part 32. The upper end of each front wheel leg 11 is rotatably supported at the front end of each sliding bracket 35 via a horizontal shaft 36. Meanwhile, the upper end of each rear wheel leg 12 is rotatably supported at the rear end of each sliding bracket 35 via a horizontal shaft 37. The sliding brackets 35 are connected to each other by a frame 38 extending in the left-right direction, and slide synchronously along the left and right frames 33, 33.

The front ends of rear links 42 are rotatably supported via horizontal shafts 43 on the outside of the left and right lower ends of the lower end frame 34, which is located below the left and right frames 33, 33. The rear ends of these rear links 42 are rotatably supported via horizontal shafts 44 at approximately the middle of each rear wheel leg 12 (above the rear frame 17).

Furthermore, the rear ends of front links 45 are rotatably supported via horizontal shafts 43 on the inside of the left and right lower ends of each lower frame 34. The front ends of these front links 45 are rotatably supported via horizontal shafts 46 at approximately the middle of each front wheel leg 11.

A seat section 52 is provided between each front wheel leg 11, protruding generally horizontally forward from the upper end of each front wheel leg 11 and allowing the user to sit facing forward with their back to the handlebars 25. The seat section 52 is equipped with a generally U-shaped seat frame 51, with both left and right side edges and the front edge of the seat section 52 connected together. Both left and right ends (both rear ends) of the seat frame 51 protrude further rearward than the seat section 52, and both protruding ends (rear ends) are rotatably supported on the upper ends of each front wheel leg 11 via horizontal shafts 54 extending in the left-right direction.

The seat 52 is composed of a support plate (not shown) whose periphery is supported by the seat frame 51, and cushioning material 53 attached to this support plate, and is roughly square in plan view. The seat frame 51, along with the handle support columns 31 and handle support columns 32 (left and right side frames 33, 33 and bottom frame 34), is formed from an extruded pipe made of aluminum, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, steel, or the like. In this case, the user sits on the seat 52 facing forward with their back to the handle 25, allowing them to sit comfortably and comfortably facing the direction of travel of the stroller 1.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 1 when viewed diagonally from the front with the seat portion 52 in the lying position. Figure 6 shows a front view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 5, and Figure 7 shows a side view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 5 when viewed from the side.

As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the conversion mechanism 5 converts the seating position (position shown in Figures 1 to 4) in which the seat surface 52 protrudes substantially horizontally forward relative to each front wheel leg 11, to a collapsed position (position shown in Figures 5 to 7) in which the seat surface 52 reclines downward along each front wheel leg 11. This conversion mechanism 5 includes a substantially U-shaped seat support frame 55 that is open toward the seat frame 51 (upper in Figure 2) and whose two ends (upper ends in Figure 3) are rotatably supported via horizontal shafts (not shown) approximately midway between the left and right sides of the seat frame 51. A protruding pin 56 that protrudes outward is provided approximately midway between the left and right sides of the seat support frame 55.

The conversion mechanism 5 also includes a seat arm 58, one end (lower end in FIG. 3) of which is rotatably supported via a horizontal shaft 59 on the base end side (lower side in FIG. 3) of the seat support frame 55 relative to the protruding pin 56, and the other end (upper end in FIG. 3) of which is rotatably supported via a horizontal shaft 57 approximately midway between the front wheel legs 11 (directly above the horizontal shaft 46). When the base end of the seat support frame 55 is rotated around the horizontal shafts at both ends in a direction pulling it forward, the seat arm 58 also rotates forward around the horizontal shaft 59 at the other end, folding the seat support frame 55 and seat arm 58, and the seat portion 52 rotates around the horizontal shafts 54 at the other ends of the seat frame 51, collapsing along the front wheel legs 11. At this time, the protruding pins 56 come into contact with the seat arms 58, converting the seat portion 52 from a seated position in which it protrudes substantially horizontally forward relative to each front wheel leg 11 to a reclined position aligned with each front wheel leg 11.

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 5 when viewed diagonally from the front with the front wheel legs 11 and rear wheel legs 12 folded. Figure 9 shows a front view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 8, and Figure 10 shows a side view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 8 when viewed from the side.

As shown in Figures 8 to 10, when the handle 25 is pushed downward, the sliding brackets 35, 35 located at the lower ends of the left and right frames 33, 33 with the front wheel legs 11 and rear wheel legs 12 unfolded, move upward to the upper ends of the left and right frames 33, 33. This upward movement of the sliding brackets 35, 35 causes the front wheel legs 11 to rotate rearward around horizontal shafts 36, and the rear wheel legs 12 to pivot forward around horizontal shafts 37. When the sliding brackets 35, 35 move upward, the left and right frames 33, 33 move downward relative to each other, pulling the front wheel legs 11 toward the handlebar support section 32 (rearward) via the front links 45, and pulling the rear wheel legs 12 toward the handlebar support section 32 (forward) via the rear links 42, thereby folding the front wheel legs 11 and rear wheel legs 12.

The handle member 26 of the handle 25 has a curved portion 61 at the left-right center that curves backward to prevent the user's back from locally contacting the handle member 26 when seated on the seat surface 52. This curved portion 61 curves smoothly along the user's back, allowing the user's back to come into contact with the handle member 26 from the left and right in a soft, enveloping manner without locally contacting the handle member 26.

In this embodiment, therefore, a curved portion 61 that curves backward is provided in the left-right center of the handle member 26 so that when a user sits on the seat portion 52 that protrudes substantially horizontally forward from the upper end of each front wheel leg 11, the handle member 26 of the handle 25 prevents the user's back from locally contacting the handle member 26. As a result, even when the user sits on the seat portion 52 with their back to the handle member 26, the curved portion 61 prevents the user's back from locally contacting the handle member 26, allowing the user to sit up straight and relax in comfort on the seat portion 52.

The seat 52 is supported rotatably around a horizontal axis 54 at the upper end of each front wheel leg 11, and can be converted between a seated position in which it protrudes substantially horizontally forward relative to each front wheel leg 11, and a reclined position in which it reclins downward along each front wheel leg 11. This allows the seat 52 to be converted from the seated position to the reclined position when the user is not sitting on the seat 52 and the stroller 1 is not in use, improving its convenience.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 11 to 19.

In this embodiment, the configuration of the seat and conversion mechanism has been changed. Note that the rest of the configuration, excluding the seat and conversion mechanism, is the same as in the first embodiment, and the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a pushcart according to a second embodiment of the present invention, viewed from diagonally forward, with the seat portion converted into a seating position and the front and rear wheel legs unfolded. Figure 12 shows a front view of the pushcart of Figure 11, and Figure 13 shows a side view of the pushcart of Figure 11, viewed from the side.

As shown in Figures 11 to 13, a seat portion 71 is provided between the front wheel legs 11, protruding approximately horizontally forward from the upper end of each front wheel leg 11 and allowing the user to sit facing forward with their back to the handlebars 25. The seat portion 71 is equipped with a roughly U-shaped seat frame 72, with both left and right side edges and the front edge of the seat portion 71 connected together. Both left and right ends (both rear ends) of the seat frame 72 protrude further rearward than the seat portion 71, and both protruding ends are rotatably supported by the ends (front ends) of U-shaped brackets 73, each fixed to the upper end of each front wheel leg 11, via horizontal shafts 74 extending in the left-right direction.

The seat 71 is made up of a support plate (not shown) whose periphery is supported by the seat frame 72, and cushion material 75 attached to the support plate, and has a generally rectangular shape that is relatively short in the front-to-back direction and long in the left-to-right direction in a plan view. The seat frame 72 is formed from an extruded pipe made of aluminum, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, steel, or the like. In this case, because the seat 71 is generally rectangular and relatively short in the front-to-back direction and long in the left-to-right direction, the user sits on the seat 71 facing forward with the handle 25 close to their back.

Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 11 when viewed diagonally from the front with the seat portion 71 converted into a lying position. Figure 15 shows a front view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 14, and Figure 16 shows a side view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 14 when viewed from the side.

As shown in Figures 14 to 16, the conversion mechanism 7 converts the seating position (shown in Figures 11 to 13) in which the seat surface 71 protrudes substantially horizontally forward relative to each front wheel leg 11, to a collapsed position (shown in Figures 14 to 16) in which the seat surface 71 is collapsed upward along each handlebar support 31. This conversion mechanism 7 includes slide rails 76 extending along the left and right sides of the seat frame 72, seat links 78, 78 whose one end (the lower end in Figure 11) is rotatably supported via a horizontal shaft 77 at the top of each front wheel leg 11 (above the horizontal shaft 46 of the front link 45), and seat pin members 79 whose left and right ends are connected to the other ends (the upper ends in Figure 11) of the left and right seat links 78, 78 and which slide along the slide rails 76.

When the seat 71 is rotated upward around the horizontal shaft 74 at the tip of the U-shaped bracket 73, each seat link 78 rotates upward around the horizontal shaft 77, causing the seat pin 79 to slide along the slide rail 76 and reach the end of the horizontal shaft 74, converting the seat 71 from a seated position in which it protrudes approximately horizontally forward relative to each front wheel leg 11 to a collapsed position in which it collapses upward along each handlebar support 31, i.e., the frames 33, 33 on both the left and right sides of the handlebar support 32.

Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 14 when viewed diagonally from the front with the front wheel legs 11 and rear wheel legs 12 folded. Figure 18 shows a front view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 17, and Figure 19 shows a side view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 17 when viewed from the side.

As shown in Figures 8 to 10, when the handle 25 is pushed downward, the sliding brackets 35, 35 located at the lower ends of the left and right frames 33, 33 with the front wheel legs 11 and rear wheel legs 12 unfolded, move upward to the upper ends of the left and right frames 33, 33. This upward movement of the sliding brackets 35, 35 causes the front wheel legs 11 to rotate rearward around horizontal shafts 36, and the rear wheel legs 12 to pivot forward around horizontal shafts 37. When the sliding brackets 35, 35 move upward, the left and right frames 33, 33 move downward relative to each other, pulling the front wheel legs 11 toward the handlebar support section 32 (rearward) via the front links 45, and pulling the rear wheel legs 12 toward the handlebar support section 32 (forward) via the rear links 42, thereby folding the front wheel legs 11 and rear wheel legs 12.

In this embodiment, when a user sits on the seat portion 71 that protrudes substantially horizontally forward from the upper end of each front wheel leg portion 11, even if the user's back is close to the handle 25 due to the generally rectangular seat portion 71 that is relatively short in the front-to-rear direction and long in the left-to-right direction, the curved portion 61 prevents the back from coming into local contact with the handle member 26, allowing the user to sit up straight and relax comfortably on the seat portion 71.

The seat 71 is supported rotatably around the horizontal axis 54 at the upper end of each front wheel leg 11, and can be converted between a seated position in which it protrudes substantially horizontally forward relative to each front wheel leg 11, and a reclined position in which it is reclined upward along each handle support 31. This allows the seat 71 to be converted from the seated position to the reclined position when the user is not seated on the seat 71 and the stroller 1 is not in use, improving its usability.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 20 to 25.

In this embodiment, the configuration of the seat and conversion mechanism has been changed. Note that the rest of the configuration, excluding the seat and conversion mechanism, is the same as in the first embodiment, and the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

Figure 20 shows a perspective view of a pushcart according to a third embodiment of the present invention, viewed from diagonally forward with the front and rear wheel legs unfolded. Figure 21 shows a front view of the pushcart of Figure 20, and Figure 22 shows a side view of the pushcart of Figure 20, viewed from the side.

As shown in Figures 20 to 22, a storage basket 81 is provided between each front wheel leg 11, with an opening (not shown) that opens upward in a generally horizontal position to store luggage inside. A generally U-shaped support frame 82 that opens rearward is attached to both left and right side edges and the front edge of the opening of this storage basket 81. The left and right rear ends of this support frame 82 are rotatably supported on the upper ends of each front wheel leg 11 via horizontal shafts 83.

A seat 84 is detachably attached to the edge of the opening of the storage basket 81, i.e., to the support frame 82. The seat 84 is composed of a support plate (not shown) that forms its entire surface and cushioning material 85 attached to the support plate, and has a roughly rectangular shape that is slightly longer in the front-to-rear direction in plan view. The seat 84 also serves as a lid that opens and closes the opening of the storage basket 81, and when the opening of the storage basket 81 is closed, it is located in a seating position that protrudes roughly horizontally forward from the top of each front wheel leg 11.

Figure 23 shows a perspective view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 20 when viewed diagonally from the front with the front wheel legs 11 and rear wheel legs 12 folded. Figure 24 shows a front view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 23 when viewed from the front, and Figure 25 shows a side view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 23 when viewed from the side.

As shown in Figures 23 to 25, when the handle 25 is pushed downward, the sliding brackets 35, 35 located at the lower ends of the left and right frames 33, 33 with the front wheel legs 11 and rear wheel legs 12 unfolded, move upward to the upper ends of the left and right frames 33, 33. This upward movement of the sliding brackets 35, 35 causes the front wheel legs 11 to rotate rearward about horizontal axis 36, and the rear wheel legs 12 to rotate forward about horizontal axis 37. At this time, when the sliding brackets 35, 35 move upward, the left and right frames 33, 33 move downward relative to each other, and the storage basket 81 is converted into a forward-leaning position so that the seat portion 84 is aligned with the front wheel legs 11 while avoiding interference with the rear frame 17, brake frame 24, and the lower end frames 34 of the handlebar support portions 32. At the same time, each front wheel leg 11 is pulled toward the handlebar support section 32 (rearward) via the front link 45, and each rear wheel leg 12 is pulled toward the handlebar support section 32 (forward) via the rear link 42, causing each front wheel leg 11 and each rear wheel leg 12 to fold up.

The storage basket 81 is made of a soft, deformable material such as cloth or vinyl, and when the front and rear wheel legs 11 and 12 are folded, the bottom is deformed into a roughly wavy shape due to interference with the rear frame 17, brake frame 24, and lower end frame 34 of the handle support column 32, which extend left and right at the bottom of the stroller 1. In this case, because the seat 84 is attached to the edge of the opening of the storage basket 81, it tilts forward to fit along the front wheel legs 11 when the front and rear wheel legs 11 and 12 are folded, converting it into a lying position.

In this embodiment, when a user sits on the seat portion 84, which protrudes substantially horizontally forward from the upper end of each front wheel leg portion 11, the curved portion 61 prevents the user's back from coming into local contact with the handle member 26, allowing the user to sit up straight and relax comfortably on the seat portion 84.

In addition, the seat 84 also serves as a detachable lid that opens and closes the opening of the storage basket 81 located between each front wheel leg 11, allowing the interior of the storage basket 81 to be shielded by the seat 84, improving appearance while reducing the number of parts. Furthermore, by using the seat 84 as a lid for the storage basket 81, it is possible to efficiently secure seating space on the seat 84 while placing the storage basket 81 between each front wheel leg 11.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 26 to 32.

In this embodiment, the configuration of the seat and conversion mechanism has been changed. Note that the configuration other than the seat and conversion mechanism is the same as in the third embodiment, and the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

Figure 26 shows a perspective view of a pushcart according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, viewed from diagonally forward with the front and rear wheel legs unfolded. Also, Figure 27 shows a front view of the pushcart of Figure 26, Figure 28 shows a side view of the pushcart of Figure 26, and Figure 29 shows a rear view of the pushcart of Figure 26.

As shown in Figures 26 to 29, the curved portion 61, which is curved in the left-right center of the handle member 26, is provided with a cushioning means 9 that actively cushions the back when the user sits on the seat portion 84. This cushioning means 9 is composed of a padded cushioning material 91 that is horizontally elongated to match the left-right length of the curved portion 61, and a fastener 92 that fastens the cushioning material 91 while it is wrapped around the curved portion 61.

Figure 30 shows a perspective view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 26 when viewed diagonally from the front with the front wheel legs 11 and rear wheel legs 12 folded. Also, Figure 31 shows a front view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 30, and Figure 32 shows a side view of the pushcart 1 of Figure 30 when viewed from the side.

As shown in Figures 30 to 32, when the handle 25 is pushed downward, the sliding brackets 35, 35 move upward to the upper ends of the left and right frames 33, 33. This upward movement causes the front wheel legs 11 to rotate rearward about the horizontal axis 36 and the rear wheel legs 12 to pivot forward about the horizontal axis 37. At this time, the left and right frames 33, 33 move downward relative to each other, and the storage basket 81 is transformed into a forward-leaning position such that the seat portion 84 is aligned with the front wheel legs 11 while the bottom of the storage basket 81 is deformed into a roughly wavy shape due to interference with the rear frame 17, brake frame 24, and lower end frame 34. Simultaneously, the front wheel legs 11 are pulled toward the handle column support portion 32 via the front link 45, and the rear wheel legs 12 are pulled toward the handle column support portion 32 via the rear link 42, causing the front wheel legs 11 and rear wheel legs 12 to fold.

In this embodiment, therefore, the curved portion 61 is provided with a buffer means 9 that actively cushions the impact of the back when the user sits on the seat portion 84. This effectively cushions the impact of the user's back against the curved portion 61 of the handle member 26 when the user sits on the seat portion 84 with their back to the handle member 26, thereby enhancing the feeling of relaxation when the user sits on the seat portion 84.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and encompasses various other modifications. For example, in the fourth embodiment, the shock-absorbing means 9 is configured by wrapping a horizontally elongated pad-like cushioning material 91 around the curved portion 61 with a fastener 92. However, a shock-absorbing means may be provided over the entire area in front of the handle, including the handle member and the bent portions at both ends, to actively reduce contact with the back when seated on the seat surface. In this case, the shock-absorbing means may be configured by inserting a tube-shaped shock-absorbing material between the bent portions at both ends of the handle member or by wrapping a strip-shaped shock-absorbing material around them.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the seating surfaces 52, 71, and 84 are configured to be convertible between a seated position and a reclined position, but the seating surfaces may also be fixed in a state where they protrude forward approximately horizontally relative to each front wheel leg.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the pushcart 1 is described as being used as a walking cart, but it may also be used as a pushcart such as a silver cart.

1 Handcart 11 Front wheel leg 12 Rear wheel leg 14 Front wheel 16 Rear wheel 25 Handle 31 Handle support 33 Left and right side frames 52 Seat 54 Horizontal shaft 61 Curved portion 71 Seat 74 Horizontal shaft 81 Storage basket 83 Horizontal shaft 84 Seat 9 Buffer means

Claims (4)

A pushcart having left and right front wheel legs at the lower ends thereof for supporting front wheels so as to be freely rotatable, and left and right rear wheel legs at the lower ends thereof for supporting rear wheels so as to be freely rotatable, from above, and having left and right handle support columns for supporting from below both left and right ends of a handle extending in the left-right direction,
The handle comprises a handle member extending in the left-right direction, bending portions that bend both left and right ends of the handle member rearward, and grip portions that extend rearward from the rear ends of the bending portions and are gripped by the user's hands, and the handle member is located forward of the handle support portion,
Between the front wheel legs, a seat portion is provided that protrudes substantially horizontally forward so that a user can sit with their back to the handlebars, and left and right rear ends of the seat portion are supported by the front wheel legs,
A pushcart characterized in that the handle member has a curved portion in the left-right center that curves backward to prevent the back of the user from locally contacting the handle member when the user sits on the seat. 2. The pushcart of claim 1, wherein the left and right rear ends of the seat portion are supported so as to be freely rotatable about horizontal axes extending in the left-right direction relative to the front wheel legs, and the seat portion is configured to be convertible between a seating position in which it protrudes substantially horizontally forward relative to the front wheel legs, and a lying position in which it lies upward along the handle support portions or a lying position in which it lies downward along the front wheel legs. A storage basket is provided between the front wheel legs, and is opened upward in a substantially horizontal position to store luggage therein.
2. The pushcart according to claim 1, wherein the seat portion also serves as a lid for opening and closing an opening of the storage basket. A pushcart according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the curved portion is provided with a cushioning means that actively reduces contact of the back with the seat when the user sits on the seat.