JPH054557Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] The present invention is an improvement of a multi-position lock joint, especially a safety joint for a folding ladder, or a joint that can be freely folded and has at least one This invention relates to a joint that can be locked at more than one angle.

[Conventional technology]

A conventional joint for connecting two ladder members is, for example, in German Patent No. 2052584, a first joint which is connected to one of the ladder members and consists of two disc parts symmetrically facing each other with a gap between them. It consists of a joint and a hollow flat locking plate which is fixed to the other ladder member and consists of a pair of semi-circular shells which cover a fan-shaped ratchet. This joint has notches at equal intervals. Additionally, a spring-biased locking element is provided which is coupled to the disk portion of the first coupling member and is pivotable about the coupling pin so that the ladder member can be operated when in any set position. When released by the lever and ratchet, it is guided onto the first coupling member and engaged with the other notch. The operating lever is provided on the first joint material.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, the above-mentioned ratchets have the disadvantage that they are tooth-shaped around the periphery and protrude out of the joint through the notch, causing problems for the user and damaging clothing. In addition, toothed ratchets have the disadvantage that their brittleness prevents the joint from functioning when external shocks are applied. Furthermore, the construction of the second coupling member made it difficult to assemble the ratchet and spring.

The problem that the present invention seeks to solve is therefore to provide an improved new coupling which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks and is easy to operate and safe in use.
That is, the object of the present invention is to provide a joint that not only eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional fan-shaped ratchet joint, but also improves the structure of the applicant's previous three types of joints.

[Means for solving problems]

In the present invention, a disk portion 11 is formed by press-forming a metal plate and has a pair of disks facing each other with a gap between them.
and a flat cylinder portion 12 extending outward from one side of the disk portion 11, and a flat hollow body formed by pairing a pair of dish-shaped circular shells. Disc-shaped lock plate portion 21 and this lock plate portion 2
1, and a second connecting body 2 integrally formed with a flat cylindrical portion 22 extending outward from one side of the first connecting body 1. The center of the disc part 11 is rotatably connected to the disc part 11 by a connecting pin 4 so as to be sandwiched between a pair of discs, and the cylindrical part 12 of the first connecting body 1 has a shaft penetrating through the walls on both sides. A pair of opposing elongated holes 13 facing the disk portion 11 are provided, and a spring 15 housed in the hole allows the disk portion 11 or the lock plate portion 2 to be
A rectangular locking pawl 14 that is biased in one direction is slidably fitted and held, and the operating lever 10 consisting of a bifurcated release member 16 and a handle member 17 is held such that the tip of the release member 16 is always in the above direction. The handle member 17 is attached to the boundary between the disc part 11 and the cylindrical part 12 in a freely operable manner by a pin 18 that locks with one end of the claw 14 and passes through the outside of the cylindrical part 12 of the first connecting body 1; Second
A plurality of locking notches 23a, 23b, and 23c are provided on the disc-shaped lock plate portion 21 of the connecting body 2 at predetermined intervals along the circumference, and the locking pawl 14 is inserted into each of these notches 23a to 23c. In a folding ladder joint which is engaged with an arbitrary one to lock the first coupling body 1 and the second coupling body 2 in an arbitrary folded position corresponding to this notch, the cylinder of the first coupling body 1 is Inside the section 12, a "dog"-shaped plate spring 3 formed in a lug 34, one end of which is wound around a stop pin 32 passing through the cylindrical section 12 and the other end bent, is inserted into the elongated hole 13.
The lug 34 of the leaf spring 3 is always biased and locked against one side or one end of the locking claw 14, and a holding pin 33 is provided on one side of the leaf spring 3 that is biased toward the mounting end. In the locked state where the locking pawl 14 engages with one of the notches, the lug 34 of the leaf spring 3
comes into contact with the proximal side surface of the locking pawl 14, and in the unlocked state, the lug 34 locks on the free end of the locking pawl 14 to hold the locking pawl 14 in the unlocked state in which it is removed from the notch. This is a folding ladder joint characterized by being configured as follows.

〔Example〕

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the description of the following drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the joint according to the present invention has a first connecting body 1 and a second connecting body 2. As shown in FIG. The first connector is similar to the conventional one. That is, it consists of a disk portion 11 and a cylindrical portion 12, each having a pair of disks formed by pressing a thin plate and arranged opposite to each other with a gap in between. The cylindrical portion 12 has long holes 13 that pass through the walls on both sides and face each other.
A rectangular locking pawl 14 is slidably held in each elongated hole 13 and is biased toward the disk portion 11 by a spring 15 (this structure is different from the conventional one). ). The operating lever 10 is
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,986, it consists of a fork-shaped release member 16 and a huddle 17,
It is pivotally connected to the disc part 11 by a pivot pin 18 near the cylindrical part 12.

The second connecting body 2 is formed from a pressed metal plate as in the conventional one, and has a flat cylindrical hollow disk-shaped lock plate portion 21 formed by pairing a pair of dish-shaped circular shells. and a flat cylindrical portion 22 extending outward from one side of the lock plate portion 21 are integrally formed. The lock plate portion 21 is provided with a plurality of lock notches 23a, 23b, and 23c arranged at regular intervals along its circumference. The first connecting body 1 and the second connecting body 2 are arranged such that the disc-shaped lock plate portion 21 of the second connecting body 2 is sandwiched between a pair of discs of the disc portion 11 of the first connecting body 1, as in the conventional case. The connecting pin 4 passes through the disk portion 11 through the center.
By being pivotally connected to the first connecting body 1 by the screws, it is rotatably connected to the first connecting body 1 in an articulated manner.

In the folding ladder joint of the present invention constructed as described above, the protrusion unlike the conventional one has notches 23a to 23a.
The fan-shaped ratchet protruding from 23c is connected to the disc part 11.
Alternatively, instead of providing the lock plate part 21, one leaf spring 3 is further provided in the cylindrical part 12 of the first connecting body 1 so as to be capable of being locked to the locking pawl 14, and the locking pawl 14 is placed in the unlocked position. The feature of the present invention is that it is configured so as to be retained. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the leaf spring 3 has one end 31 wrapped around a stop pin 31 passing through the cylindrical portion 12, and the other end wrapped around a claw-like lug 34.
It is formed into a "dog"-shaped plate spring that is bent into a shape, and is provided near one side of the elongated hole 13.
This leaf spring 3 always urges and locks the lug 34 to one side or one end of the locking claw 14 by its own elasticity, and also has a holding pin that locks the lug 34 to one side of the leaf spring 3 that is biased toward the mounting pin 31. 33 is provided, and the locking claw 14
In the locked state in which the lug 34 is fitted into an arbitrary notch, for example the notch 23a, the lug 34 comes into pressure contact with the base side surface of the locking pawl 14 due to its elasticity, and the locking pawl 14 engages with the notch 23a.
In the unlocked state when the lock is disengaged from 3a, the lug 34
is configured to engage with the free end of the locking pawl 14 facing the notch, receive the locking pawl 14, and hold the locking pawl 14 in the unlocked state.

Next, the usage conditions of the joint of the present invention will be explained.

Figure 1 shows the cylindrical parts 12 and 2 of the two connecting bodies 1 and 2 of the joint.
In this case, the locking pawl 14 is pressed by the spring 15 and engages with the notch 23a, so that the two connecting bodies 1 and 2 are locked so that they do not rotate relative to each other. ing. At this time,
The distal end of the release member 16 of the operating handle 10 is pressed against the distal end of the locking pawl 14 so as to rotate downward, and therefore the handle member 17 is pressed against the lower surface of the cylindrical portion 12 so as to rotate upward.

To change the joining angle of both connecting bodies 1 and 2 of the joint, first rotate the handle 17 in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. The locking claw 14 is rotated upward, that is, clockwise, while pressing the locking claw 14 into the elongated hole 13 as the center.

As a result, the locking pawl 14 moves in the direction of detaching from the notch 23a, and eventually leaves the notch 23a completely and enters the deep part of the elongated hole 13, but the locking pawl 14 moves away from the notch 23a. At the moment of detachment, the tip lug 34 of the leaf spring 3, which had been in pressure contact with the side surface of the locking pawl 14, is elastically locked onto the tip of the locking pawl 14, and the locking pawl 14 receives this. Notsuchi 23
It is held so that it does not enter inside a, and the lock is released. At this time, even if the handle 17 is released, the locking pawl 14 will not fit into the notch 23a again.

Then, when both the cylindrical parts 12 and 22 are bent with both hands to face each other as shown in the direction of the arrow in FIG. However, at the same time as the notch 23a moves away from the locking pawl 14, the notch 23b approaches the locking pawl 14, and finally comes to a position where the locking pawl 14 and the notch 23b face each other. 34 and cannot be engaged with the notch 23a. However, both cylindrical parts 12 and 22
When further bent, the rear wall 24 of the notch 23b of the second connecting body 2 engages with the lug 34 as shown in FIG. 34 and the tip of the locking pawl 14 is once released, the tip of the locking pawl 14 comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the lock plate portion 21, and at the same time the lug 34 of the leaf spring 3 engages the locking pawl 14. Press against the side of the end. At this time, the locking states of the locking pawl 14 and the notch 23b and the lug 34 and the locking pawl 14 are released, so both the connecting bodies 1 and 2 can be folded facing each other or unfolded in the opposite direction. Then, when both the connecting bodies 1 and 2 in the unlocked state are rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. When the locking pawl 14 comes below the spring 15
It engages in the notch 23b with a force of , and becomes locked. As a result, the joint is bent into a dogleg shape as shown in FIG.

If you want to fold the cylindrical parts 12, 22 of the joint closer together, perform the same operation as above, that is, after operating the operating handle 10, move the cylindrical parts 12, 22 in the direction of the arrow. After the notch 23c passes the tip of the locking claw 14, the locking claw 14 is rotated slightly in the opposite direction.
3c and locks. In addition, when unfolding the joint, that is, when the bending angles of both connecting bodies 1 and 2 of the joint are made to be wide open or in a straight line (180 degrees), both cylindrical parts 12, 22 can be rotated.

[Effect of idea]

As is clear from the above description, the joint according to the present invention has a simple structure, which is incorporated into the disc part and the lock plate part of the connecting body, instead of the fan-shaped ratchet in which the locking teeth protrude from the notch. A leaf spring having a shape is attached to the cylindrical portion of one of the connecting bodies and is configured to hold the locking pawl in the unlocked state, so that the locking tooth of the fan-shaped ratchet does not protrude from the outside of the notch as in the conventional case. In addition to not causing any damage to the user's hands or clothing, the ratchet teeth will not be deformed by the impact of external forces, or failures will occur due to foreign objects entering the notch, and the leaf spring will not cause any damage. It can be operated smoothly without causing any trouble inside the cylinder, and since the leaf spring structure is simple, it can be manufactured at a lower cost than the ratchet, and the leaf spring, lock mechanism, and operating lever device are Since it is mainly assembled into the cylindrical part of the first connecting body, and no members are incorporated into the lock plate part and the cylindrical part of the second connecting body, handling and assembly of both the connecting bodies becomes easy. There are effects such as improved production efficiency and the ability to provide a joint for a folding ladder that is safe in use and has a low failure rate at a low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view showing an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a leaf spring used in the invention, and Figs. 3 to 6 are explanations showing the operating process of the invention. Figure 3 shows a state in which both connectors are unfolded in a straight line, Figure 4 shows a state in which they are bent from a straight line into an F-shape, and Figure 5 shows a state in which the two connectors are folded in a straight line. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state in which it is bent slightly in the opposite direction, and FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a state in which it is bent at a predetermined angle and locked. 1... first connected body, 2... second connected body, 3...
Leaf spring, 4... Connection pin, 10... Operation lever,
11... Disc part, 12... Cylindrical part, 13... Long hole,
14... Locking claw, 15... Spring, 16... Release member, 17... Handle member, 18... Pin, 21
... Disc-shaped lock plate part, 22 ... Cylindrical part, 23a,
~23c...Notch, 31...Mounting end, 32...
Retaining pin, 33... Holding pin, 34... Lug, 3
5...Spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A disk part which is press-molded from a metal plate and has a pair of disks facing each other with a gap therebetween, and a flat cylindrical part extending outward from one side of the disk part are integrally formed. a flat hollow disc-shaped lock plate formed by pairing a pair of dish-shaped circular shells;
and a second connecting body integrally formed with a flat cylindrical portion extending outward from one side of the lock plate, and the disk-shaped lock plate portion of the second connecting body is connected to the disk of the first connecting body. The center is rotatably connected to the disc part by a connecting pin so as to be sandwiched between a pair of disc parts of the part,
The cylindrical portion of the first connecting body is provided with a pair of opposing elongated holes that pass through both walls and extend toward the disk portion, and the elongated holes are provided with springs housed in the holes that allow the cylindrical portion to move toward the disk portion or the lock plate portion. A biased rectangular locking pawl is slidably fitted and held, and an operation lever consisting of a bifurcated release member and a handle member is held such that the tip of the release member always locks with one end of the pawl, and A handle member is attached to the boundary between the disc part and the cylinder part in a freely operable manner by means of a pin passing through the outside of the cylinder part of the first connecting body, and a handle member is attached to the disc-shaped lock plate part of the second connecting body along the circumference. A plurality of locking notches are provided at predetermined intervals, and the locking pawl is engaged with any one of these notches to lock the first and second connecting bodies into any one of the locking notches corresponding to the notches. In a joint for a folding ladder that locks in a folded position, the cylindrical portion of the first connector includes:
A dog-shaped leaf spring having one end wound around a stop pin passing through the cylindrical portion and a bent lug at the other end is provided near the elongated hole, and the lug of this leaf spring is always kept above the elongated hole. One side or one end of the locking pawl is biased and locked, and a retaining pin is provided on one side of the leaf spring that is biased towards the mounting end of the leaf spring. The lug contacts the proximal side of the locking pawl, and in the unlocked state, the lug engages the free end of the locking pawl to hold the locking pawl in the unlocked state where it is removed from the notch. A folding ladder joint characterized by the following structure.