Connection structure of storage compartment

A connection structure of a storage compartment consists of handles stored into a storage part provided at a top board member of the storage compartment; engaging pieces arranged at a base board and engages with means for engaged in the storage compartment located below due to a spring power of a spring in case that the handles are laid flat at a vertical state respectively; means for traction to connect to the handles and engaging piece respectively; and the engaging piece, in case that the storage compartments having same form are piled up respectively, interlocks a movement of the handles in a case that the handle installed with the storage compartment located above is brought at a standing-up state and rotates in a moving direction against the spring power of the spring, so that it can connect or dissociate automatically by only operating the handle prepared in the top board member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connection structure of a storage compartment. More specifically, this invention relates to the connection structure of the storage compartment that suits when the storage compartment of the same form or the same structure is constructed and piled up in a vertical direction respectively.

When the portable storage compartment is piled up in the vertical direction, to join together integrally in consideration of earthquake resistance is demanded.

Also it is demanded to adjust to increase in the data which should be saved for a long time, separates easily the storage compartment having the same form other storage compartment and carries to the desired place and arranges in case that nation, prefectures, research institute and offices arrange the documents such as important materials, official document and incident documents into the storage compartment.

This inventor (applicant) proposed the document arrangement box aiming at the efficient document management by the flow of a document to Japan, the U.S., etc. (Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-100397). However, it was not fully only able to satisfy the above requests that the document arrangement box proposed previously only accumulated the boxes of the same form or the same structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connection structure of a storage comportment which can connect or dissociate automatically (remote) by only operating the handle prepared in top board member, when accumulating the storage compartment of the same form piled up longitudinally. It is another object of the present invention to provide a connection structure of a storage comportment which can be carried the storage compartment located upward to a desired place only by carrying out one-touch control of making a handle stand up. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a connection structure of a storage comportment that the number of parts can be reduced. It is still more specific object of the present invention to provide a connection structure of storage comportment which Assembly parts can be reduced. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a connection structure of a storage comportment that can avoid attaching a crack to the top board member of a storage compartment located below, in case that other storage compartments with the same form are put upon a lower storage compartment.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated as an example.

It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below referring to the accompanying drawings. An understanding of the present invention may be best gained by referenceFIGS. 1to12.FIGS. 1to12illustrate a storage compartment device of a first embodiment of the present invention.

(1) Schematic Explanation of Embodiment of the Present Invention

First, the whole (a storage compartment1) of embodiment of the invention by references shown inFIGS. 1 and 2is explained. The numeral1shows a storage compartment made from steel. This storage compartment1is used in order to mainly contain the document for preservation and consists of a base board2, a side board3of the shape of an end surface and fixed to the base board integrally, a top board member4fixed to the side board3integrally and a door5provided slidely to the top board member4or the side board3. The storage compartment1can be carried through a pair of handles provided at right side and left sides thereof.

(2) Base Board

The base board2consists of a base part2aformed in the shape of a rectangle and short side wall portions2b,2cand2dwhich provided continuously in a lower direction at sides of the base part2arespectively. The sidewall portion2bequivalent to a front wall is formed in the shape of a step so that the lower end of the door5can be supported. Moreover, small notch portions6and6are formed in a central part of right and left sides of the sidewall portions2cand2cequivalent to a sidewall and base part2a.

(3) Side Board

The numeral3a,3ashow sidewalls respectively, and the edges of a tip part of the sidewalls3aare bent inside respectively. The numeral3bshows a back wall which provided continuously at the sidewalls3a. The support member for the door5is attached to the sidewall in this embodiment. The numeral8shows a pair of support boards having a small fitting groove9at the upper end portion thereof. The support boards8are fixed to an inner wall surface at the tip portion of the sidewalls3arespectively. The numeral10shows a pair of guide rails which guide to the door5, and the guide rails10are fixed to an inner board15of the top board member through means for fixing which is not illustrated respectively.

(4) Top Board Member

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the top board member4includes a large board and a small board, combining them integrally. That is, the numeral15shows the inner board including a larger one, and the inner board15consists of top portion15aand the short side wall portions15b,15cand15dwhich provided continuously in a lower direction at sides of the top portion15a. An opening or notch16for traction means is formed at both sides in the central parts of the top portion15aat least. Moreover, an opening portion17for receiving the door equivalent to the width size of the door5is provided at the sidewall portion15bas a front wall. In addition, the hole for screws is formed at the inner board15.

On the other hand, the numeral20shows the outer board with small size, and the outer board20consists of a top wall portion20aand the short sidewall portions20b,20cand20dwhich provided continuously in a lower direction at sides of the top wall portion20a. Concave portions21,21for receiving the handle (storage portion) are symmetrically formed at both sides in the central part of the top wall portion20arespectively. The concave portion21is formed in the shape of a rectangle corresponding to the form of the handle mentioned later. By the way, a big opening portion18is formed in the center of the inner board15, and the central opening portion18is passing through the opening16(notch in this embodiment) for the traction means mentioned above.

The door5consists of a door frame5a, a glass5battached to the door frame5a, a pair of sliding axles25and25projected by right and left portions of the upper end of the door frame5arespectively and means for stopping26the doors installed with the central part of the lower end of the door frame5a. The sliding axle25is engaged with the engaging groove9of the support board8when the door closes. The sliding axle slides into the guide rail for example if the door5is placed at a level state and stuffs it into a back wall3bside when the door5is opened.

(6) Connection Structure of the Storage Compartment

Next, the connection structure (mechanism) of the storage compartment having the same form is explained. The connection structure in this invention consists of a handle34provided at the top board member of the storage compartment; an engaging piece41arranged at the base board of the storage compartment1and engaged with an engaging stick provided at the storage compartment placed at a lower position when the handle in the storage compartment placed at a upper position is operated; and means for traction51connecting the engaging piece41and handle34. It works when the storage compartments1and1having the same form are piled up in the vertical direction respectively.

FIGS. 3 and 4illustrate the explanation view before piling up the storage compartment1respectively. Moreover,FIGS. 5to7illustrate each explanation view of the handle. First, the handle is explained by reference inFIGS. 3to7. The numeral31shows an attachment base board fixed to the right and left ends of the top board member4respectively. The attachment baseboard31includes a pair of flange parts32,32joined to the inner surface of a wall of the inner board15and includes a pair of axle hole parts33,33provided at the part adjacent outer end thereof. The handle34is attached rotatably at about 90 degree to the attachment baseboard through the horizontal axis35rotatably supported by the axle hole parts33. In addition, the handle34in this embodiment consists of a cover34aat U-shape in a plane view and a grip34bfixed to the cover34a.

Moreover, the engaging stick is fixed to the outer end of the attachment baseboard31through a support board36formed in the desired shape (Z-shape, for example). Thus, the attachment baseboard31assembled integrally the handle34and engaging stick37is installed with the top board member4so as to fit into the opening portion18of the inner board15upwardly and is fitted by an attachment not shown.

FIGS. 8 and 9illustrate the engaging piece41which engaged with the engaging stick37in the storage compartment located below respectively when the storage compartments1are piled up respectively. In this embodiment, the engaging piece41is supported pivotably by the support frame member43fixed to inner wall surface of the sidewalls3aof the sideboard3through a plurality of fixture42respectively. Moreover, the engaging piece41is located into the notch portion6so as to projects from the base part2aof the baseboard2downward.

Although especially the form of the frame portion43is not required, it has the opening44for a connection link. The numeral45shows an axle supported rotatably between the support frame members43, and then the axle45supports pivotably the engaging piece41formed in the shape of a hook.

The numeral46shows a spring (torsion coil spring) mounted by winding around the axle45, and the spring46is biased so that the engaging piece41may be engaged with the engaging stick37of the storage compartment always located below. In addition, an end part46aof the spring46is engaged at the edge of the opening44. Moreover, the engaging piece41includes a projection48that supports the lower end of the connection link47.

Next, the traction means51to connect the engaging piece41and handle34is explained. In this embodiment, the traction means uses a belt made from a synthetic resin as an example has flexibility or pliability. Therefore, a string, rope made from synthetic resin, wire, etc. can be used preferably other than a flexible belt.

An upper end51aof the traction means51is attached in the end of grip34bof the handle34fixedly. On the other hand, other end51bthereof is attached to a connector formed in the shape of a buckle. The part adjacent the upper end51aof the traction means51passes through the opening16of the inner board15and opening portion of the attachment baseboard31, and it extends along the sidewall3aat a perpendicular state. In addition, the connector52includes the projection53which supports pivotably at the upper end of the connection link47as the engaging piece.

In the above-mentioned composition, the action of the connection structure (mechanism) of the storage compartment is explained.FIGS. 3 and 4illustrate each explanation view showing the way in which the engaging piece rotates in a engaging direction by the spring power of the spring46and is positioned to engage with the engaging stick37in the storage compartment1located below when the handle34is embedded into the concave portion21of the top board member4. In this case, the engaging piece41rotates in an engaging direction corresponding to the amount of rotations of the handle34. Moreover, the belt as the traction means is pulled by the engaging piece which rotates according to the spring power of the spring46.

On the other hand,FIGS. 10 and 11illustrate each explanation view showing the way in which the engaging piece41rotates in a cancellation direction against the spring power of the spring46as a result, the engaging state with the engaging piece and engaging stick37is cancelled when the handle34is raised up from the concave portion21of the top board member4. In this case, since the engaging piece41is interlocked with the handle34and the engaging piece41rotates in the cancellation direction against the spring power of the spring46, the belt as the traction means51is pulled by the handle34.

FIG. 12illustrates the explanation view showing an example of the way in which the plurality of the storage compartments1and1is piled up in the vertical direction. In this case, in case that the handle34is embedded into the concave portion21, the engaging piece41is engaged with the engaging stick37of the lower storage compartment1(see FIGS.13and14).

Then, the handles34move to a standing-up state when the upper storage compartment1removes from the lower storage compartment1and move to somewhere else. If it does so, since the engaging piece41of the upper part storage compartment1separates automatically from engaging stick37of the lower part storage compartment1, the upper storage compartment1can be carried as it is.

Although the engaging piece41of the first embodiment formed in the shape of a hook, it may change into “latch shape” by design.

Other embodiments of the present invention will now be described referring toFIGS. 15to17. Through the drawings of the embodiments, like components are denoted by like numerals as of the first embodiment and will not be further explained in great detail.

In a second embodiment, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connection structure of a storage compartment which it is made to wound a crack to the upper surface of the top board member4of a storage compartment located below when other storage compartment1piles up an the lower storage compartment1. Therefore, the new requirement for composition is added to the principal part of the first embodiment.

Namely, as illustrated inFIG. 15, a second engaging portion49formed in the shape of a nail is projected from an opposite part faces to the projection48of an engaging piece41A, a locking piece55engages with the49is supported pivotably by a support frame member43A. The locking piece55is formed in a L-shaped lever and is supported pivotably by a second axle56located more nearly up than the axle45.

The short lever part55amay engages and removes with the second engaging portion49of the engaging piece41A and the long lever part55bincluding a roller57in a tip part thereof extends downward so as to counter with the engaging piece41A and locate into the notch portion6of the base part2aof the base board2. The numeral58shows a lock spring which viases so as to make to engage with the engaging piece41A of the locking piece55and is wound around the second axle56. In addition, an end part58aof the lock spring58presses contact with a plane surface portion of the support frame member43A.

In the above-mentioned composition of the connection construction of the storage compartment, as illustrated inFIG. 16, when the engaging piece41A is interlocked with standing-up state of the handle34and rotates in an unlocking direction, the short lever part55aof the locking piece55having a sliding relation engages the second engaging potion of the engaging piece41A. Therefore, the engaging piece41A is engaged by the locking piece55and is in a state as it is.

Then, if other storage compartment1A is now put the lower storage compartment1A upon, the top board member4(outer board20) of the lower storage compartment1A enters into the baseboard2of the upper storage compartment1A. That is, the upper storage compartment1A is fitted in the lower storage compartment1. Since the top board member4of the lower storage compartment1A at this time pushes up the locking piece55, it is in the state that can be rotated in an unlocking direction (clockwise rotation) of the second axle56at a fulcrum. Then, if the handle34is laid flat, the engaging piece41A rotates in an engaging direction (clockwise rotation) according to the spring power of the spring46and is engaged with the engaging stick37of the lower storage compartment1. Each of the storage compartments combines integrally (see FIG.17).

As set forth above, the advantages of the invention are as follows:

(1) When the storage compartments1is piled up another storage compartment1to the vertical direction, the engaging piece engages with an engaging means of a storage compartment located below according to the spring power of a spring if the handle is laid flat at the horizontal state, on the other hand, if the handle is raised at the standing-up state, the engaging piece interlocks a motion of the handle and rotates towards an unlocking direction against the spring power of the spring. Therefore, only operating the both sides of the handle can automatically operate the engaging and removing of the upper and lower storage compartments.

(2) As discussed above, since the engaging piece is interlocked with a motion of a handle through a traction means, the upper storage compartment is carried as it is, and it removes only by one-action control (the handle is made to stand up) when the upper storage compartment is removed from the lower storage compartment and carried to other places.

(3) As discussed above, since the respectively same parts are used for parts including a handle, traction means and engaging piece, the number of parts to constitute can be reduced. Therefore, the cost can be reduced effectively.

(4) In claims2and3, since the handle and engage means are set on the attachment base board, the number of assembly parts can be reduced.

(5) In case that a traction means is made by flexible material and it is interposed between the handle and engaging piece through a connection link, the engaging and removing can be operated smoothly.

(6) The top board member combines two boards having large one and small one, the large inner board consists of a top portion and the short side wall portion provided continuously at sides of the top portion and the outer board of the top board member of the storage compartment located below fits in the inner board, the upper and lower storage compartments are combined stably.

(7) The engaging piece is stopped connecting it to the locking piece if it rotates at a predetermined position. When the locking piece rotates against the spring power of the lock spring and removes from the engaging piece in case that the storage compartment piles upon the upper surface of the other storage compartment.

In this case, the top board member of the lower storage compartment is not wound. Especially if the roller is provided at the tip portion of the long lever portion of the locking piece, reliability is achieved.

(8) When the engaging piece and locking piece are supported pivotably through the axle to the support frame member fixed to the inner wall surface of the sidewall of the storage compartment respectively, the number of assembly parts can be reduced.