OVERTURN PREVENTING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an overturn preventing device.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional overturn preventing device. This overturn preventing device is mounted between a top surface of a piece of furniture installed on a floor and a ceiling. The overturn preventing device includes a support pillar with a built-in spring and base portions mounted to both ends of the support pillar. Each base portion has a disk-shaped base body and a columnar shaft extending vertically from a center of one side of the base body. The shafts of the base portions are inserted into both ends of the support pillar respectively and at least one of the base portions is disposed so as to be movable forward and backward in an axial direction. The spring applies an elastic force to the base portions which are movable forward and backward in an extending direction of the overturn preventing device. While the spring is slightly compressed, the base body of one base portion is caused to abut against the top surface of the furniture, and the base body of the other base portion is caused to abut against the ceiling. The overturn preventing device is thus mounted between the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling with the support pillar extending vertically and can prevent the furniture from overturn due to quakes of earthquake or the like.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3028334

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problem to be Overcome by the Invention

In the overturn preventing device of Patent Document 1, however, since the elastic force of the spring is applied in the extending direction of the overturn preventing device, the overturn preventing device is handled, for example, carried in a maximum expanded state until mounted between the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling. Accordingly, the overturn preventing device is difficult to handle, for example, to carry.

The present invention was made in view of the above-described circumstances in the conventional art and has an object to provide an overturn preventing device which is easy in handling such as carrying.

Means for Overcoming the Problem

An overturn preventing device of the present invention includes an overturn preventing tool, a first base portion, a second base portion and a connecting tool. The overturn preventing tool is mounted between an article installed on an installation surface and a ceiling, a wall surface extending in a vertical direction from the installation surface or the installation surface, and a force is applied to the overturn preventing tool in a direction such that a length thereof is increased. The first base portion is rotatably connected to one of two ends of the overturn preventing tool and has a first abutting surface which abuts against the article. The second base portion is rotatably connected to the other end of the overturn preventing tool and has a second abutting surface which abuts against the ceiling, the wall surface or the installation surface. The connecting tool maintains a folded state in which the overturn preventing tool is contracted so that the first base portion and the second base portion come close to each other.

The overturn preventing device of the invention may further include an angle regulating member which regulates the overturn preventing tool so that the overturn preventing tool makes a predetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface of the first base portion and the second abutting surface of the second base portion under a condition where the overturn preventing tool has been released from holding of the folded state by the connecting tool.

Furthermore, the overturn preventing device of the invention may further include a distance regulating member which regulates the overturn preventing tool so that the first and second base portions are away from each other by a predetermined distance when the overturn preventing tool has extended.

The article includes furniture, a bed having a plurality of beds connected to each other in the up-down direction, large sized televisions, refrigerators, book shelves, showcases and server racks, all of which have a possibility of being overturned by quakes of earthquake or the like. The installation surface includes not only floor surfaces located inside buildings but also foundation surfaces which are located outside buildings and on which articles are installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of a first embodiment, mounted between a top surface of furniture and the ceiling;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of the first embodiment, maintained in a folded state by connecting tools, with one of the connecting tools being detached;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the overturn preventing device of the first embodiment, maintained in the folded state by the connecting tools;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of a second embodiment, mounted between the top surface of furniture and the ceiling;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device lc of the second embodiment, maintained in the folded state by the connecting tools, with one of the connecting tools being detached;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of a third embodiment, mounted between the top surface of furniture and the ceiling; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of the third embodiment, maintained in the folded state by the connecting tools.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First to third embodiments of the overturn preventing devices of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

At least one overturn preventing device 10 of the first embodiment is mounted between a top surface 1U of a piece of furniture 1 installed on a floor surface (not shown) and a ceiling C while a rear surface 1B of the furniture 1 is opposed to a wall surface W extending in a vertical direction from the floor surface, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The furniture 1 is formed into a cuboid shape and has a door, drawers (neither shown) and the like in a front 1F, so that clothes, accessories and the like can be housed in the furniture 1. The furniture 1 has a rectangle-shaped horizontal section long in a right-left direction (a depthwise direction in FIG. 1). When the overturn preventing device 10 is not mounted on the furniture 1, the furniture 1 would possibly be tilted in a front direction (rightward in FIG. 1) by quakes of earthquake or the like thereby to he overturned.

The overturn preventing device 10 includes a damper 20 as a overturn preventing tool mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C, a first base portion 30, a second base portion 40, a torsion coil spring 50, and an angle regulating member 60. The overturn preventing device 10 also includes connecting tools 70 maintaining the folded state in which the damper 20 is contracted to the maximum so that the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 come close to each other.

The damper 20 is mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C. The damper 20 has a cylinder 21, a piston (not shown), a rod 22 and a rod guide (not shown). The cylinder 21 has a bottomed cylindrical shape. The rod guide closes an opening of the cylinder 21. The piston is slidably inserted into the cylinder 21. The rod 22 has a proximal end connected to the piston and a distal end side extending through the rod guide outside the cylinder 21. Operating oil and a compression gas are enclosed in the cylinder 21. When the length of the damper 20 is reduced by contraction with the result that the compression gas enclosed in the cylinder 21 is compressed, an expansion force of the compression gas is applied in an extending direction of the damper 20.

The damper 20 is a compression damper in which a damping force generated during an extending operation is smaller than a damping force generated during a compressing operation. The extending operation of the damper 20 refers to an operation which increases an amount of protrusion of the rod 22 out of the cylinder 21 and an entire length of the damper 20. On the other hand, the compressing operation of the damper 20 refers to an operation which reduces an amount of protrusion of the rod 22 out of the cylinder 21 and the entire length of the damper 20.

A mechanism that the damper 20 generates a damping force will be described. Since the mechanism has a known structure, diagrammatic representation is eliminated. The cylinder 21 has an interior divided by the piston into a rod side pressure chamber in which the proximal end of the rod 22 is housed and a counter-rod side pressure chamber. The piston is formed with an orifice which is a throttle valve communicating between both pressure chambers. The orifice functions as a damping force generator which applies resistance to a flow of the operating oil between the rod side pressure chamber and the counter-rod side pressure chamber with the extending/compressing operation of the damper 20. Furthermore, the piston is formed with a communication path communicating via a check valve with both pressure chambers. The check valve allows the operating oil to flow from the rod side pressure chamber to the counter-rod side pressure chamber and blocks reverse flow of the operating oil. Accordingly, the damper 20 has two flow paths of the operating oil from the rod side pressure chamber to the counter-rod side pressure chamber during the extending operation, that is, one flow path including the orifice and the other flow path including the communication path. On the other hand, the damper 20 has only one flow path of the operating oil from the counter-rod side pressure chamber to the rod side pressure chamber through the orifice during the compressing operation. Accordingly, the damping force generated by the damper 20 during the extending operation is smaller than the damping force generated by the damper 20 during the compressing operation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first base portion 30 is formed into an elongate shape and has a flat plate-shaped first base plate 31 further having a first abutting surface 31A which is brought into face-to-face contact with the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and a first connecting part 32 which is formed to protrude from a surface 31B (a side opposite to the first abutting surface 31A) of the first base plate 31 and to which a proximal end of the cylinder 21 of the damper 20 is connected. The first connecting part 32 is formed near one end of the first base plate 31 (a left end as viewed in FIG. 1). The first connecting part 32 has a flat plate-shaped first connecting part body 32A which is in parallel to a direction in which the first base portion 30 extends and a columnar first shaft 32E extending from both sides of the first connecting part body 32A on a common straight line perpendicular to the direction in which the first base portion 30 extends. The first connecting part body 32A has a distal end with a semicircular outer edge configuration.

The damper 20 has a pair of flat plate-shaped cylinder side connecting parts 23 which are formed on the proximal end of the cylinder 21 so as to sandwich the first connecting part body 32A, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Each cylinder side connecting part 23 has a distal end with a semicircular outer edge configuration. The cylinder side connecting parts 23 also have respective through holes provided on a common straight line perpendicular to an axis line of the cylinder 21. The first shaft 32B extending from both sides of the first connecting part body 32A are inserted into the through holes of the paired cylinder side connecting parts 23 in a retained state, so that the damper 20 is connected to the first base portion 30 so as to be rotatable about the first shaft 32B.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second base portion 40 is also formed into an elongate shape and has a flat plate-shaped second base plate 41 further having a second abutting surface 41A which is brought into face-to-face contact with the ceiling C and a second connecting part 42 which is formed to protrude from a surface 41B (a side opposite to the second abutting surface 41A) of the second base plate 41 and to which a distal end of the rod 22 of the damper 20 is connected. The second connecting part 42 is formed near one end of the second base plate 41 (a right end as viewed in FIG. 1). The second connecting part 42 has a flat plate-shaped second connecting part body 42A which is in parallel to a direction in which the second base portion 40 extends and a columnar second shaft 42B extending from both sides of the second connecting part body 42A on a common straight line perpendicular to the direction in which the second base portion 40 extends. The second connecting part body 42A has a distal end with a semicircular outer edge configuration.

The damper 20 has a pair of flat plate-shaped rod side connecting parts 24 which are formed on the distal end of the rod 22 so as to sandwich the second connecting part body 42A. Each rod side connecting part 24 has a distal end with a semicircular outer edge configuration. The rod side connecting parts 24 also have respective through holes provided on a common straight line perpendicular to an axis line of the rod 22. The second shaft 42B extending from both sides of the second connecting part body 42A are inserted into the through holes of the paired rod side connecting parts 24 in a retained state, so that the damper 20 is connected to the second base portion 40 so as to be rotatable about the second shaft 42B.

The torsion coil spring 50 has a coil portion 50A through which the first shaft 32B of the first connecting part 32 of the first base portion 30 is inserted, one of two ends 50B in abutment against the surface 31B of the first base plate 31 of the first base portion 30, and the other end 50C locked in engagement with one of the cylinder side connecting parts 23 of the damper 20. The torsion coil spring 50 applies an elastic force to the damper 20 in a direction such that the damper 20 is raised with respect to the first base portion 30. More specifically, the torsion coil spring 50 applies the elastic force so that the damper 20 is rotatively moved in the counterclockwise direction about the first shaft 32B of the first connecting part 32 of the first base portion 30, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The angle regulating member 60 has a support portion 60A extending from the surface 31B of the first base plate 31 of the first base portion 30 and a gripper 60B provided on a distal end of the support portion 60A to grip the cylinder 21 of the damper 20. The support portion 60A has a lower part extending perpendicularly from the surface 31B of the first base plate 31 located between the first connecting part 32 of the first base plate 31 and one of ends thereof (a left end as viewed in FIG. 1) and an upper part which is continuous to an upper end of the lower part and is inclined in a direction such that the upper part departs from the first base plate 31 toward the other end (the right as viewed in FIG. 1) of the first base plate 31. More specifically, the upper part of the support portion 60A extends at a predetermined angle to the surface 31B and the first abutting surface 31A of the first base plate 31.

The gripper 60B has a pair of grip pieces 61 extending in a common direction continuously from two points on a distal end of the support portion 60A. The grip pieces 61 of the gripper 60B are curved so as to have the same curvature radius as the outer periphery of the cylinder 21 so that the grip pieces 61 tightly abut against the outer surface of the cylinder 21 when the cylinder 21 is held between the paired grip pieces 61. Furthermore, the grip pieces 61 of the gripper 60B have respective distal ends open outward so that the cylinder 21 is easily inserted between the grip pieces 61. Furthermore, the grip pieces 61, are formed so that a narrowest space between the distal ends of the grip pieces 61 is smaller than the diameter of the cylinder 21.

The grip pieces 61 of the gripper 60B constructed as described above are elastically deformed so that the respective distal ends are spread, with the result that the cylinder 21 can be held between the grip pieces 61. In this case, since inner surfaces of the grip pieces 61 tightly abut against the outer surface of the cylinder 21, the gripper 60B can grip the cylinder 21 without looseness. The cylinder 21 gripped by the gripper 60B has an axis line inclined at a predetermined angle to the first abutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30. In other words, the angle regulating member 60 can regulate the damper 20 so that the damper 20 makes the predetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30.

The damper 20 is compressed to a maximum extent so that the first and second base portions 30 and 40 come closest to each other while the first base plate 31 of the first base portion 30 is parallel to the second base plate 41 of the second base portion 40, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. This state is referred to as “a folded state.” The connecting tools 70 are fitted with both ends of the first and second base plates 31 and 41 (right and left ends as viewed in FIG. 3) when the overturn preventing device 10 is in the folded state. More specifically, two connecting tools 70 constitute one set. Each connecting tool 70 has rectangular connecting tool body 71 and locking pieces 72 which extend from longer sides of the connecting tool body 71 in the same direction while being perpendicular to the longer sides. The connecting tool body 71 has a shorter side having a length that is equal to a distance between the first abutting surface 31A of the first base plate 31 and the second abutting surface 41A of the second base plate 41 in the folded state of the overturn preventing device 10. The longer side of the connecting tool body 71 has a length that is equal to a length of the longer sides of the first and second base plates 31 and 41. The connecting tools 70 are fitted with the first and second base plates 31 and 41 so that the locking pieces 72 are locked in engagement with outer surfaces of both ends of the first and second base plates 31 and 41 of the overturn preventing device 10 in the folded state, thereby being capable of holding the overturn preventing device 10 in the folded state. Consequently, the overturn preventing device 10 can be handled, for example, carried in a compact size, while being held in the folded state by the connecting tools 70.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 1, when to be mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C, the overturn preventing device 10 can be mounted in the following manner. Firstly, the overturn preventing device 10 held in the folded state by the connecting tools 70 is placed on the top surface 1U of the furniture 1. In this case, the overturn preventing device 10 is placed on the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 while the first base portion 30 is located at the lower side. Next, the connecting tools 70 are detached from the both ends of the respective first and second base plates 31 and 41 of the overturn preventing device 10 held in the folded state. The elastic force of the torsion coil spring 50 then causes the damper 20 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction about the first shaft 32B, and an expansion force of the compression gas filling the cylinder 21 causes the damper 20 to extend in length. The cylinder 21 of the damper 20 is gripped by the gripper 60B of angle regulating member 60, so that the damper 20 makes a predetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30. The second abutting surface 41A of the second base portion 40 abuts against the ceiling C in this state. More specifically, the damper 20 makes the predetermined angle also with the second abutting surface 41A. Thus, the overturn preventing device 10 can be mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C while the damper 20 makes the predetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30 and the second abutting surface 41A of the second base portion 40. The predetermined angle refers to an optimum angle at which force resulting from tilt of the furniture 1 due to quakes of earthquake or the like can be damped by a damping force caused by the compressing operation of the damper 20, so that the furniture 1 can be prevented from overturn by reducing the tilt of the furniture 1. This angle preferably ranges from 65° to 85° relative to the first abutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30 (the top surface 1U of the furniture 1) (the same shall apply hereinafter).

The overturn preventing device 10 of the first embodiment includes the damper 20, the first base portion 30, the second base portion 40 and the connecting tools 70. The damper 20 is mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 installed on the floor and the ceiling C, and the expansion force of the compression gas filling the cylinder 21 of the damper 20 is applied in the direction such that the length of the damper 20 is increased. The first base portion 30 is connected to the one end of the damper 20 (the proximal end of the cylinder 21) so as to be rotatable. The first base portion 30 has the first abutting surface 31A abutting against the top surface 1U of the furniture 1. The second base portion 40 is connected to the other end of the damper 20 (the distal end of the rod 22) so as to be rotatable. The second base portion 40 has the second abutting surface 41A abutting against the ceiling C. The connecting tools 70 compress the damper 20 to hold the damper 20 in the folded state in which the first and second base portions 30 and 40 come close to each other.

Since the connecting tools 70 can hold the damper 20 in the folded state in which the damper 20 is compressed with the result that the first and second base portions 30 and 40 come close to each other, the overturn preventing device 10 can be handled, for example, carried in a compact size.

Accordingly, the overturn preventing device of the first embodiment can easily be handled, for example, carried.

Furthermore, the overturn preventing device of the first embodiment includes the angle regulating member 60 regulating the damper 20 so that the damper 20 makes a predetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30 and the second abutting surface 41A of the second base portion 40. Accordingly, the overturn preventing device 10 can be installed between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C while the damper 20 makes the predetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30 and the second abutting surface 41A of the second base portion 40, with the result that the furniture 1 can successfully be prevented from overturn.

Second Embodiment

The overturn preventing device 110 of a second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that distance regulating members 80 are provided without provision of the angle regulating members 60, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in the other construction. Identical or similar parts are labeled by the same reference symbols as those in the first embodiment, and the detailed description of these parts will be eliminated.

The distance regulating members 80 each have first to fourth bottomed cylindrical portions 81, 82, 83 and 84 and disk-shaped connecting member 85. The second cylindrical portion 82 is inserted into an opening of the first cylindrical portion 81 from the bottom side and retained thereby to be axially movable forward and backward in the first cylindrical portion 81. The third cylindrical portion 83 is inserted into an opening of the second cylindrical portion 82 from the bottom side and retained thereby to be axially movable forward and backward in the second cylindrical portion 82. The fourth cylindrical portion 84 is inserted into an opening of the third cylindrical portion 83 from the bottom side and retained thereby to be axially movable forward and backward in the third cylindrical portion 83. The connecting member 85 is attached to the distal end of the fourth cylindrical portion 84. The distance regulating member 80 is axially telescopic.

The first and second base portions 30 and 40 are connected to each other by the distance regulating members 80 in the overturn preventing device 110. Two distance regulating members 80 constitute one set. More specifically, proximal ends of the respective distance regulating members 80 (closed ends of the first cylindrical portions 81) are bonded to the surface 31B at both ends of the first base portion 30 thereby to be fixed. The distance regulating members 80 are telescopic in a direction perpendicular to the surface 31B of the first base portion 30 and have respective distal ends (the connecting members 85) bonded to the surface 41B at both ends of the second base portion 40 thereby to be fixed.

With telescopic movement of the damper 20 and the distance regulating members 80, the first and second base portions 30 and 40 depart from each other or come close to each other while the first base plate 31 of the first base portion 30 and the second base plate 41 of the second base portion 40 are in parallel to each other. The damper 20 and the distance regulating members 80 are contracted to the maximum, so that the first and second base portions 30 and 40 come closest to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 5. This state will be referred to as folded state. The connecting tools 70 are fitted with both ends of the first base plate 31 and both ends of the second base plate 41 in, the folded state. Consequently, the overturn preventing device 110 can be handled, for example, carried in a compact size, while being held in the folded state by the connecting tools 70.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when to be mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C, the overturn preventing device 110 can be mounted in the following manner. Firstly, the overturn preventing device 110 held in the folded state by the connecting tools 70 is placed on the top surface 1U of the furniture 1. In this case, the overturn preventing device 110 is placed on the top surface 1U while the first base portion 30 is located at the lower side. Next, the connecting tools 70 are detached from the both ends of the respective first and second base plates 31 and 41 of the overturn preventing device 110 held in the folded state. The elastic force of the torsion coil spring 50 then causes the damper 20 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction about the first shaft 32B, and an expansion force of the compression gas filling the cylinder 21 causes the damper 20 to extend in length. The distance regulating members 80 also extends with extension of the damper 20, so that the distance between the first and second base portions 30 and 40 is increased. The second abutting surface 41A of the second base portion 40 abuts against the ceiling C immediately when or slightly before the distance regulating members 80 extend to reach the predetermined length. Accordingly, the distance between the first and second base portions 30 and 40 is set to a substantially predetermined distance. In this case, the damper 20 of the overturn preventing device 110 is inclined at a substantially predetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30 and the second abutting surface 41A of the second base portion 40.

The overturn preventing device 110 of the second embodiment also includes the damper 20, the first base portion 30, the second base portion 40 and the connecting tools 70. The damper 20 is mounted between the furniture 1 installed on the floor and the ceiling C, and the expansion force of the compression gas filling the cylinder 21 of the damper 20 is applied in the direction such that the length of the damper 20 is increased. The first base portion 30 is connected to the one end of the damper 20 (the proximal end of the cylinder 21) so as to be rotatable. The first base portion 30 has the first abutting surface 31A abutting against the top surface 1U of the furniture 1. The second base portion 40 is connected to the other end of the damper 20 (the distal end of the rod 22) so as to be rotatable. The second base portion 40 has the second abutting surface 41A abutting against the ceiling C. The connecting tools 70 compress the damper 20 to hold the damper 20 in the folded state in which the first and second base portions 30 and 40 come close to each other.

Since the connecting tools 70 can hold the damper 20 in the folded state in which the damper 20 is compressed with the result that the first and second base portions 30 and 40 come close to each other, the overturn preventing device 110 can be handled, for example, carried in a compact size.

Accordingly, the overturn preventing device 110 of the second embodiment can easily be handled, for example, carried.

Furthermore, the overturn preventing device 110 of the second embodiment includes the distance regulating members 80 regulating the first and second base portions 30 and 40 to be located with the predetermined distance therebetween when the overturn preventing tool extends. Accordingly, when the damper 20 is released from the holding of the folded state by the connecting tools 70, the damper 20 extends with the result that the distance between the first and second base portions 30 and 40 is increased. Since the distance between the first and second base portions 30 and 40 is regulated into the predetermined distance by the distance regulating members 80, the distance between the first and second base portions 30 and 40 is set to the predetermined distance and is not excessively increased. When a plurality of types of overturn preventing devices 110 differing in the predetermined distance between the first and second base portions 30 and 40 regulated by the distance regulating members 80, are prepared according to the distance between the upper surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C, the overturn preventing devices 110 can easily be installed between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C. Furthermore, the damper 20 can be mounted at the predetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30 and the second abutting surface 41A of the second base portion 40, with the result that the furniture 1 can successfully be prevented from overturn.

Third Embodiment

The overturn preventing device 210 of a third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration of the first and second base portions 230 and 240, the configuration of the angle regulating member 260 and the configuration of the connecting tools 270. The third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in the other construction. Identical or similar parts are labeled by the same reference symbols as those in the first embodiment, and the detailed description of these parts will be eliminated.

The first base portion 230 and the second base portion 240 has a common shape. The first base portion 230 is formed into an elongate shape. The first base portion 230 has a flat plate-shaped first base plate 231, a flat plate-shaped vertical plate 232, a folded portion 233 and a first connecting portion 234. The first base plate 231 has the first abutting surface 231A which is brought into a face-to-face contact with the top surface 1U of the furniture 1. The vertical plate 232 extends from one (a left end as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of two ends of the first base plate 231 perpendicularly to the first base plate 231. The folded portion 233 protrudes from a distal end (an upper end as viewed in FIGS. 6 and. 7) of the vertical plate 232 in the same direction as the first base plate 231 extends. The first connecting portion 234 is formed to protrude from an inner surface (a right surface as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the vertical plate 232, and the proximal end of the cylinder 21 of the damper 20 is connected to the first connecting portion 234. The first connecting portion 234 has a flat plate-shaped first connecting portion body 234A parallel to an extending direction of the vertical plate 232 and a cylindrical first shaft 234B extending from both sides of the first connecting portion body 234A on a common straight line perpendicular to the extending direction of the vertical plate 232. The first connecting portion body 234A has a distal end having a semicircular outer edge.

The second base portion 240 is also formed into an elongate shape. The second base portion 240 has a flat plate-shaped second base plate 241, a flat plate-shaped vertical plate 242, a folded portion 243 and a second connecting portion 244. The second base plate 241 has the second abutting surface 241A which is brought into a face-to-face contact with the ceiling C. The vertical plate 242 extends from one (a right end as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of two ends of the second base plate 241 perpendicularly to the second base plate 241. The folded portion 243 protrudes from a distal end (a lower end as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the vertical plate 242 in the same direction as the second base plate 241 extends. The second connecting portion 244 is formed to protrude from an inner surface (a left surface as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the vertical plate 242, and the proximal end of the rod 22 of the damper 20 is connected to the second connecting portion 244. The second connecting portion 244 has a flat plate-shaped second connecting portion body 244A parallel to an extending direction of the vertical plate 242 and a cylindrical second shaft 2443 extending from both sides of the second connecting portion body 244A on a common straight line perpendicular to the extending direction of the vertical plate 242. The second connecting portion body 244A has a distal end having a semicircular outer edge.

When the damper 20 is compressed, the first and second base portions 230 and 240 come closest to each other as illustrated in FIG. 7, so that the overturn preventing device 210 is in a folded state where the first base plate 231 of the first base portion 230 and the second base plate 241 of the second base portion 240 are in parallel to each other. In other words, when the overturn preventing device 210 is in the folded state, the distal end surface of the vertical plate 232 of the first base portion 230 and a side surface of the folded portion 233 continuous from the distal end surface of the plate 232 (an upper side surface as viewed in FIG. 7) abut against the surface 241B (a lower side surface as viewed in FIG. 7) of the second base plate 241 of the second base portion 240. Furthermore, the distal end surface of the vertical plate 242 of the second base portion 240 and a side surface of the folded portion 243 continuous from the distal end surface of the plate 242 (a lower side surface as viewed in FIG. 7) abut against the surface 231B (an upper side surface as viewed in FIG. 7) of the first base plate 231 of the first base portion 230.

The angle regulating member 260 is composed of the folded portion 233 of the first base portion 230 as illustrated in FIG. 6. In other words, when the damper 20 is caused to rotate in the counterclockwise direction about the first shaft 234B by the elastic force of the torsion coil spring 50, the proximal end side corner of the cylinder 21 of the damper 20 abuts against the distal end surface 233A (a right end surface as viewed in FIG. 6) of the folded portion 233 of the first base portion 230. As a result, the damper 20 is prevented from further rotative movement. Accordingly, the folded portion 233 of the first base portion 230 serves as the angle regulating member 260 with the result that the damper 20 can be regulated at a predetermined angle relative to the first abutment surface 231A of the first base portion 230.

The connecting tools 270 are composed of a first locking tool 271, a second locking tool 272, a first lock hole 273 and a second lock hole 274 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The first locking tool 271 is formed into a hook shape and has two ends one of which is rotatably mounted on the other end surface 231C (a right end surface as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the first base plate 231 of the first base portion 230. The second locking tool 272 is formed into the same shape as the first locking tool 271 and has two ends one of which is rotatably mounted on the other end surface 241C (a left end surface as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the second base plate 241 of the second base portion 240. The first lock hole 273 is recessed in the outer side surface 242A (a right side surface as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the vertical plate 242 of the second base portion 240, and the distal end 271A of the first locking tool 271 can be inserted into the first lock hole 273 thereby to be locked when the overturn preventing device 210 is in the folded state. The second lock hole 274 is recessed in the outer side surface 232A (a left side surface as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the vertical plate 232 of the first base portion 230, and the distal end 272A of the second locking tool 272 can be inserted into the second lock hole 274 thereby to be locked when the overturn preventing device 210 is in the folded state. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, when the overturn preventing device 210 is set into the folded state, and the distal end 271A of the first locking tool 271 is inserted into the first lock hole 273 thereby to be locked, and the distal end 272A of the second locking tool 272 is inserted into the second lock hole 274 thereby to be locked, the connecting tools 270 can maintain the overturn preventing device 201 in the folded state. Thus, the overturn preventing device 210 can be held in the folded state by the connecting tools 270, so that the overturn preventing device 210 can be handled, for example, carried in a compact size.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when to be mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C, the overturn preventing device 210 can be mounted in the following manner. Firstly, the overturn preventing device 210 held in the folded state by the connecting tools 270 is placed on the top surface 1U of the furniture 1. In this case, the overturn preventing device 210 is placed on the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 while the first base portion 230 is located at the lower side. Next, the distal end 271A of the first locking tool 271 of the overturn preventing device 210 held in the folded state is pulled out of the first lock hole 273, and the distal end 272A of the second locking tool 272 is pulled out of the second lock hole 274. The elastic force of the torsion coil spring 50 then causes the damper 20 to rotatively move in the counterclockwise direction about the first shaft 234B, and an expansion force of the compression gas filling the cylinder 21 causes the damper 20 to extend in length. The proximal end side corner of the cylinder 21 of the damper 20 abuts against the distal end surface 233A of the folded portion 233 of the first base portion 230 serving as the angle regulating member 260, so that the damper 20 makes a predetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 231A of the first base portion 230. The second abutting surface 241A of the second base portion 240 abuts against the ceiling C in this state. More specifically, the damper 20 makes the predetermined angle also with respect to the second abutting surface 241A of the second base portion 240. Thus, the overturn preventing device 210 can be mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C while making the predetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 231A of the first base portion 230 and the second abutting surface 241A of the second base portion 240.

The overturn, preventing device 210 of the third embodiment also includes the damper 20, the first base portion 230, the second base portion 240 and the connecting tools 270. The damper 20 is mounted between the furniture 1 installed on the floor and the ceiling C, and the expansion force of the compression gas filling the cylinder 21 of the damper 20 is applied in the direction such that the length of the damper 20 is increased. The first base portion 230 is connected to the one end of the damper 20 (the proximal end of the cylinder 21) so as to be rotatable. The first base portion 230 has the first abutting surface 231A abutting against the top surface 1U of the furniture 1. The second base portion 240 is connected to the other end of the damper 20 (the distal end of the rod 22) so as to be rotatable. The second base portion 240 has the second abutting surface 241A abutting against the ceiling C. The connecting tools 270 compress the damper 20 to hold the damper 20 in the folded state in which the first and second base portions 30 and 40 come close to each other.

Since the overturn preventing device 210 can be held in the folded state by the connecting tools 270 in which the damper 20 is compressed with the result that the first and second base portions 230 and 240 come close to each other, the overturn preventing device 210 can be handled, for example, carried in a compact size.

Accordingly, the overturn preventing device 210 of the third embodiment can easily be handled, for example, carried.

Furthermore, the overturn preventing device 210 of the third embodiment includes the angle regulating member 260 which regulates the damper 20 so that the damper 20 makes predetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 231A of the first base portion 230 and the second abutting surface 241A of the second base portion 240 under the condition where the holding of the folded state by the connecting tools 270 has been released. Accordingly, the overturn preventing device 210 can be installed between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C while the damper 20 makes the predetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 231A of the first base portion 230 and the second abutting surface 241A of the second base portion 240, with the result that the furniture 1 can successfully be prevented from overturn.

The present invention should not be limited to the first to third embodiments described above with reference to the drawings, but the technical scope of the invention encompasses the following embodiments, for example.

(1) Although the overturn preventing device includes the angle regulating members or the distance regulating members in each of the first to third embodiments, the overturn preventing device may not include with these members.
(2) Although the overturn preventing device in each of the first to third embodiments includes the torsion coil spring applying the elastic force to the damper in a direction such that the damper is raised with respect to the first base portion, the overturn preventing device may not include the torsion coil spring. In this case, a person who installs the overturn preventing device may manually raise the damper or automatically raise the damper by another configuration.
(3) Although the damper is used as the overturn preventing tool in the first to third embodiments, a coiled spring or the like may be used, instead.
(4) Although the compression damper is used as the overturn preventing tool in the first to third embodiments, the damper may be an extension damper in which a damping force generated during an extending operation is larger than a damping force generated during a compressing operation or a bidirectional damper.
(5) Although the overturn preventing device is mounted between the top surface of the furniture (article) and the ceiling in each of the first to third embodiments, the overturn preventing device may be disposed between the top surface of the furniture (article) and a wall surface, between a rear surface of the furniture (article) and the wall surface or between a bottom of the furniture (article) and the floor (an installation surface).
(6) In each of the first and second embodiments, each connecting tool has the rectangular connecting tool body and the locking pieces which extend from longer sides of the connecting tool body in the same direction while being perpendicular to the longer sides, and two connecting tools constitute one set. However, a connecting tool may be a rectangular cylindrical connecting tool which has one or both open ends. The overturn preventing device in the folded state may be inserted into the rectangular cylindrical connecting tool through the opening thereof thereby to be held in the folded state.
(7) Although two distance regulating members constitute one set in the second embodiment, only one distance regulating member may be connected to the first and second base portions to regulate the distance between the first and second base portions into a predetermined distance.
(8) Although the overturn preventing device includes the angle regulating members in each of the first and third embodiments and the overturn preventing device includes the distance regulating members in the second embodiment, both the angle regulating members and the distance regulating members may be provided together.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 . . . furniture (article), C . . . ceiling, W . . . wall surface, 10, 110, 210 . . . overturn preventing device, 20 . . . damper (overturn preventing tool), 30, 230 . . . first base portion, 31A, 231A . . . first abutting surface, 40, 240 . . . second base portion, 41A, 241A . . . second abutting surface, 70, 270 . . . connecting tools, 60, 260 . . . angle regulating members and 80 . . . distance regulating members.

OVERTURN PREVENTING DEVICE

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CPC

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