JP2003093160A - Table - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a table which can protect plugs and connectors inserted into receptacles placed on the lower face side of the top plate. SOLUTION: This table 10 has receptacles C on the lower face side near the front edge 11a of the top plate 11. A cover plate in a plate shape is placed around the receptacles C. Knees and thigh parts of a user sitting around the table 10 are prevented from colliding with plugs 22 and connectors 23 so as not to unexpectedly come off.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a table, and more particularly to a table capable of protecting plugs and connectors inserted in an outlet when the outlet is provided under a top plate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the spread of communication networks such as personal computers and the Internet, information is often exchanged by computers. In such a situation, even in meetings in the office, I / O work and communication can be performed to improve work efficiency.
There is a request to obtain the latest information.

Therefore, recently, a table equipped with an outlet under a top plate of a table used for meetings and the like has appeared. According to this, it is possible to perform input / output work and information acquisition in real time even during a conference, and it is possible to eliminate the need to perform special processing on the upper surface side of the top plate.

[0004]

However, in the case where an outlet is provided on the lower surface side of the top plate, the plug, the connectors, etc., inserted into the outlet are the knees, thighs, or thighs of the seated person. The armrest of the chair is easy to hit, and as a result, the plugs and connectors may accidentally come out of the outlet, which may cause disadvantages such as loss of important data and unintended interruption of communication. .

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been devised in view of such inconvenience, and an object thereof is to insert an outlet into the outlet even if the outlet is provided on the lower surface side of the top plate. It is to provide a table that can protect the plugs and connectors from directly hitting the knee or the like.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a means for protecting a plug inserted into an outlet in a table in which an outlet is arranged on the lower surface side of the top near the edge of the top. Is provided. With such a configuration, the knees of the person sitting around the table or the armrest of the chair does not directly contact the plug, etc., and it is possible to stably maintain the plugged state. Become.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The protection means according to the present invention is provided so as to cover the plug and the connectors from below, and is provided so as to be movable to a position that does not hinder the insertion and removal of these plugs and connectors. It is preferable to adopt the configuration. With such a configuration, there may be a gap between the top plate and the protection means such that a cable led out from the plug or the like onto the top plate can pass therethrough, and the plug can be reliably protected. You can On the other hand, when the plug is inserted / removed, the protection means can be moved so as to enlarge the gap, so that the insertion / removal operation can be easily performed.

[0008] Further, it is preferable that the protection means has a structure in which an adapter is provided so as to be able to be received between the adapter and the top plate. Accordingly, even if the adapter is larger in size than the plug, the adapter can be held between the protection means and the top plate.

Further, the outlets are arranged at a plurality of positions along the edge of the top plate, and the protection means can be constituted by a single plate material or a bar extending along the edge. This makes it possible to simplify the mechanism for moving the protection means without increasing the number of parts of the protection means.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view in which the present invention is applied to a table with a curtain plate. In this figure,
The table 10 includes a top plate 11 having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, columns 12, 12 on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the top plate 11 for rotatably supporting the top plate 11, and the columns 12, 12.
A pair of supports 15, 15 including bases 13, 13 provided at the lower end of 12 and a rear portion of the top plate 11 (see FIG. 1).
In this case, the curtain plate 16 is located on the front side) and the surface direction of which is substantially vertical.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the top plate 11 is supported on the upper inner surface of the column 12 via brackets 17 provided on the lower surfaces on both sides in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the top plate 11 has a substantially horizontal position and the top plate 1
A rear portion of the curtain plate 1 is rotatably provided to a vertical position located on the upper outer surface side of the curtain plate 13 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). This rotational movement can be performed by operating the operation lever 18 provided on the lower edge side of the bracket 17 in a predetermined manner. A known mechanism is used as the mechanism for rotating the top plate 11, and therefore, the detailed structure and description thereof are omitted here.

On the lower surface of the top plate 11 near the front edge 11A thereof, a plurality of outlets C are provided along the front edge 11A in two left and right areas. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, this outlet C is a top plate 1
It is mounted via a mounting plate 20 having a substantially crank-shaped cross-section mounted on the lower surface side of 1. That is, the mounting plate 20
Is an upper flat surface portion 20A along the lower surface of the top plate 11, a vertical surface portion 20B connected to the inner end of the upper flat surface portion 20A, and a lower flat surface portion 20 directed rearward from the lower end of the vertical surface portion 20B.
The outlet C is attached by using a hole 20D which is formed by C and is formed in the surface of the vertical surface portion 20B. Although the outlet C in this embodiment is not particularly limited, the outlet C1 for power supply is used.
And an information outlet C2 for connecting the LAN cable, the plug 22 and the connector 23 can be inserted into and removed from the power outlet C1 and the information outlet C2.

A cover plate 25 as a protection means is attached to the lower flat surface portion 20C of the mounting portion 20 via a hinge member 26. The hinge member 26 has one piece 26A fixed to the lower flat surface portion 20C and the other piece 2A.
6B is fixed to the rear end side of the cover plate 25.
In addition, on the outer peripheral side of the base end of the hinge member 26, each of the pieces 26
A spring member 29 having a C-shaped cross section is provided to keep A and 26B substantially parallel to each other.

The cover plate 25 is composed of a single plate member having a front-rear width extending from the lower position of the lower flat surface portion 20C to a position substantially directly below the front end edge 11A of the top plate 11 with a rear end portion thereof. , The plug 22 and the connector 23, which are plugged into the outlets C distributed along the front edge 11A on both the left and right sides, can be entirely and simultaneously covered. Here, the front end 25A (the right end in FIG. 6) of the cover plate 25 is provided in a gently curved shape so as to be slightly above the rear end, whereby the lower surface of the top plate 11 and the cover plate 25. The gap S between the front end 25A of the plug 22 and the connector 23 is narrowed, so that the concealing effect of the plug 22 and the connector 23 can be obtained. It should be noted that the cover plate 25 can be rotationally moved clockwise against the spring force of the spring member 29 by applying an external force so as to push the front end 25A downward (FIGS. 6B and 7). (See (B)).

A cable guide 30 is arranged behind the cover plate 25. This cable guide 30
Are provided in a shape similar to the symmetrical shape of the cover plate 25. That is, the cable guide 30
The rear end 30A (the left end in FIG. 6) is constituted by a single plate member extending along the cover plate 25.
However, it is provided in a gently curved shape so as to be relatively slightly above. This cable guide 30
A substantially L-shaped fixing piece 32 is provided in the front portion, and the fixing piece 32 is held at a fixed position by fixing the fixing piece 32 to the lower flat surface portion 20C of the mounting plate 20 via a screw or the like not shown. Also,
On the upper surface of the cable guide 30, the cables CA led out from the rear side of the outlet C can be routed along the same direction, and the plurality of cables CA are passed through the passages 35 provided on the lower surface side of the top plate 11 and the curtain plate. It can be pulled up to the inner surface side of 16.

The passage 35 is formed in a shape that opens in the front-rear direction, and as shown in FIG. 4, the front end (the right end in FIG. 4).
Is opened to the cable guide 30 side, while the rear end (the left end in the figure) is opened to the upper side of the curtain plate 16.

The upper inner surface of the curtain plate 16 is connected to the lower rear surface of the top plate 11 via a hinge member 37, while the lower inner surface is connected to the tip of an arm 38 extending from the support column 12. The top plate 11 is attached to the hinge member 3 while keeping the surface of the curtain plate 16 in a substantially vertical position.
It becomes possible to rotate between the horizontal position and the standing position with the shaft portion 37A of No. 7 as the relative rotation center.

A cable housing portion 40 is provided on the inner surface of the curtain plate 16. The cable storage portion 40 forms a fixed storage space with respect to the inner surface of the curtain plate 16 and is provided in a shape in which the upper end and the left and right ends are open, and the top plate is provided in the storage space from the rear side of the outlet C. A plurality of cables CA led out under 11 can be focused.

A cord reel 42 is provided in the cable storage section 40, and the cord reel 42 is provided.
The plug 43 led out from is plugged into an outlet (not shown) on the floor or wall.
As shown in FIG. 4, the cord reel 42 has an O
An A tap 44 is provided side by side, and a plurality of cables CA extending from the back side of a power outlet C1 are connected to the OA tap 44, respectively.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 45 indicates a lower shelf supported by brackets 17, 17 fixed to the lower surface of the top plate 11.

Next, the operation of the table 10 in this embodiment will be described.

When plugging or unplugging the plug 22 or the connector 23 on the electronic device side (not shown) placed on the top plate 11 into or from the outlets C1 and C2, FIG. 6 (B) and FIG.
As shown in (B), the front end 2 of the cover plate 25
5A is pushed down from above to largely open the gap S between the front end 25A and the lower surface of the top plate 11,
It can be performed with the work space expanded.

After the plug 22 and the connector 23 are inserted into the outlets C1 and C2, the pressing force of the cover plate 25 may be released. As a result, the cover plate 25 is returned to its original position by the spring force of the spring member 29 provided on the proximal end side of the hinge member 26, and the plug 22 and the connector 23 are covered from below. .

When inserting an AC adapter or the like (not shown) into the outlet C, the gap S is enlarged so that the adapter can be received between the lower surface of the top plate 11 and the cover plate 25. The adapter can be covered from below.

The cable CA led out from the rear side of the outlet C is placed on the cable guide 30,
It is routed to the front end side of the passage 35 located on the right side in FIG. At this time, it is preferable to use fasteners or tapes (not shown) capable of fixedly holding each cable CA extending on the cable guide 30 on the upper surface of the cable guide 30.

The cable CA is inserted from the front end 35A to the rear end 35B of the passage 35 on the lower surface of the top plate 11, and the excess length of the cable CA connected to the information outlet C2 is bundled into a cable storage portion 40. It is stored inside. When connecting a communication line, the information outlet C2 can be pulled out from the cable storage unit 40 and connected to a network such as an office.

The cable CA led out from the rear side of the power outlet C1 is connected to the OA tap 44 described above, and when the power is obtained, the plug 43 of the cord reel 42 is used as a power outlet on the floor or the like. Just plug it in.

When the top plate 11 is placed in the upright position in order to fold the table 10, the operation lever 18 may be operated in a predetermined manner and rotated so that the front end 11A of the top plate 11 becomes the apex. At this time, the top plate 11 is attached to the shaft portion 3 of the hinge member 37.
Since 7A is set as the center of relative rotation with respect to the curtain plate 16, the relative distance between the rear end 35B position of the passage 35 under the top plate 11 and the cable storage portion 40 hardly changes. Therefore, even with the table 10 of the type in which the top plate 11 and the curtain plate 16 rotate relative to each other, the cable CA will not be loosened or excessively pulled.

Therefore, according to such an embodiment, even when the outlet C is provided on the lower surface side of the top plate 11,
It is possible to eliminate the risk that a plug or the like inserted into this will accidentally come out.

The cable CA extending from the rear side of the outlet C extends from the front portion of the top plate 11 toward the rear portion thereof, and extends from the rear portion to the cable storage portion 40 provided on the inner surface side of the curtain plate 16. Since the top plate 11 is housed in such a manner that the top plate 11 is rotated, slack and pulling force do not act on the cable CA.

The means for protecting the outlet C in the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment.
The configuration shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 can be substituted. That is, a structure in which the rotating members 51, 51 are provided on both end surfaces 50A, 50A of the supporting member 50 having the outlet C, respectively, and the bar 53 made of a single wire material is provided between the rotating members 51, 51, etc. Can be adopted. As a result, the portion of the bar 53 that extends laterally so as to be located on the front side of the outlet C is at the outlet C.
It is kept so that the plugs and connectors that are plugged into are not accidentally pulled out.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the outlet C is arranged on the front end edge 11 side of the top plate 11 is shown and described, but the outlet C may be arranged on the side end edge of the top plate 11.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the plug to be inserted into the outlet provided on the lower surface of the top plate and the connector protection means are provided,
The knees of the person sitting around the table and the armrests of the chair do not directly contact the plugs, and it is possible to stably maintain the plugged state.

Further, the protection means is provided so as to cover the plug from below, while it is provided so as to be movable to a position that does not hinder plug insertion / removal, so that the space between the top plate and the protection means is The gap may be such that a cable led out from the plug can pass through, and the plug can be reliably protected. On the other hand, when the plug is inserted / removed, the protection means can be moved so as to enlarge the gap, so that the insertion / removal operation can be easily performed.

Further, in the construction in which the protection means is provided so as to be able to receive the adapter, even if the adapter is larger in size than the plug, the adapter is sandwiched between the protection means and the top plate to hold the adapter. can do.

Further, since the protection means composed of a single plate material or a bar extending along the edge of the top plate protects the outlets distributed in a plurality of places, the number of parts of the protection means can be increased. Therefore, the mechanism for moving the protection means can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a table according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a top plate of the table is folded.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the table.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a left side view showing a state where the top plate is folded.

FIG. 6A is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a power outlet region, and FIG. 6B is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cover plate is moved from the state of FIG.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a connector area of a LAN cable, and FIG. 7B is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cover plate is moved from the state of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a table showing a modified example other than the above-mentioned embodiment as seen from the front side.

9 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a right side view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 tables 11 Top plate 15 Support 16 curtain plate 22 plug 23 Connector 25 Cover plate (protective means) 30 cable guide 35 passage 40 cable storage 53 bar (protective measures) C outlet C1 power outlet C2 information outlet CA cable S space

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A table in which an outlet is arranged in the vicinity of an edge of the top plate on the lower surface side of the top plate, the table being provided with protection means for plugs and connectors that are inserted into the outlet. 2. The protection means is provided so as to cover the plugs and connectors from below, and is also provided so as to be movable to a position that does not hinder the removal and insertion of these plugs and connectors. The table according to claim 1. 3. The table according to claim 1, wherein the protection means is provided so as to be able to receive the adapter between the protection means and the top plate. 4. The outlet is arranged at a plurality of positions along an edge of the top plate, and the protection means is constituted by a single plate material or a bar extending along the edge. Table of 1, 2 or 3.