JP2003135184A - Table connecting unit and its connection tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connection unit for easily connecting and separating tables mutually and also to provide its connection tool. SOLUTION: A lock tool 3 is arranged on the lower surface of the end part of one top plate 2 to be connected. A locked tool 4 is disposed on the lower surface of the end part of the other top plate 2. The lock tool 3 includes a metallic fixture 5 fixed to the one top plate 2, a lock member 13 whose rear part is arranged in the metallic fixture 5 so as to be rotatable by a horizontal spindle 18 and whose front end is vertically rotated, a lock part 17 arranged at the front end of the lock member 13 and an energizing means 19 for energizing the lock member 13 so as to allow the front end part to be rotated upward. The lock member 13 is disposed to be movable to allow its front end to be retractable at the connection side end of one top plate 2 with respect to the metallic fixture 5. The locked tool 4 is provided with lock surfaces 21b and 22b for locking the lock part 17 of the lock member 13 from the lower side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a table connecting device and a connecting tool thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are cases where it is desired to connect a plurality of tables in a conference table or other tables, and in order to meet such a demand, there is a table in which the tables are separably connected by bolts.

[0003]

In the case where the tables are connected to each other by bolts as in the conventional case, the work of connecting and disconnecting them is troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a connecting device and a connecting tool which can be easily connected and separated.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first invention of claim 1 is the lower surface of the top plate of one of the tables to be connected and the connecting side of the top plate. An end is provided with a locking tool, and a locked tool is provided at the lower surface of the top plate of the other table to be connected, and at the connection side end of the top plate, the locking tool is provided on the one side. A mounting member fixed to the top plate, a locking member whose rear portion is rotatably provided on the mounting metal member by a horizontal spindle, and a front end portion of which rotates in the vertical direction, and a locking member provided at the front portion of the locking member. And a biasing device that biases the locking member so that the tip of the locking member is rotated upward. The tip portion is movably provided so as to be projected and retracted with respect to the connection side end of one of the top plates. A coupling device of the table and having a locking surface that can engage the engagement portion of the locking member.

In the present invention, the tip of the engaging member on the engaging tool side is rotated downward against the urging means to bring the top plates of the tables to be connected closer to each other, and thereafter the engaging member is engaged. The stop member is rotated upward by the urging force of the urging means, its locking portion is locked to the locking surface of the locked tool so that the top plates of both tables are connected to each other, and the connection state is Maintained.

To separate the two tables from the connected state,
The operation is the reverse of the above-described connecting operation.

When the above-mentioned connection is not performed, the locking member is retracted from the connection side end of the top plate to the lower surface side of the top plate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the two arm plates in which the locking member of the locking tool are arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the end face on the connecting side of the top plate. And a fitting member in which the front ends of the two arm plates are connected to each other, and the locked tool is fitted between the two arm plates, and a rear part of the fitting member. In the table connecting device having a locking surface for locking the locking portion of the locking member.

According to the present invention, in the above-mentioned connected state, the fitting member of the locked tool is fitted between the arm plates of the locking tool so that the end surface along the connection side of the top plate is moved. The relative movement of the locking device and the locked device in the direction is prevented.

A third aspect of the present invention is a connecting tool used in the table connecting device according to the first aspect of the present invention, comprising a locking tool and a locked tool. A metal fitting, and a locking member whose rear portion is rotatably provided on the mounting metal fitting by a horizontal shaft and whose front portion rotates in the vertical direction,
A locking portion provided at a front portion of the locking member and the locking member,
The tip of the locking member is biased so as to rotate upward, and further, the locking member is movably provided so as to project into and retract from the mounting member. A table connecting tool having a locking surface capable of locking the locking portion of the locking member from the lower side thereof.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing two tables to be connected, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG.
On the lower surface of the top plate 2 in FIG. 1, a locking tool 3 is provided at one side end 2a in the left-right direction, and a locked tool 4 is provided at the other side end 2b. In the top plate of FIG. 2, the XX direction is the left-right direction and the YY direction is the front-back direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the locking member 3 has a top plate 2 at one side end 2a of the top plate 2 of the table 1.
Are arranged at the ends in the front-back direction. Further, the locked tool 4 is the other side end portion 2 of the top plate 2 of the table 1.
In b, they are arranged at the front and rear ends of the top plate 2, respectively.

The locking tool 3 and the locked tool 4 are arranged on the other table 1A to be connected in the same manner as the one table 1 described above. When one connection side end surface 2c of one table 1 and the other connection side end surface 2d of the other table 1A are arranged to face each other as shown in FIG. Table 1A
The locking tool 3 and the locked tool 4 of one table 1 (1A) are arranged so that the locked tools 4 of FIG.

The locking tool 3 and the locked tool 4 constitute a connecting tool.

Next, the locking tool 3 and the locked tool 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the locking tool 3, 5 is a mounting member, which is an upper plate 6 and side plates 7 and 8 that are integrally hung from both sides of the upper plate 6.
The cross section having an opening at the bottom has a reverse concave shape, and is formed in a groove shape having an opening in the left-right direction (XX direction). Then, the fitting 5 is attached to one opening 9 in the left-right direction.
The side is located on the side of the one end 2c on the connecting side of the top plate 2 and is fixed to the top plate 2 with screws 10. Both side plates 7, 8
The guide holes 11 and 12 in the shape of elongated holes are formed in the left and right directions.

A locking member 13 is provided in the mounting member 5 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction (XX direction) of the mounting member 5. The locking member 13 has two arm plates 14 and 15 in a direction orthogonal to the connecting side end surface 2c, that is, along the inner surfaces of the both side plates 7 and 8 of the mounting bracket 5, and the both arm plates 14 and 15 at the bottom. The bottom plate 16 connected to each other and the locking portion 17 fixedly installed between the front portions of both arms 14 and 15. The locking portion 17 is formed of a round bar.

A supporting shaft 18 is horizontally installed between the rear portions of the both arm plates 14 and 15, and the supporting shaft 18 is fixed to the both arm plates 14 and 15. Further, the support shaft 18
Both ends of the both side plates 7 and 8 penetrate both arm plates 14 and 15.
Is loosely fitted in the guide holes 11 and 12 formed in the
8, that is, the locking member 13 can be moved back and forth along the guide holes 11 and 12. Therefore, the locking member 13 rotates in the up-down direction with the support shaft 18 as a fulcrum, and projects from the one end 2c on the connecting side of the top plate 2 or sinks into the lower part of the top plate 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the guide hole 1
The length L1 of 1, 12 is such that the support shaft 18 has guide holes 11, 1
The length is set to be substantially equal to or longer than the protrusion amount L2 of both arms 14 and 15 from the tip of the mounting member 5 when positioned at the tip of 2.

A coil spring 19 as a biasing means is wound around the support shaft 18 of the locking member 13, and one end 19a of the coil spring 19 is locked to the lower surface (inner surface) of the upper plate 6 of the mounting member 5. And the other end 19b is the locking member 1
Upper surface (inner surface) of the bottom plate 16 behind the support shaft 18 in FIG.
Due to the return force of the coil spring 19, the side of the locking portion 17 with the support shaft 18 as the center is upward (arrow A).
The locking member 13 is constantly urged so as to move in the direction). In addition, as long as the locking member 13 is biased in this way, a biasing means such as a leaf spring other than the coil spring may be used.

The locked tool 4 includes an upper plate 20 and the upper plate 20.
Side plates 21 and 2 which are fitting members vertically hung from both sides of the
It consists of 2. The length L3 between the outer surfaces of the side plates 21 and 22 is determined by the length of the arm plates 14 and 1 of the locking member 13.
5 is set to be slightly shorter than the length L4 between the inner surfaces of the two inner side plates 5, and the both side plates 21 and 22 which are the fitting portions are set to the both arm plates 14 and 1.
It is designed to fit into the space between the five. Further, the front end faces of the side plates 21 and 22 are formed as guide faces 21a and 22a which recede toward the lower side, and the rear end faces of the side plates 21 and 22 are substantially vertical engaging faces 21b and 22.
It is formed in b. Incidentally, the guide surfaces 21a, 22a
Is formed as a curved surface in the example of the drawing, but may be a guide surface formed of a linear tapered surface.

The top plate 2 of the locking tool 3 and the locked tool 4
4, the top plates 2 and 2 of the tables 1 and 1A to be coupled are brought close to each other, and the locking member 13 of the locking tool 3 is supported by the support shaft 18 of the guide hole 11, as shown in FIG. In the state in which the locking portion 17 of the locking member 13 is projected (advanced) until it is locked at the tip of the locking member 12, both side plates 21 of the locked tool 4,
It is set so as to be locked to the locking surfaces 21b and 22b of 22.

The operation of connecting the tables in the above configuration will be described.

For example, when connecting two tables 1 and 1A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, first, the table 1
As shown in FIG. 4, the locking member 13 of the locking tool 3 on the side is manually pulled out from the mounting member 5 and projected.

Next, the connection-side end faces 2c and 2d of the top plates 2 and 2 of both tables 1 and 1A are brought close to each other. As a result, the locking portion 17 of the locking member 13 contacts the guide surfaces 21a and 22a of the side plates 21 and 22 of the locked tool 4, and when they are brought closer to the guide surfaces 21a and 22a, the one end 1 of the coil spring 19 serving as the biasing means.
Due to the contact frictional resistance between 9a and the mounting member 5, the locking member 13
The locking member 13 is guided by the guide surfaces 21a, 22a of the locked tool 4 and rotates downward about the support shaft 18 without retracting. Then, when further approached, the locking portion 17 gets over the side plates 21, 22 and reaches the rear part of the side plates 21, 22. Then, the return force of the coil spring 19 causes the locking member 13 to naturally rotate about the support shaft 18 so that the locking portion 17 moves upward. By this rotation, the locking portion 17
Is a rear end surface 21 of both side plates 21 and 22 of the locked tool 4.
It engages with the locking surfaces 21a and 22b of b and 22b.

As a result, the top plates 2 and 2 are connected so that their side end surfaces 2c and 2d are not separated in the left-right direction of the top plate 2, that is, they are not separated in the XX direction in FIG. It Further, both side plates 21, 2 of the locked tool 4
By fitting 2 between the arm plates 14 and 15 on the side of the locking tool 3, both top plates 2 and 2 are moved in the front-back direction, that is,
They are connected so as not to shift in the Y-Y direction of FIG.

Therefore, the two top plates 2 and 2 are automatically connected only by bringing the two tables 1 and 1A close to each other.

In the above connecting operation, the contact frictional resistance between the coil spring 19 and the mounting member 5 is small, and the locking member 17 contacts the guide surfaces 21a and 22a, so that the locking member 13 moves inside the mounting member 5. When the user retreats to, the user manually pulls out the locking member 13 and pivots downward as described above, and the rear end surfaces 21b and 22b of the side plates 21 and 22 are rotated.
It may be locked to.

The guide surfaces 21 of the side plates 21 and 22 are also provided.
The a and 22a may be formed on vertical surfaces instead of the curved surfaces as described above. In this case, in the connecting operation as described above, the locking member 13 can be connected by manually rotating the locking member 13 downward as described above.

Further, the other table 1A connected to the above
3 provided on the side end surface 2c on the non-coupling side in
Pushes the locking member 13 into the mounting member 5 to immerse it from the side end surface 2c to the lower surface side of the top plate 2. Thereby, the locking member 13 projects from the side end surface 2c of the top plate 2,
It is possible to eliminate a trouble such as a person or an object hitting the locking member 13. Further, even when the tables 1 and 1A are separated and not in use, the locking member 13 of each top plate is retracted.

From the above-mentioned connected state, the tables 1 and 1 are
In the case of separating A, first, the user manually operates the locking member 13 so as to lower the locking portion 17 side against the urging force of the coil spring 19 so that the locking portion 17 has both side plates. 14,
The tables 1 and 1A can be separated from each other by removing them from the locking surfaces 21b and 22b of the table 15 and pulling the tables 1 and 1A from each other in this state.

In the above description, the case where two tables are connected has been described, but by providing the above-mentioned locking tool 3 and locked tool 4 on one table, as described above, It is natural that two or more (plural) required tables can be sequentially connected.

[0035]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, both tables can be connected by the operation of rotating the locking member on the locking tool side downward and the operation of bringing both tables closer. . In case of separation, the reverse operation of the connecting operation can be performed. Therefore, as compared with the conventional connection using bolts, the connection and separation operations are easier.

Further, when the tables are not connected, the engaging member is retracted from the end face on the connecting side of the top plate to the lower surface side of the top plate, so that the engaging member may come into contact with people or objects. It can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the relative movement of the top plates in the direction along the connecting side end faces of the two connected top plates can be prevented, so that the table can be maintained in an orderly connected state.

According to the invention described in claim 3, it is possible to provide a connector applied to the table connecting device according to claim 1.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a table to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connector of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a connected state by the connecting tool of the present invention.

5 is a view seen from the direction B in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

1,1A table 2 Top plate 2a, 2b Connection side end 2c, 2d Connection end face 3 locking tool 4 Locked tool 5 Mounting bracket 11,12 guide hole 13 Locking member 14 and 15 arm plates 17 Locking part 18 spindles 19 Biasing means 21,22 Fitting member 21b, 22b Locking surface

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A lower surface of a top plate of one of the tables to be connected, and a lower surface of the top plate of the other table to be connected, in which an engaging member is provided at an end portion on the connection side of the table. Also, a locked tool is provided at the end of the top plate on the connection side,
The locking member is a mounting bracket fixed to the one top plate,
A locking member having a rear portion rotatably provided on the mounting metal fitting by a horizontal support shaft, the front portion of which rotates in the vertical direction, a locking portion provided at the front portion of the locking member, and the locking. And a biasing means for biasing the member so that the front end of the lock member rotates upward. Further, the front end of the lock member is connected to the top plate of one of the top plates. A table provided so as to be movable in and out of a side end, and the locked tool has a locking surface capable of locking the locking portion of the locking member from the lower side thereof. Connecting device. 2. An engaging member of the engaging tool connects two arm plates arranged in parallel in a direction orthogonal to a connecting side end surface of the top plate and the front ends of the two arm plates to each other. A fitting member having a locking portion, wherein the locked tool is fitted between the arm plates, and a locking surface for locking the locking portion of the locking member at a rear portion of the fitting member. The table connecting device according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. A locking tool and a locked tool, wherein the locking tool is provided with a mounting bracket and a rear portion rotatably supported by a horizontal shaft on the mounting bracket, and a front portion of the locking bracket in a vertical direction. A rotating locking member, a locking portion provided at the front end of the locking member, and a biasing means for biasing the locking member so that the front end rotates upward. Further, the locking member is provided so as to be movable in and out of the fitting, and the locked tool has a locking surface capable of locking the locking portion of the locking member from below. A table connector, comprising: