JP2003275031A - Safety manipulator for folding table - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safety manipulator for a folding table in which safety is improved by eliminating erroneous operations in the case of an unlocking operation with a manipulating lever when turning a table top to be held at both a using position and a rising position. <P>SOLUTION: In the safety manipulator for the folding table, the table top 2 is turned between the using position approximately horizontal to leg poles 4a and 4b and a standby position approximately vertical thereto, both positions are maintained by engagement means (26, 34, 30 and 35) and the engagement means are disengaged by moving the manipulating lever 36 provided on the table top 2 in one direction. The unidirectional movement of the manipulating lever 36 is blocked by a safety lever 40 to maintain the engagement means not to be disengaged, and when the safety lever 40 is moved in the other direction, the unidirectional movement of the manipulating lever 36 is released. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention rotates a top plate between a use position in which it is substantially horizontal with respect to a leg column and a retracted position in which it is substantially vertical, and maintains both positions by an engaging means. At the same time, the engagement means relates to a safety operation device for a folding table that is released by moving the operation lever provided on the top plate in one direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a folding table of this type, the applicant of the present invention has a structure in which the top plate rotation locking portion is concealed from the outside, and the risk of fingers being caught is avoided, thus improving safety. We have already developed an improved folding table manipulator that can do this.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the operating device of the folding table according to the applicant of the present invention, in which the top plate is held in the horizontal position, and FIG. 10 is the top plate similarly held in the standing (substantially vertical) position. It is a side view of the operating device of a folding table.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the folding table 01 comprises a pair of left and right brackets 03, which are provided on both sides of the lower surface of the top plate 02, and brackets 03, which are oriented in the front-rear direction. The top plate 02 can be attached by pivoting to the upper end of the pedestal 04 which is erected on the base B of the
However, it can be rotated between a horizontal use position (FIG. 9) that falls near the upper ends of both pedestals 04 (FIG. 9) and a folding position (FIG. 10) that stands upright on the front side of pedestals 04.

Specifically, on the inner surfaces of the upper ends of both pedestals 04,
A shaft hole (not shown) through which the pivot 05 is inserted, and the bracket 03
On the other hand, a support having front and rear two locking grooves (not shown) capable of engaging the two locking pins 08 and 09 facing in the left-right direction and holding the top plate 02 in the horizontal use position and the standing position. A piece (not shown) is provided, and an upper end portion of the support piece and a locking pin moving member 015 that engages and disengages the locking pins 08 and 09 with both locking grooves in association with the operation of the operation lever 013. Are housed between the opposite side plates of the one bracket 03, which has a substantially downward U-shape.

[0006]

However, the engagement / disengagement operation of the engagement pins 08 and 09 and both engagement grooves by the operation lever 013 described above is performed by a simple operation of only one rotation operation. Therefore, while the operation is simple, the operation lever 013
However, there is a risk that the object may hit an object or a knee and cause an erroneous operation, and the object may fall when the object is placed on the top plate 02.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and eliminates an erroneous operation at the time of a release operation by the operation lever when the top plate held at both the use position and the standing position is rotated. An object of the present invention is to provide a safety operation device for a folding table that can ensure safety.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the safety operation device for a folding table according to the present invention comprises a use position in which the top plate is substantially horizontal with respect to the leg columns and a retracted position in which the top plate is substantially vertical. In the safety operation device for a folding table, which rotates between the two positions and maintains both positions by the engaging means, and the engaging means is released by one-way movement of the operating lever provided on the top plate, A movement of the operating lever in one direction is blocked by the safety lever to keep the engagement means unreleasable, and movement of the safety lever in the other direction releases the movement of the operating lever in the one direction. Is characterized by. According to this feature, the movement direction of the safety lever and the operation direction of the operation lever are opposite to each other, and the operation lever cannot be operated unless the safety lever is moved. Can be reliably maintained.

In the folding table safety operating device of the present invention, it is preferable that the operating lever is always elastically biased in the other direction. With this configuration, even if the safety lever is operated, the operation lever is held in a position where the engaging means can be surely maintained in the engaged state by the elastic force unless the operation lever is operated, which is safe.

In the folding table safety operating device of the present invention, one of the operating levers is provided at the center of the front side of the top plate so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and the engaging means is provided on both left and right sides of the top plate. It is preferable that the operating lever and the engaging means are mechanically connected. By doing so, the left and right actuating members 20 can be simultaneously operated with one hand by operating the operation lever arranged at one place, and not only the operability is improved, but also when the top plate becomes free. Can support the top plate with the other hand, improving safety.

In the safety operation device for a folding table according to the present invention, the engaging means is slidable in a frame pivotally mounted on a support tool installed on the leg support, and is operated by the operation lever. The operating member provided on the side of the top plate and the engaging portion formed on the supporting member that blocks the rotation of the operating member are prevented from rotating by sliding the operating member. Is preferably released. By doing so, the posture of the folding table can be easily changed only by the sliding operation of the operating member by the operation lever.

In the folding table safety operating device of the present invention, the operating lever is a sliding case body slidable on a fixed case body provided on the top plate, and the safety lever is the sliding case body. It is preferable to have an elastic locking claw which is attached to the fixed case and can be engaged and disengaged with the fixed case. With this configuration, the operation device can be assembled in the two case bodies and can be compactly attached to the top plate.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a folding table provided with a safety operating device of the present invention, (a) is a perspective view of the folding table in a horizontal use state, (b) is a perspective view of the folding table in a vertical retracted position, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged side view showing the engaging means of the folding table in use, FIG. 3A is a partially broken side view showing the engaging means of the folding table, and FIG. 3B is a top plate. It is a disassembled perspective view of the safety operating device in a lower surface.

First, FIG. 1 shows a folding table 1. The folding table 1 is provided at the lower ends of a pair of leg columns 4a and 4b which are arranged on the left and right sides of the bottom surface and are opened and closed in the front and rear directions. It is supported by four casters S and movable on the floor surface 3, and can be stopped and held at a predetermined position on the floor surface 3.

This folding table 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the use state, the horizontally long rectangular top plate 2 is maintained in a substantially horizontal state such that the front F is located on the front side with respect to the leg support, and when not in use, as shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the front F of the top plate 2 is maintained in a state of being held in a substantially vertical retracted position facing upward so that it can be stacked and accommodated together with a plurality of folding tables.

Then, the top plate 2 which is maintained in a state in which it is engaged and held at the horizontal position and the vertical position where it is not used as described above.
Is provided with a safety operating device of the present invention for releasing the above-mentioned engaged state when rotating between both positions.

In the folding table 1 described above, support tools 5a and 5b are attached to the upper ends of a pair of left and right leg columns 4a and 4b, and the left and right support tools 5a and 5b are connected by a connecting member 12. Has been done. Further, the top plate 2 has a damper device D in the middle between the connecting member 12 and the horizontal frame 9a.
Are connected to alleviate the impact at the terminal position where the top plate 2 is rotated.

2 and 3, the structure of the lower surface of the top plate 2 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the lower surface of the top plate 2 is provided with left and right vertical frames 8a and 8b extending in the front-rear direction. It is composed of horizontal frames 9a and 9b connected to the front and back of the pair of vertical frames 8a and 8b, and the vertical and horizontal frames 8a, 8b and 9a, 9b are formed in a U-shaped cross-section with an upper opening. An opening 1 for inserting the ends of a pair of wires W1 and W2 connected to an operation device 15 to be described later is provided in the front side plate at the center of the horizontal frame 9a arranged in front.
0 is formed.

Further, the front horizontal frame 9a is provided with a frame cover 14 having a U-shaped cross-section with an upper surface opened on the lower surface thereof, and a pair of wires W1 and W2 inserted through the opening 10 are provided in the center front thereof. Insertion hole 14 through which the end is inserted
a and 14b are formed.

A pair of elongated holes 16a, 16b penetrating in the width direction is formed in the front and rear at approximately the center of the left and right vertical frames 8a, 8b, and a supporting hole 18 is provided in the middle of both elongated holes 16a, 16b. Has been drilled. FIG. 3B shows the left and right vertical frames 8a side in detail although the left and right structures are the same, and the left side will be mainly described.

A block-shaped actuating member 20 formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped serving as engaging means is slidably fitted in the longitudinal direction inside the vertical frames 8a so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 (a), the actuating member 20 has a through hole 22 formed in the front thereof through which the locking shaft 26 corresponding to the one elongated hole 16b is inserted, and a supporting hole. An elongated hole 23 corresponding to 18 is formed, and a locking shaft 30 for locking the other end of a tension spring 24, one end of which is locked in a notch groove 21 formed in the upper portion at the rear of the vertical frame 8a at the rear. A through hole 25 is formed to insert the through hole.

The actuating member 20 constructed as described above is
When each is inserted into the substantially vertical portion inside the vertical frame 8a, the elongated holes 16 of the vertical frame 8a at the corresponding positions are inserted.
3 (a) is inserted into the b and the through hole 22 in the front of the actuating member 20, and is engaged in the long hole 16a at the rear of the vertical frame 8a and the through hole 25 at the rear of the actuating member 20. By inserting the shaft 30, the shaft 30 is incorporated into the vertical frame 8a.

Further, the support tool 5 on the upper ends of the leg columns 4a and 4b.
As shown in FIG. 3 (b), a and 5b have a through hole 32 formed in the rear bifurcated support portion 6a, and a rear end side facing surface thereof as shown in FIG. 3 (a). A pair of engagement grooves (engagement portions) 35 bent downward are formed. On the other hand, a pair of horizontal engagement grooves (engagement portions) 34 that are open toward the front are formed on the inner surfaces of the front bifurcated support portion 6b that face each other.

By engaging the locking shaft 26 constituting the front engaging means with the pair of engaging grooves 34, the top plate 2 is locked at a substantially horizontal position to constitute the rear engaging means. By engaging the shaft 30 and the pair of engaging grooves 35, the top plate 2 is maintained in the substantially vertical position.

Rear bifurcated support portion 6a of both support members 5a and 5b
By inserting the pivot 28 through the long hole 23 of the actuating member 20 through the through hole 32 formed in
It is rotatably attached to the supporters 5a, 5b at the upper ends of a, 4b via a pivot 28.

A locking end portion W1a (only the W1 side is shown) provided at one end of the wires W1 and W2 engages with a locking groove formed at a front end of the actuating member 20 incorporated in each of the vertical frames 8a and 8b. The wires W1 and W2 are stopped and housed in a bent state in both the vertical frames 8a and 8b and the front horizontal frame 9a, and the other ends thereof are connected to the operating device 15.

Then, the other end of the tension spring 24, one end of which is locked in the notch groove 21 at the rear of the vertical frames 8a, 8b, is locked by the locking shaft 30 inserted in the rear of the working member 20, so that the working member 20 Is biased backwards and each wire W1,
Tension is applied to W2.

Next, the operating device 15 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a safety operating device including an operating lever and a safety lever, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fixing member slidably supporting the operating lever as viewed from the back side.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an operating state of the operating device.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, the operating device 15
Is connected to the actuating member 20 for releasing the engagement state of the engagement shaft 26 and the engagement groove 34 and the engagement state of the engagement shaft 30 and the engagement groove 35 via wires W1 and W2. An operating lever 36, a fixing member 38 fixed to the center of the rear surface in front of the top plate 2 and engagingly holding the operating lever 36 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and a pair of locking claws 42a and 42b of the fixing member 38 are elastically engaged with each other. The safety lever 40 has elastic locking claws 40a and 40b to be engaged with each other, and the engagement thereof is released by pushing it backward.

More specifically, the operating lever 36 is integrally molded of a synthetic resin material, and has a grip portion 36a (see FIG. 6) on its lower surface so as to slidably engage with a fixing member 38 formed as a fixing case body. It is composed of a sliding case body having a recess.

The safety lever 40 is arranged inside the sliding case body of the operation lever 36 and the fixed case body of the fixing member 38, and the head release operation button 44 is inserted in the front of the sliding case body 36. The case 36 is inserted through the hole 36b and protrudes from both case bodies to the outside. The safety lever 40 has a pair of elastic locking claws 40a, 40 that are elastically deformable in the left-right width direction.
b, a guide hole 45 formed through the center of the release operation button 44 in the operation direction, the pair of elastic locking claws 40a,
40b further includes locking holes 48a and 48b provided at the ends of elastic bands 46a and 46b extending along both sides of the release operation button 44 and bent outwards.
In this way, the safety lever 40 is sandwiched between the case bodies 36 and 38 to construct the compact operating device 15 as a whole.

More specifically, the operating lever 36 has a pair of locking bosses 50a and 50b for locking both locking holes 48a and 48b at the ends of the elastic bands 46a and 46b, and these locking bosses 50a and 50b. The elastic band 4 is provided so as to project inside the
A pair of bosses 52a and 52b for restricting the deformation of the bent portions of 6a and 46b in the width direction, a guide piece 54 which is inserted into the guide hole 45 and guides the safety lever 40 in the operation direction, and a guide piece 54. The wires W1 protruding from both sides in the operation direction,
Mounting boss 5 for locking the other end locking pieces W1b, W2b of W2
5a and 55b, and a pair of guide rails 56a and 56b slidably connected to the fixing member 38.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the fixing member 38 includes a pair of locking claws 42a and 42b formed on the bottom surface of a rectangular base plate 58 and a side plate 60 connected to the locking claws 42a and 42b.
The pair of guide rails 5 formed outside of a and 60b
A pair of guide grooves 62a, 6 for slidingly guiding 6a, 56b
2b and the frame member 6 disposed between the side plates 60a, 60b
4, and the restriction shaft 66 that covers the compression coil spring 68 is inserted through the insertion hole 65 of the frame member 64, and the screw portion 66a at the tip thereof is screwed into the operation lever 36, so that the operation lever 36 is moved. Always spring biased to the rear side.

Next, the operating device 1 configured as described above.
The assembly procedure of No. 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the guide piece 54 of the sliding case body 36 is inserted into the guide hole 45 of the safety lever 40, and the bent portions of the elastic bands 46a and 46b are locked inside the pair of bosses 52a and 52b. By inserting the engagement holes 48a and 48b at both ends into the pair of engagement bosses 50a and 50, the release operation button 44 is inserted through the insertion hole 36b and protruded to the outside.

Next, the engaging pieces W1b and W2b at the other ends of the wires W1 and W2 are attached to both the attachment bosses 55a and 55b, and the guide rails 56a and 56b are inserted into the guide grooves 62a and 62b of the fixing member 38. Then, the operation lever 36 is attached to the fixing member 38 so as to cover the lower surface thereof, and in this state, the fixing member 38 is fixed to the center of the back surface in front of the top plate 2.

In this way, when the release operation is performed by the attached operation device 15, as shown in FIG. 6, while the release operation button 44 is being pressed by the thumb of the human hand H, the other is applied to the grip portion 36a on the lower surface of the case body. Lock your fingers and operate the lever 3
By pulling out 6 toward you, the engagement means at the front of the actuating member 20 (engagement of the engagement shaft 26 and the engagement groove 34) or the engagement means at the rear (of the engagement shaft 30 and the engagement groove 35). (Engagement) can be released.

The release operation procedure by the operating device 15 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (c) and FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (c).

7 (a) to 7 (c) are operation explanatory views from the initial position to the pressing operation of the safety lever and the engagement releasing operation, and FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (c) show the engagement. It is an operation explanatory view from a release operation to returning to an initial position.

First, the operating device 15 shown in FIG.
Shows the state in the initial position. In this state,
The top plate 2 is in a horizontal use position as shown in FIG. 1A or a vertical withdrawal position as shown in FIG. 1B.

At this time, the release operation button 44 of the safety lever 40 has an insertion hole formed in the case of the operation lever 36 by the spring force of the elastic locking claws 40a and 40b engaged with the pair of locking claws 42a and 42b. 36b, the sliding case body of the operating lever 36 is at the same time urged by the compression coil spring 68 mounted on the regulation shaft 66 and the tension spring 24 to urge it backward. The wires W1 and W2 connected to the member 20 cooperate with each other to urge the wires rearward.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the release operation button 44 of the safety lever 40 is pushed rearward, the elastic locking claws 40a and 40b are elastically deformed inwardly. , The engagement of each claw is released by being contracted and deformed from the distance between the opposing locking claws 42a and 42b.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7C, the sliding case body of the operating lever 36 is pulled out to the front side while the release operating button 44 is being pressed, and the mounting boss 55a of the operating lever 36 is pulled out. , 55b, the actuating member 20 can be moved forward against the tension spring 24 via the wires W1, W2 in which the engaging pieces W1b, W2b are engaged.

As a result, when the top plate 2 is in the horizontal position, both ends of the locking shaft 26 on the front side of the operating member 20 are the pillars 4a,
The support tools 5a, 5b provided on the upper end of the 4b are disengaged from the pair of engagement grooves 34 of the front bifurcated support portion 6b.

Further, when the top plate 2 is in a vertical state, both ends of the locking shaft 30 on the rear side of the operating member 20 are rear supporting bifurcated supporting portions 6a at the rear of the supporting members 5a, 5b provided at the upper ends of the pillars 4a, 4b. It disengages from the pair of downwardly bent engagement grooves 35 provided on the rear end side facing surface. Therefore, the free top plate 2 can be rotated horizontally from the vertical position about the pivot 28.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the finger is removed from the release operation button 44 to release the pressing operation,
The elastic locking claws 40a and 40b are returned to their original positions by the elastic force of the elastic bands 46a and 46b, and the sliding case body of the operation lever 36 is fixed to the restricting shaft 66 as shown in FIG. 8B. The compression coil spring 68 and the wires W1 and W2 connected to the actuating member 20 biased by the tension spring 24 cooperate to move backward.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8 (c), the operating lever 36 has two elastic locking claws 40a,
When 40b moves backward along the facing slopes of the locking claws 42a, 42b and elastically deforms inward to get over,
Returning to the initial position shown in (a), the series of releasing operations is completed.

Therefore, according to the folding table operating device configured as described above, the top plate 2 maintained in the substantially horizontal use position and the substantially vertical retracted position with the front side upward is released. The engagement release operation by the operation lever 36 is configured to be made possible by the release operation of the release operation button 44 of the safety lever.
Since the moving direction of the operating lever is opposite to the releasing direction of the operating lever 36, there is no erroneous operation when releasing the operating lever 36, and safety can be achieved.

When the top plate 2 is in both horizontal and vertical positions, by connecting the pair of wires W1 and W2 connected to the operating member 20 to the single operating lever 36,
Not only the operability is improved because the left and right actuating members 20 can be simultaneously operated by operating the operating device 15 with one hand.
When the top plate 2 is in a free state, the other hand can support the top plate 2 to improve safety.

[0050]

The present invention has the following effects.

(A) According to the invention of claim 1, the moving direction of the safety lever and the operating direction of the operating lever are opposite to each other, and the operating lever cannot be operated unless the safety lever is moved. Therefore, the engagement state of the engagement means can be reliably maintained.

(B) According to the second aspect of the invention, even if the safety lever is operated, the engagement means of the operation lever can surely maintain the engaged state by the elastic force unless the operation lever is operated. It is safe because it is held in position.

(C) According to the third aspect of the invention, the left and right actuating members 20 can be simultaneously operated with one hand by operating the operation lever arranged at one place, which not only improves operability, When the top plate becomes free, the other hand can support the top plate, improving safety.

(D) According to the invention of claim 4, the attitude of the folding table can be easily changed only by the sliding operation of the operating member by the operating lever.

(E) According to the invention of claim 5, the operating device can be assembled in two case bodies and compactly attached to the top plate.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 shows a folding table equipped with a safety operating device according to the present invention, (a) is a perspective view of the folding table in a horizontal use state, and (b) is a perspective view of the folding table in a vertical retracted position. is there.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged side view showing the engaging means of the fallen civilian table in use.

FIG. 3A is a partially cutaway side view showing the engaging means of the folding table, and FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view of the safety operation device on the lower surface of the top plate.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a safety operation device including an operation lever and a safety lever.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fixing member that slidably supports an operation lever, as viewed from the back surface.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an operating state of the operating device.

7A to 7C are operation explanatory views from the initial position to the pressing operation of the safety lever and the engagement releasing operation.

8A to 8C are operation explanatory views from the engagement releasing operation to the return to the initial position.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a conventional folding table showing a state in which a top plate is held in a horizontal position.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a conventional folding table showing a state in which a top plate is folded upright.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 folding table 2 table (top plate) 3 floor 4a, 4b leg support 5a, 5b support 6a Rear bifurcation support part 6b Front bifurcation support 8a, 8b vertical frame 9a, 9b Horizontal frame 10 openings 12 Connection member 14 frame cover 14a, 14b insertion holes 15 Operating device 16a, 16b oblong hole 18 Support holes 20 Working member 21 Notch groove 22 Through hole 23 long hole 24 Extension spring 25 through holes 26, 30 Locking shaft 28 Axis 32 through holes 34, 35 engagement groove (engagement portion) 36 Operation lever (sliding case body) 36a gripping part 36b insertion hole 38 Fixing member (fixed case body) 40 Safety lever 40a, 40b Elastic locking claw 42a, 42b locking claw 44 Release operation button 45 guide hole 46a, 46b elastic band 48a, 48b Locking hole 50a, 50b Locking boss 52a, 52b boss 54 Guide piece 55a, 55b mounting boss 56a, 56b Guide rail 58 base plate 60a, 60b Side plate 62a, 62b guide groove 64 frame members 65 insertion hole 66 Control axis 66a screw part 68 Compression coil spring D damper device F front H manpower W1, W1 wire W1a, W2a locking piece W1b, W2b locking piece

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A top plate rotates between a use position in which a top plate is substantially horizontal with respect to a leg column and a retracted position in which it is substantially vertical, and both positions are maintained by an engagement means, and the engagement means is also provided. Is a safety operation device for a folding table that is released by one-way movement of an operation lever provided on the top plate, wherein the operation lever is prevented from moving in one direction by the safety lever, and the engagement means is kept irreversible. However, the safe operation device for the folding table, wherein the movement of the operation lever in the other direction is released by the movement of the safety lever in the other direction. 2. The safety operation device for a folding table according to claim 1, wherein the operation lever is always elastically biased in the other direction. 3. The operating lever is provided in the front center of the top plate so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and the engaging means is provided on both left and right sides of the top plate, and the operating lever and the engaging means are provided. The safe operating device for the folding table according to claim 1 or 2, wherein is mechanically connected. 4. The engagement means is slidable in a frame pivotally mounted on a support installed on the leg support, and is provided on the top plate side which is slidably operated by the operation lever. 4. An actuating member and an engaging portion formed on the support member that prevents the actuating member from rotating, and the actuating member slides to release the actuating member from turning inhibition.
A safe operation device for a folding table according to any one of 1. 5. The operation lever is composed of a sliding case body slidable on a fixed case body provided on the top plate, and the safety lever is attached to the sliding case body and is fixed to the fixed case. The folding table safety operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an elastic locking claw that can be engaged and disengaged.