JP2008123228A - Unlocking device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an unlocking device of a new structure for dealing with operating errors through a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The unlocking device for unlocking a top plate 21 which is exerted with a driving force as it is unlocked is composed chiefly of an operating lever 13, the operating range of which consists of an operating range Z2 directly associated with the unlocking and a free-moving range Z1 provided from a standby position 13 (A) to the operating range Z2 to allow the lever to move freely therein without affecting the locked state of the top plate 21. The direction of movement of the operating lever 13 at least in the standby position 13 (A) during initial movement is opposite to the direction of movement of the operating lever 13 after the lever has entered the operating range Z2. Also, the free-moving range Z1 is set to be broader than the operating range Z2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an unlocking device that effectively prevents a movable member such as a lifting table from being unintentionally unlocked and starting to move.

For example, as shown in Patent Document 1 or the like, the lifting table can be driven up and down by a gas spring incorporated in a column, and the lock release button of the gas spring is in a non-operation position. The top plate is held in a locked state. An operation lever is associated with the lock release button via a transmission mechanism, and when the operation lever is operated, the lock release button is driven to release the gas spring gas, so that the top plate is locked. After being released, the top plate starts to move in the direction of protruding by the gas spring without applying external force.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-211029

However, in such a conventional device, since the entire movement range of the operation lever is an operation range that directly relates to unlocking, the lifting function operates even if the operation lever is slightly touched. For this reason, when the lever is unintentionally touched with the operation lever, the top plate inadvertently moves up and gives the user unpleasantness, and the inconvenience that the object on the top plate falls or falls easily tends to be caused. In this document, it is described that the operation lever can be moved only in the horizontal direction and not moved downward to avoid contact with a foot or the like. There is no denying that there is a risk of accidental hooking and horizontal movement, and there is an undeniable possibility that the top plate will operate immediately after being unlocked. In addition, since the operation lever is located at a position where the finger under the top is easy to touch, there is a possibility that the finger may be drawn meaninglessly when the finger is accidentally touched, and there is still room for countermeasures against erroneous operation.

In order to prevent such movement, a safety device that restricts the lever operation may be provided so that the original lever operation cannot be performed unless the safety device is released. In addition, it takes time to understand the operation method, and the operation becomes complicated and difficult to use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock release device having a new structure that can be remedied by the above-described erroneous operation through a simple structure.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention takes the following measures.

  In other words, the unlocking device of the present invention is for unlocking a movable member that has a driving force as well as unlocking, and is configured mainly with an operating lever, and its operation range is directly related to unlocking. The operating range and an idle range that is provided between the standby position and the operating range and moves without affecting the lock state of the movable member.

The moving direction of the operating lever at the initial movement at least at the standby position and the moving direction of the operating lever after entering the operating range are opposite to each other. In this case, it is not always necessary to reverse the 180 ° direction.

In this way, even if the operating lever is hooked in any way, if the hooking direction is almost constant, it will not be dragged until the operating lever moves in the opposite direction. It is also possible to avoid complicated operations and complicated lock release mechanisms.

In addition, the unlocking device having a different configuration according to the present invention has an idle movement as a viewpoint different from whether or not the moving direction at the initial movement of the operation lever and the moving direction after entering the operating range are opposite to each other. The range is set over a wide range equal to or more than the operating range.

With this configuration, even if the operation lever is hooked at some time, the drag state may end during the wide range of movement of the operation lever, and the user may notice that the operation lever has been hooked during that time. Therefore, as long as the operation is not performed intentionally, an erroneous operation can be effectively prevented, and the operation can be prevented from becoming complicated and the structure of the lock release mechanism from being complicated.

Of course, in order to deal with an erroneous operation accurately, it is desirable to have these configurations simultaneously.

As a preferable application object of the present invention, an operation lever is provided on the movable member, and the movable member is configured to be driven in a predetermined direction along with unlocking, and an operation toward unlocking in the driving direction and the operation range. One having a configuration that substantially matches the moving direction of the lever, that is, one in which the problem becomes remarkable when there is no idle range.

If the operation direction changes or the idle range is set large, the above advantage is disadvantageous. It is desirable that the operation feeling of the operation lever changes when the operation range is entered.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operation lever is rotatably attached to the reference surface, and the posture of the operation lever is reversed around the support shaft at the standby position and the end position of the operation range. There is one in which the idle range is set over a range exceeding the intermediate position perpendicular to the reference plane from the standby position, and the operation range is set in a range gradually approaching the reference plane.

In order to reduce the possibility of erroneous operation more effectively, the movement range is set over an area of about 180 °, and the operation lever is kept in close contact with or in close proximity to the reference surface at least at the standby position. It is desirable to keep it.

In order to ensure a fail-safe configuration when a part of the user's body accidentally collides with the operation lever, the direction in which the operation lever enters the idle range from the standby position and the drive direction of the movable member are It is preferable that the direction is reversed.

In order to reduce the chance of erroneous operation of the operating lever as much as possible, the operating lever is elastically pressed toward the reference surface at the standby position and operated toward the operating range while accumulating repulsive force against the elastic force. It is desirable to configure so that

The present invention is particularly suitable when the reference surface is set on the back surface of the movable member of the furniture and the operation lever is attached to the reference surface in a state where it cannot be seen from the normal use position, i.e., at the attachment position where there is a high risk of erroneous operation. It becomes effective.

Specifically, the movable member is a top plate, an operation lever is disposed on the lower surface near the edge of the top plate, and the top plate is always pressed in the direction in which the top plate protrudes by the lifting mechanism and operated. When the top plate is locked by the elevating mechanism at the standby position of the lever and the operation lever is associated so as to release the locked state of the elevating mechanism, there is a remarkable effect.

According to the lock release device of the present invention, when the operation lever is operated by mistake, the locked state of the lock device is immediately released and the movable member starts to be driven without complicating the structure or the operation procedure. It is possible to effectively eliminate this, and it becomes possible to effectively prepare an environment in which the user can use the furniture with peace of mind.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The lock release device 1 of this embodiment is used to release the locked state of the top plate 21 that constitutes the lifting table 2 shown in FIG.

This elevating table 2 is obtained by attaching a top plate 21 to a leg blade 22 via a column 23, and the top plate 21 can be driven up and down by a gas spring 24 as an elevating mechanism incorporated in the column 23, so It is possible to move up and down over a wide stroke from a top plate height of 700 mm, which is the same as the plate, to a top plate height of 900 mm that can be used with a high counter chair, and a top plate height of 1050 mm that is used in a standing position. is there. As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the gas spring 24 has an unlock button 24a for releasing the lock by releasing the gas, and when the unlock button 24a is in the protruding non-operating position, The plate 21 is kept in a locked state, and when the lock release button 24a is pushed and moved to the operation position as shown in FIG. A driving force is applied, and the top plate 21 is moved up when there is no or little load.

  In such a lifting table 2, the unlocking device 1 of this embodiment has the operating member 11 disposed at a position where the unlocking button 24a shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a rotary operation lever 13 is associated with the wire tube type transmission mechanism 12.

The operation lever 13 is used for adjusting the height of the top plate 21, and as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a grip portion is provided on a lower surface 21b in the vicinity of the edge portion 21a of the top plate 21 via a support shaft 13a. The base end of 13x is rotatably attached. And the one end part 12a1 of the wire 12a which comprises the transmission mechanism 12 is hold | maintained at the position displaced from the spindle 13a so that it can rotate integrally with the handle part 13x. The tube 12b of the transmission mechanism 12 is drawn between a tube holding portion 12c provided on the top plate lower surface 21b and a tube holding portion 12d provided in the vicinity of the operation member 11 shown in FIG. One end portion 12a1 passes through the inside of 12b and is connected to the operation lever 13 described above, and the other end portion 12a2 is connected to the operation member 11 provided in the vicinity of the lock release button 24a. In the illustrated example, the operation member 11 is rotatable around the axis m, and is held at a position where the lock release button 24a is not pushed in when no operation force is applied to the wire 12a. When the wire 12a is pulled, the wire 12a rotates about the axis m and pushes the lock release button 24a as shown in FIG. 2 (b). Of course, FIG. 2 is a principle diagram, and various structures can be adopted in practice.

In this case, the movement range of the operation lever 13 and the movement of the operation member 11 described above are associated as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the operation lever 13 of this embodiment is attached to the top plate lower surface 21 b that is a reference surface so as to be rotatable over a movement range of about 180 °, and the edge portion 21 a of the top plate 21. In the standby position 13 (A) set on the far side, the handle portion 13x of the operation lever 13 is in close contact with the lower surface of the top plate, and the intermediate portion 13 (B) where the handle portion 13x is perpendicular to the lower surface 21b of the top plate from there. After passing through, it turns to the terminal position 13 (D) which inverts and falls to the side near the edge 21a of the top plate 21. Of the movement range, the idle range Z1 (standby position 13 (A) where the wire 12a is not pulled from the standby position 13 (A) to the switching position 13 (C) rotated to some extent beyond the intermediate posture 13 (B). ) To 130 ° to 150 °), and the subsequent rotation range (remaining 30 ° to 50 °) is set to an operation range Z2 for substantially unlocking the wire 12a. ing. As shown in FIG. 5, a return spring 13c is incorporated in the operation lever 13 so that an elastic force always acts toward the standby position 13 (A). During operation, the operation lever 13 repels the return spring 13c. Move toward the operating range 13 (C).

Specifically, the operation lever 13 and the operation member 11 are associated with each other as shown in FIG. 7 (a), including the standby position 13 (A), and the wire 12a is slackened in the operation range Z2. An example of the configuration is that the wire 12a is tensioned and the operation force of the operation lever 13 is transmitted to the operation member 11 as shown in FIG. In this case, the operation member 11 is made to wait by an offset spring or the like at a position where the lock release button 24a of the gas spring 24 is pushed immediately after the wire 12a is tensioned. One end 12a1 of the wire 12a is connected to the operating lever 13 in such a manner that it always rotates integrally as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Although not shown, the wire 12a is just before the operating lever 13 enters the operating position Z2. The one end 12a1 may be scooped up. Further, as a specific association between the other operation lever 13 and the operation member 11, for example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the operation force of the operation lever 13 is transmitted to the operation member 11 while the wire 12a is always in tension. When the operating lever 13 reaches the idle range Z1 from the standby position 13 (A), the operating member 11 moves away from the lock release button 24a, and when the operating lever 13 enters the operating range Z2 (b) in FIG. A mode in which the lock release button 24a of the gas spring 24 is started to be pushed is also possible. In this case, a spring that applies a pressing force to the operation member 11 in a direction away from the lock release button 24a may be incorporated, and a return spring on the operation lever 13 side may be unnecessary.

In any case, the unlocking device is provided between the operating range Z2 directly related to unlocking the operating range of the operating lever 13 and the operating range Z2 from the standby position 13 (A) to lock the top plate 21. It is comprised from the idle range Z1 which idles without affecting a state. When the user performs the unlocking operation, the user extends his hand under the top plate 21, puts his finger on the handle 13x of the operation lever 13, and moves the handle 13x located behind the support shaft 13a to the support shaft 13a. By rotating the handle 13x closer to the edge 21a of the top plate 21 in the final operating range Z2 by rotating the handle 13x to the near side, the thumb 21 is put on the top plate 21 and further pulled up with other fingers, etc. The top plate 21 can be unlocked and the gas spring 24 can be used to adjust the position to a high position, or the weight can be adjusted and the position can be adjusted to a low position by pushing the weight.

The unlocking device 1 includes at least a moving direction of the operating lever 13 at the standby position 13 (A) at the initial movement (see an arrow x1 in FIG. 6) and a moving direction of the operating lever 13 after entering the operating range Z2. Since the direction is opposite (see arrow x2), the operation lever 13 at the standby position 13 (A) is not unlocked unless it is intentionally taken to the operating range Z2. This is because a force is applied only to the operation lever 13 in the opposite direction to the moving direction at the initial movement at the standby position 13 (A), and the operation lever 13 is in close contact with the lower surface of the top plate 21. In addition to the fact that the user is difficult to hook the operating lever 13, even if the user hooks the operating lever 13 at any time, the operating lever 13 is not fixed if the direction of hooking is substantially constant, for example, x3 in the figure. Since it is not dragged until it moves in the opposite direction, it is possible to effectively prevent an erroneous operation by using the rotation of the operation lever 13 over a wide range, which makes the operation complicated and the structure of the unlocking mechanism. Can be avoided.

In addition, since the floating range Z1 is set to 130 ° to 150 ° and is far wider than the operating range Z2 of 30 ° to 50 °, even if the operation lever 13 is hooked with some beat, Since the drag state may end during the wide play range Z1 of the operation lever 13 and the user may notice that the operation lever 13 has been hooked during that time, an erroneous operation other than the intentional operation may occur. Here again, the possibility that the plate 21 is activated can be more effectively reduced by utilizing the rotation of the operation lever 13 over a wide range, which makes the operation complicated and the structure of the lock release mechanism complicated. This can also be avoided.

In particular, the operation lever 13 is provided on a top plate 21 that is a movable member, and the top plate 21 is configured to be driven upward in a predetermined direction along with unlocking, and the drive direction (see arrow x4 in FIG. 6). ) And the moving direction (arrow x2) of the operating lever 13 toward the unlocking in the operating range Z2 substantially coincide with each other, so if there is no idle range Z1, the unexpected external force applied to the operating lever 13 is instantaneous. However, it is not preferable because the external force continues to act as a force for pushing up the top plate 21. By providing the free range Z1 of the present embodiment, a series of chains such as unlocking → upward movement of the top plate 21 is performed. Can be effectively prevented from occurring.

Further, when the operation range Z2 is entered from the free range Z1, a force for moving the operation member 11 against the spring force and a pushing reaction force against the lock release button 24a of the gas spring 24 are applied to the operation lever 13, and the operation lever 13 is operated. Since the operating feeling of the lever 13 changes, the operating start position and the operating position of the operating lever 13 change every moment, and even when the idle range is large as in this embodiment, the operation start position is difficult to understand. It is possible to eliminate the problem and to create an environment that can be operated with confidence and reliability.

Further, in this embodiment, the operation lever 13 is rotatably attached to the top plate lower surface 21b as a reference surface, and the operation lever 13 is rotated around the support shaft 13a at the standby position 13 (A) and the end position 13 (D) of the operation range. 13 is configured to reverse, and an idle range Z1 is set over a range exceeding the intermediate position 13 (B) perpendicular to the top plate lower surface 21b from the standby position 13 (A). Since the operation range Z2 is set in a range close to the top plate 21, the operability of the operation lever 13 becomes smooth through the rotation operation, and the operation directions x1 and x2 are different between the initial operation and the operation start. In addition, the configuration in which the idle range Z1 is set to be larger than the operation range Z2 can be suitably achieved in a series of rotation operations of the operation lever 13.

In addition, the movement range is set over a region of approximately 180 °, and the operation lever 13 is kept in close contact with or in close proximity to the top plate lower surface 21b at least at the standby position 13 (A). Since it does not start unless the operation lever 13 in 13 (A) is intentionally operated in the direction of separating from the top plate lower surface 21b, the risk of erroneous operation is more effectively reduced.

Furthermore, since the direction x1 in which the operating lever 13 enters the idle range Z1 from the standby position 13 (A) and the direction x4 in which the top plate 11 is driven by the gas spring 24 are set in opposite directions, the operating lever is erroneously set. Even when 13 is kicked up by, for example, a user's knee, the operation lever 13 is in the opposite direction to the unlocking direction. This can be prevented, and a fail-safe configuration can be effectively secured.

In addition, the operating lever 13 is elastically pressed toward the top plate lower surface 21a at the standby position 13 (A), and is operated toward the operating range x2 while accumulating repulsive force against the elastic force. The standby state when the operation lever 13 is not operated can be ensured.

In addition to the above, the reference surface is set on the top plate lower surface 21b which is the back surface of the top plate 2 of the lifting table 2, and the operation lever 13 is attached to the top plate lower surface 21b in a state where it cannot be seen from the normal use position. The present embodiment can effectively solve the problem that the operation lever 13 is in a position where the operation lever 13 is not visible, which easily leads to an erroneous operation.

As described above, according to the lock release device 1, when the user accidentally kicks up the operation lever 13 with his knee or moves his / her finger, or when the finger is accidentally touched and pulled in meaninglessly, In addition, it is possible to effectively reduce the possibility of erroneous operation.

In particular, the top plate 21 is always pressed in the protruding direction by the gas spring 24, and the top plate 21 is locked by the gas spring 24 at the standby position 13 (A) of the operation lever 13. 24 is related to release the locked state, so that it is possible to inconvenience the user by causing the top plate 21 to accidentally move up and cause discomfort to the user, and to prevent the object on the top plate 21 from falling or falling. Can be prevented.

The specific configuration of each unit is not limited to the above-described embodiment,
Various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the movable member is a large top plate 121, supported by two columns 123 so as to be movable up and down, and the lifting operation is incorporated in the column 123 and a gas spring (not shown) between the columns 123 and 123. When a common operation lever 113 is provided on the lower surface of the top plate that is equidistant from both columns 123, a parallel transmission mechanism is provided from the operation lever 113. What is necessary is just to comprise so that operating force may be transmitted via 100 via the operation member for unlocking which is not shown provided attached to the gas spring. Then, if the operation lever 113 and the operation member are associated according to the above-described embodiment so that the movement range of the operation lever 113 at that time is the floating range and the operation range of the present invention, the same effects as the above-described embodiment. Is played.

In addition, even when the movable member is the flap top plate 221 as shown in FIG. 10 and the flap top plate 221 jumps up when unlocked, the operation lever 213 constituting the lock release device is moved to the above. If it associates so that a floating range may be included according to embodiment, it can prevent effectively that the flap top plate 221 jumps up suddenly by the incorrect operation with respect to the operation lever 213, and gives a user discomfort.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the gas spring for moving up and down the chair seat 321 as a movable member can be operated by providing an operation lever 313 having a free range as described above with the lower surface of the seat 321 as a reference plane. It is possible to effectively prevent the seat 321 from inadvertently protruding due to an erroneous operation on the lever 313 and causing discomfort to the user.

The perspective view of the raising / lowering table to which one Embodiment of this invention is applied. The principle figure of the gas spring part which comprises the raising / lowering table. The perspective view which looked at the lower surface of the top plate of the raising / lowering table of FIG. 1 from the downward direction. The side view which shows the operation lever vicinity of the embodiment. The bottom view corresponding to FIG. The figure explaining the relationship between the idle range of the operation lever of this embodiment, and an operating range. The figure which shows correlation with the operation member arrange | positioned in the vicinity of the operation lever and gas spring of the embodiment. The figure which shows correlation with the operation member arrange | positioned in the vicinity of the operation lever and gas spring of the embodiment. The figure which shows the other example of application of this invention. The figure which shows the other example of application of this invention. The figure which shows the other example of application of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Unlocking device 2 ... Furniture (lifting table)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 ... Control lever 13 (A) ... Standby position 13 (D) ... End position 13 (B) ... Intermediate position 21 ... Movable member (top plate)
21b ... reference plane (top plate bottom surface)
24 ... Elevating mechanism (gas spring)
Z1 ... idle range Z2 ... operating range

Claims (12)

For releasing the lock of the movable member to which the driving force is applied as well as unlocking,
The operation lever is mainly composed of an operation range whose operation range is directly related to unlocking, and an idle range that is provided between the standby position and the operation range without affecting the locked state of the movable member. The unlocking device is configured such that at least the moving direction of the operating lever at the initial position in the standby position is opposite to the moving direction of the operating lever after entering the operating range. For releasing the lock of the movable member to which the driving force is applied as well as unlocking,
The operation lever is mainly composed of an operation range whose operation range is directly related to unlocking, and an idle range that is provided between the standby position and the operation range without affecting the locked state of the movable member. The unlocking device is characterized in that the free range is set over a wide range equal to or greater than the operating range. For releasing the lock of the movable member to which the driving force is applied as well as unlocking,
The operation lever is mainly composed of an operation range whose operation range is directly related to unlocking, and an idle range that is provided between the standby position and the operation range without affecting the locked state of the movable member. The moving direction of the operating lever at the initial position of the operating lever at the standby position and the moving direction of the operating lever after entering the operating range are opposite to each other. An unlocking device characterized by being set over a wider range. An operation lever is provided on the movable member, and the movable member is configured to be driven in a predetermined direction along with unlocking, and the driving direction substantially coincides with the moving direction of the operation lever toward unlocking in the operating range. The unlocking device according to claim 1, which is configured as described above. The lock release device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operation feeling of the operation lever changes when the operation range is entered from the idle range. The control lever is rotatably attached to the reference surface, and is configured so that the posture of the control lever is reversed around the support shaft at the standby position and the end position of the operation range. The unlocking device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an idle range is set over a range exceeding the intermediate position, and an operating range is set in a range gradually approaching the reference plane. 7. The lock release device according to claim 6, wherein the movement range is set over a region of about 180 °, and the operation lever is kept in close contact with or in close proximity to the reference surface at least in the standby position. The lock release device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a direction in which the operation lever enters the idle range from the standby position and a drive direction of the movable member are set in opposite directions. 9. The unlocking device according to claim 6, wherein the operating lever is elastically pressed toward the reference surface at the standby position, and is operated toward the operating range while accumulating a repulsive force against the elastic force. 10. The unlocking device according to claim 6, wherein the reference surface is set on the back surface of the movable member of the furniture, and the operation lever is attached to the reference surface in a state where it cannot be seen from the normal use position. The lock release device according to claim 10, wherein the movable member is a top plate, and an operation lever is disposed on a lower surface near the edge of the top plate. The top plate is always pressed in the protruding direction by the elevating mechanism, and the top plate is locked by the elevating mechanism at the standby position of the operation lever, and the operation lever is related to release the locked state of the elevating mechanism. The lock release device according to claim 11.

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