JP2024058991A - counter - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To realize a counter suitable for use in offices and the like, which has a recess in the top plate so that equipment can be placed therein without creating dead space. [Solution] A counter CC is equipped with a top plate 1 having a recess 1x in a specific location on the side opposite the use end 1b where equipment can be placed, and a shelf 2 disposed in a location corresponding to the recess 1x on the use end 1a side of the top plate 1. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

Application for application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act Publication date: October 17, 2022 Publication location: Kokuyo Co., Ltd. Umeda Showroom (11F, Knowledge Capital Tower C, Grand Front Osaka, 3-1 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka City) Publisher: Kokuyo Co., Ltd.

The present invention relates to a counter that is suitable for use in offices, etc.

In recent offices, in addition to creating work areas with efficient furniture arrangements, efforts are also being made to set up shared corners where workers from various departments can casually gather.

For example, one idea being considered to increase the appeal of the office and encourage remote workers to naturally come to the office is to install a counter equipped with a professional coffee machine.

However, professional café machines and other equipment tend to be quite large, so it can be difficult to place them on a regular counter.

Specifically, counters conventionally used in offices and the like have a sub-top that is lower than the main top at the end opposite the end of the main top, and the equipment is placed on the sub-top (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

When installing equipment with a relatively large volume, it may be possible to form a recess on the opposite end of the main top panel to better accommodate the equipment.

However, creating a recess at the opposite end of the main top reduces the depth of the main top in that area, creating a problem in that it creates dead space that makes it impossible to make full use of the main top.

JP 2017-099735 A

The present invention was developed in response to the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a counter that does not create dead space even when a recess is provided in the top plate to allow for the placement of equipment.

The counter according to the invention described in claim 1 comprises a tabletop having a recessed portion on the side opposite the use end in which equipment can be placed at a specific location, and a shelf disposed at a location on the use end of the tabletop corresponding to the recessed portion.

The counter according to the invention described in claim 2 is the counter described in claim 1 in which the shelf is disposed between the underside of the top plate and the floor surface.

The counter according to the invention described in claim 3 is the one described in claim 1, in which the equipment is a cafe machine.

The counter according to the invention described in claim 4 is the counter described in claim 1, in which a sub-top plate that is lower than the top plate is arranged on the opposite end of the top plate, and the equipment is placed on the sub-top plate.

The counter according to the invention described in claim 5 is the counter described in claim 1, in which a space for the lower legs is formed on the underside of the portion of the tabletop at the usable end that does not correspond to the recessed portion.

The counter according to the invention described in claim 6 is the counter described in claim 1, in which the top plate has a flat top surface that continues from the use end side to the opposite use end side.

The present invention provides a counter that has a recess in the top plate to allow for the placement of equipment without creating dead space.

1 is an overall perspective view from the front side of a counter according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3 . FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3 . FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the counter according to the embodiment, seen from the rear side. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a counter on which devices according to the embodiment are installed, viewed from the rear side. FIG. 12 is a view taken along the arrow X in FIG. 12 is a view taken along the Y arrow in FIG.

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

Figures 1 to 10 show counter CC without any equipment (in this embodiment, a "cafe machine") installed, with Figure 1 being a perspective view from the front, Figure 2 being an exploded perspective view, Figure 3 being a front view, Figure 4 being a bottom view, Figure 5 being a right side view, Figure 6 being a rear view, Figure 7 being an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 3, Figure 8 being an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 3, and Figure 9 being a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Figure 3. Also, Figure 10 is a perspective view from the rear of counter CC.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4 and 7 to 10, the counter CC of this embodiment comprises a tabletop 1 having a recessed portion 1x in which a piece of equipment, such as a cafe machine CM, can be placed at a specific location on the side opposite the use end 1b, and a shelf 2 disposed at a location corresponding to the recessed portion 1x on the use end 1a side of the tabletop 1. The shelf 2 is disposed between the underside 1c of the tabletop 1 and the floor surface F.

A sub-top plate 3, which is lower than the top plate 1, is disposed on the opposite end 1b of the top plate 1, and as shown in Figures 11 to 13, the aforementioned cafe machine CM is placed on the sub-top plate 3. This will be explained in detail below.

As shown in Figures 2, 4, and 7 to 9, this counter CC has a first support structure 4 and a second support structure 5 that form a framework and are arranged adjacent to each other in the left-right direction, and the above-mentioned tabletop 1 is placed on top of the first and second support structures 4 and 5.

As shown in Figures 2, 4, 7 and 9, the first support structure 4 is a frame structure in which the front frame 41 and the rear frame 42 are connected by a plurality of connecting members 43 extending in the front-rear direction, and is placed on the floor surface F via a grounding body such as an adjuster 44. The first support structure 4 is set to a height dimension that can directly support the sub-top plate 3 at the upper end. As shown in Figures 2, 4, 8 and 9, the second support structure 5 is a frame structure in which the front frame 51 and the rear frame 52 on which the panel 55 is stretched are connected by a plurality of connecting members 53 extending in the front-rear direction, and is placed on the floor surface F via a grounding body such as an adjuster 54. The second support structure 5 is set to a height dimension that can directly support the top plate 1 over the entire upper end. Side panels 6 are arranged at the outer ends of the first and second support structures 4 and 5.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, 6 to 8, and 10, the top plate 1 has a flat top plate surface 1d on the upper surface from the use end 1a to the opposite use end 1b. In this embodiment, it is equipped with a first top plate member 11 having a recessed portion 1x on the opposite use end 1b side, and a second top plate member 12 connected to one longitudinal end of the first top plate member 11. These two top plate members 11 and 12 are rigidly connected using a connecting bolt in a normal manner. The recessed holes 11y and 12y formed on the lower surfaces of both top plate members are for screwing nuts onto the ends of the connecting bolts. The first top plate member 11 is placed on the upper end of the first support structure 4 via the sub-top plate 3 and the spacer SP, and the second top plate member 12 is placed directly on the upper end of the second support structure 5.

The tabletop 1 has a flat tabletop surface 1d that continues from the use end side 1a to the opposite use end side 1b, and as shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 9, a lower leg space KS is formed on the underside of the portion of the tabletop 1 that does not correspond to the recessed portion 1x on the use end 1a side. Specifically, the top surface 1d of the first tabletop member 11 and the second tabletop member 12 of the tabletop 1 is formed to be flat and continuous. A lower leg space KS is formed below the use end 1a side of the second tabletop member 12, so that a chair can be placed on the use end 1a side of the second tabletop member 12 and it can be used as a counter. In this embodiment, the tabletop surface 1d of the second tabletop member 12 is set narrow in the longitudinal direction, but multiple second tabletop members 12 (tabletop members without recessed portions) can be connected as needed to extend the tabletop, so that a long counter or a counter that is bent or curved in the middle can be configured.

The recessed portion 1x formed at the opposite end 1b of the tabletop 1, i.e., the recessed portion 1x formed in the first tabletop member 11, has a depth dimension that is approximately half the depth dimension of the tabletop 1, as shown in Figures 2 and 10, and is rectangular in plan view consisting of a long side 1x1 and both left and right sides 1x2. The distance between the use end 1a of the tabletop 1 and the long side 1x1 of the recessed portion 1x is approximately half the depth dimension of the other parts of the tabletop 1. Therefore, the depth dimension of the part of the tabletop 1 corresponding to the recessed portion 1x is approximately half that of the other parts. In addition, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, 5 to 7, and 10, a blind plate 7 is erected along the long side 1x1 and both left and right edges 1x2 of the recessed portion 1x. The screen plate 7 is made of sheet metal and is positioned to surround the cafe machine CM placed on the sub-top plate 3, and is fixed to the sub-top plate 3 by fastening the flange 71 on the lower edge with screws or the like.

The shelf 2 is disposed in a position corresponding to the recessed portion 1x on the use end 1a side of the tabletop 1, and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 7, comprises a back plate 21 attached to the front surface of the first support structure 4, a top plate 22 extending forward from the upper end of the back plate 21 and attached to the underside 1c of the tabletop 1, side plates 23 whose upper ends are connected to the left and right ends of the top plate 22 and extending forward from both left and right side edges of the back plate 21, a bottom plate 24 installed between the lower ends of the side plates 23, and a riser plate 25 hanging down from the front end of the bottom plate 24. A shelf plate 26 is installed between the middle parts of the side plates 23. The front end 2a of the shelf 2 is slightly rearward of the use end 1a of the tabletop 1.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 to 8, and 10, the sub-top plate 3 has a flat sub-top surface 3d on the upper surface. In this embodiment, the sub-top plate 3 has a first sub-top plate member 31 having a protrusion 311 on the opposite end 3b, and a second sub-top plate member 32 connected to one longitudinal end of the first sub-top plate member 31. These two sub-top plate members 31 and 32 are rigidly connected using a connecting bolt in a normal manner. The recessed hole 32y formed on the underside of the sub-top plate member 32 and the recessed hole (not shown) formed on the underside of the sub-top plate member 31 are both for screwing a nut onto the end of the connecting bolt. The first sub-top plate member 31 is supported by a plurality of box bodies 8 having doors 81 and the first support structure 4 described above, and the protrusion 311 of the first sub-top plate member 31 is located directly below the recessed portion 1x described above. The second sub-top plate member 32 is supported by a pair of leg plates 33. The internal space 8s of the box body 8 that supports the first sub-top member 31 is connected to the internal space 4s of the first support structure 4, and this internal space 4s is open to the space above the sub-top 3 via a through hole 3x drilled in the sub-top 3. At least both ends of the second sub-top member 32 are supported by the left and right leg plates 33.

9 is a tower that is suspended above the tabletop 1. The tower 9 is for suspending options such as lighting fixtures above the tabletop 1, and the posts 91 of the tower 9 are supported by the first and second support structures 4 and 5 described above. 10 is a fascia board that is provided below the tabletop 1 and forms the rear end surface of the lower leg space KS.

As shown in Figures 11 to 13, the counter described above can be equipped with a cafe machine CM to create a shared space within the office similar to a cafe. The cafe machine CM is a package of the equipment required to brew coffee, and is placed on the sub-top board 3 in correspondence with the recessed portion 1x of the top board 1. However, since the cafe machine CM itself is a conventional one, a description of it will be omitted.

Here, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the counter CC with the cafe machine CM installed, as seen from the rear side, FIG. 12 is a view seen from the X arrow in FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 is a view seen from the Y arrow in FIG. 11.

With this type of configuration, a recess 1x is provided in a specific location on the opposite end 1b of the tabletop 1, so even relatively bulky equipment can be installed without difficulty using the recess 1x. Furthermore, a shelf 2 is provided on the side of the tabletop 1 at the use end 1a corresponding to the recess 1x, so the area that would become dead space if only the recess 1x was provided can be effectively used as storage space, etc.

In particular, if the shelf 2 is arranged between the underside 1c of the tabletop 1 and the floor surface F as in this embodiment, it becomes possible to effectively utilize the space below a specific part of the tabletop 1, which has only half the depth.

In addition, as in this embodiment, a sub-top plate 3 that is shorter than the top plate 1 is arranged on the opposite end 1b of the top plate 1, so the cafe machine CM can be installed stably and work on the cafe machine CM side can be carried out smoothly.

Furthermore, in the area that does not correspond to the recessed portion 1x, a lower leg space KS is formed under the tabletop 1, so that such area can function as a counter. In other words, in this area, coffee or other beverages picked up in front of the coffee machine CM can be brought in and consumed. This area is depicted as small and narrow for the sake of explanation, but is not necessarily limited to this.

The tabletop 1 in this embodiment has a flat tabletop surface 1d that continues from the use end 1a to the opposite use end 1b, making it possible to use the tabletop surface 1d widely and relax.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, equipment other than the coffee machine may be placed in the recess.

In addition, the scaffolding, privacy panels, etc. may be omitted, and may be of a different form to the embodiment described above.

Furthermore, it is not necessarily necessary to provide a sub-top plate at the opposite end of the top plate, and a sub-top plate of a different shape than that of the embodiment described above may be provided.

The configuration of the shelf is not limited to that of the embodiment described above, and the number of shelves may be any number, and a door may be provided on the front.

CC: Counter 1: Tabletop 1a: Use end 1b: Opposite use end 1c: Underside (of tabletop) 1d: Tabletop surface 1x: Recessed portion 2: Shelf 3: Sub-tabletop CM: Equipment (cafe machine)
KS: Lower limb space

Claims (6)

A counter equipped with a tabletop having a recessed portion on the side opposite the use end where equipment can be placed, and a shelf disposed in a portion of the tabletop corresponding to the recessed portion on the use end side. The counter of claim 1, wherein the shelf is disposed between the underside of the tabletop and the floor surface. The counter according to claim 1, wherein the equipment is a cafe machine. The counter according to claim 1, in which a sub-top plate that is lower than the top plate is disposed on the opposite end of the top plate, and the equipment is placed on the sub-top plate. The counter of claim 1, wherein a space for the lower legs is formed on the underside of the portion of the tabletop that does not correspond to the recessed portion on the use end side. The counter according to claim 1, wherein the top plate has a flat top surface that is continuous from the use end side to the opposite use end side.

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