JPH06237823A - Folding table - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent effectively the finger pinch at the time of storing legs and to allow more than one tables to be piled up safely. CONSTITUTION:In the table 1 with folding legs 3, a push button 42 for releasing locked condition is set on the face of leg 3 opposite to the folding direction. The plate spring 61 bending in approximate circular arc upon the center of the attachment axis 34 of leg 3 is provided on the top board 2 and the leg 3 is designed so as to have a sliding face contacting to such plate spring while moving between the position in use and the storing position. The leg 3 consists of base 31 to be placed on the floor and leg support 32 standing in the approximate middle of the upper side of base 31. The cavity 323 is provided at the outer side of the bottom end of leg support 32 in size larger in height and width than that of up-to-bottom thickness of base 31. The projections are provided at the both ends of the upper side of base 31 with its top 312a being almost in the even level with the bottom of such cavity 323.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a folding table, such as a table, whose legs can be folded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a folding table of this kind, a leg mechanism is pivotably attached to a lower surface of a top plate so that the leg body can be folded, and a lock mechanism for locking the leg body in a use position is provided. It is known that the legs can be folded inward from the use position by releasing the locked state by the mechanism.

[0003]

However, in the conventional device, a lever or a push button for releasing the locked state by the lock mechanism is provided on the inner surface or the side surface of the leg body. Therefore, when folding the leg from the use position to the storage position, first, the push button is pressed to release the locked state, and further,
While maintaining this state, the legs must be biased inward and rotated to the storage position. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation becomes complicated.

Further, if the legs are folded while the fingers or the like are placed on the levers or the like provided on the inner surface or the side surface of the legs, there is a risk that the fingers or the like are easily stuffed between the legs and the top plate. is there.

In particular, in the conventional device, when the locked state by the lock mechanism is released, the legs are in a rotatable state.
Therefore, when releasing the lock with the back turned, if you release your hand, the legs will suddenly collapse from the use position to the storage position, making a loud noise or fingers between the legs and the top plate. There is a problem that there is a high possibility that the

Further, in this type of table, it is not uncommon for a plurality of tables to be stacked and stored with the legs folded, but in the conventional table, the positions of the stacked tables are prevented from shifting and collapsing. No measures such as this have been taken, and the danger has been pointed out from that point as well.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate such a problem.

[0008]

The present invention takes the following means in order to achieve such an object. That is, in the folding table according to the present invention, the legs are foldably pivotably attached to the lower surface side of the top plate, and a lock mechanism for locking the legs in the use position is provided. By releasing the locked state by means of the leg can be folded from the use position to the storage position which is substantially parallel to the top plate, the push button for releasing the locked state is It is characterized in that it is provided on the surface of the body opposite to the folding direction.

If it is desired to effectively prevent finger jamming,
In the folding table having the same basic structure as described above, a leaf spring that is curved in a substantially arc shape around the pivot axis of the leg is provided on the top plate, and the leaf spring is provided on the way from the use position to the storage position. It is preferable to provide a sliding surface on the leg that is in sliding contact with.

When it is desired to safely stack a plurality of tables, the legs are composed of a base to be placed on the floor and a leg support which is erected in the center of the upper surface of the base. In addition, a concave step portion having a vertical width dimension larger than the vertical thickness dimension of the base is provided on the outer surface of the base end portion of the leg column, and the concave step portion is formed on the upper surfaces of both end portions of the base. It is preferable to provide a convex portion having a receiving surface that is substantially at the same level as the depression surface.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the direction in which the push button is pressed is the same as the direction in which the legs fall. for that reason,
The force of pressing the push button can be used as it is in the direction of tilting the leg. Therefore, the unlocking operation and the leg tilting operation can be smoothly performed in one motion. Moreover,
Since it is not necessary to insert a finger or the like for operating on the side where the leg falls down, the possibility of jamming the finger or the like between the top plate and the leg is reduced.

According to the second aspect of the invention, even if the restraint by the lock mechanism is released, the leg body is provided between the sliding surface provided on the leg body and the leaf spring provided on the top plate side. It will be braked by the friction generated. Moreover, since the leaf spring is curved in a substantially arc shape around the pivot axis which is the center of rotation of the leg, the braking force is stable during the rotation of the leg. It will be what you did. Therefore, the legs do not fall to the storage position at a stretch, and by properly setting the elastic contact force between the leaf spring and the sliding surface, the legs slowly rotate to the storage position due to their own weight, Only by applying a slight force, the legs can rotate in the storage position direction.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, the table having the legs folded can be stacked in a stable state. That is, a table in which the legs are placed on the back so that the legs are above the top plate and a table in which the legs are lying down so that the legs are below the top plate are alternately stacked. At that time, for example, when the base of the table in the lying down position is engaged with the recessed portion provided in the base end portion of the leg support of the leg of the table in the upright position, the stacking is performed. It is possible to prevent the table from being displaced in the direction orthogonal to the base. Moreover, in this state, since both ends of the base of the table in the prone position are supported by the receiving surfaces of the convex portions provided on the base of the table in the upright position, the table tilts in the direction in which both ends of the base move up and down. It can also be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to stack many tables in a stable state.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show the entire folding table 1. In this folding table 1, the legs 3 are pivotally attached to the hinge fittings 21 fixed to the lower surface of the top plate 34.
The leg body 3 is pivotally attached via a lever and provided with a lock mechanism 4 for locking the leg body 3 in a use position. By releasing the locked state by the lock mechanism 4, the leg body 3 Can be folded from the use position to a storage position that is substantially parallel to the top plate 2.

The top plate 2 has, for example, a rectangular shape and is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, U-shaped hinge fittings 21 opening downward are fixedly provided at the central portions of both ends of the lower surface 2a. Rectangular pipe-shaped horizontal frame members 22 are joined to the outer surfaces of both side walls 21a of each hinge fitting 21 by welding or the like, and these horizontal frame members 22 are attached to the lower surface 2a of the top plate 2. Further, vertical frame members 23 that connect the horizontal frame members 22 to each other are fixed to portions of the lower surface 2a near both side edges.

As shown in FIG. 3, the leg 3 is a T-shaped one having a horizontally long base 31 and a leg support 32 standing upright in the center of the upper surface of the base 31. An upward U-shaped lock fitting 33 is fixed to the upper end of the. The base 31 is formed by fitting caps 311 made of synthetic resin on both ends of a rectangular pipe shape, and a convex portion 312 is integrally projected at the center of the upper surface of each cap 311 as shown in FIG. The leg support 32 includes two parallel square pipes 321.
And a cover 322 made of synthetic resin that covers the square pipes 321. Spaces 321s having a constant width are formed between the square pipes 321. Lock fitting 33
Is rigidly connected to the upper end of the square pipe 321 by welding or the like.
It is accommodated in the hinge fitting 21 in parallel with and close to the inner surface of a. Then, both side walls 21a of the hinge fitting 21
By connecting the inner ends of both side walls 33a of the lock fitting 33 via the pivot axis 34, the leg 3 is pivotally attached to the top plate 2 in a foldable manner.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lock mechanism 4 is a claw that automatically engages when the leg body 3 is rotated to the use position to fix the leg body 3 to the top plate 2. The engaging section 41, the push button 42 provided on the leg 3, and the operation converting means 5 for converting the immersing operation of the push button 42 into an operation for releasing the engagement of the claw engaging section 41 are provided. . The claw engaging portion 41 is a lock pin 41a that is provided between both side walls 21a of the hinge fitting 21.
And an engaging claw 41b formed on the outer end of the side wall 33a of the lock fitting 33. Lock pin 41a
Is a horizontal long hole 2 provided on the side wall 21a of the hinge fitting 21.
It is held so that it can be translated in the outward direction by being guided by 11, and is elastically biased inward by a pair of tension springs 41a1. The engaging claw 41b is provided on the inclined guide surface 41.
b1 and the engaging recess 41b2 into which the lock pin 41a is fitted
Is formed in succession, and the inclined guide surface 41b1 can push the lock pin 41a outwards temporarily before the leg 3 is in the use position orthogonal to the top plate 2. At the position, the lock pin 41a is returned inward and can be engaged with the engaging recess 41b2. on the other hand,
The motion converting means 5 has a lever 52 pivotally attached at an intermediate position between the square pipes 321 of the leg body 3 via the lever pin 51, and a pair of side pieces fixed near the upper end of the lever 52 and forming a pair with the lock pin 41a. The push button 42 is attached to the lower end of the lever 52. Then, this push button 42
Are disposed between the square pipes 321, and the outer surface thereof is exposed to the outside through a window 322s provided in the cover 322. That is, the push button 42 is provided on the surface of the leg 3 that is on the side opposite to the folding direction. Further, the lever 52 is elastically biased in the vicinity of the upper end by a tension spring 521 in the direction of the pivot axis 34.

Further, in this folding table 1, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pivot 3 is attached to the top plate 2.
4 is provided with a leaf spring 61 that is curved in a substantially arcuate shape, and a sliding surface 35 that slidably contacts the leaf spring 61 on the way from the use position to a storage position that is substantially parallel to the top plate 2 has a leg body. It is provided in 3. Specifically, a pair of parallel leaf springs 61 is integrally extended from an outer edge of a base plate 60 made of synthetic resin attached to the lower surface of the top plate 2, and each leaf spring 61 is a leg. Approximately 1 / about the pivotal axis 34 of the body 3
It is curved in an arc shape. The sliding surface 35 is formed inside the lock fitting 33 and is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the leaf springs 61. In the use position where the leg body 3 is locked and the storage position where the leg body 3 is completely folded, a slight gap is formed between the sliding surface 35 and the leaf spring 61. The end shape of the leaf spring 61 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of elastic holding pieces 62 are integrally formed on the base plate 60, and a pin 63 is formed on the lower surface of the lock fitting 33. As shown in FIG. 8, when the leg body 3 is rotated to the storage position, the pin 63 is pushed between the elastic holding pieces 62 by utilizing the elastic deformation of the member.

When the folding table 1 is in use, the lock pin 41a is urged inward by the tension spring 41a1 to engage with the engaging recess 41b2 as shown in FIG. It is fixed to the plate 2 in an orthogonal state. To fold the table 1, the square pipe 3 of the leg 3 is used.
A push button 42 attached to the lower end of a lever 52 pivotally attached between the two.
Energize in the direction of immersion. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the U-shaped pusher 53 is moved to the lock pin 4 by the motion converting means 5.
1a is pushed outward, and the lock pin 41a is fixed to the hinge fitting 21.
It moves outward while being guided by the long hole 211 provided in the.
As a result, the engagement between the lock pin 41a and the engagement claw 41b is released, and the locked state in which the leg body 3 is locked at the use position is released. The lever 52 has a spring 52 at the upper end.
Since it is biased inward by 1, it can return to its original position in which it is substantially parallel to the leg 3.

When the leg body 3 is further urged inward, the leg body 3 rotates as shown in FIG. At this time, approximately 1/4
Since the leaf spring 61 curved in a circular arc is in sliding contact with the sliding surface 35 provided on the leg 3 around the pivot axis 34, friction caused between the sliding surface 35 and the leaf spring 61 is generated. As a result, the leg 3 slowly rotates. The lock pin 41a, which is disengaged from the engaging claw 41b, is urged inward by the tension spring 41a1 and thus moves inward of the elongated hole 211.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when the leg 3 is rotated to a storage position which is substantially parallel to the top plate 2, a pin protruding from a lock fitting 33 fixed to the upper end of the leg support 32 is provided. 63 is pushed into the elastic holding piece space 62 projecting from the base plate 60 attached to the top plate lower surface 2a. Therefore, the leg 3 is fixed in that position.

In order to change the table 1 from the housed state to the used state, the leg 3 is pivoted outward about the pivot axis 34 to release the holding between the elastic holding piece 62 and the pin 63. When the leg 3 is further rotated outward, the tension spring 41a
The lock pin 41a biased inward by 1 is guided by the inclined guide surface 41b1 provided on the engaging claw 41b and fits into the engaging recess 41b2, so that the leg 3 is locked in the use position. Become.

However, with such a structure, when the leg body 3 is stored, the push button 42 is biased in the retracted direction in order to release the locked state in which the leg body 3 is locked in the use position. Then, just apply a little inward force to the leg 3,
The leg body 3 is swung slowly from the use position to the storage position without being collapsed at a stretch, and is set in the storage position.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which the tables 1 in which the legs 3 are folded are stacked. That is, this table 1
Is a recessed stepped portion 32 having a vertical width dimension larger than the vertical thickness dimension of the base 31 on the outer surface of the base end portion of the leg column 32.
3 is provided, and the receiving surface 3 is formed on the upper surfaces of both end portions of the base 31 at substantially the same level as the recessed surface of the recessed stepped portion 323.
A convex portion 312 having 12a is provided. Thus, according to such a configuration, the table 1A in which the legs 3 are on the back so that the legs 3 are above the top plate 2 and the table 1B in which the legs 3 are lying down below the top plate 2 are arranged. By alternately stacking and, a stable stacking structure can be realized. Specifically, in the recessed stepped portion 323 provided at the base end of the leg support 32 of the leg 3 of the table 1A in the upright posture,
When the base 31 of the table 1B in the lying down position is engaged and placed in a superposed manner, the superposed tables 1A, 1B are placed.
Can be prevented from being displaced in the direction orthogonal to the base 31. In addition, in this state, both ends of the base 31 of the table 1B in the prone position are convex portions 312 provided on the base 31 of the table 1A in the upright position.
Since it is supported by the receiving surface 312a, it is possible to prevent the table 1 from tilting in the direction in which both ends of the base 31 move up and down. Therefore, it is possible to stack many tables 1 in a stable state.

Although the shape of the leaf spring is not limited to that of the above-described embodiment, it may be separated from the sliding surface in the use position and the storage position as described above. The load is applied to the leaf spring only when the legs are rotated. Therefore, it is possible to improve the durability of the leaf spring as compared with the case where the load is constantly applied.

In addition, within the scope of the present invention,
Various modifications are possible.

[0029]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the push button for unlocking is provided on the side of the leg body opposite to the folding side, the force of pushing the push button is applied in the direction in which the leg body is tilted. Therefore, the leg folding operation can be facilitated while reducing the risk of finger jamming and the like.

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, since the tilting motion of the leg can be braked by the leaf spring which is curved in a substantially arc shape, the leg can be stored when the leg is stored. It will not fall down to the storage position at once, and it will be less likely to cause large noises and troubles such as packing fingers or the like between the legs and the top plate.

Further, if the above-described concave stepped portions and convex portions are provided on the legs, positional deviation does not easily occur when the tables in which the legs are folded are stacked, and the tables are stacked in a stable state. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a used state and a stored state in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the main part.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view of the same embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the operation of the same embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view of the same embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of the operation of the same embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a stored state in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ... Top plate 3 ... Leg 31 ... Base 312 ... Convex part 323 ... Recessed stepped part 34 ... Pivot axis 35 ... Sliding surface 4 ... Lock mechanism 42 ... Push button 61 ... Leaf spring

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Koji Yamada 2-32 Kowari-dori, Minato-ku, Nagoya City Yamada Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A leg is foldably pivotably attached to the lower surface of a top plate, and a lock mechanism is provided for locking the leg in a use position, and the locked state by the lock mechanism is released. By doing so, in the folding table in which the legs can be folded from the use position to the storage position that is substantially parallel to the top plate, the push button for releasing the locked state is provided in the folding direction of the legs. A folding table characterized in that it is provided on the opposite side of the table. 2. A leg mechanism is pivotably attached to the lower surface of the top plate in a foldable manner, and a lock mechanism for locking the leg body in a use position is provided, and the locked state by the lock mechanism is released. In the folding table, the legs can be folded from the use position to the storage position that is substantially parallel to the top plate, and the top plate is approximately centered on the pivot axis of the legs. A folding table, characterized in that a leaf spring curved in an arc shape is provided, and a sliding surface that is in sliding contact with the leaf spring is provided on a leg body on the way from a use position to a storage position. 3. A leg body comprising a base placed on a floor surface and a leg support standing upright in a substantially central portion of an upper surface of the base, and an outer surface of a base end portion of the leg support. And providing a concave stepped portion having a vertical width dimension larger than the vertical thickness dimension of the base, and a convex portion having a receiving surface at substantially the same level as the depressed surface of the concave stepped portion on both upper surfaces of the base. The table according to claim 1, wherein the table is provided.