Folding type table

Abstract

To provide a folding type table whose posture can be easily changed to a use posture, becomes a compact in a storage posture in storage, and whose posture can be easily switched between the use posture and the storage posture.SOLUTION: A folding type table 1 is a table 1 comprising: a pair of left and right side legs 2; and a top plate 5 extended between top ends of the side legs 2. The top plate 5 is formed of multiple top plate parts 5R, 5L, the top plate parts 5R, 5L are arranged so as to butt, and butted ends are coupled by hinge coupling and rotatable. A non-butted end of the top plate 5 and the side leg 2 are coupled by hinge coupling and rotatable. The multiple top plate parts 5R, 5L are moved so as to stack the top plate parts each other, and the pair of left and right side legs 2 is stacked, for making the folding type table posture a storage posture where the side legs 2 and the top plate 5 are folded.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] To provide a folding table which can be easily put into a use position and is compact in a storage position, and which can be easily switched between the use position and the storage position. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, low tables and Buddhist sutra desks have fixed legs attached to the underside of the tabletop. Such desks with fixed legs are stable when in use. However, when not in use and put away, they take up space. For this reason, structures have been developed in which the legs can be folded down, or the legs are screwed to the tabletop with a screw-fastening structure that allows the legs to be removed as needed by loosening the screws.

[0003] In this folding structure (leg folding structure), hinges are provided between the base of the legs and the tabletop, and the legs are folded inward toward the opposing legs. In this case, if the length of the tabletop in the folding direction is long enough, the folded opposing legs will not overlap each other, but if the legs are long compared to the size of the tabletop, the folded legs will overlap the opposing legs and the tabletop will not be able to fold down.

[0004] As a result, a tabletop with legs that are folded diagonally toward the center of the tabletop has been developed to create more distance between the legs and prevent them from overlapping (Patent Document 1).

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a folding table comprising two tabletop members that are rotatably connected around one edge of each other as an axis and can be folded with their undersides facing each other, at least three leg members for supporting the tabletop on the underside of the tabletop formed by spreading the two tabletop members out to the left and right, and an automatic opening and closing mechanism that is connected to each leg member and has support rods and guide rods for rotating the leg members as the tabletop members rotate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-117357 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In recent years, as homes have become more westernized, people tend to sit on sofas more often, but sometimes they need a side table to place a cup or something while sitting on the sofa. In addition, as more people work from home, there is an increasing need for compact tables in the living room to place a computer and work.

[0008] Such work tables and side tables are in the way when not in use, and although one would like to store them away, it can be a hassle to do so. One may hesitate to purchase a new side table or work table when thinking about storing them away. The technology of Patent Document 1 is not capable of realizing compactness to the extent that it can meet such demands.

[0009] In view of the above problems, the present invention has an object to provide a folding table that can be easily put into a usable position and is compact in a stored position, and can be easily switched between the usable position and the stored position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions.

[0011] The folding table of the present invention is a table having a pair of left and right side legs and a top plate spanned between the upper ends of the side legs, wherein the top plate is made up of a plurality of top plate sections, the top plate sections are arranged so as to abut against each other, the abutting ends are hingedly connected to enable rotation, and the non-abutting ends of the top plate and the side legs are hingedly connected to enable rotation, and the plurality of top plate sections are moved so as to overlap each other and the pair of left and right side legs are overlapped, whereby the top plate and the side legs are folded up into a storage position.

[0012] Preferably, the tabletop portion has a right tabletop portion and a left tabletop portion, the left end of the right tabletop portion and the right end of the left tabletop portion are hinged to be rotatable and to be butted together, the right end of the right tabletop portion and the upper end of the right leg are hinged to be rotatable, and the left end of the left tabletop portion and the left The upper ends of the side legs are hinged to enable rotation, and by lifting the pair of tabletops so that the left and right tabletops overlap each other, the pair of left and right side legs overlap, and the tabletops and side legs are folded flat into a storage position.

[0013] Preferably, the top plate has a sector shape, and the side legs have a rectangular plate shape.

[0014] Preferably, edges of the pair of left and right side legs that correspond to the center of the sector shape are hinged to be rotatable.

[0015] Preferably, a flexible fabric body is attached to the top plate and the side plates, and the hinge connection is formed by the hinge function of this fabric body.

[0016] Preferably, the left end of the right top panel and the right end of the left top panel are rotatably connected by a cloth hinge made of a cloth body attached to the underside of the top panel, the right end of the right top panel and the upper end of the right leg are rotatably connected by a cloth hinge made of a cloth body attached to the underside of the right leg, and the right end of the left top panel and the upper end of the left leg are rotatably connected by a cloth hinge made of a cloth body attached to the underside of the left leg.

[0017] Preferably, in order to ensure a smooth abutment between the right and left top plate portions, a chamfer is formed on the left edge of the right top plate portion and the right edge of the left top plate portion.

[0018] Preferably, the width of the chamfered portion is configured to be maximum at the tapered side of the sector-shaped top plate portion, to be zero at the trailing edge side, and to asymptotically decrease therebetween. Effect of the Invention

[0019] The folding table according to the present invention can be easily put into a usable position and is compact in a stored position, so that it can be easily switched between the usable position and the stored position. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the folding table of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the folding table of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view showing the folding table of the present invention being switched from a usage position to a storage position. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a folding table according to the present invention in a midway state of being switched from a usage position to a storage position. [Diagram 5] 1 is a perspective view of the right top plate portion of the folding table of the present invention, seen from the rear and below. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a folding table 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as table 1) according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is an example of the present invention, and the configuration of the present invention is not limited to this specific example. In addition, in order to make the drawings easier to see, some of the components are omitted. In addition, in describing this embodiment, the orientation of table 1 will be defined as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0022] 1 to 3, the table 1 of this embodiment has a side plate 2 (side leg) arranged to stand on the floor surface. The side plate 2 has a pair of left and right side plate portions 2R, 2L, and further has a top plate 5 spanning between the upper ends of the side plate portions 2R, 2L.

[0023] The side panel 2 is a plate with a length of about 70 cm, a width of about 50 cm, and a thickness of about 1.5 cm. The side panels 2 (a pair of left and right side panel parts 2R, 2L) are arranged in a V-shape in plan view, with the ends (front ends) facing forward and extending in the vertical direction butting together.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, a large rectangular opening 3 (through hole) is formed in the center of the side panel 2 to reduce weight. On the other hand, in order to obtain sufficient strength, a diagonal beam 4 with a width of about 5 cm is formed to connect the diagonal corners of the opening 3. In other words, the opening 3 is hollowed out in a way that leaves the diagonal beam 4.

[0025] The underside of the side panel 2 (the end surface that comes into contact with the floor) is hollowed out in an arch shape about 5 cm upward to form an arch space 11. Therefore, the side panel 2 comes into contact with the floor surface at two feet 12 located on both sides of the arch space 11, so that the side panel can be installed stably without wobbling.

[0026] On the other hand, the tabletop 5 is made up of a pair of left and right members. The right top plate portion 5R has a sector shape (tapered shape) with a central angle of about 30° to about 45°. The left top plate portion 5L has the same shape as the right top plate portion 5R, but there is no problem if the central angle (tapered angle) of the sector is different.

[0027] The radius of the right top plate portion 5R is the same as the width of the side plate 2, which is about 50 cm. Since the top plate 5 in this embodiment is fan-shaped, the rear edge of the top plate 5 is arc-shaped. However, the top plate 5 is not limited to being fan-shaped, and may be of other shapes. For example, it may be a polygonal shape such as a triangle, rectangle, or hexagon.

[0028] As shown in Figure 1, the left end of the right top plate portion 5R and the right end of the left top plate portion 5L are butted together, and both ends are hinged to each other so that they can be rotated (the top plates 5 can be bent in a mountain fold).

[0029] Also, the right end of the right top plate portion 5R (the non-butted end of the top plate 5) and the upper end of the right side plate portion 2R are arranged to be butted together, and both ends are hinged to be rotatable (mountain-foldable). Similarly, the left end of the left top plate portion 5L (the non-butted end of the top plate 5) and the upper end of the left side plate portion 2L are arranged to be butted together, and both ends are hinged to be rotatable (mountain-foldable). Furthermore, the front edges of the pair of left and right side plates 2, which correspond to the center of the fan-shaped top plate 5, are arranged to be butted together, and are hinged to be rotatable (mountain-foldable).

[0030] The hinge connections between the top panel 5 and the side panels 2 and between the right top panel 5R and the left top panel 5L are not realized by hinge connections using hinges, but by hinge connections using a flexible and bendable cloth body 6, i.e., cloth hinges. The cloth body referred to here is not limited to woven fabrics such as linen or cotton, but also includes synthetic fiber cloth, leather, synthetic leather, film sheets, and other materials that are flexible and can be spread out flat.

[0031] Specifically, the right end of the right top plate portion 5R and the upper end of the right side plate portion 2R are butted together, and a cloth body 6 is attached from the underside of the right top plate portion 5R to the inside of the right side plate portion 2R. This cloth body 6 allows the right top plate portion 5R and the right side plate portion 2R to rotate freely from a flush state where they are butted together until the right top plate portion 5R and the right side plate portion 2R are at least approximately 90° apart.

[0032] Similarly, the left end of the left top plate 5L and the upper end of the left side plate 2L are butted together, and a cloth body 6 is attached from the underside of the left top plate 5L to the inner surface of the left side plate 2L. This cloth body 6 allows the left top plate 5L and the left side plate 2L to be freely rotated from a flush state where they are butted together until the left top plate 5L and the left side plate 2L are at least approximately 90° apart.

[0033] The left end of the right top plate 5R and the right end of the left top plate 5L are butted together, and a cloth body 6 is attached from the underside of the right top plate 5R to the underside of the left top plate 5L, and this cloth body 6 allows the right top plate 5R and the left top plate 5L to rotate freely from a flush state where they are butted together until they overlap each other (bent at approximately 180°). Therefore, by lifting the top plate 5, the pair of left and right top plate portions 5 overlap each other.

[0034] The above-mentioned top plate 5 and side plates 2 can be made of various materials, typically wood, but the weight can be reduced by using a plate material in which polystyrene foam is sandwiched between urethane resin.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, the folding table 1 of the present invention is folded into a storage position in which the left and right plate portions 2L and 2R overlap when the pair of left and right plate portions 5R, 5L are lifted so that the left and right plate portions 5L and 5R overlap each other, and the top plate 5 and the side legs are folded flat.

[0036] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3(a), when the table 1 is in the use position, the left edge of the right top plate portion 5R and the right edge of the left top plate portion 5L are joined together to be flush with each other, forming the top plate 5 (the placement surface) of the table 1. Also, since the right end of the right top plate portion 5R and the upper end of the right side plate portion 2R are connected by a cloth hinge via the cloth body 6, the right top plate portion 5R and the right side plate portion 2R are bent at an angle of approximately 90°. Since the left end of the left top plate portion 5L and the upper end of the left side plate portion 2L are connected by a cloth hinge via the cloth body 6, the left top plate portion 5L and the left side plate portion 2L are bent at an angle of approximately 90°.

[0037] The front edges of the right side plate portion 2R and the left side plate portion 2L are at an angle of about 60° (tapering angle), and a space is formed below the top plate 5. A user places a chair or the like prepared separately behind the table 1, sits on the chair, and uses the table 1 by inserting his / her feet into the space. Since the ends of the left and right top plates 5 of the table 1 are joined, there is no risk of the table 1 sagging further below the surface, and even relatively heavy items such as a laptop computer can be placed on the top plate 5. Therefore, the table 1 of the present invention can be used not only for placing dishes and cups filled with drinks, but also as a work desk when working from home or in a free address office.

[0038] Even if there is an opening 3 in the side panel 2, the cloth body 6 attached to the front side will hide it, making it very suitable for use by women. In other words, by attaching the cloth body 6 to the outer or inner wall of the side panel 2, it can be made to look like a single wall.

[0039] 3(b), by lifting the pair of left and right table tops 5 upward, the pair of left and right table tops 5R, 5L are bent by the cloth body (cloth hinge) connecting the right table top portion 5R and the left table top portion 5L, and the pair of left and right table tops 5R, 5L approach each other so as to overlap each other. At that time, the right side plate portion 2R and the left side plate portion 2L connected to the pair of left and right table tops 5R, 5L by the cloth hinges respectively approach each other.

[0040] Finally, as shown in FIG. 3(c), the pair of left and right top plates 5R, 5L overlap each other with their undersides touching each other, and the right side plate 2R and the left side plate 2L also overlap each other, changing into the stored position.

[0041] In order to facilitate transportation, a vertically oriented long hole 8 is formed in the rear edge of the side panel 2 at the center of the top and bottom. When the right side panel 2R and the left side panel 2L are overlapped with each other, this through hole 8 connects the two side panels 2 (the right side panel 2R and the left side panel 2L) and acts as a handle. This long hole 8 for a handle makes it easy to transport the table 1 in the stored position.

[0042] When the table 1, which is in the stored position as shown in FIG. 3, is to be put into the use position, the table 1 is unfolded as shown in FIG. 3(c)→FIG. 3(b)→FIG. 3(a).

[0043] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3(c), a chamfered portion 9 is provided on part of the inner edge (arcuate portion) of the table top 5, and the user can insert their fingers into this portion to open the pair of table tops 5 to the left and right.

[0044] As shown in Figure 3(b), when the pair of table tops 5 are opened, the pair of side panels 2 also spread out to the left and right, and the pair of table tops 5 rotate downward around the center of rotation of the cloth hinges, causing the edges of the pair of table tops 5 (right table top portion 5R and left table top portion 5L) to come together and the table tops 5 to become flat, creating the table 1 in a usable state as shown in Figure 3(a).

[0045] As shown in Figure 3(c), a 5 cm long chamfer 10 is provided on the upper surface of the rear left edge of the right tabletop. Similarly, a 5 cm long chamfer 10 is provided on the upper surface of the rear left edge of the left tabletop 5L. These two chamfers 10 reliably prevent the risk of the user's fingertips being pinched by the edge of the tabletop 5, even when the edges of the right tabletop 5R and the left tabletop 5L are butted together.

[0046] In a situation like that shown in Figure 3(c), that is, when the pair of table tops 5 are kept horizontal, they do not sag because the edges of the table tops 5 come into contact with each other, and because of the contact state of the edge surfaces, the load that can be supported on the table top 5 of the table 1 is large, at approximately 10 to 20 kg. With this load capacity, it is possible to use it as a side table 1 and place drinks, a vase, etc. on it, and it is even possible to place a computer on this table 1 and work on it when working from home.

[0047] That is, according to the present invention, a flat single board can be opened and closed with one action to form a single-person table 1. Since the table 1 of the present invention is light in weight, it can be easily opened and closed by a single user and can function as a table 1.

[0048] By the way, when moving from FIG. 3(b) to FIG. 3(c), the top plate 5 rotates downward around the center of rotation of the cloth hinge, and the edges of the top plate 5 come into contact with each other. However, if the edges of the top plate 5 are cut vertically, the edges of the top plate 5 will come into contact with each other, causing distortion. This distortion is noticeable at the tapered portion of the table top 5, and in particular the lower surface side of the tapered portion may abut heavily, which may cause the table top 5 itself to break. However, if the end surface is cut away to avoid this abutment, the table tops 5 will not be able to support the load when they abut against each other.

[0049] Therefore, in this embodiment, the butting edges of the table top 5 (right table top portion 5R and left table top portion 5L) are chamfered at an angle of approximately 45° as shown in Fig. 5. This chamfered portion 7 is formed over the entire surface in the plate thickness direction at the tapered portion of the table top 5, and the amount of chamfering is approximately 0 at the arc portion of the table top 5 (the side opposite to the tapered portion) and changes asymptotically (more specifically, linearly) between them.

[0050] The chamfered portion 7 allows the top plate 5 to smoothly transition from a state in which two plates are overlapped to a flush state, and since not all end faces are chamfered, there are parts that meet reliably, making it possible to reliably support the load on the top plate 5.

[0051] As described above, the folding table 1 of the present invention is a desk having a pair of left and right side legs (side panels 2) arranged upright and a tabletop 5 suspended between the upper ends of the side legs, the tabletop 5 being composed of a plurality of tabletop sections 5R, 5L, the tabletop sections 5R, 5L being arranged so as to abut against each other, and the abutting ends being hinged to enable rotation, and the non-abutting ends of the tabletop sections 5R, 5L and the side panels 2 being hinged to enable rotation, and when the tabletop sections 5R, 5L are moved to abut against each other, the pair of left and right side panels 2 move so as to overlap, and the tabletop sections 5R, 5L and the side panels 2 are folded into a storage position, so that the tabletop can be easily adjusted to a usable position and is compact in the storage position when stored, and therefore it can be easily switched between the usable position and the storage position.

[0052] As described above, the embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. In particular, in the embodiments disclosed herein, matters not explicitly stated, such as operating conditions, operation conditions, dimensions and weights of components, do not deviate from the scope of ordinary practice of a person skilled in the art, and are matters that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art.

[0053] For example, a frame made by bending an iron pipe into a rectangle can be used as the side leg instead of the plate-shaped side panel 2. A frame made by combining rectangular rods (which can be made of wood, plastic, or metal) with a cross section of several centimeters by several centimeters can also be used as the side leg. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1 Folding table 2 Side Panel 2R Right side plate 2L left side plate 3 aperture 4 Diagonal beam 5. Tabletop 5R Right top plate section 5L left top plate section 6 Cloth body 7 Chamfered part (top joint) 8 long hole 9 Chamfered section (chamfered to make it easier to open the top) 10 Chamfered section (chamfered to prevent fingers from getting pinched by the top plate) 11 Arch space 12 Foot

Claims

1. A table having a pair of left and right side legs and a top board spanning between the upper ends of the side legs, The top plate is composed of a plurality of top plate portions, the top plate portions are arranged to abut against each other, and the abutting ends are hinged to be rotatable, The non-butted end of the top plate and the side legs are hinged to be rotatable, The plurality of tabletops are moved so as to overlap each other and the pair of left and right side legs are overlapped, so that the tabletops and the side legs are folded into a storage position. A folding table characterized by:

2. The top plate portion has a right top plate portion and a left top plate portion, The left end of the right top plate and the right end of the left top plate are hinged to be rotatable and to be butted together, The right end of the right top panel and the upper end of the right leg are hinged to be rotatable. The left end of the left top panel and the upper end of the left leg are hinged to be rotatable. By lifting the pair of top panels so that the left and right top panels overlap each other, the pair of left and right side legs overlap, and the top panels and side legs are folded flat into a storage position.

2. The folding table according to claim 1 .

3. 3. The folding table according to claim 2, wherein the top plate is fan-shaped and the side legs are rectangular plate-shaped.

4. The edges of the pair of left and right side legs that correspond to the center of the sector shape are hinged to be rotatable.

4. The folding table according to claim 3.

5. A flexible fabric body is attached to the top plate and the side plates, and the hinge joint is formed by the hinge function of the fabric body.

3. The folding table according to claim 2.

6. The left end of the right top panel and the right end of the left top panel are rotatably connected to each other by a cloth hinge made of a cloth body attached to the back side of the top panel, The right end of the right top panel and the upper end of the right leg are rotatably connected to each other by a cloth hinge made of a cloth body attached to the underside of the right leg, The right end of the left top panel and the upper end of the left leg are rotatably connected by a cloth hinge made of a cloth body attached to the underside of the left leg.

6. The folding table according to claim 5,

7. In order to smooth the abutment between the right and left top plates, a chamfer is formed on the left edge of the right top plate and the right edge of the left top plate.

3. The folding table according to claim 2.

8. The width of the chamfered portion is configured to be maximum at the tapered side of the sector-shaped top plate portion, to be zero at the trailing edge side, and to asymptotically decrease therebetween. A folding table according to claim 7.

Images