Clothing drying machine installation base
The clothes dryer stand addresses the issue of insufficient rigidity by using connecting frames to reinforce vertical frames, effectively absorbing vibrations and preventing stand vibration, while also accommodating external devices efficiently.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023192366
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-10
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-22
AI Technical Summary
Existing clothes dryer stands lack sufficient rigidity, leading to inadequate vibration absorption and significant vibration of the stand in the forward/backward and left/right directions.
A stand design featuring four vertical frames with connecting frames that reinforce adjacent vertical frames, increasing the rigidity of the entire structure to effectively absorb vibrations from the clothes dryer.
The enhanced rigidity of the stand effectively absorbs vibrations from the clothes dryer, preventing significant vibration of the stand itself, while also allowing for efficient accommodation of external devices in the stand's space.
Smart Images

Figure 2025079589000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a stand for placing a clothes dryer.
Background Art
[0002] A clothes dryer may be directly installed on an installation surface such as the floor. However, from the viewpoints of suppressing vibration transmission to the installation surface or improving the usability of the clothes dryer, it is usually placed on a stand provided at a predetermined height.
[0003] As such a stand for a clothes dryer, for example, Patent Document 1 below describes a stand including a pair of legs having a substantially L shape, a pair of left and right columns supported at the upper ends of the pair of legs, and a front column and a rear column connecting the front and rear ends of the pair of left and right columns.
[0004] The clothes dryer is placed above the pair of left and right columns, the front column, and the rear column. In addition, the back sides of the pair of legs having a substantially L shape are connected by a plurality of beams (see FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1).
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0005]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] In the stand of Patent Document 1 above, only the upper ends of the pair of legs support the weight of the clothes dryer. Also, although the back sides of the pair of legs are connected by a plurality of beams, the rigidity is likely to be insufficient only by that. Therefore, the vibration of the clothes dryer cannot be sufficiently absorbed, and a situation where the stand vibrates greatly in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is likely to occur.
[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a clothes dryer stand that can sufficiently absorb the vibrations of the clothes dryer and prevent the stand itself from vibrating significantly in the forward / backward and left / right directions. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a stand for placing a clothes dryer, which comprises four vertical frames extending in an up-down direction and having their lower ends placed on a mounting surface of the stand, four corner portions supported by the upper ends of the four vertical frames, forming a ceiling portion on which the clothes dryer is placed, and four connecting frames which connect adjacent vertical frames to each other.
[0009] According to the above invention, the four adjacent vertical frames that support the ceiling on which the clothes dryer is placed are connected by four connecting frames, so that the adjacent vertical frames can be reinforced and the rigidity of the entire vertical frame can be increased. As a result, the vibrations of the clothes dryer placed on the ceiling can be sufficiently absorbed and the stand itself can be prevented from vibrating significantly in the forward / backward and left / right directions.
[0010] In the clothes dryer stand of the present invention, a space capable of accommodating an external device placed on the stand is provided inside each vertical frame and each connecting frame and below the ceiling portion, and the connecting frames may have a first connecting frame that is arranged so as to be detachable from the vertical frames to be connected or that is arranged at a lower position than the mounting surface of the stand, and a second connecting frame that is adjacent to the first connecting frame and that is arranged so as to be detachable from the vertical frames to be connected or that is arranged at a lower position than the mounting surface of the stand.
[0011] According to the above aspect, the external device placed on the mounting stand can be accommodated in the space inside each vertical frame and each connecting frame and below the ceiling portion, so that the above-mentioned space in the mounting stand can be utilized efficiently, with the clothes dryer and the external device arranged in two levels, one above the other, and the installation space for the clothes dryer can be utilized effectively.
[0012] In addition, if an external device is already placed in the location where the clothes dryer is to be installed, the external device can be stored in the space of the stand by placing the stand above the external device.
[0013] Furthermore, when an external device is to be accommodated in the space of an already installed stand, first, a stand for the external device is installed on an installation surface within the space.
[0014] In this case, if the first connecting frame or the second connecting frame is higher than the mounting surface of the mounting stand for the external device, the first connecting frame or the second connecting frame can be removed, and the external device can be inserted onto the mounting surface of the mounting stand for the external device within the space of the stand through the gap between the adjacent vertical frame from which one of the first connecting frame or the second frame has been removed, and the external device can be positioned beyond the gap between the adjacent vertical frames from which the other of the first connecting frame or the second connecting frame has been removed, and then the removed first connecting frame or the second connecting frame can be reattached to the corresponding vertical frame, thereby allowing the external device to be accommodated in the space of the stand.
[0015] On the other hand, if the first connecting frame or the second connecting frame is lower than the mounting surface of the mounting stand for the external device, the external device can be inserted through the gap between the adjacent vertical frames on one of the first connecting frame or the second frame, within the space of the stand, onto the mounting surface of the mounting stand for the external device, and the external device can be positioned beyond the gap between the adjacent vertical frames on the other of the first connecting frame or the second connecting frame, thereby accommodating the external device in the space of the stand.
[0016] Therefore, while enhancing the rigidity of the entire vertical frame with the connecting frame, the connecting frame does not become an obstacle, and an external device can be easily inserted into the space of the mounting base, improving the workability of accommodating the external device in the space of the mounting base.
[0017] In addition, even when the external device is wider than the mounting base, first, a mounting table for the external device is installed on the installation surface in the space.
[0018] And when the first connecting frame or the second connecting frame is higher than the mounting surface of the mounting table of the external device, the first connecting frame or the second connecting frame is removed. For example, one end portion in the width direction of the external device is obliquely inserted into the space of the mounting base from the gap between the adjacent vertical frame with one of the first connecting frame or the second frame removed, and after protruding one end portion in the width direction of the mounting base from between the adjacent vertical frames with the other of the first connecting frame or the second connecting frame removed, the other end portion in the width direction of the external device is pushed into the space of the mounting base, and then the removed first connecting frame or second connecting frame is attached again to the corresponding vertical frame, so that the external device can be accommodated in the space of the mounting base.
[0019] On the other hand, when the first connecting frame or the second connecting frame is lower than the mounting surface of the mounting table of the external device, for example, one end portion in the width direction of the external device is obliquely inserted into the space of the mounting base from the gap between the adjacent vertical frame in one of the first connecting frame or the second frame, and after protruding one end portion in the width direction of the mounting base from between the adjacent vertical frames in the other of the first connecting frame or the second frame, the other end portion in the width direction of the external device is pushed into the space of the mounting base, so that the external device can be accommodated in the space of the mounting base.
[0020] In the mounting base of the clothes dryer according to the present invention, at least one of the connecting frames may extend obliquely such that one end is connected to a portion of the predetermined vertical frame that is 1 / 3 or less from the installation surface, and the other end is connected to a portion of the vertical frame adjacent to the vertical frame to which the one end is connected that is 2 / 3 or more from the installation surface.
[0021] According to the above embodiment, at least one end of the connecting frame is connected to the lower end side (a location less than 1 / 3 of the way from the installation surface) of one of a pair of adjacent vertical frames, and the other end is connected to the upper end side (a location more than 2 / 3 of the way from the installation surface) of the other vertical frame, and is arranged at an incline approximately diagonally, so that the connecting frame functions like a diagonal brace for the pair of adjacent vertical frames.
[0022] Therefore, the inclined connecting frame can increase the rigidity of a pair of adjacent vertical frames connected to each other, making it easier to absorb vibrations from the clothes dryer.
[0023] In addition, because the connecting frame is arranged at an angle, it is easy to secure a space where the connecting frame does not exist, for example, at the lower end of one of the vertical frames of the connecting frame. Therefore, the piping of the external device placed in the space of the stand is less likely to interfere with the connecting frame arranged at an angle, and the piping of the external device can be easily handled.
[0024] In the clothes dryer stand of the present invention, a space capable of accommodating an external device placed on the stand is provided inside each vertical frame and each connecting frame and below the ceiling portion, and at least one of the connecting frames may be detachable from the vertical frame it connects to and may be positioned at a lower position than the mounting surface of the stand.
[0025] According to the above aspect, when an external device with a large width (horizontal dimension) of a stand is to be accommodated in the space of an already installed stand, the external device can be easily accommodated in the space of the stand by a simple task of removing the connecting frame from the adjacent vertical frame, placing the stand from above the external device, and then reattaching the connecting frame to the adjacent vertical frame.
[0026] As a result, the rigidity of the entire vertical frame can be increased by the connecting frame, and it is possible to suppress the pedestal itself from vibrating greatly in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. In addition, when accommodating an external device with a large width (lateral width) of the pedestal in the space of the already installed pedestal, the workability can be improved.
[0027] In the pedestal of the clothes dryer according to the present invention, at least one of the connecting frames has one end connected to a position below 1 / 3 from the installation surface of a predetermined vertical frame arranged behind the pedestal, and the other end is adjacent to the vertical frame to which the one end is connected and is inclined so as to be connected to a position of 2 / 3 or more from the installation surface of the vertical frame arranged behind the pedestal, and may be a rear connecting frame arranged behind the pedestal.
[0028] According to the above aspect, the rear connecting frame arranged behind the pedestal in an inclined manner further increases the rigidity of the adjacent vertical frame and makes it easier to absorb the vibration of the clothes dryer. In addition, it becomes difficult for piping of an external device to interfere with the rear connecting frame, and the piping of the external device can be easily handled.
[0029] In the pedestal of the clothes dryer according to the present invention, a space capable of accommodating an outdoor unit of an air conditioner placed on the mounting table may be provided inside each vertical frame and each connecting frame and below the ceiling portion.
[0030] According to the above aspect, since a space capable of accommodating an outdoor unit of an air conditioner placed on the mounting table is provided inside each vertical frame and each connecting frame and below the ceiling portion, the space above the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, which is likely to become a wasted space (dead space), can be used as a space for mounting the clothes dryer by using the pedestal. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner and the clothes dryer can be installed without waste, and the space in an apartment building, a house, etc. can be effectively utilized.
Effects of the Invention
[0031] According to the present invention, adjacent vertical frames can be reinforced, thereby increasing the rigidity of the entire vertical frame and fully absorbing the vibrations of a clothes dryer placed on the ceiling, thereby preventing the stand itself from vibrating significantly in the forward / backward and left / right directions. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0032] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a clothes dryer stand according to the present invention, in which the clothes dryer and an external device are placed on an installation surface using the stand. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a state in which the placement stand is installed on a placement surface; FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a method of using the stand. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of a method of using the stand. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] (One embodiment of a stand for a clothes dryer) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a stand for a clothes drying apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0034] As shown in Fig. 1, a clothes dryer stand 10 of this embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as "stand 10") is for placing a clothes dryer 1 thereon, and is installed on an installation surface G of a floor wall 2 such as a veranda or balcony of an apartment building, house, etc., as shown in Fig. 7. The installation location of stand 10 is not particularly limited.
[0035] A side wall 3 stands upright from one side of the floor wall 2 (see FIG. 7), and the clothes dryer 1 and external device 5 are installed side by side in the vertical direction via a stand 10 in the space between the side wall 3 and the room 4, on the side of the room 4. The space between the stand 10 and the side wall 3 forms an evacuation route H.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the stand 10 has four vertical frames (front right vertical frame 20, front left vertical frame 22, rear right vertical frame 24, rear left vertical frame 26) that extend in the vertical direction and have their lower ends installed on the installation surface G of the stand 10, four corner portions 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d supported by the upper ends of the four vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26, respectively, to form a ceiling portion 40 on which the clothes dryer 1 is placed, and four connecting frames (front connecting frame 50, right connecting frame 52, left connecting frame 54, rear connecting frame 56) that connect adjacent vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26 to each other, respectively.
[0037] In the following description, the direction in which the front surface (front face) 1a of the clothes dryer 1 is arranged is referred to as the "front" of the stand 10, and the direction in which the rear surface (rear face) opposite the front surface 1a of the clothes dryer 1 is arranged is referred to as the "rear" of the stand 10. Furthermore, the above-mentioned "front" and "rear" are collectively referred to as the "front-to-rear direction" of the stand 10. The direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction of the stand 10 is referred to as the "width direction". This "width direction" can also be referred to as the "left-to-right direction" of the stand 10.
[0038] Furthermore, when the clothes dryer is viewed toward its front surface 1a, i.e., when the clothes dryer 1 is viewed facing the front surface 1a, one side of the stand 10 in the width direction is defined as the "right side" of the stand 10, and the other side of the stand 10 in the width direction is defined as the "left side" of the stand 10.
[0039] Furthermore, in the stand 10 of this embodiment, a space R capable of accommodating an external device 5 (an outdoor unit of an air conditioner in this embodiment) other than the clothes dryer 1 placed on the stand 8 is provided inside the vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26 and the connecting frames 50, 52, 54, 56 and below the ceiling portion 40. The external device is not limited to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner.
[0040] The external device 5 in this embodiment is placed on a plurality of mounting bases 8 installed on an installation surface G. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 1, a pair of mounting bases 8, 8 are placed on the installation surface G with a predetermined distance therebetween, and a pair of legs 6, 6 fixed to the underside of the external device 5 are placed on mounting surfaces 8a, 8a located above the mounting bases 8, 8. As a result, the external device 5 is installed in a state where it is slightly floating with a gap in the vertical direction from the installation surface G via the mounting bases 8.
[0041] In addition, in FIG. 7, a configuration is shown in which one side in the width direction of the external device 5 protrudes from one side in the width direction of the stand 10.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, the four vertical frames in this embodiment are composed of (1) a front right vertical frame 20 arranged in front of and to the right of the stand 10, (2) a front left vertical frame 22 arranged in front of and to the left of the stand 10, (3) a rear right vertical frame 24 arranged in the rear of and to the right of the stand 10, and (4) a rear left vertical frame 26 arranged in the rear of and to the left of the stand 10.
[0043] Each of the vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26 is a substantially L-shaped bent frame, which is composed of a long side plate 28 located on one or the other side of the stand 10 in the width direction and extending vertically by a predetermined length, and a long front-rear plate 30 bent with respect to one side edge along the vertical direction of the side plate 28, located in front or rear of the stand 10, and extending vertically by a predetermined length. Each of the vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26 is arranged so as to be perpendicular to the surface direction of the installation surface G.
[0044] In addition, four imaginary side surfaces are defined by the four vertical frames 20, 22, 24, and 26. That is, as shown in Fig. 2, there are (1) a front surface A1 defined between the front right vertical frame 20 and the front left vertical frame 22, (2) a right side surface A2 defined between the front right vertical frame 20 and the rear right vertical frame 24, (3) a left side surface A3 defined between the front left vertical frame 22 and the rear left vertical frame 26, and (4) a rear surface A4 defined between the rear right vertical frame 24 and the rear left vertical frame 26.
[0045] It can also be said that in this stand 10, the front right vertical frame 20 and the front left vertical frame 22 are arranged on the front surface A1, the front right vertical frame 20 and the rear right vertical frame 24 are arranged on the right side A2, the front left vertical frame 22 and the rear left vertical frame 26 are arranged on the left side A3, and the rear right vertical frame 24 and the rear left vertical frame 26 are arranged on the rear side A4.
[0046] Furthermore, Figures 3 to 5 show horizontal line segments B1 and B2 when the maximum height of the stand 10 from the installation surface G is divided into three equal parts, and in the vertical direction (height direction) of the vertical frames 20, 22, 24, and 26, the area below line segment B1 is an area less than 1 / 3 of the area from the installation surface G, and the area above line segment B2 is an area more than 2 / 3 of the area from the installation surface G.
[0047] The vertical frame may be, for example, in the form of a roughly rectangular or cylindrical tube, or in the form of a solid pillar or block with a roughly rectangular or circular outer periphery, and there are no particular limitations on its shape or structure as long as it can be erected against the installation surface to define each of the above-mentioned imaginary side surfaces.
[0048] As shown in Figs. 2 and 6, a height adjustment section 34 is attached via a bracket 32 to the inside of the lower end of each of the vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26 in the extension direction.
[0049] The bracket 32 is composed of a bottom 32a and a pair of side walls 32b, 32b erected from two adjacent side edges of the bottom 32a. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 6, the pair of side walls 32b, 32b are fixed to the inside of the lower ends of the side plates 28 and the front and rear plates 30 of the corresponding vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26 by fasteners K such as screws, stud bolts, bolts and nuts, thereby fixing the bracket 32 to the lower ends of the vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26.
[0050] In addition, a height adjustment unit 34 having a screw shaft 34a is screwed to the bottom 32a, and the position of the lower surface of the height adjustment unit 34 can be adjusted relative to the bottom 32a. As a result, the height of the ceiling surface (the upper surface of the ceiling portion 40) of the stand 10 relative to the installation surface G can be appropriately adjusted.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, the ceiling portion 40 is composed of a right ceiling portion 41 arranged on the right side of the stand 10 in the left-right direction, a left ceiling portion 43 arranged on the left side of the stand 10 in the left-right direction, and a pair of connecting portions 45, 45 arranged in the front-to-back direction of the stand 10 and connecting the right ceiling portion 41 and the left ceiling portion 43 to each other. As a whole, the outer peripheral shape is approximately rectangular (approximately a rectangular shape extending elongatedly in the left-right direction) and the center of the width direction is empty.
[0052] Furthermore, the corner portion at the front of the stand in the right-side ceiling portion 41 is referred to as "corner portion 40a," the corner portion at the rear of the stand in the right-side ceiling portion 41 is referred to as "corner portion 40b," the corner portion at the front of the stand in the left-side ceiling portion 43 is referred to as "corner portion 40c," and the corner portion at the rear of the stand in the left-side ceiling portion 43 is referred to as "corner portion 40d."
[0053] As described above, the ceiling portion 40 in this embodiment has a generally rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction of the stand 10. However, the ceiling portion may have a generally trapezoidal shape when viewed from a planar direction, with one side, either the front or rear, of the stand being wider or narrower than the other side, or a generally elliptical shape that is long in the left-right direction of the stand. Any shape may be used as long as it has at least four corners and the lines connecting adjacent corners in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions of the stand 10 form an imaginary rectangular surface when viewed from a planar direction.
[0054] In addition, when the outer periphery of the stand is curved, such as being substantially elliptical, the four corners are defined as four points located diagonally near the outer periphery.
[0055] In addition, the right ceiling portion 41 and the left ceiling portion 43 are composed of a top plate 41a having an approximately rectangular shape extending elongatedly in the front-to-rear direction of the stand 10, and side plates 41b formed by bending downward from three sides of the top plate 41a excluding the inner side, i.e., both sides and the outer side in the front-to-rear direction of the stand 10.
[0056] The ceiling portion 40 has lower surfaces (rear surfaces) of the four corner portions 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d supported by the upper ends of the corresponding vertical frames 20, 22, 24, and 26, respectively.
[0057] More specifically, corner portion 40a is supported by the upper end portion of the front right vertical frame 20, corner portion 40b is supported by the upper end portion of the rear right vertical frame 24, corner portion 40c is supported by the upper end portion of the front left vertical frame 22, and corner portion 40d is supported by the upper end portion of the rear left vertical frame 26.
[0058] In addition, the top plate 41a and three side plates 41b of the right ceiling portion 41 and the left ceiling portion 43 are positioned outside the upper ends of the corresponding vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26 and fastened with fasteners K such as screws, thereby fixing the four corner portions 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d of the ceiling portion 40 to the upper ends of each vertical frame 20, 22, 24, 26 to each other.
[0059] As described above, each of the four corner portions 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d of the ceiling portion 40 is supported by the corresponding vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26, so that the upper ends of the corresponding vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26 are aligned or nearly aligned with the four corner portions 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d of the ceiling portion 40, and the amount by which the outer peripheral edge of the ceiling portion 40 protrudes from the outer periphery of the upper ends of each vertical frame 20, 22, 24, 26 is reduced.
[0060] Next, the four connecting frames will be described in detail.
[0061] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the four connecting frames in this embodiment are composed of: (1) a front connecting frame 50 that connects the front right vertical frame 20 and the front left vertical frame 22 that are adjacent in the width direction in front of the stand 10; (2) a right connecting frame 52 that connects the front right vertical frame 20 and the rear right vertical frame 24 that are adjacent in the front-to-rear direction on the right side of the stand 10; (3) a left connecting frame 54 that connects the front left vertical frame 22 and the rear left vertical frame 26 that are adjacent in the front-to-rear direction on the left side of the stand 10; and (4) a rear connecting frame 56 that connects the rear right vertical frame 24 and the rear left vertical frame 26 that are adjacent in the width direction behind the stand 10.
[0062] In addition, in this embodiment, the four connecting frames include a first connecting frame (here, the front connecting frame 50) that is arranged so as to be detachable from the vertical frame to be connected, or that is arranged at a position lower than the mounting surface 8a of the mounting table 8 of the external device 5, and a second connecting frame (here, the right connecting frame 52 and the left connecting frame 54) that is adjacent to the first connecting frame and arranged at a position lower than the mounting surface 8a of the mounting table 8.
[0063] Each connecting frame 50, 52, 54 is in the form of a long, narrow plate extending a predetermined length in the width direction or front-to-rear direction of the stand 10 so as to be positioned between corresponding adjacent vertical frames, and has a front plate 58 with both ends in the extending direction positioned on the front side of the corresponding adjacent vertical frame, and an upper plate 60 bent inward (facing the space R in which the external device 5 can be placed) with respect to the upper edge along the extending direction of the front plate 58, and inserted between the corresponding adjacent vertical frames.
[0064] The connecting frame may be, for example, in the form of a roughly rectangular or cylindrical tube, or in the form of a solid pillar or block with a roughly rectangular or circular outer periphery, and there are no particular limitations on its shape or structure as long as it is possible to connect corresponding adjacent vertical frames.
[0065] The front connection frame 50 is then attached to the corresponding vertical frames 20, 22 as follows.
[0066] In other words, the front connecting frame 50 is arranged between the front right vertical frame 20 and the front left vertical frame 22, with the upper plate 60 and all but both ends in the extension direction of the front plate 58 being arranged on the front side of the front and rear plates 30 of the vertical frames 20, 22 and fastened and fixed thereto by fasteners K such as screws.
[0067] As a result, the front right vertical frame 20 and the front left vertical frame 22 are connected to each other by the front connecting frame 50.
[0068] In addition, the front connecting frame 50 is detachable from the front right vertical frame 20 and the front left vertical frame 22. Furthermore, the front connecting frame 50 is disposed at a position lower than the mounting surface 8a of the mounting stand 8 of the external device 5. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the upper side of the front plate 58 of the front connecting frame 50 is located lower than the mounting surface 8a of the mounting stand 8.
[0069] As described above, the front connecting frame 50 constituting the first connecting frame is detachable from the front right vertical frame 20 and the front left vertical frame 22, and is positioned at a lower position than the mounting surface 8a of the mounting stand 8 of the external device 5.
[0070] The right connecting frame 52 is attached to the corresponding vertical frames 20, 24 as follows.
[0071] In other words, the right connecting frame 52 is arranged between the front right vertical frame 20 and the rear right vertical frame 24, with the upper plate 60 and all but both ends in the extension direction of the front plate 58 being arranged on the front sides of the front and rear plates 30 of the vertical frames 20, 24 and fastened and fixed thereto by fasteners K.
[0072] As a result, the front right vertical frame 20 and the rear right vertical frame 24 are connected to each other by the right connecting frame 52. Note that, like the front connecting frame 50, the right connecting frame 52 is disposed at a position lower than the mounting surface 8a of the mounting stand 8 of the external device 5.
[0073] The left connecting frame 54 is attached to the corresponding vertical frames 22, 26 as follows.
[0074] In other words, the left connecting frame 54 is arranged between the front left vertical frame 22 and the rear left vertical frame 26, with the upper plate 60 and all but both ends in the extension direction of the front plate 58 being arranged on the front side of the front and rear plates 30 of the vertical frames 22, 26 and fastened and fixed thereto by fasteners K.
[0075] As a result, the front left vertical frame 22 and the rear left vertical frame 26 are connected to each other by the left connecting frame 54. Note that, like the front connecting frame 50 and the right connecting frame 52, the left connecting frame 54 is disposed at a position lower than the mounting surface 8a of the mounting stand 8 of the external device 5.
[0076] The connecting frames 50, 52, 54 described above are all arranged parallel and horizontal to the surface direction of the installation surface G. However, each connecting frame 50, 52, 54 may be arranged inclined at a predetermined angle to the surface direction of the installation surface G. In addition, the heights of each connecting frame 50, 52, 54 from the installation surface G are all the same.
[0077] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2, 3, 5, etc., the rear connecting frame 56 in this embodiment extends at an angle relative to the rear right vertical frame 24 and the rear left vertical frame 26 so that one end 56a is connected to a location that is 1 / 3 or less from the installation surface G of a given vertical frame, and the other end 56b is connected to a location that is 2 / 3 or more from the installation surface of the vertical frame adjacent to the vertical frame to which the one end is connected.
[0078] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the rear connecting frame 56 in this embodiment is in the form of a long, narrow plate extending a predetermined length, and both side portions 56c, 56c along the longitudinal direction are bent to improve rigidity.
[0079] One end (lower end) 56a of the extending direction of the rear connecting frame 56 is fastened and fixed by a fastener K to a location less than 1 / 3 from the installation surface G of the rear left vertical frame 26 (the area less than line segment B1).
[0080] In addition, the other end (upper end) 56b of the rear connecting frame 56 in the extension direction is fastened and fixed by a fastener K to a location more than 2 / 3 from the installation surface G of the rear right vertical frame 24 (the area above line segment B2).
[0081] 5, the rear connecting frame 56 is disposed at an incline substantially diagonally with respect to both upper and lower ends of the pair of adjacent vertical frames 24, 26, and functions as a so-called diagonal brace for the pair of vertical frames 24, 26. Note that the rear connecting frame may have its lower end connected to the rear right vertical frame 24 and its upper end connected to the rear left vertical frame 26, and its arrangement and layout are not particularly limited.
[0082] The vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26, the ceiling portion 40, and the connecting frames 50, 52, 54, 56 described above can be made of steel such as hot-dip galvanized steel sheet (SGCC). The connecting frames 50, 52, 54, 56 are preferably made of a material with high vibration absorption properties.
[0083] Furthermore, fasteners for connecting the vertical frames and the connecting frames may be screws, stud bolts, bolts and nuts, adhesive tape, industrial fasteners that allow one-touch connection, welding, crimping, etc. The first connecting frame that is detachable from the vertical frames may have, for example, one end portion pivotally supported by one vertical frame via a hinge, and the other end portion may be structured so as to be openable and closable relative to the other vertical frame and fixable to the same vertical frame.
[0084] (Action and effect) Next, a method of using the stand 10 having the above-mentioned configuration and its functions and effects will be described.
[0085] 8 shows a method of installing the stand 10 in a state where the external device 5 is installed in advance on the installation surface G. In this case, the stand 10 is integrated by connecting all of the corresponding connecting frames 50, 52, 54, 56 to all of the vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26. That is, the front connecting frame 50 is not removed from the front right vertical frame 20 and the front left vertical frame 22, but is maintained in an attached state.
[0086] Then, the stand 10 is aligned and placed above the external device 5, that is, (1) the front connecting frame 50 is aligned with the front surface 5a of the external device 5, (2) the right connecting frame 52 is aligned with the right side surface 5b of the external device 5, (3) the left connecting frame 54 is positioned on the left side surface 5c of the external device 5, and (4) the rear connecting frame 56 is aligned with the rear surface 5d of the external device 5.
[0087] In the above state, the stand 10 is lowered from above the external device 5. Then, the external device 5 is accommodated and placed in the space R of the stand 10 capable of accommodating the external device 5, and the lower ends (here, the height adjustment parts 34) of the vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26 are respectively installed on the installation surface G, so that the stand 10 can be installed on the installation surface G. Thereafter, the clothes dryer 1 is placed on the ceiling part 40 of the stand 10, so that the external device 5 and the clothes dryer 1 can be installed vertically side by side using the stand 10, as shown in FIG.
[0088] In addition, when the width (length in the left-right direction) of the external device 5 is greater than the width of the stand 10, the connecting frames (right connecting frame 52 or left connecting frame 54) from which both widthwise ends of the external device 5 protrude are configured to be detached from the corresponding vertical frames (front right vertical frame 20, front left vertical frame 22, rear right vertical frame 24, rear left vertical frame 26) while being lower than the mounting surface 8a of the mounting stand 8.
[0089] Then, with the connecting frames detached from the corresponding vertical frames, the stand 10 is aligned and placed above the external device 5, the stand 10 is lowered from above the external device 5, the external device 5 is accommodated and placed in the space R of the stand 10, and the detached connecting frames are then reattached to the corresponding vertical frames.
[0090] In stand 10 of the present invention described above, four adjacent vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26 that support ceiling portion 40 on which clothes dryer 1 is placed are connected to each other by four connecting frames 50, 52, 54, 56.
[0091] Therefore, adjacent vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26 can be reinforced with each other, and the rigidity of the entire vertical frame can be increased. As a result, the vibration of the clothes dryer 1 placed on the ceiling part 40 can be sufficiently absorbed, and the stand 10 itself can be prevented from vibrating significantly in the front-back and left-right directions.
[0092] In addition, in the stand 10 in this embodiment, an external device 5 can be accommodated in a space R provided inside the vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26 and the connecting frames 50, 52, 54, 56 and below the ceiling portion 40.
[0093] Therefore, the space R of the stand 10 can be used without waste, and the clothes dryer 1 and the external device 5 can be arranged in two levels, one above the other, so that the installation space for the clothes dryer 1 can be used effectively.
[0094] Furthermore, in the case of stand 10 of this embodiment, in particular, space R can accommodate the outdoor unit of an air conditioner, which constitutes external device 5. Therefore, the space above the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, which tends to become wasted space (dead space), can be used as a space for placing clothes dryer 1 by using stand 10, and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner and clothes dryer 1 can be installed without waste, making effective use of space in an apartment building, house, etc.
[0095] In addition, in this embodiment, one end 56a of the rear connecting frame 56 is connected to a location on the rear left vertical frame 26 that is less than 1 / 3 of the way from the installation surface G, and the other end 56b of the rear connecting frame 56 is connected to a location on the rear right vertical frame 24 that is more than 2 / 3 of the way from the installation surface G.
[0096] As a result, the rear connecting frame 56, which is arranged at an angle approximately diagonally, functions like a so-called diagonal brace, thereby further increasing the rigidity of the pair of vertical frames 24, 26 connected to each other by the rear connecting frame 56, and also making it easier to ensure the length of the rear connecting frame 56, making it easier to absorb vibrations from the clothes dryer 1.
[0097] In addition, since the rear connecting frame 56 is disposed at an angle, it is easy to ensure a space where the rear connecting frame 56 does not exist at the lower end portion of one of the vertical frames in the rear connecting frame 56, i.e., both sides in the width direction on the lower end (one end 56a) side of the rear connecting frame 56. Therefore, the piping 7 and the like extending from the right side surface 5b of the external device 5 accommodated in the space R of the stand 10 is less likely to interfere with the rear connecting frame 56 disposed at an angle, and the ease of handling of the piping 7 and the like of the external device 5 can be improved.
[0098] 9 shows a method of installing stand 10 when external device 5 is installed in a state where stand 10 has already been installed on installation surface G. Note that a state where stand 10 has already been installed on installation surface G may be a state where clothes dryer 1 has already been installed on top of stand 10, etc.
[0099] In this case, first, remove the front connecting frame 50 from the front right vertical frame 20 and the front left vertical frame 22 to ensure an insertion path into the space R of the stand 10 from the front of the stand 10 (see the upper diagram in Figure 9).
[0100] 9, one end in the width direction of the external device 5 (here, the end on the left side surface 5c side of the external device 5) is inserted obliquely into the space R of the stand 10 through the gap between the front right vertical frame 20 and the front left vertical frame 22, and placed on the placement surface 8a of the placement stand 8. At this time, since the left connecting frame 54 and the right connecting frame 52 are disposed at a position lower than the placement surface 8a of the placement stand 8 of the external device 5, the lower surface of the external device 5 is raised above the installation surface G so as to be higher than (above) the upper edges of the left connecting frame 54 and the right connecting frame 52.
[0101] Then, one end of the external device 5 in the width direction is pushed obliquely deep into the gap between the front left vertical frame 22 and the rear left vertical frame 26 of the stand 10, and then the other end of the external device 5 in the width direction (the other end on the right side surface 5b side of the external device 5) is pushed toward the rear right side of the stand 10 (the side where the rear right vertical frame 24 is located). Then, the entire external device is accommodated in the space R of the stand 10, and the external device 5 can be installed in the space R.
[0102] Next, the front connecting frame 50 is attached to the front right vertical frame 20 and the front left vertical frame 22. Thereafter, the clothes dryer 1 is placed on the ceiling part 40 of the stand 10, whereby the external device 5 and the clothes dryer 1 can be installed side by side in the vertical direction using the stand 10 as shown in FIG.
[0103] In addition, in this embodiment, as described above, the forward connecting frame 50 is removed from the vertical frames 20, 22, and the mounting base 8 is used to lift the external device 5 off the installation surface G, and then the external device 5 is pushed into the space R of the mounting base 10, thereby allowing the external device 5 to be inserted into the space R of the mounting base 10.
[0104] Therefore, while the rigidity of the entire vertical frame of the stand 10 is increased by the left and right connecting frames 52, 54, the external device 5 can be easily inserted into the space R of the stand 10 without the connecting frames 52, 54 getting in the way, thereby improving the ease of storing and installing the external device 5 in the space R of the stand 10.
[0105] Incidentally, there are cases where the width (length in the left-right direction) of the external device 5 is larger than the width of the stand 10. In this case, first, one end in the width direction of the external device 5 inserted into the space R of the stand 10 is pushed obliquely toward the gap between the front left vertical frame 22 and the rear left vertical frame 26, so that the one end in the width direction of the external device 5 protrudes a predetermined length from the gap between the pair of vertical frames 22, 26 to the outside of the space R. Thereafter, the other end in the width direction of the external device 5 is pushed toward the rear right side of the stand 10, so that the external device 5 can be accommodated and installed in the space R of the stand 10.
[0106] In addition, when the first and second connecting frames, that is, the front connecting frame 50, the right connecting frame 52, and the left connecting frame 54, are positioned at a position lower than the mounting surface 8a of the mounting stand 8 of the external device 5, the external device 5 can be inserted and accommodated in the space R of the mounting stand 10 without removing those connecting frames 50, 52, and 54 from the corresponding vertical frames 20, 22, 24, and 26.
[0107] On the other hand, if the above-mentioned connecting frames 50, 52, 54 are positioned at a position higher than the mounting surface 8a of the mounting stand 8 of the external device 5, as described above, first, those connecting frames 50, 52, 54 are removed from the corresponding vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26, and after the external device 5 is accommodated in the space R of the mounting stand 10, the removed connecting frames 50, 52, 54 can be reattached to the corresponding vertical frames 20, 22, 24, 26.
[0108] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modified embodiments are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention, and such embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]
[0109] 1...Clothes dryer, 5...External device, 8...Placement base, 10...Clothes dryer stand, 20...Front right vertical frame, 22...Front left vertical frame, 24...Rear right vertical frame, 26...Rear left vertical frame, 40...Ceiling portion, 50...Front connecting frame, 52...Right connecting frame, 54...Left connecting frame, 56...Rear connecting frame, G...Installation surface, R...Space
Claims
1. A stand for placing a clothes dryer, Four vertical frames extending in a vertical direction and having lower ends mounted on a mounting surface of the stand; a ceiling portion on which the clothes dryer is placed, the ceiling portion having four corner portions supported by upper ends of the four vertical frames, respectively; The clothes dryer stand is characterized in having four connecting frames which connect adjacent vertical frames to each other.
2. a space capable of accommodating an external device placed on a placement stand is provided inside each vertical frame and each connecting frame and below the ceiling part, The clothes dryer stand of claim 1, wherein the connecting frame has a first connecting frame which is arranged so as to be detachable from the vertical frame to be connected or which is arranged at a position lower than the mounting surface of the stand, and a second connecting frame which is adjacent to the first connecting frame and which is arranged so as to be detachable from the vertical frame to be connected or which is arranged at a position lower than the mounting surface of the stand.
3. A clothes dryer stand as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the connecting frames extends at an angle so that one end is connected to a location of less than 1 / 3 of the way from the installation surface of a predetermined vertical frame, and the other end is connected to a location of more than 2 / 3 of the way from the installation surface of the vertical frame adjacent to the vertical frame to which the one end is connected.
4. a space capable of accommodating an external device placed on a placement stand is provided inside each vertical frame and each connecting frame and below the ceiling part, 2. The clothes dryer stand according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the connecting frames is detachable from the connecting vertical frame and is disposed at a position lower than a mounting surface of the stand.
5. 5. The clothes dryer stand of claim 4, wherein at least one of the connecting frames is a rear connecting frame arranged behind the stand at an incline so that one end is connected to a location less than 1 / 3 of the way from the installation surface of a specific vertical frame arranged behind the stand, and the other end is connected to the vertical frame adjacent to the vertical frame to which the one end is connected and to a location more than 2 / 3 of the way from the installation surface of the vertical frame arranged behind the stand.
6. 3. The clothes dryer stand according to claim 1, wherein a space capable of accommodating an outdoor unit of an air conditioner placed on the stand is provided inside each vertical frame and each connecting frame and below the ceiling portion.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Carrier base for clothes drier
JP2000024394A