Foldable table

Abstract

To provide a table having leg parts that can be folded compactly.SOLUTION: In a table 1 in a state where leg parts are erected, a U-shaped left leg part connected to a top plate rear surface by a hinge part so as to be openable and closable and a U-shaped right leg part connected to a top plate rear surface by a hinge part so as to be openable and closable are laid down in an inside direction and fixed by slide movement of a lock mechanism. The U-shaped leg parts in the laid-down state are erected by releasing the lock mechanism that fixes the leg parts. By forming a cross section of an upper horizontal material part of a leg post into a substantially square shape, the upper horizontal material of the leg post is covered by rotation operation of the lock mechanism and locking and unlocking are performed. Accordingly, the table can be folded or assembled in a short time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a folding table, and more particularly to a table that can easily fix the legs even when the legs are erected or in a folded state.

Background Art

[0002] In daily life, tables and desks of various sizes are used on various occasions and in various scenes. Also, although a table (including a desk) is generally flat, by utilizing the inclination, it can be used as a display stand, a reading desk, a computer desk, a telephone stand, or a traditional music score stand as needed in more suitable scenes. In carrying and storing, the legs of a table are obstructive and there is a certain inconvenience in securing a place. Therefore, it has been preferred that the legs can be easily stored and taken out.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The table has legs and a top plate integrated, and a structure in which the legs can be folded is easy to handle during transportation and storage. However, an integrated assembled table has problems such as the locking in the assembled state of the legs and the locking in the folded state being complicated, and there being anxiety about the fixation in the state where the legs are folded. Therefore, when the folded legs open during carrying, there is a safety concern that they may hit the carrier's feet or collide with surrounding equipment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In a folding table having a top plate, legs connected so as to fall inwardly below the top plate, and a locking mechanism for fixing the legs in an upright position or a position fallen inwardly, the legs have an upper cross-member portion connected to the top plate by a hinge portion, the locking mechanism has a first position selectively engaging with the upper cross-member portion and a second position where the engagement with the upper cross-member portion is disengaged, the upper cross-member portion and the locking mechanism can engage with each other both in the position where the legs are upright and in the position where the legs are fallen inwardly, and the folding table is characterized by this.

Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, since the locking and unlocking of the legs of the folding table can be performed by locking with the first position of the locking mechanism and unlocking with the second position, it is easy to work and the working time can be shortened. Also, the carrying and storage space is small and it is easy to store.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 10

Figure 11

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the folding table according to the present invention applied to a Japanese music score stand, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the state where it is rotated 180 degrees in the left - right direction and turned over. FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial perspective views for explaining the engagement relationship with the lock mechanism with the legs tilted inward, and FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view for explaining the engagement relationship with the lock mechanism with the legs upright. FIG. 6 is a rear view for explaining the state where the legs are tilted inward.

[0009] Here, since the up - down direction is the up - down direction of FIG. 1, in the drawing where the table in FIGS. 2 and below is turned over, the up direction becomes the down direction. Next, since the left - right direction is the left - right direction of FIG. 2, the left - right direction of the table in the upright FIG. 1 is reversed. As shown in FIG. 1, the folding table 1 is composed of a top plate 100 and legs 200.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 2, the folding table 1 includes a top plate 100, legs 200 connected below the top plate 100, a hinge portion 300 that is openably connected to the top plate 100 at a position where the legs 200 are erected or a position where the legs 200 are folded inward, and a locking mechanism 400 that locks the legs 200 at a position where the legs 200 are erected or a position where the legs 200 are folded inward.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the top plate 100 is configured to be supported by the legs 200. As shown in Fig. 2, the legs 200 include a left leg 200L and a right leg 200R. The left leg 200L includes an upper left horizontal member 201L, a left leg post 202L, and a lower left horizontal member 203L under the top plate 100. The right leg 200R includes an upper right horizontal member 201R, a right leg post 202R, and a lower right horizontal member 203R under the top plate 100. The left leg 200L has a left leg post 202L that is connected to the upper left horizontal member 201L at an obtuse angle, and this left leg post 202L is connected to the lower left horizontal member 203L at a right angle. As a result, the left leg 200L has a substantially U-shaped form that is open upward. The right leg 200R is formed in the same manner as the left leg 200L.

[0012] As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the upper left horizontal member 201L is configured with a substantially square cross-section. Similarly, the upper right horizontal member 201R is formed with a substantially square cross-section.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 2, the left leg 200L is arranged substantially parallel to the side surface of the top plate 100 on the left side under the top plate 100, and the right side surface of the upper left horizontal member 201L and the back surface of the top plate 100 are joined by a left hinge portion 300L so that the left leg 200L falls inward of the top plate 100. The right leg 200R is formed in the same manner as the left leg 200L.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 2, the locking mechanism 400 includes a left locking mechanism 400L and a right locking mechanism 400R. The left locking mechanism 400L includes a left locking piece 401L, a left locking piece base 402L, and a left locking mechanism fixing portion 403L. The left locking piece 401L is connected under the left locking piece base 402L having the same height as the upper left horizontal member portion 201L to form a notch portion having a height equal to the length of one side of the upper left horizontal member portion 201L with a substantially square cross section.

[0015] In addition, this structure may be configured by integrating the left locking piece 401L and the left locking piece base 402L. The left locking mechanism fixing portion 403L is provided on the side opposite to the connection portion of the left locking piece base 402L with the left locking piece 401L and serves as the rotation center of the left locking mechanism 400L. The right locking mechanism 400R is formed in the same manner as the left locking mechanism 400L. In addition, the locking mechanism 400 is preferably made of a hard plastic, wood, metal such as aluminum, or a hard material.

[0016] (Operation of the First Embodiment) An operation method for locking and releasing the legs using the locking mechanism 400 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, when the left leg portion 200L is folded and raised, the left hinge portion 300L opens and closes by 90°. Along with this opening and closing, the upper left horizontal member portion 201L with a substantially square cross section is locked and unlocked using the rotational movement of the left locking mechanism 400L.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the folded left leg portion 200L rotates the left locking piece 401L of the left locking mechanism 400L in the direction of the upper left horizontal member portion 201L (clockwise direction R shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, hereinafter referred to as the R direction) to cover and fix the side surface facing downward under the upper left horizontal member portion 201L at the first position and is locked.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, the folded left leg portion 200L rotates the left locking piece 401L of the left locking mechanism 400L in the direction opposite to the direction of the upper left horizontal member portion 201L (counterclockwise direction L shown by the arrow in FIG. 4, hereinafter referred to as the L direction) to release the lock of the upper left horizontal member portion 201L at the second position and is released.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 5, the leg part 200L in the state of falling inward due to the unlocking between the upper left horizontal part 201L and the locking mechanism 400L can be rotated and raised around the left hinge part 300L. The raised left leg part 200L covers and fixes the lower surface of the upper left horizontal member part 201L at the first position by rotating the left locking piece 401L of the left locking mechanism 400L in the R direction. Although the left leg part 200L has been described with reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the right leg part 200R has the same operation method.

[0020] (Effect of the First Embodiment) As shown in Fig. 3, at the position where the left leg part 200L has fallen inward, the side surface of the upper left horizontal member part 201L can be fixed by covering it with the left locking piece 401L having a gap according to the thickness of the side surface of the upper left horizontal member part 201L with little play.

[0021] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 5, in the state where the left leg part 200L is raised, since the cross-section of the upper left horizontal member part 201L is square, the lower surface of the upper left horizontal member part 201L can be similarly locked with little play by covering it with the left locking piece 401L. By locking, the legs are fixed, making it easy to carry, and even if it bumps, the folding table can be carried stably, providing safety and security. In this way, by configuring the cross-section of the upper left horizontal member part 201L to be square, the thickness of the side surface facing downward from the lower surface of the top plate 100 to the lower part of the upper left horizontal member part 201L is the same as the thickness of the lower surface. Therefore, whether in the position where the left leg part 200L is raised or in the position where it has fallen inward, it can be fixed by one locking mechanism 400. The installed table will not fall or tilt when bumped by locking. For lightweight items such as music stands and reading desks, one lock can reduce the weight. Also, the assembly is simplified.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 4, the engagement and disengagement between the left lock mechanism 400L and the upper left horizontal member portion 201L can be easily performed by rotating in the R direction or the L direction around the left lock mechanism fixing portion 403L. Although the left leg portion 201L and the left lock mechanism 400L have been described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the right leg portion 201R and the right lock mechanism 400R have the same effect.

[0023] The shape of the lock mechanism 400 shown in FIG. 2 has the advantage that by making the lock piece base body 402 connecting the lock pieces 401 rod-shaped and long as a whole, it is easy to hold and operate when locking and releasing by hand.

[0024] In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, when the top plate 100 is configured to be inclined, when the leg portion 200 is folded, the lower left horizontal member portion 203L and the lower right horizontal member portion 203R overlap and intersect. Therefore, by cutting about half of the thickness of the horizontal member portion 203 on the opposing surfaces of these overlapping portions, when the leg portion 200 is folded, these cut portions 250 can be fitted together and stored flush. When the cut portion is configured as shown in FIG. 2, the leg portion 200 can be stored flush by first folding the left leg portion 200L and then folding the right leg portion 200R. Conversely, when first folding the right leg portion 200R and then folding the left leg portion 200L, it can be stored flush by providing the cut portion 250 on the opposite surface of the lower horizontal member portion 203 described in FIG. 2.

[0025] (Other Embodiments) Other embodiments of the lock mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10. The lock mechanism 400 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is installed inside the folded upper left horizontal member portion 201L and inside the folded upper right horizontal member portion 201R. However, as shown in FIG. 6, it may be installed outside the upper left horizontal member portion 201L and outside the upper right horizontal member portion 201R.

[0026] Since the locking mechanism 400 shown in Fig. 6 is provided outside the leg portion 200, it is close to both sides of the side surface of the top plate 100, so it is easily accessible and easy to operate. Therefore, when there is enough space outside the leg portion 200, it is desirable to provide the locking mechanism 400 outside the leg portion 200.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 7, as the locking mechanism 400, a configuration may be adopted in which the slide lock pieces 422L and 422R slide on the lower surface of the upper horizontal member portion 201 and cover and fix the lower surface thereof. In this locking mechanism 400, since the slide lock piece 422 can be locked and released only by a linear sliding route without rotation during operation, the selection of the installation location becomes easy.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 8, as the locking mechanism 400, a semi-circular rotary lock piece 442 that covers the lower surface of the upper horizontal member portion 201 during locking may be provided, and this may be configured to be rotatably fixed by the locking mechanism fixing portion 442. As a result, it can be widely fixed along the length direction of the upper horizontal member portion 201, so that the leg portion 200 can be stably fixed.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 9, a through hole is provided from top to bottom and from right to left on the surface of the upper left horizontal member portion 201L. As the left locking mechanism 400L, a left slide lock piece 422L provided in a columnar shape is guided by the left locking mechanism fixing portion 403L and slides linearly to be engaged with the through hole of the upper left horizontal member portion 201L. By engaging with the through hole that is parallel to the left slide lock piece 422L at the position where the left leg portion 200L is erected or at the position where it has fallen inward within the through holes provided in the vertical and horizontal directions of the upper left horizontal member portion 201L, it is locked at each position. As a result, the upper left horizontal member portion 201L can be fixed without rattling, so that the left leg portion 200L can be stably fixed. It can be in the locked state shown in (a) and the released state shown in (b).

[0030] As shown in FIG. 10, instead of the through-hole in the upper left horizontal member portion 201L in the description of FIG. 9, a slit that engages with the left rotating lock piece 442L of the left lock mechanism 400L may be formed for locking. It can be in the locked state shown in (a) and the released state in (b).

[0031] (Other forms of the legs) Another form of the leg 200 will be described with reference to the side view of FIG. 11. From (a) to (b) is an example in which the leg 200 is configured to horizontally support the top plate 100. (e) is an example in which the leg 200 is configured to support the top plate 100 in an inclined manner as in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. (a) of the same figure shows a form in which the leg 200 is widened to increase the strength. FIG. (b) of the same figure shows a form in which the legs 200 are made independent, four in number, and a lock mechanism 400 is installed on each of the legs 200 accordingly. FIG. (c) of the same figure shows a form in which the upper parts of the legs 200 are connected front and back to form left and right legs 200, and a lock mechanism 400 is installed on the left and right legs 200. FIG. (d) of the same figure shows a form in which the legs 200 are in an enclosure type to form left and right legs 200, and a lock mechanism 400 is installed on the left and right legs 200. FIG. (e) of the same figure shows a form in which the lengths of the front and rear legs 200 are made different and the top plate 100 is inclined.

[0032] In the embodiment of the folding table 1 of the present invention, it is made of wood, but it can also be made of other materials such as plastic, iron, aluminum, cardboard, etc.

[0033] The folding table 1 of the present invention can be used in various scenes such as outdoors, indoors, sitting, standing, on a table, for example, a computer table, a reading table, an exhibition table, a Japanese music score table, a learning table, etc.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0034] 1 Folding table 100 Top plate 150 Anti-slip plate 200 Leg part 200L Left leg part 200R Right leg part 201L Left upper horizontal member part 201R Right upper horizontal member part 202L Left foot post 202R Right foot post 203L Left lower horizontal member part 203R Right lower horizontal member part 250 Milling part 250L Left milling part 250R Right milling part 300 Hinge part 300L Left hinge part 300R Right hinge part 400 Lock mechanism 400L Left lock mechanism 400R Right lock mechanism 401L Left lock piece 401R Right lock piece 402L Left lock piece base 402R Right lock piece base 403L Left lock mechanism fixing part 403R Right lock mechanism fixing part 422 Slide lock piece 422L Left slide lock piece 422R Right slide lock piece 442 Rotating lock piece 442L Left rotating lock piece 442R Right rotating lock piece

Claims

1. In a folding table having a tabletop, legs connected to be inclined inwardly below the tabletop, and a locking mechanism for fixing the legs in an upright position or an inwardly inclined position, the legs have an upper cross-member portion connected to the tabletop by a hinge portion, the locking mechanism has a first position selectively engaging with the upper cross-member portion and a second position where the engagement with the upper cross-member portion is disengaged, the upper cross-member portion and the locking mechanism can be engaged both in the upright position and the inwardly inclined position of the legs, characterized by the folding table.

2. In the folding table according to Claim 1, the upper cross-member portion has a substantially square cross-section, the locking mechanism has a first position selectively covering the lower surface of the upper cross-member portion and a second position disengaging from the lower surface of the upper cross-member portion, characterized by the folding table.

3. In the folding table according to Claim 2, the locking mechanism has a locking piece made of a rigid member having a gap corresponding to the thickness of the upper cross-member portion between the locking piece and the tabletop, and a fixing portion connecting the locking piece to the tabletop so as to be movable between the first position and the second position, characterized by the folding table.

4. In the folding table according to Claim 2, the legs are configured to incline the tabletop in the upright position of the legs, and the opposing surfaces of the overlapping portions of the legs are cut, characterized by the folding table.

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