Desk expansion device

Abstract

To provide a desk expansion device capable of making a desk hard to disturb passage around the desk.SOLUTION: A desk expansion device 1 includes: an expansion top plate base 2 fixed to a desk top plate B; and an expansion top plate 3 freely attachable to and detachable from the expansion top plate base 2. The expansion top plate base 2 is fixed to a peripheral portion of the desk top plate B. The expansion top plate 3 can be attached to the expansion top plate base 2 by expansion attaching in which the expansion top plate 3 extends substantially horizontally and an accommodation attaching in which the expansion top plate 3 extends substantially downward from the expansion top plate base 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a desk expansion device suitable for use in expanding the top plate of a desk such as a study desk used in a school classroom or the like.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, learning using tablet terminals and notebook computers has been increasing in schools such as elementary schools. However, when using these devices while spreading out textbooks and notebooks, the width of the desk top plate is often insufficient, resulting in compression of the space for writing work, or the need to frequently take in and out textbooks, devices, etc. into the desk, which may prevent the learning efficiency from increasing sufficiently. Also, even when not using the above-mentioned devices, expanding the desk top plate is considered to contribute to improving the efficiency of learning work and the like.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a desk top plate expansion device that is fixed to the front part of a desk in a U-shape in plan view. According to this desk top plate expansion device, the desk top plate can be expanded.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the above desk top plate expansion device, the desk top plate expansion device in the installed state protrudes greatly in front of the desk and is likely to obstruct the passage around the desk.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above matters, and an object thereof is to provide a desk expansion device that is less likely to obstruct the passage around the desk.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, a desk expansion device according to the present invention is a desk expansion device including an expansion top plate base fixed to a desk top plate and an expansion top plate detachably attached to the expansion top plate base, wherein the expansion top plate base is fixed to a peripheral portion of the desk top plate, and the expansion top plate can be attached to the expansion top plate base in an expansion attachment state in which the expansion top plate extends substantially horizontally and in a storage attachment state in which the expansion top plate extends substantially downward from the expansion top plate base (Claim 1).

[0008] In the desk expansion device, the expansion top plate base has a holding portion on its outer surface, and the expansion top plate has a side surface held portion on a side surface facing the outer surface of the expansion top plate base during expansion attachment and a back surface held portion on a back surface facing the outer surface of the expansion top plate base during storage attachment, and the side surface held portion and the back surface held portion may each be held by the holding portion (Claim 2).

[0009] In the desk expansion device, the expansion top plate base may be fixed only to two adjacent side portions of the desk top plate (Claim 3).

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] In the present invention, a desk expansion device that can hardly obstruct passage around the desk can be obtained.

[0011] That is, in the desk expansion device of the invention according to each claim of the present application, the expansion top plate attached to the expansion top plate base in an expansion attachment state can expand the desk top plate, while the expansion top plate attached in a storage attachment state does not protrude greatly outside the desk top plate, so that it can hardly obstruct passage around the desk.

[0012] In the desk expansion device of the invention according to Claim 2, the side surface held portion may be held by the holding portion during expansion attachment, and the back surface held portion may be held by the holding portion during storage attachment, and both expansion attachment and storage attachment can be easily performed.

[0013] In the desk extension device according to claim 3, the extension top plate base is fixed only over two adjacent side portions of the desk top plate, so that the extension top plate base and the extension top plate mounted thereon can be installed on either the left and right sides or the front side of the desk.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

[0016] The desk expansion device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an expansion top plate base 2 fixed to the peripheral portion of the top plate (desk top plate) B of the desk D, and an expansion top plate 3 detachably attached to the expansion top plate base 2.

[0017] The expansion top plate base 2 is fixed only to two adjacent side portions of the desk top plate B. In FIG. 1, the expansion top plate base 2 is fixed across the right side portion and the rear side portion of the desk top plate B (the same applies to FIGS. 8(E) and (F)). However, as shown in FIGS. 8(A) and (B), it can be fixed across the left side portion and the front side portion of the desk top plate B, or as shown in FIGS. 8(C) and (D), it can be fixed across the front side portion and the right side portion of the desk top plate B.

[0018] On the other hand, the expansion top plate 3 can be attached to the expansion top plate base 2 in an expanded attachment state (see FIGS. 6(A), (B), 8(E), (F)) where the expansion top plate 3 extends substantially horizontally, and in a stored attachment state (see FIG. 1) where the expansion top plate 3 extends substantially downward from the expansion top plate base 2.

[0019] In this way, since the expansion top plate base 2 is fixed only to two adjacent side portions of the desk top plate B, the expansion top plate base 2 and the expansion top plate 3 attached thereto can be installed on either the left, right, or front side of the desk D (see FIGS. 8(A) to (F)). Further, the expansion top plate 3 attached to the expansion top plate base 2 in an expanded state can expand the desk top plate B, while the expansion top plate 3 attached in a stored state does not protrude significantly outside the desk top plate B, so it is less likely to obstruct passage around the desk D.

[0020] As is clear from comparing FIGS. 1 and 2(B), the extended top plate base 2 has a holding portion 4 on its outer surface 2a. On the other hand, the extended top plate 3 has a side surface held portion 5 on a side surface 3a facing the outer surface 2a of the extended top plate base 2 during extended mounting (see FIGS. 3(A) and (B)), and a back surface held portion 6 on a back surface 3b facing the outer surface 2a of the extended top plate base 2 during storage mounting (see FIG. 3(B)). The side surface held portion 5 and the back surface held portion 6 can each be held (engaged) by the holding portion 4. In the desk extension device 1 configured in this way, during extended mounting, the side surface held portion 5 may be held by the holding portion 4, and during storage mounting, the back surface held portion 6 may be held by the holding portion 4, so that both extended mounting and storage mounting can be easily performed.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2(B), three holding portions 4 are provided at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the outer surface 2a of the extended top plate base 2. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3(A) and (B), two side surface held portions 5 are provided and can be engaged with any two adjacent holding portions 4 out of the three holding portions 4 (4A to 4C) shown in FIG. 2(B) (see FIGS. 7(A) and (B)). That is, the two side surface held portions 5 take a first engagement state of engaging with the holding portions 4A and 4B and a second engagement state of engaging with the holding portions 4B and 4C. Further, as shown in FIG. 3(B), two back surface held portions 6 are provided, and the two back surface held portions 6 can be engaged with the two holding portions 4A and 4C at both ends out of the three holding portions 4 (4A to 4C) shown in FIG. 2(B).

[0022] In this way, by making the side surface holding part 5 engageable with any two of the three holding parts 4, it becomes possible to change the position where the extension top plate 3 is extended and attached to the extension top plate base 2 (see FIGS. 8(A) to (F)), enabling flexible use according to the situation or the like. That is, as shown in FIGS. 8(A) and (B), when the extension top plate base 2 is fixed to the left side of the desk top plate B, the extension top plate 3 can be attached to the extension top plate base 2 at two positions. The same applies when the extension top plate base 2 is fixed to the front side of the desk top plate B (see FIGS. 8(C) and (D)), or when it is fixed to the right side (see FIGS. 8(E) and (F)). Also, when storing and attaching, since the holding part 4 can be completely covered by the extension top plate 3 (see FIG. 1), the risk of getting injured by the holding part 4 protruding from the side of the desk top plate B is reduced.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2(A) and (B), in a plan view, the extension top plate base 2 has a substantially L shape having a long side portion 7 and a short side portion 8 (the corner where the long side portion 7 and the short side portion 8 intersect is part of the long side portion 7 and also part of the short side portion 8). A plurality of ribs 9 extending in the vertical direction at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the long side portion 7 are arranged inside the long side portion 7, and the outer surface of the long side portion 7 constitutes the outer surface 2a of the extension top plate base 2 provided with the holding part 4.

[0024] As described above, in the desk extension device 1 of this example, by making the extension top plate base 2 have a substantially L shape in a plan view, it can be installed on the front side, both the left and right sides of the desk top plate B, and it is easy to firmly fix it so that it is difficult to move over two adjacent side portions of the desk top plate B. Also, when comparing the long side portion 7 and the short side portion 8 of the extension top plate base 2 having a substantially L shape in a plan view like this, the strength of the long side portion 7 tends to be lower. Furthermore, since the holding part 4, which receives a large load by holding the extension top plate 3 and books placed thereon, is provided on this long side portion 7, the long side portion 7 requires higher strength. In the desk extension device 1 of this example, by providing the rib 9 inside the long side portion 7, it is possible to surely improve its strength.

[0025] Hereinafter, the configuration of the desk extension device 1 will be described in more detail.

[0026] The extended tabletop base 2 has the structure shown in FIGS. 4(A) to (F), and is fixed to the desk top plate B using, for example, three (an example of a plurality of) bolts (an example of a fixture) 10. As shown in FIG. 4(B), for this fixing, a recessed groove 11 for receiving the desk top plate B is provided inside the upper part of the extended tabletop base 2, and as shown in FIGS. 6(A) and (B), the desk top plate B entered into the recessed groove 11 is sandwiched between the upper surface portion 2b of the extended tabletop base 2 and the three bolts 10.

[0027] In order to perform the above sandwiching, the three bolts 10 are made to be able to approach and separate from the desk top plate B that has entered the recessed groove 11 from below it. To enable such movement of the bolts 10, a female screw that is screw-coupled to the male screw of the bolt 10 may be provided directly or indirectly on the extended tabletop base 2. In this example, holes 12 (see FIG. 6(B)) through which the bolts 10 pass are formed at three locations on the lower surface portion 2c of the extended tabletop base 2, and plate nuts 14 are accommodated and held in nut chambers 13 above each hole 12 so that the female screw of the plate nut 14 and the male screw of the bolt 10 are screw-coupled.

[0028] Also, when performing the above sandwiching, the tip of each bolt 10 that extends above the plate nut 14 may be directly abutted against and pressed against the lower surface of the desk top plate B. However, in this example, as shown in FIGS. 2(A), 6(A), and (B), a resilient contact member (the illustrated example is a rubber cap) 15 made of rubber or the like is provided on the tip of the bolt 10 by, for example, fitting or the like, and the contact area is enlarged by making this contact member 15 abut against the lower surface of the desk top plate B, so as to increase the clamping force related to the above sandwiching.

[0029] In the example shown in FIG. 4(E), three bolts 10 are provided at both ends and near the center of the extended tabletop base 2. However, the number and position of the bolts 10 to be used are not limited to this, and can be variously changed. For example, only the vicinity of both ends of the extended tabletop base 2 may be fixed with two bolts 10, or four or more bolts 10 may be arranged at substantially equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the extended tabletop base 2 and used. Also, as shown in FIGS. 9(A) to (G) (particularly FIGS. 9(C) and (G)), bolt attachment portions 16 each consisting of a hole 12 and a nut chamber 13 for attaching the bolt 10 are provided at a total of four locations (an example of a plurality of locations), namely, at both ends and near the center of the extended tabletop base 2. Among these, the bolt attachment portions 16 that are in positions not interfering with parts other than the tabletop B on the table D (such as the legs of the table D and the luggage hooks) are selected, and only the selected bolt attachment portions 16 are provided with the bolts 10 and the plate nuts 14. That is, not all but only a part of the bolt attachment portions 16 may be used for fixing the extended tabletop base 2. By doing so, it becomes possible to accommodate tables D with more diverse configurations, and the versatility of the table extension device 1 can be enhanced.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2(A), the inside of the long side portion 7 of the extended tabletop base 2 is partitioned into upper and lower two stages by a partition wall 17. In the lower stage, the rib 9 extends from one end to the other end in the width direction of the long side portion 7, and in the upper stage, the rib 9 exists only near the other end in order to form the recessed groove 11 for receiving the tabletop B. Also, the portion of the partition wall 17 that constitutes the bolt attachment portion 16 is lower than the other portions.

[0031] The extended top plate 3 has the structure shown in FIGS. 5(A) to (F), and as shown in FIGS. 3(A) and (B) as well, it includes a side plate 18 that constitutes the side surface 3a and a top plate 19 that is orthogonal to the side plate 18. The longitudinal dimensions of the side plate 18 and the top plate 19 are substantially the same, and the short-side dimension of the top plate 19 (the horizontal dimension in FIG. 3(A)) is much larger than the short-side dimension of the side plate 18 (the vertical dimension in FIG. 3(A)). Also, the side plate 18 is integrated with the top plate 19 at a position slightly inside from the edge of the top plate 19. From the portion of the top plate 19 that protrudes outside the side plate 18 over the side plate 18, a side surface holding portion 5 and a plurality of ribs 20 are provided.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3(A), on the surface (upper surface) of the top plate 19, a raised portion 21 is provided over three sides, namely the front side and both left and right sides, so as to make it difficult for an object placed on the surface (upper surface) of the top plate 19 to fall. Also, a marker 22 is provided at a position corresponding to the side surface holding portion 5 on the surface (upper surface) of the top plate 19. By using it as a guide for positioning when performing the operation of engaging the two side surface holding portions 5 with the holding portion 4, the operation becomes easier.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3(B), on the back surface (lower surface) of the top plate 19, lattice-shaped ribs 23 are provided over the entire surface, and on the side opposite to the side plate 18, plate-shaped ribs 24 with a height (short-side dimension) smaller than that of the side plate 18 are provided. Also, a plurality of plate-shaped ribs 25 that extend so as to become lower from the side plate 18 toward the side where the rib 24 is located are provided.

[0034] The extended top plate base 2 and the extended top plate 3 can each be made of, for example, resin (resin integrally molded product), but they may also be made of metal. Also, each may be constituted by a single part or by a combination of a plurality of parts.

[0035] When using the desk extension device 1 in a school such as an elementary school, it is conceivable that the school side manages the fixing etc. of the extended top plate base 2, and the students attach and detach the extended top plate 3 to and from the extended top plate base 2.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 8(F), it is conceivable that the longitudinal dimension of the extended top plate 3 is about 3 / 4 of the lateral direction (depth length) of the desk top plate B.

[0037] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the following modification examples can be cited.

[0038] In the above-described embodiment, the extended top plate base 2 is configured to be substantially L-shaped in plan view and fixed only to two adjacent side portions of the desk top plate B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the extended top plate base 2 may be configured to be substantially I-shaped in plan view and fixed only to one side portion of the desk top plate B.

[0039] In the above-described embodiment, there are three holding portions 4, and there are two side surface held portions 5 and two back surface held portions 6 each. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of holding portions 4 may be two or four or more, and the number of side surface held portions 5 and back surface held portions 6 may be one or three or more each. However, when there is one side surface held portion 5 and one back surface held portion 6, it is preferable to have a structure that can engage with at least two holding portions 4 respectively.

[0040] It is preferable that the extended top plate 3, including the held portions 5 and 6, is configured to be bilaterally symmetric as a whole, because it can prevent the unbalance of the center of gravity and the situation that a large load is easily applied to only some of the holding portions 4, and thus it is easy to realize and maintain a good mounting state for a long time. However, it may be configured to be asymmetric.

[0041] In the above-described embodiment, the holding portion 4 is hook-shaped, and the side surface held portion 5 and the back surface held portion 6 are groove-shaped for the hook-shaped holding portion 4 to engage. However, various configurations can be adopted for the structure in which the holding portion 4 holds the side surface held portion 5 and the back surface held portion 6. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10(A) to (C), the holding portion 4 may be protrusion-shaped, and the side surface held portion 5 and the back surface held portion 6 may be hole (or recess) -shaped for the protrusion-shaped holding portion 4 to engage (fit).

[0042] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the holding portion 4 is hook-shaped, and the side surface held portion 5 and the back surface held portion 6 are groove-shaped for the hook-shaped holding portion 4 to engage with. Conversely, for example, as shown in FIGS. 11(A) to 11(C), the side surface held portion 5 and the back surface held portion 6 may be hook-shaped, and the holding portion 4 may be groove-shaped for the hook-shaped side surface held portion 5 and the back surface held portion 6 to engage with. Various configurations can be adopted for the shapes of the hook and the groove themselves.

[0043] Furthermore, in the structure where the holding portion 4 holds the side surface held portion 5 and the back surface held portion 6, in addition to a coupling mechanism that utilizes gravity, frictional force, elastic restoring force, etc. such as engagement and fitting, for example, a coupling mechanism that utilizes magnetic force, adhesive force, adsorption force, etc. may be used.

[0044] In the above-described embodiment, the holding portion 4 that holds the side surface held portion 5 and the holding portion 4 that holds the back surface held portion 6 are the same, which is advantageous in terms of simplifying the configuration and making it more compact. However, they may be provided separately without being the same. Also, when the extended mounting is realized by the holding portion 4 holding the side surface held portion 5, it is preferable that the extended top plate 3 mounted on the extended top plate base 2 is firmly fixed to the extended top plate base 2 so as not to move. On the other hand, when the storage mounting is realized by the holding portion 4 holding the back surface held portion 6, the extended top plate 3 mounted on the extended top plate base 2 is allowed to move slightly. Considering such points, different coupling mechanisms may be adopted for the mechanism by which the holding portion 4 holds the side surface held portion 5 and the mechanism by which the holding portion 4 holds the back surface held portion 6.

[0045] Needless to say, the modified examples given in this specification may be appropriately combined.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0046] 1 Machine expansion device 2 Extended top plate base 2a Outer side surface 2b Upper surface portion 2c Lower surface portion 3 Extended Top Plate 3a Side 3b Back 4 Holding Parts (4A - 4C) 5 Side Surface Holding Part 6 Back Surface Holding Part 7 Long Side Part 8 Short Side Part 9 Rib 10 Bolt 11 Recessed Groove 12 Hole 13 Nut Chamber 14 Plate Nut 15 Contact Member 16 Bolt Mounting Part 17 Partition Wall 18 Side Panel 19 Top Panel 20 Rib 21 Raised Part 22 Marker 23 Rib 24 Rib 25 Rib B Desk Top Plate D Desk

Claims

1. A desk extension device comprising an extension desk base fixed to the desk top and an extension desk detachably attached to the extension desk base, wherein the extension desk base is fixed to the peripheral portion of the desk top, and the extension desk can be attached to the extension desk base in an extended state in which the extension desk extends substantially horizontally and in a stored state in which the extension desk extends substantially downward from the extension desk base. The desk extension device.

2. The extension desk base has a holding portion on its outer surface, and the extension desk has a side surface held portion on the side surface facing the outer surface of the extension desk base during extended attachment and a back surface held portion on the back surface facing the outer surface of the extension desk base during stored attachment. The desk extension device according to claim 1, wherein the side surface held portion and the back surface held portion can each be held by the holding portion.

3. The desk extension device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the extension desk base is fixed only over two adjacent side portions of the desk top.

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