Workbench

Abstract

To provide a foldable workbench formed with a work floor part on which a worker rides.SOLUTION: A workbench 10 includes a lifting section 20 having a pair of first support columns 202a, 202b extending substantially parallel to one another and step bars 204 spaced apart from one another on the pair of first support columns 202a, 202b, contact members 60a, 60b for contacting a wall surface, a work floor part 30 rotatably mounted on an upper end of the lifting section 20 and on which a worker rides, and a support part 40 on the opposite side of the lifting section 20 across the work floor part 30, having a pair of second support columns 402a, 402b extending substantially parallel to one another and whose upper end is rotatably mounted on the work floor part 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a workbench. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a portable workbench that is suitable for use in small spaces such as pipe spaces. This portable work platform is characterized by having a long, ladder-shaped main landing gear and a short leg body that supports the main landing gear, with the upper ends of the leg body attached to the main landing gear and supporting the main landing gear at an angle closer to vertical than the angle at which the main landing gear stands. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-102919 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a foldable work platform having a work floor section on which a worker stands. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The invention described in claim 1 is a workbench comprising a lifting section having a pair of first pillars extending substantially parallel to one another and step bars spaced apart on the pair of first pillars, and a contact member for contacting a wall surface.

[0006] The invention described in claim 2 is a workbench described in claim 1, further comprising a work platform section that is rotatably attached to the upper end of the lifting section and on which a worker stands, and a support section on the opposite side of the lifting section, with its upper end rotatably attached to the work platform section and having a pair of second pillars that extend substantially parallel to each other.

[0007] The invention as recited in claim 3 is the workbench as recited in claim 2, wherein the contact member can advance in the direction in which the step bar extends.

[0008] The invention described in claim 4 is a workbench described in claim 3, further comprising a connecting part having one end rotatably attached to the lifting part and the other end rotatably attached to the support part, and the lifting part, the work platform part, the support part and the connecting part form a four-bar link mechanism.

[0009] The invention described in claim 5 is a workbench described in claim 4, wherein the lifting section has a first end fitting provided at the lower end of the first support and extending outward beyond the first support in a planar view, and the support section has a second end fitting provided at the lower end of the second support and extending outward beyond the second support in a planar view.

[0010] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the workbench of the fifth aspect, the workbench further comprises a retractable handhold rod provided on each of the pair of first support columns.

[0011] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the workbench of the sixth aspect further comprises a frame for preventing a worker standing on the work platform from falling off.

[0012] The invention described in claim 8 is a workbench described in claim 7, wherein the frame body has a fixed frame provided on the support part and a folding frame rotatably provided on the fixed frame and detachably supported by the handrail.

[0013] The invention described in claim 9 is a workbench described in claim 8, wherein the folding frame has an enclosure that is arranged to surround the worker, and the enclosure is arranged at a height of 750 to 950 mm from the work floor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, a foldable work platform having a work floor section on which a worker stands can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a workbench according to an embodiment of the present invention is used; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the workbench as seen from the front. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the workbench as seen from the left side. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the workbench as seen from the back. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the workbench as seen from above. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the working state of the workbench when the telescopic member is extended. [Figure 7] 10(A) to 10(C) are side views of the folding frame of the workbench in a folded state, and are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the folding mechanism. [Figure 8] 10(A) to 10(E) are explanatory diagrams showing the assembly procedure of the workbench. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to facilitate understanding of the present invention. Note that parts not relevant to the description may be omitted from the illustrations.

[0017] A workbench 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is used to perform a specific task in a small space, such as a pipe space. Here, the pipe space refers to a space in a building such as an apartment building, for passing piping related to household wastewater, such as water supply pipes and drainage pipes, and is sometimes called a "pipe shaft." Pipe spaces may also house gas pipes and other pipes, and are generally small spaces so as not to restrict the living space.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the workbench 10 includes a lifting section 20, a work floor section 30, a support section 40, a connecting section 50, a wall abutment section 60, handrails 62a and 62b, and a frame body 70.

[0019] The lifting section 20 has a pair of support posts 202a, 202b, step bars 204, 205, and end fittings 206a, 206b. The pair of support columns 202a, 202b (an example of a first support column) are rod-shaped members that are spaced apart and extend parallel to one another, and are, more specifically, channel or pipe materials. However, "parallel" as used here does not mean parallel in the strict sense. In other words, "parallel" means "substantially parallel," allowing for design and manufacturing errors (the same applies hereinafter). Therefore, the workbench 10 is more compact than a lifting unit configured such that the distance between a pair of support columns increases toward the lower end.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 6, each of the support columns 202a, 202b has an extendable member 208a, 208b at its lower end, and the height of the workbench 10 can be adjusted by extending or contracting the extendable members 208a, 208b.

[0021] The steps 204 and 205 are members on which workers place their feet when ascending or descending, and are provided at intervals on the supports 202a and 202b. The step 205 is positioned higher than the step 204.

[0022] End fittings 206a and 206b are resin members that are attached to the lower ends of expandable members 208a and 208b of posts 202a and 202b, respectively, and come into contact with the floor surface. As shown in Fig. 5, end fittings 206a and 206b project outward in the width direction of workbench 10 (the direction in which step bar 204 extends) beyond posts 202a and 202b in a plan view and come into contact with the ground. The dimension W1 from end fitting 206a to end fitting 206b is, for example, 600 mm or less, which is the maximum width of the workbench 10 (excluding the state in which the contact member 60a or contact member 60b of the wall contact portion 60 described later is extended).

[0023] The work platform 30 is a platform on which a worker stands to work, and is rotatably provided on the upper ends of the support columns 202a and 202b (the upper ends of the lifting section 20). The work platform section 30 is a plate-like member that is rectangular in plan view, and has a plurality of projections 302 (see FIG. 5) formed at intervals on the top surface thereof to function as anti-slip surfaces.

[0024] The support 40 has a pair of posts 402a, 402b and end fittings 406a, 406b. The pair of support columns 402a, 402b (an example of second support columns) are rod-shaped members that are spaced apart and extend parallel to each other. Therefore, the workbench 10 is more compact than a lifting unit configured such that the distance between a pair of support columns increases toward the lower end.

[0025] The support columns 402a and 402b are provided on the opposite side of the lifting section 20 across the working platform section 30 in a plan view, so that their upper ends can rotate relative to the working platform section 30. As shown in FIG. 6, each of the support columns 402a, 402b has an extendable member 408a, 408b at its lower end, and the height of the workbench 10 can be adjusted by extending or contracting the extendable members 408a, 408b.

[0026] End fittings 406a and 406b are resin components that are attached to the lower ends of expandable members 408a and 408b of support posts 402a and 402b, respectively, and come into contact with the floor surface. End fittings 406a and 406b project outward from support posts 402a and 402b in plan view and contact the ground. Dimension W2 from end fitting 406a to end fitting 406b is the same as dimension W1. However, "same" here does not mean "same" in the strict sense. In other words, "same" means "substantially the same," allowing for design and manufacturing errors.

[0027] The connecting portion 50 has a pair of rod-shaped connecting members 502a, 502b, one end of which is rotatably attached to one end side and the other end side of the step 205, and the other end of which is rotatably attached to the support posts 402a and 402b of the support portion 40.

[0028] Here, the workbench 10 includes a lifting section 20, a work floor section 30, a support section 40, and a connecting section 50, which form a four-bar link mechanism. Therefore, the workbench 10 is folded as shown in Figures 7(A) to (C) by the lifting section 20, work floor section 30, support section 40 and connecting section 50 moving relative to one another, making it easier to transport into small spaces.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 2, the wall contact portion 60 has contact members 60a, 60b at its tip for contacting the wall surface, thereby improving the stability of the workbench 10. Each contact member 60a, 60b is provided on the back surface of the work platform portion 30 (the surface opposite to the surface on which the worker stands) and can extend in the direction in which the step 204 extends. In other words, when viewing the workbench 10 from the front, the contact member 60a can extend to the left, and the contact member 60b can extend to the right. Note that Figs. 1 to 6 show the state in which the contact member 60b has extended. The length of each of the contact members 60a, 60b is equal to or less than half the dimension of the work platform section 30 in the width direction.

[0030] The contact member 60a is provided with a knob 602a that allows the operator to advance and retract the contact member 60a. The knob 602a also functions as a stopper to maintain the contact member 60a in its advanced state; turning the knob 602a clockwise fixes the contact member 60a, and turning it counterclockwise allows the contact member 60a to advance and retract. The contact member 60b is also provided with a knob 602b that has substantially the same function as the knob 602a.

[0031] The handrails 62a and 62b are provided on the support posts 202a and 202b, respectively, and are provided so as to be able to advance along the direction in which the support posts 202a and 202b extend.

[0032] The frame 70 can prevent a worker standing on the work platform 30 from falling off. The frame body 70 has a fixed frame 72 and a folding frame 74 . The fixed frame 72 is provided on the support portion 40 and has a pair of fixed portions 722a, 722b extending in the direction in which the pillars 402a, 402b extend, and a connecting portion 724 connecting the tips of the fixed portions 722a, 722b, and these fixed portions 722a, 722b and connecting portion 724 are integrally formed.

[0033] The folding frame 74 has one end rotatably attached to the connecting portion 724 and the other end attached to the handle bars 62a, 62b. In particular, the folding frame 74 includes a support member 742, a shroud 744, and connecting rods 746a and 746b.

[0034] The support member 742 is a rod-shaped member having one end rotatably attached to the connecting portion 724 .

[0035] Enclosure 744 is a member that can enclose the periphery of the worker's torso, and in consideration of workability, it is preferably placed at a height of, for example, 750 to 950 mm from the top surface of working platform 30, and more preferably 850 to 950 mm. Enclosure 744 is rotatably mounted on the other end of support member 742. As shown in FIG. 2, a rod-shaped opening / closing member 745 that forms part of enclosure 744 is provided on the side of lifting unit 20. Opening / closing member 745 can rotate around axis AX that extends in a direction intersecting the extension direction of step 204 in plan view (see arrow A in FIG. 2), and the worker can step onto working platform 30 by opening opening / closing member 745 upward.

[0036] The connecting rods 746a and 746b are rotatably provided in the middle of the enclosure 744 in a side view. The tips of the connecting rods 746a and 746b are inserted into the handrails 62a and 62b, respectively, and are detachably connected thereto.

[0037] Next, a method of using (assembling) the workbench 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The workbench 10 is used in accordance with the following steps S1 to S8, although the order of some of the steps may be reversed if possible.

[0038] (Step S1) A worker carries the folded workbench 10 (see FIG. 7(C)) into, for example, a pipe space. The entrance to the pipe space is often narrow, but the workbench 10 is easy to carry in because it is folded. After carrying it in, the worker extends the telescopic members 208a, 208b and the telescopic members 408a, 408b according to the height of the required working position.

[0039] (Step S2) The working platform section 30 is unfolded in the order shown in Figures 7(C), 7(B) and 7(A).

[0040] (Step S3) As shown in FIG. 8(A), the clue sticks 62a and 62b are advanced.

[0041] (Step S4) As shown in FIGS. 8(B) to 8(D), the folding frame 74 of the frame body 70 is rotated.

[0042] (Step S5) As shown in FIG. 8(E), the connecting rods 746a and 746b are inserted into the handle rods 62a and 62b, respectively. The folding frame 74 is locked by a locking mechanism.

[0043] (Step S6)

[0044] The workbench 10 assembled by the above steps S1 to S5 is installed so that the contact member 60a or the contact member 60b can advance toward the wall surface that defines the pipe space. After the workbench 10 is set up, the worker advances the contact member 60a or the contact member 60b so that the tip thereof comes into contact with the wall surface. (Step S7)

[0045] After rotating the opening / closing member 745 (see FIG. 2) of the enclosure 744 around the axis AX to open it upward, the worker places his / her hands on the handhold rods 62a, 62b and climbs from the lifting section 20 onto the work platform section 30. After closing the opening / closing member 745, the worker stands on the work platform 30 and performs the specified work.

[0046] In this way, when the workbench 10 is used in a small space such as a pipe space, the contact member 60a or 60b of the wall contact portion 60 contacts the wall surface, and the end fittings 206a, 206b and end fittings 406a, 406b each protrude outward. Therefore, although the pair of support columns 202a, 202b of the lifting unit 20 and the pair of support columns 402a, 402b of the support unit 40 extend parallel to each other, they can be used in a more stable state. Furthermore, since the worker is enclosed by the enclosure 744, the worker can work more safely than if the enclosure 744 were not provided.

[0047] (Step S8) After completing the prescribed work, the worker descends from the lifting section 20 to the floor, folds the work platform 10 by reversing the steps described above, and exits the pipe space.

[0048] As described above, the workbench 10 according to this embodiment is provided with the work floor portion 30 on which the worker stands, allowing the worker to work in a more stable posture, for example, in a small space.

[0049] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and all changes in conditions that do not depart from the gist of the present invention are within the scope of application of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10 Workbench 20 Lifting section 30 Working floor section 40 Support part 50 Connecting part 60 Wall contact part 60a, 60b contact members 62a, 62b Clue stick 70 Frame 72 Fixed Frame 74 Folding Frame 202a, 202b struts 204, 205 Steps 206a, 206b end fittings 208a, 208b Elastic member 302 Protrusion 402a, 402b post 406a, 406b end fittings 408a, 408b Elastic member 502a, 502b connecting members 602a, 602b knobs 722a, 722b fixed part 724 Connecting part 742 Supporting member 744 Enclosure 745 Opening and closing members 746a, 746b connecting rod AX axis

Claims

1. a lifting section having a pair of first support columns extending substantially parallel to one another and treads provided at intervals on the pair of first support columns; A workbench equipped with a contact member for contacting a wall surface.

2. 2. The workbench according to claim 1, a work platform section on which a worker stands, the work platform section being rotatably provided at the upper end of the lifting section; A workbench further comprising a support section on the opposite side of the lifting section across the work platform section, the upper end of which is rotatably mounted on the work platform section and has a pair of second support columns extending substantially parallel to one another.

3. 3. The workbench according to claim 2, The workbench has a contact member that can advance in the direction in which the step extends.

4. 4. The workbench according to claim 3, a connecting part having one end rotatably attached to the lifting part and the other end rotatably attached to the support part, A workbench in which the lifting section, the work platform section, the support section, and the connecting section form a four-bar link mechanism.

5. 5. The workbench according to claim 4, the lifting section has a first end fitting provided at a lower end of the first support column and protruding outward from the first support column in a plan view, A workbench in which the support portion has a second end fitting provided at the lower end of the second support column and extending outward beyond the second support column in a plan view.

6. 6. The workbench according to claim 5, The workbench further comprises a handrail that is provided on each of the pair of first support columns and can be extended.

7. 7. The workbench according to claim 6, The workbench further includes a frame for preventing a worker standing on the work floor from falling off.

8. 8. The workbench according to claim 7, the frame body is a fixed frame provided on the support part; A workbench having a folding frame rotatably mounted on the fixed frame and removably supported by the handrail.

9. 9. The workbench according to claim 8, The folding frame has an enclosure arranged to surround the periphery of the worker, The workbench wherein the enclosure is disposed at a height of 750 to 950 mm from the work floor.

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