Height adjustment mechanism for furniture

Abstract

To provide a height adjustment mechanism that can readily attach or remove an adjuster bolt.SOLUTION: A height adjustment mechanism for furniture includes: a holder member 21 fitted to furniture 1 that is installed to a floor surface and having a cylindrical inner wall that is open on a floor surface side; a nut member 22 capable of being inserted into an opening of the holder member 21 from the floor surface side and having a peripheral wall capable of being fitted to the inner wall of the holder member 21; and an adjuster bolt 23 capable of being inserted into an opening of the nut member 22 from the floor surface side and capable of being screwed into an inner wall of the nut member 22. Fitting the nut member 22 into which the adjuster bolt 23 is screwed to the holder member can adjust a height of the furniture 1, while pulling out the nut member 22 into which the adjuster bolt 23 is screwed from the holder member 21 can remove the adjuster bolt 23 from the furniture 1. Rotation operation to the adjuster bolt 23 is the operation for adjusting the height.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a height adjustment mechanism for furniture, and more particularly to a height adjustment mechanism for furniture using an adjuster bolt. [Background technology]

[0002] A furniture height adjustment mechanism using an adjuster bolt is known (see Patent Document 1, etc.). Patent Document 1 discloses a piece of furniture (display case) equipped with an adjuster bolt. When this furniture is placed on the floor, the levelness and height of the furniture can be adjusted by, for example, adjusting the screw-in positions of the adjuster bolts at the four corners. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-102600 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, when transporting furniture, for example, when going up and down stairs or over steps, the adjusting bolt protruding downward from the bottom of the furniture may hit the step or the floor, causing damage to part of the furniture (which includes the adjusting bolt and the nut onto which the adjusting bolt threads). Therefore, it has been necessary to either rotate the adjusting bolt clockwise multiple times beforehand to push it in, or rotate it counterclockwise multiple times to remove it. Furthermore, when installing the furniture, it has been necessary to either rotate the adjusting bolt clockwise multiple times to attach it to the furniture, or rotate it counterclockwise multiple times to extend it. In other words, these complicated operations have been required when packing and unpacking furniture.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a height adjustment mechanism for furniture that allows the adjuster bolt to be easily attached and detached while maintaining ease of use for height adjustment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the problem, one furniture height adjustment mechanism of the present invention is characterized by comprising a holder member that is attached to furniture that is placed on the floor and has a cylindrical inner wall that opens toward the floor, a nut member that can be inserted into the opening of the holder member from the floor side and has a peripheral wall that can fit into the inner wall of the holder member, and an adjuster bolt that can be inserted into the opening of the nut member from the floor side and can be screwed onto the inner wall of the nut member.

[0007] In order to solve the problem, in any of the furniture height adjustment mechanisms of the present invention, a protrusion may be formed on one of the inner wall of the holder member and the peripheral wall of the nut member, and a protrusion receiver that can be engaged with the protrusion may be formed on the other of the inner wall of the holder member and the peripheral wall of the nut member.

[0008] In order to solve the problem, in any of the furniture height adjustment mechanisms of the present invention, at least one of the inner wall of the holder member and the peripheral wall of the nut member may be elastically deformable when the protrusion and the protrusion receiver are engaged.

[0009] In order to solve the problem, in any of the furniture height adjustment mechanisms of the present invention, the shape of the inner wall of the holder member and the shape of the peripheral wall of the nut member may be set to a polygonal cylindrical shape so that the holder member and the nut member do not spin freely.

[0010] In order to solve the problem, in any one of the height adjusting mechanisms for furniture according to the present invention, the nut member may be a hexagonal nut.

[0011] In order to solve the problem, in any of the furniture height adjustment mechanisms of the present invention, an elastic member for absorbing impact may be arranged at a location where the upper end side of the nut member and the holder member may abut.

[0012] In order to solve the problem, in any of the furniture height adjustment mechanisms according to the present invention, the holder member may be provided with an attachment piece that abuts against the inner wall of a top panel provided at the raised portion of the furniture.

[0013] In order to solve the problem, in any of the furniture height adjustment mechanisms of the present invention, the holder member may be provided with an attachment piece that abuts against the corner of the inner wall of a frame-shaped fascia provided on the raised portion of the furniture.

[0014] In order to solve the problem, in any of the furniture height adjustment mechanisms according to the present invention, the holder member may include an attachment piece that abuts against the rear surface of the furniture. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] In one furniture height adjustment mechanism according to the present invention, instead of directly attaching the nut member that threads onto the adjuster bolt to the furniture, the nut member can be fitted into a holder member attached to the furniture. Therefore, simply fitting the nut member threaded onto the adjuster bolt into the holder member allows for immediate start of furniture height adjustment, and simply pulling the nut member threaded onto the adjuster bolt from the holder member allows for immediate removal of the adjuster bolt from the furniture. Moreover, because the operation for height adjustment is performed by rotating the adjuster bolt, it is the same as the operation for adjustment using a conventional adjustment mechanism that does not include a holder member. Therefore, the height adjustment mechanism according to the present invention allows for easy attachment and removal of the adjuster bolt while maintaining the ease of use of height adjustment.

[0016] In addition, in any of the furniture height adjustment mechanisms according to the present invention, if the shape of the inner wall of the holder member and the shape of the peripheral wall of the nut member are polygonal cylindrical, it is easy to align the rotational position of the nut member relative to the holder member, and there is also the effect of preventing the nut member from spinning freely relative to the holder member when the adjuster bolt is rotated to adjust the furniture height. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] Figure 1(A) is a bottom perspective view of furniture equipped with a height adjustment mechanism, Figure 1(B1) is a bottom perspective view of the height adjustment mechanism with the nut member removed, and Figure 1(B2) is a bottom perspective view of the height adjustment mechanism with the nut member attached. [Figure 2] Figure 2(A) is a front view of the holder member, Figure 2(B) is a plan view of the holder member, Figure 2(C) is a left side view of the holder member, Figure 2(D) is a right side view of the holder member, Figure 2(E) is a bottom view of the holder member, and Figure 2(F) is a B-B cross-sectional view of the holder member. [Figure 3] 3(A) is a front view of the nut member, FIG. 3(B) is a plan view of the nut member, FIG. 3(C) is a bottom view of the nut member, and FIG. 3(D) is a cross-sectional view of the nut member taken along line AA. [Figure 4] 4(1) to 4(4) are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating how parts of the holder member and the nut member are deformed in the process of attaching the nut member to the holder member. [Figure 5] FIG. 5(A) is a perspective view of the bottom surface side of the holder member for the corner, and FIG. 5(B) is a perspective view of the bottom surface side of the holder member for the back surface. [Figure 6] Figures 6(A1), (A2), and (A3) are respectively a front view, a plan view, and a bottom perspective view of the holder member for the corners, and Figures 6(B1), (B2), and (B3) are respectively a front view, a plan view, and a bottom perspective view of the holder member for the back surface. [Figure 7] FIG. 7(A) is a cross-sectional view illustrating the impact absorbing mechanism when no load is applied, and FIG. 7(B) is a cross-sectional view illustrating the impact absorbing mechanism when a load is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a height adjustment mechanism for furniture according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] 1. Overview of the height adjustment mechanism First, the schematic configuration of the furniture height adjustment mechanism according to the embodiment will be described. Fig. 1(A) is a bottom perspective view of furniture equipped with the height adjustment mechanism, Fig. 1(B1) is a bottom perspective view of the height adjustment mechanism with the nut member removed, and Fig. 1(B2) is a bottom perspective view of the height adjustment mechanism with the nut member attached. The furniture 1 of this embodiment shown in Figure 1(A) is a piece of furniture such as a wooden cabinet that is placed on the floor, and a frame-shaped wooden back panel 10 is provided at the rising portion of this furniture 1, and height adjustment mechanisms 2 shown in Figures 1(B1) and (B2) are attached to the four corners of the inner wall of the back panel 10. By attaching the height adjustment mechanisms 2 to the four corners in this way, it is possible to adjust the overall height of the furniture 1 as well as the level of the furniture 1.

[0020] 1(B1), the height adjustment mechanism 2 includes a holder member 21 made of, for example, synthetic resin, which is attached to the inner wall of the back panel 10 and has a cylindrical inner wall that opens to the floor, a nut member 22 made of, for example, synthetic resin, which can be inserted into the opening of the holder member 21 from the floor side and has a peripheral wall that can be detachably fitted to the inner wall of the holder member 21, and an adjuster bolt 23 made of, for example, metal, which can be inserted into the opening of the nut member 22 from the floor side and can be screwed into the inner wall of the nut member 22. The nut member 22 with the adjuster bolt 23 screwed onto it can be attached to the holder member 21 as shown in FIG. 1(B1)→(B2), and can also be removed from the holder member 21 as shown in FIG. 1(B2)→(B1).

[0021] 2. Overview of holder components 1(B1) and (B2), the holder member 21 has a pair of left and right mounting pieces 21A, 21A that abut the inner wall of the header board 10, and each of the pair of mounting pieces 21A, 21A has two bolt through holes 21B, 21B. Mounting bolts 21C, 21C, 21C, 21C, such as wood screws, are individually inserted into the total of four bolt through holes 21B, 21B, 21B, 21B of the mounting pieces 21A, 21A, and the tip ends of these mounting bolts 21C, 21C, 21C, 21C are inserted into four pilot holes (not shown) pre-drilled in the inner wall of the header board 10 and tightened. In this way, the holder member 21 is firmly attached to the inner wall of the header board 10.

[0022] 3. Holder and nut components Figure 2(A) is a front view of the holder member, Figure 2(B) is a plan view of the holder member, Figure 2(C) is a left side view of the holder member, Figure 2(D) is a right side view of the holder member, Figure 2(E) is a bottom view of the holder member, and Figure 2(F) is a B-B cross-sectional view of the holder member. Figure 3(A) is a front view of the nut member, Figure 3(B) is a plan view of the nut member, Figure 3(C) is a bottom view of the nut member, and Figure 3(D) is an A-A cross-sectional view of the nut member. 2 and 3, the shape of the inner wall of the holder member 21 and the shape of the peripheral wall of the nut member 22 are set to be regular polygonal tubular. By making these shapes regular polygonal tubular, it is easy to align the rotational position of the holder member 21 with the rotational position of the nut 22, and it is also possible to prevent the holder member 21 and the nut member 22 inserted therein from rotating freely. In particular, in the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shape of the inner wall of the holder member 21 and the shape of the peripheral wall of the nut member 22 are set to be hexagonal tubular. In this case, a well-known metal hexagonal nut may be used on the inside of the nut member 22 (at least the portion that threads onto the adjuster bolt 23), and an easily moldable synthetic resin may be used for the peripheral wall of the nut member 22.

[0023] 2(F), protrusions 21D and protrusion receivers 21E are formed side by side in the height direction on the inner wall of holder member 21, and as shown in Fig. 3(D), protrusions 22D and protrusion receivers 22E are formed side by side in the height direction on the peripheral wall of nut member 22. When nut member 22 is fitted into holder member 21, protrusions 21D of holder member 21 are locked in protrusion receivers 22E of nut member 22, and protrusions 22D of nut member 22 are locked in protrusion receivers 21E of holder member 21.

[0024] 4. Elastic deformation structure 4(1) to 4(4) are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating how parts of the holder member and the nut member are deformed in the process of attaching the nut member to the holder member.

[0025] 4(1) to 4(4), at least one of the inner wall of holder member 21 and the peripheral wall of nut member 22 (inner wall of holder member 21 in FIG. 4) is elastically deformable when nut member 22 is inserted into holder member 21 and protrusion 21D is engaged with protrusion receiver 22E, and protrusion 22D is engaged with protrusion receiver 22E, respectively. For this reason, for example, holder member 21 is made of a synthetic resin as described above, and the thickness of the portion of the side wall of holder member 21 where protrusion 21D and protrusion receiver 21E are formed is thinner than the other portion. This thinned portion is more likely to bend in response to an external force.

[0026] Therefore, in the process of attaching the nut member 22 to the holder member 21 (Fig. 4(2)→(3)→(4)), when the protrusion 21D passes over the protrusion 22D (Fig. 4(2)→(3)), the side wall of the holder member 21 can be pushed outward, and after the protrusion 21D passes over the protrusion 22D (Fig. 4(4)), the engagement state between the protrusion 22D and the protrusion receiver 21E and the engagement state between the protrusion 21D and the protrusion receiver 22E are maintained.

[0027] Similarly, in the process of removing the nut member 22 from the holder member 21 (Fig. 4(4) → (3) → (2)), when the protrusion 21D passes over the protrusion 22D (Fig. 4(4) → (3)), the side wall of the holder member 21 can be pushed outward, and after the protrusion 21D passes over the protrusion 22D (Fig. 4(2)), the nut member 22 can be smoothly pulled out from the holder member 21.

[0028] In this embodiment, in order to ensure a wide range of height adjustment for the bottom surface of the adjuster bolt 23, an insertion hole 21F is provided on the top surface of the holder member 21 for inserting the tip of the adjuster bolt 23 therethrough.

[0029] 5. Effects of the embodiment As described above, in the furniture height adjustment mechanism 2 according to this embodiment, the nut member 22 that threads onto the adjuster bolt 23 is attached directly to the furniture 1, but the nut member 22 is removably fitted to the holder member 21 attached to the furniture 1. This allows the user to immediately start adjusting the height of the furniture 1 by simply fitting the nut member 22 threaded onto the adjuster bolt 23 into the holder member 21, and allows the user to immediately remove the adjuster bolt 23 from the furniture by simply pulling out the nut member 22 threaded onto the adjuster bolt 23 from the holder member 21. Moreover, the operation for adjusting the height is a rotation operation of the adjuster bolt 23, which is the same as the operation for adjustment using a conventional adjustment mechanism that does not include the holder member 21. Therefore, the height adjustment mechanism 2 according to this embodiment allows the adjuster bolt 23 to be easily attached and detached while maintaining ease of use for height adjustment.

[0030] Furthermore, in any of the furniture height adjustment mechanisms 2 according to this embodiment, the shape of the inner wall of the holder member 21 and the shape of the peripheral wall of the nut member 22 are polygonal (hexagonal) cylindrical, so that it is easy to align the rotational position of the nut member 22 relative to the holder member 21, and moreover, it is possible to prevent the nut member 22 from spinning freely relative to the holder member 21 when, for example, rotating the adjuster bolt 23 to adjust the height of the furniture 1.

[0031] 6. Variations of holder components Variations of the holder members are explained below. Fig. 5(A) is a bottom perspective view of the holder member for the corners, Fig. 5(B) is a bottom perspective view of the holder member for the back side, Figs. 6(A1), (A2), and (A3) are respectively a front view, a plan view, and a bottom perspective view of the holder member for the corners, and Figs. 6(B1), (B2), and (B3) are respectively a front view, a plan view, and a bottom perspective view of the holder member for the back side.

[0032] The holder member 21 described above is a "side holder member" in which the mounting pieces 21B, 21B abut against the inner wall of the panel 10, but it can also be modified into a corner holder member 41 as shown in Figures 5(A) and 6(A), or a back holder member 51 as shown in Figures 5(B) and 6(B).

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 5(A) and 6(A), the corner holder member 41 has a pair of mounting pieces 41A, 41A positioned perpendicular to each other to abut against the corners of the inner wall of the frame-shaped header board 10 provided at the rising portion of the furniture 1. Two bolt holes 41B, 41B are provided in each of the pair of mounting pieces 41A, 41A. Mounting bolts (not shown), such as wood screws, are inserted into the four bolt holes 41B, 41B, 41B, 41B of the mounting pieces 41A, 41A, and the tips of these mounting bolts (not shown) are inserted into pilot holes (not shown) pre-drilled in the corners of the header board 10 and tightened. In this way, the corner holder member 41 is securely attached to the corner of the header board 10.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 5(B) and 6(B), the holder member 51 for the back surface has a flange-shaped mounting piece 51A that abuts against the back surface 12 of the bottom plate of the furniture 1. Four bolt through holes 51B, 51B, 51B, and 51B are formed in the flange-shaped mounting piece 51A. Mounting bolts (not shown), such as wood screws, are inserted into the four bolt through holes 51B, 51B, 51B, and 51B of the mounting piece 51A, and the tip ends of these mounting bolts (not shown) are inserted into pilot holes (not shown) pre-drilled in the back surface 12 of the furniture 1 and tightened. In this way, the holder member 51 for the back surface is firmly attached to the back surface 12 of the furniture 1.

[0035] 5(B) and 6(B) designate a rib for maintaining the strength of the mounting piece 51A, and reference numeral 12A in FIG. 5(B) designates a relief hole provided on the back surface 12. This relief hole 12A is provided to allow the tip of the adjuster bolt 23 to escape. Providing this relief hole 12A ensures a wide range of height adjustment for the furniture 1.

[0036] 7 Shock absorption mechanism Additionally, in any of the height adjustment mechanisms described above, a shock-absorbing mechanism may be interposed between the nut member and the holder member. This shock-absorbing mechanism may, for example, be an elastic member disposed (or attached) at point P1, where the upper end of nut member 22 and holder member 21 may come into contact, to absorb shock. This point P1 is the upper end of nut member 22, and the elastic member may be, for example, a ring-shaped rubber or coil spring. Such an elastic member absorbs shocks generated at point P1 due to the weight of furniture 1, thereby reducing the possibility of damage to components of height adjustment mechanism 2 (particularly nut member 22 and holder member 21). Furthermore, the elastic member's thickness can be expanded or contracted, thereby reducing the precision required for the rotational position of adjuster bolt 23 when adjusting the height of furniture 1, thereby facilitating adjustment of the height position of furniture 1. 7(A) and (B), for example, may be interposed between the nut member and the holder member. This shock absorbing mechanism 35 includes a first ring member 35-1 placed on the upper end of the nut member 22, a ring receiver 22J protruding from the inner wall near the lower end of the nut member 22, a second ring member 35-2 placed on the ring receiver 22J, and a ring-shaped elastic member 35-3 such as rubber or a coil spring that is arranged between the first ring member 35-1 and the second ring member 35-2.

[0037] 8.Other The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications of the components can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be realized by appropriately combining the components disclosed in each embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the shape of the inner wall of the holder member 21 and the shape of the peripheral wall of the nut member 22 are hexagonal, but they can also be modified to other shapes such as octagonal or pentagonal. Furthermore, the furniture 1 is not limited to a wooden cabinet, and can be any type of furniture that can be placed on the floor, such as a cupboard, dresser, desk, table, or bed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 Furniture 10 Frame-shaped panel 11 Corner 12 Back side 12A Relief hole 2 Height adjustment mechanism 21 (side) holder member 21A Mounting piece 21B Bolt hole 21C Mounting bolt 21D protrusion 21E Protrusion holder 21F entrance 22 Nut material 22D protrusion 22E Protrusion holder 22F screw groove 22J Ring holder 23 Adjuster bolt 35 Shock absorption mechanism 35-1 First ring member 35-2 Second ring member 35-3 Elastic Members 41 Corner holder parts 41A Mounting piece 41B Bolt hole 51 Backside holder member 51A Mounting piece 51B Bolt hole 51G Rib

Claims

1. a holder member attached to furniture placed on a floor surface and having a cylindrical inner wall that opens toward the floor surface; a nut member that can be inserted into the opening of the holder member from the floor side and has a peripheral wall that can be fitted onto the inner wall of the holder member; an adjuster bolt that can be inserted into the opening of the nut member from the floor surface side and can be screwed onto the inner wall of the nut member; A height adjustment mechanism for furniture, comprising:

2. 2. The furniture height adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, a protrusion is formed on one of the inner wall of the holder member and the peripheral wall of the nut member; A projection receiver capable of being engaged with the projection is formed on the other of the inner wall of the holder member and the peripheral wall of the nut member. A height adjustment mechanism for furniture.

3. 3. The furniture height adjustment mechanism according to claim 2, At least one of the inner wall of the holder member and the peripheral wall of the nut member is elastically deformable when the projection and the projection receiver are engaged with each other. A height adjustment mechanism for furniture.

4. 2. The furniture height adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, The shape of the inner wall of the holder member and the shape of the peripheral wall of the nut member are set to a polygonal cylindrical shape so that the holder member and the nut member do not rotate freely. A height adjustment mechanism for furniture.

5. 5. The height adjustment mechanism according to claim 4, A hexagonal nut is used as the nut member. A height adjustment mechanism for furniture.

6. 2. The height adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, An elastic member for absorbing shock is disposed at a location where the upper end side of the nut member and the holder member may come into contact. A height adjustment mechanism for furniture.

7. The furniture height adjustment mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The holder member has a mounting piece that abuts against the inner wall of a panel provided at the rising portion of the furniture. A height adjustment mechanism for furniture.

8. The furniture height adjustment mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The holder member has an attachment piece that abuts against a corner of an inner wall of a frame-shaped panel provided at the rising portion of the furniture. A height adjustment mechanism for furniture.

9. The furniture height adjustment mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The holder member has an attachment piece that abuts against the back surface of the furniture. A height adjustment mechanism for furniture.

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