Partition mechanism

Abstract

To provide a partition mechanism capable of stably holding a movable partition body under a sloping ceiling.SOLUTION: A partition mechanism 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a partition main body 12 that is movable under a sloped ceiling K, rails 20 that extend along a slope direction of the sloped ceiling K, rolling elements 22 that roll on the rails 20 when the partition main body 12 moves, a contact member 32 that comes into contact with outer circumferential surfaces of the rolling elements 22, a movable element 34 that is movable between a first position and a second position, and an operation portion 52 that is operated when moving the movable element 34. When the movable element 34 moves from the first position to the second position, a contact force of the contact member 32 with respect to the outer circumferential surfaces of the rolling elements 22 increases.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a partition mechanism, and more particularly to a partition mechanism for use under a sloped ceiling. [Background technology]

[0002] In buildings with sloping ceilings, such as so-called sloped ceilings, movable partitions are sometimes used below the ceiling (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In a sloped ceiling, the distance from the floor to the ceiling, i.e., the ceiling height, changes gradually along the slope of the ceiling, so movable partitions must be configured to follow the changes in ceiling height. In such situations, for example, a partition whose height can be adjusted along the slope of the ceiling can be used by installing a rail that extends along the slope of the ceiling and supporting the main body of the partition with rolling elements such as wheels that roll along the rail. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-151460 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the above configuration, there is a risk that the moving body on the rail may unintentionally slide down along the rail, making it difficult to stabilize the usage state and placement position of the partition.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a partition mechanism that can stably hold a movable partition body under a sloped ceiling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above problems are solved by the partition mechanism of the present invention, which comprises a partition body that can move under a sloped ceiling, a rail extending along the slope of the ceiling, a rolling body that rolls on the rail when the partition body moves, a contact member that contacts the outer surface of the rolling body, a movable body that can move between a first position and a second position and that increases the contact force of the contact member against the outer surface of the rolling body by moving from the first position to the second position, and an operating unit that is operated when moving the movable body. In the partition mechanism of the present invention configured as described above, the movable body moves in response to the operation of the operating unit, thereby changing the contact force acting from the contact member on the outer circumferential surface of the rolling body. This makes it possible to easily switch between a state in which the rolling body is allowed to roll on the rail and a state in which the rolling body's movement is restricted, and by maintaining the state in which the rolling body's movement is restricted, the partition body can be stabilized in its current position.

[0007] In the partition mechanism of the present invention, the abutting member may be formed of a rubber band that deforms in response to movement of the movable body. In this case, the contact area between the abutting member and the outer circumferential surface when the movable body is in the second position may be larger than the contact area when the movable body is in the first position. According to the above configuration, it is possible to increase the contact force acting from the contact member to the outer circumferential surface of the rolling element when the moving element is in the second position, with a simpler structure.

[0008] In the partition mechanism of the present invention, the rolling element may include a lower wheel disposed between the lower surface of the abutting member and the rail. The moving element may be an upper wheel placed on the upper surface of the abutting member, and the portion of the abutting member on which the upper wheel is placed may be curved along the outer peripheral surface of the upper wheel by moving from the first position to the second position. According to the above configuration, the structure for increasing the contact force acting from the contact member on the outer circumferential surface of the rolling element when the moving element is in the second position becomes even simpler.

[0009] In the partition mechanism of the present invention, the rolling element may include two lower wheels spaced apart in the tilt direction. In this case, when the upper wheel is in the second position, the portion of the upper wheel that is in contact with the abutment member may be positioned between the two lower wheels in the tilt direction. According to the above configuration, the structure for increasing the contact force acting from the contact member on the outer circumferential surface of the rolling element when the moving element is in the second position becomes even simpler.

[0010] In the partition mechanism of the present invention, the rubber band constituting the abutment member preferably extends along the inclined direction and is provided over the entire range in which the rolling element can roll. According to the above configuration, the partition main body can be stably held at each position within the movement range of the partition main body.

[0011] The partition mechanism of the present invention may further include a transmission mechanism that transmits the movement of the operating unit to the movable body, and a locking unit that locks the movement of the operating unit when the movable body is in the second position. According to the above configuration, by locking the movement of the operating part, the state in which the rolling of the rolling body is restricted can be made more stable, making it easier to maintain the partition body in its current position.

[0012] In the partition mechanism of the present invention, the partition body may be provided with a first hole aligned with the direction of movement of the movable body and a second hole intersecting the direction of movement. In this case, the operating part may have a pin part engageable with each of the first hole and the second hole, and the locking part may be formed by the second hole, and the pin part may engage with the second hole to lock the movement of the operating part in the direction of movement. According to the above configuration, the movement of the operating part can be locked with a simpler structure.

[0013] In addition, in the partition mechanism of the present invention, a rolling element and a moving element may be provided at each of one end and the other end of the partition mechanism in the tilt direction. In this case, the operating element may be provided at at least one of the one end and the other end, and the transmission mechanism may transmit the movement of the operating element to the moving element on the one end side and the moving element on the other end side. According to the above configuration, each of the movable bodies provided at one end and the other end of the partition mechanism can be moved with a simpler structure.

[0014] In the above configuration, it is more preferable that the transmission mechanism includes a first operating body provided at one end and connected to the operation unit, and that operates to move the movable body at the one end, a second operating body provided at the other end and that operates to move the movable body at the other end, and a connecting unit that connects the first operating body and the second operating body. In this case, the structure for moving each of the movable bodies provided at one end and the other end of the partition mechanism becomes even simpler.

[0015] In the above configuration, the connection point of the first operating body with the operating unit may be closer to one end than the moving body on the other end side in the tilt direction, and the connection point of the second operating body with the connecting unit may be closer to one end than the moving body on the other end side in the tilt direction.

[0016] In addition, in the partition mechanism of the present invention, it is preferable that the partition body extends upward when moved toward the upper end of the ceiling, and contracts downward when moved toward the lower end of the ceiling. According to the above configuration, when the partition main body moves under a sloped ceiling, the height of the partition main body can be changed to follow the change in ceiling height.

[0017] Furthermore, in the above configuration, it is more preferable if the partition body has a frame portion that forms both ends of the partition body in the inclination direction and is expandable and contractible up and down, a storage portion that is arranged between the frame portions in the partition body and has an open upper end, and a partition plate that is lined up in the inclination direction and stored in the storage portion in a state that allows it to be taken in and out through the upper end of the storage portion. When the partition body moves toward the upper end of the ceiling, each frame portion extends upward and the portion of the partition plate that protrudes from the upper end of the storage section becomes longer. When the partition body moves toward the lower end of the ceiling, each frame portion contracts downward and the portion of the partition plate that protrudes from the upper end of the storage section becomes shorter. With the above configuration, it is possible to change the height of the partition body to follow changes in ceiling height with a relatively simple configuration. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the partition mechanism of the present invention, by restricting the rolling elements that roll on the rails to move the partition body under a sloped ceiling, the partition body can be stably held in its current position, thereby allowing the partition mechanism to be used appropriately under a sloped ceiling. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view of a partition mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing the internal structure of a partition mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the partition mechanism of FIG. 1 taken along the AA plane of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the partition mechanism of FIG. 1 taken along the plane BB of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 5] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the partition mechanism of FIG. 1 taken along the CC plane of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 6]2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the partition mechanism of FIG. 1 taken along the DD plane of FIG. [Figure 7] 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the partition mechanism of FIG. 1 taken along the EE plane of FIG. [Figure 8] 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the partition mechanism of FIG. 1 taken along the FF plane of FIG. [Figure 9] These figures show how the partition body has moved; the left figure shows the partition body being positioned closer to the bottom edge of the ceiling, and the right figure shows the partition body being positioned closer to the top edge of the ceiling. [Figure 10] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a moving body and its surroundings, the diagram on the left being a diagram when the moving body is in a first position, and the diagram on the right being a diagram when the moving body is in a second position. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which both of the two rolling elements are restricted. [Figure 12] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a partition mechanism according to a modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] <<Regarding a Partition Mechanism According to an Embodiment of the Present Invention>> A partition mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as this embodiment) will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0021] In the drawings, each component is shown somewhat simplified and schematic to make the explanation easier to understand, and some devices (e.g., devices other than those of interest) are omitted for the sake of convenience. Furthermore, the size (dimensions) of each component and the spacing between components shown in the drawings are different from the actual ones.

[0022] In this specification, the terms "orthogonal," "vertical," and "parallel" include the range of error permitted in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. For example, in this specification, "orthogonal," "vertical," and "parallel" mean that the deviation is within a range of less than ±10° from the strict orthogonal, vertical, or parallel state. The deviation from the strict orthogonal or parallel state is preferably 5° or less, and more preferably 3° or less. In addition, in this specification, the meanings of "same," "identical," "match," and "equal" may include a range of error generally accepted in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. In addition, in this specification, the meanings of "all," "any," and "all" include not only 100% but also the range of error generally accepted in the technical field to which the present invention pertains, and may include, for example, 99% or more, 95% or more, or 90% or more.

[0023] Furthermore, when describing the position, orientation, state, etc. of each part of the partition mechanism below, unless otherwise specified, the description will be of the position, orientation, state, etc. when the partition mechanism is in use.

[0024] (Basic configuration of the partition mechanism) First, the basic configuration of a partition mechanism according to this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a partition mechanism 10) will be described with reference to FIGS. The partition mechanism 10 is installed and used in a building such as a house, and is used directly below a sloped ceiling (hereinafter referred to as sloped ceiling K) as shown in Fig. 1. Specifically, the partition mechanism 10 has a partition main body 12 placed on a floor F on the same floor as the sloped ceiling K. This partition main body 12 stands approximately perpendicular to the floor F, and separates the space between the floor F and the sloped ceiling K. In the following, an example will be described in which only one partition body 12 is placed directly below the sloped ceiling K.

[0025] Furthermore, the partition main body 12 is equipped with known casters 60 at its bottom, allowing it to move on the floor. In other words, the partition main body 12 can move horizontally directly below the sloped ceiling K, and more precisely, it can move in a direction equivalent to the horizontal component of the inclination direction of the sloped ceiling K (hereinafter referred to as the main body movement direction). Here, in the main body movement direction, the direction approaching the bottom end of the sloped ceiling K is defined as the "first direction," and the direction approaching the top end of the sloped ceiling K is defined as the "second direction."

[0026] 1 and 2, the partition mechanism 10 has rails 20, rolling elements 22, contact members 32, moving elements 34, a transmission mechanism 40, an operating unit 52, and a locking unit 62 as devices for moving the partition body 12 and for resting the partition body 12 in a position after the movement. Each of the components of the partition mechanism 10 will be explained below.

[0027] (Partition body) The partition main body 12 is configured to expand and contract according to the ceiling height at the position where the partition main body 12 is placed (i.e., the distance between the sloped ceiling K and the floor F), specifically, as shown in Fig. 9, it is configured to expand upward when moving in the second direction and contract downward when moving in the first direction. More specifically, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the partition main body 12 includes two frame portions 14, one storage portion 16, and two or more partition plates 18.

[0028] The two frame portions 14 form both ends of the partition main body 12 in the inclination direction (hereinafter simply referred to as the inclination direction) of the sloped ceiling K. Here, both ends of the partition main body 12 in the inclination direction refer to both ends of the partition main body 12 in the direction of main body movement. In the following description, the side closer to the center of the partition body 12 in the inclination direction will be referred to as the "inside" side, and the opposite side will be referred to as the "outside" side.

[0029] 1 and 2, casters 60 are rotatably attached to the lower end of each frame portion 14, allowing each frame portion 14 to move smoothly and easily on the floor. The two frame portions 14 are connected by horizontal bars 48 shown in Figures 2 and 6, so when the frame portions 14 move, the two frame portions 14 move simultaneously as a unit.

[0030] Each frame 14 extends vertically and is extendable and contractible up and down. Specifically, as can be seen from Figures 1 to 6, each frame 14 has a shaft 14b loosely inserted into a cylindrical portion 14a, and the shaft 14b is movable vertically relative to the cylindrical portion 14a. The upper end of the shaft 14b is supported by the rolling element 22 via a support frame 26 provided on the rolling element 22, as shown in Figures 2 and 7. With the above configuration, when the partition main body 12 moves in the main body movement direction and the rolling elements 22 roll on the rails 20 in conjunction with this and move along the inclined direction, the shafts 14b move along the inclined direction integrally with the rolling elements 22. In other words, the shafts 14b move up and down in conjunction with the movement of the rolling elements 22 on the rails 20, causing the frame 14 to expand and contract up and down.

[0031] The structure of the frame portion 14 that can be extended and contracted up and down is not limited to the structure described above, and for example, the middle part of the frame portion 14 may have a jack structure, so that the frame portion 14 can be extended and contracted up and down.

[0032] 2, a stopper 14f protrudes from the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion 14a at a portion slightly above the bottom end of the cylindrical portion 14a. When the shaft portion 14b descends within the cylindrical portion 14a, it can descend to a position where it is stopped by the stopper 14f. In other words, the stopper 14f defines the bottom dead center of the shaft portion 14b.

[0033] In this embodiment, the shaft portion 14b is formed of a hollow column member, and a vertically extending slit 14e is formed in its sidewall, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10. The slit 14e extends from the upper end of the shaft portion 14b to a midpoint, and a device disposed inside the shaft portion 14b, specifically, a pin portion 54 of the operating unit 52, protrudes through the slit 14e to the outside of the shaft portion 14b. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, a first hole 14c is formed in the sidewall of the cylindrical portion 14a along the vertical direction, and the first hole 14c always faces a portion of the slit 14e. As a result, the pin portion 54 protrudes through the first hole 14c to the outside of the frame portion 14 (specifically, the cylindrical portion 14a).

[0034] 1 to 6, the storage section 16 is disposed between the two frame sections 14 of the partition main body 12 and stores a plurality of partition plates 18 in a removable manner. In this embodiment, the storage section 16 is configured by arranging two side walls parallel to each other with a gap between them, and connecting the lower ends of the side walls with a bottom wall, and has an open upper end. That is, the upper end of the storage section 16 is an open end, and each partition plate 18 can protrude above the storage section 16 or enter the storage section 16 through this open end. Furthermore, the storage section 16 is fixed to each of the two frame sections 14, and moves integrally with each frame section 14 when the two frame sections 14 move.

[0035] The multiple partition plates 18 are lined up in the tilt direction (strictly speaking, the direction in which the main body moves), and more specifically, two adjacent partition plates 18 are lined up in a state in which they overlap slightly in the tilt direction. Each partition plate 18 is made of a rectangular plate (surface material) that extends long in the vertical direction, and is made of, for example, a thin plate similar to the slats of a blind, and is stored in the storage section 16 in a state in which it can be taken in and out through the upper end of the storage section 16.

[0036] 2 and 8, the upper end of each partition plate 18 is fixed to a plate support 30 attached to a plate wheel 28 that rolls on the rail 20. On the other hand, when the rolling elements 22 move on the rail 20, the plate wheel 28 follows the rolling elements 22 and moves on the rail 20 in the same direction as the rolling elements 22.

[0037] With the above configuration, when the partition body 12 moves in the body movement direction and the rolling elements 22 roll on the rails 20 in conjunction with this and move along the inclined direction, the plate support wheels 28 roll and move on the rails 20, and each partition plate 18 moves integrally with the plate support wheels 28 along the inclined direction. That is, each partition plate 18 moves up and down as the rolling elements 22 move on the rails 20, thereby changing the length of the portion of each partition plate 18 that protrudes from the upper end of the storage section 16 (hereinafter referred to as the protruding portion). Here, the length of the protruding portion of each of the multiple partition plates 18 changes stepwise along the inclined direction, as shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, the protruding portion of a partition plate 18 closer to the upper end of the sloped ceiling K is longer, and the protruding portion of a partition plate 18 closer to the lower end of the sloped ceiling K is shorter.

[0038] In the partition main body 12 configured as described above, when the partition main body 12 moves in the second direction, each of the two frame portions 14 extends upward, and the protruding portion of each partition plate 18 becomes longer, as shown in Fig. 9 . When the partition main body 12 moves in the first direction, each of the two frame portions 14 contracts downward, and the protruding portion of each partition plate 18 becomes shorter. As a result, when the partition main body 12 moves in the main body movement direction, in other words, when the arrangement position of the partition main body 12 changes, each portion of the partition main body 12 can expand or contract depending on the ceiling height at that arrangement position. In other words, the height of the partition main body 12 can be changed to follow the change in ceiling height that accompanies the movement of the partition main body 12.

[0039] (rail) The rail 20 is a long body that forms the path along which the rolling elements 22 and the plate wheels 28 move, and is positioned directly below the sloped ceiling K, extending along the inclined direction. The total length (extension) of the rail 20 is set according to the range of movement of the partition body 12, and specifically, both ends of the rail 20 are set so as to be positioned slightly outside the range of movement of the partition body 12 in the horizontal direction.

[0040] 1, 7, and 8, the rail 20 is covered by a rail cover 56. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rail cover 56 has cover side portions 58 arranged on the sides of the rail 20, and these cover side portions 58 cover the rail 20 from the sides.

[0041] Furthermore, because the lower end of the cover side portion 58 is positioned considerably lower than the rail 20, the rail cover 56 can adequately conceal the rail 20 and its surrounding area. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 , a roughly triangular gap S is inevitably formed between the rail 20 and the upper end of the partition main body 12 (more specifically, between the upper end of each frame portion 14 and the upper end of each partition plate 18), but the cover side portion 58 of the rail cover 56 can hide or make the gap S less visible. As a result, the design of the partition mechanism 10, particularly the aesthetic appearance near the upper end of the partition main body 12, can be improved. Furthermore, because the gap S is sealed, light and air can be prevented from leaking through the gap S, allowing the partition mechanism 10 to properly function as a partition.

[0042] (rolling elements) The rolling elements 22 are devices that roll on the rails 20 when the partition body 12 moves in the body movement direction. As shown in Fig. 2, the rolling elements 22 are provided at one end and the other end of the partition mechanism 10 in the tilt direction. The configuration of the rolling elements 22 provided at one end and the configuration of the rolling elements 22 provided at the other end are substantially the same, so below, only the configuration of the rolling elements 22 provided at one end will be described.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 10, each rolling element 22 includes two lower wheels 24 spaced apart in the inclined direction, and a support frame 26 that connects the two lower wheels 24 and supports the frame portion 14 of the partition body 12. The two lower wheels 24 are formed like door rollers and roll on the rail 20 while connected to each other. The distance between the two lower wheels 24 is set large enough to allow a portion of an upper wheel 36, which will be described later, to fit between the two lower wheels 24. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 2, the two lower wheels 24 are disposed between the lower surface of the abutment member 32 and the upper surface of the rail 20.

[0044] 10, the support frame 26 has a portion attached to each of the two lower wheels 24 and a portion hanging down, and the lower end of the hanging portion is connected to the upper end of the shaft portion 14b of the frame portion 14. In this way, the support frame 26 is interposed between the lower wheels 24 and the frame portion 14, so that the rolling elements 22 and the frame portion 14 can move integrally.

[0045] The rolling elements 22 configured as described above move on the rails 20 in conjunction with the movement of the partition body 12, specifically, they descend along the rails 20 when the partition body 12 moves in the first direction, and ascend along the rails 20 when the partition body 12 moves in the second direction. Note that, because the rolling elements 22 are wheels like door rollers, they move easily on the rails 20, which results in easy movement of the partition body 12 including the frame portion 14 supported by the rolling elements 22, more specifically, movement in the body movement direction.

[0046] (contacting member) The contact member 32 contacts the outer circumferential surface of the rolling element 22, more specifically, the outer circumferential surfaces of the two lower wheels 24. In this embodiment, the contact member 32 is made of a stretchable and elastic material, specifically a rubber band, and is disposed directly above the lower wheels 24, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The material of the contact member 32 may be any stretchable and elastic material, and may be a material other than rubber, such as cloth.

[0047] The rubber band constituting the contact member 32 extends along the inclined direction as shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the band is provided over the entire range in which the rolling elements 22 can roll, and more specifically, over approximately the same range in the inclined direction as the range in which the rail 20 exists. The band has an appropriate width, and in this embodiment, it has approximately the same width as the rail 20 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

[0048] 10, the abutment member 32 has the moving body 34 placed on its upper surface, and is deformed in response to the movement of the moving body 34. This changes the contact area between the abutment member 32 and the outer circumferential surface of the rolling body 22 (more specifically, the lower wheel 24), and as a result, the abutment force of the abutment member 32 against the outer circumferential surface of the rolling body 22 changes. The abutment force of the abutment member 32 is a force that restricts the rolling of the rolling body 22, and increases as the abutment member 32 is pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the rolling body 22, and increases as the contact area between the abutment member 32 and the outer circumferential surface of the rolling body 22 increases.

[0049] (Mobile) The moving body 34 is a device that moves to regulate the rolling of the rolling body 22, and in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, it is provided at one end and the other end of the partition mechanism 10 in the tilt direction. The configuration of the moving body 34 provided at one end and the configuration of the moving body 34 provided at the other end are substantially the same, so below, only the configuration of the moving body 34 provided at one end will be described.

[0050] 7 and 10, the movable body 34 is composed of an upper wheel 36 mounted on the upper surface of the abutment member 32 and its rotation shaft 38. The upper wheel 36 is, for example, a brake tire, and is rotatable about the rotation shaft 38. The movable body 34 is also movable in a direction intersecting the tilt direction by the action of a transmission mechanism 40, and specifically, is capable of moving along the vertical direction between a first position shown in the left diagram of FIG. 10 and a second position shown in the right diagram of FIG. 10.

[0051] When in the first position, the upper wheel 36 is located above the two lower wheels 24 that form the rolling body 22; more specifically, it is positioned so as to overlap the lower wheel 24 that is more outer in the tilt direction, in a direction perpendicular to the tilt direction, and is slightly shifted inward in the tilt direction when viewed from the lower wheel 24.

[0052] When in the second position, the upper wheel 36 is lower than the first position and is located more inward in the tilt direction than the first position. More specifically, when the upper wheel 36 is in the second position, the portion of the upper wheel 36 that is in contact with the abutment member 32 is located between the two lower wheels 24 in the tilt direction, as shown in the right diagram of Figure 10.

[0053] As the movable body 34 moves from the first position to the second position, it deforms the rubber band that constitutes the abutment member 32; more specifically, it bends the portion of the band on which the upper wheel 36 is placed into an arch shape along the outer circumferential surface of the upper wheel 36. At this time, the abutment member 32 is sandwiched between each of the two lower wheels 24 and the upper wheel 36, and the upper wheel 36 presses the abutment member 32 against the outer circumferential surfaces of the two lower wheels 24. As a result, when the movable body 34 is in the second position, the contact area between the abutment member 32 and the outer circumferential surfaces of the rolling elements 22 is larger than when the movable body 34 is in the first position, and as a result, the abutment force of the abutment member 32 against the outer circumferential surfaces of the rolling elements 22 is greater.

[0054] As described above, in the partition mechanism 10, the movable body 34 functions as a brake that regulates the rolling of the rolling body 22 by increasing the contact force of the contact member 32 against the outer circumferential surface of the rolling body 22 as it moves from the first position to the second position.

[0055] (Operating unit and transmission mechanism) The operating unit 52 is a movable part of the partition mechanism 10 that is operated by a user when moving the movable body 34. The user is a user of the partition mechanism 10, and more specifically, a person who lives or works in a building in which the partition mechanism 10 is installed.

[0056] The operating unit 52 is provided at least at one end or the other end of the partition mechanism 10 in the tilt direction, and in this embodiment, it is provided at both the one end and the other end as shown in Fig. 1. Note that the configuration of the operating unit 52 provided at one end and the configuration of the operating unit 52 provided at the other end are substantially the same, so only the configuration of the operating unit 52 provided at one end will be described below.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 10, the operating unit 52 has a pin 54 provided on the frame 14 of the partition main body 12. This pin 54 is a part that is manually operated by the user, and as is clear from FIG. 5, it is provided on the frame 14 in a state where it protrudes from the inside of the frame 14 to the outside of the frame 14. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the side wall of the frame 14 (specifically, the cylindrical portion 14a) is provided with a first hole 14c extending in the vertical direction and a second hole 14d that is perpendicular to the lower end of the first hole 14c. Here, it can be said that the vertical direction is the direction along the movement direction of the movable body 34, the first hole 14c is a hole that is along the movement direction of the movable body 34, and the second hole 14d is a hole that intersects with the movement direction of the movable body 34. 10, the frame 14 is shown with part of the side wall removed from each of the cylindrical portion 14a and the shaft portion 14b, so that the inside of the frame 14 is partially visible.

[0058] The pin portion 54 is disposed in a state in which it passes through the first hole 14c or the second hole 14d, and its tip portion is disposed outside the frame portion 14. The pin portion 54 is capable of engaging with each of the first hole 14c and the second hole 14d. Here, the pin portion 54 engaging with the first hole 14c / second hole 14d means that the pin portion 54 abuts against and engages with the edge surfaces of the first hole 14c / second hole 14d, particularly the edge surfaces located at the upper ends of each hole.

[0059] When the pin portion 54 is operated by the user and lowered along the first hole 14c, the moving body 34 (i.e., the upper wheel 36) in the first position moves toward the second position, as shown in FIG.

[0060] The transmission mechanism 40 transmits the movement of the operating unit 52 to the moving body 34, more specifically, it transmits the movement of the operating unit 52 to the moving body 34 provided at each of one end and the other end of the partition mechanism 10 in the tilt direction. Note that, hereinafter, the moving body 34 provided at one end of the partition mechanism 10 will be referred to as the moving body 34 on the one end side, and the moving body 34 provided at the other end of the partition mechanism 10 will be referred to as the moving body 34 on the other end side.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 2, the transmission mechanism 40 includes a first operating body 42 that operates to move the moving body 34 on one end side, a second operating body 44 that operates to move the moving body 34 on the other end side, and a connecting portion 50 that connects the first operating body 42 and the second operating body 44.

[0062] The first operating body 42 is provided at one end of the partition mechanism 10 in the tilt direction, and in this embodiment, is configured by a linear member such as a wire or string. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10 , this linear member is hung on a rotation shaft 38 of the moving body 34 on one end side and folded back. Also, as shown in FIG. 2 , one end of the linear member is connected to a pin portion 54 of the operation unit 52, and the other end of the linear member is fixed to a winding unit 46. The winding unit 46 is a reel, and is biased by a spring (not shown) in a direction in which the linear member is wound up. As a result, the moving body 34 is constantly biased downward via the first operating body 42.

[0063] On the other hand, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 10 , the connection point of the first operating body 42 with the operating unit 52 is closer to the other end of the partition mechanism 10 in the tilt direction than the movable body 34 on one end side (strictly speaking, the movable body 34 when in the first position), that is, it is located on the inside in the tilt direction. Therefore, when the operating unit 52 is operated, as can be seen from FIG. 10 , the linear member that is the first operating body 42 operates to pull the movable body 34 downward while pulling it inward in the tilt direction. As a result, the upper wheel 36 that constitutes the movable body 34 reaches the second position described above, as shown in FIG. 11 . On the other hand, when the operation of the operating unit 52 is released, the linear member is wound up by the winding unit 46, and the upper wheel 36 returns to the first position described above.

[0064] The second operating body 44 has substantially the same configuration as the first operating body 42, except that it is provided at the other end of the partition mechanism 10 in the tilt direction. That is, when the operating unit 52 is operated, the second operating body 44 performs an operation similar to that of the first operating body 42 described above in order to move the moving body 34 on the other end side.

[0065] The connecting part 50 is made of, for example, a rod-shaped member, and is arranged inside the cross beam 48 connecting the two frame parts 14, specifically in the inner space of the C-shaped steel that forms the cross beam 48, as shown in FIG. 2. A linear member that forms the first operating body 42 is connected to one end of the connecting part 50, and a linear member that forms the second operating body 44 is connected to the other end of the connecting part 50. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the connection point of the first operating body 42 with the connecting part 50 is located closer to the other end of the partition mechanism 10 than the movable body 34 on the one end side in the tilt direction. The connection point of the second operating body 44 with the connecting part 50 is located closer to one end of the partition mechanism 10 than the movable body 34 on the other end side in the tilt direction.

[0066] With the above configuration, when the operating unit 52 provided at one end or the other end of the partition mechanism 10 is operated, the movement of the operating unit 52 is directly transmitted to one of the first operating body 42 and the second operating body 44, and is also transmitted to the other operating body via the connecting unit 50. As a result, as shown in Fig. 11, both the moving body 34 on the one end side and the moving body 34 on the other end side simultaneously move from the first position toward the second position.

[0067] (Lock section) The locking unit 62 locks the movement of the operating unit 52 when the movable body 34 is in the second position. In this embodiment, since the operating unit 52 is provided at each of one end and the other end of the partition mechanism 10 in the tilt direction, the locking unit 62 is also provided at each of the one end and the other end. Since the configuration of the locking unit 62 provided at one end and the configuration of the locking unit 62 provided at the other end are substantially the same, only the configuration of the locking unit 62 provided at one end will be described below.

[0068] The locking portion 62 is formed by a second hole 14d provided in the cylindrical portion 14a of the frame portion 14 of the partition main body 12. In other words, in order to move the movable body 34 from the first position to the second position, the user lowers the pin portion 54, which is the operating portion 52, along the first hole 14c. After the pin portion 54 reaches the lower end of the first hole 14c, the pin portion 54 slides laterally into the second hole 14d. This engages the pin portion 54 with the second hole 14d, restricting its upward movement. In this manner, the locking portion 62 can lock the movement of the operating portion 52 in the vertical direction (in other words, the movement direction of the movable body 34).

[0069] Furthermore, when the user slides the pin portion 54 engaged with the second hole 14d toward the first hole 14c and places it within the first hole 14c, the pin portion 54 can move upward again, i.e., the lock on the operating portion 52 is released.

[0070] <<Effectiveness of this embodiment>> According to the partition mechanism 10 described above, by operating the operating unit 52, it is possible to easily switch between a state in which the rolling elements 22 are able to roll on the rails 20 and a state in which the rolling of the rolling elements 22 is restricted. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the state in which the rolling of the rolling elements 22 is restricted can be well maintained, so that the partition body 12 is held in the position at that time. Furthermore, in this embodiment, by using the partition mechanism 10 having the configuration described above, it is possible to maintain a state in which the rolling of the rolling elements 22 is restricted with a simple structure. Furthermore, in this embodiment, by locking the movement of the operating part 52 with the lock part 62, it is possible to stabilize the state in which the rolling of the rolling elements 22 is restricted. Furthermore, when the partition main body 12 moves in the main body movement direction, each part of the partition main body 12 (specifically, the frame part 14 and the partition plate 18) expands and contracts or moves up and down in conjunction with the movement of the main body 12. This allows the height of the partition main body 12 placed directly below the sloped ceiling K to be changed so as to follow changes in the ceiling height.

[0071] <<Other embodiments>> While one embodiment of the partition mechanism of the present invention has been described above, the above embodiment is merely an example for facilitating understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that the present invention also includes equivalents. Furthermore, the materials and shapes of the components used to implement the present invention are not limited to those described in the above embodiment, and may be freely set depending on the intended use of the present invention and the state of the art at the time of implementing the present invention.

[0072] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an operating unit 52 is provided at each of both end portions of the partition mechanism 10 in the tilt direction, but this is not limited thereto, and an operating unit 52 may be provided at only one end portion. In this case, the movement of the operating unit 52 provided at one end portion is transmitted by the transmission mechanism 40 to the moving body 34 provided at the end portion on the operating unit 52 side, and is also transmitted to the moving body 34 provided at the other end portion via the connecting portion 50. With this configuration, the number of operating units 52 can be reduced, and as a result, the configuration of the partition mechanism 10 can be made simpler.

[0073] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the number of partition bodies 12 placed under the sloped ceiling K is one. However, this is not limited to this, and multiple partition bodies 12 may be installed under the sloped ceiling K, as shown in FIG. 12. In this case, the rails 20, rolling elements 22, contact members 32, movable bodies 34, transmission mechanisms 40, operating units 52, and locking units 62 are provided for each partition body 12. With a partition mechanism 10X configured in this manner, multiple partition bodies 12 can be used like sliding doors directly under the sloped ceiling K, as shown in FIG. 12. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 10,10X Partition mechanism 12 Partition body 14 Frame 14a Cylindrical part 14b Shaft 14c 1st hole 14d 2nd hole 14e slit 14f Stopper 16 Storage section 18 Divider 20 Rail 22 rolling elements 24 Lower Wheel 26 Support frame 28 Wheels for skis 30 Plate support 32 Contact member 34 Mobile 36 Upper Wheel 38 Rotation axis 40 Transmission Mechanism 42 1st moving body 44 Second moving body 46 Winding section 48 Horizontal Bar 50 Connecting part 52 Operation section 54 Pin section 56 Rail cover 58 Cover side 60 Caster 62 Rock Club F floor K Sloped ceiling (inclined ceiling) S Gap

Claims

1. A partition body that can be moved under a sloped ceiling, a rail extending along the inclination direction of the ceiling; a rolling body that rolls on the rail when the partition body moves; a contact member that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element; a movable body that is movable between a first position and a second position, and that increases a contact force of the contact member with an outer circumferential surface of the rolling body by moving from the first position to the second position; and an operating unit that is operated when moving the movable body.

2. the contact member is formed of a rubber band and deforms in response to the movement of the moving body; The partition mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein a contact area between the abutting member and the outer peripheral surface when the movable body is in the second position is larger than the contact area when the movable body is in the first position.

3. the rolling element includes a lower wheel disposed between the lower surface of the abutment member and the rail; The partition mechanism described in claim 2, wherein the movable body is an upper wheel placed on the upper surface of the abutment member, and by moving from the first position to the second position, the portion of the abutment member on which the upper wheel is placed is curved along the outer peripheral surface of the upper wheel.

4. the rolling elements include two lower wheels spaced apart in the tilt direction; 4. A partition mechanism as described in claim 3, wherein when the upper wheel is in the second position, the portion of the upper wheel that is in contact with the abutment member is positioned between the two lower wheels in the tilting direction.

5. 3. The partition mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the rubber band constituting the contact member extends along the inclined direction and is provided over the entire range in which the rolling elements can roll.

6. a transmission mechanism that transmits the movement of the operation unit to the moving body; The partition mechanism according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking portion that locks the operation portion against movement when the movable body is in the second position.

7. The partition body is provided with a first hole along the moving direction of the movable body and a second hole intersecting the moving direction, the operating portion has a pin portion engageable with each of the first hole and the second hole, The partition mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the locking portion is constituted by the second hole, and the pin portion engages with the second hole to lock the movement of the operating portion in the movement direction.

8. the rolling body and the moving body are provided at one end and the other end of the partition mechanism in the inclination direction, respectively; the operation unit is provided on at least one of the one end and the other end, The partition mechanism according to claim 6 , wherein the transmission mechanism transmits the movement of the operating portion to the moving body on the one end side and the moving body on the other end side.

9. The transmission mechanism includes: a first operating body that is provided at the one end, connected to the operation unit, and operates to move the moving body at the one end; a second operating body provided at the other end and operating to move the moving body at the other end; The partition mechanism according to claim 8 , further comprising: a connecting portion that connects the first operating body and the second operating body.

10. a connection point of the first operating body with the operation unit is located closer to the other end portion than the moving body on the one end side in the tilt direction; The partition mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein a connection point of the second operating body with the connecting portion is located closer to the one end in the tilt direction than the moving body on the other end side.

11. The partition mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the partition body extends upward when moved toward the upper end of the ceiling, and contracts downward when moved toward the lower end of the ceiling.

12. The partition body is A frame portion that forms both ends of the partition body in the inclination direction and is expandable and contractible up and down; a storage section disposed between the frame sections in the partition body and having an open upper end; a partition plate arranged in the inclined direction and accommodated in the accommodation portion in a state in which the partition plate can be inserted and removed through an upper end of the accommodation portion; When the partition body moves toward the upper end of the ceiling, each of the frame portions extends upward, and the portion of the partition plate that protrudes from the upper end of the storage section becomes longer, A partition mechanism as described in claim 11, wherein when the partition body moves toward the lower end of the ceiling, each of the frame portions contracts downward and the portion of the partition plate protruding from the upper end of the storage portion becomes shorter.

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