Work table

Abstract

To reduce time and effort when changing the longitudinal bar disposed above the long side of the top plate to the use state and the accommodation state.SOLUTION: The portable type work table 1 comprises a top plate 2 having a pair of long sides 2a and a pair of short sides, a pair of legs 3, 4 disposed on the short side of the top 2, a pair of longitudinal bars 6 and a pair of short bars disposed above the peripheral portion of the top 2 and surrounding a work space on the top 2, and a strut 8 erected near the four corners of the top 2 and configured to support the longitudinal bars 6 and to be bendable, and it is configured to be movable between a use state located above the peripheral edge of the top 2 and a storage state approaching the peripheral edge of the top 2 while the pair of longitudinal bars 6 and the pair of short bars surround the work space on the top 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Work platforms are used for work at construction sites, etc. Patent Document 1 discloses, as an example of a work platform, a portable work platform in which a top plate is suspended between a pair of ladder-shaped main legs, and which includes handrail posts erected at the four corners of the top plate, handrail rails arranged in opposing positions along the length of the top plate from the handrail posts, and short-side handrail rails rotatably attached to the upper ends of the long-side handrail rails. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-255586 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the portable workbench of Patent Document 1, the handrail bars in the longitudinal direction are made into separate bodies that can be folded along the handrail posts. When this portable work platform is put into use, the handrail rail segments that are folded along the handrail posts must be horizontally aligned to connect the segments together, and then the short-side handrail rail must be hung across them, which is a time-consuming process. Furthermore, the work of horizontally connecting the sections of the handrail rail must be done within reach of the connecting points. In particular, after the main landing gear is deployed, the handrail rail cannot be reached from the ground, so the worker must stand on the platform to connect the sections of the handrail rail, which imposes restrictions on the work position.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to reduce the effort required when changing the longitudinal bar located above the long side of the tabletop between the use state and the storage state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The workbench of the present invention comprises a tabletop having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides, a pair of legs arranged on the short side of the tabletop, a pair of longitudinal bars arranged above the long sides of the tabletop and parallel to the long sides, and supports supporting the longitudinal bars, and is characterized in that the longitudinal bars are configured to be movable between a use state in which they are positioned above the long sides of the tabletop while remaining at a constant length, and a storage state in which they are close to the long sides of the tabletop. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the effort required to change the longitudinal bar arranged above the long side of the tabletop between the use state and the storage state. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a state in which the portable workbench according to the embodiment is in use. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the portable workbench according to the embodiment in use. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a left side view showing the portable workbench according to the embodiment in use. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which the portable workbench according to the embodiment is in use. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the stored state of the portable workbench according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the support structure of the support columns of the portable work platform according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the support structure of the support columns of the portable work platform according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the bending structure of the support columns of the portable work platform according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the bending structure of the support columns of the portable work platform according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the bending structure of the support columns of the portable work platform according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a front view showing the portable workbench 1 according to the embodiment in use, Fig. 2 is a right side view, Fig. 3 is a left side view, and Fig. 4 is a plan view. Fig. 5 is a front view showing the portable workbench 1 according to the embodiment in a stored state. Note that directions such as up / down and left / right in this application refer to directions based on the front view shown in Fig. 1. In the portable workbench 1, a top plate 2 is spanned between leg bodies 3 and 4. The top plate 2 is rectangular with a pair of long sides (so-called girder side sides) 2a and a pair of short sides (so-called gable side sides) 2b, and the legs 3 and 4 are arranged on the short sides 2b. The legs 3 and 4 are rotatably attached to the top plate 2 and can be folded and stored on the underside of the top plate 2 (see Figure 5). The lower parts of the legs 3 and 4 are extendable and retractable. Bendable stays 5a and 5b are interposed between the underside of the top plate 2 and the legs 3 and 4.

[0010] In the portable workbench 1 according to this embodiment, the legs 3 support the top plate 2 and also function as a ladder, allowing the worker to climb up and down to the top plate 2. On the other hand, the legs 4 support the top plate 2 but do not function as a ladder, and climbing up and down from the leg 4 side is prohibited. Due to this difference, the legs 3 are attached to the top plate 2 at a relatively gentle angle, whereas the legs 4 are attached to the top plate 2 at a relatively steep angle (close to a right angle). The tabletop 2 and legs 3, 4 are made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, ensuring the necessary strength while reducing the weight.

[0011] Next, a configuration in which a pair of long bars 6 and a pair of short bars 7 are arranged above the periphery of the tabletop 2 to surround the work space on the tabletop 2 will be described. Support columns 8 are erected near the four corners of the tabletop 2, standing perpendicular to the tabletop 2 and supporting the longitudinal bars 6. The support columns 8 are made of hollow tubes made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, and although details will be described later, they are made up of two separate column members 8a and 8b, upper and lower, and are configured to be bendable. The lower end of the support column 8 is rotatably supported by a support bracket 9 provided on the side of the long side 2a of the top plate 2, as will be described in detail later. Furthermore, a longitudinal bar 6 is installed between the upper ends of two support columns 8 arranged on the same side of a pair of long sides 2a of the tabletop 2. The upper ends of the support columns 8 are rotatably connected to the outer side surfaces of the longitudinal bar 6 via shafts 10. Note that "outside" here means outside the area surrounded by the pair of longitudinal bars 6 and the pair of short bars 7.

[0012] The longitudinal bar 6 is composed of a single hollow tube made of resin with a rectangular cross section, and is colored, for example, yellow or orange for easy visibility. The longitudinal bar 6 has a length equivalent to that of the long side 2a. Note that if the long side 2a is set to a length exceeding 1000 mm, a difference of only a few tens of millimeters is considered to be equivalent in length.

[0013] Like the long bars 6, the short bar 7 is composed of a single hollow resin tube with a rectangular cross section, and is colored, for example, yellow or orange, for easy visibility. On the ladder-shaped leg 3 side, the short bar 7 is installed between the right ends of the pair of long bars 6, and as shown by the imaginary lines in Figure 4, one end is pivoted, allowing the short bar 7 to rotate horizontally to open and close. The worker can open the short bar 7 on the leg 3 side to climb up and down relative to the tabletop 2. On the other hand, on the leg 4 side, the short bar 7 is installed and fixed between the left ends of the pair of long bars 6.

[0014] 6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining the support structure of the support pillars 8 (the configuration of part A shown in FIG. 1). Note that while FIG. 1 representatively shows part A of one support pillar 8, the support structures of the other support pillars 8 are similar. The lower end of the support column 8 is rotatably supported by a support bracket 9 provided on the side of the long side 2 a of the top plate 2 . The support fitting 9 has a pair of support surfaces 9b facing each other and a connecting surface 9a connecting these support surfaces 9b. The support fitting 9 is arranged so that the opening on the opposite side of the connecting surface 9a faces the support column 8 arranged on the same long side 2a. In this state, the pair of support surfaces 9b sandwich the lower end of the support column 8 (the lower end of the lower column member 8b), and the support column 8 is rotatably supported by a shaft 11 installed between the support surfaces 9b.

[0015] Here, a long hole 12 extending in the extension direction of the support 8 is formed at the lower end of the support 8, and the shaft 11 is inserted through the long hole 12. This allows the support 8 to move in its own extension direction relative to the shaft 11 within the range of the long hole 12.

[0016] The upper edge of the support surface 9b of the support bracket 9 is an arc-shaped guide edge 9c, with notches 13 and 14 formed in it. A pin 15 protrudes from the surface of the support column 8 facing the support surface 9b, above the long hole 12, and can be engaged with the notches 13 and 14. The pin 15 is disposed so as to penetrate both side surfaces of the support column 8 facing the support surface 9b. The notch 13 corresponds to the use state in which the support column 8 is upright, and the notch 14 corresponds to the storage state in which the support column 8 is laid down.

[0017] Inside the support 8, which is formed by a hollow tube, a coil spring 16 is stretched between the shaft 11 and the pin 15. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, when the support 8 is in the upright position, the tension of the coil spring 16 causes the pin 15 to engage with the notch 13, and the upper end of the elongated hole 12 abuts against the shaft 11. When the support 8 is pulled up from this position, the support 8 moves upward through the elongated hole 12 against the tension of the coil spring 16, and the pin 15 disengages from the notch 13. When the support 8 is then moved to lay it down, the pin 15 disengages from the notch 13 and moves along the guide edge 9c. As shown by the imaginary line in Figure 7, the pin 15 engages with the notch 14, allowing the support 8 to be placed in a retracted position. When the support 8 is placed in the retracted position, the support 8 is bent; the bending structure of the support 8 will be described later. Furthermore, an opening 9d is formed in the connecting surface 9a of the support fitting 9 so that the lower end of the support post 8 does not interfere.

[0018] 8 to 10 are diagrams for explaining the bending structure of the support 8 (the configuration of portion B shown in FIG. 1). Note that while FIG. 1 representatively shows portion B of one support 8, the bending structures of the other support 8 are similar. The support 8 is composed of two divided pillar members 8a and 8b, one above the other, and these pillar members 8a and 8b are connected via a connecting metal fitting 17 to be bendable. The connecting fitting 17 has a pair of support surfaces 17b facing each other and a rotation restricting surface 17a connecting these support surfaces 9b. The rotation restricting surface 17a is arranged so as to face the direction of the support posts 8 arranged on the same long side 2a. In this state, the pair of support surfaces 17b sandwich the pillar members 8a, 8b, and the pillar members 8a, 8b are each rotatably supported (shafts 18a, 18b).

[0019] Also, a square cylindrical slider 19 is provided so that the support post 8 can be inserted therethrough. A stopper 20 protrudes from the lower pillar member 8b, and as shown in Figure 9, when the lower end of the slider 19 abuts against the stopper 20, the connecting fitting 17 is positioned inside the slider 19. In this state, the pillar members 8a, 8b are restricted from rotating around the shafts 18a, 18b, thereby keeping the pillar 8 straight. A stopper 21 protrudes from the upper pillar member 8a. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, when the slider 19 is raised until its upper end abuts against the stopper 21, the slider 19 deviates from the position of the connecting fitting 17. In this state, the pillar members 8a and 8b can rotate about the shafts 18a and 18b. However, the rotation of the pillar members 8a and 8b toward the rotation restriction surface 17a is not permitted by the rotation restriction surface 17a. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, the pillar 8 is bent in a dogleg shape, with the connecting fitting 17 moving toward the pillar 8 located on the same long side 2a. In other words, the two pillars 8 located on the same side of the pair of long sides 2a are bent in a dogleg shape so as to approach each other.

[0020] In the portable workbench 1 constructed as described above, the legs 3 and 4 are folded and stored below the bottom surface of the top board 2 in the stored state, as shown in FIG. In the stored state, the support columns 8 are bent so that the lower column members 8b are positioned along the side of the long side 2a of the tabletop 2, and the upper column members 8b are positioned along the side of the long bar 6. As a result, the long bar 6 and the short bar 7 are placed on the top surface of the tabletop 2 along the long side 2a and the short side 2b, respectively.

[0021] When changing from the stored state shown in FIG. 5 to the use state, the legs 3 and 4 are rotated to open, and the stays 5a and 5b keep the legs 3 and 4 open. Furthermore, when the support column 8 is moved upright to straighten the column members 8a and 8b, the pin 15 comes out of the notch 14 and moves along the guide edge 9c, and as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the pin 15 engages with the notch 13, allowing the support column 8 to be placed in a vertically standing usable state. Once the column members 8a and 8b are straightened, the slider 19 descends under its own weight, and the lower end of the slider 19 abuts against the stopper 20, thereby maintaining the support column 8 in a straight state. When the portable workbench 1 is in use, a pair of long bars 6 are arranged parallel to the long side 2a above the periphery of the top plate 2, and a pair of short bars 7 are arranged parallel to the short side 2b, surrounding the work space on the top plate 2. As a result, when a worker standing on the top plate 2 approaches one of the bars 6, 7 with their upper body, they can sense that they are standing near the periphery of the top plate 2 without having to check their feet.

[0022] In the portable workbench 1 described above, the longitudinal bar 6 is configured to be movable, while remaining at a fixed length, between a use state in which it is positioned above the long side 2a of the tabletop 2, and a retracted state in which it approaches the long side 2a of the tabletop 2. This eliminates the need for the work of connecting the separate bodies of the handrail rail, which was necessary in the portable workbench of Patent Document 1, and reduces the effort required to change the longitudinal bar 6 between the use state and the retracted state. Furthermore, the pair of long bars 6 and the pair of short bars 7 are configured to be movable between a use state where they are positioned above the periphery of the tabletop 2 and a storage state where they are close to the periphery of the tabletop 2, while still enclosing the work space on the tabletop 2. This significantly reduces the amount of work required to enclose the work space on the tabletop 2.

[0023] Furthermore, when the portable workbench 1 is put into use, the support columns 8 are raised, but this operation can be performed within reach of the support columns 8. For example, even after the legs 3, 4 are in the spread position, the support columns 8 are still reachable from the ground, so the worker can raise the support columns 8 whether they are on the ground or standing on the top board 2.

[0024] In the use state, it is preferable that the support column 8 is held firmly so that the pin 15 does not easily come out of the notch 13, even when, for example, a worker standing on the tabletop 2 touches the bars 6, 7 or the support column 8. On the other hand, when changing from the stored state to the use state, it is preferable that the support column 8 can be moved upright with a light force. Therefore, the notch 13 is made relatively deep, while the notch 14 is made relatively shallow and shaped to smoothly connect to the guide edge 9c. For example, if the shape of the notch 14 is set so that the pin 15 comes out of the notch 14 when the longitudinal bar 6 in the stored state is pulled up, and the support column 8 can be moved upright, then the support column 8 can be moved upright in addition to being directly grasped and moved.

[0025] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the embodiments are merely illustrative of specific examples of how the present invention can be implemented, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by these embodiments. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features. In the above embodiment, the longitudinal bars 6 and the transverse bars 7 are made of hollow tubes, but they are not limited to this and may be made of, for example, rectangular pillars or metal rods. In the above embodiment, the lower ends of the support columns 8 are rotatably supported on the side surfaces of the long sides 2a of the tabletop 2, and the upper ends are rotatably connected to the outer side surfaces of the long bars 6. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, in the stored state, the long bars 6 and the short bars 7 can be placed on the upper surface of the tabletop 2, and the height in the stored state can be kept low. However, this configuration is not limited to this. For example, the lower ends of the support columns 8 may be rotatably supported by support fittings provided on the upper surface of the long sides 2a of the tabletop 2, and the upper ends may be rotatably connected to the underside of the long bars 6.

[0026] In the above embodiment, only one of the pair of legs 3, 4 may function as a ladder, but both may function as ladders. In this case, both short bars 7 may be openable and closable, so that the worker can ascend and descend to the tabletop 2 from either of the legs 3, 4. In the above embodiment, one end of the short bar 7 is pivotally supported to enable opening and closing, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the short bar 7 may be divided, and the base end of each divided body may be pivotally supported, allowing the divided body to rotate horizontally or vertically to open and close. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1: Portable workbench, 2: Top plate, 2a: Long side, 2b: Short side, 3, 4: Leg body, 6: Long bar, 7: Short bar, 8: Support, 9: Support bracket, 13, 14: Notch, 15: Pin, 17: Connecting bracket, 19: Slider

Claims

[Claim 1] a top plate having a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides; A pair of legs arranged on the short side of the tabletop; A pair of longitudinal bars arranged above and parallel to the long sides of the top plate; a support for supporting the longitudinal bar; A workbench characterized in that the longitudinal bar is configured to be movable between a use state in which it is positioned above the long side of the tabletop while remaining at a fixed length, and a storage state in which it approaches the long side of the tabletop.

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