Working table

Abstract

To provide a working table whose height is easily adjustable.SOLUTION: A working table includes: a working surface part; a support leg part 3 tiltable to the working surface part; and a height adjuster capable of converting a height position of the working surface part relative to a floor surface contact part of the support leg part 3. The height adjuster is provided so that a relative position between a rack gear 35 and an engaging part 41 engaging the rack gear 35 is convertible, and this conversion of the relative position tilts the support leg part 3 to convert the height position of the working surface part. Operation of a manual operation part 32 makes a position conversion state that the rack gear 35 engages the engaging part 41 to fix a relative position and a non-fixed state that the engagement is disengaged to convert the relative position. With such a configuration, operating the manual operation part 32 makes it possible to adjust a height position of the working surface part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a workbench with a height-adjustable work surface portion on which an object such as a pet rests. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a work platform for a pet is used when bathing, grooming, medical care, nursing, etc. Such a work platform is preferably one whose height can be adjusted according to the size of the pet, the physique of the worker, the working environment, etc.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a configuration in which the height can be adjusted by extending or retracting the legs. The legs include upper and lower tubular sections and a fixture that secures them, and are configured to be extendable and retractable by adjusting the fitting length of the upper and lower tubular sections and fixing them with the fixture. The document also discloses two types of fixtures: one that can fix the upper and lower tubular sections with the adjusted fitting length by rotating the fixture around the axis of the leg, and one that can fix the upper and lower tubular sections with the adjusted fitting length by selectively overlapping and inserting the fixture into multiple holes formed in the upper and lower tubular sections.

[0004] On the other hand, Patent Document 2 proposes a configuration in which height is adjusted using a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder function, and a configuration in which height is adjusted using motor power. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-171454 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2007-512830 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, there is still room for improvement in the height adjustment configuration of the above-mentioned conventional workbench. Specifically, in the conventional configuration of Patent Document 1, height adjustment requires adjusting the fitting length of the upper and lower cylindrical parts and then rotating the fixture in this adjusted state. Alternatively, it requires selectively overlapping the holes of the upper and lower cylindrical parts and then inserting the fixture in this state. This creates a problem in that the height adjustment process is complicated.

[0007] On the other hand, in the conventional configuration of Patent Document 2, the configuration having a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder function requires the cylinder and its drive device, which causes the problem that the entire device becomes large and heavy. Also, the configuration using motor power requires a motor, a mechanism for transmitting the drive of the motor, and a power source for the motor, which places a limit on how compact and lightweight the device can be.

[0008] The present invention proposes a workbench that can be easily adjusted in height and that can be made compact and lightweight. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention is a workbench comprising: a floor contact portion that contacts the floor surface; a work surface portion that is provided above the floor contact portion and has its upper surface as a work surface; and a height adjustment means that can change the height position of the work surface portion relative to the floor contact portion, wherein the height adjustment means comprises a rack gear and a fitting portion that fits into the rack gear, and the rack gear and the fitting portion are provided so that their relative positions can be changed along the longitudinal direction of the rack gear, and the height position of the work surface of the work surface portion can be changed by changing the relative position between the rack gear and the fitting portion. Here, the rack gear refers to a gear with the same or similar shape as the linearly continuous teeth component of a rack-and-pinion type gear. The mating portion can be a gear such as a rack or pinion, or a segment gear having a structure that can be fitted into the rack gear.

[0010] In the workbench of the present invention described above, the height adjustment means is proposed to be configured such that the rack gear is arranged on the work surface portion so as not to be able to move in the longitudinal direction of the rack gear, and the engaging portion is arranged so as to be able to move in the longitudinal direction of the rack gear relative to the work surface portion.

[0011] In this configuration, the relative positions of the fitting portion and the rack gear are changed by the fitting portion moving in the longitudinal direction of the rack gear.

[0012] In the workbench of the present invention described above, it is proposed that the height adjustment means is equipped with a fitting position conversion means that converts the height adjustment means into a fixed position state in which the rack gear and the fitting portion are fitted together to fix the relative position of the rack gear and the fitting portion, and into an unfixed state in which the relative position of the rack gear and the fitting portion is convertible by releasing the fitting between the rack gear and the fitting portion.

[0013] In such a configuration, the height of the work surface of the work surface portion can be changed by setting it to the non-fixed state, and the height position of the work surface of the work surface portion can be maintained by setting it to the position-fixed state.

[0014] In the workbench of the present invention described above, it is proposed that the fitting position conversion means comprises a manual operation unit that can be manually operated, and a fixed state conversion mechanism that converts the rack gear and the fitting portion between the position fixed state and the non-fixed state when the manual operation unit is operated.

[0015] In the workbench of the present invention described above, it is proposed that the fitting portion of the height adjustment means has teeth that fit with a plurality of teeth that make up the rack gear.

[0016] This configuration ensures a wide contact area between the teeth of the fitting portion and the teeth of the rack gear, which means that even if the height of the teeth is reduced, a heavy object can be placed on the working surface of the working surface, allowing the height adjustment means to be made more compact.

[0017] In the workbench of the present invention described above, the fitting position conversion means is provided with a biasing means for biasing one of the rack gear and the fitting portion in a direction converting it from the non-fixed state to the fixed position state, and the manual operation means is connected to one of the rack gear and the fitting portion biased by the biasing means via the fixed state conversion mechanism, and the manual operation part is operated against the biasing force of the biasing means to convert it from the fixed position state to the non-fixed state. Here, the biasing means may be a coil spring, a leaf spring, a weight, or the like.

[0018] In this configuration, by operating the manual operation unit and then releasing the operation, the working surface of the working surface unit is converted from an unfixed state to a position-fixed state in accordance with the biasing force of the biasing means. According to this configuration, the height of the working surface of the working surface unit can be changed by operating the manual operation unit, and the working surface of the working surface unit can be maintained at the desired height by releasing the operation of the manual operation unit.

[0019] In the workbench of the present invention described above, it is proposed that the height adjustment means has one end that can be tilted up and down and the other end that has the floor contact portion, and is equipped with a support leg portion that can be tilted relative to the work surface portion to change the height position of the work surface of the work surface portion.

[0020] In the workbench of the present invention described above, a configuration is proposed in which a plurality of the height adjustment means are provided.

[0021] Here, each height adjustment means may be capable of adjusting the height of each individually, or may be capable of adjusting all of them to the same height. If the height of each can be adjusted individually, it is possible not only to adjust the height position of the working surface of the working surface part in a state aligned with the horizontal direction, but also to adjust the working surface of the working surface part in an inclined state.

[0022] In the workbench of the present invention described above, it is proposed that the height adjustment means is equipped with a link mechanism that tilts the support leg portion relative to the work surface portion by changing the relative position between the rack gear and the mating portion.

[0023] In the workbench of the present invention described above, a configuration is proposed in which the workbench is provided with an adjustment mechanism case portion in which the rack gear, the fitting portion, and the fixed state conversion mechanism are housed.

[0024] In the workbench of the present invention described above, a configuration is proposed in which the adjustment mechanism case is provided on the underside of the work surface.

[0025] In the workbench of the present invention described above, it is proposed that the height adjustment means has one end connected to the adjustment mechanism case portion so that it can be tilted in the vertical direction, and the other end is provided with the floor surface abutment portion, and is equipped with a support leg portion that is tilted relative to the work surface portion to change the height position of the work surface of the work surface portion.

[0026] In the workbench of the present invention described above, it is proposed that the work surface portion has a top plate portion with a plurality of through holes extending in the vertical direction and the upper surface of which serves as a work surface.

[0027] In the work table of the present invention described above, it is proposed that the work surface portion is capable of supporting an animal on the work surface, and that the work surface portion is used for at least one of bathing, washing, grooming, care of, medical treatment, and nursing of the animal mounted on the work surface portion.

[0028] In the workbench of the present invention described above, the toothed portion of the mating portion has different asymmetric tooth surfaces on both sides in the direction of changing the relative position of the rack gear and the mating portion, and the toothed surface on one side, on which the force pushing the work surface portion downward acts through the toothed portion of the rack gear, has a steep surface portion that is steeper than the toothed surface on the other side; and the toothed portion of the rack gear has different asymmetric tooth surfaces on both sides in the direction of changing the relative position of the rack gear and the mating portion, and the toothed surface on one side of the toothed portion of the rack gear, which faces the toothed surface on one side with the steep surface portion of the mating portion, has a steep surface portion that is steeper than the toothed surface on the other side.

[0029] Here, "steep" refers to a steep slope relative to the direction of changing the relative positions of the fitting portion and the rack gear. Preferably, the steep surfaces of the teeth of the fitting portion and the steep surfaces of the teeth of the rack gear are formed parallel or substantially parallel to each other while fixed in position. Furthermore, preferably, the steep surfaces of the teeth of the fitting portion and the steep surfaces of the teeth of the rack gear are formed perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction of changing the relative positions of the fitting portion and the rack gear.

[0030] In the workbench of the present invention described above, the height adjustment means is provided with a fitting position conversion means that converts the height between a fixed position state in which the rack gear and the fitting portion are fitted together to fix the relative position of the rack gear and the fitting portion, and an unfixed state in which the fitting between the rack gear and the fitting portion is released to change the relative position of the rack gear and the fitting portion, and is also provided with a support leg portion having one end that is tiltable in the vertical direction and the other end that is provided with the floor surface abutment portion, and that changes the height position of the work surface of the work surface by tilting it relative to the work surface, and is provided with a link mechanism that tilts the support leg relative to the work surface by moving the fitting portion relative to the rack gear, and the fitting portion is arranged so that it can be freely moved downward in the unfixed state converted by the fitting position conversion means in a direction that changes the position of the floor surface abutment portion of the support leg downward relative to the work surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0031] In the workbench of the present invention, the height adjustment means can adjust the height of the working surface of the working surface by changing the relative position of the rack gear and the fitting portion, so the working surface can be easily adjusted to the desired height. Furthermore, by configuring the working surface height to be adjustable manually, it is possible to achieve a compact and lightweight workbench. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of a workbench 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a front view of the workbench 1 with the work surface 2 at its upper limit height position. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a side view of the workbench 1 when it is at the upper limit height position. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the workbench 1 seen from above when it is at the upper limit height position. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the workbench 1 as seen from below when it is at the upper limit height position. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view of the workbench 1 with the work surface 2 at the lowest height position. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a side view of the workbench 1 in the state where it is set to the lowest height position. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the workbench 1 seen from above in the state where it is at the lowest height position. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the workbench 1 as seen from below in the state where it is at the lowest height position. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the development surface section 10 is superimposed on the work surface section 2. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting structure of the rack gear 35. [Figure 13]1A and 1B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing a state in which a fitting portion 41 is attached to a case cover portion 23. FIG. [Figure 14] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the rack gear 35 and the fitting portion 41 in a position fixed state. FIG. [Figure 15] 1A is an explanatory diagram showing a fixed position state in which the rack gear 35 and the fitting portion 41 are fitted together, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing an unfixed state in which the fitting is released. [Figure 16] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the support leg 3. FIG. [Figure 17] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a working surface portion 52 of another example. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] An embodiment of the workbench according to the present invention will now be described. The workbench 1 of this embodiment is used to place a pet animal on and bathe, shower, groom, trim (care for), medical care, and care for the animal. When used for bathing or showering, it is placed on the floor of a bathtub (sink). As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the workbench 1 includes a work surface 2 on which the animal is placed, two support legs 3, 3 that support the work surface 2, and a height adjustment device 4, 4 that can change the height position of the work surface 2. The two support legs 3, 3 are arranged side by side and spaced apart in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the direction in which the support legs 3, 3 are aligned (the horizontal direction in the plane of Figures 1 and 2) is defined as the left-right direction, and the direction perpendicular to the left-right direction (the vertical direction in the plane of Figure 1) is defined as the front-to-back direction. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the left-to-right direction and perpendicular to the front-to-back direction (the vertical direction in the plane of Figure 2) is defined as the up-to-down direction. The following description will be made in accordance with the left-right direction, front-rear direction, and up-down direction defined in this manner.

[0034] The work surface 2 is a generally rectangular plate with a predetermined thickness and a longitudinal direction extending in the left-right direction. It has multiple slit-shaped through-holes 11 that penetrate the plate in the thickness direction (vertical direction). The through-holes 11 are narrow in one direction (left-right direction), allowing the work surface 2 to have a large upper surface (working surface) area for placing animals, providing good drainage and allowing animals to be placed stably. The work surface 2 is molded from a resin material into a hollow, one-piece structure. This allows the work surface 2 to be highly rigid and lightweight, while also reducing seams, making cleaning easier and more hygienic. In this embodiment, the work surface 2 corresponds to the top plate of the work surface of the present invention.

[0035] Furthermore, the expanding surface section 10 is tiltably connected to the work surface section 2 via two hinges 16, 16 provided at its rear edge. The expanding surface section 10 can be held in a state where it is stacked on the work surface section 2 (Fig. 10) and can be tilted backward from this state (Figs. 1 to 9). The expanding surface section 10 is a substantially rectangular plate with a predetermined thickness, slightly shorter in the left-right direction than the work surface section 2 and shorter in the front-to-back direction than the work surface section 2. Like the work surface section 2, the expanding surface section 10 has a plurality of slit-shaped through-holes 17 that penetrate through the plate thickness. Like the work surface section 2, the expanding surface section 10 is molded as a hollow, one-piece unit from a resin material. When placed inside a bathtub (sink), the expanding surface section 10 can be tilted backward to close the gap between the work surface section 2 and the inner surface of the bathtub, preventing animals from getting stuck or falling into the gap.

[0036] As shown in Figures 2 to 9, the height adjustment devices 4, 4 are provided on both left and right sides of the underside of the work surface 2, and the support legs 3, 3 are provided via the height adjustment devices 4, 4. On both left and right sides of the work surface 2, there are areas where the through-holes 11 are not formed, and height adjustment devices 4, 4 are attached to the underside of each of these areas. The left and right support legs 3, 3 and height adjustment devices 4, 4 have the same configuration and are arranged symmetrically. For this reason, only one of the left and right sides (for example, the right side when viewed from the front in Figure 2) will be described below, and a description of the other side (the left side) will be omitted.

[0037] The height adjustment device 4, located on the right side in a front view, includes an adjustment mechanism case 21 (see FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9) having a case base 22 (see FIGS. 11, 15, and 16) fixed to the underside of the work surface 2 and a case cover 23 (see FIGS. 13, 15, and 16) attached to the case base 22. A rotating shaft 29 is rotatably supported at the left end of the case base 22, and the support leg 3 is connected to the rotating shaft 29 so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 11, one end of the support leg 3 is connected to the case base 22 via the rotating shaft 29, and the other end is provided with a rod-shaped floor contact portion 25 extending along the front-rear direction. Buffer portions 26, 26 made of a buffer material such as rubber or elastomer are provided at both the front and rear ends of the floor contact portion 25. By tilting the support leg 3 about the rotation shaft 29 while the buffer sections 26, 26 of the floor contact section 25 are placed on the floor, the height position of the work surface 2 (of the work surface) can be changed as shown in Figures 2 to 9. In this embodiment, the support leg 3 is made of a resin material.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 12, 15, and 16, a fixed position change piece 31 is attached to the case base 22 via the rotating shaft 29 so as to be tiltable up and down. One end of the fixed position change piece 31 is connected to the rotating shaft 29, and the other end is provided with a manual operation piece 32 that is operated by an operator. The manual operation piece 32 protrudes to the right from the adjustment mechanism case 21 (see FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9). In this embodiment, the manual operation piece 32 is formed facing downward to the right. A rack gear 35 having a predetermined length in the left-right direction is fixedly attached to the underside of the fixed position change piece 31. A coil spring 34 is attached to the rack gear 35 and passes through the fixed position change piece 31, protruding upward. The coil spring 34 is arranged so that its upper end contacts the surface of the case base 22 that faces the upper surface of the fixed position change piece 31. The rack gear 35 has a plurality of teeth 36 (see FIG. 14) arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction), and will be described in detail later.

[0039] A fitting portion 41, which is connected to the support leg 3 by a link piece 49, is fitted into the rack gear 35. One end of this link piece 49 is rotatably connected to the fitting portion 41, and the other end is rotatably connected to the support leg 3. This links the change in the relative position of the fitting portion 41 and the rack gear 35 with the tilting of the support leg 3, and because the load of the work surface 2 acts on the fitting portion 41 via the support leg 3, the force that fits the fitting portion 41 and the rack gear 35 together can be increased, and they can be stably held in the fitted state.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, the fitting portion 41 is supported by the case cover portion 23 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. The case cover portion 23 includes a cover bottom portion 43 that supports the fitting portion 41. The cover bottom portion 43 is inclined leftward at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the horizontal direction when the case cover portion 23 is attached to the case base portion 22 (FIG. 14). The cover bottom portion 43 has two guide grooves 44, 44 extending in the left-right direction, spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. Guided portions 45, 45 provided on the fitting portion 41 are fitted into the guide grooves 44, 44 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction (FIG. 13). The cover bottom portion 43 also has an insertion opening 42 formed parallel to the guide grooves 44. A link piece 49 connected to the fitting portion 41 is inserted into the insertion opening 42. In this way, fitting portion 41 is supported by case cover portion 23 so as to be movable in the left-right direction within the length range of guide groove portions 44, 44, and the support leg portion 3 tilts up and down in conjunction with the left-right movement. That is, when fitting portion 41 moves leftward, support leg portion 3 tilts downward, and when fitting portion 41 moves rightward, support leg portion 3 tilts upward (FIG. 16).

[0041] As shown in FIG. 14 , the fitting portion 41 has multiple rows of teeth 47 in the left-right direction that can fit onto the teeth 36 of the rack gear 35. When the fitting portion 41 is supported by the case cover portion 23, the multiple teeth 47 are arranged along the angle θ of the cover bottom 43 of the case cover portion 23. When the case cover portion 23 supporting the fitting portion 41 is attached to the case base portion 22, the teeth 47 of the fitting portion 41 fit into the teeth 36 of the rack gear 35. In this fitted state, the rack gear 35 is positioned at an angle θ, and the coil spring 34 is elastically compressed (resilient contracted) between the fixed position conversion piece 31 and the opposing surface of the case base portion 22 (see FIG. 16 ). As a result, the rack gear 35 is kept biased downward (in the direction of fitting into the fitting portion 41) by the coil spring 34.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 15(A), when the fitting portion 41 and the rack gear 35 are fitted together, the fitting portion 41 cannot move left or right because the rack gear 35 prevents the fitting portion 41 from moving left or right (i.e., the relative position between the fitting portion 41 and the rack gear 35 cannot be changed), and the tilted position of the support leg 3 is fixed. This allows the height position of the work surface 2 (the work surface) to be fixed. This fitted state is the position fixed state according to the present invention. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15(B), when the manual operation portion 32 of the fixed position conversion piece 31 is pulled up, the rack gear 35 tilts upward and moves away from the fitting portion 41, and the engagement between the teeth 36 of the rack gear 35 and the teeth 47 of the fitting portion 41 is released. In this disengaged state, the engaging portion 41 is movable left and right (i.e., the relative position of the engaging portion 41 and the rack gear 35 can be changed), so that the tilt position of the support leg 3 can be changed by moving the engaging portion 41, and the work surface of the work surface 2 can be raised or lowered. This disengaged state is the non-fixed state according to the present invention.

[0043] In the unlocked state, if the manual operation unit 32 is released from the lifting operation, the rack gear 35 tilts downward due to the biasing force of the coil spring 34 and engages with the engaging portion 41. In this way, the manual operation unit 32 can be operated to switch between the fixed position state and the unlocked state. Therefore, the height of the work surface 2 (the work surface) can be changed in the unlocked state, and then switched back to the fixed position state, thereby fixing the work surface 2 (the work surface) at a desired height. Here, as described above, since the cover bottom 43 of the case cover 23 is inclined at an angle θ, in the unlocked state, lifting the work surface 2 causes the engaging portion 41 to slide down to the left along the cover bottom 43 due to its own weight (and the weight of the support legs). In this way, the support legs 3 can be smoothly tilted downward to raise the height of the work surface 2.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 14 , each tooth portion 47 of the fitting portion 41 has asymmetric tooth flanks 47a, 47b on both the left and right sides, with the right tooth flank 47a being formed at a steeper angle than the left tooth flank 47b. Specifically, the right tooth flank 47a of each tooth portion 47 is arranged so as to be approximately perpendicular to the cover bottom 43 (angle θ) when the fitting portion 41 is supported by the case cover portion 23. The left tooth flank 47b is arranged at a gentler angle than the right tooth flank 47a. The angles of these tooth flanks 47a, 47b indicate angles with respect to the moving direction (the angle θ) of the fitting portion 41. Note that, in order to stably maintain the positional fixing state, it is preferable that the right tooth flank 47a be formed at an angle orthogonal (perpendicular) to the angle θ or at an acute angle to the right of the perpendicular angle.

[0045] On the other hand, each tooth portion 36 of the rack gear 35 has asymmetric tooth flanks 36a, 36b on both the left and right sides, and the angle of the left tooth flank 36a with respect to the moving direction (angle θ) of the fitting portion 41 is steeper than that of the right tooth flank 36b. In the fixed position state (state fitted to the fitting portion 41), the left tooth flank 36a is provided at an angle substantially parallel to the right tooth flank 47a of the tooth portion 47 of the fitting portion 41, and the right tooth flank 36b is provided at an angle substantially parallel to the left tooth flank 47b of the fitting portion 41. Here, in the fixed position state (a state in which the tooth portion 36 is fitted into the fitting portion 41), the left tooth surface 36a of the tooth portion 36 faces the right tooth surface 47a of the tooth portion 47 of the fitting portion 41, and the right tooth surface 36b of the tooth portion 36 faces the left tooth surface 47b of the tooth portion 47 of the fitting portion 41. The angle between these tooth surfaces 36a, 36b indicates the angle with respect to the moving direction (the angle θ) of the fitting portion 41 in the fixed position state. Note that, in order to stably maintain the fixed position state, it is preferable that the left tooth surface 36a be formed at an angle orthogonal (perpendicular) to the angle θ or at an acute angle to the left of the orthogonal angle.

[0046] In the fixed position state, the load of the work surface 2 causes the support leg 3 to tilt upward, applying a force that moves the fitting portion 41 to the right, and the right tooth surface 47a of the tooth portion 47 of the fitting portion 41 and the left tooth surface 36a of the tooth portion 36 of the rack gear 35 come into pressure contact. In this way, the force that presses the work surface 2 downward acts on the tooth surface 47a of the fitting portion 41 and the tooth surface 36a of the rack gear 35 along the movement direction of the fitting portion 41 (the angle θ described above). This acting force is received by the tooth surface 47a and the tooth surface 36a, which are approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the force acts, so that the fitted state between the fitting portion 41 and the rack gear 35 can be stably maintained and furthermore, movement of the fitting portion 41 due to slippage between the tooth portion 47 and the tooth portion 36 can be prevented. On the other hand, since the tooth surface 47b on the left side of the mating portion 41 and the tooth surface 36b on the right side of the rack gear 35 are formed at a gentle angle, the mating portion 41 can be easily moved to the left by pulling up the manual operating portion 32.

[0047] In this embodiment, the rack gear 35 and the mating portion 41 constituting the height adjustment device 4 are molded from a corrosion-resistant metal or resin material. Suitable resin materials include polyacetal (POM), polyamide-imide (PAI), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyamide (PA), and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). In this embodiment, the rack gear 35 and the mating portion 41 are molded from polyacetal. These resin materials may also contain glass fiber, inorganic fillers, fluororesin, or rubber, which can improve rigidity, abrasion resistance, and impact resistance. Any molding method can be used to mold these resin materials, with injection molding being preferred for its excellent productivity and shape accuracy. Similarly to the rack gear 35 and the mating portion 41, the adjustment mechanism case 21, the support leg 3, and the link piece 49 may also be molded from a resin material.

[0048] As described above, the workbench 1 of this embodiment is designed to allow a pet (animal) to sit on the upper surface (work surface) of the work surface 2 for bathing, showering (washing), grooming, care, medical treatment, nursing care, etc., and is used by being placed in a bathtub (sink), for example. The worker can adjust the height of the work surface 2 according to the physique of the pet and the size of the bathtub, making it easy to perform the bathing, grooming, etc.

[0049] The height of the work surface 2 is adjusted by the operator by operating the left and right manual operation units 32, 32. To raise the work surface 2, the operator holds both left and right ends of the work surface 2 with both hands and pulls up the manual operation units 32, 32 with the left and right fingers, respectively, to convert the rack gear 35 and the fitting portion 41 into an unlocked state. In this unlocked state, the operator lifts the work surface 2 to the desired height position, and then releases the fingers from the manual operation units 32, 32 (releases the operation). This converts the rack gear 35 and the fitting portion 41 into a position-fixed state, thereby fixing the work surface 2 at the desired height position. On the other hand, to lower the work surface 2, the operator pulls up the manual operation units 32, 32 with the left and right fingers to convert them into an unlocked state, as described above, and then pushes down the work surface 2 to the desired position. Then, by releasing the operation of the manual operation units 32, 32, the operator converts them into a position-fixed state, fixing the work surface 2 in position. In this way, the worker can easily adjust the height position of the work surface 2 by operating the manual operating units 32, 32. Furthermore, even when the work surface 2 is placed in the bathtub, the height of the work surface 2 can be changed by operating it with both hands from above the bathtub.

[0050] Furthermore, since the configuration of this embodiment is provided with height adjustment devices 4, 4 and support legs 3, 3 on the left and right, it is possible to maintain the work surface 2 (the work surface thereof) in a state inclined to one side by setting the left and right support legs 3, 3 at different inclination angles. By tilting the work surface 2 in this way, it becomes easier to carry, for example, old or sick dogs with weak hind legs.

[0051] Furthermore, since the height adjustment device 4 has the rack gear 35, the fitting portion 41, and the coil spring 34 arranged inside the adjustment mechanism case portion 21, it is possible to prevent animal hair, dirt, etc. from becoming tangled in the rack gear 35 or the fitting portion 41, making it difficult to operate.

[0052] Furthermore, in the configuration of this embodiment, the work surface portion 2 (and the unfolding surface portion 10) is formed into a hollow shape from a resin material, so the work surface portion 2 (and the unfolding surface portion 10) is relatively lightweight. This makes it relatively easy to manually raise and lower the work surface portion 2. In particular, in this embodiment, the work surface portion 2, the support legs 3, and the height adjustment device 4 are formed from a resin material, so it is easy to change the height position of the work surface portion 2 and to transport it. Here, resin materials that can be used for the working surface 2 (and the developing surface 10) include polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), rubber-reinforced polystyrene resins (HIPS, ABS), polycarbonate (PC), polyester resins (PET), etc. It is also possible to use resin compositions in which antibacterial agents or antifungal agents are blended with these resin materials.

[0053] Furthermore, in the configuration of this embodiment, the manual operation units 32 are formed downward and outward in the longitudinal direction (to the right for the right manual operation unit 32, and to the left for the left manual operation unit 32), so when the device is placed in a bathtub (sink) and used in a wet environment as described above, the manual operation units 32 are non-slip and have good grip even when wet, making it easy for the operator to operate the manual operation units 32. Furthermore, water that splashes on the manual operation units 32 can be prevented from entering the interior of the adjustment mechanism case 21 via the manual operation units 32.

[0054] In the above-described embodiment, the height adjustment devices 4, 4 and the support legs 3, 3 correspond to the height adjustment means of the present invention. The right tooth surface 47a of the tooth portion 47 of the fitting portion 41 corresponds to the steep surface portion of the fitting portion of the present invention, and the left tooth surface 36a of the tooth portion 36 of the rack gear 35 corresponds to the steep surface portion of the rack gear of the present invention. Furthermore, the fixed position conversion piece 31, which is tiltably provided via the rotation shaft portion 29 and fixed to the rack gear 35, corresponds to the fixed state conversion mechanism of the present invention. The coil spring 34 corresponds to the biasing means of the present invention. Furthermore, the configuration in which one end of the link piece 49 is connected to the fitting portion 41 and the other end is connected to the support leg 3 corresponds to the link mechanism of the present invention.

[0055] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the dimensions and shapes of the components in the above-described embodiments can be modified as needed.

[0056] In the above-described embodiment, the work surface is a generally rectangular plate-shaped work surface. However, various other shapes are possible. For example, the work surface may be a so-called slatted work surface formed by arranging multiple long plates side by side, or a generally rice-paddle-shaped work surface 52 as shown in FIG. 17 . The generally rice-paddle-shaped work surface 52 is primarily intended for use with quadrupedal animals and includes a wide head rest 53 on which the head is placed and a body rest 54 on which the body is placed, with upwardly protruding lateral supports 55, 55 on both sides of the body rest 54. These lateral supports 55, 55 provide lateral support for the animal's body, making it suitable for use in medical care, nursing care, and other settings. The height of this type of work surface 52 can also be adjusted in the same manner as described above.

[0057] In the above-described embodiment, the developing surface portion is provided on the working surface portion via a hinge portion, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the developing surface portion may not be provided.

[0058] In the above-described embodiment, a coil spring is provided as the biasing means for biasing the rack gear, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plate spring, weight, or the like may be provided as the biasing means.

[0059] In the above-described embodiment, the entire tooth surface on one side of the tooth portion of the fitting portion is a steep surface portion, but this is not limiting, and the steep surface portion may be provided only on a part of the tooth surface. Similarly, the tooth portion of the rack gear may also be provided with a steep surface portion on a part of the tooth surface.

[0060] In the above-described embodiment, the height adjustment device and the support leg are provided in one set on each side, but the number of sets can be changed as appropriate. For example, the height adjustment device and the support leg may be provided in one set on each side, or in one set on each of the front, rear, left and right sides.

[0061] In the above-described embodiment, the rack gear and the mating portion are molded from a resin material, but this is not limiting and these may be formed from a metal material. Similarly, the work surface and support legs may also be formed from a metal material. Here, a metal material that is corrosion-resistant is preferable.

[0062] In the above-described embodiment, the height position of the working surface of the work surface unit can be changed by the operator operating the manual operation unit, and therefore, a locking means for switching the manual operation unit between an operable state and an inoperable state can be added to this configuration. In such a configuration, if the operator does not intend to change the height position of the work surface unit, the locking means can be used to disable the manual operation unit, allowing the manual operation unit to be used as a handle for lifting the work platform. On the other hand, if the operator wishes to change the height position of the working surface of the work surface unit, the locking means can be used to enable the manual operation unit, allowing the height position of the working surface of the work surface unit to be changed.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, the manual operation portion is configured to be formed downward and outward in the longitudinal direction, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape of the manual operation portion can be changed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1 workbench 2 Working surface section 3 Support legs 4 Height adjustment device 21 Adjustment mechanism case 25 Floor contact part 31 Fixed position conversion piece 34 Coil spring 35 Rack Gear 36 Tooth 36a Tooth surface 41 Fitting part 47 Tooth 47a Tooth surface 49 Link piece

Claims

1. a floor contact portion that contacts the floor surface; a work surface portion provided above the floor contact portion and having an upper surface serving as a work surface; a height adjustment means for changing the height position of the work surface portion relative to the floor contact portion; Equipped with The height adjustment means is The gear mechanism includes a rack gear and a fitting portion that fits into the rack gear, and the rack gear and the fitting portion are provided so that their relative positions can be changed along the longitudinal direction of the rack gear, A workbench characterized in that the height position of the work surface of the work surface portion is changed by changing the relative position between the rack gear and the fitting portion.

2. The height adjustment means is the rack gear is disposed on the work surface portion so as to be immovable in a longitudinal direction of the rack gear, 2. The workbench according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion is disposed so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the rack gear relative to the work surface portion.

3. The height adjustment means is a position fixed state in which the rack gear and the fitting portion are fitted together to fix the relative positions of the rack gear and the fitting portion; The engagement between the rack gear and the engagement portion is released to bring the relative positions of the rack gear and the engagement portion into an unfixed state in which they can be changed.

3. The workbench according to claim 1, further comprising a fitting position conversion means for converting the fitting position into a fitting position conversion means.

4. The fitting position conversion means is a manual operation unit that can be manually operated; a fixed state conversion mechanism that converts the rack gear and the fitting portion between the position fixed state and the non-fixed state by operating the manual operation unit; 4. The workbench according to claim 3, further comprising:

5. 3. The workbench according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion of the height adjusting means has teeth that engage with a plurality of teeth that constitute the rack gear.

6. The fitting position conversion means is a biasing means for biasing one of the rack gear and the fitting portion in a direction for changing the position from the non-fixed state to the position fixed state; the manual operation means is connected to one of the rack gear and the fitting portion, which are biased by the biasing means, via the fixed state conversion mechanism, 5. The workbench according to claim 4, wherein the manual operation unit is operated against the biasing force of the biasing means to change the position from the fixed state to the non-fixed state.

7. The height adjustment means is A workbench as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that one end is tiltable in the vertical direction and the other end is provided with the floor contact portion, and the workbench is provided with a support leg portion that can be tilted relative to the work surface portion to change the height position of the work surface of the work surface portion.

8. 8. The workbench according to claim 7, wherein the workbench comprises a plurality of height adjustment means.

9. The height adjustment means is 8. The workbench according to claim 7, further comprising a link mechanism that tilts the support leg portion relative to the work surface portion by changing the relative position of the rack gear and the engaging portion.

10. 5. The workbench according to claim 4, further comprising an adjustment mechanism case in which the rack gear, the fitting portion, and the fixed state conversion mechanism are housed.

11. 11. The workbench according to claim 10, wherein the adjustment mechanism case is provided on the underside of the work surface.

12. The height adjustment means is The workbench described in claim 10 is characterized in that it is provided with a support leg portion having one end connected to the adjustment mechanism case portion so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction and the floor contact portion provided at the other end, and which is tilted relative to the work surface portion to change the height position of the work surface of the work surface portion.

13. The work surface portion is 3. The workbench according to claim 1, further comprising a top plate portion having a plurality of through holes extending vertically and an upper surface of which serves as a work surface.

14. A workbench as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the work surface portion is capable of supporting an animal on the work surface, and is used for at least one of bathing, washing, grooming, care of, medical treatment, and nursing of the animal mounted on the work surface portion.

15. The tooth portion of the fitting portion is The gear rack has asymmetric tooth surfaces that are different from each other on both sides of a direction in which the relative position of the rack gear and the fitting portion is changed, a tooth surface on one side, on which a force pressing the working surface portion downward acts via the tooth portion of the rack gear, has a steep surface portion that is steeper than a tooth surface on the other side, The tooth portion of the rack gear is The rack gear has asymmetric tooth surfaces that are different from each other on both sides of a direction that changes the relative position of the rack gear and the fitting portion, A workbench as described in claim 5, characterized in that the tooth surface on one side of the tooth portion of the rack gear, which faces the tooth surface on one side having the steep surface portion of the engaging portion, has a steeper surface portion than the tooth surface on the other side.

16. The height adjustment means is a fitting position changing means for changing a position between a fixed position state in which the rack gear and the fitting portion are fitted together to fix the relative position of the rack gear and the fitting portion, and an unfixed state in which the rack gear and the fitting portion are released from the fitting, so that the relative position of the rack gear and the fitting portion can be changed; a support leg portion having one end portion tiltable in the vertical direction and the other end portion provided with the floor contact portion, which is tilted relative to the work surface portion to change the height position of the work surface of the work surface portion, and a link mechanism which tilts the support leg portion relative to the work surface portion by moving the fitting portion relative to the rack gear, The fitting portion is The workbench described in claim 2, characterized in that, in the non-fixed state converted by the fitting position conversion means, the workbench is arranged so as to be freely movable at a downward slope in a direction that converts the position of the floor contact portion of the support leg downward relative to the work surface portion.

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