Mobile furniture and mobile furniture systems

Abstract

To provide a portable fixture and portable fixture system that can use batteries that do not have a dedicated mounting configuration. [Solution] A cart device comprising a top plate and a support structure that supports the top plate and is movable relative to the floor surface, wherein a battery holder 14 is attached to the cart body including the top plate and the support structure, and the battery holder 14 has a connecting part 50 that is connected to the cart body, a battery mounting part 51 located below the connecting part 50 on which a battery 3 can be placed, and a holding part 52 that connects the connecting part 50 and the battery mounting part 51 and holds the battery mounting part 51.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a movable furniture and a movable furniture system. [Background Art]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a nurse cart having a battery attachment portion to which a battery is detachably attached. The nurse cart disclosed in Patent Document 1 can convert DC power supplied from a battery attached to the battery attachment portion into AC power and supply it to medical equipment. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-35434 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In the nurse cart disclosed in Patent Document 1, only a battery having a predetermined shape can be attached to the battery attachment portion. However, recently, as represented by USB-C, a standard that can supply power to various devices with the same-shaped connector has spread, and the number of batteries equipped with such a connector has also increased. A battery having such a versatile connector is assumed to be moved and used in various places, and furthermore, design is also emphasized. Therefore, it is difficult to form a dedicated shape for attachment to the nurse cart on the battery. Therefore, it has been difficult to use a battery having a versatile connector in a movable furniture such as a nurse cart.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a movable furniture and a movable furniture system that can use a battery that does not have a dedicated attachment shape. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0006] The present invention employs the following configuration as a means to solve the above problems.

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention is a movable furniture comprising a top plate and a support structure that supports the top plate and is movable relative to the floor surface, wherein a battery holder is attached to the main body including the top plate and the support structure, and the battery holder has a connection part that is connected to the main body, a battery mounting part located below the connection part on which a battery can be placed, and a holding part that connects the connection part and the battery mounting part and holds the battery mounting part.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a battery holder is attached to the main body. The battery holder has a battery mounting portion on which a battery can be placed, and can accommodate batteries that do not have a dedicated mounting shape. Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention, batteries that do not have a dedicated mounting shape can be used.

[0009] Furthermore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the battery holder, the battery mounting portion is located below the connection portion that is connected to the main body. Therefore, compared to the case where the battery mounting portion is located at a height above the connection portion, the center of gravity of the battery mounted on the battery mounting portion can be lowered, and the battery can be stabilized even when the movable fixture is moved.

[0010] A second aspect of the present invention adopts a configuration in which, in the first aspect described above, the holding portion has an enclosure wall that surrounds the battery mounting portion in a plan view, and an opening is provided in the holding portion that is formed to penetrate the enclosure wall in a horizontal direction and reaches the upper end of the holding portion.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the present invention, since the holding portion has an enclosure, it is possible to prevent the battery placed on the battery mounting portion from tipping over. Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, office workers can move the movable furniture with peace of mind.

[0012] Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, the opening leading to the upper end of the holding portion is provided penetrating the surrounding wall. Therefore, even when a cable is connected to the battery, the cable can be routed by passing it through the opening.

[0013] A third aspect of the present invention is the configuration in which, in the second aspect, the opening has a lower end that extends to the battery mounting portion.

[0014] According to a third aspect of the present invention, even when the connector is located at the lower end of the battery, it is possible to connect the cable to the battery connector without interfering with the surrounding wall.

[0015] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a configuration in which, in the second or third embodiment, the opening penetrates the enclosure wall in a direction that does not intersect with the main body from the space enclosed by the enclosure wall.

[0016] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, interference between the battery-connected cable and the main body through the opening can be suppressed.

[0017] A fifth aspect of the present invention adopts a configuration in which, in the fourth aspect described above, the connecting portion is attached to an edge of the main body that extends linearly in the horizontal direction, and the opening penetrates the enclosure wall in a direction along the edge from the space.

[0018] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the cable connected to the battery and passing through the opening from protruding on the opposite side from the main body in a plan view. Therefore, when moving the movable fixture, interference between the cable and surrounding components can be prevented.

[0019] In the sixth aspect of the present invention, in any of the second to fifth aspects, the surrounding wall has a lower corner portion that is connected to the battery placement portion and curved in a tapered shape as it goes downward, and the radius of curvature of the lower corner portion is larger than the radius of curvature of the bottom corner portion of the battery.

[0020] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the lower corner portion of the surrounding wall can be brought closer to the bottom corner portion of the battery as compared with the case where the radius of curvature of the lower corner portion of the surrounding wall is less than or equal to the radius of curvature of the bottom corner portion of the battery. Therefore, the space in which the battery can move within the space surrounded by the surrounding wall becomes narrow, and it is possible to suppress the relative movement of the battery with respect to the battery holder when a movable furniture moves or the like.

[0021] In the seventh aspect of the present invention, in any of the first to sixth aspects, the connection portion is connected to the upper end of the holding portion.

[0022] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the holding portion does not protrude above the connection portion, the battery holder is less likely to be in the way when the battery is not mounted on the battery holder.

[0023] In the eighth aspect of the present invention, in any of the first to sixth aspects, the support structure supports the top plate so as to be able to move up and down, and the connection portion is attached to the top plate.

[0024] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the battery holder is fixed to the top plate that can move up and down. Therefore, even when the top plate is moved up and down, the positional relationship between the top plate and the battery holder is maintained. Therefore, even when the top plate is moved up and down with the electronic device placed on the top plate and the battery connected by a cable, it is possible to prevent the electronic device from being pulled by the cable.

[0025] The ninth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect, adopts a configuration in which the connecting portion has an upper piece portion and a lower piece portion that are opposed to each other in the vertical direction with a space therebetween, and the top plate is sandwiched between the upper piece portion and the lower piece portion from the vertical direction.

[0026] According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion can be brought into contact with the upper surface and the lower surface of the top plate. Therefore, the battery holder can be stabilized.

[0027] The tenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, adopts a configuration in which the support structure includes a leg portion, a lower portion of a column connected to the leg portion, and an upper portion of a column that is connected to the lower portion of the column so as to be able to move up and down and supports the top plate, and the connecting portion is connected to the lower portion of the column.

[0028] According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the battery holder is fixed to the lower portion of the column that does not move when the top plate is moved up and down. Therefore, the height of the battery does not change even when the top plate is moved up and down. Therefore, when the top plate is moved up and down, it is possible to prevent the electronic device from being pulled by the cable connecting the battery to the electronic device connected to the lower portion of the column or the leg portion and the battery.

[0029] The eleventh aspect of the present invention adopts a configuration in which a plurality of connection portions to which the connecting portion can be connected are provided in the main body portion.

[0030] According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to change the connection position of the battery holder with respect to the main body portion. <00​​​​​​ [Effects of the Invention]

[0033] According to the present invention, a battery that does not have a dedicated mounting shape can be used in a movable fixture and a movable fixture system. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0034] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the cart system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic three-view drawing of the battery included in the cart system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a top view, and (c) is a side view. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the battery holder included in the cart system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a front view of the battery holder included in the cart system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a bottom view of the battery holder included in the cart system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a front view showing the battery holder and top plate of the cart system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing a portion of the underside of the top plate of the cart system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram showing the lower corner of the enclosure and the bottom corner of the battery in the cart system of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view showing the state in which the battery is placed on the battery holder in the cart system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view of the cart system in a second embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0035] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the movable furniture and movable furniture system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments and modifications described below, corresponding components may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions may be omitted. In the following description, expressions indicating relative or absolute arrangements such as "parallel," "orthogonal," "center," and "coaxial" will not only strictly represent such arrangements, but will also represent states in which the components are relatively displaced by tolerances or angles and distances that allow the same function to be obtained. Furthermore, in this embodiment, "facing each other" is not limited to cases where the orthogonal directions (normal directions) of the two surfaces coincide with each other, but also includes cases where the orthogonal directions intersect.

[0036] (First Embodiment) <Shopping Cart System> Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cart system 1 (movable fixture system) of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the cart system 1 of this embodiment comprises a cart device 2 (movable fixture) and a battery 3. With the battery 3 installed, the cart system 1 can travel on the floor surface F as a single unit with the cart device 2 and the battery 3. The cart device 2 can also travel even without the battery 3 installed.

[0037] Furthermore, with cart system 1, it is possible to perform work on the top plate 23, which will be described later. For example, with cart system 1, power can be supplied from the installed battery 3 to electronic devices placed on the top plate 23. In addition, with cart device 2, it is possible to perform work on the top plate 23 even without the battery 3 installed.

[0038] In the following explanation, the direction perpendicular to the floor surface F is defined as the up-down direction (arrow UP indicates upward), and the directions perpendicular to each other when viewed from the up-down direction are defined as the front-back direction (arrow FR indicates forward) and the left-right direction (arrow LH indicates left). These directions are those seen from the perspective of an office worker standing on the side of the cart device 2 where the gripping section 12, described later, is located.

[0039] <Cart device> The cart device 2 is used to transport items within the office space. For example, the cart device 2 can transport electronic devices such as personal computers used for work. Furthermore, the cart device 2 allows for work using electronic devices such as personal computers while it is stopped. As shown in Figure 1, the cart device 2 (movable furniture) comprises a cart body 10 (main body), a gripping part 12, a lifting operation part 13, and a battery holder 14.

[0040] The cart body 10 constitutes the external appearance of the cart device 2. The cart body 10 includes a support structure 20. The support structure 20 includes legs 21 and support columns 22. The cart body 10 also includes a top plate 23 supported from below by the support structure 20.

[0041] The leg portion 21 functions as a structural member that supports the support column 22 and the top plate 23 in the cart device 2. The leg portion 21 is formed in an H shape in plan view. The leg portion 21 is positioned facing the floor surface F. The leg portion 21 comprises a base portion 31, a pair of cart front legs 32, and a pair of cart rear legs 33. In the illustrated example, the base portion 31, the cart front legs 32, and the cart rear legs 33 are integrally molded.

[0042] The base section 31 extends in the left-right direction. The cart's front legs 32 extend forward from both ends of the base section 31 in the left-right direction. The cart's front legs 32 extend in a direction that moves away from each other (outward in the left-right direction) as they move forward. The cart's rear legs 33 extend rearward from both ends of the base section 31 in the left-right direction. The cart's rear legs 33 extend in a direction that moves away from each other (outward in the left-right direction) as they move rearward. The length of the cart's front legs 32 in the front-rear direction is longer than the length of the cart's rear legs 33 in the front-rear direction. Casters 15 are attached to the tips of the cart's front legs 32 and cart's rear legs 33, respectively. The cart device 2 can travel on the floor surface F by the rolling of the casters 15. Note that the plan view shape of the legs 21 is not limited to an H shape, but can be changed as appropriate to a ring shape, rectangular shape, radial shape (multi-legged), etc.

[0043] The support column 22 is configured to extend and retract in the vertical direction. Specifically, the support column 22 comprises an outer cylinder 35 (lower part of the support column) and an inner cylinder 36 (upper part of the support column). In a plan view, the outer cylinder 35 is formed in an oval shape with the left-right direction as its major axis. The outer cylinder 35 extends upward from the base portion 31. A lifting mechanism such as a gas spring is provided inside the outer cylinder 35.

[0044] Furthermore, the outer cylinder 35 has a front groove 35a and a rear groove (not shown). The front groove 35a extends vertically from both ends of the outer cylinder 35 in the left-right direction, with the opening facing forward. The rear groove extends vertically from both ends of the outer cylinder 35 in the left-right direction, with the opening facing rearward. Mounting rails (not shown) are fitted into the front groove 35a and the rear groove, respectively. The mounting rails have multiple locking holes (not shown) formed at vertical intervals, and optional members can be attached at any height position.

[0045] Optional components include, for example, trays (not shown). The trays are mounted facing forward to, for example, the support column 22. Two trays may be provided, spaced apart in the vertical direction. The tray comprises, for example, a tray body and a tray bracket. The tray body is formed, for example, in the shape of a box opening upwards. Articles can be stored in the tray body through the upper opening.

[0046] The tray bracket is a component for attaching the tray body to the support column 22. The tray bracket is fixed, for example, to the bottom wall of the tray body. The tray bracket has a locking claw (not shown) that protrudes toward the rear and is locked into one of the multiple locking holes provided in the front groove portion 35a. The tray may also be mounted facing backward relative to the support column 22. When the tray is mounted facing backward relative to the support column 22, its dimensions in the front-to-back direction may be smaller than those of a tray mounted facing forward. This makes it possible to avoid interference between the worker's feet and the tray when moving the cart device 2.

[0047] The inner cylinder 36 is inserted into the outer cylinder 35 with its upper part protruding from the outer cylinder 35. The inner cylinder 36 is linked to the lifting mechanism within the outer cylinder 35. As a result, the inner cylinder 36 is configured to move vertically relative to the outer cylinder 35. The support column 22 may be configured not to extend or retract vertically. In addition, multiple support columns 22 may be provided on the leg portion 21.

[0048] Of these two components, the outer cylinder 35 and the inner cylinder 36, the outer cylinder 35 is connected to the leg portion 21, and the inner cylinder 36 is connected to the top plate 23. The lower end of the outer cylinder 35 is connected to the base portion 31 of the leg portion 21 from above. The upper end of the inner cylinder 36 is connected to the top plate 23 from below.

[0049] The tabletop 23 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, with the front-to-back direction as the longitudinal direction and the left-to-right direction as the transverse direction. The upper surface of the tabletop 23 functions as a load-bearing surface when an employee works or when items are placed on it. The lower surface of the tabletop 23 is fixed to the upper end of the inner cylinder 36. Therefore, the height of the tabletop 23 from the floor surface F can be adjusted as the support column 22 extends and retracts. Note that the plan view shape of the tabletop 23 is not limited to a rectangle; it may also be a square or other polygonal shape, or a circle, etc.

[0050] The grip portion 12 is the part that the user holds. The grip portion 12 is formed in a U-shape that opens forward in a plan view. The grip portion 12 is fixed to the underside of the top plate 23, protruding rearward from the top plate 23. In the illustrated example, the grip portion 12 extends along the rear edge of the top plate 23, straddling the center of the top plate 23 in the left-right direction. However, the grip portion 12 can be modified as appropriate, as long as it is used to move the cart device 2.

[0051] The lifting operation unit 13 controls the extension and retraction movement of the lifting mechanism. The lifting operation unit 13 is located on the underside of the top plate 23, on one side relative to the center in the left-right direction. The lifting operation unit 13 is positioned below the gripping unit 12. The lifting operation unit 13 is, for example, a lever type that can rotate in the vertical direction. The lifting operation unit 13 can be operated while gripping the top plate 23 or the gripping unit 12. The lifting mechanism is unlocked by operating the lifting operation unit 13. That is, by operating the lifting operation unit 13, the top plate 23 can be adjusted to any height.

[0052] The battery holder 14 is attached to the cart body 10 and can hold the battery 3. As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, the battery holder 14 is fixed to the top plate 23 of the cart body 10. The battery holder 14 will be described in detail later.

[0053] <Battery> The battery 3 is a secondary battery unit formed to a size that can be carried by a user, for example. In this embodiment, the battery 3 comprises a rectangular parallelepiped body portion 40 and a handle portion 41 connected to the upper part of the body portion 40, and is formed to be easily grasped by a user. However, the shape of the battery 3 is not limited.

[0054] In this embodiment, the main body 40 of the battery 3 is formed to be rectangular when viewed from above. Figure 2 is a schematic three-view drawing of the battery 3, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a top view, and (c) is a side view. As shown in these figures, the main body 40 of the battery 3 is formed to be rectangular with four corners when viewed from above. That is, the outer edge of the battery 3 when viewed from above is formed to have four linear sections L connected in a ring and four corner sections C formed by connecting two linear sections L. In this embodiment, the linear sections L are not perfectly straight, but slightly curved linear sections. However, the linear sections L may be straight.

[0055] The main body 40 of such a battery 3 has four side walls 42. A cable connection port 43 is provided at the bottom of one of these four side walls 42. In this embodiment, two cable connection ports 43 are provided so as to be arranged horizontally at the bottom of one side wall 42.

[0056] For example, one cable connection port 43 is a connection port for connecting a charging cable to charge the battery 3. The other cable connection port 43 is a connection port for connecting a cable (for example, the power supply cable X shown in Figure 1) to supply power from the battery 3 to another device. Thus, the battery 3 in this embodiment is provided with two cable connection ports 43 at its bottom. Note that the battery 3 may have only one cable connection port 43, or it may have three or more. Furthermore, each cable connection port 43 may be capable of connecting both a charging cable and a power supply cable, or it may only be capable of connecting one or the other.

[0057] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(c), in this embodiment, the bottom portion 44 of the battery 3 is formed such that the central portion 45 bulges downward and the bottom corner portion 46 (the outer edge of the bottom portion 44) is curved.

[0058] <Battery holder> Next, the battery holder 14 will be explained in more detail. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the battery holder 14. Figure 4 is a front view of the battery holder 14. Figure 5 is a bottom view of the battery holder 14. The battery holder 14 is the component on which the battery 3 is placed, and as shown in these figures, it comprises a connecting portion 50, a battery mounting portion 51, and a holding portion 52.

[0059] The connecting portion 50 is the part that is connected to the cart body 10. The connecting portion 50 has a base plate 60, a first plate portion 61, and a second plate portion 62. The base plate 60 is a plate-shaped member fixed to the holding portion 52. The base plate 60 is installed so that its front and back surfaces face left and right.

[0060] The base plate 60 is fixed to the holding portion 52, for example, by adhesive or welding. The base plate 60 is fixed to the surrounding wall 70 of the holding portion 52 (described later) and the upper edge frame 80 of the holding portion 52 (described later). The upper edge of the base plate 60 is fixed to the upper edge frame 80, the front edge is fixed to the left vertical bar member 71 located at the front (described later), and the rear edge is fixed to the left vertical bar member 71 located at the rear (described later).

[0061] The first plate portion 61 has a base portion 61a that is fastened to the base plate 60, and an upper portion 61b that protrudes to the left from the upper end of the base portion 61a. The base portion 61a is fastened to the base plate 60 from the left side by a fastening portion 53 having a bolt and nut.

[0062] Figure 6 is a front view showing the battery holder 14 and the top plate 23. The upper piece 61b is a piece with its front and back surfaces oriented vertically. As shown in Figure 6, the upper piece 61b contacts the upper surface of the top plate 23 from above, with the battery holder 14 of the base 61a connected to the top plate 23.

[0063] As shown in Figure 4, etc., this upper piece 61b is located at the very top of the connecting portion 50. This upper piece 61b is at the same height as the upper edge frame 80 located at the very top of the holding portion 52. In other words, the connecting portion 50 is connected to the upper end of the holding portion 52.

[0064] The second plate portion 62 has a base portion 62a that is fastened to the base plate 60 with the base portion 61a of the first plate portion 61 sandwiched in between, and a lower piece portion 62b that protrudes to the left from the upper end of the base portion 62a. The base portion 62a is fastened to the base plate 60 from the left side via the base portion 61a of the first plate portion 61 by the fastening portion 53. The upper end of this base portion 62a is located below the upper end of the base portion 61a of the first plate portion 61.

[0065] The lower piece 62b is a piece whose front and back surfaces are oriented vertically. As shown in Figure 4, the lower piece 62b is located below the upper piece 61b and protrudes to the left of the upper piece 61b. As shown in Figure 6, the lower piece 62b is fastened to the lower surface of the top plate 23 by bolts 54. In other words, the lower piece 62b is in contact with the lower surface of the top plate 23. Thus, in this embodiment, the top plate 23 is sandwiched between the upper piece 61b and the lower piece 62b from above and below.

[0066] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a portion of the underside of the top plate 23. As shown in this figure, the top plate 23 is provided with a plurality of bolt fastening holes 23a (connection parts) on its underside. For example, as shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, the battery holder 14 is attached to the right edge 23b of the top plate 23. The right edge 23b is an edge that extends linearly in the front-rear direction. As shown in Figure 7, the plurality of bolt fastening holes 23a are arranged linearly in the front-rear direction along the right edge 23b.

[0067] The bolt fastening hole 23a is the part to which the connection portion 50 of the battery holder 14 can be connected. By screwing a bolt 54 into the bolt fastening hole 23a, the lower piece 62b of the battery holder 14 is fastened to the lower surface of the top plate 23. Thus, in this embodiment, multiple mounting positions for the battery holder 14 are provided. In this embodiment, the bolt fastening holes 23a are arranged in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, the mounting position of the battery holder 14 on the top plate 23 can be changed in the front-to-back direction.

[0068] The battery mounting section 51 is located below the connection section 50 and is a part on which the battery 3 can be mounted. In this embodiment, the battery mounting section 51 comprises two left-right extending bar members 51a and two front-rear extending bar members 51b.

[0069] The left-right extending bar member 51a is a rod-shaped portion that extends in a straight line and is located above the front-rear extending bar member 51b. The left-right extending bar member 51a is arranged to extend in a straight line in the left-right direction. The two left-right extending bar members 51a are arranged in the front-rear direction and are parallel to each other. The upper surface of such a left-right extending bar member 51a is the battery support surface to which the bottom 44 of the battery 3 directly abuts. In other words, when the battery 3 is placed in the battery holder 14, the battery 3 is placed on the left-right extending bar member 51a from above.

[0070] The front-to-back extending bar member 51b is a rod-shaped portion that extends in a straight line and is located below the left-to-right extending bar member 51a. The front-to-back extending bar member 51b is arranged to extend in a straight line in the front-to-back direction. Furthermore, the two front-to-back extending bar members 51b are arranged in the left-to-right direction and are parallel to each other. Such front-to-back extending bar members 51b support the left-to-right extending bar member 51a from below.

[0071] The holding portion 52 is the part that connects the connecting portion 50 and the battery mounting portion 51 and holds the battery mounting portion 51. In this embodiment, the holding portion 52 includes an enclosure wall 70 and an upper edge frame 80.

[0072] The enclosure wall 70 is provided so as to surround the battery mounting section 51 in a plan view. The enclosure wall 70 is equipped with a plurality of vertical bar members that extend linearly in the vertical direction. These vertical bar members are arranged in a ring shape so as to surround the battery mounting section 51 in a plan view. In this embodiment, the enclosure wall 70 is equipped with two left vertical bar members 71, two front vertical bar members 72, two right vertical bar members 73, and two rear vertical bar members 74 as vertical bar members.

[0073] The left vertical bar member 71 is located to the left of the battery mounting section 51. The two left vertical bar members 71 are arranged in the front-rear direction and are parallel to each other. The upper end of each left vertical bar member 71 is connected to the upper edge frame 80 from below. The lower end of the left vertical bar member 71 located on the front side is connected to the left end of the left-right extending bar member 51a located on the front side. The lower end of the left vertical bar member 71 located on the rear side is connected to the left end of the left-right extending bar member 51a located on the rear side. As described above, the base plate 60 of the connection section 50 is fixed to these left vertical bar members 71.

[0074] The front vertical bar members 72 are located in front of the battery mounting section 51. The two front vertical bar members 72 are arranged in the left-right direction and are parallel to each other. The upper end of each front vertical bar member 72 is connected to the upper edge frame 80 from below. The front vertical bar member 72 located on the left is connected to the front end of the front-rear extending bar member 51b located on the left. The front vertical bar member 72 located on the right is connected to the front end of the front-rear extending bar member 51b located on the right.

[0075] The right vertical bar member 73 is located to the right of the battery mounting section 51. The two right vertical bar members 73 are arranged in the front-rear direction and are parallel to each other. The upper end of each right vertical bar member 73 is connected to the upper edge frame 80 from below. The lower end of the right vertical bar member 73 located at the front is connected to the right end of the left-right extending bar member 51a located at the front. The lower end of the right vertical bar member 73 located at the rear is connected to the right end of the left-right extending bar member 51a located at the rear.

[0076] The rear vertical bar members 74 are located behind the battery mounting section 51. The two rear vertical bar members 74 are arranged in the left-right direction and are parallel to each other. The upper end of each rear vertical bar member 74 is connected to the upper edge frame 80. The rear vertical bar member 74 located on the left is connected to the rear end of the front-rear extending bar member 51b located on the left. The rear vertical bar member 74 located on the right is connected to the rear end of the front-rear extending bar member 51b located on the right. The upper ends of the rear vertical bar members 74 are curved so that they become more horizontal as they extend upwards.

[0077] The left vertical bar member 71, the front vertical bar member 72, the right vertical bar member 73, and the rear vertical bar member 74 are each curved so that their lower ends are directed downwards in a horizontal direction. The lower corner 75 of the enclosure wall 70 is formed by the curvature of the lower ends of the left vertical bar member 71, the front vertical bar member 72, the right vertical bar member 73, and the rear vertical bar member 74. This lower corner 75 is connected to the battery mounting section 51 and is curved in a way that narrows as it extends downwards.

[0078] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the lower corner 75 of the enclosure wall 70 and the bottom corner 46 of the battery 3. As shown in this figure, the radius of curvature R1 of the lower corner 75 is larger than the radius of curvature R2 of the bottom corner 46. Therefore, compared to the case where the radius of curvature R1 of the lower corner 75 is smaller than the radius of curvature R2 of the bottom corner 46 (shown by the dashed line in Figure 8), the space between the lower corner 75 and the bottom corner 46 can be narrowed. Consequently, movement of the battery 3 relative to the battery holder 14 can be prevented.

[0079] The upper edge frame 80 is an annular frame that surrounds the battery mounting section 51 in a plan view. It is connected to the upper end of the left vertical bar member 71, the upper end of the front vertical bar member 72, the upper end of the right vertical bar member 73, and the upper end of the rear vertical bar member 74.

[0080] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3 and other figures, the front left-right extending bar member 51a, the front left vertical bar member 71, and the front right vertical bar member 73 are formed in a unified state by curving a single wire. Similarly, the rear left-right extending bar member 51a, the rear front left vertical bar member 71, and the rear right vertical bar member 73 are formed in a unified state by curving a single wire. Furthermore, the two front-rear extending bar members 51b, the two front vertical bar members 72, the two rear vertical bar members 74, and the upper edge frame 80 are formed in a unified state by curving a single wire.

[0081] Furthermore, the holding portion 52 has an opening 76 that penetrates the surrounding wall 70 in the horizontal direction. The opening 76 is formed to reach the upper end (upper edge frame 80) of the holding portion 52. The lower end of the opening 76 reaches the battery mounting portion 51.

[0082] In this embodiment, the opening 76 penetrates the enclosure wall 70 so as to open towards the rear from the space enclosed by the enclosure wall 70 in a plan view. In other words, the opening 76 penetrates the enclosure wall 70 from the space enclosed by the enclosure wall 70 in a direction that does not intersect with the cart body 10. More specifically, it penetrates the enclosure wall 70 from the space enclosed by the enclosure wall 70 in a direction along the right edge 23b of the top plate 23.

[0083] <How to use the shopping cart system> In this embodiment, the cart system 1 allows for work to be performed by placing electronic devices on the top surface of the tabletop 23, for example. The electronic devices are powered by the battery 3. When powering the electronic devices from the battery 3, the battery 3 and the electronic devices are connected by a power supply cable X.

[0084] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the battery 3 placed on the battery holder 14. As shown in this figure, when supplying power to an electronic device from the battery 3, the battery 3 is placed on the battery holder 14. It is preferable to place the battery 3 so that the cable connection port 43 faces the opening 76 of the battery holder 14.

[0085] By positioning the battery 3 so that the cable connection port 43 faces the opening 76 of the battery holder 14, even when inserting or removing the battery 3 from the battery holder 14 while the power supply cable X is connected to the cable connection port 43, the power supply cable X will not get caught in the battery holder 14, thus increasing safety.

[0086] Furthermore, in the cart system 1 of this embodiment, the cart device 2 is movable relative to the floor surface F. When an employee grasps the gripping part 12 and applies horizontal force to the cart device 2, the cart device 2 is moved horizontally along the floor surface F. At this time, the cart device 2 can be moved with the battery 3 still placed in the battery holder 14. Since the battery 3 is surrounded by the enclosure wall 70 of the battery holder 14, it will not fall out of the battery holder 14.

[0087] As described above, the cart device 2 of this embodiment comprises a top plate 23 and a support structure 20. The support structure 20 supports the top plate 23 and is movable relative to the floor surface F. The cart device 2 of this embodiment also comprises a battery holder 14. The battery holder 14 is attached to the cart body 10, which includes the top plate 23 and the support structure 20. The battery holder 14 comprises a connecting part 50, a battery mounting part 51, and a holding part 52. The connecting part 50 is connected to the cart body 10. The battery mounting part 51 is located below the connecting part 50 and can accommodate the battery 3. The holding part 52 connects the connecting part 50 and the battery mounting part 51 and holds the battery mounting part 51.

[0088] In the cart device 2 of this embodiment, a battery holder 14 is attached to the cart body 10. The battery holder 14 has a battery mounting section 51 on which a battery 3 can be placed, and a battery 3 that does not have a dedicated mounting shape can be placed on it. Therefore, with the cart device 2 of this embodiment, a battery 3 that does not have a dedicated mounting shape can be used.

[0089] Furthermore, according to the cart device 2 of this embodiment, in the battery holder 14, the battery mounting section 51 is located below the connection section 50 that is connected to the cart body 10. Therefore, compared to the case where the battery mounting section 51 is positioned at a height of or above the connection section 50, the center of gravity of the battery 3 placed on the battery mounting section 51 can be lowered, and the battery 3 can be stabilized even when the cart device 2 is moving.

[0090] Furthermore, in the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the holding section 52 has an enclosure wall 70 that surrounds the battery mounting section 51 in a plan view. The holding section 52 is formed to penetrate the enclosure wall 70 in the horizontal direction and is provided with an opening 76 that reaches the upper end of the holding section 52.

[0091] According to the cart device 2 of this embodiment, since the holding section 52 has an enclosure wall 70, it is possible to prevent the battery 3 placed on the battery mounting section 51 from tipping over. Therefore, with the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the worker can move the cart device 2 with peace of mind.

[0092] Furthermore, according to the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the opening 76 leading to the upper end of the holding portion 52 is provided penetrating the surrounding wall 70. Therefore, even when the power supply cable X is connected to the battery 3, the power supply cable X can be routed by passing it through the opening 76.

[0093] Furthermore, in the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the lower end of the opening 76 reaches the battery mounting section 51. With this cart device 2 of this embodiment, even if the cable connection port 43 is located at the lower end of the battery 3, it is possible to connect the power supply cable X to the cable connection port 43 of the battery 3 without interfering with the surrounding wall 70.

[0094] Furthermore, in the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the opening 76 penetrates the surrounding wall 70 in a direction that does not intersect with the cart body 10, from the space enclosed by the surrounding wall 70. With this cart device 2 of this embodiment, interference between the power supply cable X, which is connected to the battery 3 and passes through the opening 76, and the cart body 10 can be suppressed.

[0095] Furthermore, in the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the connecting portion 50 is attached to the edge of the cart body 10 that extends linearly in the horizontal direction. The opening 76 penetrates the surrounding wall 70 in the direction from the space along the edge.

[0096] According to this embodiment of the cart device 2, the power supply cable X connected to the battery 3 and passing through the opening 76 can be prevented from protruding on the opposite side from the cart body 10 in a plan view. Therefore, when moving the cart device 2, interference between the power supply cable X and surrounding components can be prevented.

[0097] Furthermore, in the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the enclosure wall 70 has a lower corner portion 75. The lower corner portion 75 is connected to the battery mounting portion 51 and is curved in a way that narrows as it extends downwards. Also, the radius of curvature R1 of the lower corner portion 75 is larger than the radius of curvature R2 of the bottom corner portion 46 of the battery 3.

[0098] With the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the lower corner 75 of the enclosure wall 70 can be brought closer to the bottom corner 46 of the battery 3 compared to the case where the radius of curvature of the lower corner 75 of the enclosure wall 70 is less than or equal to the radius of curvature of the bottom corner 46 of the battery 3. Therefore, the space in which the battery 3 can move within the space enclosed by the enclosure wall 70 is narrowed, and relative movement of the battery 3 with respect to the battery holder 14 when the cart device 2 moves can be suppressed.

[0099] Furthermore, in the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the connecting portion 50 is connected to the upper end of the holding portion 52. With this cart device 2 of this embodiment, since the holding portion 52 does not protrude above the connecting portion 50, the battery holder 14 is less likely to get in the way when the battery 3 is not mounted in the battery holder 14.

[0100] Furthermore, in the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the support structure 20 supports the top plate 23 so that it can be raised and lowered. The connecting part 50 is attached to the top plate 23. With the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the battery holder 14 is fixed to the top plate 23, which can be raised and lowered. Therefore, even when the top plate 23 is raised or lowered, the positional relationship between the top plate 23 and the battery holder 14 is maintained. Consequently, when the top plate 23 is raised or lowered, even if the electronic equipment placed on the top plate 23 and the battery 3 are connected by a power supply cable X, it is possible to prevent the electronic equipment from being pulled by the power supply cable X.

[0101] Furthermore, in the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the connecting portion 50 has an upper portion 61b and a lower portion 62b that are spaced apart and facing each other in the vertical direction. The top plate 23 is sandwiched between the upper portion 61b and the lower portion 62b from above and below. With this cart device 2 of this embodiment, the connecting portion 50 can be brought into contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the top plate 23. Therefore, the battery holder 14 can be stabilized.

[0102] Furthermore, in the cart device 2 of this embodiment, the cart body 10 is provided with a plurality of bolt fastening holes 23a to which the connecting portion 50 can be connected. With this cart device 2 of this embodiment, it is possible to change the connection position of the battery holder 14 to the cart body 10.

[0103] Furthermore, in the cart device 1 of this embodiment, the battery holder 14 is attached to the edge of the top plate 23. Therefore, the battery 3 can be placed to the side of the top plate 23 instead of on the top surface of the top plate 23. This makes it possible to utilize a wider area of ​​the top surface of the top plate 23.

[0104] Furthermore, in the cart device 1 of this embodiment, the battery holder 14 is fixed to the top plate 23 rather than the support structure 20. Therefore, even when the battery holder 14 is attached to the cart device 1, optional members can be attached to the support structure 20 in the same way as when the battery holder 14 is not attached. For example, optional members such as shelves and trays can be attached to the support structure 20.

[0105] Furthermore, in the cart device 1 of this embodiment, the opening 76 of the battery holder 14 is located near the gripping portion 12. This makes it easier for the operator of the cart device 1 to insert and remove the power supply cable X from the battery 3.

[0106] Furthermore, in the cart device 1 of this embodiment, the battery holder 14 is formed by curving a wire. Therefore, compared to the case where the entire battery holder 14 is formed of a flat material, there are more gaps in the mounting portion 51, making it difficult for dust to accumulate. In addition, since wires can easily be made into a circular cross-section, if the upper part of the cross-section of the wire forming the battery holder 14 is circular, dust is less likely to settle on the wire, and even if it does, it will fall off easily. Thus, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of dust in the battery mounting portion 51.

[0107] Furthermore, the cart system 1 of this embodiment comprises a cart device 2 and a battery 3 that can be placed on a battery holder 14. With this cart system 1 of this embodiment, a battery 3 that does not have a dedicated mounting shape can be placed on the battery holder 14. Therefore, the cart system 1 of this embodiment improves the degree of freedom of the shape of the battery 3.

[0108] (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 10. In this description, parts that are the same as those of the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified.

[0109] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the cart system 1A (movable fixture system) of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the cart system 1A of this embodiment has the battery holder 14 attached to the outer cylinder 35. In other words, in this embodiment, the connection portion 50 of the battery holder 14 is attached to the outer cylinder 35 of the cart body 10.

[0110] The cart device 2 of the cart system 1A of this embodiment includes a support structure 20 comprising legs 21, an outer cylinder 35 connected to the legs 21, and an inner cylinder 36 that is vertically movable and connected to the outer cylinder 35 to support the top plate 23. The connecting part 50 is also connected to the outer cylinder 35.

[0111] In this embodiment of the cart device 2, the battery holder 14 is fixed to the outer cylinder 35, which does not move when the top plate 23 is raised or lowered. Therefore, the height of the battery 3 does not change even when the top plate 23 is raised or lowered. Consequently, when the top plate 23 is raised or lowered, it is possible to prevent the electronic equipment from being pulled by the power supply cable X that connects the battery 3 to the outer cylinder 35 or the electronic equipment connected to the legs 21 and the battery 3.

[0112] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The shapes and combinations of the various components shown in the above embodiments are examples, and can be modified in various ways based on design requirements, etc., without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0113] For example, in the above embodiment, a configuration was described in which the cart device 2 has one battery holder 14. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the cart device 2 may have multiple battery holders 14.

[0114] Furthermore, the above embodiment described a configuration in which the battery holder 14 is provided with one opening 76. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration in which the battery holder 14 is not provided with an opening 76 can also be adopted. Alternatively, a configuration in which the battery holder 14 is provided with multiple openings 76 can also be adopted.

[0115] Furthermore, the above embodiment described a configuration that includes a battery 3. However, the present invention can also be used to provide a cart device 2 without a battery 3. In such a case, the invention is not limited to a battery 3, and batteries of other shapes and specifications can be placed on the battery holder 14.

[0116] Furthermore, the above embodiment described a configuration in which the movable fixture is a cart device 2. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention is applicable to movable fixtures that can move relative to the floor surface. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0117] 1...Cart system (movable fixture system), 1A...Cart system (movable fixture system), 2...Cart device (movable fixture), 3...Battery, 10...Cart body (main body), 14...Battery holder, 20...Support structure, 21...Legs, 22...Support column, 23...Top plate, 23a...Bolt fastening hole (connected part), 23b...Right edge, 35...Outer cylinder (lower part of support column), 36...Inner cylinder (upper part of support column), 40...Main body, 41...Handle, 42...Side wall, 43...Cable connection port, 44...Bottom, 45...Center, 46...Bottom corner 50...connection part, 51...battery mounting part, 51a...left-right extending bar member, 51b...front-rear extending bar member, 52...holding part, 53...fastening part, 54...bolt, 60...base plate, 61...first plate part, 61a...base part, 61b...upper piece part, 62...second plate part, 62a...base part, 62b...lower piece part, 70...enclosure wall, 71...left vertical bar member, 72...front vertical bar member, 73...right vertical bar member, 74...rear vertical bar member, 75...lower corner part, 76...opening, 80...upper edge frame, F...floor surface, X...power supply cable

Claims

1. A movable fixture comprising a top plate and a support structure that supports the top plate and is movable relative to the floor surface, The battery holder is attached to the main body, which includes the top plate and the support structure. The aforementioned battery holder is A connecting part connected to the main body, A battery mounting section located below the aforementioned connection section and capable of mounting a battery, A holding part that connects the aforementioned connection part and the aforementioned battery mounting part and holds the aforementioned battery mounting part. has A movable fixture characterized by the following features.

2. The holding portion has a surrounding wall that encloses the battery mounting portion in a plan view. An opening is provided in the holding portion that is formed horizontally, penetrating the surrounding wall and reaching the upper end of the holding portion. The movable fixture according to claim 1, characterized by its features.

3. The movable fixture according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower end of the opening reaches the battery mounting portion.

4. The movable fixture according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the opening penetrates the enclosure wall in a direction that does not intersect with the main body from the space enclosed by the enclosure wall.

5. The connecting portion is attached to an edge of the main body that extends linearly in the horizontal direction, The movable fixture according to claim 4, characterized in that the opening penetrates the enclosure wall in a direction along the edge from the space.

6. The enclosure wall is connected to the battery mounting section and has a curved lower corner that narrows as it extends downwards. The radius of curvature of the lower corner is greater than the radius of curvature of the bottom corner of the battery. The movable fixture according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it is a movable fixture.

7. The movable fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting portion is connected to the upper end of the holding portion.

8. The support structure supports the top plate so that it can be raised and lowered, The aforementioned connecting part is attached to the top plate. A movable fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. The connecting portion has an upper piece and a lower piece that are spaced apart and facing each other in the vertical direction. The top plate is sandwiched between the upper piece and the lower piece from above and below. The movable fixture according to claim 8, characterized in that it is a movable fixture.

10. The support structure comprises a leg portion, a lower part of a support column connected to the leg portion, and an upper part of a support column that is vertically movable and connected to the lower part of the support column to support the top plate. The aforementioned connecting part is connected to the lower part of the support column. A movable fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

11. The movable fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the main body is provided with a plurality of connectable parts to which the connecting part can be connected.

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