Folding table

Abstract

This invention provides a folding table that reduces costs by using a simple opening and closing mechanism for the legs, while also suppressing a decrease in strength. [Solution] The folding table 1 comprises a tabletop 2 formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and a pair of legs 3-3 provided on the underside of the tabletop 2 so as to be slidable and rotatable. Each of the legs 3-3 is capable of transitioning between a stored state in which it is stored parallel to the tabletop 2 in the space below the tabletop 2, an extended state in which it is extended by sliding displacement toward the longitudinal outward direction of the tabletop 2 from the stored state, an unfolded state in which it is rotatably displaced downward from the extended state, and a usage state in which rotational displacement is restricted in the unfolded state.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a folding table capable of folding legs with respect to a tabletop.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a folding table capable of folding legs with respect to a tabletop is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a folding table such as the above Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the configuration for transitioning between the storage state with the legs folded and the use state with the legs deployed downward is complicated, increasing the manufacturing cost. On the other hand, when the structure of the legs is simplified, there is a risk of reducing the strength of the folding table. [[ID=​​​​​​​​​​​​​The folding table according to the present invention comprises a tabletop formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and a pair of legs provided on the underside of the tabletop so as to be slidable and rotatable, wherein each of the legs is capable of transitioning between a stored state in which it is stored in a position parallel to the tabletop in the space below the tabletop, an extended state in which it is extended by sliding displacement toward the outside of the tabletop from the stored state, an unfolded state in which it is rotated downward from the extended state, and a usage state in which rotational displacement is restricted in the unfolded state.

[0008] Furthermore, in the folding table according to the present invention, it is preferable that each of the legs extends in the extended state by sliding displacement toward the longitudinal outward direction of the tabletop from the stored state.

[0009] Furthermore, in the folding table according to the present invention, a pair of legs are supported so as to be able to slide and rotate by a pair of support plates fixed to the lower surfaces of both longitudinal ends of the tabletop, respectively, and engagement grooves are formed in the support plates, and each leg comprises a leg body portion formed by bending a rod-shaped member into a rectangular shape, and a rod-shaped fixing portion fixed to the tip of the leg body portion, and it is preferable that in the unfolded state, the rod-shaped fixing portion engages with the engagement grooves of the support plates by elastic deformation, thereby bringing the leg into the usable state.

[0010] Furthermore, in the storage state, it is preferable that the legs of the folding table according to the present invention are stored in the space between the lower surface of the tabletop and the upper surface of the support plate.

[0011] Furthermore, in the folding table according to the present invention, it is preferable that the support plate has a restricting piece formed thereon that restricts the sliding displacement of the legs in the stored state.

[0012] Furthermore, in the folding table according to the present invention, it is preferable that a locking portion is formed at the tip of the leg body, and that a locking portion is formed extending from the tabletop on the support plate, capable of locking the locking portion of another folding table in its stored or in use state.

[0013] Furthermore, in the folding table according to the present invention, it is preferable that the support plate has a restricting portion extending from the tabletop that restricts the displacement of the locked portion in the short direction of the tabletop when the locking portion locks the locked portion of the other folding table. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The folding table according to the present invention has the effect of reducing costs by simplifying the opening and closing mechanism of the legs, while also suppressing a decrease in strength. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] An upward perspective view showing the folding table in use. [Figure 2] A downward perspective view showing the folding table in use. [Figure 3] Front view showing the folding table in use. [Figure 4] An upward perspective view showing the folded table in its stored state. [Figure 5] A downward perspective view showing the folded table in its stored state. [Figure 6] A downward perspective view showing the assembly configuration of the support plate. [Figure 7] An upward perspective view showing the position of the leg members in the stored state. [Figure 8] An upward perspective view showing the position of the leg member in the extended state. [Figure 9] An upward perspective view showing the position of the leg members in the deployed state. [Figure 10] An upward perspective view showing the position of the leg members in use. [Figure 11]Perspective view showing a configuration in which two folding tables are combined vertically. [Figure 12] Perspective view showing a configuration in which two folding tables are combined horizontally. [Figure 13] Perspective view showing a configuration in which three folding tables are combined horizontally.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] First, the configuration of the folding table 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIGS. 1 to 6. The folding table 1 according to this embodiment includes a top plate 2 formed in a rectangle in plan view, a pair of legs 3·3 provided on the lower surface of the top plate 2 so as to be slidably displaced and rotatably displaced, and a pair of support plates 4·4 that support the respective legs 3·3.

[0017] In this specification, the side on which each leg 3·3 is provided on the top plate 2 in each figure (the upper left - lower right direction in FIG. 1) is defined as the left - right direction of the folding table 1, and the direction orthogonal to the left - right direction in the horizontal direction is defined as the front - back direction of the folding table 1. That is, in the folding table 1 according to this embodiment, a pair of legs 3·3 are provided on both the left and right sides of a rectangular top plate 2 having a longitudinal direction in the left - right direction in plan view.

[0018] In the folding table 1 according to this embodiment, the top plate 2, the legs 3·3, and other components are mainly composed of metal parts such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, or steel. It is also possible to adopt resin parts or wooden parts other than metal parts as the constituent members of the folding table 1.

[0019] Each leg 3 is capable of transitioning between a stored state (see Figures 4, 5, and 7), an extended state (see Figure 8), a deployed state (see Figure 9), and a usage state (see Figures 1 to 3 and 10). As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the stored leg 3 is stored in the space below the tabletop 2 in a position parallel to the tabletop 2. The extended leg 3 is extended from the stored state by sliding outward in the left-right direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the tabletop 2. The deployed leg 3 is rotated downward from the extended state. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the rotational displacement of the leg 3 in the usage state is restricted in the deployed position.

[0020] In this embodiment of the folding table 1, the legs 3 are configured to extend by sliding displacement toward the left and right outward direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the tabletop 2. However, it is also possible to configure the legs 3 to extend by sliding displacement toward the up and down outward direction, which is the short direction of the tabletop 2.

[0021] In the folding table 1 according to this embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, a pair of support plates 4-4 are fixed to the underside of both ends of the tabletop 2 in the left-right direction. The pair of support plates 4-4 support each of the legs 3-3 so that they can slide and rotate.

[0022] As shown in Figure 6, the leg portion 3 is formed by integrally fixing a rod-shaped fixing portion 32 to the leg body portion 31 by welding. The leg body portion 31 is formed by bending a rod-shaped member into a rectangular shape. The leg body portion 31 includes a pair of leg supports 31a, 31a, a bent portion 31b formed by bending the base end of the leg support 31a (the inner left and right end of the top plate 2 in the stored state of the leg portion 3), a tip portion 31c to which the tips of the leg supports 31a, 31a are connected, and locking portions 31d that protrude further toward the tip at both ends of the tip portion 31c. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the locking portions 31d function as a contact portion that touches the floor or ground when the leg portion 3 is in use.

[0023] In the leg portion 3 according to this embodiment, the rod-shaped fixing portion 32 is fixed to the tip portion 31c of the leg body portion 31. The rod-shaped fixing portion 32 is formed by bending a single rod-shaped member into a V-shape. The central portion of the rod-shaped fixing portion 32 is welded to the central portion of the tip portion 31c of the leg body portion 31. The rod-shaped fixing portion 32 has an engaging portion 32a formed by bending its end.

[0024] As shown in Figure 6, three through grooves 21 are formed on the underside of the top plate 2. Two first guide portions 22 are formed on the outer surface of the top plate 2 in the front-to-back direction. Two second guide portions 23 are formed near the center of the top plate 2 in the front-to-back direction. The through grooves 21 and the first and second guide portions 22 and 23 are formed to open at the left and right end faces of the top plate 2.

[0025] As shown in Figure 6, two hook-shaped engagement grooves 41, 41 are formed in the center of the support plate 4. Also, as shown in Figure 2, a restricting piece 42 is formed between the engagement grooves 41, 41 on the support plate 4, extending outward from the top plate 2. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the protruding portion of the restricting piece 42 is inserted between the leg body portion 31 and the rod-shaped fixing portion 32 of the leg portion 3 in the stored state, thereby restricting the sliding displacement of the leg portion 3.

[0026] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, locking portions 43, 43 are formed extending from the top plate 2 at both ends of the support plate 4 in the front-rear direction. The locking portions 43, 43 are capable of locking the locking portions 31d, 31d of other folding tables in the stored or in use state (see Figures 11 to 13). In addition, restricting portions 44, 44 are formed extending from the top plate 2 between the restricting piece 42 and the locking portions 43 of the support plate 4. The restricting portions 44, 44 restrict the front-rear displacement of the locking portions 31d, 31d when the locking portions 43, 43 lock the locking portions 31d of other folding tables (see enlarged views in Figures 11 and 12).

[0027] It is also possible to configure the system by reversing the positional relationship between the locking portions 43, 43 and the restricting portions 44, 44. That is, restricting portions 44, 44 are formed at both ends of the support plate 4 in the front-rear direction, and the locking portion 43 is formed between the restricting piece 42 and the restricting portion 44. Even in this case, when the locking portions 43, 43 lock the locked portion 31d of another folding table, the restricting portions 44, 44 can restrict the front-rear displacement of the locked portion 31d, 31d.

[0028] As shown in Figures 7 to 10, projections 45, 45 are formed at both ends of the support plate 4 in the front-rear direction, projecting upward. The projections 45, 45 contact the bent portion 31b when the leg portion 3 slides, thereby restricting the displacement of the leg portion 3.

[0029] The support plate 4 is attached to the top plate 2 via three fixing plates 5. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, fixing screws are inserted from below the support plate 4 and screwed into the fixing plates 5, which have female screw holes. Then, with each fixing plate 5 inserted into the insertion groove 21, the fixing screws are tightened. This fixes the support plate 4 to the underside of the top plate 2.

[0030] As described above, in this embodiment, the through groove 21 is used to assemble the support plate 4 via the fixing plate 5, but the through groove 21 can also be used for other purposes. For example, another fixing plate 5 can be inserted into one of the through grooves 21, and a screw member with a screw head protruding from it can be screwed into this fixing plate 5 to create a projection downwards. This allows the projection to function as a slip-prevention mechanism when the folding table 1 is placed on the luggage rack of a bicycle or motorcycle.

[0031] In addition, optional components such as hook members and shelf members can be attached to the underside of the tabletop 2 of the folding table 1 by screwing them in via other fixing plates 5 inserted into the insertion groove 21. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the space below the tabletop 2 of the folding table 1 when the leg members 3 are in use.

[0032] When assembling the support plate 4 to the tabletop 2, the legs 3 are inserted into the tabletop 2 beforehand. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the leg supports 31a and the bent portion 31b of the leg body 31 are inserted above the first guide portion 22, and the engaging portion 32a of the rod-shaped fixing portion 32 is inserted above the second guide portion 23. In this way, the legs 3 are assembled to the tabletop 2 together with the support plate 4. The first guide portion 22 and the second guide portion 23 function as guides when the legs 3 slide and displace on the underside of the tabletop 2.

[0033] Next, the procedure for transitioning the leg portion 3 from the stored state to the extended state, then to the deployed state, and finally to the usage state will be described. In the stored state of the leg portion 3, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 7, the leg portion 3 is stored in the space below the tabletop 2 (the space between the lower surface of the tabletop 2 and the upper surface of the support plate 4) in a position parallel to the tabletop 2. Furthermore, the sliding displacement of the leg portion 3 is restricted by the restricting piece 42. In addition, the locking portions 31d·31d of the leg body portion 31 extend outward in the left-right direction from the tabletop 2.

[0034] To extend the leg portion 3, the leg portion 3 is removed from the restricting piece 42 and pulled outwards in the left-right direction from the top plate 2. This causes the leg portion 3 to slide outwards, extending from the top plate 2 as shown in Figure 8. At this time, the bent portion 31b of the leg body 31 comes into contact with the projection 45, thereby restricting the left-right outward sliding displacement of the leg portion 3.

[0035] Furthermore, when moving the leg portion 3 from the extended state to the unfolded state, the leg body portion 31 is rotated around the bent portion 31b, causing the tip portion 31c and the locking portion 31d to point downward. As a result, the leg portion 3 is positioned downward from the top plate 2, as shown in Figure 9. At this time, the rod-shaped fixing portion 32 of the leg portion 3 is inserted into the engagement grooves 41, 41 and compressed inward in the front-rear direction.

[0036] Furthermore, when changing the leg portion 3 from the unfolded state to the usable state, the rod-shaped fixing portion 32 is elastically deformed outward in the left-right direction. As a result, the elastic force of the rod-shaped fixing portion 32 deforms the engaging portions 32a, 32a outward and engages with the hook shape of the engaging grooves 41, 41 of the support plate 4. This fixes the leg portion 3 to the tabletop 2 and the support plate 4 in a stable position.

[0037] To move the leg 3 from the deployed state to the stored state, the rod-shaped fixing portion 32 of the leg 3 is compressed inward in the front-rear direction and displaced inward in the left-right direction along the engagement grooves 41, 41 to deploy the leg 3. Then, the leg 3 is rotated upward to extend it, and further slid inward in the left-right direction. Finally, the leg 3 is engaged with the restricting piece 42 to restrict the sliding displacement, thereby setting it to the stored state.

[0038] As described above, the folding table 1 according to this embodiment has a simple opening and closing mechanism that displaces the legs 3 between a folded storage state and a usage state where the legs 3 are extended downwards. In this way, since no other components are required for the opening and closing mechanism of the legs 3, the folding table 1 can be made lighter and manufacturing costs can be reduced. In addition, since the number of parts constituting the folding table 1 can be reduced, the possibility of damage or malfunction can be reduced. Furthermore, since the rotational displacement is restricted in the position where the legs 3 are extended, a decrease in the strength of the folding table 1 can be prevented. In other words, the folding table 1 according to this embodiment achieves cost reduction by using a simple structure and prevents a decrease in strength.

[0039] Furthermore, according to the folding table 1 of this embodiment, in the unfolded state, the rod-shaped fixing portion 32 of the leg portion 3 engages with the engagement groove 41 of the support plate 4 by elastic deformation. This makes it possible to restrict rotational displacement of the leg portion 3 in the unfolded state with a simple operation.

[0040] Furthermore, in the folding table 1 according to this embodiment, the legs 3 are stored in the space between the lower surface of the tabletop 2 and the upper surface of the support plate 4 when stored. As a result, the folding table 1 with the legs 3 stored can be made compact (the legs 3 do not take up much space), as shown in Figure 5, making it possible to store multiple folding tables 1 stacked on top of each other.

[0041] Furthermore, in the folding table 1 according to this embodiment, the restricting piece 42 formed on the support plate 4 is configured to restrict the sliding displacement of the leg portion 3 when it is in the stored state. This prevents the leg portion 3 from becoming unstable when it is stored in the stored state because the folding table 1 is not in use.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the folding table 1 has locking portions 31d, 31d formed at both front and rear ends of the tip portion 31c of the leg body portion 31. In addition, locking portions 43, 43 are formed extending from the top plate 2 at both front and rear ends of the support plate 4, capable of locking the locking portions 31d, 31d of other folding tables in their stored or in use state.

[0043] Specifically, as shown in Figure 11, when another folding table 1A is placed on top of a folding table 1 with its legs 3 in use, the locking parts 31d, 31d on the leg body 31 of the folding table 1A can be locked to the locking parts 43, 43 of the folding table 1. In this way, the folding table 1 according to this embodiment makes it possible to stably stack them vertically in a position with its legs 3 in use.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in the enlarged view in Figure 11, in the folding table 1 according to this embodiment, the support plate 4 has a restricting portion 44 extending from the top plate 2, which restricts the displacement of the locked portions 31d, 31d in the front-rear direction when the locking portions 43, 43 lock the locked portions 31d, 31d of another folding table. This makes it possible to improve the stability when the folding tables 1 are stacked vertically.

[0045] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, when connecting another folding table 1B adjacent to a folding table 1 with its legs 3 in use, the locking portions 31d, 31d of one of the legs 3 stored on the folding table 1B can be locked to the locking portions 43, 43 of the folding table 1. In this way, the folding table 1 according to this embodiment makes it possible to connect another folding table 1B, with one of its legs 3 stored, in the left-right direction while the folding table 1 has its legs 3 in use.

[0046] Furthermore, as shown in the enlarged view in Figure 12, in the folding table 1 according to this embodiment, the restricting portion 44 of the support plate 4 restricts the displacement of the locking portions 31d·31d of the folding table 1B in the front-rear direction. In this way, it is possible to improve the stability when the folding table 1 is connected left and right (in the longitudinal direction of the tabletop 2).

[0047] Furthermore, in the folding table 1B, it is also possible to connect one of the extended legs 3 to the folding table 1. In this case, it becomes possible to make the extended leg 3 longer than the configuration shown in Figure 12.

[0048] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, it is also possible to place another folding table 1C, with its legs 3 retracted, between two folding tables 1·1, with their legs 3 in use. In this case as well, the locking parts 31d·31d on both sides of the leg body 31 of folding table 1C can be locked to the locking parts 43·43 of the two folding tables 1·1, respectively. Thus, the folding table 1 according to this embodiment can also be used by connecting three or more of them in the left-right direction.

[0049] Even in this case, it is possible to connect the folding table 1C to the folding table 1·1 with the legs 3 on both sides extended. In this case, it is possible to make the legs longer than those shown in Figure 13 and utilize the extended legs 3. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 1 Folding Table 1A Other folding tables 1B Other folding tables 1C Other folding tables 2. Tabletop 3. Legs 4 Support plate 5 Fixed plate 21 Through groove 22 First guide section 23 Second Guide Section 31 Script body 31a Leg support 31b Bent part 31c Tip part 31d Locked part 32 Rod-shaped fixed part 32a Engagement part 41 Engagement groove 42 Regulation piece 43 Locking section 44 Regulating section 45 Protrusion

Claims

1. A folding table comprising a tabletop formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and a pair of legs provided on the underside of the tabletop so as to be slidable and rotatable, A folding table in which each of the aforementioned legs is capable of transitioning between a stored state in which it is stored in the space below the tabletop in a position parallel to the tabletop, an extended state in which it is extended by sliding displacement toward the outside of the tabletop from the stored state, an unfolded state in which it is rotated downward from the extended state, and a usage state in which rotational displacement is restricted in the unfolded state.

2. The folding table according to claim 1, wherein each of the aforementioned legs extends in the extended state by sliding displacement toward the longitudinal outward direction of the tabletop from the stored state.

3. The pair of legs are supported so as to be able to slide and rotate by a pair of support plates fixed to the underside of both longitudinal ends of the top plate, respectively. The support plate has an engagement groove formed therein. Each of the aforementioned legs comprises a leg body portion formed by bending a rod-shaped member into a rectangular shape, and a rod-shaped fixing portion fixed to the tip of the leg body portion. The folding table according to claim 2, wherein in the unfolded state, the leg portion engages with the engagement groove of the support plate by elastic deformation, thereby bringing the leg portion into the use state.

4. The folding table according to claim 3, wherein the legs are stored in the space between the lower surface of the tabletop and the upper surface of the support plate when in the stored state.

5. The folding table according to claim 4, wherein the support plate has a restricting piece formed thereon that restricts the sliding displacement of the legs in the stored state.

6. A locking portion is formed at the tip of the script body, The folding table according to claim 4, wherein a locking portion is formed on the support plate, extending from the top plate, which is capable of locking the locking portion of another folding table in a stored or in-use state.

7. The folding table according to claim 6, wherein the support plate has a restricting portion that extends from the tabletop and restricts the displacement of the locked portion in the short direction of the tabletop when the locking portion locks the locked portion of the other folding table.

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