Knee cushion

Abstract

To provide a knee cushion capable of reducing the burden on a worker working at a face-to-face service counter while standing. [Solution] The knee cushion 500 is attached to a counter 900 and is characterized by comprising a slide rail 200 arranged under a top plate 910 of the counter 900, and a cushion main body 100 that can slide toward the rear of the counter 900 along the slide rail 200.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This invention relates to a knee cushion that is attached to a counter. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, workers at face-to-face service counters (cash registers, etc.) in supermarkets, convenience stores, etc. have been forced to work long hours in a standing position. To reduce the burden on workers, it is possible for workers to work in a sitting position, but in face-to-face service counters (cash registers, etc.), workers working while sitting tend not to be allowed because it gives a bad impression to customers. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a knee cushion that can reduce the burden on workers working while standing at a face-to-face service counter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the knee cushion of the present invention is a knee cushion that is attached to a counter and is characterized by having a slide rail that is placed on the underside of the counter top and a cushion main body that can slide toward the rear of the counter along the slide rail.

[0005] According to the above features, workers can lean against the cushion body, reducing the burden on workers who work while standing. Furthermore, the cushion body can slide backward along the slide rail, so the position of the cushion body can be adjusted according to the worker's standing position, providing high convenience. Furthermore, the slide rail is disposed under the counter top, so the slide rail and the cushion body attached to the slide rail are hidden by the top and are difficult to see for customers in front of the counter, so customers do not feel uncomfortable.

[0006] Furthermore, the knee cushion of the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a fixing part that can fix the cushion main body so that it does not slide, and an operating part of the fixing part is arranged below the slide rail.

[0007] According to the above feature, it is difficult for customers at the front of the counter to see that a worker is operating the operating part of the fixed part, so there is no discomfort to the customers.

[0008] Furthermore, the knee cushion of the present invention is characterized in that the fixing portion has a plurality of fixing grooves arranged on the counter side and a switching member arranged on the cushion main body side, and the switching member is configured to be switchable between a state in which the fixed end of the switching member is engaged with the fixing groove and a state in which the fixed end of the switching member is released from the fixing groove.

[0009] According to the above-mentioned feature, the switching member can easily switch between a state in which the cushion main body is slidable and a state in which it is fixed so as not to slide, which is highly convenient.

[0010] Furthermore, in the knee cushion of the present invention, the fixing portion includes a fixing protrusion disposed on the counter side, and a switching member disposed on the cushion body side and having a plurality of switching grooves; The switching member is configured to be switchable between a state in which the switching groove of the switching member is engaged with the fixed convex portion and a state in which the switching groove of the switching member is disengaged from the fixed convex portion.

[0011] According to the above-mentioned feature, the switching member can easily switch between a state in which the cushion main body is slidable and a state in which it is fixed so as not to slide, which is highly convenient. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, the burden of standing work on workers at face-to-face service counters can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a kneeclip 500 attached to a counter 900. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the kneeclip 500 attached to the counter 900. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, showing a state in which the cushion body 100 has been slid rearward. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB, showing a state in which the cushion body 100 has been slid rearward. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a kneection 500A according to a modified example, shown similarly to FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a kneecutter 500A according to a modified example in a state in which the cushion body 100A has been slid rearward, similar to FIG. [Explanation of symbols]

[0014] 100 Cushion body 200 Slide Rail 500 Knee Cushion 900 Counter 910 Tabletop DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the shapes of the figures referred to in the following description are conceptual or schematic diagrams for explaining preferred shapes and dimensions, and the dimensional ratios do not necessarily correspond to the actual dimensional ratios. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the dimensional ratios in the drawings.

[0016] 1 to 4 show the kneection 500 of the present invention, where FIG. 1 is a side view of the kneection 500 attached to the counter 900, FIG. 2 is a rear view of the kneection 500 attached to the counter 900, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB.

[0017] The counter 900 is a face-to-face service counter (such as a cash register counter) in a store such as a supermarket or convenience store, and is equipped with a top panel 910 and side panels 920. Customers who use the store pass through the front P1 side of the counter 900, and a worker H0 performs payment operations and the like while standing on the back P0 side of the counter 900. The kneection 500 is attached to the underside of the top panel 910 of the counter 900, and the cushion main body 100 of the kneection 500 is designed to be able to come into contact with a part of the foot (for example, the knee H1) of the worker H0.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4, the kneection 500 includes a slide rail 200 fixed to a part of the counter 900, a cushion main body 100 attached to the tip of the slide rail 200, a switching member 300 pivotally supported around the center of the slide rail 200, and a fixed plate 400 fixed to a part of the counter 900. Specifically, the slide rail 200 is made of metal and includes a rail portion 210 that extends horizontally in a straight line and is fixed to an arbitrary location of the counter 900 (for example, a partition plate 930), and a slide portion 220 that is attached to the rail portion 210 so as to be slidable back and forth. In addition, the slide rail 200 is configured as a frame as a whole by a connecting portion 230 that connects the slide portions 220 on both sides, thereby increasing the rigidity.

[0019] Furthermore, at the tip of the slide portion 220 of the slide rail 200, the cushion main body 100 is fixed to the connecting portion 230. The cushion main body 100 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and an outer surface 110 is made of a material with soft cushioning properties. Therefore, when the worker H0 leans part of his / her leg (for example, his / her knee H1) against the cushion main body 100, the cushion main body 100 flexibly receives the weight of the worker H0, thereby reducing fatigue of the worker H0.

[0020] Moreover, the switching member 300 is configured to be substantially U-shaped from a metal rod-like member, and includes an operating portion 310 extending linearly in the horizontal direction, connecting portions 320 extending from both ends of the operating portion 310, and a fixed end 330 protruding inward from the end of the connecting portion 320. Moreover, a rotating shaft 321 protrudes laterally near the center of the connecting portion 320, and the rotating shaft 321 is journaled in an axial hole 221 of the sliding portion 220. Therefore, the switching member 300 is configured to be able to rotate up and down around the rotating shaft 321 with respect to the sliding portion 220 of the slide rail 200.

[0021] The fixed plate 400 is a metal plate material, and is attached to the underside of the top plate 910 of the counter 900 so as to hang down downward. The fixed plate 400 has a number of fixing grooves 410 aligned in the front-rear direction. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the fixed end 330 of the switching member 300 is inserted into and locked in the fixing grooves 410 of the fixed plate 400, thereby fixing the sliding portion 220 and the cushion main body 100 so as not to slide in the front-rear direction.

[0022] In addition, since the center of gravity of the switching member 300 is located closer to the cushion main body 100 than the rotating shaft 321, the switching member 300 is tilted so that the operation part 310 of the switching member 300 is located lower than the rotating shaft 321 and the fixed end 330 of the switching member 300 is located higher than the rotating shaft 321. Therefore, in normal times when the cushion main body 100 is not moved, the switching member 300 is automatically tilted by its own weight as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Then, the fixed end 330 of the switching member 300 is inserted into and locked in the fixing groove 410 of the fixing plate 400, and the cushion main body 100 is automatically locked so as not to slide, which is highly convenient. Note that the fixing part capable of fixing the cushion main body 100 so as not to slide is composed of the switching member 300 and the fixing groove 410, but is not limited thereto, and any configuration such as a pin-shaped fixing member can be adopted as long as it can fix the cushion main body 100 so as not to slide.

[0023] Next, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show a state in which the cushion main body 100 has been slid backward. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA showing a state in which the cushion main body 100 has been slid backward, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB showing a state in which the cushion main body 100 has been slid backward.

[0024] As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, when the worker H0 wants to adjust the position of the cushion main body 100, for example, when the worker H0 is standing at the rear, the worker H0 reaches under the slide rail 200 and pushes the operation part 310 of the switching member 300 upward to rotate the switching member 300. Then, the fixed end 330 side of the switching member 300 rotates downward, so that the fixed end 330 is disengaged from the fixed groove 410. In this state, the cushion main body 100 is slid forward and backward along the slide rail 200. For example, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the position of the cushion main body 100 is adjusted so as to pull it out backward. Then, when the worker H0 releases his / her hand from the operation part 310, the switching member 300 automatically rotates due to its own weight, so that the fixed end 330 is engaged with the fixed groove 410, and the cushion main body 100 is automatically fixed so as not to slide.

[0025] In this way, the kneecutter 500 allows the worker H0 to lean against the cushion body 100, reducing the burden of standing work on the worker H0. Furthermore, since the cushion body 100 can slide backward along the slide rail 200, the position of the cushion body 100 can be adjusted according to the standing position of the worker H0, which is highly convenient. Furthermore, since the slide rail 200 is disposed below the top plate 910 of the counter 900, the slide rail 200 and the cushion body 100 attached to the slide rail 200 are hidden by the top plate 910 and are difficult to see for customers on the front P1 side of the counter 900, so there is no discomfort for the customers. Furthermore, since the operation unit 310 of the switching member 300 is disposed below the slide rail 200, it is difficult for customers on the front P1 side of the counter 900 to see that the worker H0 is operating the operation unit 310 of the fixed part (the operation unit 310 of the switching member 300) and therefore there is no discomfort for the customers. In addition, the switching member 300 can easily switch between a state in which the cushion body 100 is allowed to slide and a state in which it is fixed so as not to slide, providing high convenience.

[0026] Next, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 show a kneection 500A according to a modified example of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the kneection 500A shown in the same manner as Fig. 4, and Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the kneection 500A in a state in which the cushion body 100A has been slid backward, shown in the same manner as Fig. 6. The kneection 500A according to the modified example differs from the kneection 500 shown in Figs. 1 to 6 only in the shape of the cushion body 100A and the configuration of the fixing part, and other configurations are basically the same as the kneection 500 shown in Figs. 1 to 6, so detailed description will be omitted.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 7, the switching member 300A is made of a metal member and is generally U-shaped, and includes an operating section 310A extending linearly in the horizontal direction, connecting sections 320A extending from both ends of the operating section 310A, and a rotating shaft 321A at the end of the connecting section 320A, and the rotating shaft 321A is connected to the slide section 220A of the slide rail 200A. Therefore, the switching member 300A is configured to be able to rotate up and down around the rotating shaft 321A with respect to the slide section 220A of the slide rail 200A. In addition, a plurality of switching grooves 350A opening downward are formed in the connecting section 320A.

[0028] The cushion body 100A has a substantially semicircular cross section and can be shaped in any suitable shape to suit the user. A fixing plate 400A provided on the underside of the top plate 910 of the counter 900 is provided with a fixing protrusion 950A.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 7, the pivot shaft 321A of the switching member 300A is provided at the end of the connecting portion 320A, so that the operating portion 310A at the tip is tilted downward due to the weight of the switching member 300A. Therefore, in normal times when the cushion body 100A is not moved, the switching member 300A automatically tilts downward as shown in FIG. 7 due to the weight of the switching member 300A. Then, the switching groove 350A of the switching member 300A is inserted into and locked by the fixing protrusion 950A, and the cushion body 100A is automatically locked so as not to slide, which is highly convenient. The fixing portion that can fix the cushion body 100A so as not to slide is composed of the switching member 300A and the fixing protrusion 950A.

[0030] Next, as shown in FIG. 8, when the worker H0 is standing backward and wants to adjust the position of the cushion main body 100A, the worker H0 reaches under the slide rail 200A and pushes the operating part 310A of the switching member 300A upward to rotate the switching member 300A. Then, the switching groove 350A of the switching member 300A moves upward, so that the switching groove 350A is disengaged from the fixed protrusion 950A. In this state, the cushion main body 100A is slid back and forth along the slide rail 200A. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the position of the cushion main body 100A is adjusted so that it is pulled backward. Then, when the worker H0 releases his / her hand from the operating part 310A, the switching member 300A automatically rotates downward due to its own weight, and the switching groove 350A of the switching member 300A engages with the fixing convex part 950A, and the cushion main body part 100A is automatically fixed so as not to slide.

[0031] The invention is not limited to the above examples, and various modifications and combinations are possible within the scope of the claims and the scope of the embodiments, and these modifications and combinations are also included in the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A knee cushion that is attached to a counter, A slide rail disposed under the counter top; A knee cushion comprising: a cushion main body that is slidable toward the rear of the counter along the slide rail.

2. A fixing portion is provided that can fix the cushion body so that the cushion body does not slide. The knee cushion according to claim 1 , wherein the operating portion of the fixing portion is disposed below the slide rail.

3. The fixing portion includes a plurality of fixing grooves arranged on the counter side and a switching member arranged on the cushion main body side, 3. The knee cushion according to claim 2, wherein the switching member is configured to be switchable between a state in which the fixed end of the switching member is engaged with the fixing groove and a state in which the fixed end of the switching member is released from the fixing groove.

4. The fixing portion includes a fixing protrusion disposed on the counter side and a switching member disposed on the cushion main body side and having a plurality of switching grooves, 3. The knee cushion according to claim 2, wherein the switching member is configured to be switchable between a state in which the switching groove of the switching member is engaged with the fixed convex portion and a state in which the switching groove of the switching member is disengaged from the fixed convex portion.

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