Buddhist altar

Abstract

This invention provides a small, simple Buddhist altar, such as a modern one, that allows for the attachment of lighting fixtures and other Buddhist implements to the ceiling surface in a detachable manner, and also allows for the arbitrary suspension of various hanging Buddhist implements. [Solution] A magnetic adsorption plate 18 is provided on the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar, while a magnetic adsorption member is provided on the mounting part of Buddhist implements such as lighting fixtures that are attached to the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar. The Buddhist implements such as lighting fixtures are attached to the magnetic adsorption plate via the magnetic adsorption member, and a hook member 25 is attached to the magnetic adsorption plate via the magnetic adsorption member, and hanging Buddhist implements such as lanterns 30 are suspended from the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar via the hook member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention of this application relates to the structure of an altar equipped with a magnetic adsorption plate for mounting lighting fixtures and hanging Buddhist utensils on the ceiling part.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, due to factors such as housing conditions, there has been an increase in altars with a small, compact, and simple structure. Such altars are generally called modern altars. In the case of such altars, the structure of the ceiling part (ceiling surface) is flat and not a lattice structure like that of a general altar. Therefore, it is not possible to hang lighting Buddhist utensils such as lanterns and ring lights. For this reason, as a lighting means (one of the five offerings) for illuminating the principal image (Buddha statue or hanging scroll), lighting fixtures such as downlights (LED types are common) are generally provided. And these lighting fixtures such as downlights are generally located at the center or the back side of the inner ceiling part of the altar and are installed in a form that is completely fixed to the ceiling part (ceiling surface) (a state where it cannot be detached or attached by normal operations) (for example, refer to the configurations of Patent Documents 1 to 3). Depending on the type, there are also those embedded in the ceiling part.

[0003] On the other hand, in a general altar, since the ceiling part is lattice-shaped as described above, various hanging Buddhist utensils (ornamental utensils) such as lanterns,璎珞, banners, canopies, ring lights, and flower garlands can be hung in the space inside the altar using it.

[0004] However, in a small, compact, and simple modern altar, since the ceiling part is flat as described above, it is not possible to hang such hanging Buddhist utensils, and the installation of Buddhist utensils is centered around a minimum number of placing Buddhist utensils (five essential utensils). Therefore, it tends to lack decoration and solemnity, and compared with a general altar, it has no sense of solidity.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3226984 Gazette [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3207820 Gazette [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-240519 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] By the way, as described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 above, when installing lighting fixtures such as downlights in a way that completely fixes them to the ceiling (ceiling surface) inside the Buddhist altar, in addition to the wiring work for the power supply, fixing work for the lighting fixtures themselves is required. Furthermore, the lighting fixtures themselves require specific mounting members and mounting structures, such as flanges or holes for mounting screws. In particular, if a Buddhist altar is purchased that does not come standard with lighting fixtures such as downlights, it is troublesome to have to perform these installations separately on the existing altar.

[0007] Furthermore, if the lighting fixtures are fixed in place, as will be discussed later, if additional hooks are installed to allow for the hanging of decorative items such as lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, rin-tou lanterns, and kemans, there is a problem in that the installation position of the lighting fixtures cannot be changed or adjusted accordingly.

[0008] Furthermore, in such cases, if the hanging Buddhist altar fitting is equipped with a means of illumination, such as a lantern or hanging lamp, it is assumed that the power wiring passage for the fitting will be used for the power wiring passage for the lighting fixture. However, if the lighting fixture is fixed in place as described above, it is not easy to remove it (open the wiring passage).

[0009] Furthermore, if lighting fixtures cannot be attached or detached as needed, there is the problem of not being able to replace them in case of malfunction or change models to suit personal preferences.

[0010] Furthermore, in the case of Buddhist altars shown in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 to 3, as described above, the ceiling is flat, so hanging Buddhist implements such as lanterns, necklaces, banners, canopies, rin-to lanterns, and flower garlands cannot be hung as they are. As a result, the current situation is that the placement of Buddhist implements is inevitably centered on the outer side of the altar (the five-piece set of implements).

[0011] However, using only decorative Buddhist implements inevitably lacks the decorative and solemn qualities within the altar (especially around the inner sanctuary), and it cannot express the gravitas based on the traditional form of worship inherent in a typical Buddhist altar.

[0012] The invention described in this application was made to solve these problems, and aims to provide a Buddhist altar, such as a modern Buddhist altar, that is small, compact, and has a simple structure, in which a magnetic adsorption plate is provided on the ceiling, and which allows for the attachment of Buddhist implements such as the aforementioned lighting fixtures, as well as the suspension of various hanging Buddhist implements, using the magnetic adsorption plate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] To solve the above problems, the invention described in this application is configured to include the following problem-solving means.

[0014] (1) Means for solving the problem of the invention of claim 1 The solution to the problem of this invention is characterized by providing a magnetic adsorption plate on the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar, while providing a magnetic adsorption member on the mounting part of the Buddhist implement to be attached to the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar, and attaching the Buddhist implement to the magnetic adsorption plate on the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar via the magnetic adsorption member.

[0015] In small, compact, and simple modern Buddhist altars, as already explained, it is not possible to hang lighting implements such as lanterns or hanging lamps. Therefore, lighting fixtures such as downlights are generally provided as a means of illuminating the main image (Buddha statue or hanging scroll) (one of the five offerings). These lighting fixtures are located in the center or at the back of the ceiling inside the altar and are fixed to the ceiling surface.

[0016] However, if lighting fixtures such as downlights are to be permanently installed in the ceiling (ceiling surface) inside the Buddhist altar, dedicated installation and wiring work will be required, resulting in high costs. In particular, if you purchase a Buddhist altar that does not come standard with lighting fixtures such as downlights, additional installation and wiring work will be required, which will be extremely costly.

[0017] Furthermore, as will be discussed later, if a separate hook component is provided to allow for the suspension of decorative items such as lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, lanterns, and flower garlands, there is a problem in that the installation position of the lighting fixtures cannot be changed or adjusted to accommodate these items.

[0018] Furthermore, since the lighting fixture itself cannot be easily attached or detached, there are problems with replacing it in case of malfunction or changing models to suit personal preferences.

[0019] However, as described above, if a magnetic adsorption plate is installed on the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar, and a magnetic adsorption member is installed on the mounting part of Buddhist implements such as lighting fixtures attached to the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar, and the Buddhist implements are attached to the magnetic adsorption plate on the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar in a manner that allows them to be attached and detached via the magnetic adsorption member, then it becomes unnecessary to fix lighting fixtures such as downlights to the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar (ceiling surface), and they can be attached simply by using magnetic adsorption force (with a single touch).

[0020] Therefore, special installation work is unnecessary, and even if you purchase a Buddhist altar that does not come standard with lighting fixtures such as downlights, you will not need to perform any additional installation work (fixed installation) or wiring work.

[0021] Furthermore, because the lighting fixture itself is easy to attach and detach, as will be described later, if a hook component is provided on the ceiling separately to hang decorative items such as lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, rin-tou lanterns, and kemans, it becomes easy to change or adjust the installation position accordingly.

[0022] Also, in that case, when the hanging Buddhist implement has lighting means like a lantern or a wheel lantern, it is assumed that the power wiring passage thereof is also used as the power wiring passage of the lighting fixture. However, as described above, if the lighting fixture is detachably installed, its removal (opening of the power wiring passage) is easy, and the wiring work using the power wiring passage is also facilitated.

[0023] Also, for the same reason, replacement of the lighting fixture in case of failure and model change according to preference are also facilitated.

[0024] In the above case, for the magnetic adsorption plate, for example, a thin iron plate with sufficient magnetism containing carbon, or a similar thin iron plate pre-magnetized can be adopted.

[0025] Correspondingly, for the magnetic adsorption member in the attachment part on the Buddhist implement side such as the lighting fixture, a pre-magnetized magnet (permanent magnet) or an iron member with sufficient magnetism containing carbon is adopted.

[0026] Also, as the pre-magnetized magnetic adsorption plate, for example, a magnet plate made of a magnetic plate formed by mixing and molding ferrite powder, which is magnetic powder, and a resin binder, or a magnet plate made of a magnetic sheet with a similar structure can be adopted.

[0027] (2) Means for Solving the Problem of the Invention of Claim 2 The means for solving the problem of this invention is characterized in that a magnetic adsorption plate is provided on the ceiling part inside the Buddhist altar, a hook member attached to the magnetic adsorption plate via a magnetic adsorption member is provided, and a hanging Buddhist implement is hung on the ceiling part inside the Buddhist altar via the hook member.

[0028] As already described, in a modern Buddhist altar with a small, compact, and simple structure, there is no configuration for hanging solemn objects such as lanterns,璎珞, streamers, canopies, wheel lanterns, and garlands inside the Buddhist altar. Therefore, a lattice structure serving as an engaging part for hanging those solemn objects is not provided on the ceiling part.

[0029] However, as described above, if a magnetic adsorption plate is provided on the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar, and multiple hook members are attached to the magnetic adsorption plate via magnetic adsorption members, and hanging Buddhist implements are suspended from the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar via these hook members, then such problems can be reliably solved.

[0030] In particular, lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, lintels, and garlands each have a predetermined basic hanging position. If the hook members are to be attached directly to the ceiling surface using a screw-in method, numerous screw holes must be prepared in advance, and in that case, selecting the mounting position (position of the screw holes) when attaching the hook members is not easy. Garlands, for example, are hung in the inner sanctuary (palace), so it is necessary to prepare screw holes for attaching the hook members in the ceiling of the inner sanctuary (palace).

[0031] In contrast, with the magnetic adsorption method described above, such screw hole processing is unnecessary, and the hook member can be easily attached. Moreover, the mounting position can be adjusted completely freely and can be adjusted at will even after installation.

[0032] In this case, the magnetic adsorption plate can be made of, for example, a thin iron plate containing carbon with sufficient magnetic properties, or a similar thin iron plate that has been pre-magnetized.

[0033] In addition, the magnetic adsorption member at the mounting portion on the hook member side is also subjected to a pre-magnetized magnet (permanent magnet) or an iron member containing carbon that has sufficient magnetism.

[0034] Furthermore, as the pre-magnetized magnetic adsorption plate, it is also possible to use, for example, a magnet plate made of a magnetic plate formed by mixing ferrite powder, which is a type of magnetic powder, with a resin binder, or a magnet plate made of a magnetic sheet having a similar structure.

[0035] (3) Means for solving the problem of the invention of claim 3 The solution to the problem of this invention is characterized in that, in the solution to the problem of the invention of claim 1 or 2 above, the magnetic adsorption plate is joined to the ceiling surface on the underside of the top plate of the Buddhist altar.

[0036] The magnetic adsorption plate described above is joined to the ceiling surface on the underside of the top plate of the Buddhist altar, or to the ceiling surface on the underside of the top plate via a predetermined ceiling board, using a desired joining means. This joining can be done, for example, by using an adhesive to join to the ceiling surface on the underside of the top plate, or to the ceiling surface on the underside of the top plate via a predetermined ceiling board, or by using double-sided tape.

[0037] Magnetic adsorption plates can be installed from the beginning during the manufacturing process of new Buddhist altars, or they can be added later by users to existing, ready-made altars that do not originally have magnetic adsorption plates, as needed. A bonding method using double-sided tape is suitable for such cases. In this case, the magnetic adsorption plate itself can also be configured as a separate, independent product to meet such needs.

[0038] (4) Means for solving the problem of the invention of claim 4 The solution to the problem of this invention is characterized in that, in the solution to the problem of the invention of claim 1 above, the Buddhist implement attached to the ceiling is a lighting device that illuminates the inside of the Buddhist altar.

[0039] In small, compact, and simple modern Buddhist altars, lighting fixtures such as downlights (LED lights) that illuminate the inside of the altar are installed from the beginning in a fixed position on the ceiling.

[0040] However, if lighting fixtures such as downlights are to be permanently installed in the ceiling (ceiling surface) inside the Buddhist altar, in addition to the power wiring work, permanent installation work for the lighting fixtures themselves is required. Furthermore, the lighting fixtures themselves require specific mounting components and a specific mounting structure, such as a flange or mounting screw insertion point. In particular, if a Buddhist altar is purchased that does not come standard with lighting fixtures such as downlights, these works must be carried out separately on the existing altar. As a result, the cost will be high.

[0041] Furthermore, as will be discussed later, if a separate hook component is provided to allow for the hanging of decorative items such as lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, rin-tou lanterns, and kemans, there is a problem in that the installation position cannot be changed or adjusted accordingly.

[0042] Furthermore, since the lighting fixture itself cannot be easily attached or detached, there are problems with replacing it in case of malfunction or changing models to suit personal preferences.

[0043] However, as described above, if a magnetic adsorption plate is installed on the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar, and a magnetic adsorption member is installed on the mounting part of the lighting fixture to be attached to the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar, and the lighting fixture is attached to the magnetic adsorption plate on the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar via the magnetic adsorption member, then it becomes unnecessary to fix the lighting fixture such as a downlight to the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar (ceiling surface), and it can be easily attached simply by using magnetic adsorption force.

[0044] Therefore, the need for special installation work as in the past is eliminated, and even if you purchase a Buddhist altar that does not come standard with lighting fixtures such as downlights, you will not need to perform any additional installation work.

[0045] Furthermore, because the lighting fixture itself is easy to attach and detach, as will be described later, if a hook component is provided on the ceiling separately to hang decorative items such as lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, rin-tou lanterns, and kemans, it becomes easy to change or adjust the installation position accordingly.

[0046] For similar reasons, it also becomes easier to replace lighting fixtures in case of malfunction or to change models to suit individual preferences.

[0047] (5) Means for solving the problem of the invention of claim 5 The means for solving the problem of this invention is characterized in that, in the means for solving the problem of the invention of claim 2 above, the hanging Buddhist altar fittings are ornamental items such as lanterns, necklaces, banners, canopies, ring lanterns, and flower garlands.

[0048] As already mentioned, modern Buddhist altars, being small, compact, and simply constructed, are generally not designed to have decorative items such as lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, rin-tou lanterns, and keman hanging inside. Therefore, they do not have a lattice structure on the ceiling that would serve as an engagement point for hanging these decorative items.

[0049] Therefore, it was difficult to achieve the decorative and solemn appearance of a typical Buddhist altar, which was disappointing for users who valued traditional Buddhist altar styles.

[0050] However, as described above, if a magnetic adsorption plate is provided on the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar, and multiple hook members are attached to the magnetic adsorption plate via magnetic adsorption members, and the various hanging Buddhist altar implements are suspended from the ceiling inside the Buddhist altar via these hook members, then such problems can be reliably solved.

[0051] Furthermore, in the above configuration, individual hanging Buddhist implements such as lanterns, necklaces, banners, canopies, rin-tou lamps, and flower garlands can be purchased by the user from a variety of products available on websites, and then hung in the desired combination. Moreover, the hanging positions of each of these Buddhist implements within the altar can be freely set and adjusted.

[0052] Therefore, in this configuration, although there are basic hanging positions depending on the type of hanging Buddhist altar fittings, users can enjoy the pleasure of choosing materials, and the artistic joy and pleasure of beautifully decorating the altar by combining those materials, much like when arranging flowers.

[0053] As a result, it becomes possible to configure this modern Buddhist altar into a new product format: a custom-made, personalized Buddhist altar.

[0054] These effects are only achieved through the combination of the magnetic adsorption plate and the hook member equipped with the magnetic adsorption member, and cannot be achieved by simply screwing the hook member into a predetermined position.

[0055] (6) Means for solving the problem of the invention of claim 6 The solution to the problem of this invention is a Buddhist altar in which a magnetic adsorption plate is provided in the ceiling part of the altar, a lighting fixture is attached to the magnetic adsorption plate via a magnetic adsorption member and power is supplied through a predetermined power wiring passage provided in the ceiling part, and a hanging Buddhist altar fitting is suspended from a hook member attached to the magnetic adsorption plate via a magnetic adsorption member, wherein if the hanging Buddhist altar fitting has a lighting function, power is supplied by using the power wiring passage of the lighting fixture as well.

[0056] Among the various hanging Buddhist altar fittings mentioned above, such as lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, dangling lanterns, and flower garlands, lanterns and dangling lanterns are equipped with LEDs for illumination and require a power source for lighting. If a separate power wiring passage were to be provided for this purpose, the wiring work would be difficult and the ceiling structure would become complex. Therefore, in the solution to this problem in this invention, the power wiring passage for the lanterns and dangling lanterns is used in conjunction with the power wiring passage for the lighting fixtures to supply power.

[0057] Therefore, there is no need to create new power wiring passages, and the ceiling structure can be kept simple. In addition, it becomes easier to accommodate situations where users add magnetic adsorption plates to ready-made, commercially available Buddhist altars as needed to hang hanging Buddhist implements.

[0058] Moreover, in this case, since the lighting fixture is only fixed to the magnetic adsorption plate via a magnetic adsorption member, it can be easily removed, unlike in conventional fixed structures, and the power wiring passage for the lighting fixture can be easily opened. Therefore, inserting new power wiring is also easy. Furthermore, reinstallation of the lighting fixture (downlight) after wiring is completed is also easy. [Effects of the Invention]

[0059] As a result of the above, according to the invention of this application, in a small, compact, and simple structured Buddhist altar such as a modern Buddhist altar, Buddhist implements such as lighting fixtures can be attached to the ceiling in a removable manner, and various hanging Buddhist implements such as lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, rin-tou lamps, and keman can be hung as desired.

[0060] As a result, it has become possible to easily achieve the decorative and solemn qualities that could not be expected with conventional modern Buddhist altars, and to realize a sense of gravitas based on the traditional form of memorial service that is the essence of Buddhist altars.

[0061] Therefore, compared to the traditional form of memorial service for modern Buddhist altars, which mainly consisted of portable Buddhist implements, the form of memorial service for the modern Buddhist altar itself improves, and the commercial value of the modern Buddhist altar increases significantly.

[0062] Furthermore, users can purchase individual hanging Buddhist implements such as lanterns, necklaces, banners, canopies, rin-tou lanterns, and kemans from a variety of products via websites and other means, and then combine and hang them as desired. Moreover, the hanging positions of these implements within the Buddhist altar can be freely set and adjusted.

[0063] Therefore, in the case of the invention described in this application, although there are basic hanging positions depending on the type of hanging Buddhist altar fitting, the user can enjoy the pleasure of choosing materials, and the artistic joy and pleasure of decorating the Buddhist altar beautifully by combining those materials, much like when arranging flowers.

[0064] As a result, according to the invention of this application, it becomes possible to configure the modern Buddhist altar into a new product form: a custom-made, personalized Buddhist altar. In this respect as well, the commercial value of the modern Buddhist altar is greatly enhanced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0065] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing the overall configuration of a Buddhist altar according to an embodiment of the invention of this application. [Figure 2] This is a side view showing the overall configuration of the Buddhist altar. [Figure 3] This is a front view of the Buddhist altar, with the front door of the casing removed to reveal the internal structure. [Figure 4] This is a plan view of the Buddhist altar, with the top and ceiling panels on the upper side of the casing removed to reveal the internal structure of the casing. [Figure 5] Figure 3 shows the Buddhist altar with the front door removed, and the image is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line AA to show the structure of the top and ceiling panels of the altar. [Figure 6] This is a plan view showing the configuration of the iron plate (magnetic adsorption plate) attached to the underside of the ceiling panel in the Buddhist altar. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of the back side of a downlight that is installed using the iron plate on the underside of the ceiling panel in the same Buddhist altar. [Figure 8] This is a front view of the same Buddhist altar, in a state similar to Figure 3, where a pair of lanterns (hanging Buddhist implements) are detachably suspended using the iron plate on the underside of the ceiling board. [Figure 9] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to Figure 5, showing a pair of lanterns suspended from the iron plate on the underside of the ceiling board in the same Buddhist altar. [Figure 10] This is an enlarged side view showing the configuration of magnetic hooks used to suspend a pair of lanterns on the left and right sides of the Buddhist altar, utilizing the iron plate on the underside of the ceiling panel. [Figure 11]This is an enlarged side view showing the configuration of the engagement between the hook portion of the magnetic hook used to suspend a pair of lanterns from the iron plate on the underside of the ceiling board in the Buddhist altar, and the upper ends of the suspension pipes for the pair of lanterns. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0066] The configurations and operations of two embodiments for carrying out the invention of this application will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 11 of the attached drawings.

[0067] <First Embodiment> First, Figures 1 to 7 show the structure and operation of a Buddhist altar according to the first embodiment of the invention of this application. As an example of the type of Buddhist altar according to this first embodiment, a small, apartment-sized altar (a so-called modern Buddhist altar), which has recently seen increased demand, has been selected.

[0068] In Figures 1 to 4, which show the overall structure of the Buddhist altar, reference numeral 1 first indicates the vertically elongated rectangular prism-shaped housing of the altar body, which has a door 2 for opening and closing at the front opening. The housing 1 consists of a bottom plate 11, a pair of side plates 12, 12 on both the left and right sides, a top plate 13, and a back plate 14, and its front side is open.

[0069] A drawer 5 is first provided on the top of the base plate 11, a sliding shelf 6 is provided above the drawer 5, a lower shelf (large depth and width) 7 is provided above the sliding shelf 6, and an upper shelf (small depth and width) 8 is provided a predetermined distance above the lower shelf 7. An ancestral tablet or the like is placed on the uppermost shelf 8, which has the smallest depth and width.

[0070] A hanging scroll mounting plate 10 with a predetermined width in the left-right direction is provided in the center of the front side of the back panel 14. A hanging scroll of the principal image of Buddha is hung on this hanging scroll mounting plate 10.

[0071] On the underside of the top plate 13, as shown in Figure 5, for example, a transom (crossbar) 19 of a predetermined width in the front-to-back direction is located on the opening side of the housing 1, and a ceiling plate 17 with a predetermined thickness is provided extending from the rear end of the transom 19 to the front of the back plate 14, with the ceiling plate being thinner than the transom 19 by a predetermined dimension. On the underside of the ceiling plate 17, a thin iron plate 18 with high magnetic properties, such as containing carbon, is provided as a magnetic adsorption plate to which a magnet (permanent magnet), which is a pre-magnetized magnetic adsorption member, is attracted. This iron plate 18 is integrally constructed with the ceiling plate 17 by predetermined joining means, such as being joined to the underside of the ceiling plate 17 with adhesive. The underside of this iron plate 18 is, if necessary, painted with a desired coating that does not affect the magnetic properties (magnetic adsorption) according to the color of the wood (such as ash) that makes up the Buddhist altar.

[0072] As shown in Figure 6, for example, the iron plate 18 has a circular opening 18a for drawing out the power wiring 20 for the downlight (ceiling light) 9, located slightly behind (towards the back panel 14) the center of the entire surface (the center where the diagonals intersect). On the other hand, the ceiling panel 17 also has a circular opening 17a that communicates with this circular opening 18a. The opening 17a on the ceiling panel 17 penetrates the ceiling panel 17 and opens to the underside of the top panel 13. In this embodiment, the circular opening 18a of the iron plate 18 has a considerably larger diameter than the opening 17a of the ceiling panel 17, and communicates with the opening 17a of the ceiling panel 17 at its rear end (shifted towards the back panel 14). The circular opening 18a of the iron plate 18 also serves as a reference point indicating the installation position of the downlight 9 corresponding to the main image of Buddha.

[0073] A groove (for example, a semicircular cross-section) 17b of a predetermined depth is provided in the portion extending from the upper end of the opening 17a on the upper surface of the ceiling panel 17 to the front surface of the upper end of the back panel 14, connecting the opening 18a in the iron plate 18 and the opening 17a in the ceiling panel 17 to the front surface of the upper end of the back panel 14. A groove 14a of a similar shape is provided at the upper end of the back panel 14 corresponding to this groove 17b, opening the groove 17b to the outside. These interconnected openings 18a, 17a, and grooves 17b, 14a form a pull-out passage (power wiring passage) for the power wiring 20 for the downlight 9, which connects the space inside the Buddhist altar from the back panel 14 side to the outside. This pull-out passage (power wiring passage) for the power wiring 20 also serves as a pull-out passage (power wiring passage) for the power wiring of the hanging Buddhist altar fittings (lanterns and hanging lamps) that have lighting functions, which will be described later.

[0074] The power wiring 20 consists of a pair of power wirings, and at the ends of the pair of power wirings 20 that are pulled out from the groove 14a of the back panel 14, there are connection plugs 23 that can be connected to the end of a power cord extending from an AC power plug (not shown) that is inserted into a household power outlet.

[0075] Meanwhile, doors 2 with a left-right opening structure are attached to the left and right sides of the front opening of the housing 1 via a pair of upper and lower first hinges 15, 15, 15, 15. The doors 2 are constructed by connecting two left and right halves 21, 22, 21, 22 with an upper and lower pair of second hinges 16, 16, 16, 16, so that they can be bent freely.

[0076] When the door 2 is closed, the back sides of the left and right halves 22, 22 located towards the central part are provided with door fixing magnets (or magnetic metal members) corresponding to the door fixing magnets 19a, 19a provided on the front side of the transom 19 (not shown).

[0077] In a Buddhist altar configured in this way, the iron plate (magnetic adsorption plate) 18 on the ceiling surface allows for the detachable attachment of Buddhist altar accessories (lighting fixtures such as downlights 9) and various hanging Buddhist altar fittings (decorative items).

[0078] (1) Installation of a downlight 9 for lighting inside the Buddhist altar using a steel plate 18. Recently, downlights 9 for interior lighting of Buddhist altars are generally made of LEDs and are small and compact. For example, in the embodiment of this invention, as shown in Figure 7, multiple LEDs are arranged in a ring shape inside a thin, bottomed cylindrical resin main package 9a, while a transparent resin cover (light-emitting window) 9b is provided on the upper side. Then, as described above, power wiring (two cords) 20 drawn out from the outer circumference of the back of the main package 9a are first pulled out from the circular opening 18a of the iron plate 18 to above the circular opening 17a of the ceiling plate 13, and then pulled out from the semicircular power wiring outlet 14a on the back side of the back plate 14 via a semicircular groove 17b on the upper side of the ceiling plate 13 and connected to the AC power cord.

[0079] Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, for example, if magnets (permanent magnets) 9c, 9c are embedded in two locations on the back side of the main package 9a (two locations with 180-degree rotations apart) so that they are substantially flush with the back side of the main package 9a, the package can be detachably attached to the ceiling surface (iron plate 18 surface) via the magnets 9c, 9c. In this case, if the length of the power wiring 20 is set to a dimension with flexibility, the installation position can be arbitrarily adjusted by utilizing the detachability of the magnets 9c, 9c. Furthermore, the power wiring pull-out passage (power wiring passage) can be left open inside the Buddhist altar with ample space. Therefore, the pull-out work of inserting the power wiring of hanging Buddhist altar fittings with lighting functions, such as the lantern 30 described later, can be easily performed.

[0080] In this configuration, the downlights 9, which were previously mainly fixed in predetermined locations, can be freely installed and removed. This not only makes replacement easier in case of malfunction, but also allows users to replace them with desired downlights that differ in shape, light color, and brightness level, depending on their preferences or the season.

[0081] (2) Hanging Buddhist altar fittings using iron plate 18 and magnetic hook 25 In the case of traditional, relatively large Buddhist altars, the ceiling surface is made up of a lattice, which is used to hang various hanging Buddhist implements (ornamental objects) such as lanterns, necklaces, banners, canopies, rin-tou lamps, and flower garlands inside the altar (inner sanctuary).

[0082] However, with the recent trend towards smaller, more compact, and simpler modern Buddhist altars, the ceiling surface is flat, making it impossible to hang such Buddhist implements.

[0083] However, in the case of a Buddhist altar with the above configuration, since the iron plate 18 is provided over the entire underside of the ceiling panel 17 as described above, a magnetic hook 25 with the configuration shown in Figure 10 can be detachably attached to the underside of the ceiling panel 17 (underside of the iron plate 18), for example, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

[0084] In other words, in this embodiment, the magnetic hook 25 shown in Figure 10 consists of, for example, a C-shaped hook portion 25a, a cylindrical hook body 25b that supports the hook portion 25a, and a magnet (permanent magnet) 25c, which is a magnetic adsorption member housed and fixed inside the cylindrical portion of the hook body 25b. By magnetically adsorbing the upper end surface of the magnet 25c of the hook body 25b to the lower surface of the iron plate 18 on the lower surface of the ceiling board 17, the hooks can be fixed arbitrarily in any desired position and in any desired number on the lower surface of the ceiling board 17.

[0085] Therefore, by using the magnetic hook 25 as a means of hanging items in place of the ceiling lattice, various hanging Buddhist implements such as lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, rin-tou lamps, and keman can be hung in the desired position.

[0086] Now, the configurations in Figures 8 and 9 show, as an example, a case in which a pair of lanterns 30, 30 are suspended above the front of the inner sanctuary of the Buddhist altar. In this embodiment, the lantern (for example, the Natsume type is used) 30 is composed of a firebox 31 that forms the main body, a cap 32 on the upper side, and legs 33 on the lower side, and a suspension pipe 34 is attached to the center of the lantern, extending upward from the lower side for a predetermined length.

[0087] Furthermore, a hanging ring 35 is provided at the upper end of the suspension pipe 34, as shown in detail in Figure 11, for example, which penetrates the end in the left-right direction and rotates in the front-back direction. Therefore, when this hanging ring 35 is attached to the hook portion 25a of a magnetic hook 25 fixed to the iron plate 18 on the underside of the ceiling board 17, each lantern 30, 30 is neatly suspended in pairs, as shown in Figure 8.

[0088] In this embodiment, the hook portion 25a of the magnetic hook 25 in Figure 10 is connected to the hook body 25b via a connecting portion 25d that allows the hook portion 25a to rotate around its axis. The C-shaped hook portion 25a, which engages with the upper end of the suspension pipe 34 via the hanging ring 35, is supported so as to be axially rotatable relative to the hook body 25b. Therefore, once the hook body 25b is fixed in the desired position, the opening direction of the C-shaped hook portion 25a can be arbitrarily (easily) directed towards the front. Thus, the hanging work of the lanterns 30, 30 becomes easier.

[0089] Furthermore, in the case of various hanging Buddhist altar fittings, such as the lanterns 30, 30 in this embodiment, which are equipped with a lighting function, an insulating pipe (flexible resin insulating pipe) with a predetermined inner diameter is passed from the upper end to the lighting part inside the firebox 31 using the hanging pipe 34, and the power wiring (cord) is inserted into the pipe to enable lighting.

[0090] In this case, for example, in the case of a Buddhist altar that does not have the downlight 9 described above, the power wiring (cord) from the upper end of the suspension pipe 34 is routed in a configuration where, as shown in Figure 9, circular openings 18a and 17a for power wiring outlets are provided in advance in the same way as in the case of the downlight 9, corresponding to the suspension portion, and the power wiring is routed through recessed grooves 17b on the upper surface of the ceiling panel 17 corresponding to the circular openings 18a and 17a, and out through a power wiring outlet 14a on the back of the back panel 14.

[0091] On the other hand, in the case of a Buddhist altar equipped with a downlight 9 as described above, the power wiring 20 can be drawn out using the same power wiring passage for the downlight 9 shown in Figure 5.

[0092] In other words, among the various hanging Buddhist implements mentioned above, such as lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, rin-to lamps, and kemans, lanterns and rin-to lamps are equipped with LEDs for illumination and require a power source for lighting. If a separate power wiring passage were to be provided for this purpose, the wiring work would be difficult and the structure of the ceiling would become complicated. Therefore, in this embodiment of the invention, the power wiring exit passages 18a, 17a, 17b, and 14a of the downlight 9 are used to draw out the power wiring (not shown) for the lanterns 30, 30 and supply power.

[0093] Therefore, there is no need to create new power wiring passages, and the ceiling structure can be kept simple. In addition, it becomes easier to accommodate situations where users add a magnetic adsorption member, such as an iron plate 18, to a ready-made or commercially available Buddhist altar as needed, and hang lighting fixtures such as lanterns 30, 30 from it.

[0094] Moreover, in this case, the downlight 9 is only fixed to the iron plate 18, which is a magnetic adsorption plate, via magnets 9c, which are magnetic adsorption members. Unlike conventional fixed structures, it can be easily removed, and the power wiring exit passages 18a, 17a, 17b, and 14a can be easily opened up inside the altar. Therefore, inserting and pulling out new power wiring is also easy. Furthermore, reinstalling the downlight 9 after wiring is complete is also easy (one-touch magnetic fixation).

[0095] Thus, in the Buddhist altar according to this embodiment of the invention, by utilizing the iron plate 18 shown in Figure 6 and the magnetic hooks 25 (multiple) shown in Figure 10, various hanging Buddhist implements such as garlands, banners, canopies, lintels, and flower garlands, not limited to the lanterns 30, 30, can be similarly suspended at a desired position and height.

[0096] As a result, it is possible to reliably achieve the decorative and solemn qualities that could not be expected with conventional modern Buddhist altars, and to realize a sense of gravitas based on the traditional form of memorial service that is inherent to Buddhist altars. Therefore, compared to the traditional form of memorial service for modern Buddhist altars, which mainly consisted of portable Buddhist implements, the form of memorial service for the modern Buddhist altar itself improves, and the commercial value of the modern Buddhist altar increases significantly.

[0097] Furthermore, users can purchase individual hanging Buddhist altar fittings such as lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, rin-tou lanterns, and kemans from a variety of products available through websites and other means, and then combine and hang them as desired. Moreover, there is a great degree of freedom in setting and adjusting the hanging positions of these fittings within the altar, and users are not necessarily bound by traditional, pre-existing hanging configurations. The choice is essentially up to the user.

[0098] Therefore, in the case of a Buddhist altar according to the embodiment of this invention, although there is a basic principle for the hanging position depending on the type of hanging Buddhist altar fittings, the user can enjoy the pleasure of choosing materials, and the artistic pleasure and enjoyment of decorating the Buddhist altar beautifully by combining those materials, much like when arranging flowers.

[0099] As a result, according to the embodiment of this invention, the modern Buddhist altar can be configured as a custom-made, personalized altar, which is a new product form. In this respect as well, the commercial value of the modern Buddhist altar is greatly enhanced.

[0100] Such effects are only achieved through the combination of the iron plate 18, which is the magnetic adsorption plate, and the magnet hook 25, which is equipped with the magnet 25c, which is the magnetic adsorption member, and cannot be achieved by simply screwing the hook member into a predetermined position.

[0101] In other words, the hanging Buddhist implements such as lanterns, ornaments, banners, canopies, rin-to lanterns, and flower garlands mentioned above have predetermined basic hanging positions within the Buddhist altar. Therefore, if, for example, hook members were to be attached directly to the ceiling surface using a screw-in method, numerous screw holes would have to be provided in advance, and in that case, selecting the mounting position (location of the screw holes) when attaching the necessary hook members would not be easy. Since banners and flower garlands are hung in the inner sanctuary (palace), it is also necessary to provide multiple screw holes for attaching hook members in the ceiling surface of the inner sanctuary (palace).

[0102] In contrast, with the magnetic adsorption method described above, no such screw hole processing is required, and the mounting position of the magnetic hook 25 is not restricted. Therefore, there is no need to pre-determine the mounting position of the magnetic hook 25, and the user can install it at any position. Furthermore, the mounting position can be adjusted and changed arbitrarily and easily even after installation. Thus, the above-mentioned custom-made hanging (decoration) becomes possible.

[0103] Furthermore, depending on the number and size of the hanging Buddhist altar fittings purchased, it may be necessary to adjust the spacing between them and their hanging positions to maintain overall balance, but this adjustment is also easy.

[0104] <Second Embodiment> In the Buddhist altar of the first embodiment described above, the iron plate 18 is fixedly installed in advance on the ceiling (the underside of the top plate or the underside of the ceiling plate provided below the top plate) during the manufacturing stage of the Buddhist altar.

[0105] However, the aforementioned ceiling plate 18 can also be retrofitted to the ceiling of a similar, readily available Buddhist altar (a modern Buddhist altar without a lattice for attaching hanging Buddhist implements to the ceiling).

[0106] In this case, the iron plate 18 is cut and processed to dimensions and shape according to the joining space and joining shape of the ceiling surface of a ready-made, commercially available Buddhist altar, and its upper side is joined to the ceiling surface (the underside of the top plate or the underside of the ceiling plate installed below the top plate) using, for example, double-sided tape. In this case, if a fixed downlight 9 is already installed, the part corresponding to the downlight 9 is cut out according to its shape and joined in a way that avoids interference with the downlight 9.

[0107] Furthermore, the same iron plate 18 can also be sold as a product with standard dimensions and shapes that correspond to the joint space and shape of the ceiling surface of ready-made, commercially available Buddhist altars, allowing users to set the dimensions and shape so that they can install it themselves after purchase.

[0108] In each of these cases, the iron plate 18 is also painted with a desired color on its surface (at least the underside) as needed.

[0109] By adopting this configuration, even in ready-made, commercially available Buddhist altars that do not have a metal plate 18 on the ceiling, various hanging Buddhist implements can be suspended in the same way as in the first embodiment described above. Furthermore, in such a case, the metal plate 18 can be configured as an independent, separate product to meet such needs.

[0110] <Other embodiments> In the above embodiment, a thin iron plate 18 containing carbon and having sufficient magnetism is used as the magnetic adsorption plate according to the present invention, and the magnets 9c, 9c, which are pre-magnetized magnetic adsorption members on the downlight 9 side, and the magnet 25c, which is a pre-magnetized magnetic adsorption member on the magnetic hook 25 side, are adsorbed and fixed to it. However, conversely, the thin iron plate 18 side may be a pre-magnetized magnetic plate, and the magnets 9c, 9c on the downlight 9 side and the magnet 25c on the magnetic hook 25 side may be iron materials with similarly high magnetism.

[0111] Furthermore, in addition to the above, other magnetic adsorption plates according to the present invention may also be used, such as a magnet plate made from a magnetic plate formed by mixing ferrite powder, which is a type of magnetic powder, with a resin binder, or a magnet plate made from a magnetic sheet having a similar structure, as a pre-magnetized magnetic adsorption plate.

[0112] Furthermore, strong neodymium magnets can be used for the magnets 9c, 9c and magnet 25c mentioned above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0113] 1 is the casing of the Buddhist altar. 2 is a door 5 is a drawer 7 is the lower shelf 8 is the upper shelf 9 is a downlight 9c is a magnet 11 is the base plate 12 is the side panel 13 is the top plate 14 is the back panel 17 is the ceiling panel 18 is a hot plate 19 is a transom (a wooden panel). 20 is power wiring (cord) 25 is a magnetic hook 25a is the hook part 25b is the hook body 25c is a magnet 30 is a lantern 31 is the firebox 32 is Kasa 33 is leg 34 is a suspension pipe. 35 is a hanging ring

Claims

1. A Buddhist altar characterized in that a magnetic adsorption plate is provided on the ceiling of the altar, and a magnetic adsorption member is provided on the mounting part of a Buddhist implement to be attached to the ceiling of the altar, and the Buddhist implement is attached to the magnetic adsorption plate on the ceiling of the altar via the magnetic adsorption member.

2. A Buddhist altar characterized in that a magnetic adsorption plate is provided on the ceiling inside the altar, and a hook member is provided that is attached to the magnetic adsorption plate via a magnetic adsorption member, and hanging Buddhist implements are suspended from the ceiling inside the altar via the hook member.

3. The Buddhist altar according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the magnetic adsorption plate is attached to the ceiling surface on the underside of the top plate of the Buddhist altar.

4. The Buddhist altar according to claim 1, characterized in that the Buddhist implement is a lighting device for illuminating the inside of the altar.

5. The Buddhist altar according to claim 2, characterized in that the hanging Buddhist implements are decorative items such as lanterns, necklaces, banners, canopies, dangling lamps, and flower garlands.

6. A Buddhist altar comprising a magnetic adsorption plate on the ceiling inside the altar, a lighting fixture attached to the magnetic adsorption plate via a magnetic adsorption member and powered through a predetermined power wiring passage provided on the ceiling, and a hanging Buddhist altar fitting suspended from a hook member attached to the magnetic adsorption plate via a magnetic adsorption member, wherein if the hanging Buddhist altar fitting has a lighting function, power is supplied to it using the same power wiring passage as the lighting fixture.

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