Folding booth

Abstract

To provide a foldable booth which improves facilitation of folding and facilitation of movement.SOLUTION: A foldable booth includes: a front face wall which is supported by a first caster; a back face wall which is supported by a second caster and faces the front face wall; a top wall which connects the front face wall and the back face wall, and is rotatable between an extended first position and a second position folded inward; and a side face wall which connects the front face wall and the back face wall.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a folding booth. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, a booth is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This booth has a sound-permeable region R in a part of a partition wall and a shielding cover that can adjust the opening ratio of the heat-permeable region R. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-200628 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Such stationary booths are difficult to remove once they are installed. Even if they are removed, the removal process requires time and manpower. However, there is a need for such existing booths to be easily folded and stored compactly, or to be easily relocated to another location, depending on changing needs.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a folding booth that is easier to fold and move. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above problems are solved by the present invention. That is, the folding booth of the present invention (1) is as follows: a front wall supported by the first caster; A rear wall supported by the second caster and facing the front wall; a top wall connecting the front wall and the rear wall and pivotable between an extended first position and an inwardly folded second position; a side wall connecting the front wall and the rear wall and pivotable between an extended third position and an inwardly folded fourth position; Equipped with.

[0007] The folding booth of the present invention (2) is the folding booth according to (1), the side wall having a plurality of panels that are pivotable relative to one another; a first gear provided so as to be connected to one of the plurality of panels; a second gear provided so as to be connected to another one of the plurality of panels and meshing with the first gear; a first shaft portion that rotatably supports the first gear; a second shaft portion that rotatably supports the second gear; a box-shaped cover that is integrally provided on the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion and that covers the first gear and the second gear; Equipped with.

[0008] The folding booth of the present invention (3) is the folding booth according to (1), the top wall having a plurality of wall portions that are rotatable relative to one another; a first gear provided so as to be connected to one of the plurality of wall portions; a second gear provided so as to be connected to another one of the plurality of wall portions and meshing with the first gear; a first shaft portion that rotatably supports the first gear; a second shaft portion that rotatably supports the second gear; a box-shaped cover that is integrally provided on the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion and that covers the first gear and the second gear; Equipped with.

[0009] The folding booth of the present invention (4) is the folding booth according to (1), the top wall having a plurality of wall portions that are rotatable relative to one another; a buffer portion provided between one of the plurality of wall portions and either the front wall or the rear wall, the buffer portion suppressing the biasing force of the plurality of wall portions when the top wall is moved from the first position to the second position; Equipped with.

[0010] The folding booth of the present invention (5) is the folding booth according to (1), The fire extinguishing equipment is provided near the top wall, and is located within a height range of the front wall and the rear wall when the top wall is in the second position.

[0011] The folding booth of the present invention (6) is the folding booth according to (1), A first functional panel covers at least a portion of the top wall.

[0012] The folding booth of the present invention (7) is the folding booth according to (1), a second functional panel covering approximately half of the upper side of the rear wall; a third functional panel covering approximately half of the upper side of the side wall; Equipped with.

[0013] The folding booth of the present invention (8) is the folding booth according to (1), The side wall has an opening provided at an upper portion, and a panel that is detachable from the opening and can close the opening.

[0014] The folding booth of the present invention (9) is the folding booth according to (8), The panel also serves as a stopper that supports the top wall.

[0015] The folding booth of the present invention (10) is the folding booth according to (1), At least one of the front wall and the rear wall has a handle.

[0016] The folding booth of the present invention (11) is the folding booth according to (1), a restricting member attached to the side wall and restricting the side wall from moving from the third position to the fourth position; The restricting member also serves as a connecting member that maintains the front wall and the rear wall in a state where they are close to each other.

[0017] The folding booth of the present invention (12) is the folding booth according to (11), The restrictor is capable of closing the gap between the side wall and the floor.

[0018] The folding booth of the present invention (13) is the folding booth according to (1), At least one of the inner surface of the front wall and the inner surface of the rear wall has a foldable table.

[0019] The folding booth of the present invention (14) is the folding booth according to (1), The top wall has a handle on the inner surface, and when a user grasps the handle and pulls the top wall downward, the top wall moves from the first position to the second position, and the first caster and the second caster act to bring the front wall and the rear wall closer together, thereby moving the side wall from the third position to the fourth position.

[0020] Further, the folding booth of the present invention (15) is the folding booth according to any one of (1) to (14), The front wall, the back wall, the top wall, and the side walls are made of an aluminum alloy. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to the present invention, a folding booth that is easier to fold and move can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a folding booth according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the folding booth shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the folding booth shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the folding booth shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a connecting portion (first hinge portion) of the top wall of the folding booth shown in FIG. 4, showing the top wall in a first position. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view of the first hinge portion shown in FIG. 7, showing a state in which the top wall is in a second position. FIG. [Figure 9] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 2 taken along line F9-F9, with some parts omitted. [Figure 10] 3 is a partially omitted cross-sectional view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 2 taken along line F10-F10. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing the buffer section of the folding booth shown in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the folding booth shown in FIG. 1, with one of the front wall and the side wall omitted. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the folding booth shown in FIG. 1, with one of the front wall and the side wall omitted. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing two folding booths shown in FIG. 1 arranged side by side in a concentrated manner. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the folding booth shown in FIG. 1, with one of the front wall and the side wall omitted, showing the process of folding the table. [Figure 16] 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a process of removing a fixing member in the folding booth shown in FIG. [Figure 17]FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the process of removing the third panel from the opening in the folding booth shown in FIG. 16. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the process of hanging the removed third panel from a pair of hook portions in the folding booth shown in FIG. 17. [Figure 19] 19 is a perspective view showing a state in which a restrictor is attached to the bottom of a side wall in the folding booth shown in FIG. 18. FIG. [Figure 20] 20 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the side wall of the folding booth shown in FIG. 19 after the restraining device has been completely removed from the bottom of the side wall. FIG. [Figure 21] 21 is a perspective view showing the folding booth shown in FIG. 20 in the middle of being completely folded from the first position to the second position. FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a right side view showing the folding booth shown in FIG. 21 from the side. [Figure 23] FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the folding booth shown in FIG. 21 in a state after the top wall has been moved to a second position and the booth is fully folded. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a front view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 23. [Figure 25] FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a process of passing the through-hole of the restrictor through the protrusion on the outer surface of the frame portion of the side wall and fixing the restrictor in the folding booth shown in FIG. 23. [Figure 26] 26 is a cross-sectional view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 24 taken along line F26-F26. FIG. [Figure 27] 25 is a partially omitted cross-sectional view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 24 taken along line F27-F27. FIG. [Figure 28] FIG. 2(a) is a front view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2(b) is a right side view showing the state in which the booth is fixed to the wall of an office with a string 100. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a front view of the folding booth of the second embodiment. [Figure 30] FIG. 30 is a rear view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 29. [Figure 31]FIG. 30 is a right side view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 29. [Figure 32] FIG. 30 is a plan view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 29. [Figure 33] FIG. 30 is a bottom view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 29. [Figure 34] FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing the folding booth shown in FIG. 29 in the process of moving the top wall from the first position to the second position. [Figure 35] 35 is a right side view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 34, showing the state in which the top wall has been moved from the first position to the second position and the folding booth has been completely folded. FIG. [Figure 36] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a folding booth according to a third embodiment. [Figure 37] FIG. 37 is a front view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 36. [Figure 38] FIG. 37 is a rear view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 36. [Figure 39] FIG. 37 is a plan view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 36. [Figure 40] FIG. 37 is a bottom view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 36. [Figure 41] FIG. 37 is a right side view of the folding booth shown in FIG. 36. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a folding booth according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The folding booth according to the present invention is primarily installed in an office, and users can enter the booth to hold web conferences and the like. [First embodiment]

[0024] The folding booth of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The folding booth of the present invention is a hollow box-shaped booth with a space large enough for a person to enter inside. As shown in FIG. 1 , the folding booth 11 of the first embodiment has a flat front wall 12, a flat rear wall 13 facing the front wall 12, a top wall 14 connecting the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13, a pair of side walls 15 connecting the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13, a first caster 16 supporting the front wall 12, and a second caster 17 supporting the rear wall 13. The front wall 12, the rear wall 13, the top wall 14, and the pair of side walls 15 are each made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, such as an extruded aluminum alloy. The first caster 16 and the second caster 17 can be used by switching between a rotatable state and a non-rotatable state by activating a stopper. In the following description, as shown in Figure 1, the direction in which the front wall 12 extends is referred to as the width direction W, the direction in which the side wall 15 extends is referred to as the front-to-rear direction FR, and the height direction (vertical direction, up-down direction) is referred to as H.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, front wall 12 has door 21, viewing window 10 provided alongside door 21, and a pair of handholds 22 provided on its outer surface on both the left and right sides of door 21 (both ends in the width direction W of folding booth 11 in Fig. 1). Handholds 22 are portions on which an operator places his or her hands when moving folding booth 11. As shown in Fig. 12 and other figures, front wall 12 has a pair of small tables 23, one above the other, on its inner surface for placing drinks, small items, etc.

[0026] Door 21 has a frame 24 made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, a glass plate 25 fitted inside frame 24, and a knob (door lever) 26. Door 21 can be opened and closed, allowing users to enter and exit folding booth 11. As shown in FIG. 14 , glass plate 25 has an opaque portion 25A for ensuring privacy and a transparent portion 25B that allows users to confirm that they are using folding booth 11. Opaque portion 25A is provided at a position corresponding to the head of a seated user, and transparent portions 25B are provided on both sides (top and bottom) of opaque portion 25A.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the rear wall 13 is flat. The rear wall 13 can be provided with a power supply, air supply holes, and other appropriate components depending on the position of the operation unit 27 (described later in FIG. 12 ), but these are not shown in FIG. 3 . The rear wall 13 has a pair of handles 22 on both the left and right sides (both ends of the booth's width direction W) on its outer surface. The handles 22 have the same structure and arrangement as the handles 22 on the front wall 12. In this embodiment, the handles 22 are provided on the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13, but not on the side walls 15. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, even when the side walls 15 are moved close together so that two folding booths 11 are adjacent to each other, the handles 22 do not interfere with each other, and the folding booths 11 can be placed side-by-side in a concentrated manner. This allows for efficient use of limited office space.

[0028] As shown in Figures 12, 13, and 18, the rear wall 13 has, on its inner surface, an operating unit 27 arranged in a horizontal band shape in the vertical center, a table 28 rotatably attached below the operating unit 27, and a pair of left and right hooks 31 for hanging a third panel 73 (described later) of the side wall 15. The folding booth 11 further has a sound-absorbing panel 32 as a second functional panel 32 that covers the rear wall 13 above the operating unit 27. The rear wall 13 is not covered by the second sound-absorbing panel 32 below the operating unit 27, ensuring sufficient thermal conductivity in this area. The table 28 can rotate between a horizontally extended use state and a vertically folded state. In the present invention, the functional panels are not limited to sound-absorbing panels, but may be any panels that can add some function to the booth 11, and the functions may include panels with various known functions such as sound absorption, heat insulation, fire resistance, improving interior brightness, humidity (moisture absorption), decoration (wood grain, etc.), deodorization, antibacterial properties, and scent imparting, or panels that are provided for the purpose of reinforcing the front, back, side, and top walls with the same material, and known panel materials can be used depending on the intended use.

[0029] The second sound-absorbing panel 32 is made of a general sound-absorbing panel with a porous (sponge-like) internal structure, and is detachably fixed to the rear wall 13 with adhesive or magnets. When using magnets to fix the second sound-absorbing panel 32, this can be achieved, for example, by fixing either an iron plate (steel plate) or a magnetic plate to the rear wall 13, and fixing the other of the iron plate (steel plate) or the magnetic plate to the second sound-absorbing panel 32.

[0030] As shown in Figure 12, the operating unit 27 has an outlet 33 for power, a switch 35 for turning on and off the lights 34, a socket 36 for inserting a LAN cable for connecting to an in-house LAN, etc., and an air intake 37 for taking in air from outside the booth.

[0031] 12 and 13, the folding booth 11 further has a handle 41, lighting 34, a ventilation fan 42, and a fire extinguishing system 43. The handle 41, lighting 34, and ventilation fan 42 are collectively provided on the inner surface of a first wall portion 44 (described below) of the top wall 14. The fire extinguishing system 43 and a privacy wall 45 surrounding the fire extinguishing system 43 are provided on the outer surface (upper side) of the first wall portion 44.

[0032] The top wall 14 is rotatable between an extended first position P1 and an inwardly folded second position P2. The top wall 14 has a first wall portion 44 located in the center, a second wall portion 46 connecting the front wall 12 and the first wall portion 44, and a third wall portion 47 connecting the rear wall 13 and the first wall portion 44. The folding booth 11 further has a first sound-absorbing panel 51 covering at least a portion of the top wall 14. The first sound-absorbing panel 51 is an example of a first functional panel.

[0033] 13, the first sound-absorbing panel 51 has a first sound-absorbing panel piece 51A that covers at least a portion of the second wall portion 46, and a second sound-absorbing panel piece 51B that covers at least a portion of the third wall portion 47. The structures of the first sound-absorbing panel piece 51A and the second sound-absorbing panel piece 51B are similar to those of the second sound-absorbing panel 32. The method of fixing the first sound-absorbing panel piece 51A to the second wall portion 46 and the method of fixing the second sound-absorbing panel piece 51B to the third wall portion 47 are similar to the method of fixing the second sound-absorbing panel 32 to the rear wall 13, and they are detachably fixed by adhesive or magnets.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 9, the top wall 14 has a plurality of first hinge portions 52 and a plurality of second hinge portions 53. One of the first hinge portions 52 rotatably connects the first wall portion 44 and the second wall portion 46 to each other. The other of the first hinge portions 52 rotatably connects the first wall portion 44 and the third wall portion 47 to each other. One of the second hinge portions 53 rotatably connects the second wall portion 46 and the front wall 12 to each other. The other of the second hinge portions 53 rotatably connects the third wall portion 47 and the rear wall 13 to each other. Each of the first hinge portion 52 and the second hinge portion 53 is configured as a geared hinge. Because the first hinge portion 52 and the second hinge portion 53 have the same configuration, only the first hinge portion 52 will be described below.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 7 , each of the first hinge portions 52 includes a first gear 54, a first mounting portion 55 attached to the first gear 54, a first shaft portion 56 rotatably supporting the first gear 54, a second gear 57 meshing with the first gear 54, a second mounting portion 58 attached to the second gear 57, a second shaft portion 61 rotatably supporting the second gear 57, and a cover 62 covering the first gear 54 and the second gear 57. The cover 62 has a C-shaped (box-shaped) cross section and is provided integrally with the first shaft portion 56 and the second shaft portion 61. The first mounting portion 55 is fixed to the first wall portion 44. The second mounting portion 58 is fixed to the second wall portion 46 (third wall portion 47). On the other hand, the first mounting portion 55 of the second hinge portion 53 is fixed to the second wall portion 46 (third wall portion 47), and the second mounting portion 58 of the second hinge portion 53 is fixed to the front wall 12 (rear wall 13). Each member of the first hinge portion 52 is made of, for example, an extruded aluminum alloy material.

[0036] In this way, by configuring first hinge portion 52 and second hinge portion 53 with geared hinges, the folding (their rotation angles) of first mounting portion 55 and second mounting portion 58 is performed in synchronization. This prevents the shape of top wall 14 from becoming unstable when top wall 14 is folded, and the operating shape of the entire folding booth 11 in the left-right, front-back and top wall 14 is stable throughout, allowing folding booth 11 to be opened and closed smoothly.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 11 , the folding booth 11 further includes a first buffer portion 63 interposed between the front wall 12 and the second wall portion 46, and a second buffer portion 64 interposed between the rear wall 13 and the third wall portion 47. Each of the first buffer portion 63 and the second buffer portion 64 is configured with a typical oil damper. The first buffer portion 63 can suppress the biasing force of the second wall portion 46 toward the front wall 12 when the folding booth 11 is folded, thereby preventing the second wall portion 46 from approaching forcefully. The second buffer portion 64 can suppress the biasing force of the third wall portion 47 toward the rear wall 13 when the folding booth 11 is folded, thereby preventing the third wall portion 47 from approaching forcefully.

[0038] The side walls 15 have the same configuration. Therefore, only one of the pair of side walls 15 will be described here. The side wall 15 is rotatable between a third position P3 in which it is extended as shown in FIG. 1 and a fourth position P4 in which it is folded inward as shown in FIG. 27. As shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and 10, the side wall 15 has a flat frame portion 65 that extends elongatedly in the vertical direction and is fixedly attached to the front wall 12 or the rear wall 13, a first panel 66, a second panel 67, a third hinge portion 68 that rotatably connects the first panel 66 and the second panel 67 to each other, a fourth hinge portion 71 that rotatably connects either the first panel 66 or the second panel 67 to the frame portion 65, an opening 72 provided at the top, and a third panel 73 that is detachably provided to close the opening 72. The third panel 73 is formed in a flat plate shape and supports the top wall, can hold the top wall 14 in a fixed position, and can also serve as a stopper to prevent the fire extinguishing equipment 43 and the like from falling downward due to their own weight.

[0039] As shown in Figure 12, the folding booth 11 has a third sound-absorbing panel 74 that covers approximately the upper half of the first panel 66 and the upper half of the second panel 67. The lower portion of the side wall 15 is not covered by the third sound-absorbing panel 74, and sufficient thermal conductivity is ensured in this portion by taking advantage of the properties of the aluminum alloy. The third sound-absorbing panel 74 is an example of a third functional panel.

[0040] The third sound-absorbing panel 74 is divided into two parts: a first part 74A corresponding to the first panel 66, and a second part 74B corresponding to the second panel 67. The first part 74A is fixed to the first panel 66 in the same manner as the first sound-absorbing panel 51. The second part 74B is fixed to the second panel 67 in the same manner as the first sound-absorbing panel 51.

[0041] The third hinge portion 68 and the fourth hinge portion 71 each comprise a geared hinge and have the same configuration as the first hinge portion 52. That is, the gears of the third hinge portion 68 and the fourth hinge portion 71 are the same as the gear of the first hinge portion 52 in terms of the number of teeth and diameter. For this reason, the same names will be used in the description. In the third hinge portion 68, the first mounting portion 55 is fixed to the first panel 66. In the third hinge portion 68, the second mounting portion 58 is fixed to the second panel 67. Meanwhile, in the fourth hinge portion 71, the first mounting portion 55 is fixed to the frame portion 65. In the fourth hinge portion 71, the second mounting portion 58 is fixed to the first panel 66 or the second panel 67.

[0042] In this way, by configuring the second hinge portion 53 and the third hinge portion 68 provided on each of the pair of side walls 15 as geared hinges, the folding (rotation angles) of the pair of side walls 15 are synchronized. Furthermore, the folding (rotation angles) of the pair of side walls 15 is synchronized with the folding (rotation angles) of the first to third wall portions 47 of the top wall 14. This prevents the shape of the side walls 15 from becoming irregular and unstable when they are folded. Therefore, the operating shapes of the entire folding booth 11 in the left and right, front and back, and the top wall 14 are stable throughout, making it possible to open and close the folding booth 11 even more smoothly.

[0043] As shown in Figures 1 and 6, the opening 72 is formed as a rectangular through-hole, and is formed to a height that occupies approximately 1 / 4 of the height of the side wall 15. The third panel 73 is made of a rectangular plate-shaped panel. The folding booth 11 has a fourth sound-absorbing panel 76 fixed to the third panel 73. The side wall 15 further has a fixing member 77 for fixing the third panel 73 to the top wall 14. As shown in Figure 16, in this embodiment, the fixing member 77 is made of a screw. Note that the configuration of the fixing member 77 is not limited to this as long as it can fix the functional panel. The fixing member 77 may also be made of a part (push latch) whose shaft can be extended or retracted and returned to its original position by pressing a switch.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 19 , the folding booth 11 has a pair of restrictors 81 detachably attached to the bottoms of the pair of side walls 15. The restrictors 81 are formed, for example, in a flat plate shape from an aluminum alloy and have a pair of notches 81A that allow them to avoid the pair of fourth hinge portions 71 that protrude beyond the surrounding area. The restrictors 81 have through-holes 81B, and can engage with the inner surfaces of the side walls 15 by passing protrusions 82 provided on the inner surfaces of the frame portion 65 through the through-holes 81B. As shown in FIG. 19 , while engaged with the inner surfaces of the side walls 15, the restrictors 81 can restrict the pair of side walls 15 from moving from the extended third position P3 to the inwardly folded fourth position P4. Furthermore, by removing the restrictors 81 from the bottoms of the side walls 15, a gap 83 is formed between the bottoms of the side walls 15 and the floor, allowing air to circulate through the gap 83. On the other hand, the restriction tool 81 can close the gap 83 when attached to the bottom of the inner surface of the side wall 15 .

[0045] 25 and 28, when the folding booth 11 is in the folded state, the restricting tool 81 can engage with the outer surface of the side wall 15 (frame 65) by passing a protrusion 82 provided on the outer surface of the frame 65 through the through-hole 81B. As shown in FIG. 28(b), the restricting tool 81 serves as a connecting tool that connects the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 when engaged with the outer surface of the side wall 15, and can prevent the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13, which have come close to each other in the folded state, from separating during movement.

[0046] The inventor actually used the folding booth 11 of this embodiment in an area of ​​the applicant's premises where only the inventor is permitted to enter on August 21, 2022, to check whether the temperature inside the booth rose. The results were as follows:

[0047] [Table 1]

[0048] As is clear from the above, no temperature rise was observed inside folding booth 11, even when the inventor was entering and exiting folding booth 11. Therefore, it can be understood that users can comfortably use folding booth 11 in an environment equivalent to that of an air-conditioned office. Folding booth 11 of the present invention may or may not have a floor, and not having a floor makes it lightweight, allows full use of the internal space, and is highly breathable, but known floor materials (carpet, boards, etc.) can also be used as needed depending on the use of the booth.

[0049] Next, the folding operation of the folding booth 11 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 7, 8, and 15 to 28. In the folding booth 11 of this embodiment, the folding operation can basically be easily completed by one worker.

[0050] As shown in Figure 15, prior to folding, table 28 is lifted from the horizontal position and moved to the upright position. As shown in Figure 16, fixing members 77 on side walls 15 are removed to release the fixed state between top wall 14 and third panel 73. Then, as shown in Figure 17, third panel 73 is removed from opening 72.

[0051] The third panel 73 removed from the opening 72 at the top of the side wall 15 can be hung from the pair of left and right hook portions 31, as shown in Figure 18. As shown in Figures 19 and 20, the restricting devices 81 are removed from the bottom of the side wall 15. By removing the pair of restricting devices 81 from the pair of side walls 15, the side walls 15 can be moved from the extended third position P3 to the inward folded fourth position P4.

[0052] In this state, the worker opens the door 21, enters the folding booth, and pulls the handle 41 on the top wall 14 downward. At the same time, the worker manually folds the side walls 15 inward. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 , the first wall portion 44 of the top wall 14 is lowered downward by the action of the multiple first hinge portions 52, the second wall portion 46 is folded relative to the first wall portion 44, and the third wall portion 47 is folded relative to the first wall portion 44. (Note that for ease of illustration, the door 21 is shown in a closed state in FIGS. 21 and 22 , but the actual operation is performed with the door 21 open.) Furthermore, the second wall portion 46 is folded relative to the front wall 12 by the action of the second hinge portions 53, and the third wall portion 47 is folded relative to the rear wall 13. At this time, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the rotation of each wall section is synchronized by the action of the first hinge section 52, which is composed of a geared hinge, and the rotation angles of each wall section are aligned to achieve balanced folding.

[0053] In addition, in this embodiment, a first buffer portion 63 is provided between the front wall 12 and the second wall portion 46, and a second buffer portion 64 is provided between the rear wall 13 and the third wall portion 47, so that even if an operator pulls the handle with a large force, the top wall 14 is prevented from being folded with great force from the extended first position P1 to the folded second position P2. Therefore, there is no danger to an operator working in the folding booth 11.

[0054] The front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 are supported by first casters 16 and second casters 17. Therefore, when the top wall 14 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 move closer to each other so that the distance between them becomes smaller due to the action of the first casters 16 and the second casters 17 caused by the folding of the top wall 14.

[0055] As the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 approach each other, the side wall 15 also folds semi-automatically. That is, as shown in Figures 21 and 22, the first panel 66 and the second panel 67 fold synchronously due to the action of the third hinge portion 68 and the fourth hinge portion 71, and the first panel 66 and the second panel 67 fold at the same rotation angle in a balanced manner.

[0056] When the worker finishes pulling the top wall 14 downward, the top wall 14 has moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2, and the side walls 15 have moved from the third position P3 to the fourth position P4, the folding booth 11 is in a fully folded state as shown in FIGS. 23, 24, 26, and 27. In this state, as shown in FIG. 25, the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 can be connected and fixed together so that they do not separate by passing the through-hole 81B of the restricting device 81 through the protrusion 82 on the outer surface of the frame portion 65 of the side wall 15. In this state, the worker can move the folding booth to a desired location. In this case, as shown in FIG. 28, when the top wall 14 is in the second position P2, the fire extinguishing equipment is positioned within the height range of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13, making the folding booth 11 compact and preventing the fire extinguishing equipment from interfering with the ceiling or beams of the building while moving the folding booth 11.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 28(b), it may also be possible to fix it to the wall of the office with a string 100.

[0058] When the movement of the folding booth 11 is completed and the folding booth 11 is to be returned from the folded state to the open state for use, the above-described procedure is carried out in reverse.

[0059] The following can be said about the first embodiment. The folding booth 11 comprises a front wall 12 supported on first casters 16, a rear wall 13 supported on second casters 17 and facing the front wall 12, a top wall 14 connecting the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 and rotatable between an extended first position P1 and an inwardly folded second position P2, and the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13. With this configuration, the action of folding the folding booth 11 also aligns with the folding action of the top wall, so that the folding booth 11 can be transformed from its usage state to its storage state with a single touch.

[0060] In this case, the device is provided with a side wall 15 that can rotate between the extended third position P3 and a fourth position P4 folded inward, and a handle 41 that is provided on the inner surface of the top wall 14 and can be grasped by a user, and by the user grasping the handle 41 and pulling the top wall 14 downward, the top wall 14 is changed from the first position P1 to the second position P2, and the action of the first caster 16 and the second caster 17 causes the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 to approach each other, changing the side wall 15 from the third position P3 to the fourth position P4.

[0061] According to this configuration, the folding booth 11 can be folded extremely easily by a single worker by simply pulling down the handle 41. This allows the folding booth 11 to be transformed from the usage state to the storage state with a single touch.

[0062] The folding booth 11 includes a side wall 15 having a plurality of panels that can rotate relative to one another, a first gear 54 that is connected to one of the plurality of panels, a second gear 57 that is connected to another of the plurality of panels and that meshes with the first gear 54, a first shaft portion 56 that rotatably supports the first gear 54, a second shaft portion 61 that rotatably supports the second gear 57, and a box-shaped cover 62 that is integrally formed with the first shaft portion 56 and the second shaft portion 61 and that covers the first gear 54 and the second gear 57.

[0063] This configuration allows the rotation angles of the multiple panels to be synchronized, which prevents a situation in which one panel rotates suddenly while the other panels barely rotate, resulting in poor balance and poor folding when folding the folding booth 11.

[0064] The folding booth 11 includes a top wall 14 having a plurality of wall portions that can rotate relative to one another, a first gear 54 that is provided so as to connect to one of the plurality of wall portions, a second gear 57 that is provided so as to connect to another of the plurality of wall portions and that meshes with the first gear 54, a first shaft portion 56 that rotatably supports the first gear 54, a second shaft portion 61 that rotatably supports the second gear 57, and a box-shaped cover 62 that is provided integrally with the first shaft portion 56 and the second shaft portion 61 and that covers the first gear 54 and the second gear 57.

[0065] This configuration allows the rotation angles of the multiple wall sections to be synchronized, which prevents a situation in which only one wall section rotates suddenly while the other wall sections barely rotate, resulting in poor balance and poor folding when folding the folding booth 11.

[0066] The folding booth 11 includes a top wall 14 having a plurality of wall portions that can rotate relative to one another, and a buffer portion provided between one of the plurality of wall portions and either the front wall 12 or the rear wall 13, which prevents one of the plurality of wall portions from approaching the front wall 12 too quickly when the top wall 14 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2.

[0067] According to this configuration, even if a user applies a large force to the handle 41 when folding the folding booth 11, the folding booth 11 can be prevented from being suddenly folded, and can be used safely.

[0068] The folding booth 11 is provided with a fire extinguishing system 43 provided near the top wall 14, and the fire extinguishing system 43 is located within the height range of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 when the top wall 14 is in the second position P2.

[0069] According to this configuration, when the folding booth 11 is folded, the fire extinguishing equipment 43 does not protrude from the height of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13. As a result, when the folding booth 11 is folded and moved, the folding booth 11 can be made as compact as possible, reducing the risk of damaging the building when the folding booth 11 is moved.

[0070] The folding booth 11 is equipped with a first sound-absorbing panel 51 as a functional panel that covers at least a portion of the top wall 14, particularly when used as a working space. The portion that affects smooth communication between people is approximately the upper half of the folding booth 11, near people's heads. With the above configuration, sound can be absorbed around the top wall 14, and when a web conference or the like is held within the folding booth 11, the voices of people within the folding booth 11 can be prevented from leaking out to the surrounding area. Additionally, surrounding noise can be prevented from adversely affecting communication between people within the folding booth 11.

[0071] The folding booth 11 includes a second sound-absorbing panel 32 that covers approximately half of the upper side of the rear wall 13, and a third sound-absorbing panel 74 that covers approximately half of the upper side of the side wall 15.

[0072] The above configuration prevents voices from leaking out to the surrounding area when a web conference or the like is held inside the folding booth 11. It also prevents ambient noise from adversely affecting communication between people inside the folding booth 11. Furthermore, by not providing sound-absorbing panels on the lower half of the rear wall 13 and the lower half of the side walls 15, it is possible to make adjustments according to the usage and installation environment, such as making it easier to hear minimum safety information, such as public address systems in the office. Furthermore, providing sound-absorbing panels on the lower half of the rear wall 13 and the lower half of the side walls 15 tends to reduce thermal conductivity between the inside and outside of the folding booth 11, causing the temperature inside the folding booth 11 to rise. However, with the above configuration, soundproof panels are not provided on the lower half of the rear wall 13 and the lower half of the side walls 15, thereby reducing the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the folding booth 11.

[0073] The side wall 15 has an opening 72 provided at the top and a panel that is detachable from the opening 72 and can close the opening 72. With this configuration, the opening 72 can be opened or closed depending on the use of the folding booth 11. Therefore, the opening 72 can be provided to create a booth for children to change clothes, or the opening 72 can be provided to improve ventilation, and other arrangements can be made as needed depending on the use.

[0074] The panel can also serve as a stopper supporting the top wall 14. This configuration can hold the top wall in a fixed position, preventing the top wall 14 from collapsing due to the weight of the fire extinguishing equipment 43, for example.

[0075] At least one of the front wall 12 and the back wall 13 has handles 22 that can be grasped when moving, but the side walls 15 do not have handles 22. With this configuration, since the side walls 15 do not have handles 22, the side walls 15 can be brought close together to place the folding booths 11 closely together. This allows for effective use of limited space in the office.

[0076] The folding booth 11 has a restricting device 81 attached to the side wall 15 that restricts the side wall 15 from moving from the third position P3 to the fourth position P4, and the restricting device 81 also serves as a connecting device that keeps the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 close to each other. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 from separating during movement, which would cause the folded state to be released.

[0077] The restricting tool 81 can close the gap 83 between the side wall 15 and the floor. With this configuration, the degree of soundproofing can be adjusted by the restricting tool 81. In other words, if you want to increase the soundproofing, you can do so by using the restricting tool 81. On the other hand, if you do not need that much soundproofing and just want to improve the ventilation inside and outside the booth, you can use it without using the restricting tool 81, and it becomes possible to adjust it according to the use and installation environment.

[0078] At least one of the inner surfaces of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 has a foldable table 28. This configuration prevents the table 28 from getting in the way when the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 are brought closer together.

[0079] The front wall 12, rear wall 13, top wall 14, and side walls 15 are made of aluminum alloy. With this configuration, the use of aluminum alloy allows for the realization of a folding booth 11 with approximately five times the thermal conductivity of a folding booth 11 made of steel or other materials. This allows the temperature adjusted to an appropriate temperature by the air conditioning in the office to be directly transmitted into the folding booth 11. This not only improves the comfort of users inside the folding booth 11, but also reduces the frequency of use of indoor air conditioning equipment such as simple coolers, contributing to energy savings. Furthermore, with the above configuration, the use of aluminum alloy allows for the realization of a folding booth 11 with approximately one-third the weight of a folding booth 11 made of steel or other materials. This achieves weight reduction and makes the folding booth 11 easier to move. As a result, a folding booth 11 that combines user comfort with ease of movement can be realized. Furthermore, the use of resins and the like is minimized, which not only contributes to the recent efforts to reduce waste plastics, but also makes it possible to realize a folding booth 11 that is also recyclable.

[0080] In the following embodiment, differences from the above embodiment will be mainly described, and illustrations or descriptions of parts common to the above embodiment will be omitted. [Second embodiment]

[0081] A folding booth 11 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0082] In this embodiment, the top wall 14 has a first wall portion 44 and a second wall portion 46. The fire extinguishing equipment 43 is provided adjacent to the rear wall 13. The top wall 14 has a first hinge portion 52 and a second hinge portion 53. The configurations of the first hinge portion 52 and the second hinge portion 53 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The first hinge portion 52 rotatably connects the first wall portion 44 to the second wall portion 46. One of the second hinge portions 53 rotatably connects the first wall portion 44 to the front wall 12 with respect to the front wall 12. The other second hinge portion 53 connects the second wall portion 46 to the fire extinguishing equipment 43 with respect to the fire extinguishing equipment 43. In this embodiment, the handle 41 is provided on either the first wall portion 44 or the second wall portion 46 of the top wall 14.

[0083] Next, the folding operation of the folding booth 11 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0084] As in the first embodiment, before folding the folding booth 11, the table 28 is lifted from the horizontal position and moved to the upright position. Then, the fixing members 77 of the side walls 15 are removed to release the fixed state between the top wall 14 and the third panel 73. Then, the third panel 73 is removed from the opening 72.

[0085] The third panel 73 removed from the opening 72 at the top of the side wall 15 can be hung from the pair of left and right hook portions 31, as in the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the restricting devices 81 are removed from the bottom of the side wall 15. By removing the pair of restricting devices 81 from the pair of side walls 15, the side walls 15 can be moved from the extended third position P3 to the inwardly folded fourth position P4.

[0086] In this state, the worker opens the door 21, enters the folding booth 11, and pulls the handle 41 on the top wall 14 downward. At the same time, the side walls 15 are folded inward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 34 , the second wall 46 is folded relative to the first wall 44 by the action of the multiple first hinge portions 52 (note that for ease of illustration, FIG. 34 shows the door 21 in a closed state, but the actual work is performed with the door 21 open). The first wall 44 is also folded relative to the front wall 12, and the second wall 46 is also folded relative to the rear wall 13. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the action of the first hinge portions 52, which are geared hinges, causes the rotation of each wall portion to be synchronized, and the rotation angles of the wall portions are aligned, resulting in balanced folding.

[0087] In addition, in this embodiment, a first buffer portion 63 is provided between the front wall 12 and the first wall portion 44, and a second buffer portion 64 is provided between the rear wall 13 and the second wall portion 46, so that even when the handle 41 is pulled with a large force, the top wall 14 is prevented from being folded with great force from the extended first position P1 to the folded second position P2. Therefore, there is no danger to workers working in the folding booth 11.

[0088] The front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 are supported by first casters 16 and second casters 17. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 34 , when the top wall 14 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 move closer to each other so that the distance between them decreases due to the action of the first casters 16 and the second casters 17 caused by the folding of the top wall 14.

[0089] As the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 approach each other, the side wall 15 also folds semi-automatically. That is, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the first panel 66 and the second panel 67 fold synchronously due to the action of the third hinge portion 68 and the fourth hinge portion 71, and the first panel 66 and the second panel 67 fold at the same rotation angle in a balanced manner.

[0090] When the worker finishes pulling the top wall 14 downward, and the top wall 14 has completed moving from the first position P1 to the second position P2, and the side wall 15 has completed moving from the third position P3 to the fourth position P4, the folding booth 11 is in a fully folded state as shown in Fig. 35. In this state, as in the first embodiment, the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 can be connected and fixed together so that they do not separate by passing the through-holes 81B of the restricting devices 81 through the protrusions 82 on the outer surfaces of the frame portions 65 of the side walls 15. In this state, the worker can move the folding booth 11 to a desired location.

[0091] In this embodiment, too, when the top wall 14 is in the second position P2, the fire extinguishing equipment 43 is positioned within the height range of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13, making the folding booth 11 compact and preventing the risk of the fire extinguishing equipment 43 interfering with the ceiling or beams of the building while the folding booth 11 is being moved.

[0092] When the movement of the folding booth 11 is completed and the folding booth 11 is to be returned from the folded state to the open state for use, the above-described procedure is carried out in reverse. [Third embodiment]

[0093] A folding booth 11 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0094] The folding booth 11 of this embodiment has a detachable top wall 14 and fire extinguishing equipment 43, and is shown with the top wall 14 and fire extinguishing equipment 43 removed. The folding booth 11 of this embodiment does not have the top wall 14 or fire extinguishing equipment 43, so it can be used in applications where the fire extinguishing equipment 43 is not required by the Fire Service Act, and has excellent breathability.

[0095] In the folding booth 11 of this embodiment, no opening 72 is provided in the upper part of the side wall 15. That is, in this embodiment, the heights of the first panel 66 and the second panel 67 of the side wall 15 are equal to the heights of the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13.

[0096] Next, the folding operation of the folding booth 11 of this embodiment will be described.

[0097] As in the first embodiment, before folding the folding booth 11, the table 28 is lifted from a horizontal position and moved to an upright position. Then, as in the first embodiment, the restricting devices 81 are removed from the bottom of the side walls 15. By removing the pair of restricting devices 81 from the pair of side walls 15, the side walls 15 can be moved from the extended third position P3 to the inwardly folded fourth position P4.

[0098] An operator can move the side wall 15 from the third position P3 to the fourth position P4 by manually pulling the side wall 15 inward. The front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 are supported by the first caster 16 and the second caster 17. Therefore, when the side wall 15 moves from the third position P3 to the fourth position P4, the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 move closer to each other so that the distance between them becomes smaller due to the action of the first caster 16 and the second caster 17 caused by the folding of the side wall 15.

[0099] At this time, the first panel 66 and the second panel 67 are folded in synchronization by the action of the third hinge portion 68 and the fourth hinge portion 71, and the first panel 66 and the second panel 67 are folded in a balanced manner with the rotation angles aligned.

[0100] When the side wall 15 has completely moved from the third position P3 to the fourth position P4, the folding booth 11 is in a completely folded state. In this state, as in the first embodiment, the front wall 12 and the rear wall 13 can be connected and fixed together so that they do not separate by passing the through-holes 81B of the restricting members 81 through the protrusions 82 on the outer surfaces of the frame portions 65 of the side walls 15. In this state, the worker can move the folding booth 11 to a desired location.

[0101] When the movement of the folding booth 11 is completed and the folding booth 11 is to be returned from the folded state to the open state for use, the above-described procedure is carried out in reverse.

[0102] The above-described embodiment can be implemented with various further substitutions and modifications. In the above-described embodiment, the side wall 15 is folded inward by the operator's hands before moving the side wall 15 from the third position P3 to the fourth position P4, but this is not limited to this. Naturally, the side wall 15 may be provided with a spring or the like so that the side wall 15 is automatically folded inward by the action of the spring or the like when the folding booth 11 is folded. [Explanation of symbols]

[0103] 11 Folding Booth 12 Front wall 13 Back wall 14 Top wall 15 Side wall 16 First Caster 17 Second Caster 22 Handle 32 Second sound-absorbing panel 41 Handle 43 Fire extinguishing equipment 44 1st wall section 46 Second wall section 47 Third wall 51 First sound-absorbing panel 52 First hinge part 53 Second hinge part 63 1st buffer section 64 Second buffer section 66 Panel 1 67 Second Panel 68 Third hinge part 71 Fourth hinge part 72 Opening 73 Third Panel 74 Third sound-absorbing panel 76 No. 4 sound-absorbing panel 81 Regulator 81A Notch 81B Through hole 83 Gap P1, Position 1 P2, Position 2 P3, Position 3 P4, Position 4

Claims

1. a front wall supported by the first caster; a rear wall supported by the second caster and facing the front wall; a top wall connecting the front wall and the rear wall and pivotable between an extended first position and an inwardly folded second position; a side wall connecting the front wall and the rear wall and pivotable between an extended third position and an inwardly folded fourth position; Equipped with a fire extinguishing system provided near the top wall, the fire extinguishing system being located within a height range of the front wall and the rear wall when the top wall is in the second position, and being located above the top wall when the top wall is in the first position; The side wall has an opening at an upper portion thereof that can receive the top wall in the second position, and a panel that is detachable from the opening when the side wall is in the third position and can support the top wall in the first position while closing the opening, the panel being removed from the opening when the side wall is in the fourth position.

2. the side wall having a plurality of panels that are pivotable relative to one another; a first gear provided so as to be connected to one of the plurality of panels; a second gear provided so as to be connected to another one of the plurality of panels and meshing with the first gear; a first shaft portion that rotatably supports the first gear; a second shaft portion that rotatably supports the second gear; a box-shaped cover that is integrally provided on the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion and that covers the first gear and the second gear; The folding booth of claim 1 , comprising:

3. the top wall having a plurality of wall portions that are rotatable relative to one another; a first gear provided so as to be connected to one of the plurality of wall portions; a second gear provided so as to be connected to another one of the plurality of wall portions and meshing with the first gear; a first shaft portion that rotatably supports the first gear; a second shaft portion that rotatably supports the second gear; a box-shaped cover that is integrally provided on the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion and that covers the first gear and the second gear; The folding booth of claim 1 , comprising:

4. the top wall having a plurality of wall portions that are rotatable relative to one another; a buffer portion provided between one of the plurality of wall portions and either the front wall or the rear wall, the buffer portion suppressing the biasing force of the plurality of wall portions when the top wall is moved from the first position to the second position; The folding booth of claim 1 , comprising:

5. The folding booth of claim 1 , further comprising a first functional panel covering at least a portion of the top wall.

6. a second functional panel covering approximately half of the upper side of the rear wall; a third functional panel covering approximately half of the upper side of the side wall; The folding booth of claim 1 , comprising:

7. The folding booth according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front wall and the rear wall has a handhold.

8. 2. The folding booth according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner surface of the front wall and the inner surface of the rear wall has a foldable table.

9. 2. The folding booth according to claim 1, wherein a handle is provided on an inner surface of the top wall, and a user can grasp the handle and pull the top wall downward to move the top wall from the first position to the second position, and the first caster and the second caster act to move the front wall and the rear wall closer to each other, thereby moving the side walls from the third position to the fourth position.

10. The folding booth according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the front wall, the rear wall, the top wall, and the side walls are made of an aluminum alloy.

Images