Cabinet with top plate and method of manufacturing the cabinet with top plate

Abstract

To provide a cabinet with a top board which can prevent aesthetic appearance from being impaired while suppressing the number of components.SOLUTION: A cabinet with a top board comprises: a cabinet; and a top board which is placed on an upper part of the cabinet. The cabinet comprises: a side part which is provided so as to extend downward from the upper part and constitutes a side surface of the cabinet; and a connection device which includes a connection body part having a connection part that can be connected with a connection terminal and a fixing part for fixing the connection body part to the side part. The side part comprises: a first plate part 24 which extends in a first direction; and a second plate part 25 which extends in a second direction. The first plate part and the second plate part are connected with each other by the fixing part so as to form an installation space S between the first plate part and the second plate part in the second direction. The fixing part comprises: a first fixing part which is fixed to the first plate part; and a second fixing part which is fixed to the second plate part. The connection body part is arranged in the installation space in such a state that the first fixing part is fixed to the first plate part and the second fixing part is fixed to the second plate part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cabinet with a top plate and a method for manufacturing the cabinet with a top plate. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional cabinet-equipped device is known, as described in Patent Document 1. The cabinet device includes a top panel and a storage section provided below the top panel for storing items. The storage section includes a first storage side panel on the right side, a second storage side panel on the left side, a lintel extending between the first and second storage side panels, and multiple drawers located below the lintel. The lintel is located behind the front faces of the drawers when the front faces are closed, and a power outlet device is located at the left end of the lintel and a panel extending from the power outlet device to the right end of the lintel. The second storage side panel, the lintel, and the power outlet device are fixed in place by a fixing member that is L-shaped in plan view and located inside the storage section, and a fixing device (screw) inserted into the fixing member.

[0003] With this configuration, the outlet device can be positioned closer to the second storage side panel in the left-right direction, which is said to reduce interference between the outlet device and other components. Also, the front exposed surface of the panel installed next to the outlet device is a decorative surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-5869 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the cabinet device described in Patent Document 1, a back panel is placed in front of the lintel to make the exposed surface a decorative surface, thereby preventing the installation of the outlet device from damaging the aesthetic appearance. As a result, the number of parts that make up the storage section increases.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet with a top plate that can reduce the number of parts while preventing damage to the aesthetic appearance, and a method for manufacturing such a cabinet with a top plate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The cabinet with a top plate of the present invention is a cabinet with a top plate comprising a cabinet and a top plate provided on the cabinet and extending horizontally, the cabinet comprising an upper portion on which the top plate is placed, a side portion extending downward from the upper portion and constituting a side surface of the cabinet, a connection main body portion having a connection portion capable of connecting a connection terminal for at least one of transmitting and receiving power to and receiving data from an external device, and a connection device comprising a fixing portion for fixing the connection main body portion to the side portion, the side portion extending in a first direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. and a second plate portion extending in a vertical direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first plate portion and the second plate portion being connected by the fixing portion such that an installation space is formed between the first plate portion and the second plate portion in the second direction, the fixing portion comprising a first fixing portion fixed to the first plate portion and a second fixing portion fixed to the second plate portion, and the connection main body portion is configured to be placed in the installation space in a state in which the first fixing portion is fixed to the first plate portion and the second fixing portion is fixed to the second plate portion.

[0008] With this configuration, the fixing portion fixes the first plate portion and the second plate portion so that an installation space is formed between the first plate portion and the second plate portion, and the connection main body is disposed in the installation space, so that the connection main body can be disposed in the gap that serves as the installation space formed between the first plate portion and the second plate portion. Therefore, since the connection main body can be disposed in the gap, it is possible to reduce the number of parts while suppressing damage to the aesthetic appearance.

[0009] In addition, the fixing portion may be configured as a separate body from the connection main body portion, and the fixing portion may include a main body fixing portion that fixes the connection main body portion, and the main body fixing portion may be a plate-like body that extends across the installation space in the second direction and has a device insertion hole that penetrates in the first direction, and the connection main body portion may be configured to be fixed to the main body fixing portion with a portion of it fitted into the device insertion hole.

[0010] According to this configuration, the connection main body is fixed to the main body fixing part in a state where it is fitted into the device insertion hole, so that the connection main body can be reliably fixed to the main body fixing part.

[0011] In addition, the fixing portion can be configured to be able to connect the first plate portion and the second plate portion in either a temporary fixing state in which the second plate portion can move in the vertical direction relative to the first plate portion, or a permanent fixing state in which the second plate portion cannot move relative to the first plate portion.

[0012] With this configuration, after the first plate portion and the second plate portion are temporarily fixed to each other, the position of the second plate portion relative to the first plate portion can be adjusted before the second plate portion is finally fixed to the first plate portion, making it easy to adjust the position of the second plate portion relative to the first plate portion.

[0013] In addition, the method for manufacturing a cabinet with a top plate of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a cabinet with a top plate that includes a cabinet and a top plate that is placed on the cabinet and extends horizontally, wherein the cabinet includes an upper portion on which the top plate is placed, a side portion that extends downward from the upper portion and forms the side surface of the cabinet, a connection main body portion having a connection portion that can connect to a connection terminal for at least one of power transmission and reception of external devices and information communication, and a connection device that includes a fixing portion that is connected to the connection main body portion, and the side portion includes a first plate portion that extends in a first direction that is perpendicular to the vertical direction, and a second plate portion that extends in a second direction that is perpendicular to the vertical direction and the first direction, and includes a plate portion connecting process that connects the first plate portion and the second plate portion with the fixing portion so as to form an installation space in the second direction between the first plate portion and the second plate portion in which the connection main body can be installed.

[0014] According to this configuration, the first plate portion and the second plate portion are fixed together so that an installation space is formed between them, and therefore the connection main body portion can be disposed in the gap formed between the first plate portion and the second plate portion. Therefore, since the connection main body portion can be disposed in the gap, it is possible to reduce the number of parts while suppressing damage to the aesthetic appearance.

[0015] In addition, the connection main body and the fixing portion may be configured as separate bodies, and after the plate portion connecting step, the method may include an apparatus connecting step in which the connection main body is abutted against and connected to the fixing portion that connects the first plate portion and the second plate portion from the outside to the inside of the cabinet in the first direction.

[0016] According to this configuration, the connecting body can be connected to the fixing part from the outside to the inside of the cabinet, which reduces the need for work to be done from inside the cabinet, making it easier to connect the connecting body to the fixing part. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a cabinet with a top plate that can reduce the number of parts while suppressing damage to the aesthetic appearance, and a method for manufacturing such a cabinet with a top plate. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet unit including a cabinet with a top panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the cabinet unit as viewed from the front. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a fixing portion of the cabinet with a top panel. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the fixing portion as viewed from behind. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the connection device for the cabinet with a top panel. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a decorative frame of the connecting device as viewed from the front. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the decorative frame as seen from the rear. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a connection main body of the connection device. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI shown in FIG. 9. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the first half of the plate portion connecting step. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a latter stage of the plate portion connecting step. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a device coupling process. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the connection device in a retracted state. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the connection device in a protruding state. [Figure 17] 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVII-XVII shown in FIG. 15. [Figure 18] 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 15. [Figure 19] 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIX-XIX in FIG. 16. [Figure 20]17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX-XX shown in FIG. 16. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cabinet unit including a cabinet with a top panel according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] A cabinet unit U including a plurality of cabinets 1 with top panels according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 20. For ease of explanation, the up / down, left / right, and front / rear directions all refer to directions in the installed state, and specifically, the explanation will be based on the directions shown in Figure 1.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a cabinet unit U is a unit that assembles multiple cabinets 1 with a top plate and is placed outdoors or in a wet area of ​​a building (e.g., a kitchen). The cabinet unit U of this embodiment is a cooking table placed indoors (in a kitchen) of a building. Specifically, the cabinet unit U includes a sink section 11 as a cabinet with a top plate 1 having a water supply A1 and a sink A that receives water supplied from the water supply A1 on its upper surface 1a, a heating section 12 as a cabinet with a top plate 1 on which a cooking appliance B is provided, and a work surface section 13 as a cabinet with a top plate 1 whose upper surface 1a is configured as a work surface that is a substantially flat surface with a certain area. The cabinet unit U has the sink section 11, the heating section 12, and the work surface 13 arranged linearly in the left-right direction, forming a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape overall. The cabinet unit U of this embodiment is configured so that a single top plate 3 extends across the upper portions 23 of multiple cabinets 2. In the following description, the sink portion 11 will be taken as an example of the cabinet 1 with a top plate.

[0021] 1 and 2, the cabinet with a top plate 1 includes a box-shaped cabinet 2 and a top plate 3 provided on the cabinet 2. The cabinet with a top plate 1 of this embodiment includes a top surface 1a that is a substantially flat surface extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and a side surface 1b that is a substantially flat surface extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the top surface 1a, and is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole.

[0022] The cabinet 2 is a box-shaped portion with an open upper portion 23 on which the top plate 3 can be placed. The cabinet 2 also has, as side surfaces 1b, left and right surfaces that are generally rectangular in side view and extend in the vertical direction, and front and rear surfaces that are generally rectangular in front view and extend in the vertical direction and connect the left and right surfaces. In the following description, the front surface of the cabinet 2 is described as the surface that primarily faces a user using the equipment A1, and in this embodiment, it is the surface that is farthest from the waterworks equipment A1 of the two surfaces spaced apart in the front-to-back direction. The left, right, front, and rear surfaces of the cabinet 2 in this embodiment are all flat surfaces that extend in the vertical direction.

[0023] The cabinet 2 includes a bottom portion 21 that forms the bottom surface of the cabinet 2, a side portion 22 that extends upward from the bottom portion 21 and forms the side surface 1b of the cabinet 2, and an upper portion 23 that is located above the side portion 22 and on which the top plate 3 is placed. The side portion 22 is formed by combining multiple plate-like bodies. The plate-like bodies that form the side portion 22 include upper and lower surfaces that extend horizontally along the thickness direction of the plate-like bodies, an outer surface that extends vertically and forms the side surface 1b of the cabinet 2, and an inner surface that is located on the opposite side in the thickness direction from the outer surface. Of the surfaces that extend in the thickness direction of the plate-like bodies that form the side portion 22, the upper surface forms the upper portion 23, and the lower surface forms the bottom portion 21. The side surface 1b of the cabinet 2 is formed by the outer surfaces of the plate-like bodies that form the side portion 22. The cabinet 2 also includes a connection device 4 that is fixed to the side portion 22.

[0024] In this embodiment, the side portion 22 includes a first plate portion 24 extending in a first direction (front-rear direction) perpendicular to the up-down direction, and a second plate portion 25 extending in a second direction (left-right direction) perpendicular to the up-down direction and the first direction. The first plate portion 24 is a plate-like body provided such that the surfaces constituting the inner and outer surfaces of the cabinet 2 extend along the first direction (front-rear direction), and the second plate portion 25 is a plate-like body provided such that the surfaces constituting the inner and outer surfaces of the cabinet 2 extend along the second direction (left-right direction). In this embodiment, a pair of first plate portions 24 and a pair of second plate portions 25 are provided, and the pair of first plate portions 24 are arranged spaced apart in the second direction (left-right direction). Between the pair of first plate portions 24, a pair of second plate portions 25 are arranged spaced apart in the first direction (front-rear direction). The first plate portion 24 includes a left surface portion 24L which is a plate-like body constituting the left surface of the cabinet 2, and a right surface portion 24R which constitutes the right surface of the cabinet 2. The second plate portion 25 includes a front portion 25F, which is a plate-like body that forms the front surface of the cabinet 2, and a rear portion 25R, which is a plate-like body that forms the rear surface of the cabinet 2. In this embodiment, the first plate portion 24 (the right surface portion 24R of the sink portion 11) that forms both ends of the cabinet unit U in the left-right direction is a plate-like body formed by combining two plate members, and specifically, is formed by combining a plate member (so-called side panel) having an outer surface that becomes the side surface of the cabinet unit U and a plate member that is provided inward of the cabinet 2 reference in the second direction for the purpose of increasing the rigidity of the cabinet 2.

[0025] 2, the side portion 22 further includes a drawer portion 26 capable of storing items therein. The drawer portion 26 is provided between the pair of first plate portions 24 and is configured to be able to be drawn out in the front-to-rear direction. A plurality of drawer portions 26 are arranged below the second plate portion 25 (front surface portion 25F). Each of these drawer portions 26 includes a front plate 261 that is a plate-like body that forms the front surface of the drawer portion 26, and the front plate 261 is configured to move back and forth as the drawer portion 26 moves in the front-to-rear direction.

[0026] The front surface portion 25F is a strip-shaped plate-like body extending in the left-right direction and whose outer surface constitutes the front of the side surface 1b. The front surface portion 25F is a so-called back panel that extends in the left-right direction at the upper end of the front surface of the cabinet 2 and has a front surface configured as a decorative surface. The front surface portion 25F is a portion that faces a user who uses the plumbing equipment A1 provided on the top plate 3. In this embodiment, the front surface portion 25F is fixed so as not to move in the front-rear direction, and the front surface portion 25F and the front plate 261 are arranged so that their front surfaces are approximately flush when the drawer section 26 is closed. Furthermore, the left-right length of the front surface portion 25F is shorter than the left-right separation distance between the pair of first plate portions 24. Therefore, when the front surface portion 25F is arranged between the pair of first plate portions 24, a space (installation space S) is formed in the left-right direction between the first plate portions 24 and the front surface portion 25F. The front surface portion 25F of this embodiment is disposed so that its right end is disposed with almost no gap in the left-right direction relative to the right surface portion 24R, and a space (installation space S) is formed between its left end and the left surface portion 24L. Furthermore, the front surface portion 25F of this embodiment is disposed so that the front end of the first plate portion 24 is located within the thickness range of the front surface portion 25F in the front-rear direction, and specifically, so that the front end of the first plate portion 24 and the front surface of the front surface portion 25F are disposed substantially flush with each other.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 1, the top plate 3 has a flat upper surface 1a and is a plate-like body that is generally rectangular in plan view, with constant left-right and front-rear lengths. The top plate 3 also has a plurality of holes that penetrate through it in the thickness direction. Specifically, the top plate 3 includes a sink top plate portion 31 that constitutes the top surface 1a of the top-equipped cabinet 1 as the sink section 11, a heating top plate portion 32 that constitutes the top surface 1a of the top-equipped cabinet 1 as the heating section 12, and a work top plate portion 33 that constitutes the top surface 1a of the top-equipped cabinet 1 as the workbench section 13. The top plate 3 in this embodiment is composed of a single plate-shaped body, with the right end portion serving as the sink top plate portion 31 and the left end portion serving as the heating top plate portion 32, and the space between the sink top plate portion 31 and the heating top plate portion 32 in the left-right direction serving as the work top plate portion 33, and is arranged so that the sink top plate portion 31 is located at the top 23 of the cabinet 2 that forms the sink portion 11, the heating top plate portion 32 is located at the top 23 of the cabinet 2 that forms the heating portion 12, and the work top plate portion 33 is located at the top 23 of the cabinet 2 that forms the workbench portion 13.

[0028] The sink top plate portion 31 is a plate-like portion having a flat upper surface 1a and a sink fitting hole 31a that penetrates in the up-down direction (thickness direction) formed in the middle portion in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. In this embodiment, the sink top plate portion 31 is an annular plate body with the sink fitting hole 31a formed in approximately the center of the upper surface 1a. The sink fitting hole 31a is a through hole that opens to the upper surface 1a to an extent that the sink A can be stored. Such a sink top plate portion 31 is a portion that surrounds the outer periphery in the horizontal direction of the sink A stored in the sink fitting hole 31a. Furthermore, the front-to-back length of the sink top plate portion 31 is longer than the front-to-back length of the cabinet 2 of the sink portion 11, and the left-to-right length is approximately equal to the left-to-right length of the cabinet 2 of the sink portion 11.

[0029] The heating top plate 32 has a flat upper surface 1a and is a plate-like portion with a cooker fitting hole 32a that penetrates in the up-down direction (thickness direction) formed in a midpoint in the front-rear and left-right directions. The heating top plate 32 has a flat, plate-like left separation portion 321 located at the left end (the end on the side where the heating top plate 32 is located in the extension direction of the top plate 3). The cooker fitting hole 32a is a through-hole formed to the right of the left separation portion 321 and opening to the top surface 1a to an extent that a cooker B can be stored therein. The heating top plate 32 is a portion that surrounds the outer periphery in the horizontal direction of the cooker B stored in the cooker fitting hole 32a. The front-rear length of the heating top plate 32 is longer than the front-rear length of the cabinet 2 of the heating unit 12, and the left-right length is approximately equal to the left-right length of the cabinet 2 of the heating unit 12.

[0030] The work top plate 33 has a flat upper surface 1a and is a plate-like portion that connects the sink top plate 31 and the heating top plate 32. The work top plate 33 is a plate-like body with a constant length in the front-to-rear direction. The work top plate 33 is a flat plate with an area large enough to perform cooking tasks on the upper surface 1a and to place cooking equipment on it. The front-to-rear length of the work top plate 33 is longer than the front-to-rear length of the cabinet 2 of the work table 13, and the left-to-right length is approximately equal to the left-to-right length of the cabinet 2 of the work table 13.

[0031] The top plate 3 of this embodiment is a plate whose front-to-rear length is longer than the front-to-rear length of each cabinet 2, whose left-to-right length is approximately equal to the sum of the left-to-right lengths of each cabinet 2, and whose top surface 1a extends horizontally. When the top plate 3 is attached to the upper portion 23 of the cabinet 2, it has an outer end portion that is located outward from the side surfaces 1b of each cabinet 2 in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the top plate 3 is placed on the cabinet 2 so that its rear end is located approximately in the same position as the rear ends of each cabinet 2 in the front-to-rear direction, and its front end 3a, which serves as the leading end surface of the outer end, is located forward of the front ends of each cabinet 2 (see FIG. 5 ). That is, when the top plate 3 is placed on the cabinet 2, its front end 3a, which serves as the leading end surface of the outer end, is located forward of the front surface of the side surfaces 1b of the cabinet 2.

[0032] As shown in Figures 3 to 11, the connection device 4 comprises a connection main body 41 having a connection portion 4A to which a connection terminal (e.g., a plug) for at least one of power transmission and reception and information communication with an external device can be connected, a decorative frame 42 that can be fitted into the connection main body 41, a decorative plate 43 that covers the front surface of the connection main body 41, and a fixing portion 5 that fixes the connection main body 41 to the side portion 22.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 , the fixing portion 5 is a component (e.g., a metal fitting) that fixes the connection main body portion 41 to the side portion 22. Specifically, the fixing portion 5 is a flat, plate-like component extending in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the fixing portion 5 is a plate-like body that is L-shaped in a plan view and has a plurality of holes formed therethrough in the thickness direction. The fixing portion 5 includes a flat, plate-like main body fixing portion 51 capable of fixing the connection main body portion 41; a flat, plate-like first fixing portion 52 that is connected to the other left-right side of the main body fixing portion 51 (the left side in this embodiment) and extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main body fixing portion 51; and a flat, plate-like second fixing portion 53 that is connected to one left-right side of the main body fixing portion 51 (the right side in this embodiment) and extends substantially parallel to the main body fixing portion 51. That is, the first fixing portion 52 and the second fixing portion 53 are connected via the main body fixing portion 51.

[0034] The first fixing portion 52 and the second fixing portion 53 each have a plurality of holes formed therein that penetrate in the thickness direction and allow the insertion of a fastener C. Specifically, one of the first fixing portion 52 and the second fixing portion 53 (first fixing portion 52 in this embodiment) has a temporary fixing hole 54 formed to allow the inserted fastener C to move up and down relative to one of the first fixing portion 52 and the second fixing portion 53, and a permanent fixing hole 55 formed to restrict the inserted fastener C from moving up and down relative to one of the first fixing portion 52 and the second fixing portion 53. The other of the first fixing portion 52 and the second fixing portion 53 (second fixing portion 53 in this embodiment) has an insertion hole 56 formed to restrict the inserted fastener C from moving up and down relative to the other of the first fixing portion 52 and the second fixing portion 53. The temporary fixing hole 54 is a long hole whose vertical length is longer than the outer diameter of the shaft portion of the fastener C to be inserted, and the permanent fixing hole 55 and the insertion hole 56 are holes whose vertical length is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the shaft portion of the fastener C to be inserted.

[0035] The main body fixing portion 51 is a frame-shaped portion capable of fixing the connection main body 41, and specifically, is a plate-like body having a device insertion hole 51a that penetrates the main body 41 in the thickness direction and through which a portion of the connection main body 41 can be inserted, and a fixing hole 51b that penetrates the main body 41 in the thickness direction and through which a fastener C for fixing the connection main body 41 can be inserted. In this embodiment, a plurality of fixing holes 51b are formed and are arranged spaced apart from each other above and below the device insertion hole 51a. The main body fixing portion 51 is connected to a first fixing portion 52 and a second fixing portion 53, and is arranged in the space (installation space S) between the first plate portion 24 and the second plate portion 25 in the left-right direction when the first fixing portion 52 is fixed to the first plate portion 24 and the second fixing portion 53 is fixed to the second plate portion 25.

[0036] The fixing portion 5 is fixed to the side portion 22 from the inside. Specifically, the fixing portion 5 is attached by inserting fasteners C (e.g., screws) through the temporary fixing holes 54, the permanent fixing holes 55, and the insertion holes 56 so that the second fixing portion 53 faces the inner surface of the second plate portion 25 (front surface 25F) and the first fixing portion 52 faces the inner surface of the first plate portion 24 (left surface 24L). In the fixing portion 5 of this embodiment, the first fixing portion 52 is arranged to face the inner surface of the first plate portion 24 (left surface 24L) and is fixed to the inner surface of the first plate portion 24, and the second fixing portion 53 is arranged to face the inner surface of the second plate portion 25 (front surface 25F) and is fixed to the inside of the first plate portion 24, and the main body fixing portion 51 and the second fixing portion 53 are arranged side by side with the second plate portion 25 in the left-right direction. A specific fixing method will be described later.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 , the decorative frame 42 includes a rod-shaped vertical frame portion 421 extending vertically and a pair of horizontal frame portions 422 extending from the upper and lower ends of the vertical frame portion 421 toward one side in the left-right direction (the right side in this embodiment). The left-right length of the decorative frame 42 is approximately equal to the left-right width of the installation space S, and the up-down length is approximately equal to the up-down length of the installation space S. The decorative frame 42 is composed of two members: a frame base 42A with an open front and a closing plate portion 42B that closes the front of the frame base 42A. The closing plate portion 42B is configured to be attachable to the frame base 42A. The decorative frame 42 also includes a frame upper surface 423 that is the upper surface of the decorative frame 42 extending horizontally, a frame lower surface 424 that is the lower surface of the decorative frame 42 extending horizontally, and a frame side surface 425 that is a surface perpendicular to the left-right direction and is the side surface of the decorative frame 42.

[0038] The vertical frame portion 421 is a rod-like body extending in the vertical direction, and the thickness in the front-to-rear direction is approximately equal to the width in the front-to-rear direction of the installation space S (the distance in the front-to-rear direction from the front surface of the front surface portion 25F to the front surface of the fixing portion 5). The vertical frame portion 421 in this embodiment is a rectangular parallelepiped with a constant length in the left-to-right direction from the upper end to the lower end.

[0039] The horizontal frame portion 422 is a rod-shaped body extending in the left-right direction and whose thickness in the front-rear direction is approximately equal to the width of the installation space S in the front-rear direction. A pair of horizontal frame portions 422 are provided, spaced apart in the up-down direction. Specifically, the horizontal frame portion 422 includes a horizontal frame main body portion 426 having a rectangular shape in a front view and covering a portion of the front of the connection main body portion 41; a positioning recess 427 engageable with a positioning protrusion 457 (described later); a shaft accommodating portion 428 (described later) capable of accommodating a pivot shaft 49; and a fastener insertion portion 429 that penetrates in the front-rear direction and has a hole through which a fastener C can be inserted. The positioning recess 427 is a recess formed in the rear end of the horizontal frame main body portion 426 and recessed forward. The shaft accommodating portion 428 accommodates a portion of the pivot shaft 49 that protrudes upward or downward. Specifically, the positioning recess 427 is a recess formed in the rear end of the horizontal frame main body portion 426 and recessed forward. In this embodiment, the positioning recess 427 and the shaft accommodating portion 428 are disposed apart in the left-right direction. The fastener insertion portion 429 is a portion provided inside the frame base 42A and has a hole penetrating in the front-rear direction.

[0040] The frame base 42A is a portion that constitutes the rear end portion of the decorative frame 42. The frame base 42A has a shape that is open at the front, and specifically, has a plate-like body that closes the rear end portion in the front-rear direction, but does not have a member that closes the area in front of the plate-like body.

[0041] The closing plate 42B is attachable to the frame base 42A and is a plate-like portion that closes the front of the frame base 42A when attached, and has a flat front surface. Specifically, the closing plate 42B is a plate-like body shaped to match the shape of the front of the frame base 42A. The closing plate 42B also has a plurality of closing claws 42B1 extending rearward, and is configured so that the closing claws 42B1 engage with the frame base 42A when attached to the frame base 42A.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 6, the decorative plate 43 is a flat plate having a flat front surface as a decorative surface that covers the front surface of the connection main body 41. Specifically, the decorative plate 43 is a plate whose vertical length is approximately equal to the distance between the horizontal frame portions 422 and whose left-right length is approximately equal to the left-right length of the horizontal frame portions 422. In other words, the decorative plate 43 is a plate-like body of a size that can fit inside the decorative frame 42. In addition, the decorative plate 43 has an attachment portion on its rear surface (not shown) that can be fitted into a plate attachment portion 441 of the main body 44, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the attachment portion is a plurality of protrusions that protrude rearward.

[0043] 9 to 11, the connection main body 41 includes a main body 44 having the connection portion 4A, a rotation shaft 49 (see FIG. 11) extending in the vertical direction, a holding portion 45 that holds the main body 44 via the rotation shaft 49, a circuit portion 46 provided behind the main body 44, a lid portion 47 that is openable and covers the front of the connection portion 4A when closed, and a canopy portion 48 that covers the upper part of the main body 44. The connection main body 41 of this embodiment has a substantially constant width in the left-right direction and is columnar in shape and is long in the up-down direction.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 9 , the main body 44 includes a connecting portion 4A, a decorative board mounting surface 44a having a substantially flat surface extending in the vertical direction, and a connecting surface 44b connected to the decorative board mounting surface 44a and extending in the vertical direction. The main body 44 is a columnar portion elongated in the vertical direction. The decorative board mounting surface 44a has a plate mounting portion 441 into which a mounting portion of the decorative board 43 can be fitted. In this embodiment, the plate mounting portion 441 is a plurality of recesses recessed toward the rear. In this embodiment, the decorative board mounting surface 44a and the connecting surface 44b extend parallel to each other in the vertical direction and perpendicular to each other in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, a corner 44c is formed at the connection (boundary) between the decorative board mounting surface 44a and the connecting surface 44b. The main body 44 also includes an abutment surface 442 that can abut against a rotation restricting portion 455 of the horizontal holding frame portion 454 at a protruding position (described later) (see FIG. 11 ).

[0045] The connection surface 44b extends in the vertical direction, and the connection portion 4A is provided at its midpoint in the vertical direction. Specifically, the connection surface 44b is a narrow surface extending in the vertical direction with a substantially constant width from the top to the bottom. The connection surface 44b also has a recessed portion 44d formed on the rear side. In this embodiment, a plurality of (two) recessed portions 44d are arranged spaced apart in the vertical direction. The connection surface 44b of this embodiment has a plurality of connection portions 4A arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Specifically, the connection portion 4A is provided on the connection surface 44b such that the opening direction of an opening P into which a connection terminal of an external device can be inserted (the direction in which the connection terminal is connected to the connection portion 4A) is substantially perpendicular to the connection surface 44b. That is, the connection portion 4A is provided such that the opening direction of the opening P is aligned horizontally. In this embodiment, the connection portion 4A is provided such that the opening direction of the opening P is aligned horizontally and obliquely with respect to the front surface of the cabinet 2 at a protruding position described below.

[0046] The connection portion 4A is a portion to which a connection terminal for at least one of transmitting and receiving power to and from an external device and communicating information can be connected. The connection portion 4A of this embodiment is configured as a plug receptacle into which a plug, which is a connection terminal for transmitting and receiving power to and from an external device, can be inserted. That is, the connection portion 4A of this embodiment has an opening P into which the connection terminal of the external device can be inserted. The connection portion 4A is also arranged so that its upper part is covered by the canopy portion 48. The connection portion 4A is further provided in a recessed portion 44d formed in the connection surface 44b, and specifically, is arranged so that its surface is approximately flush with the recessed portion 44d of the connection surface 44b. A plurality of connection portions 4A of this embodiment are arranged spaced apart in the vertical direction.

[0047] The lid portion 47 is a lid provided on the main body portion 44 so as to be openable and closable, and is configured to cover the front of the connection portion 4A when closed. The lid portion 47 is configured to close in a natural state (a state in which it is not subjected to external force). Specifically, the lid portion 47 is a plate-like body that can fit into the recessed portion 44d of the connection surface 44b on which the connection portion 4A is provided, and is arranged corresponding to each connection portion 4A. The lid portion 47 is fixed to the main body portion 44 by a shaft that is arranged at the upper end of the recessed portion 44d and extends in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the recess direction of the recessed portion 44d (the direction in which the connection terminal is connected to the connection portion 4A). In a natural state, the lid portion 47 rotates downward around the shaft due to gravity to be in a closed state (a state in which the front of the connection portion 4A is covered). The lid portion 47 can be rotated upward against gravity to expose the front of the connection portion 4A. The lid portion 47 that has been rotated upward is supported by, for example, a connection terminal connected to the connection portion 4A, and maintains its upward position.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 14 , the eaves portion 48 is a plate-like portion disposed above the main body portion 44 and configured to cover the upper portion of the main body portion 44. Specifically, the eaves portion 48 includes a plate-like eaves main body portion 481 extending in a direction intersecting the up-down and left-right directions, and an eaves fixing portion 482 for fixing the eaves portion 48 to the side portion 22 and the main body portion 44. When fixed to the side portion 22 and the main body portion 44, the eaves main body portion 481 is configured so that its front end portion is located forward of the connection surface 44b. The eaves main body portion 481 is a plate-like body whose width (length in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction) is approximately equal to or longer than the width of the connection surface 44b (length in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction), extends in the front-to-rear direction, and is inclined so that its front end is located downward. The eaves fixing portion 482 is a plate-like body having an eaves fixing hole 48a through which a fastener C can be inserted. Moreover, the eaves fixing part 482 is a plate-like body extending in the vertical direction connected to the rear end of the eaves main body part 481, and in this embodiment, is arranged to extend downward from the rear end of the eaves main body part 481. The eaves fixing holes 48a are holes formed so as to penetrate the eaves fixing part 482 in the thickness direction, and multiple eaves fixing holes 48a (specifically, two holes) are arranged spaced apart in the left-right direction.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 9 , the holding portion 45 is a frame-shaped portion that holds the main body portion 44. The holding portion 45 can be fixed to the fixing portion 5 that is fixed to the side portion 22. Specifically, the holding portion 45 includes a frame-shaped holding frame portion 451 that can store the main body portion 44 therein, and a plate-shaped fixing plate 452 that is connected to the holding frame portion 451. The holding portion 45 of this embodiment is provided with a pair of fixing plates 452 that are spaced apart from each other vertically. The holding portion 45 opens forward and forms an insertion space into which the main body portion 44 can be inserted.

[0050] The holding frame portion 451 includes a plate-like vertical holding frame portion 453 extending in the up-down direction, and a pair of horizontal holding frame portions 454 extending in one of the left-right directions (left in this embodiment) from the upper and lower ends of the vertical holding frame portion 453. The vertical holding frame portion 453 is a plate-like body whose vertical length is longer than the vertical length of the main body portion 44, and the horizontal holding frame portions 454 are plate-like bodies whose horizontal length is approximately the same as the horizontal length of the decorative panel mounting surface 44a.

[0051] Each lateral holding frame 454 has a rotation restricting portion 455 at its front end portion, which protrudes toward the other lateral holding frame 454 and can be contacted by the abutment surface 442 of the connection main body 41 at the protruding position (see FIG. 11). The rotation restricting portion 455 in this embodiment is a plate-like body extending downward and provided at the front end portion of the upper lateral holding frame 454, or a plate-like body extending upward from the front end portion of the lower lateral holding frame 454. Furthermore, the lateral holding frame 454 is configured to be able to rotatably hold a rotation shaft 49, which will be described later.

[0052] The fixing plate 452 is a plate-like member connected to the horizontal holding frame portion 454. In this embodiment, a pair of fixing plates 452 are provided, spaced apart in the vertical direction. One fixing plate 452 is provided to extend upward from the upper horizontal holding frame portion 454, and the other fixing plate 452 is provided to extend downward from the lower horizontal holding frame portion 454. Specifically, the fixing plate 452 is a flat plate extending in the vertical direction and includes a fixing base 456 having insertion holes 45a that penetrate in the thickness direction and allow the fastener C to be inserted therethrough, and a positioning protrusion 457 that protrudes forward from the fixing base 456. Two insertion holes 45a are arranged in the fixing base 456, spaced apart in the horizontal direction. The positioning protrusion 457 is provided at a position where the main body 44 fits into the holding frame portion 451 when the positioning recesses 427 of the horizontal frame portion 422 are fitted. In this embodiment, the pair of fixing plates 452 are configured to be vertically symmetrical with respect to the center of the connection body 41 in the vertical direction.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 , the pivot shaft 49 is a shaft extending in the vertical direction and serves as the vertical axis when the main body 44 pivots horizontally. Specifically, the pivot shaft 49 includes a columnar shaft body 491 extending in the vertical direction and connecting the connecting main body 41 and the holding portion 45, a biasing means 492 (see FIG. 11 ) that biases the shaft body 491 to pivot in one direction, a locking mechanism (not shown) that can restrict and release the rotation of the shaft body 491, and a rotary damper (not shown) that restricts the rotation speed of the shaft body 491. In this embodiment, the rotary damper is built into the shaft body 491. The locking mechanism is configured to restrict the rotation of the shaft body 491 when it is in a retracted position, which will be described later.

[0054] Shaft body 491 is a columnar part having one end non-rotatably connected to main body portion 44 and the other end rotatably connected to holding portion 45. Shaft body 491 is connected to a midpoint in the width direction (left-right direction) of main body portion 44. Specifically, shaft body 491 is connected to a position closer to the opposite side of connecting surface 44b (to the left in this embodiment) with respect to the center in the width direction of main body 44. In this embodiment, the vertical ends of shaft body 491 are provided to protrude in the vertical direction from lateral holding frame portion 454.

[0055] Biasing means 492 is a component that biases shaft body 491 to rotate in one direction. Specifically, biasing means 492 is a coil spring having one end fixed to circuit body 461 and the other end connected to body 44, and is configured so that the other end attempts to move in a direction away from the one end by elastic force. That is, biasing means 492 of the present embodiment is configured to bias shaft body 491 via body 44. Moreover, biasing means 492 of the present embodiment is configured to be compressed as body 44, which will be described later, moves from the extended position to the retracted position, and to be restored as it moves from the retracted position to the extended position.

[0056] The rotary damper is a component that provides resistance to the rotation of the shaft body 491. For example, the rotary damper is configured to have a highly viscous liquid inside and to provide resistance to the rotation of the rotating shaft 49 by the viscous resistance of the liquid. The rotary damper of this embodiment is provided on at least one of the upper end and the lower end of the rotating shaft 49.

[0057] The circuit section 46 is a section having a circuit that electrically connects an external power source (e.g., a commercial power source) and the connection section 4A. The circuit section 46 is connected to the rear of the holding section 45 and is a columnar section extending vertically rearward from the holding section 45. Specifically, the circuit section 46 includes a circuit main body section 461 connected to the rear of the holding section 45 and having a circuit therein that electrically connects the connection section 4A and the external power source, and a circuit terminal section 462 extending rearward from the circuit main body section 461 and electrically connecting the external power source and the circuit. The circuit terminal section 462 incorporates a terminal (not shown) at its rear end that electrically connects a conductor (lead wire) electrically connected to the external power source and the circuit. The circuit section 46 is configured to be able to fit into the device insertion hole 51a. Furthermore, the circuit section 46 of this embodiment, except for the circuit terminal section 462, is configured symmetrically up and down with respect to the vertical center of the connection main body section 41.

[0058] A method for manufacturing the cabinet with a top 1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14. The method for manufacturing the cabinet with a top 1 of this embodiment includes a board connecting step and an equipment connecting step. In this embodiment, some steps in the manufacturing of the cabinet with a top 1 are performed in a factory, and other steps are performed at the location where the cabinet with a top 1 will be installed (e.g., a kitchen). Specifically, the first half of the manufacturing steps (the board connecting step in this embodiment) are performed in the factory, and the second half of the manufacturing steps (the equipment connecting step and the step of placing the top 3, which will be described later in this embodiment) are performed at the installation location. This is not a limitation, and for example, the cabinet with a top 1 manufactured in a factory may be transported to the installation location and attached thereto, or all of the steps may be performed at the installation location of the cabinet with a top 1.

[0059] The plate connecting step is a step of connecting the first plate 24 and the second plate 25 with the fixing portion 5. In the plate connecting step of this embodiment, the left side 24L as the first plate 24 and the front side 25F as the second plate 25 are connected with the fixing portion 5. In the plate connecting step, as shown in FIG. 12 , the left side 24L (first plate 24) and the front side 25F (second plate 25) are arranged with a gap (installation space S) in the left-right direction. Next, as shown in FIG. 13 , the fixing portion 5 is applied to the left side 24L and the front side 25F from the inside. Specifically, the first fixing portion 52 is applied to the inside of the left side 24L, and the second fixing portion 53 is applied to the inside of the front side 25F. At this time, the main body fixing portion 51 is disposed between the left side 24L and the front side 25F in the left-right direction. Then, fixing tool C is inserted through holes formed in first fixing part 52 and second fixing part 53 to fix fixing part 5 to left side part 24L and front part 25F. Through this process, left side part 24L and front part 25F are connected, and a space is formed between left side part 24L and front part 25F that is recessed rearward with main body fixing part 51 as the bottom.

[0060] In the plate portion connecting step of this embodiment, a temporary fixed state (the state shown in FIG. 13) is achieved in which fasteners C are inserted through temporary fixing holes 54 of first fixing portion 52 and through holes 56 of second fixing portion 53. In the temporary fixed state, fasteners C inserted through temporary fixing holes 54 are movable in the vertical direction relative to left wall portion 24L, and therefore, fixing portion 5 and front wall portion 25F fixed to fixing portion 5 are movable in the vertical direction relative to left wall portion 24L. In other words, when the plate portion connecting step is completed, front wall portion 25F is movable in the vertical direction relative to left wall portion 24L.

[0061] Thereafter, the position of the front surface portion 25F relative to the left surface portion 24L is adjusted, and then the fastener C is inserted into the permanent fixing hole 55 to achieve a permanently fixed state. In the permanently fixed state, the fastener C inserted into the permanent fixing hole 55 cannot move relative to the left surface portion 24L, and therefore the fixing portion 5 and the front surface portion 25F fixed to the fixing portion 5 cannot move relative to the left surface portion 24L. The work of achieving the permanently fixed state can be performed at any time during the manufacture of the cabinet 1 with a top plate; for example, it can be performed before or after the device connecting step described below, or after the top plate 3 has been placed on the upper portion 23 of the cabinet 2.

[0062] The device connecting step is a step of fixing the connection main body 41 to the fixing part 5, and in this embodiment, the connection main body 41 is fixed to the fixing part 5 fixed to the side part 22. Also, in the device connecting step, the connection device 4 is arranged and fixed so that the arranged connection device 4 covers the front of the installation space S. In the device connecting step, the connection main body 41 is fixed to the fixing part 5 in a state where the decorative plate 43 and the frame base 42A of the holding frame 451 are attached to the main body 44. When attaching the frame base 42A to the main body 44, the positioning protrusion 457 is fitted into the positioning recess 427, and the rotating shaft 49 is fitted into the shaft accommodating part 428. Here, the fastener insertion part 429 of the holding frame 451 and the insertion hole 45a of the fixing plate 452 are in communication in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the connection main body 41 is fixed to the fixing portion 5, the eaves portion 48 is positioned above the main body 44 and is fixed to the main body 44 and the fixing portion 5 simultaneously. Specifically, in the device connecting step, the eaves portion 48 and the main body 44 are positioned so that the eaves fixing hole 48a of the eaves fixing portion 482, the insertion hole 45a of the fixing plate 452, and the fastener insertion portion 429 overlap in the front-to-rear direction with respect to the fixing hole 51b of the main body fixing portion 51, and the fastener C is inserted into the overlapping holes, thereby fixing the main body 44 and the eaves portion 48 to the fixing portion 5. That is, in this embodiment, the main body 44 and the eaves portion 48 are fastened together to the fixing portion 5. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the eaves fixing portion 482 is fixed to the fixing portion 5 while being positioned rearward of the main body 44. The fixing plate 452 disposed below the main body 44 has its insertion hole 45a aligned with the fixing hole 51b disposed below the device insertion hole 51a, and is fixed to the fixing part 5 by a fastener C. In the main body 44 of this embodiment, the circuit part 46 is configured symmetrically from top to bottom, and the pair of fixing plates 452 are provided symmetrically from top to bottom, so that the main body 44 can be attached to the fixing part 5 even if it is reversed upside down. When the main body 44 is attached to the fixing part 5 with the top and bottom reversed, the rotation direction of the main body 44, which will be described later, is reversed.

[0063] In the device coupling step of this embodiment, the connection main body 41 is brought into contact with the main body fixing portion 51 from the outside (front) toward the inside (rear), and then the connection main body 41 is coupled to the fixing portion 5. When the connection main body 41 is brought into contact with the main body fixing portion 51, the rear end portion of the connection main body 41 (the portion rearward of the fixing plate 452) is fitted into the device insertion hole 51a of the main body fixing portion 51, and the connection main body 41 is fixed to the fixing portion 5 with a portion of the connection main body 41 fitted into the device insertion hole 51a. That is, in this embodiment, the connection main body 41 is fitted into the frame-shaped main body fixing portion 51, and the connection main body 41 is fixed to the fixing portion 5 with the fastener C. With the connection main body 41 fixed to the fixing portion 5, the rear end portion of the connection main body 41 (specifically, the circuit portion 46) is exposed to the inside of the cabinet 2.

[0064] Here, in the device connecting step, the degree of fitting of the connection main body 41 into the device insertion hole 51a is adjusted so that the front surface of the connection main body 41 in a retracted state, which will be described later, is approximately flush with the front surface of the second plate portion 25 (front surface portion 25F). Specifically, if the thickness (length in the first direction) of the connection main body 41 is greater than the thickness of the second plate portion, the degree of fitting of the connection main body 41 into the device insertion hole 51a is increased, and if the thickness in the first direction of the connection main body 41 is smaller than the thickness of the second plate portion, a spacer is interposed between the connection main body 41 and the body fixing portion 51 to adjust the degree of fitting of the connection main body 41 into the device insertion hole 51a.

[0065] Then, the fastener C is inserted into the connection main body 41 to fix the connection main body 41 to the fixing portion 5, and then the closure plate 42B is fitted to the frame base 42A to close the front of the frame base 42A. When the closure plate 42B is fitted, the fastener insertion portion 429 of the frame base 42A is hidden by the closure plate 42B, so that the inserted fastener C can be hidden by the closure plate 42B. Furthermore, after the connection main body 41 is fixed, the conducting wire (lead wire) is connected to the circuit terminal portion 462 of the circuit portion 46.

[0066] In addition to the above steps, the manufacturing method for the cabinet 1 with a top also includes the steps of placing the top 3 on the upper portion 23 of the cabinet 2 and installing the drawer portion 26. The step of placing the top 3 on the upper portion 23 of the cabinet 2 is preferably performed after the plate portion connecting step and while the cabinet 2 is in a temporarily fixed state. If the top 3 is placed at this stage, the connected plate portions can reliably support the top 3, and if the top 3 or equipment attached to the top 3 (e.g., sink A) interferes with the side portion 22, the height of the front portion 25F can be adjusted to suppress the interference, making it easier to install the top 3.

[0067] A method of using the cabinet 1 with a top panel configured as above will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0068] The connection main body 41 is switchable between a protruding position in which at least a portion of the connection portion 4A is located between the tip surface of the outer end portion and the side surface 1b, and a retracted position in which the connection portion 4A is located closer to the side surface 1b than the protruding position. In this embodiment, the protruding position is a position in which at least a portion of the connection portion 4A is located behind the front end 3a of the top plate 3 and in front of the front surface of the cabinet 2, and the retracted position is a position in which the connection portion 4A is located behind the protruding position.

[0069] As shown in Figures 15, 17, and 18, when the connection body 41 of this embodiment is in the retracted position, the entire connection portion 4A is located behind the front surface of the side portion 22 (front surface 25F), and the entire connection portion 4A is stored within the cabinet 2. That is, when the connection body 41 of this embodiment is in the retracted position, the entire connection surface 44b is hidden from the front surface. Furthermore, when the connection device 4 is in the retracted position, the outer surface (front surface) of the connection body 41 and the outer surface (front surface) of the side portion 22 are approximately flush with each other. Specifically, when the connection body 41 is in the retracted position, the decorative panel mounting surface 44a extends parallel to the front surface, and the front surface of the decorative panel 43, the front surface of the decorative frame 42 (the front surface of the closure plate portion 42B), and the outer surface of the side portion 22 (the front surface of the front surface 25F) are approximately flush with each other. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the connection main body 41 is in the retracted position, the frame upper surface 423, which is the upper surface of the decorative frame 42, is approximately flush with the upper surface of the front surface 25F, the frame lower surface 424, which is the lower surface of the decorative frame 42, is approximately flush with the lower surface of the front surface 25F, and the frame side surface 425, which is the side surface of the decorative frame 42, is approximately flush with the left side surface of the front panel 261.

[0070] 16, 19, and 20, when the connection main body 41 of this embodiment is in the protruding position, the entire connection portion 4A is located forward of the front surface of the side portion 22 (front surface portion 25F) and behind the front end 3a of the top plate 3, and the entire connection portion 4A is exposed from inside the cabinet 2. That is, when the connection main body 41 of this embodiment is in the protruding position, the entire connection surface 44b is exposed from the front surface. When the connection main body 41 of this embodiment is in the protruding position, a portion of the main body 44 is located forward of the front end 3a of the top plate 3, and the entire connection portion 4A is located behind the front end 3a of the top plate 3. Furthermore, when the connection main body 41 is in the retracted position, the opening direction (the direction in which the connection terminal of the external device is connected to the connection portion 4A) faces horizontally, specifically, faces approximately the same direction as the orientation of the decorative panel 43 in the horizontal direction. In addition, in the retracted position of the connection main body 41 of this embodiment, the corner 44c is located at approximately the same position as the front end 3a in the front-rear direction.

[0071] Here, because the eaves portion 48 is directly fixed to the fixing portion 5, it can cover the upper side of the main body portion 44 whether the connection main body portion 41 is in the protruding position or the retracted position. This reliably prevents moisture from adhering to the connection portion 4A. Furthermore, because the front of the connection portion 4A is covered by the lid portion 47, it is possible to prevent moisture from adhering to the connection portion 4A even when the connection main body portion 41 is in the protruding position.

[0072] In this embodiment, the connection main body 41 can be switched between a protruding position and a retracted position by rotating the main body 44 about the rotation shaft 49. Specifically, the switching between the protruding position and the retracted position is mainly performed by the locking mechanism and the biasing means 492. When the main body 44 rotates from the protruding position to the retracted position, the right side moves forward and the left side moves rearward. In this embodiment, when the shaft body 491 rotates so that the connection portion 4A moves further rearward from the retracted position, the locking mechanism enters a restricted state that restricts the rotation of the shaft body 491 to the protruding position. When the shaft body 491 is rotated in a direction that moves the connection portion 4A rearward while the locking mechanism is in the restricted state, the locking mechanism enters a rotation-permitting state in which the restriction is released. In other words, when the main body 44 is rotated rearward to move the connection portion 4A from the protruding position to the retracted position, the locking mechanism restricts the rotation of the rotation shaft 49, and the connection device 4 maintains the retracted position. Furthermore, when the main body 44 of the connection device 4, which is maintained in the retracted position, is pushed rearward, the locking mechanism enters a rotation-permitting state, the shaft main body 491 becomes rotatable, and the shaft main body 491 is urged by the urging means 492 to rotate forward, moving to the protruding position. When it moves to the protruding position, the abutment surface 442 provided on the main body 44 abuts against the rotation regulating portion 455 of the horizontal holding frame 454, restricting further rotation and maintaining the protruding position. In this embodiment, the main body 44 rotates an angle of less than 90 degrees when moving from the protruding position to the retracted position or from the retracted position to the protruding position.

[0073] According to the cabinet with top panel 1 configured as described above, the fixing portion 5 fixes the first plate portion 24 and the second plate portion 25 together so that an installation space S is formed between the first plate portion 24 and the second plate portion 25, and the connection main body portion 41 is disposed in the installation space S, so that the connection main body portion 41 can be disposed in the gap that serves as the installation space S formed between the first plate portion 24 and the second plate portion 25. Therefore, since the connection main body portion 41 can be disposed in the gap, it is possible to reduce the number of parts while suppressing damage to the aesthetic appearance.

[0074] Furthermore, since the connection main body 41 is fixed to the main body fixing part 51 in a state where it is fitted into the device insertion hole 51a, the connection main body 41 can be fixed to the main body fixing part 51 reliably.

[0075] Furthermore, after the first plate portion 24 and the second plate portion 25 are temporarily fixed to each other, the position of the second plate portion 25 relative to the first plate portion 24 can be adjusted before the second plate portion 25 is finally fixed to the first plate portion 24. This makes it easy to adjust the position of the second plate portion 25 relative to the first plate portion 24.

[0076] Furthermore, main body 44 includes circuit section 46 that connects connection section 4A and an external power supply, and circuit section 46 includes circuit terminal section 462 to which a conductor that is electrically connected to the external power supply is connected, and circuit terminal section 462 is exposed to the inside of cabinet 2. Therefore, since circuit terminal section 462 is exposed to the inside of cabinet 2, it is easy to connect a conductor to circuit terminal section 462.

[0077] Furthermore, the main body fixing portion 51 is located inward from the inner surface of the second plate portion 25, and the connection main body portion 41 is directly fixed to the main body fixing portion 51. Therefore, the connection main body portion 41 can be fixed inward from the second plate portion 25, which prevents the connection main body portion 41 from protruding outward from the second plate portion 25. This prevents the connection main body portion 41 from spoiling the aesthetic appearance.

[0078] Furthermore, the connection main body 41 is provided so that, in the retracted position, the front surface is substantially flush with the front surface of the second plate 25. This prevents the connection main body 41 from spoiling the aesthetic appearance in the retracted state.

[0079] Furthermore, when the connection main body 41 is in the retracted position, the connection portion 4A is hidden from the outer surface (front surface) of the cabinet 2, so that the connection portion 4A is prevented from being exposed. Therefore, the connection portion 4A is prevented from spoiling the aesthetic appearance of the cabinet 1 with a top panel.

[0080] Furthermore, one of the first fixing portion 52 and the second fixing portion 53 is formed with a temporary fixing hole 54 that allows the inserted fastener C to move vertically relative to the fixing portion 5, and a permanent fixing hole 55 that restricts the inserted fastener C from moving vertically relative to the fixing portion 5. Therefore, in a state where the fixing portion 5 is connected to the first plate portion 24 and the second plate portion 25, the vertical position of the first plate portion 24 relative to the second plate portion 25 can be fixed after adjusting the position of the first plate portion 24 relative to the second plate portion 25, making position adjustment and fixation easy.

[0081] Moreover, an eave portion 48 that extends outward beyond the connecting portion 4A is provided on the upper portion of the main body portion 44. Therefore, in the event that there is a risk of water or the like being splashed from the top plate 3, it is possible to prevent the splashed water from adhering to the connecting portion 4A.

[0082] Furthermore, the eaves portion 48 is separate from the main body portion 44 and can be fixed to the main body fixing portion 51. Therefore, the eaves portion 48 can be provided as needed, and therefore, while preventing water from adhering to the connection portion 4A, it is possible to configure the eaves portion 48 not to be provided when it is not needed.

[0083] Moreover, the eaves portion 48 is fastened together with the connection main body portion 41 to the main body fixing portion 51. Therefore, the eaves portion 48 and the connection main body portion 41 can be fastened together to the main body fixing portion 51 after the connection main body portion 41 is fitted into the device insertion hole 51a, and therefore the fitting of the device insertion hole 51a and the connection main body portion 41 allows the connection main body portion 41 to be fastened together in a stable position relative to the main body fixing portion 51, making it easy to perform the fixing work to the main body fixing portion 51 even when attaching the eaves portion 48.

[0084] Furthermore, the connection main body 41 can be switched between a protruding position and a retracted position, and in the protruding position, at least a part of the connection part 4A is located between the tip face of the outer end part and the side face 1b, so that in the protruding position, the connection part 4A is located in a suitable position for connecting a connection terminal, making it easy to connect the connection terminal of an external device to the connection part 4A.

[0085] Furthermore, since the main body 44 can be rotated about the rotation shaft 49 extending in the vertical direction to switch between the protruding position and the retracted position, it is easy to switch between the protruding position and the retracted position.

[0086] Furthermore, since eaves portion 48 extending outward in the direction of connection to connection portion 4A is provided above connection portion 4A, eaves portion 48 can prevent water dropping from top plate 3 from splashing on connection portion 4A.

[0087] Furthermore, since the rotation shaft 49 is provided at the midpoint of the width of the main body 44, the connection device 4 can be prevented from becoming larger in size in the width direction by the amount of the rotation shaft 49.

[0088] Furthermore, since the connection part 4A and the eaves part 48 are stored inside the cabinet 2 in the retracted position, it is possible to prevent water from splashing on the connection part 4A and the eaves part 48 when they are in the retracted position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water from running down from the eaves part 48 and splashing on the connection part 4A in the retracted position.

[0089] Furthermore, the main body 44 is configured to be rotatable about an axis extending in the up-down direction, and the connection main body 41 can be attached to the cabinet 2 in the protruding position by selecting either a state in which the connection part 4A faces one side in the left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear and up-down directions of the cabinet 2, or a state in which the connection part 4A faces the other side in the left-right direction. Therefore, the orientation of the connection part 4A can be selected according to the environment in which the top-equipped cabinet 1 is installed, improving convenience.

[0090] Furthermore, the connection main body 41 is fixed to the fixed part 5 and includes a holding part 45 that holds the main body 44 via a pivot shaft 49, a locking mechanism that can switch between a restricting state that restricts the main body 44 in the retracted position from rotating to the protruding position and an allowing state that allows the main body 44 in the retracted position to rotate to the protruding position, and a forward restricting means (rotation restricting part 455 and abutment surface 442) that engages with the fixed plate 452 at the protruding position and restricts the main body 44 from rotating forward beyond the protruding position, and the pivot shaft 49 includes a biasing means 492 that biases the main body 44 to rotate from the retracted position to the protruding position, and a rotary damper that regulates the rotation speed when the main body 44 moves from the retracted position to the protruding position. Therefore, when the restriction of the locking mechanism is released, the main body 44 moves slowly from the retracted position to the protruding position due to the biasing force of the biasing means 492 and the speed restriction of the rotary damper, and abuts against and locks against the front restriction means, thereby preventing the main body 44 from abutting against the front restriction means with force. Moreover, because the rotation shaft 49 is provided midway in the width direction of the main body 44, it is possible to prevent the connecting main body 41 from becoming larger in the width direction by the amount of the rotary damper.

[0091] Furthermore, the connection main body 41 is fixed to the side part 22 and includes a fixing plate 452 that holds the main body 44 via the rotation shaft 49. The fixing plate 452 opens forward and forms a fitting space into which the main body 44 is fitted, and the fitting space is configured so that the front is covered by the main body 44 at least in the protruding position. Therefore, even when the connection main body 41 is in the protruding position, it is possible to prevent the interior of the cabinet 2 from being visible through the connection device 4, improving the design.

[0092] Furthermore, since the front surface of the installation space S is covered by the connection main body 41, it is possible to prevent the interior of the cabinet 2 from being visible through the installation space S, thereby improving the design.

[0093] Furthermore, the connection device 4 is configured with a locking mechanism that allows it to move in the protruding direction when pushed in the retracted direction from the retracted position, and is fixed to a surface extending in the left-right direction (the rear surface of the front surface portion 25F) and a surface extending in the front-to-back direction (the right surface of the left surface portion 24L) via the fixing portion 5, so that the connection device 4 can be firmly fixed to the side portion 22 and can be pushed, resulting in a good operating feel.

[0094] Furthermore, according to the manufacturing method of the cabinet with a top plate 1 of this embodiment, the first plate portion 24 and the second plate portion 25 are fixed together so that an installation space S is formed between the first plate portion 24 and the second plate portion 25, and therefore the connecting main body portion 41 can be disposed in the gap formed between the first plate portion 24 and the second plate portion 25. Therefore, since the connecting main body portion 41 can be disposed in the gap, it is possible to reduce the number of parts while preventing damage to the aesthetic appearance.

[0095] Furthermore, since the connection main body 41 can be connected to the fixed part 5 from the outside to the inside of the cabinet 2, it is possible to reduce the need for work to be performed from inside the cabinet 2. This makes it easier to connect the connection main body 41 to the fixed part 5.

[0096] Furthermore, since the position of the connecting body 41 relative to the fixed part 5 is adjusted and the connecting body 41 is connected to the fixed part 5, the adjustment can prevent steps from occurring on the front surfaces of the second plate part 25 and the connecting body 41 due to manufacturing errors, etc. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of parts while preventing damage to the aesthetic appearance.

[0097] The above describes an embodiment of the present invention using an example, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0098] For example, although the cabinet with a top 1 has been described as being a cooking counter installed in a kitchen, the present invention is not limited to this configuration and can also be applied to a washstand installed in a bathroom, a cupboard installed in a kitchen, etc. When the cabinet with a top 1 is configured as a washstand, a washbasin including a flange as the top 3 having a flat upper surface 1a and a bowl portion recessed downward from the flange can be provided on the upper portion 23 of the cabinet 2. Furthermore, even when the cabinet with a top 1 is configured as a cooking counter, it is not limited to the case where it includes a sink A, a work surface (upper surface 1a of the work surface portion 13), and a cooking appliance B as in this embodiment, but can also be configured to include only the sink A, for example.

[0099] Furthermore, although a plug receptacle has been described as an example of the connection portion 4A, the connection portion 4A is not limited to this configuration and can be configured with various other configurations. For example, the connection portion 4A can be configured as a USB port capable of transmitting and receiving power and sending and receiving electrical signals, or as a LAN port capable of only sending and receiving electrical signals, or as a port for sending and receiving video signals. It is also possible to provide multiple types of connection portions 4A in one connection device 4. Furthermore, the connection portion 4A can be configured as a male terminal, allowing connection to an external device having a female connection terminal.

[0100] Furthermore, although the plug receptacles serving as the connection portions 4A are arranged vertically in the above description, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and they may be arranged horizontally.

[0101] Furthermore, although the connection device 4 has been described as being provided in the sink section 11, the present invention is not limited to this configuration and can be provided at any position in the cabinet 2. For example, the connection device 4 can be provided below the cooker B and the left separation section 321 (between the cooker B and the end of the top panel 3 on the side where the cooker B is located). This configuration makes it possible to effectively utilize the space between the cooker B and the end of the top panel 3, which is provided to prevent fire from spreading from the cooker B to the wall of the building. The connection device 4 can also be provided in the workbench section 13. This configuration makes it easy to connect the connection terminal of an external device placed on the workbench section 13 to the connection section 4A. Furthermore, the connection device 4 can be provided in more than one of the top-equipped cabinets 1 that make up the cabinet unit U.

[0102] In addition, although the connection device 4 has been described as being in a retracted position where the entire connection portion 4A is stored inside the cabinet 2, the configuration is not limited to this, and the connection device 4 may be configured so that part or all of the connection portion 4A is exposed from the cabinet 2 even in the retracted position. Furthermore, the connection device 4 is not limited to being able to switch between the protruding position and the retracted position, and the connection device 4 may not be able to switch between the protruding position and the retracted position, and the connection portion 4A may be always exposed. Furthermore, in a state where the connection terminal can be connected to the card portion, the connection portion 4A is not limited to being located forward of the side surface 1b of the cabinet 2, but may be flush with the front surface of the cabinet 2 or located rearward of the front surface of the cabinet 2.

[0103] Furthermore, although the case where the first fixing portion 52 is fixed to the inner surface of the first plate portion 24 and the second fixing portion 53 is fixed to the inner surface of the second plate portion 25 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and for example, the first fixing portion 52 and the second fixing portion 53 can also be configured to be fixed to the upper surface (surface extending in the thickness direction) of the first fixing portion 52 and the upper surface of the second fixing portion 53.

[0104] Furthermore, although the case where the device connecting step is performed after the plate connecting step has been described, this is not limiting, and the plate connecting step can also be performed after the device connecting step. For example, the connection main body 41 can be connected to the fixed part 5 in advance, and the first plate part 24 and the second plate part 25 can be connected to the fixed part 5 to which the connection main body 41 is connected, or the fixed part 5 can be connected to the first plate part 24, and then the connection main body 41 can be connected to the fixed part 5, and then the second plate part 25 can be connected to the fixed part 5. Furthermore, the device connecting step can also be performed after the step of placing the top plate 3 after the plate connecting step.

[0105] Furthermore, although the case where the fixing part 5 and the connecting body part 41 are separate bodies has been described, the invention is not limited to this configuration, and the connecting body part 41 and the fixing part 5 can also be configured as an integrated part. With such a configuration, the effort required to connect the connecting body part 41 and the fixing part 5 can be reduced, making the assembly process easier.

[0106] Furthermore, although the case where the front face portion 25F is fixed so as not to move in this fixed state has been described, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and for example, the front face portion 25F may be configured to be openable and closable, and a knife or the like may be stored inside the front face portion 25F. In such a case, the front of the front face portion 25F is defined as the state in which the front face portion 25F is closed.

[0107] In addition, in the cabinet unit U, the sink A, work surface, and cooking appliance B are arranged in a straight line in the description, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration and can be configured, for example, so that the sink A, work surface, and cooking appliance B are arranged in an L-shape. In such a configuration, the front surface is the surface that a user of the plumbing equipment A1 primarily faces, and is a continuous L-shaped surface in a plan view that extends along the direction in which the sink A, work surface, and cooking appliance B are arranged. Furthermore, in the description, the cabinet unit U is configured by a plurality of cabinets 1 with a top plate, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration and a cabinet 1 with a top plate can be installed alone.

[0108] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 21 , the cabinet unit U can be configured with a plurality of cabinets 2 arranged in the left-right and front-rear directions and grouped together. In such a configuration, the connection device 4 can be provided on both the top-equipped cabinet 1 that forms the rear surface of the cabinet unit U and the top-equipped cabinet 1 that forms the front surface of the cabinet unit U. Specifically, the cabinet unit U can be configured to include a sink section 11, a heating section 12, and a work surface section 13 arranged on the kitchen side (front side), and multiple (specifically, three) counter sections 14 arranged on the dining side (rear side). Each counter section 14 is a top-equipped cabinet 1 having a top 3 with a flat upper surface. In such a configuration, by providing the connection device 4 on at least one of the top-equipped cabinets 1 arranged on the kitchen side and at least one of the top-equipped cabinets 1 arranged on the dining side, the connection section 4A can be used from both the kitchen side and the dining side, thereby improving convenience.

[0109] Furthermore, although the cabinet unit U has been described as being configured by placing one top plate 3 on multiple cabinets 2, it is not limited to this configuration and can also be configured such that one top plate 3 is provided on one cabinet 2.

[0110] Furthermore, although the rotating shaft 49 is described as being provided in the middle of the width of the connecting body 41, the present invention is not limited to this configuration and it may be configured to be provided at one of the ends in the width direction.

[0111] Furthermore, the connection direction to the connection portion 4A has been described as extending in a direction perpendicular to the connection surface 44b, but is not limited to this and may be provided obliquely upward or downward relative to the connection surface 44b.

[0112] Furthermore, although the connection device 4 has been described as being provided on the front of the cabinet 2, it is not limited to this case and can also be provided on any of the left, rear, or right sides. Also, if the connection device 4 is provided on the rear side, the connection portion 4A can be accessed from the side opposite to the side facing the user who mainly uses the plumbing equipment A1 (for example, the dining side in a counter kitchen), improving usability from the rear side. Furthermore, the connection device 4 can also be arranged on multiple sides of the side 1b of the cabinet 2. In such a configuration, the top plate 3 can also be configured to have multiple outer ends.

[0113] Furthermore, the cabinet 1 with a top panel has been described as being installed indoors, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration and can also be configured to be installed outdoors. [Explanation of symbols]

[0114] 1...cabinet with top plate, 1a...top, 1b...side, 11...sink section, 12...heating section, 13...work surface section, 14...counter section, 2...cabinet, 21...bottom, 22...side, 23...upper section, 24...first plate section, 24L...left side section, 24R...right side section, 25...second plate section, 25F...front section, 25R...rear section, 26...drawer section, 261...front plate, 3...top plate, 31...sink top plate section, 32...heating Plate portion, 321...left separation portion, 33...work top plate portion, 4...connection device, 4A...connection portion, 41...connection main body portion, 42...decorative frame, 42A...frame base portion, 42B...closure plate portion, 421...vertical frame portion, 422...horizontal frame portion, 423...frame top surface, 424...frame bottom surface, 425...frame side surface, 426...horizontal frame main body portion, 427...positioning recess, 428...shaft accommodating portion, 429...fixing tool insertion portion, 43...decorative plate, 44...main body portion, 44a...decorative plate attachment Mounting surface, 44b...connection surface, 44c...corner portion, 44d...recessed portion, 441...plate mounting portion, 442...contact surface, 45...holding portion, 45a...insertion hole, 451...holding frame portion, 452...fixing plate, 453...vertical holding frame portion, 454...horizontal holding frame portion, 455...rotation restricting portion, 456...fixed base portion, 457...positioning protrusion, 46...circuit portion, 461...circuit main body portion, 462...circuit terminal portion, 47...lid portion, 48...eaves portion, 48a...eaves fixing Fixing hole, 481...eaves main body portion, 482...eaves fixing portion, 49...rotating shaft, 491...shaft main body, 492...urging means, 5...fixing portion, 51...main body fixing portion, 51a...device insertion hole, 51b...fixing hole, 52...first fixing portion, 53...second fixing portion, 54...temporary fixing hole, 55...main fixing hole, 56...insertion hole, A...sink, A1...plumbing equipment, B...heating cooker, C...fixing device, P...opening, S...installation space, U...cabinet unit

Claims

1. A cabinet with a top plate including a cabinet and a top plate provided on the cabinet and extending horizontally, The cabinet comprises: an upper portion on which the top plate is placed; a side portion extending downward from the upper portion and constituting a side surface of the cabinet; a connection device including a connection body having a connection portion to which a connection terminal for at least one of power transmission / reception and information communication of an external device can be connected, and a fixing portion for fixing the connection body to the side portion, The side portion is a first plate portion extending in a first direction perpendicular to the up-down direction; a second plate portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the first direction; The first plate portion and the second plate portion are connected by the fixing portion in the second direction so that an installation space is formed between the first plate portion and the second plate portion, The fixing portion is a first fixing portion fixed to the first plate portion; a second fixing portion fixed to the second plate portion, The connection main body is a cabinet with a top plate that is placed in the installation space with the first fixing portion fixed to the first plate portion and the second fixing portion fixed to the second plate portion.

2. the fixing portion is configured as a separate body from the connection body, the fixing portion includes a main body fixing portion that fixes the connection main body portion, the main body fixing portion is a plate-like body that extends across the installation space in the second direction and has a device insertion hole that penetrates in the first direction; The cabinet with a top panel according to claim 1 , wherein the connection main body is fixed to the main body fixing part with a part of the connection main body fitted in the device insertion hole.

3. A cabinet with a top plate as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing portion is configured to be able to connect the first plate portion and the second plate portion in either a temporary fixed state in which the second plate portion can move in the vertical direction relative to the first plate portion, or a permanent fixed state in which the second plate portion cannot move relative to the first plate portion.

4. A method for manufacturing a cabinet with a top plate, the method comprising: The cabinet comprises: an upper portion on which the top plate is placed; a side portion extending downward from the upper portion and constituting a side surface of the cabinet; a connection device including a connection body having a connection portion to which a connection terminal for at least one of power transmission / reception and information communication of an external device can be connected, and a fixing portion coupled to the connection body; The side portion is a first plate portion extending in a first direction perpendicular to the up-down direction; a second plate portion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the first direction, A method for manufacturing a cabinet with a top plate, which includes a plate connecting process for connecting the first plate portion and the second plate portion with the fixing portion so as to form an installation space in which the connection main body portion can be installed between the first plate portion and the second plate portion in the second direction.

5. The connection body and the fixing portion are configured as separate bodies, 5. A method for manufacturing a cabinet with a top plate as described in claim 4, which includes, after the plate portion connecting process, a device connecting process in which the connection main body portion abuts and connects from the outside to the inside of the cabinet in the first direction to the fixing portion connecting the first plate portion and the second plate portion.

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