Cabinet with top

Abstract

To provide a cabinet with a top plate in which a connection terminal for at least one of power transmission and reception of an external device and information communication is easily connected to a connection part.SOLUTION: A cabinet with a top plate includes a cabinet and a top plate 3 which is provided on the cabinet and extends in a horizontal direction. The cabinet includes an upper part where the top plate is placed, a side plate 12 which is provided to extend downward from the upper part and constitutes a side surface of the cabinet, and a connection device 14 equipped with a connection part where a connection terminal for at least one of power transmission and reception of an external device and information communication can be connected. The top plate includes an outer end part positioned outside the side surface in the horizontal direction, and the connection device is arranged to follow the side surface below the outer end part and can switch between a protruding position where a part of the connection part is positioned between a tip end surface of the outer end part in the horizontal direction and the side surface and a retracted position where the connection part is closer to a side surface side than the protruding position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cabinet with a top panel. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a cooking table is known as a cabinet with a countertop placed in a kitchen, as described in Patent Document 1. The cooking table includes a cabinet, a countertop placed on the cabinet, a sink placed on the countertop, and an outlet device having a plug receptacle to which a plug of an electrical device can be electrically connected and an openable / closable lid that covers the plug receptacle. The cabinet includes a flat panel extending vertically at the front, and the outlet device is installed in an installation hole recessed toward the back of the panel.

[0003] According to the above-described cooking counter, the plug receptacle is covered with a lid, which is said to prevent water splashing from the sink from adhering to the plug receptacle when the receptacle is not in use and a plug is not connected to it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-80314 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a kitchen counter such as that described in Patent Document 1, the outlet device is installed further back than the front of the panel, so the plug of the electrical device must be moved further back than the front of the panel to insert it into the plug socket, making it difficult to connect the plug to the socket.

[0006] Such problems can occur not only in countertops and electrical plugs and sockets, but also in any cabinet with a top that is installed indoors and has connections to other devices.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cabinet with a top panel that allows connection terminals for at least one of transmitting and receiving power to and receiving data from external devices to be easily connected to connection parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The cabinet with a top plate of the present invention is 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, side plates extending downward from the upper portion and constituting the side surfaces of the cabinet, and a connection device having a connection portion to which connection terminals for at least one of power transmission and reception and information communication with external devices can be connected, the top plate having an outer end portion located outward from the side surfaces in the horizontal direction, the connection device being arranged below the outer end portion and along the side surfaces, and the connection portion being switchable between a protruding position in which at least a portion of the connection portion is located between the tip surface of the outer end portion and the side surfaces in the horizontal direction, and a retracted position in which the connection portion is located closer to the side surfaces than the protruding position.

[0009] With this configuration, the connection device can be switched between a protruding position and a retracted position, and in the protruding position, at least a part of the connection portion is located between the tip surface of the outer end portion and the side surface, so that in the protruding position, the connection portion is located in a suitable position for connecting the connection terminal, making it easy to connect the connection terminal of the external device to the connection portion.

[0010] The connection device may also include a main body on which the connection portion is provided and a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction, and the main body may be configured to rotate around the rotation axis as an axis to switch between a protruding position and a retracted position.

[0011] According to this configuration, the main body can be rotated about a rotation shaft extending in the vertical direction to switch between the protruding position and the retracted position, making it easy to switch between the protruding position and the retracted position.

[0012] The connection device may also be configured to include a canopy portion at a position above the connection portion, extending outward in the horizontal direction in the direction in which the connection terminal is connected to the connection portion.

[0013] According to this configuration, a canopy portion is provided on the upper part of the connection portion, extending outward in the direction of connection to the connection portion, so that the canopy portion can prevent water dropping from the top plate from splashing onto the connection portion.

[0014] The rotation shaft may be configured to be provided at a midpoint in the width direction of the main body portion.

[0015] According to this configuration, the rotation shaft is provided at a midpoint in the width direction of the main body, so that the connection device can be prevented from becoming larger in size in the width direction by the amount of the rotation shaft. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a cabinet with a top panel in which a connection terminal for at least one of transmitting and receiving power to and communicating information from an external device can be easily connected to a connection portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet with a top panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the mounting fixture for the cabinet with a top panel. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a connection device for the cabinet with a top panel. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing a decorative frame of the connecting device. [Figure 8]FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the device body of the connection device. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 9. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the connection device in the retracted position. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the connecting device in a protruding position. [Figure 14] 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV in FIG. 12, showing the external appearance of the connection device. [Figure 15] 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XV-XV in FIG. 13, showing the external appearance of the connection device. [Figure 16] 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI in FIG. 12. [Figure 17] 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVII-XVII shown in FIG. 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] A cabinet 1 with a top plate according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 17. For ease of explanation, the directions of up / down, left / right, and front / rear all refer to directions in the installed state, and specifically, the description will be based on the directions shown in Figure 1.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cabinet 1 with a top plate includes a box-shaped cabinet 2 and a top plate 3 provided on the cabinet 2. The cabinet 1 with a top plate of this embodiment includes a top surface 1a, which is a substantially flat surface extending substantially horizontally, and side surfaces 1b, which are substantially flat surfaces extending substantially perpendicular to the top surface 1a, and is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape overall. The cabinet 1 with a top plate also includes a water supply fixture 4 on the top surface 1a that can supply water. The cabinet 1 with a top plate of this embodiment also includes a sink section 6 on the top surface 1a that includes the water supply fixture 4 and a sink 5 that receives water supplied from the water supply fixture 4, a heating section 8 on the top surface 1a that includes a cooking device 7, and a work surface section 9 whose top surface 1a is configured as a flat surface with a certain area. The sink section 6, the heating section 8, and the work surface section 9 are arranged linearly in the left-right direction. Specifically, the work surface section 9 is located between the sink section 6 and the heating section 8 in the left-right direction. Such a cabinet with a top plate 1 is placed outdoors or in a wet area of ​​a building (for example, a kitchen), and in this embodiment, it is installed indoors of a building. The cabinet with a top plate 1 of this embodiment is configured as a cooking table placed in a kitchen.

[0020] The cabinet 2 is a box-shaped portion with an open top on which the top panel 3 can be placed. The cabinet 2 also includes, as side surfaces 1b, left and right surfaces that are generally rectangular in side view and extend vertically, and front and rear surfaces that are generally rectangular in front view and extend vertically and connect the left and right surfaces. The front surface of the cabinet 2 is the surface that primarily faces a user using the plumbing equipment 4, and in this embodiment, is the surface farthest from the plumbing equipment 4 of the two surfaces spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction. In this embodiment, the left, right, front, and rear surfaces of the cabinet 2 are all flat surfaces that extend vertically. Specifically, the cabinet 2 includes a bottom 11 that forms the bottom surface of the cabinet 2, and side panels 12 that extend upward from the bottom 11 and form the side surfaces of the cabinet 2. The side panels 12 are formed by combining multiple plate-like bodies. The plate-like members constituting the side panels 12 are plate-like members including upper and lower surfaces extending horizontally along the thickness direction of the plate-like members, an outer surface extending vertically and forming the side surface 1b of the cabinet 2, and an inner surface located opposite the outer surface in the thickness direction. That is, the side surfaces of the cabinet 2 are formed by the outer surfaces of the plate-like members constituting the side panels 12. In this embodiment, the side panels 12 include a left surface portion 121 constituting the left surface of the cabinet 2, a right surface portion 122 constituting the right surface of the cabinet 2, a front surface portion 123 constituting the front surface of the cabinet 2, and a rear surface portion 124 constituting the rear surface of the cabinet 2. In this embodiment, the left surface portion 121 and the right surface portion 122 are plate-like members formed by combining two plate members, and the front surface portion 123 and the rear surface portion 124 are formed by combining a single plate member or a combination of multiple plate members. The left side surface 121 and the right side surface 122 of this embodiment are plate-like bodies formed by combining plate members (so-called side panels) that are provided outward relative to the direction of the cabinet 2 and have outer surfaces that become the side surfaces 1b of the cabinet 2, with plate members that are provided inward relative to the direction of the cabinet 2 for the purpose of increasing the rigidity of the cabinet 2. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the cabinet 2 includes a drawer section 13 that can store items therein, a connection device 14 described below, and a mounting fixture 15 (see FIG. 3) that attaches the connection device 14 to the side panels 12. Also, a partition plate 16 that is a plate-like body that separates the sink section 6, the heating section 8, and the workbench section 9 is provided inside the cabinet 2 (see FIG. 4).

[0021] The front surface portion 123 includes a top panel 17, which is a strip-shaped plate-like body extending in the left-right direction and whose outer surface forms the front of the side surface 1b, and a front panel 18, which is a strip-shaped plate-like body extending in the left-right direction and whose outer surface forms the front of the side surface 1b, and which forms the front surface of the drawer portion 13. In this embodiment, the top panel 17 and the front panel 18 are plate-like bodies made of a single plate material. Furthermore, the front surface portion 123 is the portion that faces a user who uses the plumbing equipment 4 provided on the top panel 3. In this embodiment, the top panel 17 is fixed so as not to move in the front-to-back direction, while the front panel 18 is movable in the front-to-back direction as the drawer portion 13 is opened or closed. The top panel 17 and the front panel 18 are arranged so that their front surfaces are approximately flush when the drawer portion 13 is closed.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 , the mounting fixture 15 is a component (e.g., a metal fitting) for mounting the connection device 14 to the side plate 12, and is specifically a flat, vertically extending component. In this embodiment, the mounting fixture 15 is a plate-like body that is L-shaped in plan view and has multiple holes formed therethrough in the thickness direction. The mounting fixture 15 includes a flat mounting body 19 capable of fixing the connection device 14, a flat front surface facing portion 20 connected to one left-right side of the mounting body 19 (the right side in this embodiment) and extending substantially parallel to the mounting body 19, and a flat partition plate facing portion 21 connected to the other left-right side of the mounting body 19 (the left side in this embodiment) and extending substantially perpendicular to the mounting body 19. The front surface facing portion 20 and the partition plate facing portion 21 each have multiple insertion holes 20a formed therethrough in the thickness direction, through which fasteners can be inserted. In addition, the mounting main body 19 is formed with a device insertion hole 19a that penetrates in the thickness direction and is a hole into which a part of the connection device 14 can be inserted, and a fixing hole 19b that penetrates in the thickness direction and is capable of inserting a fastener for fixing the connection device 14.

[0023] The mounting fixture 15 is fixed to the side panel 12 from the inside. Specifically, the mounting fixture 15 is attached by inserting a fastener (e.g., a screw) into the insertion hole 20a so that the front surface facing portion 20 faces the inner surface of the front surface 123 and the partition panel facing portion 21 faces the surface of the partition panel 16 that extends in a direction intersecting the front surface 123. The mounting fixture 15 of this embodiment is fixed to the inside of the header panel 17 so that the front surface facing portion 20 faces the inner surface of the header panel 17, and the mounting main body portion 19 and the partition panel facing portion 21 are arranged alongside the header panel 17 in the left-right direction.

[0024] The mounting space 2a for mounting the connection device 14 is formed by the mounting fixture 15 attached to the side panel 12 and the partition panel 16 and the front surface 123. The mounting space 2a is a space recessed toward the rear formed by the front surface 123 and the mounting fixture 15. In other words, it is the area in front of the mounting fixture 15 where the side panel 12 is not provided. The mounting space 2a in this embodiment is a space recessed toward the rear by the thickness of the header panel 17. The mounting space 2a in this embodiment is formed next to the header panel 17 in the left-right direction, and the vertical length of the mounting space 2a is formed to be approximately equal to the vertical length of the adjacent header panel 17. The mounting space 2a is also formed within the range of the workbench unit 9 or at a position adjacent to the workbench unit 9 in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, it is formed at the end of the sink unit 6 on the workbench side in the left-right direction.

[0025] 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-to-back lengths. The top plate 3 also has a plurality of holes formed therethrough in the thickness direction. Specifically, the top plate 3 includes a sink top plate portion 22 that forms the upper surface of the sink portion 6, a heating top plate portion 23 that forms the upper surface of the heating portion 8, and a work top plate portion 24 that forms the upper surface of the work table portion 9. The top plate 3 of this embodiment is composed of a single plate-like body, with the right end portion serving as the sink top plate portion 22, the left end portion serving as the heating top plate portion 23, and the space between the sink top plate portion 22 and the heating top plate portion 23 in the left-right direction serving as the work top plate portion 24.

[0026] The sink top plate portion 22 is a plate-like portion having a flat upper surface 1a and a sink fitting hole 22a 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 22 is an annular plate body with the sink fitting hole 22a formed in approximately the center of the upper surface 1a. The sink fitting hole 22a is a through hole that opens into the upper surface 1a to an extent that the sink 5 can be stored. Such a sink top plate portion 22 is a portion that surrounds the outer periphery in the horizontal direction of the sink 5 stored in the sink fitting hole 22a.

[0027] The heating top plate section 23 has a flat upper surface 1a and is a plate-like section with a cooker fitting hole 23a 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 section 23 has a flat, plate-like left separated section 231 located at the left end (the end on the side where the heating top plate section 23 is located in the extension direction of the top plate 3). The cooker fitting hole 23a is a through-hole that is formed to the right of the left separated section 231 and is open to the upper surface 1a to an extent that the cooker 7 can be stored therein. The heating top plate section 23 is a section that surrounds the outer periphery in the horizontal direction of the cooker 7 stored in the cooker fitting hole 23a.

[0028] Work top plate 24 has a flat upper surface 1a and is a plate-like portion that connects sink top plate 22 and heating top plate 23. Work top plate 24 is a plate-like body with a constant length in the front-to-rear direction. Work top plate 24 is a flat plate with an area large enough to perform cooking tasks on top surface 1a and to place cooking equipment on it.

[0029] The top plate 3 is a plate whose front-to-rear length is longer than that of the cabinet 2, whose left-to-right length is approximately equal to that of the cabinet 2, and whose top surface extends horizontally. When the top plate 3 is provided on top of the cabinet 2, it has an outer end portion that is located outward from the side surfaces of the cabinet 2 in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the top plate 3 is placed on the cabinet 2 so that its rear end portion is located approximately in the same position as the rear end portion of the cabinet 2 in the front-to-rear direction, and a front end 3a as the leading end surface of the outer end portion is located forward of the front end portion of the cabinet 2 (see FIG. 5 ). In other words, when the top plate 3 is placed on the cabinet 2, the front end 3a as the leading end surface of the outer end portion is located forward of the front surface of the side surface of the cabinet 2.

[0030] 6 to 11, the connection device 14 includes a device main body 31 having a connection portion 39 to which a connection terminal (e.g., a plug) for at least one of transmitting and receiving power to and communicating information from an external device can be connected, a decorative frame 32 that can be fitted into the device main body 31, and a decorative plate 33 that covers a part of the decorative frame 32 and the front surface of the device main body 31. The connection device 14 is a columnar shape that is long in the vertical direction, and the left-right length is approximately equal to the left-right width of the mounting space 2a, and the up-down length is approximately equal to the up-down length of the mounting space 2a.

[0031] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the decorative frame 32 includes a rod-shaped vertical frame portion 34 extending in the up-down direction and a pair of horizontal frame portions 35 extending from the upper and lower ends of the vertical frame portion 34 toward one side in the left-right direction (the right side in this embodiment). The left-right length of the decorative frame 32 is approximately equal to the left-right width of the mounting space 2a, and the up-down length is approximately equal to the up-down length of the mounting space 2a. Furthermore, the decorative frame 32 includes a retreat space 35a that is concave toward the rear and has a generally triangular shape in a plan view at the connection between the vertical frame portion 34 and the horizontal frame portion 35 (see Figure 6). Furthermore, the decorative frame 32 includes a frame upper surface 32a, which is the upper surface of the decorative frame 32 extending in the horizontal direction; a frame lower surface 32b, which is the lower surface of the decorative frame 32 extending in the horizontal direction; and a frame side surface 32c, which is a surface perpendicular to the left-right direction and is the side surface of the decorative frame 32.

[0032] The vertical frame portion 34 is a rod-shaped body extending in the vertical direction, with a thickness in the front-to-rear direction substantially equal to the width of the mounting space 2a in the front-to-rear direction (the distance from the front surface of the header panel 17 to the front surface of the mounting fixture 15 in the front-to-rear direction). The vertical frame portion 34 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. The vertical frame portion 34 also has a vertical frame front surface 34a that is a surface perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction and that forms the front surface of the vertical frame portion 34.

[0033] The horizontal frame portion 35 is a rod-shaped body extending in the left-right direction and whose thickness in the front-to-rear direction is approximately equal to the width of the mounting space 2a in the front-to-rear direction. A pair of horizontal frame portions 35 are provided, spaced apart in the vertical direction. Specifically, the horizontal frame portion 35 includes a horizontal frame main body portion 36 having a rectangular shape in a front view and covering the front of the device main body 31, a fitting means 37 provided on the horizontal frame main body portion 36 and capable of fitting into a fitting groove 55 (described later), and a positioning recess 38 engageable with a positioning protrusion 57 (described later). The fitting means 37 is a claw-shaped portion extending in the vertical direction toward the other horizontal frame portion 35. Specifically, the fitting means 37 is a claw-shaped portion provided so as to extend downward from the upper horizontal frame portion 35, or a claw-shaped portion provided so as to extend upward from the lower horizontal frame portion 35. The positioning recesses 38 are multiple forward-facing recesses formed at the rear end of the horizontal frame main body portion 36, spaced apart in the left-to-right direction of the horizontal frame portion 35. The positioning recesses 38 of this embodiment are arranged on the left and right sides of the fitting means 37 so as to sandwich the fitting means 37 in the left-right direction.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 6, the decorative panel 33 is a flat plate having a flat front surface as a decorative surface that covers the front surface of the device main body 31. Specifically, the decorative panel 33 is a plate whose vertical length is approximately equal to the vertical length of the vertical frame portions 34 and whose left-right length is approximately equal to the left-right length of the horizontal frame portions 35. The decorative panel 33 also has an attachment portion on its rear surface (not shown) that can be fitted into a plate attachment portion 47 of the main body 40, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the attachment portion is a plurality of protrusions that protrude rearward.

[0035] 9 to 11, the device main body 31 includes a main body section 40 having a connection section 39, a rotation shaft 41 (see FIG. 11) extending in the vertical direction, a holding section 42 that holds the main body section 40 via the rotation shaft 41, and a circuit section 43 provided behind the main body section 40. The device main body 31 of this embodiment has a generally constant width in the left-right direction and is columnar in shape that is long in the vertical direction.

[0036] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the main body 40 includes a connecting portion 39, a decorative panel mounting surface 44 having a substantially flat surface extending in the vertical direction, a connecting surface 45 connected to the decorative panel mounting surface 44 and having a flat surface extending in the vertical direction, and a canopy portion 46 provided at the upper and lower ends and covering the upper and lower portions of the connecting surface 45. The main body 40 is a vertically elongated columnar portion. The decorative panel mounting surface 44 has a plate mounting portion 47 into which the mounting portion of the decorative panel 33 can be fitted. In this embodiment, the plate mounting portion 47 is a plurality of recesses recessed toward the rear. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the decorative panel mounting surface 44 and the connecting surface 45 are surfaces that extend parallel to each other in the vertical direction and perpendicular to each other in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, a corner portion 40a is formed at the connection point between the decorative panel mounting surface 44 and the connecting surface 45.

[0037] The connection portion 39 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 39 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 39 of this embodiment has an opening 39a into which the connection terminal of the external device can be inserted. The connection portion 39 is also arranged so that its upper portion is covered by the canopy portion 46, and more specifically, so that its surface is approximately flush with the connection surface 45. In this embodiment, multiple connection portions 39 are arranged spaced apart in the vertical direction.

[0038] The connection surface 45 is a flat surface extending in the vertical direction, with the connection portion 39 provided midway along the vertical direction. Specifically, the connection surface 45 is a narrow surface extending in the vertical direction with a substantially constant width from the top end to the bottom end. In this embodiment, the connection surface 45 has a plurality of connection portions 39 arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Specifically, the connection portions 39 are provided on the connection surface 45 so that the opening direction of an opening 39a 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 39) is substantially perpendicular to the connection surface 45. That is, the connection portions 39 are provided so that the opening direction of the opening 39a is aligned horizontally. In this embodiment, the connection portions 39 are provided so that, at a protruding position described below, the opening direction of the opening 39a is aligned horizontally and extends obliquely with respect to the front surface of the cabinet.

[0039] The eaves portion 46 is provided on the upper and lower parts of the connection surface 45 and covers the upper and lower parts of the connection portion 39. Specifically, the eaves portion 46 is connected to the upper and lower ends of the connection surface 45 and is a plate-like portion extending from the connection surface 45 in the connection direction of the connection portion 39 (the opening direction of the opening 39a of the connection portion 39). That is, the eaves portion 46 is a plate-like body whose upper surface extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the connection surface 45. In this embodiment, the eaves portion 46 functions as a portion that receives water splashed from above. The eaves portion 46 also includes a biasing connecting portion 48 to which one end of a biasing means 59 (described later) is connected, and an abutting surface 49 that can abut against a rotation restricting portion 54 of the horizontal support frame plate at a protruding position (described later) (see FIG. 11). In this embodiment, the abutting surface 49 is configured as the front surface of the biasing connecting portion 48.

[0040] The holding portion 42 is a frame-shaped portion that holds the main body portion 40. The holding portion 42 can be fixed to a mounting fixture 15 that is provided on the side plate 12. Specifically, the holding portion 42 includes a frame-shaped holding frame portion 50 that can store the main body portion 40 therein, and a plate-shaped fixing portion 51 that is connected to the holding frame portion 50. The holding portion 42 of this embodiment is provided with a pair of fixing portions 51 that are spaced apart from each other above and below. The holding portion 42 opens forward and forms an insertion space into which the main body portion 40 can be inserted.

[0041] The holding frame 50 includes a plate-like vertical holding frame 52 extending in the up-down direction, and a pair of horizontal holding frame 53 extending in one direction (leftward in this embodiment) from the upper and lower ends of the vertical holding frame 52. The vertical holding frame 52 is a plate-like body whose vertical length is longer than the vertical length of the main body 40, and the horizontal holding frame 53 is a plate-like body whose left-right length is approximately the same as the left-right length of the decorative panel mounting surface 44.

[0042] Each horizontal holding frame 53 has a rotation restricting portion 54 at its front end, which protrudes toward the other horizontal holding frame 53 and can abut against the abutment surface 49 of the device main body 31 at the protruding position (see FIG. 11 ). The horizontal holding frame 53 also has a fitting groove 55 formed therein, into which the fitting means 37 of the horizontal frame 35 can be fitted. The rotation restricting portion 54 in this embodiment is a plate-like member extending downward at the front end of the upper horizontal holding frame 53, or a plate-like member extending upward from the front end of the lower horizontal holding frame 53. The fitting groove 55 is a groove-like portion extending in the left-right direction and formed at the rear end of the horizontal holding frame 53, and in this embodiment, is formed as a hole penetrating in the up-down direction. Furthermore, the horizontal holding frame 53 is configured to rotatably hold a rotation shaft 41, which will be described later.

[0043] The fixing portion 51 is a plate-like portion connected to the horizontal holding frame portion 53. In this embodiment, a pair of fixing portions 51 are provided, spaced apart in the vertical direction. One fixing portion 51 is provided to extend upward from the upper horizontal holding frame portion 53, and the other fixing portion 51 is provided to extend downward from the lower horizontal holding frame portion 53. Specifically, the fixing portion 51 is a flat plate extending in the vertical direction and includes a fixing base 56 having a hole penetrating in the thickness direction through which a fastener can be inserted, and a positioning protrusion 57 protruding forward from the fixing base 56. In this embodiment, a plurality of positioning protrusions 57 are provided, spaced apart in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the positioning protrusions 57 are located at positions such that the fitting means 37 of the horizontal frame portion 35 can fit into the fitting groove 55 when the positioning recesses 38 of the horizontal frame portion 35 are fitted. In this embodiment, the pair of fixing portions 51 are configured symmetrically in the vertical direction with respect to the center of the device main body 31 in the vertical direction.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 11 , the pivot shaft 41 is a shaft extending in the vertical direction and serves as the vertical axis when the main body 40 pivots horizontally. Specifically, the pivot shaft 41 includes a columnar shaft body 58 extending in the vertical direction and connecting the device main body 31 and the holding part 42, a biasing means 59 that biases the shaft body 58 to pivot in one direction, a locking mechanism (not shown) that can restrict and release the rotation of the shaft body 58, and a rotary damper (not shown) that restricts the rotation speed of the shaft body 58. In this embodiment, the rotary damper is built into the shaft body 58. The locking mechanism is configured to restrict the rotation of the shaft body 58 when it is in a retracted position, which will be described later.

[0045] Shaft body 58 is a cylindrical portion having one end connected to device main body 31 so as not to be rotatable relative to device main body 31, and the other end connected to holding portion 42 so as to be rotatable relative to device main body 31. Shaft body 58 is connected to a midpoint in the width direction (left-right direction) of main body 40. Specifically, shaft body 58 is connected to a position closer to the opposite side of connecting surface 45 (to the left in this embodiment) with respect to the center of main body 40 in the width direction.

[0046] Biasing means 59 is a component that biases shaft body 58 to rotate in one direction. Specifically, biasing means 59 is a coil spring having one end fixed to circuit main body 60 and the other end connected to biasing connecting portion 48 of visor portion 46, 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 59 of this embodiment is configured to bias shaft body 58 via device main body 31. Furthermore, biasing means 59 of this embodiment is configured to be compressed as main body 40, 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.

[0047] The rotary damper is a component that provides resistance to the rotation of the shaft body 58. 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 41 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 41.

[0048] The circuit section 43 is a section having a circuit that electrically connects an external power source (e.g., a commercial power source) and the connection section 39. The circuit section 43 is connected to the rear of the holding section 42 and is a columnar section extending vertically rearward from the holding section 42. Specifically, the circuit section 43 includes a circuit main body section 60 connected to the rear of the holding section 42 and having a circuit therein that electrically connects the connection section 39 and the external power source, and a circuit terminal section 61 extending rearward from the circuit main body section 60 and electrically connecting the external power source and the circuit. The circuit terminal section 61 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 43 is configured to be able to fit into the device insertion hole 19a. Furthermore, the circuit section 43 of this embodiment, excluding the circuit terminal section 61, is configured vertically symmetrical with respect to the vertical center of the device body 31.

[0049] The connection device 14 configured as described above is attached to the side panel 12 via the fixture 15. Specifically, the device main body 31 is attached to the fixture 15, and the decorative frame 32 and the decorative panel 33 are attached to the device main body 31 attached to the fixture 15.

[0050] The device main body 31 is attached to the mounting fixture 15 with fasteners (e.g., screws). Specifically, the fastening portion 51 is placed on the mounting main body 19 so that the fixing holes 19b of the mounting main body 19 and the holes formed in the fixing portion 51 are aligned, and the fastening device is inserted through the aligned holes. At this time, the circuit portion 43 is fitted into the device insertion hole 19a. The device main body 31 is attached to the mounting fixture 15. In the device main body 31 of this embodiment, the circuit portion 43 is configured symmetrically in the up-down direction, and the pair of fixing portions 51 are provided symmetrically in the up-down direction. Therefore, the device main body 31 can be attached to the mounting fixture 15 even if it is reversed up-down. Note that when the device main body 31 is attached to the mounting fixture 15 with the up-down direction reversed, the rotation direction of the main body 40, which will be described later, is reversed.

[0051] The decorative frame 32 is attached to the device main body 31 attached to the fixture 15 by fitting it from the front. Specifically, the decorative frame 32 is attached to the device main body 31 by arranging a pair of horizontal frame bodies so that the main body 40 is sandwiched between the pair of horizontal frame bodies in the vertical direction, fitting the positioning recesses 38 into the positioning protrusions 57 to position the decorative frame 32 with respect to the device main body 31, and fitting the fitting means 37 into the fitting grooves 55.

[0052] The decorative board 33 is attached to the decorative board mounting surface 44 of the device body 31 to which the decorative frame 32 is attached. Specifically, the decorative board 33 is attached to the device body 31 by fitting the mounting portion of the decorative board 33 into the board mounting portion 47 provided on the decorative board mounting surface 44. In addition to fitting the board mounting portion 47 into the mounting portion, other means such as adhesion can also be used in combination. When the decorative board 33 is attached to the device body 31, the front surfaces of the device body 31 and the horizontal frame portion 35 are covered with the decorative board 33.

[0053] Using the above-described procedure, the connection device 14 is attached to the side panel 12 via the fixture 15. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, once the connection device 14 is attached, the front surface of the mounting space 2a is covered by the connection device 14, so that the interior of the cabinet 2 cannot be seen through the mounting space 2a, whether in the protruding position or the retracted position, which will be described later.

[0054] A method of using the cabinet 1 with a top panel configured as above will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0055] The connection device 14 is switchable between a protruding position in which at least a part of the connection portion 39 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 39 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 part of the connection portion 39 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 39 is located behind the protruding position.

[0056] As shown in Figures 12, 14, and 16, when the connection device 14 of this embodiment is in the retracted position, the entire connection portion 39 is located behind the front surface of the side panel 12 (top panel 17), and the entire connection portion 39 is stored within the cabinet 2. That is, when the connection device 14 of this embodiment is in the retracted position, the entire connection surface 45 is hidden from the front. Also, with the connection device 14 in the retracted position, the entire eaves portion 46 is stored inside the cabinet 2. Furthermore, when the connection device 14 is in the retracted position, the outer surface (front surface) of the connection device 14 and the outer surface (front surface) of the side panel 12 are approximately flush with each other. Specifically, when the connection device 14 is in the retracted position, the decorative panel mounting surface 44 extends parallel to the front surface, and the front surfaces of the decorative panel 33, the front surface of the decorative frame 32 (vertical frame front surface 34a), and the outer surface of the side panel 12 (front surface of top panel 17) are approximately flush with each other. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the connection device 14 is in the retracted position, the frame upper surface 32a, which is the upper surface of the decorative frame 32, is approximately flush with the upper surface of the back panel 17, the frame lower surface 32b, which is the lower surface of the decorative frame 32, is approximately flush with the lower surface of the back panel 17, and the frame side surface 32c, which is the side surface of the decorative frame 32, is approximately flush with the left side surface of the front panel 18.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 13, 15, and 17, when the connection device 14 of this embodiment is in the protruding position, the entire connection portion 39 is located forward of the front surface of the side panel 12 (back panel 17) and behind the front end 3a of the top panel 3, and the entire connection portion 39 is exposed from inside the cabinet 2. That is, when the connection device 14 of this embodiment is in the protruding position, the entire connection surface 45 is exposed from the front surface. Furthermore, when the connection device 14 is in the protruding position, the eaves portion 46 is also exposed from inside the cabinet 2 and covers the exposed connection portion 39. When the connection device 14 of this embodiment is in the protruding position, a portion of the main body 40 is located forward of the front end 3a of the top panel 3, and the entire connection portion 39 is located behind the front end 3a of the top panel 3. Furthermore, when the connection device 14 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 39) is oriented horizontally, specifically, is oriented substantially the same as the orientation of the decorative panel 33 in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, in the connection device 14 of this embodiment, the corner portion 40a is located at approximately the same position as the front end 3a in the front-rear direction when in the retracted position.

[0058] The connection device 14 of this embodiment can be switched between a protruding position and a retracted position by rotating the main body 40 about the rotation shaft 41. Specifically, the switching between the protruding position and the retracted position is mainly performed by the locking mechanism and the biasing means 59. When the main body 40 of this embodiment 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 58 rotates so that the connection portion 39 moves further rearward from the retracted position, the locking mechanism enters a restricted state that restricts the rotation of the shaft body 58 to the protruding position. When the shaft body 58 is rotated in a direction that moves the connection portion 39 rearward while the locking mechanism is in the restricted state, the locking mechanism enters a rotation-permitting state that releases the restriction. In other words, when the main body 40 is rotated rearward to move the connection portion 39 from the protruding position to the retracted position, the locking mechanism restricts the rotation of the rotation shaft 41, and the connection device 14 maintains the retracted position. Furthermore, when the main body 40 of the connection device 14, which is maintained in the retracted position, is pushed rearward, the locking mechanism enters a rotation-permitting state, allowing the shaft main body 58 to rotate, and the shaft main body 58 is biased by the biasing means 59 to rotate forward and move to the extended position. Once moved to the extended position, the abutment surface 49 provided on the eaves portion 46 abuts against the rotation restricting portion 54 of the horizontal holding frame portion 53, restricting further rotation and maintaining the extended position. In this embodiment, the main body 40 rotates an angle of less than 90 degrees when moving from the extended position to the retracted position or from the retracted position to the extended position.

[0059] When the connection device 14 moves to the protruding position, the portion of the decorative panel 33 located to the left of the pivot shaft 41 retracts into the retraction space 35a. The portion of the decorative panel 33 located to the left of the pivot shaft 41 moves rearward when rotating from the retracted position to the protruding position. Here, the formation of the retraction space 35a prevents this rearward-moving portion from interfering with other portions and hindering the rotation. Similarly, the portion of the main body 40 located to the left of the pivot shaft 41 also moves rearward and leftward during the rotation. Here, the formation of the retraction space 35a prevents the rearward-moving portion of the main body 40 from interfering with other portions and hindering the rotation.

[0060] According to the cabinet 1 with a top panel configured as described above, the connection device 14 can be switched between a protruding position and a retracted position, and in the protruding position, at least a part of the connection portion 39 is located between the tip surface of the outer end portion and the side surface 1b, so that in the protruding position the connection portion 39 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 portion 39. Therefore, it is easy to connect the connection terminal of an external device to the connection portion 39.

[0061] Furthermore, since the main body 40 can be rotated about the rotation shaft 41 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.

[0062] Furthermore, since an eave portion 46 extending outward in the direction of connection to the connection portion 39 is provided above the connection portion 39, the eave portion 46 can prevent water dropping from the top plate 3 from splashing on the connection portion 39.

[0063] Furthermore, since the rotation shaft 41 is provided at the midpoint of the width of the main body 40, the connection device 14 can be prevented from becoming larger in size in the width direction by the amount of the rotation shaft 41.

[0064] Furthermore, since the connection part 39 and the eaves part 46 are stored inside the cabinet 2 in the retracted position, it is possible to prevent water from splashing on the connection part 39 and the eaves part 46 when they are in the retracted position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water from running down from the eaves part 46 and splashing on the connection part 39 in the retracted position.

[0065] Furthermore, the main body 40 is configured to be rotatable about an axis extending in the vertical direction, and the connection device 14 can be attached to the cabinet 2 in either a state in which, in the protruding position, the connection portion 39 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 portion 39 faces the other side in the left-right direction. This allows the orientation of the connection portion 39 to be selected to suit the environment in which the top-equipped cabinet 1 is installed, thereby improving convenience. The position of the retraction space 35a can be adjusted appropriately to match the orientation of the connection portion 39 in the retracted position.

[0066] Furthermore, the connection device 14 is fixed to the mounting fixture 15 and includes a holding portion 42 that holds the main body portion 40 via the pivot shaft 41, a locking mechanism that can switch between a restricting state that restricts the main body portion 40 in the retracted position from rotating to the protruding position and an allowing state that allows the main body portion 40 in the retracted position to rotate to the protruding position, and a forward restricting means (rotation restricting portion 54 and abutment surface 49) that engages with the fixed portion 51 at the protruding position and restricts the main body portion 40 from rotating forward beyond the protruding position, and the pivot shaft 41 includes a biasing means 59 that biases the main body portion 40 to rotate from the retracted position to the protruding position, and a rotary damper that regulates the rotation speed when the main body portion 40 moves from the retracted position to the protruding position. Therefore, when the restriction of the locking mechanism is released, the main body 40 moves slowly from the retracted position to the protruding position due to the biasing force of the biasing means 59 and the speed restriction of the rotary damper, and abuts against and locks against the front restriction means, thereby preventing the main body 40 from abutting against the front restriction means with force. Moreover, because the rotation shaft 41 is provided in the middle of the main body 40 in the width direction, it is possible to prevent the connection device 14 from becoming larger in size in the width direction by the amount of the rotary damper.

[0067] Furthermore, connection device 14 is fixed to cabinet 2 and includes fixing portion 51 that holds main body 40 via pivot shaft 41, and fixing portion 51 opens forward to form a fitting space into which main body 40 is fitted, and the fitting space is configured such that the front is covered by main body 40 at least when in the protruding position. Therefore, even when connection device 14 is in the protruding position, it is possible to prevent the interior of cabinet 2 from being visible through connection device 14, improving design.

[0068] Furthermore, since the front surface of the mounting space 2a is covered by the connection device 14, it is possible to prevent the interior of the cabinet 2 from being visible through the mounting space 2a, thereby improving the design.

[0069] Furthermore, when in the protruding position, a portion of the connection device 14 is located forward of the front end 3a of the tabletop 3, and therefore, when in the protruding position, a portion of the connection device 14 can be seen from above the tabletop 3, making it easy to check whether the connection device is in the protruding position or the retracted position.

[0070] Furthermore, the connection device 14 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 panel 17) and a surface extending in the front-to-back direction (the right surface of the partition panel 16) via the mounting fixture 15, so that the connection device 14 can be firmly fixed to the side panel 12 and can be pushed, resulting in a good operability.

[0071] 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.

[0072] 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 a top with a flat upper surface and a bowl portion recessed downward from the flange can be provided on the upper part 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 5, a work surface (the upper surface of the work surface portion 9), and a cooking appliance 7 as in this embodiment, but can also be configured to include only the sink 5, for example.

[0073] Furthermore, although a plug receptacle has been described as an example of the connection unit 39, the connection unit 39 is not limited to this configuration and can be configured with various other configurations. For example, the connection unit 39 can be configured as a USB port capable of transmitting and receiving power and sending and receiving electrical signals, or as a LAN port or HDMI (registered trademark) port capable of only sending and receiving electrical signals. Also, multiple types of connection units 39 can be provided in one connection device 14. Moreover, the connection unit 39 can be configured as a male terminal to be connectable to an external device having a female connection terminal.

[0074] Furthermore, although the connection device 14 has been described as being provided in the sink section 6, the present invention is not limited to this configuration and the connection device 14 can be provided at any position in the cabinet 2. For example, the connection device 14 can be provided below the cooking appliance 7 and the left separation section 231 (between the cooking appliance 7 and the end of the top panel 3 on the side where the cooking appliance 7 is located). This configuration makes it possible to effectively utilize the space between the cooking appliance 7 and the end of the top panel 3, which is provided to prevent fire from spreading from the cooking appliance 7 to the wall of the building. The connection device 14 can also be provided on the workbench section 9. This configuration makes it easy to connect the connection terminal of an external device placed on the workbench section 9 to the connection section 39.

[0075] Furthermore, although the connection device 14 has been described as being in a retracted position in which the entire connection portion 39 is stored inside the cabinet 2, the configuration is not limited to this, and the connection device 14 may also be configured so that part or all of the connection portion 39 is exposed from the cabinet 2 even in the retracted position.

[0076] Furthermore, although the case where the header 17 is fixed so as not to move has been described, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and for example, the header 17 may be configured to be openable and closable, allowing knives and the like to be stored inside the side panels 12. In such a case, the front of the header 17 is defined as the state in which the header 17 is closed.

[0077] Furthermore, although the cabinet 1 with a top has been described as being arranged such that the sink 5, work surface, and cooking appliance 7 are aligned in a straight line, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the cabinet 1 can also be configured such that the sink 5, work surface, and cooking appliance 7 are aligned in an L-shape, for example. In such a configuration, the front surface is the surface that a user of the plumbing equipment 4 primarily faces, and is a continuous L-shaped surface in plan view that extends in the direction in which the sink 5, work surface, and cooking appliance 7 are aligned.

[0078] Furthermore, although the rotating shaft 41 is provided in the middle of the width of the connecting device 14 in the above description, it is not limited to this configuration and may be provided at one of the ends in the width direction.

[0079] Furthermore, the connection direction to the connection portion 39 has been described as extending in a direction perpendicular to the connection surface 45, but this is not limited to this case, and the connection portion 39 may be provided obliquely upward or downward relative to the connection surface 45.

[0080] Furthermore, although the connection device 14 has been described as being provided on the front surface of the cabinet 2, it is not limited to this case and can also be provided on any of the left, rear, or right surfaces. For example, if the connection device 14 is provided on the left surface, the top plate 3 can be configured to have an outer end located to the left of the left surface of the cabinet 2. Also, if the connection device 14 is provided on the rear surface, the connection device 14 can be operated from the side opposite to the side facing the user who mainly uses the plumbing equipment 4 (for example, the dining side in a counter kitchen), making it easier to use from the rear side. Furthermore, the connection device 14 can also be arranged on multiple sides of the cabinet 2. In this configuration, the top plate 3 can also be configured to have multiple outer ends.

[0081] 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]

[0082] 1...cabinet with top plate, 2...cabinet, 3...top plate, 4...plumbing equipment, 5...sink, 6...sink section, 7...heating cooker, 8...heating section, 9...work surface section, 11...bottom, 12...side panel, 13...drawer section, 14...connection device, 15...mounting fixture, 16...partition plate, 17...back panel, 18...front panel, 19...mounting main body section, 20...facing section of front section, 21...facing section of partition plate, 22...sink top plate section, 23...heating top plate section, 24...work top plate section, 31...device main body, 32...decorative frame, 33...decorative panel, 34...vertical frame section, 35... Horizontal frame portion, 36... horizontal frame main body portion, 37... fitting means, 38... positioning recess, 39... connection portion, 40... main body portion, 41... rotating shaft, 42... holding portion, 43... circuit portion, 44... decorative panel mounting surface, 45... connection surface, 46... eaves portion, 47... plate mounting portion, 48... biasing connecting portion, 49... abutting surface, 50... holding frame portion, 51... fixing portion, 52... vertical holding frame portion, 53... horizontal holding frame portion, 54... rotation restricting portion, 55... fitting groove, 56... fixed base portion, 57... positioning protrusion, 58... shaft main body, 59... biasing means, 60... circuit main body portion, 61... circuit terminal portion

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 plate extending downward from the upper portion and constituting a side surface of the cabinet; a connection device having a connection section to which a connection terminal for at least one of power transmission / reception and information communication of an external device can be connected; the top plate has an outer end portion located outward from the side surface in the horizontal direction, the connecting device is disposed below the outer end portion along the side surface, and the connecting portion is configured to be switchable between a protruding position in which at least a part of the connecting portion is located between a tip surface of the outer end portion and the side surface in the horizontal direction, and a retracted position in which the connecting portion is located closer to the side surface than the protruding position; the connection device includes a main body portion on which the connection portion is provided and a rotation shaft extending in a vertical direction, The main body is a cabinet with a top panel that is configured to be able to rotate about the rotation shaft and switch between a protruding position and a retracted position.

2. The cabinet with a top panel according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot shaft is provided at a midpoint in the width direction of the main body.

3. 3. The cabinet with a top panel according to claim 1, wherein the connection device includes a canopy portion located above the connection portion and extending outward in the horizontal direction in a direction in which the connection terminal is connected to the connection portion.

Images