Portable power supply device

Abstract

To disclose a technology capable of securely fixing even a thin strut to a base body and facilitating assembly, in a portable feeding device used while being attached to a table.SOLUTION: A feeding device 1 has a base body 3 placed on a floor, a strut 4 that is raised from an edge portion of the base body 3, and an arm 5 that horizontally extends from an upper end of the strut 4 to enter an upper part of a table 2, and an outlet unit 6 is built in the arm 5. The strut 4 is fixed to the base body 3 with an upward screw 21, and is fixed to a pair of joints 20 with lateral screws 22. On a fitting surface of the pair of joints 20, a space through which a power supply cable 11 passes is bored. The pair of joints 20 are the same articles, and held so as not to deviate by fitting an engaging projection 27 and an engaging groove 28.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable power supply device (power strip unit) used in offices and the like.

Background Art

[0002] Electronic and electrical devices such as notebook computers and projectors are widely used in various places such as offices, homes, and stores, and these electronic and electrical devices are generally powered from power outlets. The forms of power outlets include a fixed type provided on the wall, a table tap type provided on an extension cord, or a type fixedly provided on furniture such as desks and partitions.

[0003] Now, as a working style in recent offices, the free address method without a fixed seat has spread. In this free address working style, since the tables tend to be of a simple type that emphasizes flexibility, table taps are widely used as the power source for notebook computers. However, since having the cable crawl on the floor is a problem in terms of aesthetics and walking safety, the cable is drawn out from a false floor and a table tap is connected to the tip of the cable. In this method, there are problems such as poor flexibility because the table tap is placed on the floor and it does not look good.

[0004] Therefore, a portable power supply device that can stand on the floor and can be carried anywhere has been proposed. As an example, Patent Document 1 discloses a stand type in which a square telescopic mast is erected on a circular base body and a power outlet is provided on the side surface of the movable mast that moves up and down.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0006] In Patent Document 1, the rectangular, duct-shaped mast also has a portion fixed to the base body, and the power cable is routed from the fixed portion of the mast downwards from the base body. Although Patent Document 1 does not explain how the fixed portion of the mast is fixed to the base body, possible methods include fixing the fixed portion and the base body by welding, or welding a bracket plate to the base body and screwing the fixed portion to this bracket plate.

[0007] Upon consideration, the method of directly fixing by welding has several drawbacks: it is time-consuming to perform, the built-up material is exposed to the outside and looks unsightly even after painting, and it cannot be used if the base body is made of synthetic resin. There is also the problem that the base body or mast cannot be replaced.

[0008] On the other hand, screw fastening using bracket plates has several drawbacks, including the time and effort required to weld the bracket plates to the base body, the inability to use this method if the base body is made of synthetic resin, and the fact that screw fastening between plates may not provide a secure connection in some cases.

[0009] Furthermore, in the case of a mast of considerable size, such as the mast in Patent Document 1, the large surface area allows for stable fixing of the mast even with a bracket plate system. However, when a support column, such as a square pipe with sides of several centimeters wide, is erected on the base, there is a concern that the bracket plate system may not adequately prevent slippage between the bracket plate and the support column, making it difficult to ensure high fixing strength.

[0010] The present invention was made against this backdrop, and aims to disclose a technology that provides a portable power supply device that can be easily carried anywhere, and has advantages such as being able to firmly fix even a thin support column to the base body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention includes various configurations, and typical examples are specified in each claim. Of these, the invention of claim 1 Akira , "A base body that rests on the floor, a hollow support column rising from the base body, and a power supply unit provided at the upper end of the support column, A portable power supply device having a joint fixed to the upper surface of the base body and into which the support column is fitted from above, , The aforementioned joint is fixed to the base body by an upward-facing screw, The aforementioned support column is The aforementioned joint has a lateral orientation Secured with screws Ori , The power cable is inserted through the support column, the joint, and the base. " This is the structure.

[0012] In this invention, the term "block-shaped" refers to a material that is not plate-shaped but has a thickness into which screws are screwed, giving it a solid appearance, and may have recesses formed on its outer circumference. The joint can be made of metal such as aluminum die-cast or synthetic resin, and in the case of synthetic resin, it is also possible to fit a nut and screw a screw into it.

[0013] The invention of claim 2 is an extension of claim 1, "The aforementioned joints are arranged so as to overlap horizontally." It consists of a pair of joint members. and the pair Joint members A space is formed on the opposing surface of the power cable to allow the power cable to be inserted. Furthermore, the pair Joint members The base body and the support column are each separate The aforementioned It's secured with screws. This is the structure.

[0014] The invention of claim 3 is an extension of claim 2, "The pair Joint members They are identical in shape, with longitudinal engaging protrusions formed on the upper and lower longitudinal side edge of one of the opposing surfaces, and longitudinal engaging grooves formed on the other longitudinal side edge, and one Joint members The engaging projection and the other Joint members engagement groove They are fitted together. This is the structure.

[0015] The invention according to claim 4 teeth, " It comprises a base that rests on the floor, a hollow support column rising from the base, a power supply unit provided at the upper end of the support column, and a joint fixed to the base and to which the support column is fixed with screws. The joint consists of a pair of joint members that overlap horizontally, and a space is formed on the opposing surfaces of the pair of joint members that allows a power cable to be inserted. The base body has a cable insertion hole through which the power cable that has passed through the joint is pulled downwards. Furthermore, the pair of joint members are fixed to the base body and the support column with separate screws." In this basic configuration, " The pair of joint members are identical in shape, with vertically longitudinal engaging protrusions formed on one longitudinal side edge of their opposing surfaces and vertically longitudinal engaging grooves formed on the other longitudinal side edge, and the engaging protrusions of one joint member and the engaging grooves of the other joint member are fitted together. and, On the side part of the pair where the engaging protrusion is provided, at least a female screw hole opened downward is formed, and a screw penetrating from below the base body is screwed into the female screw hole." Joint members It has such a configuration.

[0016] The invention according to claim 5 In the same basic configuration as back 4 , "At the lower ends of the pair of Joint members , a trough-shaped part for holding the power cable protrudes downward, and the trough-shaped part fits tightly into a cable insertion hole provided in the base body." It has such a configuration.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] Since the joint of the present invention is in a block shape, the adhesion area with the base body and the support column can be increased, and the base body and the support column can be screwed with high strength. Therefore, even a support column with an outer dimension of several centimeters can be fixed to the base body with high strength. As a result, a slim portable power supply device can be provided with a robust structure. Further, since the joint is screwed to the base body and the support column, welding work is not required, the assembly labor can be reduced, and the replacement of the support column and the base body can be easily realized. In addition, since the joint can be formed according to the shape of the support column, there is also an advantage that it can be adapted to support columns of various shapes.

[0018] Although a single-structured product can be adopted for the joint, if a method of separating into two as in claim 2~5 is adopted, each Joint members ​Because it can be strongly attached to the support column by screwing it in, it is advantageous in terms of fixing strength. Also, when assembling the power supply device, the power cable pulled out from the support column can be sandwiched in between before being inserted into the column, eliminating the need to thread the power cable through the joint, thus improving work efficiency. Furthermore, it is possible to hold the power cable in a non-flapping state with a pair of joints.

[0019] In the configuration of claim 3, the joints can be separated into a pair, yet integrated into a state where they do not shift due to the fitting of the engaging projection and the engaging groove, so that even though the joints are separated into two, they can be integrated into a pair. Joint members By integrating these components, it can contribute to improving the fixing strength of the support columns.

[0020] In the configuration of claim 4, since the female screw hole of the joint is formed in the portion where the engaging projection is provided, the vertical length of the female screw hole can be increased (it can also be made open along the entire vertical length). Therefore, even with fixing using only one screw, the joint can be firmly fixed to the base body by using a long screw.

[0021] In the configuration of claim 5, since the power cable is held by the joint, even if the exposed portion of the power cable is pulled for any reason, it is possible to prevent the pulling force from acting on the portion hidden inside the support column. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the power cable from coming loose from the outlet unit or from experiencing poor contact.

[0022] Furthermore, if there is too much slack in the power cable inside the support column, when the power supply device is carried, the power cable may "dance" and hit the inner surface of the support column, potentially producing noise. However, the configuration of claim 5 has the advantage of preventing the power cable from "dancing" and thus preventing the generation of abnormal noise, as the power cable can be kept taut inside the support column. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0023] [Figure 1] The figure shows the first embodiment, where (A) is an overall perspective view of the power supply device in use, (B) is a side view of (A) from a BB perspective, and (C) is a plan view. [Figure 2] (A) is a perspective view of the power supply device seen from below, (B) is a bottom view, (C) is a cross-sectional view of (A) from the CC perspective, and (D) is a downward perspective view of another example. [Figure 3] (A) is a perspective view with the support column separated, and (B) is a perspective view with the joint also separated. [Figure 4] These diagrams are primarily intended to explain the joints; (A) is a separated perspective view seen from above, and (B) is a separated perspective view seen from below. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0024] (1).Basic structure Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the power supply device 1 is used by being placed on the outer periphery of the table 2 (generally on the left or right short side), and comprises a circular, plate-shaped base body 3 that rests on the floor, a support column 4 rising from the edge of the base body 3, and an arm 5 that curves horizontally from the upper end of the support column 4. The support column 4 is set to a height higher than the upper surface of the tabletop 2a of the table 2, and the arm 5 extends in a position that divides the base body 3 in two in a plan view. The arm 5 can also be called an arm-shaped holder.

[0025] Therefore, by inserting the base body 3 into the interior of the table 2, the arm 5 can be positioned to overhang above the table 2. As shown in Figure 1(C), the dimensions of the arm 5 are set so that, in a plan view, the tip does not protrude outside the base body 3. The base body 3 is made of metal plate or synthetic resin.

[0026] In the following, the terms front / back and left / right are used to specify direction, but the longitudinal direction of arm 5 is defined as the front / back direction, and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of arm 5 is defined as the left / right direction. The front and back are defined as the side with the free end of arm 5 and the side with the support column 4.

[0027] The support column 4 and the arm 5 are integrally formed by bending a steel square pipe into an L-shape, and the outlet unit 6 shown in Figure 1(C) is built into the inside of the arm 5. The tip of the arm 5 is closed with a cap 7. The outlet unit 6 is a four-outlet type, and four square openings 8 are formed on the upper surface of the arm 5. Upward-facing projections 6a formed on the outlet unit 6 are fitted into the openings 8, and a pair of sockets 6b are formed on each projection 6a. Note that the structure of the outlet unit 6 is not directly related to the present invention, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0028] As shown in Figures 2(A) and 2(C), an inward-facing rib 9 is formed on the inner corner surface of the corner where the arm 5 and the support column 4 are connected, extending from the base end of the arm 5 towards the upper end of the support column 4.

[0029] As shown in Figures 2(A) and 2(B), four ground contact bodies 10 are arranged in a circumferential direction on the lower surface of the base body 3 and are fixed to the lower surface of the base body 3 by means of screws, adhesive, etc. The ground contact bodies 10 are made of synthetic resin, and their outward-facing surfaces are formed in an arc shape with a radius of curvature slightly smaller than that of the outer surface of the base body 3, while their inward-facing surfaces facing the center of the base body 3 are formed as flat surfaces.

[0030] Furthermore, the outward-facing surface of the grounding body 10 has a groove 12 into which the power cable 11 can be wound, and the inward-facing surface has a pair of dummy sockets 14 into which the terminals of a plug 13 connected to one end of the power cable 11 can be inserted. Therefore, when the power supply device 1 is not in use, the power cable 11 is kept in a state where it cannot be unraveled by winding the power cable 11 into the groove 12 of the group of grounding bodies 10 and connecting the plug 13 to one of the dummy sockets 14 of the grounding body 10.

[0031] The grounding body 10 is made of synthetic resin, but has a certain thickness, so numerous ribs 15 extending in the circumferential and radial directions are formed to reduce weight while maintaining thickness. Also, as shown in Figure 2(A), the inward-facing side portion of the grounding body 10 is curved outward on both sides of the dummy insertion opening 14, and a cable receiving portion 10a on which the power cable 11 can be placed is provided at the lower end of this curved portion. The cable receiving portion 10a is provided with an upward-facing weir 10b to prevent the power cable 11 from slipping off.

[0032] The number of grounding bodies 10 can be set arbitrarily. In the modified example shown in Figure 2(D), eight grounding bodies 10 are arranged in the circumferential direction. By reducing the number of grounding bodies 10, the length of the groove 12 can be increased, allowing the winding device consisting of the group of grounding bodies 10 to be formed in a shape closer to a drum. There is a small gap 16 between adjacent grounding bodies 10. When using the power supply device 1, the power cable 11 can be pulled out to the outside through the gap 16 between adjacent grounding bodies 10.

[0033] As shown in Figures 2(A), (B), and (D), the lower part of the base body 3 below the support column 4 has a cable insertion hole 17 that penetrates vertically. Since the support column 4 is located on the periphery of the base body, the cable insertion hole 17 opens into the gap 16 between two adjacent grounding bodies 10.

[0034] (2) Connection structure of the support posts As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the support columns 4 are a pair of front and back columns that overlap left and right. Joint members It is connected to the base body 3 via 20. That is, The joint consists of a pair of joint members 20. The upward-facing screw 21 is inserted into the base body 3 from below. Joint members By screwing it into 20, Joint members The 20 is fixed to the base body 3, and the horizontally oriented screw 22 is inserted through the support column 4 from the side. Joint members By screwing it into 20, the support column 4 Joint members It's fixed at 20.

[0035] Therefore, screw insertion holes 23 and 24 are provided in the base body 3 and the support column 4, respectively, and Joint membersPart 20 has a vertically elongated female screw hole 25 into which an upward-facing screw 21 is screwed, and a horizontally elongated female screw hole 26 into which a horizontally facing screw 22 is screwed.

[0036] Joint members The 20 is formed in a box shape and, when overlapped, presents a block-like appearance. Long, elongated engaging protrusions 27 and engaging grooves 28 are formed on the longitudinal side edges that overlap each other. Joint members 20 has the same structure, but one Joint members 20 engaging projections 27 and the other Joint members The 20 engagement grooves 28 engage with each other, Joint members 20 is held in a non-displaceable position inside the support column 4.

[0037] Joint members The opposing parts of 20 are recesses through which the power cable 11 passes, and a cross-shaped rib 29 and a cylindrical boss 30 for forming a horizontally elongated female screw hole 26 are formed in these recesses. Joint members An inward-facing notch 31 is formed at the upper end of 20 for passing the power cable 11 through.

[0038] Also, Joint members On the lower surface of 20, there are two half-shaped trough-like portions 32 that overlap each other to hold the power cable 11, and these trough-like portions 32 are tightly fitted into the screw insertion holes 23 of the base body 3. Therefore, the trough-like portions 32 are Joint members It also has a function to position part 20 relative to the base body 3.

[0039] Since the power cable 11 is held in place by a pair of trough-shaped parts 32, the power cable 11 can be kept taut inside the support column. Therefore, when transporting the power supply device 1, the power cable 11 will not rattle around inside the support column 4 and make noise, nor will it be damaged by external pulling forces, nor will it become detached from the outlet unit 6.

[0040] a pair Joint membersIn 20, the opposing parts are spaces through which the power cable 11 passes, Joint members Each of the 20s is fixed to the support column 4 with a single horizontal screw 22, so the horizontal screws 22 do not cross the space through which the power cable 11 passes. Therefore, there is no problem of the horizontal screws 22 interfering with the power cable 11. Also, Joint members Each of the 20s is pulled to the inner surface of the support column 4 by the horizontal screws 22, so the support column 4 and Joint members This improves the fixing strength with respect to 20.

[0041] Joint members 20 is fixed to the base body 3 with a single upward-facing screw 21, and since the vertically elongated female screw hole 25 is formed in the area where the engaging projection 27 is provided and penetrates from top to bottom, a longer upward-facing screw 21 can be used. Therefore, although it is fixed with a single upward-facing screw 21, Joint members 20 can be firmly fixed to the base body 3. Joint members It is possible to fix each of the 20s to the base body 3 with two upward-facing screws 21.

[0042] The front and rear wall panels of the support column 4 have screw insertion holes 24, but as can be seen from Figure 4(B), the locations of the screw insertion holes 24 are burring sections that protrude inward. Therefore, Joint members On the upper surface of the part of 20 facing the support column 4, an outward-facing notch 33 is formed to allow clearance for the burring portion when the support column 4 is fitted into place. Furthermore, elongated vertical grooves 33a are formed on both the left and right sides of the outward-facing notch 33. Therefore, Joint members Part 20 is in contact with the inner surface of the support column 4 via four vertically elongated ribs.

[0043] In this embodiment, the power cable 11 may be connected to an external outlet drawn from the raised floor, or to an external outlet installed in the building wall. Because it is portable, it can be carried and used in any location as needed. Therefore, it is also suitable for offices with a free-address system.

[0044] As already mentioned, since the arm 5 can be overhanging above the table 2, the plugs of devices such as laptops can be inserted into and removed from the outlets 6b while seated in a chair. Moreover, since the outlets 6b of the outlet unit 6 open upwards, anyone sitting opposite each other across the table 2 can use all of the outlets 6b, and therefore there will never be a shortage of outlets, making it very convenient to use.

[0045] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be implemented in various other ways. For example, the support column can be made of a round pipe, in which case the joint will be formed in a semicircular shape in plan view. Of course, the support column can be made of various shapes such as a regular hexagon or an ellipse, and the joint can be formed in a shape that matches the shape of the support column. Furthermore, the joint can be fastened to the support column with screws at multiple points on the top and bottom.

[0046] The planar shape of the base body does not need to be circular; various shapes such as squares, hexagons, and ellipses can be adopted. It is also possible to fix the support column to the center of the base body. Furthermore, although the embodiment used a method of connecting to an external power source using a long power cable, the present invention can also be applied to a portable power supply device that has a battery mounted on the base body. In this case, the base body can be configured as an upward-opening tray (box) that allows the battery to be attached and detached, and in this case, the support column can be fixed to the edge of the bottom plate that constitutes the base body via a joint. [Industrial applicability]

[0047] The present invention can be implemented in a portable power supply device. Therefore, it can be used industrially. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 1. Power supply device 3 Base 4 pillars 5. Arm (holder) 6 Outlet Units 10 Grounding body 11 Power cable 20 Joint members 21 Upward-facing screws 22 Sideways screws 23, 24 Screw insertion holes 25, 26 Female threaded holes 27 Engagement protrusion 28 Engagement groove 32. Trough-shaped section (cable holding section)

Claims

1. A portable power supply device comprising a base that rests on the floor, a hollow support column rising from the base, a power supply unit provided at the upper end of the support column, and a joint fixed to the upper surface of the base and into which the support column fits from above, The joint is fixed to the base body by upward-facing screws, and the support column is fixed to the joint by horizontal screws. The power cable is inserted through the support column, the joint, and the base body. Portable power supply device.

2. The aforementioned joint consists of a pair of joint members that are arranged to overlap horizontally, and a space is formed on the opposing surfaces of the pair of joint members that allows the power cable to be inserted. Furthermore, the pair of joint members are fixed to the base body and the support column with separate screws. A portable power supply device as described in claim 1.

3. The pair of joint members are identical in shape, with vertically longitudinal engaging protrusions formed on the longitudinal edge of one of the opposing surfaces and vertically longitudinal engaging grooves formed on the longitudinal edge of the other surface, and the engaging protrusions of one joint member and the engaging grooves of the other joint member are fitted together. A portable power supply device as described in claim 2.

4. A base body that rests on the floor, a hollow support column rising from the base body, a power supply unit provided at the upper end of the support column, and a joint fixed to the base body and to which the support column is fixed with screws, The joint consists of a pair of joint members that overlap horizontally, and a space is formed on the opposing surfaces of the pair of joint members that allows a power cable to be inserted. The base body has a cable insertion hole through which the power cable that has passed through the joint is pulled downwards. Furthermore, the pair of joint members are fixed to the base body and the support column with separate screws, respectively, in a portable power supply device. The pair of joint members are identical in shape, with vertically longitudinal engaging protrusions formed on one longitudinal side edge of their opposing surfaces and vertically longitudinal engaging grooves formed on the other longitudinal side edge, and the engaging protrusions of one joint member and the engaging grooves of the other joint member are fitted together. Furthermore, at least downward-facing female screw holes are formed on the sides of the pair of joint members where the engaging projections are provided, and screws that penetrate from below the base body are screwed into the female screw holes. Portable power supply device.

5. A base body that rests on the floor, a hollow support column rising from the base body, a power supply unit provided at the upper end of the support column, and a joint fixed to the base body and to which the support column is fixed with screws, The joint consists of a pair of joint members that overlap horizontally, and a space is formed on the opposing surfaces of the pair of joint members that allows a power cable to be inserted. The base body has a cable insertion hole through which the power cable that has passed through the joint is pulled downwards. Furthermore, the pair of joint members are fixed to the base body and the support column with separate screws, respectively, in a portable power supply device. The lower ends of the pair of joint members are provided with trough-shaped portions that protrude downward for gripping the power cable, and these trough-shaped portions are tightly fitted into cable insertion holes provided in the base body. Portable power supply device.

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