Folding table
The foldable table design addresses pivot groove exposure by using stopper shafts and closing plates with specific dimensions to prevent contamination, ensuring effective operation and cleanliness.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KAWASAKI RAILCAR MFG CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2022-09-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-27
AI Technical Summary
The existing foldable tables in vehicles are prone to exposure of pivot grooves to foreign matter due to through holes, which can lead to contamination and functional issues.
A foldable table design featuring stopper shafts and closing plates with slits that prevent exposure of pivot grooves by ensuring the closing plates do not protrude beyond the table body, using a simple structure that includes a pair of closing plates with a width greater than the table body thickness and slits shorter than the pivot grooves.
The design effectively prevents exposure of pivot grooves in both stored and usage states, maintaining cleanliness and functionality with minimal additional components.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a foldable table mounted on a vehicle.
Background Art
[0002] In a vehicle such as a railway vehicle, a foldable table for a rear row seat is provided on the back of a front row seat. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a foldable table 100 as shown in FIG. 8.
[0003] Specifically, the foldable table 100 includes a pair of table arms 110 swingably attached to the seat 200, and a table body 120 swingably supported on the table arms 110 via a rotating shaft 130. Note that the table arms 110 are called "columns" in Patent Document 1.
[0004] A pair of stopper shafts 121 are provided on the table body 120 so as to protrude from both side surfaces, and swing holes 111 for defining the swing range of the table body 120 by engaging with the stopper shafts 121 are provided in the table arms 110.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0005]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] In the foldable table 100 shown in FIG. 8, since the swing holes 111 of the table arms 110 are through holes, foreign matter may enter the swing holes 111 from the outside of the table arms 110. Therefore, the swing holes 111 are closed from the outside to form swing grooves with bottoms.
[0007] However, even if the pivot hole 111 is used as a pivot groove, in the usage state shown in Figure 8, the pivot groove is exposed on the inside of the table arm 110 and below the table body 120, so there is a risk that foreign matter may enter the pivot groove from the inside of the table arm 110.
[0008] Therefore, the object of this disclosure is to provide a foldable table that can prevent the oscillating groove from being exposed with a simple structure. [Means for solving the problem]
[0009] This disclosure provides a folding table comprising: a table body including a pair of stopper shafts protruding from both sides; a pair of table arms that pivotably support the table body via a pair of rotating shafts, each including a pivot groove that defines the pivot range of the table body by engaging with the stopper shafts; and a pair of closing plates, each sandwiched between the table body and the pair of table arms, pivotable around the rotating shafts, each including a slit extending in the same direction as the pivot groove into which the stopper shafts are inserted, wherein each of the pair of closing plates has a width greater than the thickness of the table body in the pivot direction of the closing plate, and the length of the slit is shorter than the length of the pivot groove. [Effects of the Invention]
[0010] According to this disclosure, a foldable table is provided that can prevent the oscillating groove from being exposed with a simple structure. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0011] [Figure 1] This is a side view of a folding table according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is an exploded perspective view of the aforementioned folding table. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of a pair of cover plates. [Figure 4]Figure 4A shows the relative positions of the table body, table arm, and cover plate in the stored state, and Figure 4B shows the relative positions of the table body, table arm, and cover plate in the use state. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the relative positions of the table body, table arm, and cover plate when the cover plate swings beyond its original swing range. [Figure 6] This is an exploded perspective view of the table arm and cover plate in a modified folding table. [Figure 7] Figure 7A is a perspective view of the table arm and cover in another modified folding table, and Figure 7B is an exploded perspective view of the table arm and cover. [Figure 8] This is a side view of a conventional folding table. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0012] Figure 1 shows a foldable table 1 according to one embodiment. The foldable table 1 is provided on the back of the seat 10 and is operated between a stored state shown by a solid line and a usage state shown by a dashed line.
[0013] Specifically, the folding table 1 includes a pair of table arms 2 that are pivotably attached to the seat 10, and a table body 3 that is sandwiched between the pair of table arms 2 and pivotably supported by the table arms 2. As shown in Figure 1, in the stowed state, the table arms 2 and the table body 3 are parallel to the back of the seat 10, and in the use state, the table arms 2 are tilted backward and the table body 3 is horizontal.
[0014] More specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the table body 3 is pivotably supported on the table arm 2 via a pair of rotating shafts 4. The pair of rotating shafts 4 are located coaxially.
[0015] The table body 3 is substantially rectangular, having a front and a back on the long side, and a pair of sides on the short side. The front is the end face facing the user in the use state, and the back is the end face facing the side opposite to the user, i.e., the sheet 10 side, in the use state. Also, the main surface facing one direction in the thickness direction of the table body 3 is the placement surface that becomes the upper surface in the use state, and the main surface facing the other direction is the back surface that becomes the lower surface in the use state.
[0016] In this embodiment, a pair of screw holes 31 are provided at positions near the back on both side surfaces of the table body 3, and the rotating shaft 4 is a bolt that screws into the screw holes 31. At the tip end portion of each table arm 2 near the table body 3, a fitting hole 21 that fits with the rotating shaft 4 is provided. The diameter of the fitting hole 21 is substantially equal to the diameter of the portion of the rotating shaft 4 that penetrates the table arm 2.
[0017] However, the rotating shaft 4 may be provided integrally with the table body 3. Alternatively, the rotating shaft 4 may be provided integrally with the table arm 2.
[0018] A pair of stopper shafts 32 are provided on the table body 3 so as to project from both side surfaces. The pair of stopper shafts 32 are coaxially located between the screw holes 31 and the back of the table body 3.
[0019] On the other hand, each table arm 2 is provided with a rocking groove 22 into which the stopper shaft 32 is inserted. The rocking groove 22 is arc-shaped centering around the fitting hole 21, and defines the rocking range of the table body 3 by engaging with the stopper shaft 32.
[0020] That is, in the stored state, as shown in FIG. 4A, the stopper shaft 32 engages with one end 22a of the rocking groove 22, and in the use state, as shown in FIG. 4B, the stopper shaft 32 engages with the other end 22b of the rocking groove 22.
[0021] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, a pair of blocking plates 5 are sandwiched between the table body 3 and the pair of table arms 2. Each blocking plate 5 is pivotable around the rotating shaft 4 and passes through the rotating shaft 4 and the stopper shaft 32.
[0022] The thickness direction of each blocking plate 5 is parallel to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 4 and the stopper shaft 32, with one main surface 5a of each blocking plate 5 facing the table arm 2 and the other main surface 5b facing the side surface of the table body 3. Refer to Figure 3 for details of the main surfaces 5a and 5b.
[0023] More specifically, as shown in Figure 3, each sealing plate 5 is provided with a through hole 51 through which the rotating shaft 4 is inserted, and a slit 52 into which the stopper shaft 32 is inserted. In this embodiment, the diameter of the through hole 51 is set to be approximately equal to the diameter of the portion of the rotating shaft 4 that penetrates the sealing plate 5. In other words, the sealing plate 5 can swing around the rotating shaft 4 by fitting the through hole 51 onto the rotating shaft 4. The slit 52 is arc-shaped and extends in the same direction as the swing groove 22.
[0024] The length of the slit 52 is shorter than the length of the oscillating groove 22. Here, "length of the slit 52" refers to the length of the arc-shaped center line from one end 52a to the other end 52b of the slit 52, and "length of the oscillating groove 22" refers to the length of the arc-shaped center line from one end 22a to the other end 22b of the oscillating groove 22. Refer to Figure 4A for the dimensions of one end 22a and the other end 22b.
[0025] Furthermore, each sealing plate 5 has a width W greater than the thickness T of the table body 3 in the direction of the swing of the sealing plate 5, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the line connecting the center of the insertion hole 51 and the center of the slit 52. Refer to Figure 4B for the thickness T of the table body 3 and the width W of the sealing plate 5. In this embodiment, each sealing plate 5 has a roughly isosceles triangular shape, with its width widening from the insertion hole 51 toward the slit 52, and the base between the equal sides is an arc shape centered on the insertion hole 51.
[0026] The width of the portions of each sealing plate 5 located on both sides of the slit 52 in the direction of extension of the slit 52, in other words, the width of the portion located on the extension of the center line of the slit 52, is less than or equal to the distance from the mounting surface of the table body 3 to the stopper shaft 32, and also less than or equal to the distance from the back surface of the table body 3 to the stopper shaft 32. Therefore, as shown in Figure 4A, when the stopper shaft 32 engages with one end 52a of the slit 52, the sealing plate 5 does not protrude from the back surface of the table body 3, and as shown in Figure 4B, when the stopper shaft 32 engages with the other end 52b of the slit 52, the sealing plate 5 does not protrude from the mounting surface of the table body 3.
[0027] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, each closing plate 5 is provided with a flange 53 that protrudes from the main surface 2a facing the table arm 2 along the entire circumference of the slit 52. The flange 53 is inserted into the oscillating groove 22 of the table arm 2. However, the flange 53 only needs to protrude from the main surface 5a along at least one end 52a and the other end 52b of the slit 52.
[0028] Next, with reference to Figures 4A and 4B, the positional relationships of the table body 3, table arm 2, and cover plate 5 in the stored and operating states will be explained. Note that Figures 4A and 4B are views from the inside of the table arm 2, and the table body 3 is indicated by a dashed line.
[0029] As shown in Figure 4A, in the retracted state, the stopper shaft 32 engages with one end 22a of the oscillating groove 22 of the table arm 2 and one end 52a of the slit 52 of the sealing plate 5. As a result, the sealing plate 5 protrudes from the table body 3 toward the mounting surface and covers the other end 22b of the oscillating groove 22.
[0030] When the table body 3 swings relative to the table arm 2 from the stored state to the operating state, the stopper shaft 32 engages with the other end 52b of the slit 52 in the closing plate 5. After that, the closing plate 5 swings together with the table body 3 until the stopper shaft 32 engages with the other end 22b of the swing groove 22. In other words, the swing range of the closing plate 5 is the difference between the length of the swing groove 22 and the length of the slit 52.
[0031] As shown in Figure 4B, in the operating state, the stopper shaft 32 engages with the other end 22b of the oscillating groove 22 of the table arm 2 and the other end 52b of the slit 52 of the sealing plate 5. As a result, the sealing plate 5 protrudes from the table body 3 to the other side, which is the back side, and covers one end 22a of the oscillating groove 22.
[0032] Thus, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the oscillating groove 22 from being exposed, whether in the stored state or the use state. Moreover, the prevention of exposure of the oscillating groove 22 is achieved with a simple structure of inserting a cover plate 5 between the table body 3 and the table arm 2. Furthermore, the above effect can be obtained by simply adding a cover plate 5 to an existing folding table.
[0033] Incidentally, if flanges 53 are not provided on each of the sealing plates 5, as shown in Figure 5, when the table body 3 swings from the stored state to the usage state, the sealing plates 5 may swing together with the table body 3 due to friction between the sealing plates 5 and the table body 3. In this case, the swing groove 22 is exposed on the underside of the table body 3 when it is in use.
[0034] In contrast, in this embodiment, a flange 53 is provided on each sealing plate 5, so that the swing range of the sealing plate 5 matches the difference between the length of the swing groove 22 and the length of the slit 52. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sealing plate 5 from swinging beyond its original swing range and exposing the swing groove 22.
[0035] <Variation> This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of this disclosure.
[0036] For example, to prevent the blocking plate 5 from swinging beyond its original swing range and exposing the swing groove 22, as shown in Figure 6, a projection 55 may be provided on the main surface 5a of each blocking plate 5 facing the table arm 2, while each table arm 2 may be provided with an engagement hole 25 that engages with the projection 55 to make the swing range of the blocking plate 5 match the difference between the length of the swing groove 22 and the length of the slit 52. Conversely to Figure 6, the projection 55 may be provided on the table arm 2 and the engagement hole 25 may be provided on the blocking plate 5.
[0037] Alternatively, as shown in Figures 7A and 7B, a cover 6 may be attached to the tip of the table arm 2, covering the tip together with the sealing plate 5. The cover 6 has a container-like shape that opens in one direction, and the tip of the table arm 2 is inserted into the cover 6 through this opening.
[0038] Specifically, the cover 6 includes a roughly triangular inner wall 61 facing the inner surface of the table arm 2 with the closing plate 5 in between, a roughly triangular outer wall 62 facing the outer surface of the table arm 2, and a roughly V-shaped connecting wall 63 that connects two sides of the inner wall 61 and the outer wall 62. The inner wall 61 and the outer wall 62 are provided with openings 64 through which the rotating shaft 4 is inserted. The inner wall 61 is also provided with a slit 65 that has the same shape as the oscillating groove 22.
[0039] In the modified example shown in Figures 7A and 7B, an annular rim 56 surrounding the insertion hole 51 is provided on the main surface 5b of the cover plate 5 opposite to the table arm 2. This rim 56 fits into the opening 64 in the inner wall 61 of the cover 6, thereby attaching the cover 6 to the tip of the table arm 2.
[0040] Even with the configuration shown in Figures 7A and 7B, it is possible to prevent the cover plate 5 from swinging beyond its original swing range and exposing the swing groove 22. Moreover, since the cover plate 5 is in a close-contact structure sandwiched between the table arm 2 and the cover 6, it is possible to reliably prevent foreign objects from getting caught between the cover plate 5 and the cover 6.
[0041] <Summary> In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a folding table comprising: a table body including a pair of stopper shafts protruding from both sides; a pair of table arms pivotably supporting the table body via a pair of rotating shafts, each including a pivot groove that defines the range of motion of the table body by engaging with the stopper shafts; and a pair of closing plates, each sandwiched between the table body and the pair of table arms, pivotable around the rotating shafts, each including a slit extending in the same direction as the pivot groove into which the stopper shafts are inserted, wherein each of the pair of closing plates has a width greater than the thickness of the table body in the direction of the closing plate's motion, and the length of the slit is shorter than the length of the pivot groove.
[0042] According to the above configuration, in the stored state, when the stopper shaft engages with one end of the oscillating groove of the table arm and one end of the slit in the cover plate, the cover plate protrudes to one side from the table body and covers the other end of the oscillating groove. In the usage state, when the stopper shaft engages with the other end of the oscillating groove of the table arm and the other end of the slit in the cover plate, the cover plate protrudes to the other side from the table body and covers the one end of the oscillating groove. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the oscillating groove from being exposed with a simple structure. Moreover, for existing folding tables, the above effect can be obtained simply by adding a cover plate.
[0043] In a second embodiment, each of the pair of sealing plates may include a flange that protrudes from the main surface facing the table arm along at least one end and the other end of the slit and is inserted into the oscillating groove. With this configuration, the oscillating range of the sealing plate matches the difference between the length of the oscillating groove and the length of the slit, thus preventing the sealing plate from oscillating beyond its original oscillating range and exposing the oscillating groove.
[0044] In a third embodiment, in the first embodiment, a projection may be provided on each of the pair of table arms and on one of the pair of cover plates, and the other may be provided with an engagement hole that engages with the projection to make the swing range of the cover plate match the difference between the length of the swing groove and the length of the slit. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the cover plate from swinging beyond its original swing range and exposing the swing groove.
[0045] In a fourth embodiment, in the first embodiment, a cover may be attached to the tip of each of the pair of table arms closest to the table body, covering the tip together with the sealing plate. This configuration prevents the sealing plate from swinging beyond its original swing range and exposing the swing groove. Moreover, since the sealing plate is in a close-fitting structure sandwiched between the table arm and the cover, it is possible to reliably prevent foreign objects from getting caught between the sealing plate and the cover.
[0046] In a fifth embodiment, in any of the first to fourth embodiments, for example, each of the pair of sealing plates may include a through hole through which the rotating shaft is inserted, and may have a shape that widens from the through hole toward the slit. [Explanation of symbols]
[0047] 1. Folding table 2 Table Arms 22 Oscillating groove 22a one end 22b Other end 25 Engagement holes 3. Table body 32 Stopper Shaft 4-rotation shaft 5. Blocking plate 51 Through hole 52 slits 52a one end 52b Other end 53 Flange 55 Protrusion 6 Covers
Claims
1. The table body includes a pair of stopper shafts protruding from both sides, A pair of table arms that pivotably support the table body via a pair of rotating shafts, each table arm including a pivot groove that defines the range of motion of the table body by engaging with the stopper shaft, A pair of blocking plates, each sandwiched between the table body and the pair of table arms, are pivotable around the rotating shaft and each blocking plate includes a slit extending in the same direction as the pivot groove into which the stopper shaft is inserted, Each of the pair of blocking plates has a width greater than the thickness of the table body in the direction of the swing of the blocking plate. The length of the slit is shorter than the length of the oscillating groove. A folding table, wherein each of the pair of closing plates includes a flange that protrudes from a main surface facing the table arm along at least one end and the other end of the slit and is inserted into the rocking groove.
2. A table body including a pair of stopper shafts protruding from both sides, A pair of table arms that pivotably support the table body via a pair of rotating shafts, each table arm including a pivot groove that defines the range of motion of the table body by engaging with the stopper shaft, A pair of blocking plates, each sandwiched between the table body and the pair of table arms, are pivotable around the rotating shaft and each blocking plate includes a slit extending in the same direction as the pivot groove into which the stopper shaft is inserted, Each of the pair of blocking plates has a width greater than the thickness of the table body in the direction of the swing of the blocking plate. The length of the slit is shorter than the length of the oscillating groove. A folding table, wherein each of the pair of table arms and one of the pair of cover plates is provided with a projection, and the other of the cover plates is provided with an engagement hole that engages with the projection to make the swing range of the cover plate match the difference between the length of the swing groove and the length of the slit.
3. A table body including a pair of stopper shafts protruding from both sides, A pair of table arms that pivotably support the table body via a pair of rotating shafts, each table arm including a pivot groove that defines the range of motion of the table body by engaging with the stopper shaft, A pair of blocking plates, each sandwiched between the table body and the pair of table arms, are pivotable around the rotating shaft and each blocking plate includes a slit extending in the same direction as the pivot groove into which the stopper shaft is inserted, Each of the pair of blocking plates has a width greater than the thickness of the table body in the direction of the swing of the blocking plate. The length of the slit is shorter than the length of the oscillating groove. A folding table in which a cover is attached to the tip of each of the pair of table arms closest to the table body, covering the tip together with the sealing plate.
4. A folding table according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the pair of sealing plates includes a through hole through which the rotating shaft is inserted, and has a shape that widens from the through hole toward the slit.