Fixture system

Abstract

To provide a furniture system capable of improving workability of an office worker and making a smooth movement while reducing a burden on the office worker.SOLUTION: A furniture system includes furniture with a top plate and a chair. A portion positioned below a top plate of a furniture body is formed with a chair storage space that opens at least on one side in a first direction of a direction intersecting with a vertical direction. The chair is configured so as to be switched between a storage state in which it is supported inside the chair storage space in a state of being separated from a floor surface and is movable integrally with the furniture with a top plate, and a use state in which it is drawn outside the chair storage space in a state of touching the floor surface. A travelling part includes a rolling part rotatable around a first axis line along the floor surface, and a turning part provided between the rolling part and the furniture body for supporting the rolling part so as to turn around a second axis line along a vertical direction. The chair is positioned higher than the turning part in the storage state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a furniture system.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a cart device including a furniture main body having an article placement portion and a caster that supports the furniture main body. The cart device can move forward, backward, or turn by being pushed or pulled through a gripping portion provided at the rear of the furniture main body. Thus, the cart device can move in a work space (such as an office, a hospital, a public facility, etc.) with necessary articles placed on the article placement portion, and can move to a required place and perform work at any time.

[0003] By the way, in the above-described cart device, it was necessary to perform work in a state where the worker stands at the moving place. Therefore, for example, Patent Documents 2 to 4 below disclose a configuration in which a chair can be mounted on the cart device. According to this configuration, by taking out the chair from the cart device at the moving place, the worker can perform work while sitting on the chair. Therefore, it is considered that the workability of the worker can be improved and the burden on the worker can be reduced.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the conventional technology described above, when the chair is mounted on the cart device, the chair protrudes below the main body of the furniture. In this case, when the cart device is moved, the part of the chair that protrudes below the main body of the furniture may obstruct the rotation of the casters (rotation around an axis along the vertical direction) or interfere with the toes of the person working there.

[0006] The present invention provides a furniture system that can improve the work efficiency of workers, reduce the burden on workers, and allow for smooth movement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following embodiments. (1) A furniture system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a furniture body including a top plate, a furniture with a top plate having a running section provided on the lower surface of the furniture body and being movable on the floor, and a chair, wherein a chair storage space is formed in the portion of the furniture body located below the top plate, opening to one side in at least one of the directions intersecting the vertical direction, the chair is configured to be switchable between a storage state in which the chair is supported by the furniture body inside the chair storage space and is movable together with the furniture with a top plate while separated from the floor, and a usage state in which the chair is pulled out to the outside of the chair storage space while in contact with the floor, the running section comprises a rolling section that is rotatable about a first axis along the floor, and a swivel section provided between the rolling section and the furniture body and supporting the rolling section so as to be rotatable about a second axis along the vertical direction, and the chair is located above the swivel section in the storage state.

[0008] According to this embodiment, after the furniture system (chairs) is moved to the stowed position, the worker can move the entire furniture system forward, backward, or rotate by pushing or pulling the furniture with a tabletop. After moving the furniture system in the stowed position to the required location, the chairs can be moved back to the usable position, allowing the worker to work while seated in the chairs at the new location. This improves the worker's work efficiency and reduces the burden on the worker. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the chair is positioned above the swivel mechanism when stored, interference between the chair and the running gear, as well as interference between the chair and the toes of the person working, can be avoided when the furniture system is moved. As a result, the furniture system can be moved smoothly. Furthermore, a space (downward space) equal to the height of the moving parts is formed between the furniture unit and the floor. This allows the worker's toes, etc., to enter the downward space. As a result, interference between the worker's toes, etc., and the furniture unit can be suppressed when the furniture system is moved or when the worker is seated in a chair. Thus, a furniture system with superior usability can be provided.

[0009] (2) In the furniture system according to the embodiment of (1) above, it is preferable that the furniture with a top plate is provided with a support part from which the chair is suspended above the swivel part in the storage state. According to this embodiment, the chair can be supported by the fixture with a top plate while the lower end of the chair is lifted away from the fixture body. As a result, dirt and other contaminants attached to the lower end of the chair are less likely to adhere to the fixture with a top plate, and the fixture with a top plate can be kept clean.

[0010] (3) In the furniture system according to the embodiment of (2) above, it is preferable that the chair storage space is continuously open toward one side in the first direction and toward downward in the furniture body. According to this embodiment, it becomes easier to avoid contact between the chair and the main body of the fixture when it is in storage. Therefore, the fixture with a tabletop can be kept cleaner.

[0011] (4) In the fixture system according to the embodiment of (1) above, it is preferable that the fixture with a top plate has a mounting portion in the part exposed to the chair storage space on which the chair is placed in the storage state above the running part. According to this embodiment, when the chair is in the storage state, it is placed on the support unit, so the chair can be stably supported. Therefore, rattling of the chair when the furniture system is moved can be suppressed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to each of the above embodiments, it is possible to improve the work efficiency of the workers, reduce the burden on the workers, and enable smooth movement. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the furniture system according to the first embodiment, showing the chair in use. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of the furniture system according to the first embodiment, showing the chair in its stowed position. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of the furniture system according to the first embodiment, showing the chair in use. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line IV-IV in Figure 1. [Figure 5] This is a plan view of the furniture system according to the first embodiment, showing the chair in use. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the furniture system in a modified form. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view of the furniture system according to the second embodiment, showing the chair in its stored position. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of the furniture system according to the third embodiment, showing the chair in use. [Figure 9] This is a side view of the furniture system according to the third embodiment, showing the chair in its stored position. [Figure 10]A cross-sectional view of a furniture system according to a third embodiment showing the chair in a stored state.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0014] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In the embodiments and modifications described below, corresponding components may be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof may be omitted. In the following description, expressions indicating relative or absolute arrangements such as "parallel", "orthogonal", "center", "coaxial", etc. not only strictly represent such arrangements, but also represent a state in which they are relatively displaced with a tolerance or an angle and distance that can obtain the same function. Also, in the present embodiment, the term "opposite" includes not only the case where the orthogonal directions (normal directions) of two surfaces coincide with each other, but also the case where the orthogonal directions intersect each other.

[0015] (First Embodiment) [Furniture System 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a furniture system 1 showing the chair 3 in a use state. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the furniture system 1 showing the chair 3 in a stored state. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the furniture system 1 showing the chair 3 in a use state. The furniture system shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a cart device 2 and a chair 3 that is detachably mounted on the cart device 2. The furniture system 1 can travel on the floor surface F integrally with the cart device 2 and the chair 3 in a state where the chair 3 is mounted on the cart device 2 (the stored state P1 in FIG. 2). On the other hand, the furniture system 1 can perform work using the cart device 2 in a state where the user is seated on the chair 3 removed from the cart device 2 (the use state P2 shown in FIG. 1).

[0016] In the following explanation, the configuration of the furniture system 1 is described based on the state when chair 3 is in use (P2). In each figure, the orientation (front, back, up, down, left, and right) of the entire furniture system 1 is represented using coordinates. In this case, the direction perpendicular to the floor surface F is defined as the up and down direction (arrow UP is upward), and the directions perpendicular to each other when viewed from the up and down direction are defined as the front and back direction (arrow FR is forward) and the left and right direction (arrow LH is left), respectively. Furthermore, when the orientation of the cart device 2 and the orientation of chair 3 are the same, they are simply described as the front and back direction, the up and down direction, or the left and right direction. On the other hand, when the orientation of the cart device 2 and the orientation of chair 3 are different, the orientation of the cart device 2 may be described as the cart front and back direction or the cart left and right direction, and the orientation of chair 3 may be described as the chair front and back direction or the chair left and right direction. Note that the orientation of the cart device 2 is the direction as seen from the perspective of an office worker standing on the side of the cart device 2 where the gripping part 12 is provided. The orientation of chair 3 refers to the direction it faces from the perspective of the worker while seated in chair 3.

[0017] <Cart device 2> Cart device 2 is used to transport items in the office space. Cart device 2 comprises a furniture body 10, casters (running parts) 11, a gripping part 12, a tray 13, a stopper 14, and a locking part 15. The main body of the fixture 10 constitutes the external appearance of the cart device 2 and is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. In the illustrated example, the plan view of the main body of the fixture 10 is a rectangle with the front-to-back direction as the longitudinal direction and the left-to-right direction as the transverse direction. When the cart device 2 is used in a hospital, the items transported by the cart device 2 include pharmaceuticals such as intravenous drips and medications, medical devices such as blood pressure monitors and thermometers, and portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, personal computers, and tablets.

[0018] The main unit 10 of the fixture comprises a bottom frame 31, vertical walls 32, and a top plate 33. The bottom frame 31 is positioned along the floor surface F. The bottom frame 31 comprises a bottom plate 31a and a side frame 31b. The base plate 31a is located at the front of the fixture body 10. The side frames 31b are provided along the front-to-back direction at both left-to-right edges of the base plate 31a. The rear of the side frames 31b protrudes rearward from the base plate 31a.

[0019] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line IV-IV in Figure 1. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the vertical wall 32 comprises a front plate 35, a pair of side plates 36, and a partition plate 37. The front panel 35 extends upward from the front edge of the bottom frame 31. The side panels 36 extend upward from the rear of each side frame 31b (the portion protruding from the bottom plate 31a). The side panels 36 face each other in the left-right direction. The partition plate 37 extends upward from the rear edge of the bottom plate 31a. The partition plate 37 connects the front edges of the pair of side plates 36. The partition plate 37 faces the front plate 35 in the front-rear direction. A buffer portion 37a is provided at the bottom of the partition plate 37. The buffer portion 37a is made of an elastically deformable material or the like. The buffer portion 37a is exposed on the rear surface of the partition plate 37 within the lower limb accommodation space 41, which will be described later.

[0020] The top plate 33 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above. The top plate 33 is connected to the vertical walls 32 (front plate 35, side plates 36 and partition plates 37) and is supported by the vertical walls 32 from below. In this embodiment, the top plate 33 is provided so as to cover the vertical walls 32 from above. The upper surface of the top plate 33 constitutes an article-placing surface on which articles can be placed.

[0021] Of the main body of the furniture 10, the portion enclosed by the bottom frame 31, top plate 33, side plates 36, and partition plate 37 constitutes the lower limb storage space 41. The lower limb storage space 41 is located below the top plate 33 and behind the partition plate 37. In other words, the inside and outside of the lower limb storage space 41 are partitioned vertically by the top plate 33, horizontally by the side plates 36, and front to back by the partition plate 37.

[0022] The lower limb storage space 41 opens continuously to the rear and downward. Specifically, the lower limb storage space 41 opens to the rear through the rear end openings 41a formed at the rear ends of the top plate 33, side plates 36, and side frames 31b. The lower limb storage space 41 is also open downward through the lower end openings 41b formed at the rear edge of the bottom plate 31a and the rear of the side frames 31b. The lower end of the rear end opening 41a and the rear end of the lower end opening 41b are in communication with each other.

[0023] The portion of the furniture body 10 enclosed by the bottom frame 31, top plate 33, front plate 35, and partition plate 37 constitutes the article storage space 42. The article storage space 42 is located below the top plate 33 and in front of the partition plate 37. That is, the article storage space 42 is partitioned vertically by the top plate 33, horizontally by the front plate 35, and separated from the lower limb storage space 41 by the partition plate 37. The article storage space 42 is open to both sides in the left-right direction through openings located on both sides (right-side opening and left-side opening). The article storage space 42 may also be configured to be open only to one side in the left-right direction, or it may be configured to be open to the front.

[0024] Multiple casters 11 are attached to the underside of the fixture body 10 (bottom frame 31). In this embodiment, the casters 11 are provided at both the front and rear ends of each side frame 31b. The casters 11 are configured to be rotatable around an axis along the vertical direction and also around an axis along the floor surface F. As a result, the cart device 2 is configured to be able to travel on the floor surface F via the casters 11.

[0025] Specifically, the caster 11 comprises a mounting base 11a, a swivel section 11b, a stay 11c, and a wheel (rolling section) 11d. The mounting base 11a is attached to the underside of the side frame 31b. The swivel section 11b connects the mounting base 11a and the stay 11c. The swivel section 11b supports the stay 11c so that it can swivel around an axis along the vertical direction relative to the mounting base 11a. The stay 11c extends downward from the swivel section 11b in a bifurcated manner. The wheel 11d is supported inside the stay 11c so as to be rotatable around an axis that is parallel to the floor surface F.

[0026] The gripping portion 12 is the part that the user holds. The gripping portion 12 is formed in a U-shape that opens forward in a plan view. The gripping portion 12 is fixed to the underside of the top plate 33 (lower limb storage space 41) and protrudes rearward from the top plate 33. Note that the gripping portion 12 is not an essential component.

[0027] Multiple trays 13 are provided in the vertical direction within the article storage space 42. Each tray 13 is supported by a pair of slide rails 45 provided on the front plate 35 and partition plate 37, respectively, so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. The trays 13 are configured to be inserted and removed through the right-side or left-side opening of the article storage space 42. In this embodiment, a configuration in which slidable trays 13 are provided in the article storage space 42 has been described, but the configuration is not limited to this. The article storage space 42 only needs to be configured to accommodate articles, and drawers, shelves, etc. may be provided instead of trays 13.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, the stoppers 14 are provided at the right and left opening ends of the article storage space 42. Since each stopper 14 has the same configuration, the following explanation will use the stopper 14 on one side (right side) as an example.

[0029] The stopper 14 is located in the article storage space 42, near the partition plate 37. The stopper 14 is rotatable around an axis running vertically between the bottom frame 31 and the top plate 33. Specifically, the stopper 14 rotates between a restricting position where it overlaps a portion of the tray 13 when viewed from the left and right (see solid line in Figure 4) and a retracted position where it is retracted from the tray 13 when viewed from the left and right (see dashed line in Figure 4). When the stopper 14 is in the restricting position, the tray 13 abuts against the stopper 14 from the inside in the left and right directions, preventing the tray 13 from coming out of the article storage space 42. When the stopper 14 is in the retracted position, the tray 13 can be inserted into and removed from the article storage space 42. The stopper 14 is held in the restricting position by a lock or the like (not shown).

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the locking portion 15 is provided inside the lower limb storage space 41. The locking portion 15 is formed in a rod shape that extends in the left-right direction. The locking portion 15 is located in the center of the pair of side plates 36 in the front-rear direction, and is spanned between the upper ends of the pair of side plates 36.

[0031] <Chair 3> As shown in Figures 1 to 3, chair 3 is a so-called high chair equipped with a footrest 62e. Chair 3 comprises a seating area 51 and a support structure 52. The seating area 51 comprises a seat 55 and a backrest 56.

[0032] The seat 55 supports the portion of the worker's body from the buttocks to the thighs when the worker is seated on the seat 51. The seat 55 comprises a seat shell 55a and a cushion 55b. The seat shell 55a is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above. The cushion 55b is provided so as to cover the upper surface of the seat shell 55a. The cushion 55b is made of a softer material than the seat shell 55a. The seat 55 may also be configured without the cushion 55b.

[0033] The backrest 56 supports the lower back of the worker when the worker is seated on the seat 51. The backrest 56 is integrally formed with the seat shell 55a. The backrest 56 extends upward from the rear end of the seat shell 55a. In this embodiment, the width of the backrest 56 in the left-right direction is shorter than the width of the gripping portion 12 in the left-right direction. A handle 56a is formed on the backrest 56. In this embodiment, the handle 56a is a through hole that penetrates the backrest 56 in the front-rear direction. However, the handle 56a may be formed on the upper edge of the backrest 56, etc. The backrest 56 may also be equipped with a cushion. Furthermore, the seat 51 only needs to be equipped with a seat 55.

[0034] The support structure 52 supports the seating portion 51 from below. The support structure 52 comprises a fixing plate 61 (see Figure 4), a support frame 62, and a projection 63. The fixing plate 61 is fixed to the lower surface of the seat shell 55a, with the vertical direction being the thickness direction.

[0035] The support frame 62 is constructed by bending a single rod made of metal or the like. The support frame 62 is formed in a C-shape that opens forward when viewed from the left or right. The support frame 62 includes a seat support portion 62a, an upright leg 62b, a ground-contact leg 62c, a rising portion 62d, and a footrest 62e. The seat support portions 62a are provided in pairs, left and right, below the fixing plate 61. Each seat support portion 62a extends in the front-rear direction. The front end of each seat support portion 62a is fixed to the fixing plate 61.

[0036] The upright legs 62b extend downward from each of the rear ends of the seat support sections 62a. The grounding legs 62c extend forward from the lower ends of each of the upright legs 62b. Grounding caps 64 made of resin or the like are provided at both the front and rear ends of each grounding leg 62c. The rising portion 62d extends upward from each of the front ends of the ground contact legs 62c. In the illustrated example, the rising portion 62d gradually extends forward as it goes upward. The footrest 62e connects the upper ends of the rising portions 62d. In this embodiment, the footrest 62e is located in front of the seating portion 51. The footrest 62e is provided with a pad 65. The pad 65 is made of a material softer than the support frame 62 (for example, an elastically deformable material such as rubber or resin).

[0037] The projection 63 is made of an elastically deformable material such as rubber. The projection 63 is provided on the fixing plate 61 in the portion located in front of each seat support portion 62a. The projection 63 protrudes downward from the fixing plate 61.

[0038] In the chair 3 of this embodiment, a chair-side space 68 is formed below the seat 55. The chair-side space 68 opens continuously to the rear and downward. That is, the chair-side space 68 is open to the rear through a rear end opening 68a surrounded by the seat 55 and a pair of upright legs 62b. The chair-side space 68 also opens downward through a lower end opening 68b surrounded by a pair of ground-supporting legs 62c. The lower end of the rear end opening 68a and the rear end of the lower end opening 68b are in communication with each other.

[0039] (How to use fixture system 1) Next, we will explain how to use the fixture system 1. In the furniture system 1 of this embodiment, in the usage state P2 shown in Figure 3, the chair 3 is in contact with the floor surface F and faces the cart device 2 in the front-to-back direction. In usage state P2, the worker can perform tasks using the tabletop 33 while seated on the seat 51. At this time, the worker can perform tasks with their lower limbs inserted into the lower limb storage space 41. However, in usage state P2, the chair 3 is not limited to being positioned behind the cart device 2 with the chair's front-to-back direction aligned with the cart's front-to-back direction. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the chair 3 may be positioned on one side (right side) of the cart's left-to-right direction relative to the cart device 2, with the chair's front-to-back direction aligned with the cart's left-to-right direction. In this case, the worker can easily access the item storage space 42 while seated on the seat 51, making it easy to put in and take out items stored in the tray 13.

[0040] On the other hand, when moving the furniture system 1 within the workspace, the chair 3 is moved from the usage state P2 to the storage state P1. Specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the chair 3 is lifted via the handle 56a and moved into the lower limb storage space 41 through the rear end opening 41a. Then, the front end of the seat portion 51 (the portion located between the seat support portion 62a and the projection portion 63) is hooked onto the locking portion 15 from above. As a result, the chair 3 is supported by the cart device 2 while suspended from the locking portion 15. Furthermore, while the chair 3 is suspended from the locking portion 15, it attempts to rotate forward due to its own weight, using the contact point with the locking portion 15 as a pivot point. As a result, the footrest 62e (pad 65) comes into contact with the partition plate 37 (cushion portion 37a) from the rear. As a result, the chair 3 is housed in the lower limb storage space 41 with a distance from the floor surface F and with the seat 51 and footrest 62e in contact with the cart device 2.

[0041] In Figure 2, the chair 3 is positioned above the caster 11. Specifically, the chair 3 is positioned above the lower surface (bottom frame 31) of the furniture body 10. As a result, a space (downward space 75) equal to the height of the caster 11 is formed between the furniture body 10 and the floor surface F. However, in the stored state P1, the chair 3 may protrude below the furniture body 10 as long as it is positioned above at least the swivel part 11b. In the stored state P1, the rear end of the chair 3 protrudes rearward through the rear end opening 41a of the lower limb storage space 41. However, in the stored state P1, the entire chair 3 may be housed in the lower limb storage space 41.

[0042] In the accommodating state P1, the backrest 56 and the gripping part 12 face each other with a gap in the front-to-back direction. In this embodiment, the width of the backrest 56 in the left-to-right direction is shorter than the width of the gripping part 12 in the left-to-right direction. As a result, the worker can grip the gripping part 12 through the gap between the backrest 56 and the gripping part 12, or through the outside of the backrest 56 in the left-to-right direction.

[0043] After moving chair 3 to the stored state P1, the worker can move the entire furniture system 1 forward, backward, or rotate by pushing or pulling the cart device 2 while holding the gripping part 12. Then, after moving the furniture system 1 from the stored state P1 to the required location, the worker can move chair 3 back to the usage state P2, allowing them to work while seated in chair 3 at the new location. This improves the worker's work efficiency and reduces the burden on the worker.

[0044] In this embodiment, the furniture system 1 is configured such that, in the stowed state P1, the chair-side space 68 is open towards the rear. Therefore, when an employee moves the furniture system 1 in the stowed state P1, the chair-side space 68 is positioned to avoid the employee's lower limbs. This suppresses interference between the employee's lower limbs and the chair 3, even when the furniture system 1 is moved with the chair 3 mounted on the cart device 2, enabling smooth movement of the furniture system 1.

[0045] In the furniture system 1 of this embodiment, the caster (running part) 11 comprises a wheel (rolling part) 11d that can rotate around an axis (first axis) along the floor surface F, and a swivel part 11b provided between the wheel 11d and the furniture body 10, which supports the wheel 11d so that it can pivot around an axis (second axis) along the vertical direction, and in the stored state P1, the chair 3 is positioned above the swivel part 11b. This configuration prevents interference between the chair 3 and the casters 11 (stays 11c and wheels 11d) and between the chair 3 and the toes of the person working in the office when the furniture system 1 is moved. As a result, the furniture system 1 can be moved smoothly. Furthermore, since a lower space 75 is formed between the furniture body 10 and the floor surface F, the toes of the worker can enter the lower space 75. Therefore, interference between the toes of the worker and the furniture body 10 can be suppressed when moving the furniture system 1 or when sitting in the chair 3 in state P2. Thus, a furniture system 1 with excellent usability can be provided.

[0046] In the furniture system 1 of this embodiment, the cart device 2 is configured to include a locking part (support part) 15 that suspends the chair 3 above the caster 11 (swivel part 11b) when it is in the storage state P1. With this configuration, the chair 3 can be supported by the cart device 2 while its lower end (grounding legs 62c, etc.) is lifted away from the main unit 10. As a result, dirt and other debris attached to the lower end of the chair 3 are less likely to adhere to the cart device 2, and the cart device 2 can be kept clean.

[0047] In the furniture system 1 of this embodiment, the lower limb storage space (chair storage space) 41 is configured to have a continuous opening toward the rear (one side in the first direction) and downward of the furniture body 10. This configuration makes it easier to avoid contact between the chair 3 and the furniture body 10 in the storage state P1. Therefore, the cart device 2 can be kept cleaner.

[0048] (First variation) In the embodiment described above, the gripping portion 12 is attached to the lower surface of the top plate 33, but the configuration is not limited to this. As shown in the cart device 2 in Figure 6, the gripping portion 12 may be attached to each side plate 36. Specifically, each gripping portion 12 is C-shaped when viewed from the left-right direction, and its front end is fixed to the rear end surface of the side plate 36. As a result, each gripping portion 12 is attached to the furniture body 10 in a state where it protrudes rearward from the lower limb storage space 41. In this modified example, since the gripping portion 12 is positioned outward in the left-right direction relative to the chair 3, it is easier for the worker to grasp the gripping portion 12 in the storage state P1.

[0049] (Second Embodiment) Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the furniture system 1 according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the chair 3 (support frame 62) differs from that of the first embodiment. In the chair 3 shown in Figure 7, the support frame 62 is formed in a C-shape that opens towards the rear when viewed from the left and right directions. Specifically, the support frame 62 comprises a seat support portion 62a, an upright leg 62b, a ground-contact leg 62c, a connecting portion 62f, and a footrest 62e.

[0050] The seat support portions 62a are provided in pairs, left and right, below the fixing plate 61. Each seat support portion 62a extends in the front-rear direction. The front end of each seat support portion 62a is fixed to the fixing plate 61. The upright legs 62b extend downward from the front end of each seat support portion 62a.

[0051] The contact legs 62c extend rearward from each of the lower ends of the upright legs 62b. The connecting section 62f connects the rear ends of the grounding legs 62c in the left-right direction. The footrest 62e connects the lower ends of the standing legs 62b in the left-right direction.

[0052] In the chair 3 of this embodiment, the portion of the support frame 62 enclosed by the seat support portion 62a, the upright legs 62b, and the ground-contacting legs 62c constitutes a chair-side space 68 that opens to the rear. The chair-side space 68 is open to the rear through a rear end opening 68a enclosed by the seating portion 51 and the connecting portion 62f.

[0053] In the chair 3 of this embodiment, when in the stowed state P1, the front end of the seat 51 is hooked onto the locking part 15 from above, so that the chair 3 is supported in a suspended state from the locking part 15. At this time, as the chair 3 attempts to rotate forward by its own weight, using the contact point with the locking part 15 as a pivot point, the lower end of the standing legs 62b comes into contact with the partition plate 37 from behind. As a result, the chair 3 is spaced apart from the floor surface F and is housed in the lower limb storage space 41 with the seat 51 and footrest 62e in contact with the cart device 2.

[0054] (Third embodiment) Figure 8 is a perspective view of the furniture system 101 when the chair 103 is in use state P2. The third embodiment differs from the above-described embodiment in that, in the stowed state P1, the chair 103 is placed on the furniture body 10. In the fixture system 101 shown in Figure 8, the cart device 102 comprises a fixture body 110, casters 11, a gripping part 12, and a sliding table 120.

[0055] The main body of the fixture 110 is formed in a box shape that opens to both sides in the left-right direction (first direction). The main body of the fixture 110 includes a bottom plate 131, vertical walls 132, a top plate 133, an upper partition plate 121, a middle partition plate 122, and a lower partition plate 123.

[0056] The vertical wall 132 includes a front panel 135 and a rear panel 137. The front plate 135 extends upward from the front edge of the bottom plate 131. The rear plate 137 extends upward from the rear edge of the bottom plate 131.

[0057] Figure 9 is a side view of the furniture system 101 when chair 3 is in the accommodated state P1. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the furniture system 101 when chair 3 is in the accommodated state P1. As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the top plate 133 is connected to the upper edge of the vertical wall 132 and is supported by the vertical wall 132 from below. The upper partition plate 121 connects the upper ends of the front plate 135 and the rear plate 137. The middle partition plate 122 connects the front plate 135 and the rear plate 137 of the upper partition plate 121 below it. The left-right dimension of the middle partition plate 122 is smaller than that of the upper partition plate 121. Therefore, the right edge (one side edge in the left-right direction) of the middle partition plate 122 is located to the left of the right edge of the upper partition plate 121 (see Figure 10). The lower partition plate 123 connects the front plate 135 and the rear plate 137 below the middle partition plate 122. The positions of the left and right edges of the lower partition plate 123 coincide with the positions of the left and right edges of the middle partition plate 122.

[0058] The sliding table 120 is located within the main body of the fixture 110, between the top plate 133 and the upper partition plate 121. The sliding table 120 is supported by sliding rails 129 provided on the front plate 135 and the rear plate 137 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the sliding table 120 is configured to move forward and backward through the right-side opening of the main body of the fixture 110.

[0059] Within the main body of the fixture 110, the area enclosed by the front panel 135, the rear panel 137, the middle partition panel 122, and the lower partition panel 123 constitutes the article storage space 142. The article storage space 142 is open on both sides in the left-right direction. Multiple trays 13 are stored in the article storage space 142 in the vertical direction. The trays 13 are configured to be able to be inserted into and removed from the article storage space 142 in the left-right direction.

[0060] Within the main body of the furniture 110, the spaces on the top, bottom, both sides, and right of the article storage space 142 constitute the chair storage space 143. The chair storage space 143 is a C-shaped space when viewed from the front. Specifically, the chair storage space 143 comprises an upper storage space 143a, a connecting space 143b, and a lower storage space 143c. The upper storage space 143a is the area enclosed by the front plate 135, the rear plate 137, the upper partition plate 121, and the middle partition plate 122. The connecting space 143b is the area to the right of the article storage space 142, enclosed by the front plate 135 and the rear plate 137. The lower storage space 143c is the area enclosed by the front plate 135, the rear plate 137, the middle partition plate 122, and the lower partition plate 123. The right ends of the upper storage space 143a and the lower storage space 143c are connected through the connecting space 143c.

[0061] The chair 103 comprises a seating area 151 and a support structure 152. The seating portion 151 supports the portion of the worker's body from the buttocks to the thighs. The upper surface of the seating portion 151 extends downward as it approaches the front in the chair's front-to-back direction.

[0062] The support structure 152 comprises a seat support portion 152a (see Figure 10), an upright leg 152b, a ground-contact leg 152c, a connecting portion 152f, and a footrest 152e. The seat support sections 152a are provided in pairs below the seating section 151, in the left-right direction of the chair. Each seat support section 152a extends in the front-rear direction of the chair. Each seat support section 152a is fixed to the seating section 151.

[0063] The standing legs 152b extend downward from the front end of each seat support portion 152a in the chair's front-to-back direction. The contact legs 152c extend from each of the lower ends of the upright legs 152b toward the rear in the front-to-back direction of the chair. The connecting section 152f connects the rear ends of the contact legs 152c in the front-to-back direction of the chair in the left-to-right direction of the chair. The footrest 152e connects the lower ends of the standing legs 152b in the left-right direction of the chair.

[0064] In the furniture system 100 of this embodiment, in the usage state P2 shown in Figure 8, for example, with the chair's front-to-back direction aligned with the cart's left-to-right direction, the chair 103 is positioned to the right of the cart device 2, facing the cart device 102. In this case, the chair 103 is in contact with the floor surface F via the grounding legs 152c (grounding caps 64). In usage state P2, for example, the slide table 120 can be pulled out, and work can be performed using the slide table 120 and the tabletop 133 while seated on the seating section 151.

[0065] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, when moving the furniture system 100 within the office space, the chair 103 is moved from the usage state P2 to the storage state P1. Specifically, with the chair's front-to-back direction aligned with the cart's left-to-right direction (the chair 103 and the cart device 2 facing each other in the left-to-right direction), the chair 103 is moved into the chair storage space 143 from the rear end in the front-to-back direction. At this time, the seating portion 151 is moved into the upper storage space 143a, and the grounding legs 152c and connecting portion 152f are moved into the lower storage space 143c. As a result, the upright legs 152b are stored in the connecting space 143b. At this time, the chair 103 is placed on the base plate 131 via the grounding legs 152c. That is, with the chair 103 placed on the base plate 131, it is stored in the cart device 2 so as to surround the article storage space 142 from both sides and the right side in the vertical direction. After the furniture system 1 is moved to the storage state P1, the worker can move the entire furniture system 100 forward, backward, or rotate by pushing or pulling the cart device 102 while holding the gripping part 12. Then, after moving the furniture system 100 from the storage state P1 to the required location, the chair 103 is moved back to the usage state P2, allowing the worker to work while seated in the chair 103 at the new location.

[0066] Thus, in this embodiment, in the storage state P1, the chair 103 is placed on the base plate 131 and then stored in the chair storage space 143, so that the chair 103 is positioned above the casters 11. This prevents interference between the chair 103 and the casters 11, and between the chair 103 and the toes of the person working, etc., when the furniture system 100 is moved. As a result, the furniture system 100 can be moved smoothly. Furthermore, since a lower space 175 is formed between the furniture body 110 and the floor surface F, the toes of the worker can enter the lower space 175. Therefore, interference between the toes of the worker and the furniture body 110 can be suppressed when moving the furniture system 100 or when sitting in the chair 103 in state P2. Thus, a furniture system 100 with excellent usability can be provided.

[0067] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the chair 103 is placed on the base plate (supporting part) 131 in the storage state P1, the chair 103 can be stably supported. Therefore, rattling of the chair 103 when the furniture system 100 is moved can be suppressed.

[0068] (Other variations) While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The present invention is not limited by the above description, but only by the appended claims. In the embodiments described above, a cart device 2 was used as an example of a fixture with a tabletop according to the present invention, but the configuration is not limited to this. The fixture with a tabletop may also be a wagon device, a desk device, or the like. In the embodiments described above, the furniture body 10 was described as having a configuration that includes side plates 36, but the configuration is not limited to this. The lower limb storage space 41 may be configured to open to at least one side in the left-right direction.

[0069] In the first embodiment described above, a configuration was described in which the lower limb accommodation space 41 opens continuously toward the rear and downward, but the configuration is not limited to this. The lower limb accommodation space 41 only needs to open in a direction that intersects the vertical direction. In the embodiments described above, a configuration in which the cart device 2 has article storage spaces 42 and 142 was described, but the configuration is not limited to this. The cart device 2 only needs to have at least a chair storage space (lower limb storage space 41 or chair storage space 143). In the first embodiment described above, the cart device 2 was described as having a partition plate 37 that separates the lower limb storage space 41 and the article storage space 42, but the configuration is not limited to this. The lower limb storage space 41 and the article storage space 42 may be in communication with each other. In the embodiment described above, a configuration was described in which the chair 3 is detachable (switchable) from the cart device 2, but the configuration is not limited to this. The furniture system 1 may also be configured to transition (switchable) between a storage state P1 and a usage state P2 while the chair 3 is connected to the cart device 2.

[0070] In the first embodiment described above, the locking portion 15 was described as being spanned between the side plates 36, but the configuration is not limited to this. The locking portion 15 may also be provided on the top plate 33 or the like. In the third embodiment described above, the case in which the bottom plate 131 is used as the mounting part was explained, but the configuration is not limited to this. Parts of the fixture body other than the bottom plate 131 may also be used as the mounting part. In the third embodiment described above, a configuration was described in which the chair storage space 143 is formed so as to surround the article storage space 142, but the configuration is not limited to this. The chair storage space 143 may be formed at a position that avoids the article storage space 142 in the vertical or horizontal directions. In the embodiments described above, a configuration was described in which the chair 3 is suspended from the locking part 15, or in which the chair 103 is placed on the base plate 131. In addition to these, the chair 3, 103 may also be fixed to the cart device 2, 102 by a fall prevention band or the like.

[0071] Furthermore, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, the components in the embodiments described above can be replaced with well-known components as appropriate, and the modifications described above can be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1,100: Fixture System 3,103: Chair 10,110: Fixture body 11: Casters (running parts) 11b: Swivel section 11d: Wheel (rolling part) 15: Locking part (support part) 33,133: Tabletop 41: Lower limb space (chair space) 143: Chair storage space 131: Base plate (mounting part) F: Floor surface P1: Containment State P2: Usage status

Claims

1. A fixture with a top plate, having a fixture body including a top plate, and a running part provided on the underside of the fixture body, which is movable on the floor surface, Equipped with chairs, In the portion of the furniture body located below the top plate, a chair storage space is formed that opens to at least one side in one of the directions intersecting the vertical direction. The chair is configured to be switchable between a stored state in which it is supported by the main body of the furniture and movable together with the furniture with a top plate, while being separated from the floor, and a usage state in which it is pulled out to the outside of the chair storage space while in contact with the floor. The aforementioned running unit is A rolling part that can rotate around a first axis along the floor surface, The system comprises a swivel section provided between the rolling section and the fixture body, which supports the rolling section so as to be rotatable around a second axis along the vertical direction, In the stowed state, the chair is positioned above the swivel section. The aforementioned fixture with a top plate is provided with a support part in the center of the chair storage space in the first direction, which suspends the chair in the stored state above the swivel part. The chair storage space is a furniture system capable of accommodating the lower limbs of an office worker when the chair is in use.

2. The furniture system according to claim 1, wherein the chair storage space is continuously open toward one side and downward in the first direction of the furniture body.

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