Table

Abstract

Provided is a table that is advantageous for maintaining design properties even when provided with a hook.　At a usage position (P1) of a table (14), a notch (24) is formed extending rearward from the front end of an end portion in the vehicle width direction of the table (14), and a hook part (26) extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is formed on the outer side the notch (24). Compared to a case in which a hook with a raised and recessed shape is present in the extension-direction middle portion of a side edge section (1406) of the table (14), as would be conventional, even with the hook part (26) provided, the hook part (26) is less conspicuous and the table (14) has a unified appearance, which is advantageous in terms of improving design properties.

Description

table

[0001] The present invention relates to a table.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a table attached to the back of a vehicle seat. The table has opposing front and rear edges and a pair of side edges connecting the front and rear edges. The front edge of the table is disposed on the back of the vehicle seat so as to be able to swing between a use position in which the table faces upward and a non-use position in which the table is placed on the back. A hook is provided at the midpoint of the pair of side edges in the extension direction to catch and hold the handle of a shopping bag.

[0003] Patent No. 6167947

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, the presence of uneven hooks in the middle of the side edge of the table makes the hooks stand out, causing the table's appearance to lack unity, and there is room for improvement in terms of improving design. The present invention has been made in light of these circumstances, and its object is to provide a table that is advantageous in terms of ensuring design even when hooks are provided.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned object, one embodiment of the present invention provides a plate-shaped table pivotally supported on the rear surface of a seat back of a vehicle seat, the table being rotatable between a horizontally deployed use position and a non-use position in which the table rotates downward from the use position so that the table is aligned with the back surface of the seat back. In the use position, a notch extending rearward from the front end of the table's widthwise end is formed, and a hook portion extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is formed outside the notch. In addition, in the use position, the upper surface of the hook portion has a protrusion whose front portion protrudes upward relative to its rear portion. In addition, in the use position, the height of the upper end of the protrusion is lower than the height of the upper end of the side of the portion of the table facing the notch. In addition, in the use position, the rear portion of the hook portion is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so that the upper surface is positioned lower as it moves away from the notch. In one embodiment of the present invention, in the use position, the notch is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so that the front end is located closer to the center of the table. In one embodiment of the present invention, the hook portion has a flat surface facing the notch. In one embodiment of the present invention, in the use position, the front end of the hook portion is located rearward of the front end of the portion of the table facing the notch. In one embodiment of the present invention, the hook portion is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so that the front end is located closer to the center of the table. In one embodiment of the present invention, in the non-use position, the surface of the hook portion facing the back of the seat back is inclined with respect to the back of the seat back so that the upper end of the hook portion is spaced apart from the back of the seat back. In one embodiment of the present invention, in the use position, the table is formed to surround a central portion of the top surface and has an edge portion protruding upward from the central portion, and the hook portion is formed on the edge portion.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, in the use position, a notch is formed extending rearward from the front end of the table in the vehicle width direction, and a hook portion is formed outside the notch and extending in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction. Therefore, compared to conventional cases where a concave-convex hook is provided in the middle of the side edge of the table in the extension direction, the hook portion is less noticeable despite the hook portion being provided, thereby maintaining a unified appearance of the table and improving design. Furthermore, if the upper surface of the hook portion has a protrusion in the use position where the front portion protrudes upward relative to the rear portion, the handle of a shopping bag hung on the hook portion engages with the protrusion in the use position, which is advantageous in preventing the handle from coming off the hook portion and causing the shopping bag to fall. Furthermore, if the height of the upper end of the protrusion is lower than the height of the upper end of the side surface of the table facing the notch in the use position, the hook portion is located inside the outline of the table when viewed from the side, making the hook portion less noticeable, thereby maintaining a more unified appearance of the table and improving design. Furthermore, if, in the use position, the rear of the hook portion is inclined relative to the horizontal plane so that the upper surface is positioned lower the further away from the cutout, the hook portion becomes less noticeable when the table is viewed from the side, giving the table a more unified appearance and further improving its design. Furthermore, if, in the use position, the cutout is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so that the front of the cutout is positioned closer to the center of the table, when a shopping bag handle is hung on the cutout in the non-use position, the shear load acting on the hook portion when the weight of the shopping bag acts on the cutout from the handle can be reduced, which is advantageous for increasing the durability of the hook portion. Furthermore, if the surface of the hook portion facing the cutout is flat, the handle of the shopping bag can be smoothly moved along the surface of the hook portion facing the cutout when hanging the handle on the hook portion or removing the handle from the hook portion, which is advantageous for smoothly hanging and removing the handle from the hook portion.Furthermore, when the front end of the hook portion is located rearward of the front end of the portion of the table facing the cutout in the use position, a gap is secured between the tip of the hook portion and the back of the seat back when the table is in the use position. Therefore, when the table is in the use position, the handle of a shopping bag can be easily inserted through the gap and hooked onto the hook portion, and the handle of a shopping bag hanging on the hook portion can be easily removed through the opening, which is advantageous for improving usability of the hook portion. Furthermore, when the hook portion is inclined with respect to the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle so that the hook portion is positioned closer to the center of the table toward the front, a space is secured between the door and the front end of the hook portion facing the door in the use position. Therefore, the handle of a shopping bag can be easily inserted through the space into the opening and hooked onto the hook portion, and the handle of a shopping bag hanging on the hook portion can be easily removed through the space, which is advantageous for improving usability of the hook portion. Furthermore, if the surface facing the back of the seat back is inclined relative to the back of the seat back so that the hook portion is spaced further away from the back of the seat back as it approaches the upper end in the unused position, a gap is secured between the surface facing the back of the seat back and the back of the seat back in the unused position. Therefore, when the table is in the unused position, the handle of a shopping bag can be easily inserted through the gap and hooked onto the hook portion, and the handle of a shopping bag hung on the hook portion can be easily removed from the opening, which is advantageous in improving usability of the hook portion. Furthermore, when the table is in the used position, if the table is formed so as to surround the center of the top surface and has an edge that protrudes upward from the center, and the hook portion is formed on the edge, the hook portion becomes less noticeable, giving the table a more unified appearance and further advantageous in improving design.

[0007] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a use position of a table according to an embodiment; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a non-use position of a table according to an embodiment; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a table according to an embodiment; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a table according to an embodiment; Fig. 5 is a side view enlarging the vicinity of a hook of the table in the non-use position; Fig. 6 is a perspective view enlarging the vicinity of the hook of the table in the non-use position; Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the vicinity of the hook of the table and the seat back in the use position.

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, arrow FR indicates the front of the vehicle, arrow HL indicates the vehicle width direction, and arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a table 14 is provided on the rear surface 1202 of a seat back 12 that constitutes the backrest of a seat on which an occupant sits. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the table 14 has a front edge 1402 and a rear edge 1404 that face each other, and a pair of side edges 1406 that connect both ends of the front edge 1402 and the rear edge 1404. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the front edge 1402 of the table 14 is disposed on the rear surface 1202 of the seat back 12 so as to be rotatable via a hinge mechanism (not shown) between a use position P1 in which the table 14 is horizontally unfolded and facing upward, and a non-use position P2 in which the table 14 is rotated downward from the use position so that it is aligned with the back surface 1202. That is, the table 14 is pivotally supported on the back surface 1202 of the seat back 12. When a load equal to or greater than a preset value is applied to the use position P1 and the non-use position P2, these positions are released, and various conventionally known structures can be employed for the hinge mechanism that connects the front edge 1402 of the table 14 and the back surface 1202 of the seat back 12.

[0009] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the table 14 is provided with a cup holder 16, which is configured to include a cup hole 1602 provided in the table 14 and a cup tray 1604 provided on the underside of the table 14 via a link mechanism, and when the table 14 is in use position P1, the cup tray 1604 is located below the cup hole 1602, and when the table 14 is in non-use position P2, the cup tray 1604 and the link mechanism are folded between the table 14 and the back surface 1202 of the seat back 12.

[0010] The table 14 has a table top surface 14A facing upward in the use position P1 and a table back surface 14B facing downward, and the table back surface 14B extends along the back surface 1202 of the seat back 12 in the non-use position P2. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the area of ​​the table top surface 14A of the table 14, surrounded by a front edge 1402, a rear edge 1404, and a pair of side edges 1406, is formed as an item placement section 18 formed with a flat surface. The front edge 1402, the rear edge 1404, and the pair of side edges 1406 each form edges 20 that protrude from the ends of the table top surface 14A and prevent items placed on the item placement section 18 from falling. The edges 20 are formed to surround the center of the top surface (surface 14A) of the table 14 and protrude upward from the center.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 3 , a notch 24 having an opening 22 is provided in the front edge 1402, the notch 24 extending from at least one end of the front edge 1402 in the extension direction, penetrating the thickness direction of the table 14 and extending a side edge 1406 toward the rear edge 1404. That is, the notch 24 is formed extending rearward from the front end of the end of the table 14 in the vehicle width direction at the use position P1. In this embodiment, a pair of notches 24 having an opening 22 is provided in the front edge 1402, the notch 24 extending from both ends of the front edge 1402 in the extension direction, penetrating the thickness direction of the table 14 and extending a side edge 1406 toward the rear edge 1404. The pair of notches 24 is provided across the edge 20 forming the front edge 1402 and the edge 20 forming the side edge 1406. Each notch 24 is formed by opposing notch side surfaces 2402 and a notch bottom surface 2404 connecting the ends of the notch side surfaces 2402, and the opposing notch side surfaces 2402 are formed as a continuous surface without any steps from the opening 22 to the notch bottom surface 2404. That is, the surface of the hook portion 26 facing the notch 24 is flat. The extension direction of the notch 24 is inclined so as to gradually approach the center of the extension direction of the front edge portion 1402 as it approaches the opening 22 from the notch bottom surface 2404. In other words, in the use position P1, the notch 24 is inclined with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction so that the more forward the notch 24 is, the more it is positioned in the center of the table 14.

[0012] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the hook portion 26 is formed by an end of the front edge portion 1402 located outside the cutout portion 24 and an end of the side edge portion 1406 connected to the end of the front edge portion 1402 and located outside the cutout portion 24. That is, at the use position P1, the hook portion 26 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction both outside and inside the cutout portion 24 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the hook portion 26 is provided across the edge portion 20 forming the front edge portion 1402 and the edge portion 20 forming the side edge portion 1406. Because the extension direction of the cutout portion 24 is inclined as described above, the hook portion 26 is also inclined so as to gradually approach the center of the extension direction of the front edge portion 1402 as it approaches the opening 22. That is, the hook portion 26 is inclined with respect to the vehicle front-rear direction so as to be located at the center of the table 14 as it approaches the front.

[0013] In the use position P1, the upper surface of the hook portion 26 has a protrusion 2602 whose front portion protrudes upward relative to the rear portion and is located on the opening 22 side, and a hook base 2604 which is located on the cutout bottom surface 2404 side and is located lower than the protrusion 2602. As shown in Fig. 5 , when the table 14 is viewed from the side, the hook portion 26 is located inside the outline of the table 14, and more specifically, when the table 14 is viewed from the side, it is located inside the outline of the edge portion 20 which constitutes the front edge portion 1402 and the edge portion 20 which constitutes the side edge portion 1406. In other words, in the use position P1, the height of the upper end of the protrusion 2602 is lower than the height of the upper end of the side surface of the portion of the table 14 which is located inside the cutout portion 24 in the vehicle width direction.

[0014] The surface of the protrusion 2602 excluding the notched side surface 2402 and the surface of the half of the hook base 2604 facing the table back surface 14B excluding the notched side surface 2402 are formed by curved surfaces that are continuous with an imaginary extension of the surface of the edge portion 20 that forms the front edge portion 1402, and are also formed by curved surfaces that are continuous with the surface of the edge portion 20 that forms the side edge portion 1406. The surface of the half of the hook base 2604 facing the table surface 14A excluding the notched side surface 2402 extends toward the notched side surface 2402 at a slope that is gentler than the slope of the hook body 2602 as it moves away from the end of the surface of the half of the hook base 2604 facing the table back surface 14B. In other words, in the use position P1, the rear of the hook portion 26, i.e., the hook base 2604, is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane so that the upper surface is positioned lower the further it is from the notched portion 24.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3 , the tip of the hook portion 26, which is distant from the notch bottom surface 2404 of the notch 24, is located at a position displaced toward the rear edge 1404 from the imaginary extension line X of the front edge 1402. That is, in the use position P1, the front end of the hook portion 26 is located rearward of the front end of the portion of the table 14 facing the notch 24. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 7 , a first gap S1 is secured between the tip of the hook portion 26 and the back surface 1202 of the seat back 12 in the use position P1 of the table 14. Also, as shown in FIG. 5 , a back surface portion 2610 of the hook portion 26, which faces the back surface 1202 of the seat back 12 in the non-use position P2, is formed to be located at a position displaced closer to the table surface 14A of the table 14 than the table back surface 14B of the table 14. That is, in the non-use position P2, the surface of the hook portion 26 facing the back surface 1202 of the seat back 12 is inclined relative to the back surface 1202 of the seat back 12 so that the hook portion 26 is further away from the back surface 1202 of the seat back 12 as it approaches the upper end.With this configuration, a second gap S2 is secured between the back surface 2610 of the hook portion 26 and the back surface 1202 of the seat back 12 in the non-use position P2, and this second gap S2 is formed so as to become larger as it extends from the cutout bottom surface 2404 to the tip of the hook portion 26.

[0016] Next, a case where a shopping bag is held using the hook portion 26 of the table 14 according to this embodiment will be described. First, when the table 14 is in use position P1 shown in FIG. 1 , the handle of the shopping bag is grasped with the hand, passed through the first gap S1 between the tip of the hook portion 26 and the rear surface 1202 of the seat back 12, inserted into the notch 24 from the opening 22, and then moved rearward along the notch 24 until the handle abuts against the bottom surface 2404 of the notch. This places the handle in a hooked state on the hook portion 26, and the hand is released from the handle. To remove the shopping bag from the hook portion 26, the handle is moved in the opposite direction.

[0017] 2, the handle of the shopping bag is grasped with the hand, passed through the second gap S2 between the rear surface 2610 of the hook portion 26 and the rear surface 1202 of the seat back 12, inserted into the notch 24 through the opening 22, and moved downward until it abuts against the bottom surface 2404 of the notch. This places the handle in a hooked state on the hook portion 26, and the hand is released from the handle. To remove the shopping bag from the hook portion 26, the handle is moved in the opposite direction.

[0018] According to this embodiment, at the use position P1 of the table 14, a notch 24 is formed extending rearward from the front end of the end of the table 14 in the vehicle width direction, and a hook portion 26 extending in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction is formed outside the notch 24. Therefore, compared to the conventional case where a hook having an uneven shape is present in the middle portion of the extension direction of the side edge portion 1406 of the table 14, even though the hook portion 26 is provided, the hook portion 26 is less noticeable, and the appearance of the table 14 has a unified appearance, which is advantageous in terms of improving the design.

[0019] In this embodiment, at use position P1 of table 14, the upper surface of hook portion 26 has protrusion 2602, the front of which protrudes upward relative to the rear. Therefore, the handle of a shopping bag hung on hook portion 26 at use position P1 of table 14 is locked onto protrusion 2602, which is advantageous in preventing the handle from coming off hook portion 26 and causing the shopping bag to fall.

[0020] Furthermore, in this embodiment, at the use position P1 of the table 14, the height of the upper end of the protrusion 2602 is lower than the height of the upper end of the side surface of the portion of the table 14 that faces the cutout 24. Therefore, when the table 14 is viewed from the side, the hook portion 26 is located inside the outline of the table 14, and therefore the hook portion 26 is less noticeable, giving the table 14 a more unified appearance and providing an advantage in terms of improving the design.

[0021] Furthermore, in this embodiment, at the use position P1 of the table 14, the rear portion of the hook portion 26 is inclined relative to the horizontal plane so that the upper surface is positioned lower the further it is from the cutout portion 24. Therefore, when the table 14 is viewed from the side, the hook portion 26 is less noticeable, giving the table 14 a more unified appearance and providing an advantage in terms of improving the design.

[0022] In this embodiment, when table 14 is in use position P1, notch 24 is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so that the closer to the front, the more centered it is on table 14. Therefore, when a handle of a shopping bag is hung on notch 24 when table 14 is in non-use position P2, when the weight of the shopping bag acts on notch 24 from the handle, the inclination of notch 24 reduces the shear load acting on hook portion 26, which is advantageous in terms of increasing the durability of hook portion 26.

[0023] In this embodiment, hook portion 26 has a flat surface (notch side surface 2402) facing notch portion 24. Therefore, when hooking or detaching the handle of a shopping bag onto or from hook portion 26, the handle of the shopping bag can be smoothly moved along the surface of hook portion 26 facing notch portion 24 (notch side surface 2402), which is advantageous for smoothly hooking or detaching the handle onto or from hook portion 26.

[0024] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when table 14 is in use position P1, the front end of hook portion 26 is located rearward of the front end of the portion of table 14 that faces notch 24. Therefore, when table 14 is in use position P1, a first gap S1 is secured between the tip of hook portion 26 and rear surface 1202 of seat back 12. This makes it possible to easily insert the handle of a shopping bag into opening 22 through first gap S1 and hook the handle onto hook portion 26 when table 14 is in use position P1, and also makes it easy to remove the handle of a shopping bag hung on hook portion 26 from opening 22, which is advantageous in improving the usability of hook portion 26.

[0025] In this embodiment, hook portion 26 is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so that the more forward it is positioned at the center of table 14, the more toward the front. Therefore, when table 14 is in use position P1, a space can be secured between the door and the front end of hook portion 26, which faces the door, so that the handle of a shopping bag can be easily inserted from this space into opening 22 and hung on hook portion 26, and the handle of a shopping bag hung on hook portion 26 can be easily removed from opening 22 through this space, which is advantageous in improving the usability of hook portion 26.

[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, at the non-use position P2 of the table 14, the surface (back surface portion 2610) of the hook portion 26 facing the back surface 1402 of the seat back 14 is inclined with respect to the back surface 1402 of the seat back 14 so that the upper end of the hook portion 26 is spaced apart from the back surface 1402 of the seat back 14. Therefore, at the non-use position P2, a second gap S2 is secured between the surface (back surface portion 2610) facing the back surface 1402 of the seat back 14 and the back surface 1202 of the seat back 12. Therefore, at the non-use position P2 of the table 14, the handle of a shopping bag can be easily inserted through the second gap S2 into the opening 22 to easily hook the handle onto the hook portion 26, and the handle of a shopping bag hung on the hook portion 26 can be easily removed from the opening 22, which is advantageous in improving the usability of the hook portion 26.

[0027] Furthermore, in this embodiment, at the use position P1 of the table 14, the table 14 has an edge 20 formed to surround the center of the top surface and protruding upward from the center, and the hook 26 is formed on the edge 20. Therefore, the hook 26 is less noticeable, and the appearance of the table 14 has a more unified appearance, which is more advantageous in terms of improving the design.

[0028] 12 seat back 1202 back surface 14 table 14A table surface 14B table back surface 1402 front edge 1404 rear edge 1406 side edge 16 cup holder 1602 cup hole 1604 cup tray 18 article placement section 20 edge 22 opening 24 notch 2402 notch side surface 2404 notch bottom surface 26 hook portion 2602 protrusion 2604 hook base 2610 back surface P1 use position P2 non-use position X imaginary extension line S1 first gap S2 second gap

Claims

1. A plate-shaped table pivotally supported on the rear surface of the seat back of a vehicle seat, the table being rotatable between a use position in which it is deployed horizontally and a non-use position in which it is rotated downward from the use position so that the table is aligned with the rear surface of the seat back, and in which, in the use position, a notch is formed extending rearward from the front end of the table's widthwise end, and a hook is formed on the outside of the notch extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

2. The table according to claim 1, wherein, in the use position, the upper surface of the hook portion has a protrusion whose front portion protrudes upward relative to its rear portion.

3. A table according to claim 2, wherein in the use position, the height of the upper end of the protrusion is lower than the height of the upper end of the side of the part of the table facing the notch.

4. A table according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, in the use position, the rear part of the hook part is inclined relative to the horizontal plane so that the upper surface thereof is positioned lower the further it is from the notch.

5. A table according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, in the use position, the notch is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so that the front end is positioned closer to the center of the table.

6. A table according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the surface of the hook portion facing the notch portion is flat.

7. A table as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the use position, the front end of the hook portion is located rearward of the front end of the part of the table facing the cutout portion.

8. A table as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the hook portion is inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so that the front portion is positioned closer to the center of the table.

9. A table as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in the non-use position, the surface of the hook portion facing the back surface of the seat back is inclined relative to the back surface of the seat back so that the upper end of the hook portion is spaced apart from the back surface of the seat back.

10. A table as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, in the use position, the table has an edge formed to surround the centre of the top surface and protruding upward from the centre, and the hook portion is formed on the edge.

Images