Folding table

Abstract

This folding table includes: a plate part 2 which is foldable; and a leg part 3 which is attached to the plate part 2 or can be attached to the plate part. The plate part 2 has an inner section 4 surrounded only by a fold line.

Description

folding stand

[0001] The present invention relates to a folding table having a foldable board portion.

[0002] Conventionally, a technology relating to a folding table (hereinafter referred to as a "folding table" in this specification) that is used as a table for activities such as camping and has a foldable tabletop is known, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0003] The technology described in Patent Document 1 comprises a pair of ceiling members 2 rotatably connected around one end of each other as an axis, and leg members 3 rotatably attached to each underside of the ceiling members 2, between an upright position that stands up against the underside to support the ceiling members 2, and a lying position that moves from the upright position to a folded position along the underside (see Figures 1 to 4 of Patent Document 1).

[0004] Patent No. 7118861

[0005] However, users have been demanding a folding table that can be made smaller in size when folded than conventional ones, in order to make it easier to transport and to save space when storing it when not in use.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a folding table that can be made smaller in size when folded than conventional folding tables.

[0007] (1) In the present invention, a foldable plate portion is provided, and the plate portion has an internal portion surrounded only by folds.

[0008] According to the present invention described above in (1), the plate portion has an internal portion surrounded only by folds, and is therefore foldable within the plate portion. As a result, it is possible to provide more foldable portions in the plate portion than in the past.

[0009] (2) Furthermore, in the present invention, the device may further include a leg portion that is attached to the plate portion or that can be attached to the plate portion.

[0010] According to the present invention described above in (2), the base having legs can be folded.

[0011] (3) In the present invention, the legs may be foldable.

[0012] According to the present invention described above in (3), since the legs can be folded, when the chair is not in use, the legs can be folded together with the board.

[0013] (4) In the present invention, the planar shape of the internal portion may be a substantially isosceles triangle.

[0014] According to the present invention in (4) above, the planar shape of the internal portion is a substantially isosceles triangle, and therefore the internal portion can be folded along a pair of hypotenuses of the substantially isosceles triangle inside the plate portion.

[0015] (5) In the present invention, the shape of the side portion of the plate portion surrounded by the fold and the side portion may be substantially trapezoidal.

[0016] According to the present invention in (5) above, the shape of the side portion surrounded by the fold and the side portion of the plate portion is formed into a substantially trapezoidal shape.

[0017] (6) In addition, in the present invention, the two specified internal portions may have a common fold edge, and the planar shape of the two specified internal portions combined may be approximately rectangular.

[0018] According to the present invention (6) above, the two specified internal portions have a common fold edge, and the planar shape of the two specified internal portions combined is formed into an approximately rectangular shape.

[0019] (7) In the present invention, the internal portion may be plural and may be aligned in a predetermined direction.

[0020] According to the present invention (7) above, the plurality of internal portions are formed so as to be aligned in a predetermined direction.

[0021] (8) In the present invention, the side portions may be plural and aligned in a predetermined direction.

[0022] According to the present invention (8) above, the plurality of side portions are formed so as to be aligned in a predetermined direction.

[0023] (9) In addition, in the present invention, the folding device may have two trapezoidal surfaces that are line-symmetrical when folded.

[0024] According to the present invention (9) above, since the folding table has two trapezoidal surfaces that are line-symmetrical when folded, the folding table has a line-symmetrical shape when folded.

[0025] (10) In the present invention, the tip of the leg may be sharp.

[0026] According to the present invention in (10) above, since the tip of the leg is sharp, the tip of the leg can come into point contact with the placement surface even if the placement surface is not flat.

[0027] The present invention has the effect of making it possible to make the size of the folded device smaller than that of the conventional device.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a folding table according to the present invention, and is a perspective view showing the folding table in an unfolded state. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the folding table in FIG. 1 as viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the folding table in a folded state. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the legs of the folding table as viewed from the side and below. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first modified example of the folding table according to the embodiment, and is a perspective view showing the folding table in an unfolded state. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a latch portion of the folding table according to the first modified example, where (a) is a plan view showing a state before the latch is engaged with the latch engagement portion, and (b) is a plan view showing a state after the latch has engaged with the latch engagement portion. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second modified example of the folding table according to the embodiment, and is a perspective view showing the folding table in an unfolded state.

[0029] Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a folding table according to the present invention, and is an oblique view showing the folding table in an unfolded state; FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the folding table in FIG. 1 as viewed from above; FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the folding table in a folded state; FIG. 4 is an oblique view showing the legs of the folding table as viewed from the side and below; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first variant of the folding table according to the embodiment, and is an oblique view showing the folding table in an unfolded state; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the latch portion of the folding table according to the first variant, where (a) is a plan view showing the state before the latch is engaged with the latch engagement portion, and (b) is a plan view showing the state after the latch has engaged with the latch engagement portion; and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second variant of the folding table according to the embodiment, and is an oblique view showing the folding table in an unfolded state.

[0031] <Overall Structure of the Folding Table> The folding table 1 shown in Figures 1 to 4 is used as a table for activities such as camping, and may also be used as a stage for users to stand on at events, etc. The folding table 1 is made of a plate material formed into a predetermined shape and is formed to be foldable into the predetermined shape (see Figure 3). The folding table 1 is foldable and includes a plate portion 2 that forms a top panel when unfolded from a folded state, and a plurality of legs 3 that can be attached to the plate portion 2 and support the plate portion 2.

[0032] The plate material forming the folding table 1 has a predetermined rigidity and a predetermined thickness, and in this embodiment is made of resin. However, other materials such as metal or wood may be used as the material for the plate material, and cardboard having a predetermined rigidity and a predetermined thickness may also be used.

[0033] Hereinafter, each component of the folding table 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0034] <Regarding the plate portion> When viewed in a plane, the plate portion 2 is formed into an overall rectangular shape and has a pair of long side portions 2a that form the lateral portions of the plate portion 2 in the long dimension direction (X-axis direction in Figure 2; the same applies below) and a pair of short side portions 2b that form the lateral portions of the plate portion 2 in the short dimension direction (Y-axis direction in Figure 2; the same applies below).

[0035] Here, the above-mentioned "long side portion 2a" and "short side portion 2b" each correspond to the "side portion" in the claims.

[0036] The plate portion 2 has a plurality of internal portions 4 arranged inside thereof and a plurality of side portions 5 arranged on both sides in the short dimension direction of the plate portion 2. Furthermore, a first plate portion fold line 6, a second plate portion fold line 7, a third plate portion fold line 8, and a fourth plate portion fold line 9 are formed on the plate portion 2, and the plurality of internal portions 4 and the plurality of side portions 5 are formed so as to be bendable via any two or more of the first to fourth plate portion fold lines 6, 7, 8, and 9.

[0037] Here, the above-mentioned "first plate portion fold line 6," "second plate portion fold line 7," "third plate portion fold line 8," and "fourth plate portion fold line 9" each correspond to the "fold" in the claims.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the first plate portion fold line 6 and the third plate portion fold line 8 are formed to be able to be "mountain folded", i.e., bendable so as to be convex upward, and the second plate portion fold line 7 and the fourth plate portion fold line 9 are formed to be able to be "valley folded", i.e., bendable so as to be convex downward.

[0039] In Figure 2, in order to illustrate that the first plate portion fold line 6 and the third plate portion fold line 8 are formed to allow for a "mountain fold", and the second plate portion fold line 7 and the fourth plate portion fold line 9 are formed to allow for a "valley fold", the first plate portion fold line 6 and the third plate portion fold line 8 are shown with solid lines and the second plate portion fold line 7 and the fourth plate portion fold line 9 are shown with dashed lines, but the first to fourth plate portion fold lines 6, 7, 8, and 9 are all formed to be visible.

[0040] The locations where the first to fourth plate portion fold lines 6, 7, 8, and 9 are formed, i.e., the locations where the internal portions 4 are connected to each other, the locations where the side portions 5 are connected to each other, and the locations where the internal portion 4 and the side portion 5 are connected, are configured so that the internal portion 4 and the side portion 5 can be bent via the first to fourth plate portion fold lines 6, 7, 8, and 9.

[0041] For example, a configuration may be adopted in which thin hinges are used to connect the portions where the internal portions 4 are continuous with each other, the portions where the side portions 5 are continuous with each other, and the portions where the internal portion 4 and the side portion 5 are continuous with each other, or a configuration in which hinge members are attached and connected may be used. Furthermore, when cardboard having a predetermined rigidity and a predetermined thickness is used as the material for the plate portion 2, the first to fourth plate portion fold lines 6, 7, 8, and 9 may be formed by crease processing, so that the internal portion 4 and the side portion 5 can be made foldable via the first to fourth plate portion fold lines 6, 7, 8, and 9.

[0042] In addition to the above configuration, other configurations may be adopted, such as connecting the internal portions 4 to each other, the side portions 5 to each other, and the internal portions 4 and the side portions 5 with tape.

[0043] <Regarding the internal portion> As shown in Figure 2, the internal portion 4 is surrounded by a pair of first plate portion fold lines 6 and second plate portion fold lines 7 that are continuous with each of the first plate portion fold lines 6, and is formed so that its shape when viewed in a plane is approximately an isosceles triangle.

[0044] The plate portion 2 has a plurality of internal portions 4, and the internal portions 4 are aligned in a predetermined direction. Here, in this embodiment, the "predetermined direction" is the long dimension direction (the X-axis direction in FIG. 2 ) when the plate portion 2 is viewed from above.

[0045] Two adjacent predetermined internal portions 4 have a common fold line (i.e., the second plate portion fold line 7) on one side, and the planar shape of the two predetermined internal portions 4 combined is formed into an approximately rectangular shape (e.g., an approximately diamond shape).

[0046] <Regarding the side portions> In the plate portion 2, the side portions 5 are surrounded by the first plate portion fold line 6, the third plate portion fold line 8, and a portion of each of the long side portion 2a and the short side portion 2b, or are surrounded by the first plate portion fold line 6, the third plate portion fold line 8, the fourth plate portion fold line 9, and a portion of the long side portion 2a, and the shape of each side portion 5 is formed to be approximately trapezoidal (approximately right-angled trapezoid).

[0047] The plate portion 2 has a plurality of side portions 5, which are aligned in a predetermined direction. In this embodiment, the "predetermined direction" refers to the long dimension direction (the X-axis direction in FIG. 2 ) of the plate portion 2 when viewed from above.

[0048] As described above, since the side regions 5 are formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape, the folding table 1 has two trapezoidal surfaces that are line-symmetrical when folded. That is, as shown in Figure 3, the folding table 1 in a folded state has a pair of side regions 5 that are formed in a substantially right-angled trapezoidal shape when viewed from above, and when one of the side regions 5a is inverted about the imaginary line segment L as the axis of symmetry, it overlaps with the other side region 5b.

[0049] <Regarding the legs> The legs 3 are formed to be foldable, and in this embodiment, are attached so as to be continuous with the plate portion 2, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the legs 3 can be attached to the plate portion 2, i.e., the legs 3 can be freely attached and detached to the plate portion 2.

[0050] In this embodiment, the legs 3 are attached to the side portions 5 on the bottom side of the plate portion 2. Here, when the legs 3 are attached so as to be continuous with the plate portion 2 as in this embodiment, the legs 3 are attached to the side portions 5 so as to straddle the third plate portion fold line 8 or the fourth plate portion fold line 9 so as to enable the legs 3 to be folded together with the plate portion 2. Alternatively, the legs 3 may be attached to the internal portion 4.

[0051] Furthermore, since it is preferable that the legs 3 be stored inside the board portion 2 when the board portion 2 is folded, attaching the legs 3 to a location where they can be stored inside the board portion 2 when the board portion 2 is folded is a preferred configuration from the perspective of making the folding table 1 compact when folded.

[0052] The leg portion 3 is L-shaped when viewed in a plane, and is gradually tapered from the base end continuing to the side portion 5 toward the tip 10, with the tip 10 being formed in a pointed shape (a shape that allows point contact with the support surface S shown in Figure 4).

[0053] 4, the leg 3 has a first leg fold line 11 formed at the base end continuing to the side region 5, and a second leg fold line 12 continuing from the first leg fold line 11 and extending along the axial direction (up-down direction) of the leg 3. The first leg fold line 11 and the second leg fold line 12 are formed so as to be bendable in a desired bending direction when folding the leg 3.

[0054] <Regarding Storage Device for Folding Table> In this embodiment, although not specifically shown, a storage device such as a container capable of storing the folding table 1 in a folded state may be provided.

[0055] <Modifications of this embodiment> Next, modifications 1 and 2 of the above embodiment will be described. The folding table 1 according to the above embodiment can also employ modifications 1 and 2 of the embodiment. Modifications 1 and 2 of the embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 5 to 7. Note that the same components as those in the above embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0056] <Variant 1> The folding table 21 of variant 1 shown in Figure 5 is identical in configuration and structure to the above embodiment, except that the leg 3 attached so as to straddle the fourth plate portion fold line 9 in the folding table 1 of the embodiment (see Figure 1) is omitted.

[0057] In Modification 1, the folding table 1 (see FIG. 1) according to the embodiment may be configured such that all of the legs 3 are omitted. This configuration is otherwise identical in configuration and structure to the above embodiment. This configuration can also be used to form any plate- or sheet-like object, such as a picnic blanket, a grill, or a board for wheelchairs to pass through.

[0058] In the first modified example, the following configuration can be further added: A bar 22 (see FIG. 6) may be provided on the side portion 5 on the bottom side of the plate portion 2.

[0059] As shown in Figure 6, the bar portion 22 is provided on the side portion 5 so as to straddle the fourth plate portion fold line 9, and includes a bar 23, a bar guide portion 25, and a bar engagement portion 26. The bar guide portion 25 is provided on one of the adjacent side portions 5, and is attached so that the bar 23 can slide forward and backward by operating an operation portion 24 provided on the bar 23. The bar engagement portion 26 is formed so as to be able to engage with the tip side of the bar 23 when the bar 23 is operated in the forward direction (the direction of arrow F shown in Figure 6(a)) (see Figure 6(b)).

[0060] 6(b), by engaging the tip side of the latch 23 with the latch engaging portion 26, the portion of the plate portion 2 at the fourth plate portion fold line 9 is supported on the bottom side by the latch 23. Therefore, due to the weight of the side portion 5, the fourth plate portion fold line 9 is bent downward to form a convex shape, and the portion of the plate portion 2 at the fourth plate portion fold line 9 is configured not to sag downward. Note that the latch portion 22 having the above-described configuration may be provided in the internal portion 4.

[0061] <Variant 2> The folding table 31 of variant 2 shown in Figure 7 has a plate portion 32 and a plurality of legs 33 that can be attached to the plate portion 32, and is identical in configuration and structure to the above embodiment except that it differs in shape from the plate portion 2 and the legs 3 (see Figure 1).

[0062] The plate portion 32 has a plurality of internal portions 34 disposed inside the plate portion 32 and a plurality of side portions 35 disposed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the plate portion 32, and a first plate portion fold line 36 connecting the internal portions 34 and the side portions 35 is formed so as to be non-linear. In this modified example, the first plate portion fold line 36 is formed in a shape with continuous projections and depressions when viewed in a plane. In Fig. 7, reference numerals 32a and 32b indicate "long side portions" and "short side portions," respectively.

[0063] The leg 33 is formed to have a substantially uniform width from the base end to the tip 40, and the tip 40 is formed to have a two-dimensional shape (a shape that allows line contact or surface contact with the placement surface). Although not shown, the leg 33 has a first leg fold line formed at the base end that continues to the side region 35, and a second leg fold line that continues to the first leg fold line and extends along the axial direction (up and down direction) of the leg 33, similar to the first leg fold line 11 and the second leg fold line 12 of the leg 3 (see FIG. 4).

[0064] <Other Modifications> As other modifications, detailed explanations and illustrations will be omitted, but in the folding table 31 (see FIG. 7) according to Modification 2, similar to Modification 1, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the leg 33 attached so as to straddle the fourth plate portion fold line 9 is omitted, a configuration in which a latch portion 22 (see FIG. 6) is provided on the side portion 35 on the bottom side of the plate portion 32, or a configuration in which all of the legs 33 are omitted.

[0065] <Actions and Effects Obtained by the Present Embodiment> According to the present embodiment having the above configuration, the plate portions 2, 32 have internal portions 4, 34 surrounded only by the first plate portion fold lines 6, 36, and are therefore configured to be foldable inside the plate portions 2, 32. As a result, it is possible to have more foldable portions on the plate portions 2, 32 than in the past.

[0066] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the legs 3, 33 can be folded, and therefore when not in use, the legs 3, 33 can be folded together with the plate portions 2, 32.

[0067] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the planar shape of the internal portions 4, 34 is an approximately isosceles triangle, and therefore the internal portions 4, 34 can be folded inside the plate portions 2, 32 with a pair of hypotenuses of the approximately isosceles triangle as the first plate portion folding lines 6, 36.

[0068] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the shape of each side portion 5, 35 surrounded by the first plate portion fold line 6, 36 in the plate portion 2, 32, the third plate portion fold line 8, and a portion of each of the long side portions 2a, 32a and the short side portions 2b, 32b, or surrounded by the first plate portion fold line 6, 36, the third plate portion fold line 8, the fourth plate portion fold line 9, and a portion of the long side portions 2a, 32a, is formed to be approximately trapezoidal (approximately right-angled trapezoid).

[0069] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the two specified internal portions 4, 34 have a common side that forms the second plate portion fold line 7, and the planar shape of the two specified internal portions 4, 34 combined is formed into an approximately quadrilateral (approximately diamond) shape.

[0070] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the multiple internal portions 4, 34 are formed so as to be aligned in a predetermined direction.

[0071] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the side portions 5, 35 are formed so as to be aligned in a predetermined direction.

[0072] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when folded, the folding tables 1, 21, 31 have side portions 5, 35, which are two trapezoidal surfaces that are line-symmetrical, and therefore have line-symmetrical shapes when folded.

[0073] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the tip 10 of the leg 3 is sharp, the tip 10 of the leg 3 can make point contact with the placement surface S even if the placement surface S is non-flat. As a result, the folding table 1, 21 can be easily placed on the placement surface S even if it is non-flat.

[0074] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to achieve an effect of making the size of the folded state smaller than that of the conventional art.

[0075] The configurations described in the above embodiments can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present invention, and are not limited to the configurations of the above embodiments.

[0076] This application claims priority based on a Japanese application (Patent Application No. 2024-082229) filed on May 20, 2024, and incorporates by reference all of the contents of that Japanese application.

[0077] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 21, 31... Folding base 2, 32... Plate portion 2a, 32a... Long side portion (side portion) 2b, 32b... Short side portion (side portion) 3, 33... Leg portion 4, 34... Internal portion 5, 35... Side portion 6, 36... First plate portion fold line (fold) 7... Second plate portion fold line (fold) 8... Third plate portion fold line (fold) 9... Fourth plate portion fold line (fold) 10, 40... Tip 11... First leg portion fold line 12... Second leg portion fold line 22... Bar portion 23... Bar 24... Operating portion 25... Bar guide portion 26... Bar engagement portion S... Placing surface

Claims

1. A folding table comprising a foldable plate portion, the plate portion having an internal portion surrounded only by folds.

2. The folding table according to claim 1, further comprising legs attached to the plate portion or attachable to the plate portion.

3. The folding table according to claim 2, wherein the legs are foldable.

4. The folding table according to claim 1, wherein the planar shape of the internal portion is an approximately isosceles triangle.

5. A folding table according to claim 4, wherein the shape of the side portion of the plate portion surrounded by the fold and the side portion is approximately trapezoidal.

6. A folding table as described in claim 5, wherein the two specified internal sections have a common fold edge, and the combined planar shape of the two specified internal sections is approximately rectangular.

7. The folding table according to claim 5, wherein there are a plurality of said internal portions, and said internal portions are aligned in a predetermined direction.

8. The folding table according to claim 7, wherein there are a plurality of said side portions, and said side portions are aligned in a predetermined direction.

9. The folding table of claim 5, which has two trapezoidal surfaces that are symmetrical with respect to one another when folded.

10. The folding table of claim 2, wherein the tips of the legs are pointed.

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