U.S. patent application number 13/509443 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-13 for furniture with top plate.
This patent application is currently assigned to OKAMURA CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Hidetaka Sekikawa.
Application Number | 20120227642 13/509443 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43991714 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120227642 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sekikawa; Hidetaka |
September 13, 2012 |
FURNITURE WITH TOP PLATE
Abstract
A piece of furniture with a top plate configured to be change a
height thereof, the piece of furniture includes: a top plate; a
pair of left and right leg bodies which supports left and right
sides of the top plate. Each of the leg bodies includes a fixed leg
column installed on a floor surface, a movable leg column supported
by the fixed leg column to be raised and lowered, a gas spring
which is extendable and retractable vertically to assist elevation
of the movable leg column and fixation of a height position of the
movable leg column, and a switch which switches an extendable state
and a fixed state of the gas spring. An operating unit which
operates the switch is provided in the top plate. A switching
synchronizer is provided to simultaneously operate each of the
switch when the operating unit is operated.
Inventors: |
Sekikawa; Hidetaka;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) |
Assignee: |
OKAMURA CORPORATION
Kanagawa
JP
|
Family ID: |
43991714 |
Appl. No.: |
13/509443 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
November 12, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2010/070194 |
371 Date: |
May 11, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/147 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 9/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/147 |
International
Class: |
A47B 9/10 20060101
A47B009/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 12, 2009 |
JP |
2009-259059 |
Nov 12, 2009 |
JP |
2009-259060 |
Claims
1. A piece of furniture with a top plate configured to be change a
height thereof, the piece of furniture comprising: a top plate; and
a pair of left and right leg bodies which supports left and right
sides of the top plate, wherein each of the leg bodies includes a
fixed leg column installed on a floor surface, a movable leg column
supported by the fixed leg column to be raised and lowered, a gas
spring which is extendable and retractable vertically to assist
raising and lowering of the movable leg column and fixation of a
height position of the movable leg column, and a switch which
switches an extendable state and a fixed state of the gas spring,
and an operating unit which operates the switch is provided in the
top plate, and a switching synchronizer is provided to
simultaneously operate each of the switch when the operating unit
is operated.
2. The piece of furniture of claim 1, wherein the switch serves as
an operating member which operates an operating part of the gas
spring and is provided with a flexible operating wire member which
connects each of the operating member, and the switching
synchronizer is configured by providing a movable member which
moves a substantially central portion of the operating wire member
in a direction other than a direction in which the flexible
operating wire member extends.
3. The piece of furniture of claim 2, wherein the movable member is
adapted to pull the substantially central portion of the operating
wire member, and the substantially central portion of the operating
wire member smoothly moves on a contact surface of the movable
member.
4. The piece of furniture of claim 2, wherein the substantially
central portion of the operating wire member is coupled to an
operating pulley member of the movable member, and a vicinity of a
portion of the operating wire member coupled to the operating
pulley member is maintained to smoothly move on a maintaining part
fixed to the top plate.
5. A piece of furniture with a top plate, the piece of furniture
comprising: a pair of left and right leg bodies which supports left
and right sides of the top plate is configured such that an inner
leg column is inserted into and fitted with an outer leg column to
allow each leg body to be freely extended and retracted vertically,
wherein a height position is configured to be changed by extending
and retracting the leg bodies to raise and lower the top plate; and
an elevation synchronizer that synchronizes extending and
retracting operations of the leg bodies, wherein the elevation
synchronizer is constituted with a synchronizing pulley member
pivotally attached to a leg column configured to be raised and
lowered from among the inner and outer leg columns, and a flexible
synchronizing wire member hung on the synchronizing pulley member,
the synchronizing wire member is connected to a connecting member
fixed to a leg column extending in a vertical direction and
installed on a floor surface from among the inner and outer leg
columns, and the inner leg column is configured such that a first
accommodating portion accommodating a gas spring, which is extended
and retracted vertically to assist an extension and retraction of
the leg body and fixation of a height position of the leg body, and
a second accommodating portion accommodating the connecting member
are provided to be spaced apart from each other.
6. The piece of furniture of claim 5, wherein a third accommodating
portion formed between the first accommodating portion and the
second accommodating portion and having a width narrower than those
of the first and second accommodating portions is provided in the
inner leg column, and the synchronizing pulley member is
accommodated in the third accommodating portion.
7. The piece of furniture of claim 6, wherein a recessed groove
extending vertically is formed at an outer surface of the inner leg
column corresponding to the third accommodation portion, and a
guide roller is provided at the recessed groove, and a slide
surface extending vertically is formed at an inside of the outer
leg column in order for the guide roller to be smoothly
contacted.
8. The piece of furniture of claim 7, wherein a pair of upper and
lower guide rollers having axes of rotation orienting the same
direction and rotated independently are provided in the recessed
groove so that each of the guide rollers smoothly contacts with the
slide surface arranged to be opposed.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a piece of furniture with a
top plate and a height of which can be changed by raising or
lowering the top plate.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] An over-bed table (a piece of furniture with a top plate)
according to the related art has a gas spring in one of a pair of
left and right extendable and retractable legs (leg bodies), so
that when the top plate is raised, a push rod of the gas spring is
pushed by an operating lever (operation means) provided at a top
side of the extendable and retractable leg to assist raising and/or
lowering of the top plate by a pressing force of the gas spring. An
operating lever is provided at a top side of an extendable and
retractable leg without the gas spring, so that even when an
operator is situated at either the left or right side of the
over-bed table, raising and lowering of the top plate can be
operated (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003] For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, in a piece
of furniture with a top plate according to the related art, leg
bodies are configured by a pair of left and right guide rods (outer
leg columns), and elevation rods (inner leg columns) which can
smoothly move vertically along the guide rods. Further, a gas
spring is provided in one leg body to assist raising and/or
lowering of the top plate and fix a height of the top plate, and an
adjusting means (elevation synchronizing means) is configured by a
plurality of pulleys (synchronizing pulley members) and a wire
(synchronizing wire member) hung on the pulleys, so that it makes
difficult to generate an elevation error in the left and right
elevation rods, and the left and right sides of the top plate can
be synchronously raised with good balance. Further, various
synchronizing means and extension synchronizing means (elevation
synchronizing means) of the same type are disclosed in Patent
Documents 1 and 3.
PRIOR ART REFERENCE
Patent Document
[0004] [Patent Document 1]: Japanese Patent No. 2761706 (page 3,
page 4, FIG. 2, and FIG. 5) [0005] [Patent Document 2]: Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 1998-179266 A (page 3
and FIG. 7) [0006] [Patent Document 3]: Japanese Patent No. 3681001
(page 4 and FIG. 3)
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0007] In the over-bed table (a piece of furniture with a top
plate) described in Patent Document 1, since a gas spring is
provided only in one extendable and retractable leg (leg body),
such a configuration cannot be applied to a table with a
large-sized heavy top plate, requiring the gas spring to be
provided in both left and right extendable and retractable legs.
However, when the gas springs are provided in both the left and
right extendable and retractable legs, if the pressing timings of
push rods for the gas springs become different, one of the gas
springs is extended or retracted first, causing the top plate to be
tilted.
[0008] In the height adjusting means (elevation synchronizing
means) of a top plate of a desk described in Patent Document 2, it
is required to fix an end of a wire (synchronizing wire member) of
the adjusting means or a pulley (synchronizing pulley member) to a
guide rod (outer leg column). Further, the wire or pulley is
accommodated within a cover member provided at a side of a leg body
to be prevented from being interfered with a gas spring.
Accordingly, a width of the leg body or the like including the
cover member increases and a weight thereof also increases. Patent
Documents 1 and 3 also have a similar problem.
[0009] The present invention has been made in an effort to provide
a piece of furniture with a top plate, which is configured such
that gas springs are provided in both left and right leg bodies to
enable the top plate to be easily raised even if the top plate is
heavy and the top plate can be prevented from being tilted when the
top plate is being raised or lowered.
[0010] Further, the present invention has been made in an effort to
provide a piece of furniture with a top plate, which is configured
such that elevation synchronizing means for synchronously raising
and/or lowering left and right side sections of the top plate and
gas springs are accommodated in the leg bodies compactly to be able
to reduce weights of leg bodies.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0011] In order to solve the problem, a piece of furniture with a
top plate of the present invention includes a top plate and a pair
of left and right leg bodies which supports left and right sides of
the top plate, wherein a height position is changeable by raising
or lowering the top plate, the piece of furniture is characterized
in that each of the leg bodies includes a fixed leg column
installed on a floor surface, a movable leg column supported by the
fixed leg column to be raised and lowered, a gas spring which is
extendable and retractable vertically to assist raising and
lowering of the movable leg column and fixation of a height
position of the movable leg column, and a switching means which
switches an extendable state and a fixed state of the gas spring,
and an operation means which operates the switching means is
provided in the top plate, and a switching synchronizing means is
provided to simultaneously operate each of the switching means when
the operation means is operated.
[0012] According to this feature, a vertical location of the top
plate can be adjusted by an operation of the gas spring. Even a
heavy top plate can be easily raised and lowered by two gas springs
of both the left and right leg bodies. Since extendable states and
fixed states of the left and right gas springs can be
simultaneously switched by the switching synchronizing means for
operating the switching means at the same time, the top plate is
prevented from being tilted due to asynchronous switching of the
gas springs.
[0013] The piece of furniture of the present invention is
characterized in that the switching means serves as an operating
member which operates an operating part of the gas spring and is
provided with a flexible operating wire member which connects each
of the operating member, and the switching synchronizing means is
configured by providing a movable member which moves a
substantially central portion of the operating wire member in a
direction other than a direction in which the flexible operating
wire member extends.
[0014] According to this feature, when the flexible operating wire
member is moved in a direction other than a direction in which the
operating wire member extends by the movable member when the
operation means is operated, left and right ends of the operating
wire member connected to the operating members is moved equally in
a direction in which the operating wire member extends, so that the
operating parts of the gas springs can be operated simultaneously.
Accordingly, the switching synchronizing means can be constituted
with a simple structure including the operating member, the
operating wire member, and the movable member.
[0015] The piece of furniture of the present invention is
characterized in that the movable member is adapted to pull the
substantially central portion of the operating wire member, and the
substantially central portion of the operating wire member smoothly
moves on a contact surface of the movable member.
[0016] According to this feature, if the operation means is
operated, both left and right ends of the operating wire member is
moved toward a substantially central portion so that both the left
and right ends of the operating wire member can be moved equally.
Further, even when there is an error between lengths of the
operating wire member from the movable member to the operating
members, the error can be offset by smoothly moving the operating
wire member on the contacting surface with the movable member.
[0017] The piece of furniture of the present invention is
characterized in that the substantially central portion of the
operating wire member is coupled to an operating pulley member of
the movable member, and a vicinity of a portion of the operating
wire member coupled to the operating pulley member is maintained to
smoothly move on a maintaining part fixed to the top plate.
[0018] According to this feature, even when an error occurs between
the lengths of the operating wire member from the movable member to
the operating members, the operating wire member is moved in a
direction in which the operating wire member extends through
rotation of the operating pulley member, so that the error can be
offset. A vicinity of a portion of the operating wire member
coupled to the operating pulley member is maintained by the
maintaining part fixed to the top plate, so that the operating wire
member is prevented from being deviated from the operating pulley
member.
[0019] A piece of furniture with a top plate of the present
invention, in which: a pair of left and right leg bodies which
supports left and right sides of the top plate is configured such
that an inner leg column is inserted into and fitted with an outer
leg column to allow each leg body to be freely extended and
retracted vertically; a height position is configured to be changed
by extending and retracting the leg bodies to raise and lower the
top plate; and an elevation synchronizing means that synchronizes
extending and retracting operations of the leg bodies, the piece of
furniture is characterized in that the elevation synchronizing
means is constituted with a synchronizing pulley member pivotally
attached to a leg column configured to be raised and lowered from
among the inner and outer leg columns, and a flexible synchronizing
wire member hung on the synchronizing pulley member, the
synchronizing wire member is connected to a connecting member fixed
to a leg column extending in a vertical direction and installed on
a floor surface from among the inner and outer leg columns, and the
inner leg column is configured such that a first accommodating
portion accommodating a gas spring, which is extended and retracted
vertically to assist an extension and retraction of the leg body
and fixation of a height position of the leg body, and a second
accommodating portion accommodating the connecting member are
provided to be spaced apart from each other.
[0020] According to this feature, the gas spring accommodated in
the first accommodating portion, and the connecting member
accommodated in the second accommodating portion, the synchronizing
wire member connected to the connecting member, or the
synchronizing pulley member hung on the synchronizing wire member
are operated without being interfered with each other. Even when
the leg column installed on the bottom surface is any one of the
inner and outer leg columns, the leg column can be connected to the
synchronizing wire member by means of the connecting member
extending vertically. Further, the first and second accommodating
portions are formed in the inner leg column, the elevation
synchronizing means for synchronously raising and/or lowering both
left and right side sections of the top plate and the gas spring
can be compactly accommodated in the leg body, thereby reducing a
weight of the leg body.
[0021] The piece of furniture of the present invention is
characterized in that a third accommodating portion formed between
the first accommodating portion and the second accommodating
portion and having a width narrower than those of the first and
second accommodating portions is provided in the inner leg column,
and the synchronizing pulley member is accommodated in the third
accommodating portion.
[0022] According to this feature, the gas spring accommodated in
the first accommodating portion, the synchronizing pulley member
accommodated in the third accommodating portion and the
synchronizing wire member hung on the synchronizing pulley member
are operated without being interfered with each other. Further,
since the third accommodating portion has a narrow width, the first
accommodating portion and the second accommodating portion can be
spaced apart from each other by the third accommodating
portion.
[0023] The piece of furniture of the present invention is
characterized in that a recessed groove extending vertically is
formed at an outer surface of the inner leg column corresponding to
the third accommodation portion, and a guide roller is provided at
the recessed groove, and
[0024] a slide surface extending vertically is formed at an inside
of the outer leg column in order for the guide roller to be
smoothly contacted.
[0025] According to this feature, the guide roller disposed in the
recessed groove of the inner leg column smoothly contacts the slide
surface in the outer leg column, so that an extending/retracting
operation of the leg body can be smoothly performed. The recessed
groove can be formed in the inner leg column using a portion where
the third accommodating portion having a narrow width is provided,
so that the guide roller can be compactly accommodated between the
inner leg column and the outer leg column.
[0026] The piece of furniture of the present invention is
characterized in that a pair of upper and lower guide rollers
having axes of rotation orienting the same direction and rotated
independently are provided in the recessed groove so that each of
the guide rollers smoothly contacts with the slide surface arranged
to be opposed.
[0027] According to this feature, the pair of guide rollers are
disposed between the slide surfaces disposed to be opposed to each
other and extending vertically, so that the guide rollers can
smoothly contact with the slide surfaces respectively, thereby
preventing the leg columns adapted to be raised and/or lowered from
being shaken horizontally.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a table according
to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the table.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a left side view illustrating the table.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating wiring of wire
members and disposition of operating parts.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating
inner structures of a right arm and a leg body, taken along line
A-A of FIG. 4.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view illustrating
an inner structure of the leg body, taken along line B-B of FIG.
5.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a transversal cross sectional view illustrating
the inner structure of the leg body, taken along line C-C of FIG.
5.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 5 illustrating a
top part of the leg body.
[0036] FIG. 9A is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line
D-D of FIG. 8.
[0037] FIG. 9B is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a
state where a gas spring is being pushed by a pressing member.
[0038] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a lower end
portion of an elevation rod.
[0039] FIG. 11 is a concept view illustrating a state where a guide
roller smoothly contacts a slide surface of a support rod.
[0040] FIG. 12A is a plan view illustrating an operating part.
[0041] FIG. 12B is a plan view illustrating a state where an
operating lever is pulled toward the front side.
[0042] FIG. 13A is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line
E-E of FIG. 12A.
[0043] FIG. 13B is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a
state where the operating lever is pulled to the front side.
[0044] FIG. 14 is a concept view illustrating an operating wire
member hung on a pulley and a pressing member.
[0045] FIG. 15 is a concept view illustrating an elevation
synchronizing means.
[0046] FIG. 16A is a plan view illustrating an operating part
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 16B is a plan view illustrating a state where an
operating lever is pulled toward the front side.
[0048] FIG. 17A is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line
F-F of FIG. 15.
[0049] FIG. 17B is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a
state where the operating lever is pulled toward the front
side.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0050] Hereinafter, embodiments of a piece of furniture with a top
plate according to the present invention will be described.
First Embodiment
[0051] A piece of furniture with a top plate according to a first
embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 17B.
Hereinafter, lower right sides of FIGS. 1 and 4 will be described
as a front side (forward) of a table, upper right sides of FIGS. 1
and 4 will be described as a right side of the table 1, right sides
of FIGS. 3, 5, 7, 8, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, 16A, 16B, 17A, and 17B
will be described as a front side (forward) of the table, and a
lower side of FIG. 14 will be described as a front side (forward)
of the table.
[0052] Reference numeral 1 of FIG. 1 denotes a table which is a
piece of furniture with a top plate to which the present invention
is applied. The table 1 includes one sheet of top plate 2 which is
laterally long, and one pair of left and right leg bodies 3
supporting left and right sides of the top plate 2, respectively,
and configured to change a height of the top plate 2 by raising
and/or lowering the top plate 2.
[0053] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each leg body 3 includes a base
leg 4 installed on the floor surface to be extended forward and
rearward, a support rod 5 (fixed leg column, outer leg column)
provided to be erected from a center of the base leg 4, and an
elevation rod 6 (movable leg column, inner leg column) inserted
into the support rod 5. A top portion of the support rod 5 is
opened, and the elevation rod 6 is inserted into the support rod 5
to be raised or lowered freely with respect to the support rod
5.
[0054] As shown FIG. 4, arms 7 extending forward and rearward are
provided at the top portions of the leg bodies 3, respectively, and
attached to the top portions of the elevation rods 6. The left and
right arms 7 are connected to each other by two connecting rods 8
provided in parallel in forward and rearward direction. The
connecting rods 8 constitute leg columns, and extend substantially
linearly between the left and right leg bodies 3. The top plate 2
is attached to top portions of the arms 7 and the connecting rods 8
such that the top plate 2 can be raised as the elevation rods 6 are
raised.
[0055] Operating parts 9 (operating means) operated by an operator
when raising and/or lowering the top plate 2 are attached to a
central portion of a lower surface of the top plate 2 (see FIG. 2).
The operating parts 9 are spaced apart from each other and attached
to two front and rear locations of the top plate 2 which are
situated around a front end and a rear end of the top plate 2, so
that the operator can operate elevation of the top plate 2 at any
place either the front side or the rear side of the table 1 (see
FIG. 4).
[0056] As will be described below, the operator lifts or lowers the
top plate 2 while maintaining a state where an operating lever 10
provided in the operating part 9 is moved horizontally in a
direction far away from the top plate 2 to freely change a height
of the top plate 2.
[0057] Next, internal structures of the left and right leg bodies 3
will be described. Since the internal structures of both of the leg
bodies 3 have substantially the same structure where the front and
rear sides thereof are formed in a reverse state, the right leg
body 3 will be described as an example. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional
view taken along line A-A of FIG. 4 and is a longitudinal sectional
view viewed from the inner side of the table 1.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 5, a connecting member 11 fixed to a base
leg 4 is provided to extend vertically on the front side (the right
side of the drawing) in an inner part of the elevation rod 6, a gas
spring 12 which is extended and retracted vertically is provided on
the rear side (the left side of the drawing) in the inner part of
the elevation rod 6. Meanwhile, a lower end of the gas spring 12 is
fixed to the base leg 4, and a top end thereof is fixed to a lower
surface of the arm 7.
[0059] A pulley member 13 (synchronizing pulley member) and a
synchronizing wire member 14 constituting an elevation
synchronizing means to be described below are provided between the
connecting member 11 and the gas spring 12. The pulley member 13 is
rotated about a rotation axis 61 extending laterally, and is moved
vertically by the synchronizing wire member 14.
[0060] Next, the gas spring 12 will be described with reference to
FIGS. 5 and 8. As shown in FIG. 5, the gas spring 12 has a cylinder
15 encapsulating gas, and a piston rod 16 disposed within the
cylinder 15 to repeatedly enter into and exit from the cylinder 15.
The gas spring 12 is extended and retracted vertically according to
entering and exiting of the piston rod 16, a vertical length of the
gas spring 12 may be changed arbitrarily.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 8, the piston rod 16 is operated as a push
rod 17 provided at a top end of the gas spring 12 is pressed, thus
arbitrarily changing the vertical length of the gas spring 12. A
nut 18 attached to a location lower than the arm 7 in the piston
rod 16 is secured to a lower surface of the arm 7 in a threaded
fashion.
[0062] Meanwhile, the elevation rod 6 is raised and/or lowered
vertically as the vertical length of the gas spring 12 is changed,
and a height of the elevation rod 6 is fixed as the vertical length
of the gas spring 12 is fixed. Hereinafter, a state where the push
rod 17 is pressed and thus the piston rod 16 can be extended and/or
retracted will be referred to as an extendable state, and a state
where the push rod 17 is released from the pressed state and thus
the piston rod 16 is locked (fixed) will be referred to as a fixed
state.
[0063] Next, a switching means for switching a state of the gas
spring 12 between the extendable state and the fixed state will be
described with reference to FIGS. 8, 9A, and 9B. FIG. 9A is a cross
sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 8, and is a
longitudinal rear cross sectional view where the leg body 3 is
viewed from a rear side of the table 1.
[0064] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9A, a pressing member 19 (switching
means, operating member) for pressing the push rod 17 (an operating
part) of the gas spring 12 is provided within the arm 7.
[0065] The pressing member 19 is pivotally attached to a pivot
member 20 attached to the arm 7, and the pressing member 19
fluctuates vertically while taking a pivot shaft 21 extending
forward and rearward on a lower side thereof as an axis
thereof.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 9A, a top end of the pressing member 19 is
formed as a wire coupling part 23 to which an operating wire member
22 for fluctuating the pressing member 19 is coupled, and a
pressing part 24 for pressing the push rod 17 is formed at a part
of a lower end of the pressing member 19 corresponding to the gas
spring 12.
[0067] The operating wire member 22 has an operating wire 25
(operating wire member, the switching synchronizing means) and a
resin tubular member 26, and the operating wire 25 is inserted into
and passes through the tubular member 26 to be smoothly moved in a
direction where the operating wire 25 extends within the tubular
member 26. The operating wire member 22 is fixed to the arm 7 by a
fixing part 27 formed at an end of the tubular member 26.
[0068] In the table 1 according to the present embodiment, two
operating wire members 22 are provided on the front and rear sides.
The pressing members 19 are provided in the left and right arms 7
respectively, and one operating wire member 22 connects the
pressing members 19 to each other (see FIGS. 4 and 14). The front
and rear operating wire members 22 are connected to the same
pressing member 19, and the front and rear operating wire members
22 are disposed substantially in parallel to each other near the
pressing member 19.
[0069] The operating wire 25 is provided to be longer than a length
of the tubular member 26, and the operating wire 25 is exposed to
an end of the operating wire member 22. Tips of the operating wires
25 are stopped by coupling clasps 28 respectively, and the coupling
clasps 28 are coupled to wire coupling parts 23 of the pressing
members 19. The wire coupling parts 23 are formed on the front and
rear sides of the pressing member 19, and the front and rear
operating wires 25 and 25 are coupled to the front and rear wire
coupling parts 23, respectively (see FIG. 8). In the pressing
member 19, the front and rear wire coupling parts 24 (connecting
portions) are spaced apart from each other on the front and rear
sides, and the pulley member 43 to be described below can be
disposed between the front and rear wire coupling parts 23, that
is, between the two operating wire members 22.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 9B, if the operating wire 25 is pulled
inward, the pressing member 19 fluctuates and the pressing part 24
lowers. Then, the push rod 17 of the gas spring 12 is pressed so
that the piston rod 16 turns into an extendable state where the gas
spring 12 can be extended and retracted.
[0071] Meanwhile, if the gas spring 12 turns into an extendable
state, the piston rod 16 is lifted by a pressing force of the gas
in the gas spring 12 so that the arm 7 and the top plate 2 are
pushed upward to allow even a heavy top plate 2 to be easily lifted
by the operator.
[0072] If a state where the operating wire 25 is pulled is
released, the pressing part 24 is pushed upward by the push rod 17
and thus the pressing 19 fluctuates and returns. The piston rod 16
is locked to be in a fixed state. Accordingly, the extendable state
and the fixed state are switched therebetween. In order to allow
the pressing member 19 to easily return, a pressing means such as a
spring may be provided at a portion of the pivot shaft 21 of the
pivot member 20.
[0073] Next, the operating part 9 will be described with reference
to FIGS. 12A to 13B. Since the operating parts 9 provided two
locations at the front and rear sides of the top plate 2 have the
same structure, the operating part 9 provided on the front side
will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 12A, a fixed
member 29 which is fixed to the top plate 2 and a movable member 30
which is movable horizontally are provided in the operating part 9.
The operating lever 10 for moving the movable member 30 by the
operator is provided on the front side of the movable member
30.
[0074] The fixed member 29 has a rectangular shape in a plan view,
and four corner portions of the fixed member 29 are secured to the
top plate 2 in a threaded fashion. Two maintaining parts 31 for
maintaining the operating wire member 22 are formed at a rear end
of the fixed member 29. The movable member 30 combined with the top
side of the fixed member 29 has a front portion whose a left and
right width is smaller than that of a rear portion thereof.
[0075] Two long holes 32 extending forward and rearward are formed
on the front side and rear side of the movable member 30. Bolts 33
inserted into and passing through the long holes 32 from the top
side thereof are fixed to the fixed member 29, and when the movable
member 30 is situated at a normal location shown in FIG. 12A, the
bolts 33 are situated at front ends of the long holes 32
respectively.
[0076] A substantially semicircular pulley disposing part 34 is
formed at a rear side of the movable member 30. A pulley 35 (a
movable member, a switching synchronizing means, and an operating
pulley member) to which a substantially central portion of the
operating wire member 22 is coupled is attached to the pulley
disposing part 34.
[0077] As shown in FIG. 13A, a hole portion 36 formed in the pulley
disposing part 34 of the movable member 30, a central hole 37 of
the pulley 35, and a hole portion 39 of a pulley pivoting member 38
attached to the movable member 30 are formed at locations
corresponding to one another. The pulley 35 is configured to be
rotated about a rotation axis 62 thereof extending vertically
between the pulley pivoting member 38 and the pulley disposing part
34.
[0078] In the maintaining part 31 of the fixed member 29, a fixed
part 40 provided at an end of the tubular member 26 of the
operating wire member 22 is maintained and the operating wire 25
exposed from the fixed part 450 is coupled to the pulley 35. A
circumferential surface on the front side of the pulley 35 serves
as a contact surface 41 on which the operating wire 25 of a
substantially central portion of the operating wire member 22 is
smoothly moved.
[0079] A vicinity of a portion of the operating wire member 22
coupled to the pulley 35 is maintained by the maintaining part 31,
so that the operating wire 25 remains hung on the pulley 35 to be
able to be prevented from being deviated from the pulley 35.
[0080] As shown in FIGS. 12B and 13B, if the operating lever 10 is
pulled forward and thus the movable member 30 is moved to a front
location, the operating wire 25 is smoothly moved in the tubular
member 26 so that the operating wire 25 coupled to the pulley 35 is
pulled forward.
[0081] Next, an operation during operation of the operating part 9
will be described with reference to the concept view of FIG. 14.
Since the pressing members 19 of the left and right leg bodies 3
are connected to each other though the operating wire member 22 and
the operating parts 9 are provided at substantially central
portions of the front and rear ends of the top plate 2, a
substantially central portion of the operating wire member 22 is
smoothly moved on the contact surfaces of the pulleys 35 of the
operating parts 9 to be pulled.
[0082] Accordingly, even when there is an error in lengths of the
operating wire members 22 from the movable member 30 to the left
and right pressing members 19, the error is offset as the operating
wire members 22 are smoothly moved through the contact surface 41
of the pulleys 35 in conjunction with rotation of the pulleys 35.
The operating wire members 22 may be spaced part from the contact
surfaces 41 of the pulleys 35. That is, the operating wire members
22 may be moved relative to the pulleys 35 and the movable members
30.
[0083] When the operator pulls the front operating lever 10
forward, the operating wire 25 coupled to the pulley 25 is pulled
forward and left and right ends of the operating wire 25 are moved
inward. The pressing members 19 within the left and right leg
bodies 3 are operated at the same time, and thus the extendable
state and the fixed state of the gas springs 12 can be switched
into each other at the same time (see FIGS. 9A and 9B)
[0084] Next, the elevation synchronizing means for synchronizing
extendable and retractable operations of the left and right leg
bodies 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8 and 15.
The elevation synchronizing means for synchronizing vertical
movement of the elevation rod 6 is provided in the table 1
according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross sectional
view taken along line B-B of FIG. 5 and is a longitudinal rear
cross sectional view when the right leg body 3 is viewed from the
rear side of the table 1.
[0085] The elevation rods 6 disposed on the left and right sides
can be moved vertically by the same distance respectively by means
of the elevation synchronizing means. Thus, a horizontal state of
the top plate 2 can be maintained when the height of the top plate
2 is changed.
[0086] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pulley member 13 provided
between the gas spring 12 and the connecting member 11 inside the
elevation rod 6 is rotated about the rotation axis 61 extending
leftward and rightward to be moved vertically by the synchronizing
wire member 14.
[0087] A pulley member 43 (a synchronizing pulley member) where two
front and rear pulleys 42 and 42' are connected is provided in the
arm 7, and the pulley member 43 is rotated about a rotation axis 63
extending forward and rearward and the front pulley 42 and the rear
pulley 42' can be rotated independently.
[0088] A `U` shaped bracket 44 when viewed from a side is provided
outside the pulley member 43 (see FIG. 8), and the pulley member 43
is secured to the arm 7 through the bracket 44 (see FIG. 6). The
pulley member 43 is disposed more inside than the pressing member
19, so that the pressing member 19 does not collide with the pulley
member 43 even when the pressing member 19 fluctuates (see FIGS. 9A
and 9B).
[0089] The synchronizing wire member 14 is coupled to the pulley
members 13 and 43 to be hung on lower sides of the left and right
leg bodies 3 and the top plate 2. As shown in FIG. 8, a connecting
clasp 45 is provided in the vicinity of the connecting member 11 of
the synchronizing wire member 14, and the synchronizing wire member
14 is connected to a top end of the connecting member 11 through
the connecting clasp 45.
[0090] As shown in FIG. 5, a stopper 46 is provided at a
substantially intermediate portion of the connecting member 11. A
stopper contact member 47 is provided on a lower surface of the
elevation rod 6, and lifting of the elevation rod 6 stops at a
location where the stopper contact member 47 contacts the stopper
46 (see FIG. 10).
[0091] The synchronizing wire member 14 is hung in a U-shaped form
from the front pulley 42 of the pulley member 43 toward the rear
pulley 42' through the pulley member 13. The synchronizing wire
member 14 extending from the pulley member 43 of the right arm 7
extends toward the left arm 7, and is integrally formed hung on the
left arm 7 and the leg body 3.
[0092] An operation during elevation of the top plate 2 will be
described with reference to a concept view of FIG. 15. The
elevation synchronizing means includes pulley members 13 and 43 and
a synchronizing wire member 14 connected to the connecting member
11. As mentioned above, the pulley members 13 and 43 are pivotally
attached to the elevation rod 6 to be raised and/or lowered
together with the elevation rod 6.
[0093] As shown in FIG. 15, the synchronizing wire member 14 hung
on one pulley 42 of the upper pulleys 42 and 42' will be described
as a synchronizing wire member 14a and the synchronizing wire
member 14 hung on the other pulley 42' will be described as a
synchronizing wire member 14b in the following.
[0094] For example, when the elevation rod 6 on the right side of
the drawing is lifted, the right pulley member 43 is lifted. Since
the synchronizing wire member 14a is fixed to the connecting member
11 through the connecting clasp 45, the right pulley 42 is pulled
and lifted so that the left pulley member 13 is moved in
conjunction with the synchronizing wire member 14a and is lifted by
the same distance as the movement distance of the right pulley
42.
[0095] Similarly, when the elevation rod 6 on the left side of the
drawing is lifted, the left pulley member 43 is also lifted. Since
the synchronizing wire member 14b is fixed to the connecting member
11 through the connecting clasp 45, the left pulley 42' is pulled
and lifted so that the right pulley member 13 is moved in
conjunction with the synchronizing wire member 14b and is lifted by
the same distance as the movement distance of the left pulley
42'.
[0096] In this way, since the synchronizing wire member 14a and the
synchronizing wire member 14b are operated at the same time to
influence each other, there is no possibility of lifting of only
one of the left and right elevation rods 6, 6 in advance occurs.
That is, the left and right elevation rods 6 and 6 can be
synchronized with certainty to be lifted.
[0097] Even when the left and right elevation rods 6 and 6 drop,
the left elevation rod 6 and the right elevation rod 6 are operated
to lower in conjunction with each other at the same time by the
same distance. In this way, since the extensions and retractions of
the left and right elevation rods 6 and 6 are synchronized, the
left and right elevation rods 6 and 6 and the top plate 2 can be
raised and/or lowered integrally.
[0098] That is, when the height of the top plate 2 is changed in a
synchronized extensions and retractions of both of the leg bodies 3
by the elevation synchronizing means, the top plate 2 can be raised
and/or lowered while maintaining the horizontal state thereof
without distorting the height of the top plate 2 on the left and
right sides.
[0099] Next, disposition of the gas spring 12, the connecting
member 11, and the pulley member 13 in the leg body 3 will be
described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 10. The right side of FIG.
7 will be described as the front side.
[0100] As shown in FIG. 7, a first accommodating portion 48 in
which the gas spring 12 is accommodated is formed at a rear side of
the elevation rod 6 inserted into the support rod 5, and a second
accommodating portion 49 in which the connecting member 11 is
accommodated is formed at a front side of the elevation rod 6. A
third accommodating portion 50 in which the pulley member 13 is
accommodated is formed between the first accommodating portion 48
and the second accommodating portion 49.
[0101] In this way, the gas spring 12 accommodated in the first
accommodating portion 48, the pulley member 13 accommodated in the
third accommodating portion 50, and the synchronizing wire member
are adapted to be operated without being interfered with each
other.
[0102] The third accommodating portion 50 has a left and right
width narrower than those of the first and second accommodating
portions 48 and 49, and a recessed groove 51 extending vertically
is formed at a portion on the outer surface of the elevation rod 6
corresponding to the third accommodating portion 50.
[0103] As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of guide rollers 52 rotated
about a rotation axis 64 extending leftward and rightward are
attached to four surfaces including the outer surfaces on the front
and rear sides of the elevation rod 6 and the left and right
recessed grooves 52. A pair of upper and lower guide rollers 52,
52, of the guide rollers 52, is rotated independently, and the pair
of upper and lower guide rollers 52, 52 constitutes one roller part
53.
[0104] As shown in FIG. 10, the respective guide rollers 52, 52 of
the roller part 53 are disposed to be displaced horizontally to
some degree, and in the present embodiment, roller parts 53 are
provided at two upper and lower locations of each of the front,
rear, left and right surfaces of the elevation rod 6 (see FIGS. 5
and 6).
[0105] As shown in FIG. 7, grooves 54 are formed at portions of the
support rod 5 corresponding to the guide rollers 52, and the
opposing surfaces of the grooves 54 are formed as slide surfaces 55
which the guide rollers 52 contact smoothly. Each pair of upper and
lower guide rollers 52 smoothly contact one slide surface 55 and
another slide surface 55 respectively.
[0106] As shown in the concept view of FIG. 11, the guide roller 52
on the right side of the drawing smoothly contacts the right slide
surface 55, and the guide roller 52 on the left side of the drawing
smoothly contacts the left slide surface 55. Accordingly, the
elevation rod 6 can be raised and/or lowered without being shaken
horizontally.
[0107] When the elevation rod 6 is lifted, the right guide roller
52 is rotated clockwise and the left guide roller 52 is rotated
counterclockwise. Accordingly, an elevation operation of the
elevation rod 6 can be smoothly performed.
[0108] When the elevation rod 6 is lowered, the right guide roller
52 is rotated counter-clockwise, and the left guide roller 52 is
rotated clockwise (not shown).
[0109] Since the recessed groove 51 is formed using a portion of
the elevation rod 6 where the third accommodating portion 50 is
provided, the guide roller 52 can be compactly accommodated between
the elevation rod 6 and the support rod 5.
[0110] Next, an operation of the operating part 9 by the operator
to raise and/or lower the top plate 2 will be described. If the
operator pulls the operating lever 10 of the operating part 9 in a
forward direction to move the movable member 30 to a front
location, a substantially central portion of the operating wire 25
coupled to the pulley 35 is moved forward (see FIG. 12B), and both
ends of the operating wire member 22 are moved to a central side
equally (see FIG. 14).
[0111] The left and right pressing members 19, 19 to which the
operating wire 25 at an end of the operating wire member 22 is
coupled are fluctuated, and the pressing part 24 is lowered to
press the push rod 17 of the gas spring 12 simultaneously (see FIG.
9B). Then, the left and right gas springs 12, 12 can be extended
and retracted at the same time to make the top plate 2
elevatable.
[0112] In this way, since the left and right gas springs 12, 12 are
switched into an extendable state at the same time, one of the gas
springs 12 is prevented from being switched in advance and thus the
top plate 2 is prevented from being tilted, due to unevenness of
the pressing forces of the gas springs 12, 12.
[0113] When the operator lifts the top plate 2, the top plate 2 is
pushed upward to be lifted while the gas spring 12 remains
extended, that is, the operating lever 10 is being pulled. In this
case, since an upward force is applied to the piston rod 16 by the
gas in the gas spring 12, even a heavy top plate 2 can lifted
easily.
[0114] Since the elevation synchronizing means constituted with the
pulley members 13 and 43 and the synchronizing wire member 14 is
provided, a height of the top plate 2 can be prevented from being
distorted in the left and right sides. Since the operating part 9
is provided at a substantially central portion of the top plate 2,
the force applied to the top plate 2 by the operator can be equally
applied to the left and right leg bodies.
[0115] When the top plate 2 is moved to an arbitrary location and
the operator releases a hand from the operating lever 10 to return
the movable member 30 to a normal location, a substantially central
portion of the operating wire 25 coupled to the pulley 35 is moved
rearward and thus an end of the operating wire member 22 is equally
moved outward.
[0116] The left and right pressing members 19, 19 to which the
operating wire 25 at the end of the operating wire member 22 is
coupled are fluctuated and the pressing part 24 is lifted, thereby
releasing the pressings of the push rods 17 of the gas springs 12
simultaneously. The left and right gas springs 12, 12
simultaneously become a fixed state to fix a location of the top
plate 2.
[0117] Meanwhile, when the operator lowers the top plate 2, the top
plate 2 is pushed downward to be lifted while the gas spring 12
remains extended state, that is, the operating lever 10 is being
pulled.
[0118] When the top plate 2 is moved to an arbitrary location and
the operator releases a hand from the operating lever 10 to return
the movable member 30 to a normal location, the operating wire 25
coupled to the pulley 35 is moved rearward and thus an end of the
operating wire member 22 is moved outward at the same time.
[0119] When the left and right pressing members 19, 19 are
fluctuated simultaneously and the pressing part 24 is lifted, the
pressings of the push rods 17 of the gas springs 12 are released
simultaneously. The left and right gas springs 12, 12
simultaneously becomes a fixed state to fix a location of the top
plate 2.
[0120] As mentioned above, in the table 1 according to the present
embodiment, each leg body 3 has a support rod 5 installed on the
floor surface, an elevation rod 6 supported by the support rod 5 to
be raised and/or lowered, a gas spring 12 for assisting elevation
of an elevation rod 6 and fixing a height of the elevation rod 6
while being extended and retracted vertically, and a pressing
member 19 for switching an extendable state and a fixed state of
the gas spring 12, and a switching synchronizing means for
simultaneously operating the pressing members 19 when a operating
part 9 provided in a top plate 2 to operate the pressing member 19
is operated is provided. Therefore, a vertical location of the top
plate 2 can be adjusted by an operation of the gas spring 12, while
even a heavy top plate 2 can be easily raised and/or lowered by two
gas springs 12 of the left and right leg bodies 3. Further, since
the extendable state or fixed state of the left and right gas
springs 12 are simultaneously switched by the switching
synchronizing means for simultaneously operating the pressing
members 19, one of the gas springs 12 is prevented from being
switched in advance and to prevent the tilting of the top plate
2.
[0121] A switching synchronizing means has a configuration in which
the pressing members 19 is allowed to operate a push rod 17 of each
gas spring 12, a flexible operating wire member 22 connecting the
pressing members 19 to each other is provided, and a movable member
30 for moving a substantially central portion of the operating wire
member 22 in a direction other than a direction in which the
operating wire member 22 extends is provided in a operating part 9.
Accordingly, when the flexible operating wire member 22 is moved by
the movable member 30 in the direction other than the direction in
which the operating wire member 22 extends when the operating part
9 is operated, left and right ends of the operating wire member 22
connected to the pressing members 19 are equally moved in the
direction in which the operating wire member 22 extends and thus
the push rods 17 of the gas springs 12 can be operated
simultaneously. As such, the switching synchronizing means can be
provided in a simple configuration in which the pressing member 19,
the operating wire member 22, and the movable member 30 are
included.
[0122] The movable member 30 can pull a substantially central
portion of the operating wire member 22 and the substantially
central portion of the operating wire member 22 can smoothly move
on a contact surface 41 of the movable member 30. Accordingly, when
the operating part 9 is operated, both left and right ends of the
operating wire member 22 are moved toward the substantially central
portion of the operating wire member 22 so that both the left and
right ends of the operating wire member 22 are moved equally. Even
when there is an error in the lengths of the operating wire members
22 from the movable member 30 to the pressing members 19, the error
can be offset by allowing the operating wire members 22 to smoothly
move on the contact surfaces 41 of the movable members 30.
[0123] The substantially central portion of the operating wire
member 22 is coupled to a pulley 35 of the movable member 30 so
that the vicinity of a portion of the operating wire member 22
coupled to the pulley 35 is maintained in a maintaining part 31
fixed to the top plate 2 to be able to smoothly move. Accordingly,
even when there is an error in the lengths of the operating wire
members 22 from the movable member 30 to the pressing members 19,
the error can be offset by allowing the operating wire member 22 to
be moved due to rotation of the pulley 35 in a direction in which
the operating wire member 22 extends. Further, the vicinity of a
portion of the operating wire member 22 coupled to the pulley 35 is
maintained by the maintaining part 31 fixed to the top plate 2,
thereby preventing the operating wire member 22 from being deviated
from the pulley 35.
[0124] In the table 1 according to the present exemplary
embodiment, the elevation synchronizing means for synchronizing an
elevation operation of both leg bodies 3 is constituted with pulley
members 13, 43 pivotally attached to elevation rods 6 of one of
inner and outer leg columns, which can be raised and/or lowered,
and a flexible synchronizing wire member 14 hung on the pulley
members 13, 43. The synchronizing wire member 14 is connected to a
connecting member 11 fixed to a support rod 5 of one of the inner
and outer leg columns, and is extended vertically. A first
accommodating portion 48 accommodating a gas spring 12 extending
and retracting vertically to assist extension and retraction of the
leg body 3 and fix a height of the leg body 3, and a second
accommodating portion 49 accommodating the connecting member 11 are
provided in the elevation rod 6 to be spaced apart from each other.
Accordingly, the gas spring 12 accommodated in the first
accommodating portion 48, and the connecting member 11 accommodated
in the second accommodating portion 49, the synchronizing wire
member 14 connected to the connecting member 11, or the pulley
members 13 and 43 on which the synchronizing wire member 14 is hung
are operated without being interfered with each other, and the
synchronizing wire member 14 can be connected to the support rod 5
by the connecting member 11 extending vertically even when the
support rod 5 is any one of the inner and outer leg columns.
Further, since the first and second accommodating portions 48, 49
are formed in the elevation rod 6, the elevation synchronizing
means for synchronously raising and/or lowering left and right
sides of the top plate and the gas spring 12 can be compactly
accommodated in the leg body 3, achieving lightness of the leg body
3.
[0125] A third accommodating portion 50 whose width is narrower
than those of the first and second accommodating portions 48 and 49
is formed between the first accommodating portion 48 and the second
accommodating portion 49 of the elevation rod 6. The pulley member
13 is accommodated in the third accommodating portion 50, so that
the gas spring 12 accommodated in the first accommodating portion
48, the pulley member 13 accommodated in the third accommodating
portion 50, and the synchronizing wire member 14 hung on the pulley
member 13 are operated without being interfered with each other.
Further, since the third accommodating portion 50 has a narrow
width, the first accommodating portion 48 and the second
accommodating portion 49 can be spaced apart from each other by the
third accommodating portion 50.
[0126] A recessed groove 51 extending vertically is formed at a
portion corresponding to the third accommodating portion 50 on the
outer surface of the elevation rod 6, while a guide roller 52 is
provided in the recessed groove 51. Further, a slide surface 55
extending vertically for smooth contact of the guide roller 52 is
formed in the support rod 5 and the guide roller 52 disposed in the
recessed groove 51 of the elevation rod 6 smoothly contacts the
slide surface 55 in the support rod 5. Accordingly, an
extending/retracting operation of the leg body 3 can be smoothly
performed and the recessed groove 51 can be formed in the elevation
rod 6 using a portion where the third accommodating portion 50
having a narrow width is provided, so that the guide roller 52 can
be compactly accommodated between the elevation rod 6 and the
support rod 5.
[0127] Two pairs of upper and lower roller parts 53 independently
rotated about rotation axes 64 oriented toward the same direction
are provided in the recessed groove 51 to smoothly contact the
slide surfaces 55 on which the guide rollers 52 are disposed to be
opposed to each other, respectively. Accordingly, the pair of upper
and lower roller parts 53 are disposed between the slide surfaces
55 disposed to be opposed to each other and extending vertically so
that the guide rollers 52 smoothly contact the slide surfaces 55,
the elevatable leg columns which can be raised and/or lowered
without being shaken horizontally.
Second Embodiment
[0128] Next, a piece of furniture with a top plate according to a
second embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to FIGS. 16A to 17B. FIGS. 16A to 17B are views
illustrating a operating part 9' according to the second embodiment
of the present invention, and the configuration except for the
operating part 9' is the same as that of the first embodiment and
thus a description thereof will be omitted.
[0129] As shown in FIGS. 16A to 17B, a fixed member 29' fixed to
the top plate 2 and a movable member 30' movable horizontally are
provided in the operating part 2, and a operating lever 10' for
moving the movable member 30' by an operator is provided on the
front side of the movable member 30'.
[0130] The fixed member 29' having a rectangular shape when viewed
from the top is secured to the top plate 2 in a threaded fashion,
and the movable member 30' is disposed above the fixed member 29'.
As in the first exemplary embodiment, a long hole 32' extending
forward and rearward is formed at a front side of the movable
member 30' so that a bolt 33' inserted into and passing through the
long hole 32' from the top side is fixed to the fixed member 29'.
An operating wire 25 is coupled to a pulley 35 provided in the
movable member 30' on a rear side so that the movable member 30' is
moved to a front side through operation of the operating lever
10'.
[0131] As shown in FIG. 17A, a front portion of the operating lever
10' is formed with a plate portion, and an pulling portion 57 for
pulling the movable member 30' is provided at a rear portion
thereof. The pulling portion 57 has a substantially triangular
shape when viewed from a side, and a lever pivot portion 58 at a
top end thereof is pivotally attached to a lever attaching portion
59 provided on a lower surface of the top plate 2.
[0132] A pivot shaft 60 is provided at a lower portion of the
pulling portion 57 to be attached pivotally at a rear side of the
movable member 30'. When the movable member 30' is situated at a
normal location shown in FIG. 17A, an end of the plate portion 56
of the operating lever 10' orients downward.
[0133] As shown in FIG. 17B, when the operator pulls the plate
portion 56 of the operating lever 10' upward, the operating lever
10' is fluctuated about the lever pivoting portion 58 and the pivot
shaft 60 is moved forward to move the movable member 30' to a front
location.
[0134] As a substantially central portion of the operating wire
member 22 coupled to the pulley 35 is moved forward, as mentioned
above, left and right pressing members 19, 19 connected by the
operating wire member 22 are operated simultaneously and left and
right gas springs 12, 12 are switched into an extendable state.
[0135] When the operator releases a hand from the manipulator lever
10' and the movable member 30' returns to a normal location, the
operating wire 25 coupled to the pulley 35 is moved rearward and an
end of the operating wire member 22 is equally moved outward so
that the gas spring 12 is switched into a fixed state.
[0136] Meanwhile, since a fluctuating direction of the operating
lever 10' and a direction of raising the top plate 2 are the same
in the operating part 9' according to the second embodiment, when
the operator operates the operating lever 10' to adjust a height of
the top plate 2, the operator can raise the top plate 2 as it is
while gripping a corner of the top plate 2 together with the
operating lever 10', such that a height of the top plate 2 can be
easily adjusted.
[0137] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been
described with reference to the drawings, a detailed configuration
of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and may
be modified or added without departing from the gist of the present
invention.
[0138] For example, although a table has been exemplified as a
piece of furniture with a top plate to which the present invention
is applied in the embodiments, any piece of furniture with a top
plate which can be raised and/or lowered may be a desk, and the
present invention can be applied to a shelf or other items.
[0139] Although the gas spring 12 is operated by pressing the push
rod 17 (operating part) in the exemplary embodiments, an operation
type of the push rod (operation part) is not limited to the
embodiments and a configuration where the gas spring 12 is operated
by horizontally moving the push rod (operating part) may be
adopted.
[0140] Although a pulley 35 having a contact surface 41 on which
the operating wire member 22 is smoothly moved is used in the
embodiments, it will be sufficient if a contact surface which is a
circumferential surface on the front side is formed. Otherwise, the
pulley 35 may be replaced by a member having a substantially
semicircular shape when viewed from the top.
[0141] Although two operating parts are provided at both front and
rear sides of the top plate 2 of the table 1 in the embodiments,
one operating part 9 may be provided at one of the front and rear
sides.
[0142] Although two operating parts are provided at both front and
rear sides of the top plate 2 of the table 1 in the embodiments,
one operating part 9 may be provided at one of the front and rear
sides.
[0143] Although the elevation rod 6 is inserted into and fitted
with the support rod 5 installed on the floor surface in the
embodiments, the support rod 5 may be inserted into and fitted with
the elevation rod 6 while the elevation rod 6 serves as an outer
leg column and the support rod 5 serves as an inner leg column.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0144] 1 table (furniture with a top plate) [0145] 2 top plate
[0146] 3 leg body [0147] 5 support rod (fixed leg column, outer leg
column) [0148] 6 elevation rod (movable leg column, inner leg
column) [0149] 9, 9' operating part (operating means) [0150] 11
connecting member [0151] 12 gas spring [0152] 13 pulley member
(synchronizing pulley member) [0153] 14 synchronizing wire member
(synchronizing wire member) [0154] 17 push rod (operating part)
[0155] 19 pressing member (switching means, operating member)
[0156] 25 operating wire (operating wire member, switching
synchronizing means) [0157] 30, 30' movable member [0158] 31
maintaining part [0159] 35 pulley (movable member, switching
synchronizing means, operating pulley member) [0160] 41 contact
surface [0161] 42, 42' pulley [0162] 43 pulley member [0163] 48
first accommodating portion [0164] 49 second accommodating portion
[0165] 50 third accommodating portion [0166] 51 recessed groove
[0167] 52 guide roller [0168] 55 slide surface [0169] 64 rotation
axis
* * * * *