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JP-7857181-B2 - Workbench

JP7857181B2JP 7857181 B2JP7857181 B2JP 7857181B2JP-7857181-B2

Inventors

  • 澤近 邦彰

Assignees

  • アルインコ株式会社

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20220721

Claims (5)

  1. A workbench is configured such that a pair of telescopic braces (20,20) are stretched across the first leg (12L) and second leg (12R) on the underside of the top plate (11) that forms the work platform, with the first leg (12L) and second leg (12R) positioned spaced apart to the left and right, respectively, and each of the first and second leg (14) being constructed by connecting a pair of front and rear column legs with a crossbar, and each column leg (14) being constructed by an extendable leg in which an upper outer tube (14a) and a lower inner tube (14b) are fitted together in an extendable manner and can be fixed in a predetermined extended length, and a pair of extendable braces (20,20) are stretched across the first leg and the second leg. The crossbar is composed of a first crossbar (16) that connects the vicinity of the lower longitudinal end of the outer tube (14a) between a pair of front and rear column bases, and a second crossbar (17) that connects the vicinity of the lower end of the inner tube (14b). The workbench is characterized in that the pair of telescopic braces (20) are each formed by a telescopic tube in which an outer tube (20a) and an inner tube (20b) are fitted together in an expandable and contractible manner and can be fixed in a state at a predetermined telescopic length, and both ends of the telescopic tubes are connected in an interposed state between the first leg (12L) and the second leg (12R) by pivoting to the first crossbar (16) of one leg and the second crossbar (17) of the other leg, and are configured to provide bracing support between the first and second crossbars against external forces acting toward the inside of both legs.
  2. The workbench according to claim 1, characterized in that the telescopic brace (20) formed by the aforementioned telescopic tube is pivotally connected (21) at its tail end to the first crossbar (16) so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction, and is provided with a hook means (22) at its tip for rotatably gripping the second crossbar (17).
  3. The workbench according to claim 2, characterized in that the first and second leg sections are provided with holding means (23) that maintain them in a position substantially parallel to the column base (14) when their respective telescopic braces are rotated upright from the first crossbar (16) with the braces at a predetermined contracted length.
  4. The expandable brace (20) formed by the aforementioned expandable tubes is provided with a locking member (27) that can be screwed into the tube at the end of the outer tube (20a) in the opposing direction with respect to the opposing direction of the outer tube and inner tube which are fitted together, and a plurality of locking holes (28) arranged in a row in the direction of expansion and contraction near the end of the inner tube (20b) in the opposing direction. The workbench according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the outer tube and inner tube are fixed together by screwing the locking member (27) into the locking hole (28) while the outer tube and inner tube are at a predetermined extension length.
  5. The telescopic brace (20) formed by the aforementioned telescopic tube has, with respect to the opposing directions of the outer tube and inner tube which are fitted together, a locking pin (34) elastically biased inward is provided at the tip of the outer tube (20a) in the opposing direction, and a locking portion (35) for locking the locking pin and a tapered surface (38) adjacent to the locking portion are provided near the tail end in the opposing direction of the inner tube (20b). The workbench according to claim 4, characterized in that when the outer tube and inner tube are moved relative to each other in the contraction direction so that the telescopic tube is the shortest contracted length, the tapered surface (38) pushes up the locking pin (34) against the elastic biasing force, and then, with the locked portion facing the locking pin, the locking pin (34) is locked to the locked portion (35) by the elastic biasing force.

Description

This invention relates to a workbench, and more particularly to a workbench in which the tabletop is adjustable in height. A height-adjustable work platform is known from a proposal made by the present applicant (Patent Document 1). The basic configuration of a known workbench (hereinafter referred to as "prior art") is as shown in Figure 1. A rectangular tabletop 1 forming the work surface has a first leg body 2L and a second leg body 2R positioned spaced apart to the left and right (in the direction of the tabletop's beam). Each leg body is pivotally connected via a pivot point 3, allowing for a change in posture between a closed leg position along the underside of the tabletop 1 and an open leg position suspended from the tabletop 1. Although not shown in the illustration, the first leg body 2L and the second leg body 2R each form a frame-like structure by connecting a pair of column legs 4, spaced apart in the front-to-back (gable direction of the top plate) directions, with horizontal bars. Each column leg 4 is formed by an extendable leg, where an upper outer tube 4a and a lower inner tube 4b, pivoted to the pivot portion 3, are fitted together in an extendable and retractable manner, and can be fixed in a predetermined extended/retracted length. A caster 5 is provided at the lower end of the inner tube 4b. Between the front and rear column legs, the lower end of the outer tube 4a is connected by a first crossbar 6, and a foldable brace 7 is provided. Both ends of the foldable brace 7 are pivotally connected to the first crossbar 6 and approximately the center of the lower surface of the top plate 1. Therefore, by folding the foldable brace 7 upwards in a valley bend as shown by the dashed line, the legs 2L and 2R can be rotated toward a closed leg position, and by unfolding it linearly as shown by the solid line, the legs 2L and 2R can be rotated toward an open leg position. With the first leg section 2L and the second leg section 2R in the open-leg position, Figure 1(A) shows the column base 4, which is made of telescopic tubes, retracted to its shortest length; therefore, the top plate 1 is in its lowest position P1. Figure 1(B) shows the column base 4 extended to its longest length; therefore, the top plate 1 is in its highest position P2. Of course, in order to allow heights between both positions P1 and P2, the length of the column base 4 is configured to be selectable in stages, and although not shown in the figure, a locking mechanism is provided to fix the outer tube 4a and inner tube 4b in a non-extendable position when they are set to a predetermined length. Incidentally, between the front and rear column bases, the lower ends of the inner tubes 4b of the column bases 4 are connected by a second crossbar 8. Therefore, between the first leg body 2L and the second leg body 2R, an extendable brace 9 is stretched between the second crossbar 8 of one leg body and the pivot point 3 of the other leg body. The expandable brace 9 is formed by an expandable tube in which an upper inner tube 9b and a lower outer tube 9a are fitted together in an expandable and contractible manner, and which can be fixed in a predetermined expanded and contracted length. The upper end of the inner tube 9b is pivotally connected to the support member 3a that pivots the pivot of the pivot part 3, and the lower end of the outer tube 9a is pivotally connected to the second crossbar 8. Therefore, when the column base 4 is extended to raise the tabletop 1 from its lowest position P1 to its highest position P2, the telescopic brace 9 also extends accordingly. Conversely, when the column base 4 is retracted to lower the tabletop 1, the telescopic brace 9 also retracts accordingly. Although not shown in the illustration, when the workbench is folded by positioning the legs 2L and 2R in a closed position along the underside of the tabletop 1, the telescopic brace 9 is retracted by removing the lower end of the outer tube 9a from the second crossbar 8 and storing it along the underside of the tabletop 1. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-50824 The diagram shows a workbench relating to the prior art; (A) is a front view showing the tabletop in its lowest position, and (B) is a front view showing the tabletop in its highest position.The diagram shows a workbench according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a front view showing the tabletop in its lowest position and (B) is a front view showing the tabletop in its highest position.This is a perspective view showing one embodiment with the legs in an open position, the telescopic brace in a retracted position, and the top plate in its lowest position.This is a perspective view showing the state in which the extendable brace is extended and placed between the legs, starting from the state in Figure 3.This perspective view shows the state in which the tabletop is in its highest position by extending the column base from the state in Figure 4.This is a front vie