JP7758519B2 - Fixtures and fixture systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to fixtures and fixture systems.

In recent years, the use of portable electronic devices such as laptops, tablet computers, and smartphones (hereinafter referred to as "portable devices"), as well as electronic devices that use electricity, such as lighting and speakers, has become commonplace in offices, research facilities, hospitals, schools, and commercial facilities. To efficiently carry out work using such electronic devices, it is necessary to supply power to them. To achieve this, a common method has been to provide power outlets and other devices on fixtures placed in the office space that can supply power to the electrical devices (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Patent No. 6506145 Patent No. 5662199

Fixtures with power outlets need to be connected to an external power source, but because power outlets in indoor spaces are typically installed in inconspicuous locations such as on walls, it may not be possible to place fixtures with power outlets near the locations in an office where electronic devices are desired to be used. In this way, when fixtures with power outlets are not located near the locations where electronic devices are desired to be used, the cables connecting the power outlets on the fixtures to the electronic devices end up being placed on the floor or on the top surfaces of the fixtures, and the cables connected to the electronic devices can get in the way of office work.

In light of these issues, one approach that has been considered is to solve the cable-related problems by connecting electronic devices to portable power storage devices (rechargeable portable batteries). However, this method requires a place (port) for charging the portable power storage device, and as mentioned above, power outlets are often located in inconspicuous locations such as on walls, or in cabinets dedicated to charging, which makes it difficult to grasp the charging status of the portable power storage device.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide fixtures and fixture systems that allow a portable power storage device to be placed and charged, and that make it easy to check the charging status.

The present invention employs the following configuration as a means to solve the above problems.

One aspect of the present invention provides a fixture comprising a fixture main body including a pair of support members spaced apart in one direction from each other and a shelf portion detachably provided between the pair of support members; an installation portion provided on the shelf portion and capable of installing a portable power storage device; terminals provided on the installation portion and electrically connected to the portable power storage device installed on the installation portion; and a charging portion that supplies power to the portable power storage device via the terminals; the fixture main body is characterized in that it has first openings on both sides in the front-to-rear direction, exposing the portable power storage device installed on the installation portion and allowing the portable power storage device to be inserted and removed.

According to this configuration, the portable power storage device can be placed on the shelf (installation section) and can be charged. Furthermore, the charging status of the portable power storage device can be easily checked through the first opening that penetrates the fixture body in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, users can use the fully charged portable power storage device to ensure sufficient office time.
Since the installation section and charging section are installed in the fixture body, multiple cables etc. are prevented from being placed on the floor or work desk, preventing them from getting in the way of office work.

In one aspect of the fixture of the present invention, the fixture main body may have a base that supports the lower ends of the pair of support members, and at least a portion of the charging unit may be housed in a storage space formed inside the base.

With this configuration, by storing at least a portion of the charging unit connected to the installation unit within the storage space of the base, the charging unit is less likely to affect the appearance of the fixture, improving the appearance of the fixture. Furthermore, a base located at the bottom end of the fixture body can create a large storage space. Therefore, even if the number of charging units increases as the number of installation units increases, it is possible to store these multiple charging units together within the storage space. Furthermore, by providing the storage space in the base located at the bottom end of the fixture body, the center of gravity can be lowered, allowing the fixture to maintain a stable installation position.

In one aspect of the fixture of the present invention, the fixture main body may be configured to include a support member that supports from below the installation section installed in a second opening that opens into the upper surface of the shelf section.

With this configuration, by storing the installation section in the second opening of the shelf section, it is possible to prevent the installation section from protruding above the shelf section, and to effectively utilize the space above the shelf section formed by the first opening. Furthermore, by supporting the installation section stored in the second opening from below with a support member, it is possible to reinforce the installation structure of the installation section relative to the shelf section. This prevents the installation section from sinking downwards, even when portable power storage devices are repeatedly placed on the installation section, and allows for good long-term use.

In one aspect of the fixture of the present invention, the fixture main body may include a storage section capable of storing at least a portion of the charging section, and the storage section may be detachably attached to the support member.

With this configuration, the portion of the charging unit that is not contained within the storage space of the base, i.e., the portion connected to the installation part installed on the shelf, can be stored in the storage part. This allows the portion that is not contained within the storage space of the base to be held without being exposed, improving the appearance of the fixture. Furthermore, because the storage part is designed to be detachably attached to the support member, work efficiency can be improved by removing the storage part from the support member when storing part of the charging unit in the storage part.

In one aspect of the present invention, the fixture may be configured to include a plurality of shelf sections, each of which is provided with the installation section.

With this configuration, by providing installation sections on multiple shelf sections, more storage-type charging devices can be placed and charged.

The fixture system of the present invention comprises the fixture described above and the portable power storage device, and is characterized in that the portable power storage device can be installed on the fixture through the first openings provided on both front and rear sides of the fixture.

This configuration allows the portable power storage device to be charged on a fixture that can accommodate it. Users can easily see the charged state of the portable power storage device through the first opening. Furthermore, users can move the charged portable power storage device to any location and connect an external electronic device to the portable power storage device, allowing them to perform office work while powering the external electronic device. This allows users to perform office work without having to worry about the charging wiring connected to the electronic device.

In the fixture system of the present invention, the portable power storage device may be configured to have a display unit showing the charging status on each of the opposing front and rear surfaces.

This configuration makes it possible to more accurately grasp the charging status using the displays located on the front and back of the portable power storage device.

This invention makes it possible to place and charge a portable power storage device, and also makes it easy to check the charging status.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a fixture system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a shelf with a charging function according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a shelf main body in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a frame portion in the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the tray support member and the distribution cable housing portion in the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an exploded view illustrating the mounting structure of the frame portion and the distribution cable housing portion in the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the battery tray according to the first embodiment, as viewed from above. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the upper tray of the battery tray in the first embodiment, as viewed from the bottom (-Z) side. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lower tray of the battery tray according to the first embodiment, as viewed from above (+Z side). FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the state inside the housing space of the base. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the structure around the base. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the fixture system of the second embodiment.

Below, one embodiment of the fixtures and fixture system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment
(1. Fixtures System)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a furniture system S1 according to this embodiment.
As shown in Figure 1, the fixture system S1 of this embodiment includes a mobile battery (portable power storage device) B and a shelf (furniture) 1 with a charging function that can charge the mobile battery B.

(1-1. Mobile battery)
The mobile battery B is a portable power storage device that can be charged and discharged. In this embodiment, the mobile battery B has a shape in which a handle B2 is provided on the top of a prismatic main body B1.
The handle B2 is curved upward, and both lower ends are connected to the main body B1. A user can lift the mobile battery B by grasping the upper part of the handle B2.
The shape of the handle B2 is not limited to the shape shown in the figure, but is preferably a shape that allows it to be lifted with one hand.

Mobile battery B has a rechargeable lithium battery built into the main body B1. Mobile battery B also has multiple types of USB ports P on its outer surface that are connected to the lithium battery. These USB ports can be used to supply power to external devices and to charge the built-in lithium battery.

In addition, a battery-side connection terminal (not shown) connected to the lithium battery is provided on the bottom surface of the main body B1 of the mobile battery B. In addition to supplying power to external devices, the battery-side connection terminal also makes it possible to charge the built-in lithium battery.

The battery-side connection terminal has, for example, an annular or circular planar shape and is provided at the center of the bottom surface of the prismatic main body B1. The center of the battery-side connection terminal coincides with the central axis of the main body B1. Specifically, the battery-side connection terminal is provided in a recess formed in the center of the bottom of the main body B1. The recess is recessed upward from the bottom surface of the main body B1. The battery-side connection terminal is provided on the bottom surface (top surface) of this recess.

This allows the battery-side connection terminal to be connected to the tray-side connection terminal 16e (Figure 7) of the destination (in this embodiment, the installation section 6c3, described later) regardless of the rotational position of the mobile battery B around its axis.

Of the four side surfaces that make up the outer periphery of mobile battery B, at least one pair of opposing side surfaces is provided with a display unit. Specifically, these are the two side surfaces to which the ends on either side of handle B2 of mobile battery B are not connected. When one of these side surfaces is designated as the front surface Ba and the other as the back surface Bb, display units C are provided on the front and back of mobile battery B, respectively.

Each display unit C displays, for example, "Charging" to indicate that charging is in progress. Furthermore, "0%" is displayed to indicate the amount of power stored (charged) in the lithium battery. Furthermore, displays such as "Charging complete," "100%," and "FL (=FULL)" are displayed to indicate that charging is complete. Note that the above display content is merely an example and can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the same content may be displayed on each display unit C located on the front and rear of the mobile battery B, or different content may be displayed. The size of the display unit C is not limited to the size shown in the illustration and can be changed as appropriate.

(1-2. Shelf with charging function)
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the shelf 1 with a charging function according to this embodiment.
As shown in Fig. 2, the shelf 1 with charging function includes a shelf main body (furniture main body) 10A, a plurality of battery trays (charging units) 6c, and a plurality of charging units 13 (Fig. 10). The plurality of battery trays 6c and the plurality of charging units 13 (Fig. 10) connected to each battery tray 6c are housed and held in the shelf main body 10A.

(1-2-1. Shelf body)
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the shelf main body 10A in this embodiment. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the frame 9 in this embodiment. Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the tray support member 21 and the distribution cable housing 22 in this embodiment. Fig. 6 is an exploded view for explaining the attachment structure of the frame 9 and the distribution cable housing 22 in this embodiment.

The shelf main body 10A includes a frame 9 shown in Figures 4 and 5, multiple shelf sections 11 (Figure 4) attached to the frame 9, a tray support member 21 (Figure 5), and a wiring cable storage section (storage section) 22 (Figures 5 and 6).

(frame part)
As shown in FIG. 4 , the frame portion 9 includes a pair of side frames (support members) 12 and a base portion 15 .
3, the pair of side frames 12 are disposed on either side of the frame portion 9 (shelf main body portion 10A) in the longitudinal direction (width direction: X direction) in a plan view. Each side frame 12 includes a pair of vertical frame members 12a, an upper frame member 12b, and a shelf support portion 12c.

The pair of vertical frame members 12a both extend in the vertical direction (Z direction) and are arranged parallel to each other with a gap in between in the depth direction (Y direction) of the frame section 9 (shelf main body section 10A). The upper frame member 12b horizontally connects the upper ends of the pair of vertical frame members 12a.

The shelf support portion 12c is attached to the side frame 12 at a predetermined height in the vertical direction. For example, the shelf support portion 12c is attached in a horizontal position so as to connect any height position of a pair of vertical frame members 12a.

The shelf support portions 12c are attached to the inner surfaces 12a1 of the pair of vertical frame members 12a, and support the middle shelf portion 11B on the inner side in the width direction (X direction) of the pair of vertical frame members 12a.
The lower ends of the pair of side frames 12 are supported by the base portions 15, respectively.

The base 15 is located at the bottom of the frame 9. The base 15 is formed into a rectangular frame shape in plan view by a first frame member 15a extending in the width direction (X direction) of the frame 9 (shelf main body 10A) and a second frame member 15b extending in the depth direction (Y direction) of the frame 9 (shelf main body 10A). Each first frame member 15a and each second frame member 15b are assembled with their plate surfaces aligned vertically and perpendicular to the floor. Four vertical frame members 12a, two on each side frame 12, are fixed to the four corners of the base 15 in plan view via fasteners (not shown) or the like.

A storage space K is formed inside the base 15, which has a frame shape in a plan view, for accommodating the charging unit 13 (Fig. 10) and part of the power strip 25 (Fig. 10), which will be described later. The storage space K is a space defined by the first frame members 15a and second frame members 15b that make up the base 15.

(Multiple shelf sections)
3, multiple shelf sections 11 are attached to the frame section 9. In this embodiment, there are three shelf sections 11, specifically, an upper shelf section 11A, a middle shelf section 11B, and a lower shelf section 11C. The upper shelf section 11A, the middle shelf section 11B, the lower shelf section 11C, and the base section 15 are arranged to overlap each other when viewed from the top-bottom direction, and each has a rectangular planar shape.

The upper shelf portion 11A, the middle shelf portion 11B, and the lower shelf portion 11C are plate-shaped members on the upper surface of which multiple mobile batteries B shown in Figure 1 can be placed.
3, the upper shelf portion 11A, the middle shelf portion 11B, and the lower shelf portion 11C are attached at approximately equal intervals in the up-down direction to a pair of side frames 12 of the frame portion 9. The upper shelf portion 11A, the middle shelf portion 11B, and the lower shelf portion 11C are shelf portions that are rectangular in plan view, with the depth direction (Y direction) of the shelf main body 10A as the short side direction and the width direction (X direction) as the long side direction.

The upper shelf portion 11A is placed on a pair of side frames 12, and the bottom side of each end on both sides in the width direction (X direction) is fixed to the upper frame member 12b of each side frame 12 with fasteners (not shown). Each side frame 12 is positioned inside the outer edge of the upper shelf portion 11A in a plan view, and when the upper shelf portion 11A is viewed from above, the pair of side frames 12 are hidden by the upper shelf portion 11A.

The middle shelf section 11B is placed below the upper shelf section 11A on each shelf support section 12c of the pair of side frames 12, and the bottom side of each end on both sides in the width direction (X direction) is fixed to each shelf support section 12c with fasteners or the like (not shown).

The lower shelf portion 11C is placed on the base portion 15 below the middle shelf portion 11B, and its bottom side is fixed to the base portion 15 or the pair of side frames 12 with fasteners (not shown). The lower shelf portion 11C can close the upper opening side of the base portion 15 and also functions as a lid for the storage space K.

The middle shelf portion 11B and the lower shelf portion 11C are rectangular and approximately the same size in a plan view. The upper shelf portion 11A is a slightly larger rectangle than the middle shelf portion 11B and the lower shelf portion 11C, so when the upper shelf portion 11A is viewed from above, the middle shelf portion 11B and the lower shelf portion 11C are hidden by the upper shelf portion 11A.

In this embodiment, for example, of the upper shelf portion 11A, middle shelf portion 11B, and lower shelf portion 11C, the lower shelf portion 11C, which also functions as a lid for the storage space K, is detachably attached to the base portion 15 or the pair of side frames 12. Furthermore, not only the lower shelf portion 11C but also the middle shelf portion 11B can be detachably attached to the side frames 12. Furthermore, by changing the position of the shelf support portion 12c attached to the pair of side frames 12, the vertical height position of the middle shelf portion 11B can be adjusted to the desired height. Furthermore, the upper shelf portion 11A may also be detachably attached to the pair of side frames 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the upper shelf portion 11A, middle shelf portion 11B, and lower shelf portion 11C has a central opening (second opening) 6b1 that penetrates the plate thickness direction in the center of the longitudinal and lateral directions in a plan view. The central openings 6b1 in the upper shelf portion 11A, middle shelf portion 11B, and lower shelf portion 11C are the same size and shape in a plan view and correspond to the size and shape of the battery tray 6c. A battery tray 6c, described below, is attached to each of the central openings 6b1 in the upper shelf portion 11A, middle shelf portion 11B, and lower shelf portion 11C.

In this embodiment, the central opening 6b1 is formed far inward from the outer periphery of the shelf portion 11, ensuring space around the central opening 6b1. This prevents the mobile battery B placed on the battery tray 6c from falling off the shelf portion 11 even if it falls over sideways.

(Tray support member)
Tray support members 21 (FIG. 5) are attached to the undersides of the upper shelf portion 11A, the middle shelf portion 11B, and the lower shelf portion 11C to support from below the battery trays 6c housed in the respective central openings 6b1. As shown in FIG. 5, the tray support member 21 includes at least a bottom plate portion 21a, a pair of side plate portions 21b, and a pair of flange portions 21c.

The bottom plate portion 21a is a rectangular plate member whose size in a plan view is larger than the central opening 6b1. Each side plate portion 21b is provided at a pair of longitudinal ends of the bottom plate portion 21a, and is a plate member that is perpendicular to the bottom plate portion 21a. The flange portion 21c extends outward from the upper end of each side plate portion 21b (the end opposite the bottom plate portion) parallel to the bottom plate portion 21a and is formed along the entire length of each side plate portion 21b.

Such tray support members 21 are fixed to the bottom surfaces of the upper shelf portion 11A and the middle shelf portion 11B using fasteners (not shown). The tray support members 21 are attached so that their bottom plate portions 21a overlap the entire central opening 6b1 formed in each shelf portion 11 in a plan view. The battery tray 6c housed in the central opening 6b1 of each shelf portion 11 is housed in the storage space K2 surrounded by the bottom plate portion 21a and a pair of side plate portions 21b of the tray support member 21, and is supported by the shelf portion 11 (upper shelf portion 11A and middle shelf portion 11B) with its outer peripheral edge portion 16c engaged. The upper surface of the bottom plate portion 21a of the tray support member 21 faces the lower surface of the lower tray 6c2 of the battery tray 6c. Such tray support members 21 support the battery tray 6c in the central opening 6b1 from below, reinforcing the support of the battery tray 6c. The tray support member 21 is made of, for example, a metal material.

A cable insertion hole 21d is formed in the bottom plate portion 21a of the tray support member 21 for passing the wiring cable 13a connected to the battery tray 6c. The cable insertion hole 21d is large enough to accommodate the wiring cable 13a and attachment plug 13d of the battery tray 6c, but is also sized to prevent the battery tray 6c from falling off. It is located on one longitudinal side of the bottom plate portion 21a.

The bottom plate 21a of the tray support member 21 has multiple screw insertion holes formed in alignment with each boss 19 of the battery tray 6c shown in Figure 9. In this embodiment, four screw insertion holes are formed, corresponding to the number of bosses 19. Each screw insertion hole can be inserted into the threaded holes 19c of the bosses 19. Four screws are inserted into each screw insertion hole from below the tray support member 21 and screw into the threaded holes 19c of the bosses 19 of the battery tray 6c, thereby fixing the battery tray 6c to the tray support member 21.

(Wiring cable housing)
As shown in Fig. 5, the wiring cable accommodation section 22 is a member that accommodates the wiring cables 13a connected to the battery tray 6c installed on the shelf board section 11. As shown in Fig. 6, the wiring cable accommodation section 22 is detachably attached to one of the four vertical frame members 12a of the frame section 9, and guides the multiple wiring cables 13a to the base section 15 of the frame section 9. The wiring cable accommodation section 22 has a width that is approximately equal to or narrower than the width of the vertical frame member 12a, and is attached to one surface of the vertical frame member 12a. In this embodiment, the wiring cable accommodation section 22 is attached to the inner surface 12a1 that faces the other vertical frame member 12a in the depth direction.

The wiring cable housing portion 22 is a rod-shaped member having a cover portion 22a and an attachment portion 22b.
The cover portion 22a extends along the longitudinal direction of the vertical frame member 12a. The cross section of the cover portion 22a intersecting the longitudinal direction has a generally U-shape, and an opening 22a3 is formed in a portion of the circumferential direction along the entire longitudinal direction. As shown in Figure 6, an accommodation space K3 capable of accommodating multiple distribution cables 13a is formed inside the cover portion 22a and communicates with the opening 22a3.

In this embodiment, at least two wiring cables 13a can be accommodated in the storage space K3 through the opening 22a3. Specifically, two wiring cables 13a for each battery tray 6c installed on the upper shelf portion 11A and the middle shelf portion 11B are accommodated.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cover portion 22a has insertion grooves 22a2 formed at at least two locations in the longitudinal direction for inserting the two wiring cables 13a. These two insertion grooves 22a2 are formed at positions that are lower than the mounting positions of the upper shelf portion 11A and the middle shelf portion 11B when the wiring cable housing portion 22 is attached to the vertical frame member 12a.

The mounting portion 22b is provided on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cover portion 22a. The mounting portion 22b is used to mount the wiring cable housing 22 to the inner surface 12a1 of the vertical frame member 12a. In this embodiment, multiple mounting portions 22b are provided on the side surface 22a1 (Figure 6) of the cover portion 22a that faces the inner surface 12a1 of the vertical frame member 12a. In this embodiment, for example, three mounting portions 22b are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion 22a. In this embodiment, magnets are used as the mounting portions 22b, which can detachably engage the wiring cable housing 22 with the metal vertical frame member 12a.

Note that the mounting portion 22b may be something other than a magnet (for example, a hook, etc.). While the present embodiment has three mounting portions 22b, the number of mounting portions 22b is not limited to this. For example, only one mounting portion 22b may be provided extending along the longitudinal direction of the wiring cable housing portion 22.

This type of wiring cable storage section 22 has a length that is approximately the same as or slightly shorter than the longitudinal length of the vertical frame member 12a, and can conceal the wiring cables 13a of the battery tray 6c pulled out from the upper shelf section 11A and the wiring cables 13a of the battery tray 6c pulled out from the middle shelf section 11B all the way to the base section 15.

Furthermore, the wiring cable accommodation section 22 is detachably attached to the inner surface 12a1 (Figure 5) of one of the four vertical frame members 12a. However, the attachment position of the wiring cable accommodation section 22 is not limited to the inner surface 12a1. As mentioned above, the multiple locking sections 22b1 are made of magnets, so it is possible to attach the wiring cable accommodation section 22 to surfaces other than the inner surface 12a1 of the metal vertical frame member 12a. However, by providing it on the inner surface 12a1 that faces the other vertical frame members 12a in the depth direction, the wiring cable accommodation section 22 is less visible from the outside, improving its appearance, and also preventing contact with objects or people and falling from the vertical frame member 12a.

The shelf main body 10A of this embodiment is a shelf that is open on all sides, and has no doors or drawers. In other words, the shelf main body 10A has multiple access openings (first openings) 8 on both sides in the front-to-rear direction, which allow access to the mobile battery B placed on the battery tray 6c of each shelf section 11, and penetrates in the front-to-rear direction.

Specifically, the access opening 8 is defined by a pair of side frames 12 spaced apart in the width direction (X direction) and multiple shelf sections 11 spanning between them. Because this embodiment has a structure with three shelf sections 11, it has access openings 8 formed at the front and rear between the upper shelf section 11A and the middle shelf section 11B, and access openings 8 formed at the front and rear between the middle shelf section 11B and the lower shelf section 11C. These access openings 8 facing each other in the front-to-rear direction both form spaces that are connected in the depth direction of the shelf main body 10A (front-to-rear direction: Y direction), exposing the entire mobile battery B placed on each shelf section 11.

The user can access the battery tray 6c through the access opening 8 and can place and remove the mobile battery B from the battery tray 6c. Furthermore, the display units C on the front and rear surfaces of the mobile battery B are exposed through the access opening 8, allowing the user to check the display units C of the mobile battery B through the access opening 8. The display units C display information indicating the charging status, allowing the user to accurately grasp the charging status of the mobile battery B by checking the display units C.

(1-2-2. Battery tray)
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the battery tray 6c in the first embodiment, as seen from above. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the upper tray 6c1 of the battery tray 6c in the first embodiment, as seen from below (-Z). Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the lower tray 6c2 of the battery tray 6c in the first embodiment, as seen from above (+Z).

As shown in FIG. 7, the battery tray 6c is a tray member provided with multiple mounting sections 6c3 on which mobile batteries B are attached. In this embodiment, multiple mounting sections 6c3 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the battery tray 6c, which has a rectangular shape in a plan view. In this embodiment, the battery tray 6c has four mounting sections 6c3, allowing four mobile batteries B to be placed on it.

The battery tray 6c has an upper tray 6c1 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and a lower tray 6c2 shown in FIGS.
The upper tray 6c1 is a plate-shaped portion slightly larger than the central openings 6b1 formed in the upper shelf portion 11A, middle shelf portion 11B, and lower shelf portion 11C. This allows the outer peripheral edge portion 16c of the upper tray 6c1 to engage with the upper surfaces of the upper shelf portion 11A, middle shelf portion 11B, and lower shelf portion 11C around the central openings 6b1, allowing the battery tray 6c to be placed from above each shelf portion 11. A plurality of installation portions 6c3 are formed on the upper surface of the upper tray 6c1. In this embodiment, four installation portions 6c3 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the upper tray 6c1.

The installation portion 6c3 has a mounting recess 16a and a tray-side connection terminal (terminal) 16e.
The mounting recess 16a is a recess into which the mobile battery B can be mounted, and is recessed from the upper surface of the battery tray 6c toward the lower surface. The mounting recess 16a has a substantially square planar shape that substantially matches the planar shape of the prismatic bottom of the mobile battery B. The mounting recess 16a is slightly larger than the planar shape of the bottom of the mobile battery B, and can accommodate the lower part of the mobile battery B. Each side of the mounting recess 16a is parallel to either the long side or the short side of the upper tray 6c1, which is rectangular in plan view.

The tray-side connection terminal 16e is a terminal that can be electrically connected to the battery-side connection terminal provided on the bottom of the mobile battery B. In other words, when the mobile battery B is placed in the mounting recess 16a, the battery-side connection terminal provided in the center of its bottom comes into contact with the tray-side connection terminal 16e provided on the installation section 6c3.

The tray-side connection terminal 16e has a planar shape, for example, an annular or circular shape, similar to the battery-side connection terminal. The tray-side connection terminal 16e is provided on the upper surface of a protrusion 16f formed in the center of the installation section 6c3 (mounting recess 16a). The protrusion 16f protrudes upward from the bottom of the mounting recess 16a and has a convex shape that is the opposite of the recess formed in the bottom of the mobile battery B. The tray-side connection terminal 16e, provided on the upper surface of the protrusion 16f, is at approximately the same height as the upper surface of the upper tray 6c1.

The upper tray 6c1 has a protrusion 6c4 on its underside that can be inserted into the lower tray 6c2. The protrusion 6c4 is formed in a ring shape around the entire periphery, located inside the outer edge of the upper tray 6c1. The protrusion 6c4 engages with the side wall 16d of the lower tray 6c2. The upper tray 6c1 is positioned relative to the lower tray 6c2 by this protrusion 6c4.

As shown in FIG. 9, the lower tray 6c2 is formed in a container shape whose size in a plan view is slightly smaller than the central openings 6b1 formed in the upper shelf portion 11A, middle shelf portion 11B, and lower shelf portion 11C. The lower tray 6c2 is formed, for example, from a resin material. A pair of ribs 18 and multiple bosses 19 are provided on the bottom of the lower tray 6c2.

A pair of rib portions 18 are formed on both longitudinal sides of the lower tray 6c2 with a gap between them. Each rib portion 18 has a first rib 18a extending in the longitudinal direction of the lower tray 6c2 and a second rib 18b extending in the transverse direction perpendicular to the first rib 18a. The rib portions 18 are formed at a height lower than the height of the side wall portion 16d of the lower tray 6c2. Each rib portion 18 is integrally formed with two boss portions 19a, 19b. One boss portion 19a is located on the first rib 18a, and the other boss portion 19b is located at the boundary between the first rib 18a and the second rib 18b. The four boss portions 19a, 19b, 19b, 19a on the lower tray 6c2 are arranged in this order along the longitudinal direction of the lower tray 6c2. Each boss portion 19 has a screw hole 19c for threading a screw.

Such a battery tray 6c is installed inside a central opening 6b1 that penetrates the shelf portion 11 in the thickness direction. The upper surface of the battery tray 6c attached within the central opening 6b1 is positioned so that the outer peripheral edge 16c is on the upper surface of the shelf portion 11, but is generally flush with the upper surface of the shelf portion 11. This eliminates any significant step between the upper surface of the shelf portion 11 and the battery tray 6c, leaving the top of the shelf portion 11 generally flat, making it easy to install the mobile battery B in each installation section 6c3. Furthermore, because there is no significant step between the shelf portion 11 and the battery tray 6c, the appearance is good and it is easy to clean.

Each installation section 6c3 of the battery tray 6c is electrically connected to the charging section 13. In other words, the charging section 13 is electrically connected to the mobile battery B attached to the installation section 6c3. The charging section 13 supplies power to the mobile battery B via the tray-side connection terminal 16e.

(1-2-3. Live part)
10 is a perspective view showing the state inside the accommodation space K of the base 15. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the structure around the base 15.
The charging unit 13 can be connected indirectly or directly to an external power source (e.g., a commercial power source) and supplies power from the external power source to the mobile battery B via the battery tray 6c. In this embodiment, the charging unit 13 is connected to the external power source via a power tap 25 shown in Fig. 10, but the charging unit 13 may also be connected directly to the external power source. When multiple charging units 13 are provided, using the power tap 25 can minimize the number of power cords drawn from the shelf main body 10A, as shown in Fig. 11.

The charging unit 13 includes a wiring cable 13a connected to the battery tray 6c, a control unit 13b housing a converter and control unit, connection wiring 13c connecting the control unit 13b to an attachment plug 13d, and an attachment plug 13d that can be inserted into the outlet 25a of the power strip 25. The converter converts AC power supplied from an external power source into DC power, which supplies DC power to the mobile battery B, allowing the mobile battery B to be charged.

The wiring cable 13a is connected to the mounting portion via a conductive path (not shown) provided in the battery tray 6c. The wiring cable 13a is pulled out from the battery tray 6c, supported by the wiring cable housing 22, and connected to the control unit 13b.

The control unit 13b is housed, for example, in the housing space K2 within the base portion 15 of the frame portion 9. The control unit 13b is equipped with a converter that converts AC power output from a commercial power source or the like into DC power. This makes it possible to charge the mobile battery B.

When mobile batteries B are attached to multiple mounting portions 6c3 of the battery tray 6c, the control unit 13b can, for example, use the control unit to control how much power is supplied to each mobile battery B. Specifically, when multiple mobile batteries B are attached, the control unit of the control unit 13b can detect the voltage of each mobile battery B and supply power according to the remaining power level. For example, power can be supplied preferentially to the mobile battery B with the least remaining power level. Alternatively, by supplying power preferentially to the mobile battery B with the most remaining power level, the number of fully charged mobile batteries B can be quickly increased.

The control unit 13b may control the amount of power supplied to the mobile battery B based on the location where the mobile battery B is installed, regardless of the remaining charge of the mobile battery B. For example, at least one of the installation sections 6c3 may be for rapid charging.

The power tap 25 comprises a table tap 25A with multiple outlets 25a, a power cord 25b connecting the table tap 25A to the plug 25c, and the plug 25c that can be plugged into an external outlet. The plug 25c is designed to be pluggable into an outlet provided on an external power source and is shaped in accordance with general standards. A portion of the power cord 25b on the plug 25c side extends from the base 15 of the frame 9. Specifically, it extends from within the base 15 to the outside through a cord insertion groove 15c (Figures 10 and 11) formed in the second frame member 15b of the base 15.

By placing the mobile battery B on the installation section 6c3 of the battery tray 6c, which is connected to an external power source via this charging section 13, the terminals on the mobile battery B side come into contact with and electrically connect to the terminals on the installation section 6c3 side, and DC power is supplied from the charging section 13 to the mobile battery B, charging the mobile battery B.

In the fixture system S1 of this embodiment, mobile batteries B can be attached and detached to multiple installation sections 6c3 of a battery tray 6c provided on each shelf section 11 of the shelf with charging function 1, and a mobile battery B attached to at least one installation section 6c3 is charged on the shelf section 11. In this way, the mobile battery B can be charged on a shelf on which it can be placed.

The user can access the battery tray 6c from the front or rear of the shelf with charging function 1 through the access opening 8, easily placing a mobile battery B on the installation section 6c3 or removing a mobile battery B placed on the installation section 6c3. The mobile battery B attached to the installation section 6c3 is simply placed in the installation recess 16a, and can be removed from the installation section 6c3 by the user simply lifting it up without resistance.

The user can check the contents of the front and rear display units C of the mobile battery B through the access opening 8 that penetrates the shelf 1 with charging function (shelf main body 10A) in the front-to-rear direction. The charge level can be determined from the contents displayed on the pair of display units C of the mobile battery B, so it is possible to select and use the mobile battery B that has fully charged. The user can move the charged mobile battery B to a location of their choice and connect an external electronic device to the mobile battery B, allowing them to work for long periods of time while powering the external electronic device.

In this way, users can use a fully charged portable power storage device to ensure sufficient work time. Furthermore, because the installation section 6c3 and charging section 13 are installed on the shelf main body 10A, cables used to charge the mobile battery B are prevented from being placed on the floor or a work desk. Furthermore, because users can move and use the mobile battery B near the electronic devices they use for work, they can carry out their work without having to worry about the charging wires connected to the electronic devices.

In addition, because the shelf board section 11 of the shelf main body 10A of this embodiment is installed between four vertical frame members 12a, an access opening 8 is also formed that penetrates in the width direction (X direction). In other words, because the shelf main body 10A is open not only in the front-to-back direction but also in the left-to-right direction, the mobile battery B placed on the battery tray 6c can be seen from the left and right directions. Therefore, when charging the mobile battery B, even if the mobile battery B is placed on the installation section 6c3 with the display section C facing left and right of the shelf main body 10A, the user can check the contents of the display section C.

Furthermore, by storing at least a portion of the charging unit 13 connected to the installation portion 6c3 (such as the control unit 13b and connection wiring 13c) within the storage space K of the base 15, the charging unit 13 is prevented from affecting the appearance of the shelf with charging function 1, improving the appearance of the shelf. Furthermore, a base 15 located at the bottom end of the shelf main body 10A can form a large storage space K. This makes it possible to store multiple charging units 13 together within the storage space K. Furthermore, by providing the storage space K in the base 15 located at the bottom end of the shelf main body 10A, the center of gravity can be lowered, allowing the shelf with charging function 1 to maintain a stable installation position.

In addition, in this embodiment, by storing the battery tray 6c in the central opening 6b1 of the shelf portion 11, the battery tray 6c is prevented from protruding above the shelf portion 11, and the space above the shelf portion 11 formed by the central opening 6b1 can be effectively utilized. Furthermore, by supporting the battery tray 6c stored in the central opening 6b1 from below with the tray support member 21, the installation structure of the battery tray 6c on the shelf portion 11 can be reinforced. As a result, even if a mobile battery B is repeatedly placed on the installation portion 6c3, the battery tray 6c will not sink downward, and good usage conditions can be maintained for a long period of time.

In addition, in this embodiment, the portion of the charging unit 13 that is not accommodated within the storage space K of the base 15, i.e., the wiring cable 13a connected to the battery tray 6c installed on the shelf 11, can be accommodated in the wiring cable accommodation section 22. This allows the portion that is not accommodated within the storage space K of the base 15 to be held without being exposed, improving the appearance of the shelf 1 with charging function. Furthermore, because the wiring cable accommodation section 22 is structured to be detachably attached to the vertical frame member 12a, when accommodating part of the charging unit 13 within the wiring cable accommodation section 22, the efficiency of the storage operation can be improved by removing the wiring cable accommodation section 22 from the vertical frame member 12a.

In addition, in this embodiment, battery trays 6c are installed on all three shelf sections 11, making it possible to place and charge many mobile batteries B. The number of shelf sections 11 in the shelf with charging function 1 is not limited to three and can be increased or decreased as appropriate. When multiple shelf sections 11 are provided, battery trays 6c can be installed on all shelf sections 11, allowing for the placement and charging of many more mobile batteries B, or battery trays 6c can be installed on only some shelf sections 11, with items other than mobile batteries B being placed on the other shelf sections 11. The height position of each shelf section 11 can also be changed as appropriate.

The shelf main body 10A is not limited to a rack structure with openings on the front, back, left and right sides.
For example, the shelf body 10A may be closed in the left-right direction as long as it is open in the front-rear direction. In this case, a side plate may be provided between the pair of vertical frame members 12a of each side frame 12, or plate-shaped side support portions may be provided on both the left and right sides instead of each side frame 12.

In this case, for example, the planar shape of the recess (battery-side connection terminal) formed on the bottom of the mobile battery B and the planar shape of the protrusion 16f of the installation section 6c3 of the battery tray 6c may be asymmetrical and engageable with each other. In other words, it is preferable that the planar shapes of the engaging portions be such that when the mobile battery B is placed on the installation section 6c3, the pair of display sections C of the mobile battery B can be placed in a position where they naturally face in the front-to-rear direction of the shelf main body 10A.

In this way, the placement direction of the mobile battery B on the battery tray 6c (mounting section 6c3) is limited, so the mobile battery B can be placed on the mounting section 6c3 with each display section C facing the front-to-back direction of the shelf main body 10A. This allows the user to check the front and back display sections C of the mobile battery B through the access opening 8 from the front-to-back direction of the shelf main body 10A, and to understand the charging status from the content displayed on the display sections C.

Note that the shelf 1B with charging function of the fixture system S1 in the above embodiment has a shelf structure without drawers or doors, but this is not limited to this. As long as the shelf section 11 on which the battery tray 6c is installed has an access opening 8 that is open to the front and back, the structure of other parts is not particularly important.

Second Embodiment
12 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a fixture system S2 according to the second embodiment. In the description of this embodiment, the description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified.

The furniture system S2 of this embodiment includes a shelf 1B with a charging function, a monitor 92, and a mobile battery B, as shown in FIG.
The shelf 1B with charging function is a fixture capable of supporting a monitor 92, and comprises a shelf main body (fixture main body) 10B, a plurality of battery trays 6c, a plurality of charging units 13, and a power supply unit 94.

The shelf main body 10B comprises a frame-shaped frame 9B, multiple shelf sections 91 and 93 attached to the frame 9B, and a base 95 that supports the lower part of the frame 9B. The frame 9B is a frame-shaped member that supports the multiple shelf sections 91 and 93. The multiple shelf sections 91 and 93 are detachably attached to the frame 9B, allowing the positions of the shelf sections 91 and 93 to be swapped as needed.

The shelf board portion 93 is a plate-like member whose upper surface serves as a surface on which items and the like are placed.
The shelf portion 91 is a plate-shaped member on whose upper surface a mobile battery B can be placed. In this embodiment, the mobile battery B can be placed on the lowest shelf portion 91 (hereinafter referred to as the lower shelf portion 91C) and the middle shelf portion 91 (hereinafter referred to as the middle shelf portion 91B) provided on the hollow base portion 95. The lower shelf portion 91C and the middle shelf portion 91B of this embodiment have the same configuration as the lower shelf portion 11C and the middle shelf portion 11B of the first embodiment described above, and a battery tray 6c is attached to each of the central openings (not shown) that penetrate the plate thickness direction. At least a portion of the charging units 13 connected to these battery trays 6c are accommodated in the storage space K of the base portion 95. Furthermore, a power strip 25 to which multiple charging units 13 are connected is accommodated in the storage space K of the base portion 95.

The power supply unit 94 is electrically connected to the monitor 92 and supplies power stored in the mobile battery B to the monitor 92. The power supply unit 94 includes, for example, a converter that converts the DC power supplied from the mobile battery B into a voltage suitable for the monitor 92. The converter and other components that are at least part of the power supply unit 94 are housed within the housing space of the base 95.

The monitor 92 is an electronic device that displays information using power supplied from the power supply unit 91c.

According to this embodiment, mobile battery B can be charged in a fixture capable of storing items, etc. It is also possible to supply power stored in mobile battery B to monitor 92. This eliminates the need to connect a power cable to an external power source to supply power to monitor 92. Therefore, the only power cable drawn out from shelf main body 10B is power cord 25b of power tap 25 to which multiple charging units 13 are connected. As a result, even if shelf main body 10B stores numerous electronic devices in addition to monitor 92, power cords directly connecting each electronic device to an external power source are not required, minimizing the number of power cords drawn out from shelf main body 10B. This allows for greater flexibility in the placement and design of shelf main body 10B with charging function.

In this embodiment, the number and positions of the shelf sections 91 on which the mobile battery B can be placed and the shelf sections 93 on which items, etc. can be placed are not limited to those described above and can be changed as appropriate. Note that the electronic device is not limited to the monitor 92.

The above describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The shapes and combinations of the components shown in the above embodiment are merely examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements, etc., without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the attachment portion is electrically connected by contacting the mobile battery B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the attachment portion and mobile battery B are electrically connected without contact.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the mobile battery B is described as having a rectangular prism shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a cylindrical or plate-shaped mobile battery can also be used.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the battery tray 6c installed in the central opening 6b1 that penetrates the shelf portion 11 in the thickness direction is supported by the tray support member 21, and the tray support member 21 is detachably attached to the shelf portion 11, but this configuration is not limited to this. For example, the shelf portion 11 may have a recess that opens at least to the top surface, and be configured to accommodate the battery tray 6c within this recess.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, rather than removably attaching the tray support member 21 to the shelf portion 11, the shelf portion 11 and the tray support member 21 may be configured as an integral unit.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the charging unit 13 is connected to an external power source via the power tap 25, and the mobile battery B is charged via the battery tray 6c. However, instead of the power tap 25 and charging unit 13, a power supply unit such as a battery may be provided, and the power supply unit and battery tray 6c may be connected via a power cable. This eliminates the need for a power cord to connect to an external power source, and eliminates the power cord that would be pulled out from the base 15. This increases the flexibility in where the shelf with charging function 1 is installed, and also improves the overall appearance of the shelf.

In the above embodiment, the shelf 1 with charging function has multiple access openings 8 on both the front and rear sides, and is configured as a shelf with a space that runs through in the front and rear directions without a door or back wall. The access openings 8 are at least large enough to allow the mobile batteries B to be inserted and removed from the battery tray 6c, and large enough to expose the display C on each mobile battery B. Therefore, for example, a fence or similar may be provided around the periphery of the shelf portion 11 to prevent the mobile batteries B from falling.

1, 1B...Shelf (furniture) with charging function, 6c...Battery tray (charging section), 6c3...Installation section, 8...Access opening (first opening), 10A...Shelf main body (furniture main body) of the first embodiment, 10B...Shelf main body (furniture main body) of the second embodiment, 11...Shelf section of the first embodiment, 11A...Upper shelf section (shelf section), 11B...Middle shelf section (shelf section), 11C...Lower shelf section (shelf section) 91, 93...Shelf section of the second embodiment, 12...Side frame (support member), 13...Charging section, 1 5...base of the first embodiment, 95...base of the second embodiment, 16e...tray-side connection terminal (terminal), 22...wiring cable storage section (storage section), 6b1...central opening (second opening), B...mobile battery (portable power storage device), B1...main body, Ba...front surface, Bb...rear surface, C...display unit, K...storage space within the base 15, K2...storage space within the tray support member 21, K3...storage space within the wiring cable storage section 22, S1...furniture system of the first embodiment, S2...furniture system of the second embodiment

Claims (7)

A fixture body portion including a pair of support members arranged spaced apart from each other in one direction and a shelf portion detachably provided between the pair of support members;
an installation section provided on the shelf section, on which a portable power storage device can be installed;
a terminal provided on the installation section and electrically connected to the portable power storage device installed on the installation section;
a charging unit that supplies power to the portable power storage device via the terminal,
The fixture main body has a first opening provided on each side in the front-rear direction, exposing the portable power storage device installed in the installation section and allowing the portable power storage device to be inserted and removed;
the first opening exposes a portion of the portable power storage device that is located above the installation section over the entire vertical direction,
a space is formed around the installation portion of the shelf portion to prevent the portable power storage device from falling off the shelf portion when the portable power storage device falls over ;
Fixtures characterized by the above. The fixture main body has a base portion that supports the lower ends of the pair of support members,
The fixture according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the charging unit is accommodated in an accommodating space formed inside the base. The fixture main body includes a support member that supports the installation portion installed in a second opening that opens on the upper surface of the shelf portion from below,
3. The fixture according to claim 1 or 2. The fixture main body includes a storage section capable of storing at least a portion of the charging section,
The fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the storage section is detachably provided on the support member. A plurality of the shelf board portions are provided,
The fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the installation section is provided on each of the plurality of shelf sections. The fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The portable power storage device,
The portable power storage device can be installed on the fixture through the first openings provided on both sides of the fixture in the front-rear direction,
A fixture system characterized by the above. The portable power storage device has a display unit that indicates a charging state on each of the front and rear surfaces that face each other.
The fixture system according to claim 6 .