JP7828195B2 - Cabinet with top - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cabinet with a top panel.

A conventional cooking counter, such as the one described in Patent Document 1, is known as a cabinet with a countertop that is placed in a kitchen. The cooking counter includes a cabinet, a countertop placed on the cabinet, a sink placed on the countertop, and an electrical outlet device with a plug receptacle to which an electrical device plug can be electrically connected and an openable lid that covers the plug receptacle. The cabinet includes a flat, vertically extending panel at the front, and the electrical outlet device is installed in an installation hole recessed into the panel at the back.

In the above-mentioned countertop, the plug receptacle is covered with a lid, which is said to prevent water splashing from the sink from adhering to the receptacle when the receptacle is not in use and a plug is not connected to it.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-80314

In a kitchen counter such as that described in Patent Document 1, the outlet device is installed further back than the front of the panel, so the plug of the electrical device must be moved further back than the front of the panel to insert it into the socket, making it difficult to connect the plug to the socket.

This type of problem can occur not only in countertops or electrical plugs and sockets, but in any cabinet with a top that is installed indoors and has connections to other devices.

The present invention aims to provide a cabinet with a top panel that makes it easy to connect connection terminals for at least one of power transmission and reception and data communication with external devices to connection parts.

The cabinet with a top plate of the present invention is a cabinet with a top plate including a cabinet and a top plate provided on the cabinet and extending horizontally,
The cabinet comprises an upper portion on which the top plate is placed, side plates extending downward from the upper portion and constituting the side surfaces of the cabinet, and a connection device having a connection portion to which connection terminals for at least one of power transmission and reception and information communication with external devices can be connected, the top plate having an outer end portion located outward from the side surfaces in the horizontal direction, the connection device being arranged below the outer end portion and along the side surfaces, and the connection portion being switchable between a protruding position in which at least a portion of the connection portion is located between the tip surface of the outer end portion and the side surfaces in the horizontal direction, and a retracted position in which the connection portion is located closer to the side surfaces than the protruding position.

With this configuration, the connection device can be switched between a protruding position and a retracted position. In the protruding position, at least a portion of the connection portion is located between the tip surface of the outer end and the side surface. Therefore, in the protruding position, the connection portion is located in an optimal position for connecting the connection terminal, making it easy to connect the connection terminal of an external device to the connection portion. This makes it easy to connect the connection terminal of an external device to the connection portion.

The connection device may also include a main body on which the connection portion is provided and a rotation shaft extending in the vertical direction, and the main body may be configured to rotate around the rotation shaft to switch between a protruding position and a retracted position.

With this configuration, the main body can be rotated around a vertically extending pivot shaft to switch between the extended and retracted positions, making it easy to switch between the extended and retracted positions.

The connection device may also be configured to include a canopy portion located above the connection portion and extending outward in the horizontal direction, in the direction in which the connection terminal connects to the connection portion.

With this configuration, a canopy portion is provided above the connection portion, extending outward in the direction of connection to the connection portion, so the canopy portion prevents water falling from the top plate from splashing onto the connection portion.

The rotation axis can also be configured to be located midway along the width of the main body.

With this configuration, the pivot shaft is located midway across the width of the main body, preventing the connection device from becoming larger in the width direction due to the pivot shaft.

This invention makes it possible to obtain a cabinet with a top panel that allows connection terminals for transmitting and receiving power to and/or communicating information with external devices to be easily connected to the connection parts.

1 is a perspective view of a cabinet with a top panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the mounting fixture for the cabinet with a top panel. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a connection device for the cabinet with a top panel. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing a decorative frame of the connecting device. FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the device body of the connection device. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a front view showing the connection device in the retracted position. FIG. 10 is a front view showing the connecting device in a protruding position. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV in FIG. 12, showing the external appearance of the connection device. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the connecting device taken along the line XV-XV in FIG. 13, showing the external appearance of the device. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in FIG. 12. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVII-XVII shown in FIG. 13.

A cabinet with a top 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 17. For ease of explanation, the up/down, left/right, and front/rear directions all refer to directions in the installed state, and the description will be based on the directions shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cabinet with a top 1 comprises a box-shaped cabinet 2 and a top 3 provided on the cabinet 2. The cabinet with a top 1 in this embodiment has a top surface 1a, which is a substantially flat surface extending substantially horizontally, and side surfaces 1b, which are substantially flat surfaces extending substantially perpendicular to the top surface 1a, and is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape overall. The cabinet with a top 1a also has a water supply system 4 on the top surface 1a that can supply water. The cabinet with a top 1a in this embodiment also has a sink section 6 on the top surface 1a that includes the water supply system 4 and a sink 5 that receives water supplied from the water supply system 4, a heating section 8 on the top surface 1a that includes a cooking device 7, and a work surface 9 whose top surface 1a is configured as a flat surface with a certain area. The sink section 6, heating section 8, and work surface 9 are arranged linearly in the left-right direction; specifically, the work surface 9 is located between the sink section 6 and the heating section 8 in the left-right direction. Such a cabinet 1 with a top plate can be placed outdoors or in a wet area of a building (for example, a kitchen), and in this embodiment it is installed indoors in a building. The cabinet 1 with a top plate in this embodiment is configured as a cooking table placed in a kitchen.

The cabinet 2 is a box-shaped portion with an open top on which the top panel 3 can be placed. The cabinet 2 also has side surfaces 1b, which are generally rectangular in side view and extend vertically, and generally rectangular in front view and rear surfaces that extend vertically and connect the left and right surfaces. The front surface of the cabinet 2 is the surface that primarily faces the user of the plumbing equipment 4, and in this embodiment, is the surface farthest from the plumbing equipment 4 of the two surfaces spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction. In this embodiment, the left, right, front, and rear surfaces of the cabinet 2 are all flat surfaces that extend vertically. Specifically, the cabinet 2 has a bottom 11 that forms the bottom surface of the cabinet 2, and side panels 12 that extend upward from the bottom 11 and form the side surfaces of the cabinet 2. The side panels 12 are constructed by combining multiple plate-like bodies. The plate-like members constituting the side panels 12 are plate-like members including upper and lower surfaces extending horizontally along the thickness direction of the plate-like members, an outer surface extending vertically and forming the side surface 1b of the cabinet 2, and an inner surface located on the opposite side of the outer surface in the thickness direction from the outer surface. That is, the side surfaces of the cabinet 2 are formed by the outer surfaces of the plate-like members constituting the side panels 12. In this embodiment, the side panels 12 include a left surface portion 121 constituting the left surface of the cabinet 2, a right surface portion 122 constituting the right surface of the cabinet 2, a front surface portion 123 constituting the front surface of the cabinet 2, and a rear surface portion 124 constituting the rear surface of the cabinet 2. In this embodiment, the left surface portion 121 and the right surface portion 122 are plate-like members formed by combining two plate members, and the front surface portion 123 and the rear surface portion 124 are formed by combining a single plate member or a combination of multiple plate members. In this embodiment, the left and right side sections 121 and 122 are plate-like bodies formed by combining plate members (so-called side panels) that are located outward relative to the direction of the cabinet 2 and have outer surfaces that form the side surfaces 1b of the cabinet 2, with plate members that are located inward relative to the direction of the cabinet 2 to increase the rigidity of the cabinet 2. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the cabinet 2 includes a drawer section 13 that can store items, a connection device 14 (described below), and a fixture 15 (see FIG. 3) that attaches the connection device 14 to the side panels 12. Also provided inside the cabinet 2 is a partition plate 16 that separates the sink section 6, the heating section 8, and the workbench section 9 (see FIG. 4).

The front surface portion 123 includes a back panel 17, which is a band-shaped plate-like body extending in the left-right direction and whose outer surface forms the front of the side surface 1b, and a front panel 18, which is a band-shaped plate-like body extending in the left-right direction and whose outer surface forms the front of the side surface 1b, and which forms the front surface of the drawer portion 13. In this embodiment, the back panel 17 and front panel 18 are plate-like bodies made of a single plate material. Furthermore, the front surface portion 123 is the part that faces a user who uses the plumbing equipment 4 provided on the top panel 3. In this embodiment, the back panel 17 is fixed so that it cannot move in the front-to-back direction, while the front panel 18 can move in the front-to-back direction as the drawer portion 13 is opened or closed. The back panel 17 and front panel 18 are arranged so that their front surfaces are approximately flush when the drawer portion 13 is closed.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the mounting fixture 15 is a component (e.g., a metal fitting) for attaching the connection device 14 to the side panel 12. Specifically, it is a flat, vertically extending component. In this embodiment, the mounting fixture 15 is a plate-like body that is L-shaped in plan view and has multiple holes formed therethrough in the thickness direction. The mounting fixture 15 includes a flat mounting body portion 19 capable of fixing the connection device 14, a flat front surface facing portion 20 connected to one left-right side of the mounting body portion 19 (the right side in this embodiment) and extending substantially parallel to the mounting body portion 19, and a flat partition plate facing portion 21 connected to the other left-right side of the mounting body portion 19 (the left side in this embodiment) and extending substantially perpendicular to the mounting body portion 19. The front surface facing portion 20 and the partition plate facing portion 21 each have multiple insertion holes 20a formed therethrough in the thickness direction, through which fasteners can be inserted. The mounting body 19 also has a device insertion hole 19a that penetrates through the thickness and into which part of the connection device 14 can be inserted, and a fixing hole 19b that penetrates through the thickness and into which a fastener for fixing the connection device 14 can be inserted.

The mounting fixture 15 is fixed to the side panel 12 from the inside. Specifically, the mounting fixture 15 is attached by inserting a fastener (e.g., a screw) into the insertion hole 20a so that the front surface facing portion 20 faces the inner surface of the front surface 123 and the partition panel facing portion 21 faces the surface of the partition panel 16 that extends in a direction intersecting the front surface 123. In this embodiment, the mounting fixture 15 is fixed to the inside of the header panel 17 with the front surface facing portion 20 positioned to face the inner surface of the header panel 17, and the mounting body portion 19 and partition panel facing portion 21 are aligned with the header panel 17 in the left-right direction.

The mounting space 2a for mounting the connection device 14 is formed by the mounting fixture 15 attached to the side panel 12 and partition panel 16 and the front surface 123. The mounting space 2a is a space recessed toward the rear formed by the front surface 123 and the mounting fixture 15. In other words, it is the area in front of the mounting fixture 15 where the side panel 12 is not provided. In this embodiment, the mounting space 2a is a space recessed toward the rear by the thickness of the header panel 17. In this embodiment, the mounting space 2a is formed adjacent to the header panel 17 in the left-right direction, and the vertical length of the mounting space 2a is formed to be approximately equal to the vertical length of the adjacent header panel 17. Furthermore, the mounting space 2a is formed within the range of the workbench section 9 or at a position adjacent to the workbench section 9 in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, it is formed at the end of the sink section 6 on the workbench side in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the top plate 3 has a flat upper surface 1a and is a plate-like body that is generally rectangular in plan view, with constant left-right and front-to-back lengths. The top plate 3 also has a plurality of holes that penetrate through it in the thickness direction. Specifically, the top plate 3 comprises a sink top plate portion 22 that forms the upper surface of the sink portion 6, a heating top plate portion 23 that forms the upper surface of the heating portion 8, and a work top plate portion 24 that forms the upper surface of the work table portion 9. In this embodiment, the top plate 3 is composed of a single plate-like body, with the right end portion serving as the sink top plate portion 22 and the left end portion serving as the heating top plate portion 23, and the space between the sink top plate portion 22 and the heating top plate portion 23 in the left-right direction serving as the work top plate portion 24.

The sink top plate portion 22 is a plate-like portion having a flat upper surface 1a and a sink fitting hole 22a that penetrates in the vertical direction (thickness direction) formed in the midpoint in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. In this embodiment, the sink top plate portion 22 is an annular plate with the sink fitting hole 22a formed in approximately the center of the upper surface 1a. The sink fitting hole 22a is a through-hole that opens into the upper surface 1a to an extent that the sink 5 can be stored. This sink top plate portion 22 surrounds the horizontal periphery of the sink 5 stored in the sink fitting hole 22a.

The heating top plate 23 has a flat upper surface 1a and is a plate-like portion with a cooker fitting hole 23a that penetrates in the up-down direction (thickness direction) formed in its midpoint in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. The heating top plate 23 has a flat, plate-like left separation portion 231 located at the left end (the end on the side where the heating top plate 23 is located in the extension direction of the top plate 3). The cooker fitting hole 23a is a through-hole formed to the right of the left separation portion 231 and opening into the upper surface 1a to an extent that the cooker 7 can be stored. This heating top plate 23 surrounds the horizontal periphery of the cooker 7 stored in the cooker fitting hole 23a.

The work top plate portion 24 has a flat upper surface 1a and is a plate-like portion that connects the sink top plate portion 22 and the heating top plate portion 23. The work top plate portion 24 is also a plate-like body with a constant length in the front-to-rear direction. The work top plate portion 24 is a flat body with an area large enough to allow cooking-related work to be performed on the upper surface 1a and to place cooking equipment on it.

The top plate 3 is a plate whose front-to-back length is longer than that of the cabinet 2, whose left-to-right length is approximately equal to that of the cabinet 2, and whose top surface extends horizontally. When the top plate 3 is installed on top of the cabinet 2, it has an outer end portion that is located outward from the side surface of the cabinet 2 in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, the top plate 3 is placed on the cabinet 2 so that its rear end is located approximately in the same position as the rear end of the cabinet 2 in the front-to-back direction, and the front end 3a, which serves as the leading edge of the outer end, is located forward of the front end of the cabinet 2 (see Figure 5). In other words, when the top plate 3 is placed on the cabinet 2, the front end 3a, which serves as the leading edge of the outer end, is located forward of the front surface of the side surface of the cabinet 2.

As shown in Figures 6 to 11, the connection device 14 comprises a device main body 31 having a connection portion 39 to which a connection terminal (e.g., a plug) for at least one of transmitting and receiving power and communicating information with an external device can be connected, a decorative frame 32 that can be fitted into the device main body 31, and a decorative plate 33 that covers a portion of the decorative frame 32 and the front surface of the device main body 31. The connection device 14 is columnar and long in the vertical direction, with its left-right length approximately equal to the left-right width of the mounting space 2a and its up-down length approximately equal to the up-down length of the mounting space 2a.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the decorative frame 32 includes a rod-shaped vertical frame portion 34 extending vertically, and a pair of horizontal frame portions 35 extending from the upper and lower ends of the vertical frame portion 34 toward one side in the left-right direction (the right side in this embodiment). The decorative frame 32 has a left-right length approximately equal to the left-right width of the mounting space 2a, and a vertical length approximately equal to the up-down length of the mounting space 2a. Furthermore, the decorative frame 32 includes a retreat space 35a that is concave toward the rear and has a generally triangular shape in plan view at the connection between the vertical frame portion 34 and the horizontal frame portion 35 (see Figure 6). Furthermore, the decorative frame 32 includes a frame upper surface 32a, which is the upper surface of the decorative frame 32 extending horizontally; a frame lower surface 32b, which is the lower surface of the decorative frame 32 extending horizontally; and a frame side surface 32c, which is a surface perpendicular to the left-right direction and is the side surface of the decorative frame 32.

The vertical frame portion 34 is a rod-shaped body extending in the vertical direction, with a thickness in the front-to-back direction approximately equal to the width of the mounting space 2a in the front-to-back direction (the distance from the front surface of the fascia board 17 to the front surface of the mounting fixture 15 in the front-to-back direction). In this embodiment, the vertical frame portion 34 is a rectangular parallelepiped with a constant length in the left-to-right direction from the top end to the bottom end. The vertical frame portion 34 also has a vertical frame front surface 34a that is a surface perpendicular to the front-to-back direction and that forms the front surface of the vertical frame portion 34.

The horizontal frame portion 35 is a rod-shaped body extending in the left-right direction, with a thickness in the front-to-rear direction approximately equal to the width of the mounting space 2a in the front-to-rear direction. A pair of horizontal frame portions 35 are provided, spaced apart in the vertical direction. Specifically, the horizontal frame portion 35 includes a horizontal frame main body portion 36 that is rectangular in front view and covers the front of the device main body 31; a fitting means 37 provided on the horizontal frame main body portion 36 that can fit into a fitting groove 55 (described below); and a positioning recess 38 that can engage with a positioning protrusion 57 (described below). The fitting means 37 is a claw-shaped portion extending in the vertical direction toward the other horizontal frame portion 35. Specifically, the fitting means 37 is a claw-shaped portion provided to extend downward from the upper horizontal frame portion 35, or a claw-shaped portion provided to extend upward from the lower horizontal frame portion 35. The positioning recesses 38 are multiple forward-facing recesses formed at the rear end of the horizontal frame main body portion 36, spaced apart in the left-to-right direction of the horizontal frame portion 35. In this embodiment, the positioning recesses 38 are arranged on the left and right sides of the fitting means 37, sandwiching the fitting means 37 in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the decorative panel 33 is a flat plate having a flat front surface that serves as a decorative surface covering the front of the device main body 31. Specifically, the decorative panel 33 is a plate whose vertical length is approximately equal to the vertical length of the vertical frame portion 34 and whose left-right length is approximately equal to the left-right length of the horizontal frame portion 35. Furthermore, the decorative panel 33 has an attachment portion on its rear surface (not shown) that can be fitted into the plate attachment portion 47 of the main body portion 40, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the attachment portion is a plurality of protrusions that protrude rearward.

As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the device main body 31 includes a main body 40 having a connection portion 39, a rotation shaft 41 extending in the vertical direction (see Figure 11), a holding portion 42 that holds the main body 40 via the rotation shaft 41, and a circuit portion 43 provided behind the main body 40. The device main body 31 of this embodiment has a generally constant width in the left-right direction and is columnar in shape, elongated in the vertical direction.

9 and 10 , the main body 40 includes a connecting portion 39, a decorative panel mounting surface 44 having a substantially flat surface extending in the vertical direction, a connecting surface 45 connected to the decorative panel mounting surface 44 and having a flat surface extending in the vertical direction, and a canopy portion 46 provided at the upper and lower ends and covering the upper and lower portions of the connecting surface 45. The main body 40 is a columnar portion that is long in the vertical direction. The decorative panel mounting surface 44 has a plate mounting portion 47 into which the mounting portion of the decorative panel 33 can be fitted. In this embodiment, the plate mounting portion 47 is a plurality of recesses that are concave toward the rear. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the decorative panel mounting surface 44 and the connecting surface 45 are surfaces that extend parallel to each other in the vertical direction and perpendicular to each other in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, a corner portion 40a is formed at the connection point between the decorative panel mounting surface 44 and the connecting surface 45.

The connection portion 39 is a portion to which a connection terminal for at least one of transmitting and receiving power and communicating information with an external device can be connected. In this embodiment, the connection portion 39 is configured as a plug receptacle into which a plug, which is a connection terminal for transmitting and receiving power with an external device, can be inserted. That is, the connection portion 39 in this embodiment has an opening 39a into which the connection terminal of the external device can be inserted. Furthermore, the connection portion 39 is arranged so that its upper portion is covered by the canopy portion 46, and specifically, so that its surface is approximately flush with the connection surface 45. In this embodiment, multiple connection portions 39 are arranged spaced apart in the vertical direction.

The connection surface 45 is a flat surface that extends in the vertical direction and has a connection portion 39 provided midway along the vertical direction. Specifically, the connection surface 45 is a long, narrow surface that extends in the vertical direction and has a substantially constant width from the top to the bottom. In this embodiment, the connection surface 45 has multiple connection portions 39 arranged in a vertical line. Specifically, the connection portions 39 are provided on the connection surface 45 so that the opening direction of the opening 39a into which the connection terminal of an external device can be inserted (the direction in which the connection terminal is connected to the connection portion 39) is substantially perpendicular to the connection surface 45. In other words, the connection portions 39 are provided so that the opening direction of the opening 39a is aligned horizontally. In this embodiment, the connection portions 39 are provided so that, in the protruding position described below, the opening direction of the opening 39a is aligned horizontally and extends diagonally relative to the front surface of the cabinet.

The eaves portion 46 is provided above and below the connection surface 45 and covers the upper and lower parts of the connection portion 39. Specifically, the eaves portion 46 is connected to the upper and lower ends of the connection surface 45 and is a plate-like portion extending from the connection surface 45 in the connection direction of the connection portion 39 (the opening direction of the opening 39a of the connection portion 39). That is, the eaves portion 46 is a plate-like body whose upper surface extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the connection surface 45. In this embodiment, the eaves portion 46 functions as a portion that catches water splashing from above. The eaves portion 46 also includes a biasing connecting portion 48 to which one end of the biasing means 59 (described later) is connected, and an abutting surface 49 that can abut against the rotation restricting portion 54 of the horizontal support frame plate at the protruding position (described later) (see FIG. 11). In this embodiment, the abutting surface 49 is configured as the front surface of the biasing connecting portion 48.

The holding portion 42 is a frame-shaped portion that holds the main body portion 40. The holding portion 42 can be fixed to a mounting fixture 15 provided on the side panel 12. Specifically, the holding portion 42 includes a frame-shaped holding frame portion 50 that can store the main body portion 40 therein, and a plate-shaped fixing portion 51 that is connected to the holding frame portion 50. In this embodiment, the holding portion 42 is provided with a pair of fixing portions 51 spaced apart vertically. This holding portion 42 opens forward and forms an insertion space into which the main body portion 40 can be inserted.

The holding frame 50 comprises a plate-shaped vertical holding frame 52 extending in the vertical direction, and a pair of horizontal holding frame 53 extending in one direction (leftward in this embodiment) from the upper and lower ends of the vertical holding frame 52. The vertical holding frame 52 is a plate-shaped body whose vertical length is longer than the vertical length of the main body 40, and the horizontal holding frame 53 is a plate-shaped body whose horizontal length is approximately the same as the horizontal length of the decorative panel mounting surface 44.

The horizontal holding frame 53 has a rotation restriction portion 54 at its front end that protrudes toward the other horizontal holding frame 53 and can abut against the abutment surface 49 of the device main body 31 when in the protruding position (see FIG. 11). The horizontal holding frame 53 also has a fitting groove 55 into which the fitting means 37 of the horizontal frame 35 can fit. In this embodiment, the rotation restriction portion 54 is a plate-like member extending downward from the front end of the upper horizontal holding frame 53, or a plate-like member extending upward from the front end of the lower horizontal holding frame 53. The fitting groove 55 is a groove-like portion extending in the left-right direction formed in the rear end of the horizontal holding frame 53, and in this embodiment is formed as a hole penetrating in the up-down direction. Furthermore, the horizontal holding frame 53 is configured to rotatably hold the rotation shaft 41 (described below).

The fixing portion 51 is a plate-shaped portion connected to the horizontal holding frame portion 53. In this embodiment, a pair of fixing portions 51 are provided, spaced apart in the vertical direction. One fixing portion 51 is provided to extend upward from the upper horizontal holding frame portion 53, and the other fixing portion 51 is provided to extend downward from the lower horizontal holding frame portion 53. Specifically, the fixing portion 51 is a flat plate extending in the vertical direction and includes a fixing base 56 having a hole penetrating in the thickness direction through which a fastener can be inserted, and a positioning protrusion 57 protruding forward from the fixing base 56. In this embodiment, multiple positioning protrusions 57 are provided, spaced apart in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the positioning protrusions 57 are located at positions such that the fitting means 37 of the horizontal frame portion 35 can fit into the fitting groove 55 when the positioning recess 38 of the horizontal frame portion 35 is fitted. In this embodiment, the pair of fixing portions 51 are configured symmetrically in the vertical direction with respect to the vertical center of the device main body 31.

As shown in FIG. 11 , the pivot shaft 41 is a shaft extending in the vertical direction and serves as the vertical axis when the main body 40 pivots horizontally. Specifically, the pivot shaft 41 includes a columnar shaft body 58 extending in the vertical direction and connecting the device main body 31 and the holding part 42, a biasing means 59 that biases the shaft body 58 to pivot in one direction, a locking mechanism (not shown) that can restrict and release the rotation of the shaft body 58, and a rotary damper (not shown) that restricts the rotation speed of the shaft body 58. In this embodiment, the rotary damper is built into the shaft body 58. The locking mechanism is configured to restrict the rotation of the shaft body 58 when it is in a retracted position, which will be described later.

The shaft body 58 is a cylindrical section with one end connected to the device main body 31 so as not to rotate relative to the device main body 31, and the other end connected to the holding part 42 so as to rotate relative to the device main body 31. The shaft body 58 is also connected to a section midway in the width direction (left-right direction) of the main body 40. Specifically, the shaft body 58 is connected to a position opposite the connection surface 45 (to the left in this embodiment) with respect to the center of the width direction of the main body 40.

The biasing means 59 is a component that biases the shaft body 58 to rotate in one direction. Specifically, the biasing means 59 is a coil spring with one end fixed to the circuit body 60 and the other end connected to the biasing connection portion 48 of the visor portion 46, and is configured so that the other end attempts to move away from the one end due to its elastic force. That is, the biasing means 59 of this embodiment is configured to bias the shaft body 58 via the device body 31. Furthermore, the biasing means 59 of this embodiment is configured to be compressed as the body portion 40, described below, moves from the extended position to the retracted position, and to return to its original position as it moves from the retracted position to the extended position.

The rotary damper is a component that provides resistance to the rotation of the shaft body 58. For example, the rotary damper contains a highly viscous liquid inside, and is configured to provide resistance to the rotation of the rotating shaft 41 due to the viscous resistance of the liquid. In this embodiment, the rotary damper is provided at least at one of the upper and lower ends of the rotating shaft 41.

The circuit section 43 is a section having a circuit that electrically connects an external power source (e.g., a commercial power source) to the connection section 39. The circuit section 43 is a columnar section that is connected to the rear of the holding section 42 and extends rearward from the holding section 42, extending in the vertical direction. Specifically, the circuit section 43 includes a circuit main body section 60 that is connected to the rear of the holding section 42 and has a circuit therein that electrically connects the connection section 39 to the external power source, and a circuit terminal section 61 that extends rearward from the circuit main body section 60 and electrically connects the external power source to the circuit. The circuit terminal section 61 incorporates a terminal (not shown) at its rear end that electrically connects the circuit to a conductor (lead wire) electrically connected to the external power source. The circuit section 43 is configured to be able to fit into the device insertion hole 19a. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the circuit section 43, excluding the circuit terminal section 61, is configured symmetrically above and below the center of the device main body 31 in the vertical direction.

The connection device 14 configured as described above is attached to the side panel 12 via the mounting fixture 15. Specifically, the device main body 31 is attached to the mounting fixture 15, and the decorative frame 32 and decorative panel 33 are attached to the device main body 31 attached to the mounting fixture 15.

The device main body 31 is attached to the mounting fixture 15 with fasteners (e.g., screws). Specifically, the fastener is inserted into the fastening hole by placing the fastening portion 51 on the mounting main body 19 so that the fixing hole 19b of the mounting main body 19 overlaps the hole formed in the fixing portion 51. At this time, the circuit portion 43 fits into the device insertion hole 19a. The device main body 31 is attached to the mounting fixture 15. In this embodiment, the circuit portion 43 is configured symmetrically from top to bottom, and the pair of fixing portions 51 are also symmetrically arranged from top to bottom. Therefore, the device main body 31 can be attached to the mounting fixture 15 even when reversed. Note that if the device main body 31 is attached to the mounting fixture 15 upside down, the rotation direction of the main body 40, described below, will be reversed.

The decorative frame 32 is attached to the device main body 31 attached to the mounting fixture 15 by fitting it from the front. Specifically, the decorative frame 32 is attached to the device main body 31 by arranging a pair of horizontal frame bodies so that the main body 40 is sandwiched between the pair of horizontal frame bodies in the vertical direction, fitting the positioning recesses 38 into the positioning protrusions 57 to position the decorative frame 32 relative to the device main body 31, and fitting the fitting means 37 into the fitting grooves 55.

The decorative panel 33 is attached to the decorative panel mounting surface 44 of the device body 31 to which the decorative frame 32 is attached. Specifically, the decorative panel 33 is attached to the device body 31 by fitting the mounting portion of the decorative panel 33 into the plate mounting portion 47 provided on the decorative panel mounting surface 44. In addition to fitting the plate mounting portion 47 into the mounting portion, other means such as adhesive bonding can also be used. When the decorative panel 33 is attached to the device body 31, the front surfaces of the device body 31 and the horizontal frame portion 35 are covered by the decorative panel 33.

Using the above procedure, the connection device 14 is attached to the side panel 12 via the mounting fixture 15. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, once the connection device 14 is attached, the front of the mounting space 2a is covered by the connection device 14, making it impossible to see the inside of the cabinet 2 through the mounting space 2a, whether in the protruding position or the retracted position described below.

The method of using the cabinet with a top panel 1 configured as described above will be explained with reference to Figures 12 to 17.

The connection device 14 is switchable between a protruding position in the horizontal direction, where at least a portion of the connection portion 39 is located between the tip surface of the outer end portion and the side surface 1b, and a retracted position, where the connection portion 39 is located closer to the side surface 1b than the protruding position. In this embodiment, the protruding position is a position where at least a portion of the connection portion 39 is located behind the front end 3a of the top plate 3 and in front of the front surface of the cabinet 2, and the retracted position is a position where the connection portion 39 is located behind the protruding position.

12, 14, and 16, when the connection device 14 of this embodiment is in the retracted position, the entire connection portion 39 is located behind the front surface of the side panel 12 (back panel 17), and the entire connection portion 39 is stored within the cabinet 2. That is, when the connection device 14 of this embodiment is in the retracted position, the entire connection surface 45 is hidden from the front. Also, with the connection device 14 in the retracted position, the entire eaves portion 46 is stored inside the cabinet 2. Furthermore, when the connection device 14 is in the retracted position, the outer surface (front surface) of the connection device 14 and the outer surface (front surface) of the side panel 12 are approximately flush. Specifically, when the connection device 14 is in the retracted position, the decorative panel mounting surface 44 extends parallel to the front surface, and the front surface of the decorative panel 33, the front surface of the decorative frame 32 (vertical frame front surface 34a), and the outer surface of the side panel 12 (front surface of the back panel 17) are approximately flush. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the connection device 14 is in the retracted position, the frame upper surface 32a, which is the upper surface of the decorative frame 32, is approximately flush with the upper surface of the header panel 17, the frame lower surface 32b, which is the lower surface of the decorative frame 32, is approximately flush with the lower surface of the header panel 17, and the frame side surface 32c, which is the side surface of the decorative frame 32, is approximately flush with the left side surface of the front panel 18.

13, 15, and 17, when the connection device 14 of this embodiment is in the protruding position, the entire connection portion 39 is located forward of the front surface of the side panel 12 (back panel 17) and behind the front end 3a of the top panel 3, and the entire connection portion 39 is exposed from inside the cabinet 2. That is, when the connection device 14 of this embodiment is in the protruding position, the entire connection surface 45 is exposed from the front. Furthermore, when the connection device 14 is in the protruding position, the eaves portion 46 is also exposed from inside the cabinet 2, covering the exposed connection portion 39 from above. When the connection device 14 of this embodiment is in the protruding position, a portion of the main body 40 is located forward of the front end 3a of the top panel 3, and the entire connection portion 39 is located behind the front end 3a of the top panel 3. Furthermore, when the connection portion 39 is in the retracted position, the opening direction (the direction in which the connection terminal of the external device is connected to the connection portion 39) faces horizontally, specifically, in approximately the same horizontal direction as the decorative panel 33. Furthermore, when the connection device 14 of this embodiment is in the retracted position, the corner portion 40a is located in approximately the same position as the front end 3a in the front-to-rear direction.

The connection device 14 of this embodiment can be switched between a protruding position and a retracted position by rotating the main body 40 about the pivot shaft 41. Specifically, switching between the protruding position and the retracted position is primarily achieved by the locking mechanism and the biasing means 59. When the main body 40 of this embodiment rotates from the protruding position to the retracted position, the right side moves forward and the left side moves rearward. In this embodiment, when the shaft body 58 rotates so that the connection portion 39 moves further rearward from the retracted position, the locking mechanism enters a restricted state that restricts rotation of the shaft body 58 to the protruding position. When the shaft body 58 is rotated in a direction that moves the connection portion 39 rearward while the locking mechanism is in the restricted state, the locking mechanism enters a rotation-permitting state, releasing the restriction. In other words, when the main body 40 is rotated rearward to move the connection portion 39 from the protruding position to the retracted position, the locking mechanism restricts rotation of the pivot shaft 41, and the connection device 14 maintains the retracted position. Furthermore, when the main body 40 of the connection device 14, which is maintained in the retracted position, is pushed rearward, the locking mechanism enters a rotation-permitting state, allowing the shaft main body 58 to rotate. The shaft main body 58 is then biased by the biasing means 59 to rotate forward and move to the extended position. Once in the extended position, the abutment surface 49 on the visor 46 abuts against the rotation restriction portion 54 of the horizontal holding frame 53, restricting further rotation and maintaining the extended position. In this embodiment, the main body 40 rotates an angle of less than 90 degrees when moving from the extended position to the retracted position or from the retracted position to the extended position.

When the connection device 14 moves to the protruding position, the portion of the decorative panel 33 located to the left of the pivot axis 41 retracts into the retraction space 35a. The portion of the decorative panel 33 located to the left of the pivot axis 41 moves rearward when rotating from the retracted position to the protruding position. The formation of the retraction space 35a prevents this rearward-moving portion from interfering with other portions and hindering rotation. Similarly, the portion of the main body 40 located to the left of the pivot axis 41 moves rearward and leftward midway through rotation. The formation of the retraction space 35a prevents the rearward-moving portion of the main body 40 from interfering with other portions and hindering rotation.

With the cabinet 1 with a top panel configured as described above, the connection device 14 can be switched between a protruding position and a retracted position. In the protruding position, at least a portion of the connection portion 39 is located between the tip surface of the outer end and the side surface 1b. In the protruding position, the connection portion 39 is located in an optimal position for connecting a connection terminal, making it easy to connect the connection terminal of an external device to the connection portion 39. This makes it easy to connect the connection terminal of an external device to the connection portion 39.

In addition, the main body 40 can be rotated around a vertically extending pivot shaft 41 to switch between the extended and retracted positions, making it easy to switch between the extended and retracted positions.

Furthermore, a canopy portion 46 is provided above the connection portion 39, extending outward in the direction of connection to the connection portion 39. The canopy portion 46 prevents water falling from the top plate 3 from splashing onto the connection portion 39.

In addition, since the pivot shaft 41 is located midway across the width of the main body 40, the width of the connection device 14 is prevented from increasing by the amount of the pivot shaft 41.

Furthermore, because the connection portion 39 and the eaves portion 46 are stored inside the cabinet 2 in the retracted position, water is prevented from splashing onto the connection portion 39 and the eaves portion 46 when in the retracted position. This prevents water from running down the eaves portion 46 and splashing onto the connection portion 39 in the retracted position.

The main body 40 is also configured to be rotatable around an axis extending in the vertical direction, and the connection device 14 can be attached to the cabinet 2 in either of two positions: in the protruding position, the connection portion 39 faces one side in the left-right direction perpendicular to the front-to-back and up-to-down directions of the cabinet 2, or in the other position in the left-to-right direction. This allows the orientation of the connection portion 39 to be selected to suit the environment in which the top-mounted cabinet 1 is installed, improving convenience. The position of the retraction space 35a can also be adjusted appropriately to match the orientation of the connection portion 39 in the retracted position.

Furthermore, the connection device 14 is fixed to the mounting fixture 15 and includes a holding portion 42 that holds the main body portion 40 via the pivot shaft 41; a locking mechanism that can switch between a restricting state that restricts the main body portion 40 from the retracted position from rotating to the protruding position and an allowing state that allows the main body portion 40 from the retracted position to rotate to the protruding position; and a forward restricting means (rotation restricting portion 54 and abutment surface 49) that engages with the fixed portion 51 at the protruding position and restricts the main body portion 40 from rotating forward beyond the protruding position. The pivot shaft 41 includes a biasing means 59 that biases the main body portion 40 to rotate from the retracted position to the protruding position, and a rotary damper that regulates the rotation speed of the main body portion 40 when it moves from the retracted position to the protruding position. Therefore, when the locking mechanism is released, the main body 40 moves slowly from the retracted position to the extended position due to the biasing force of the biasing means 59 and the speed restriction of the rotary damper, and abuts against and locks against the front restriction means, preventing the main body 40 from abutting against the front restriction means with force. Furthermore, because the pivot shaft 41 is located midway across the main body 40, the connection device 14 is prevented from becoming larger in width due to the size of the rotary damper.

The connection device 14 is fixed to the cabinet 2 and includes a fixed portion 51 that holds the main body 40 via a pivot shaft 41. The fixed portion 51 opens forward and forms an insertion space into which the main body 40 is inserted. The insertion space is configured so that the front is covered by the main body 40, at least when in the protruding position. This prevents the interior of the cabinet 2 from being visible through the connection device 14 even when the connection device 14 is in the protruding position, improving the design.

Furthermore, the front of the mounting space 2a is covered by the connection device 14, which prevents the interior of the cabinet 2 from being visible through the mounting space 2a, improving the design.

In addition, when in the protruding position, a portion of the connection device 14 is located forward of the front end 3a of the tabletop 3. Therefore, when in the protruding position, a portion of the connection device 14 is visible from above the tabletop 3, making it easy to check whether the connection device is in the protruding position or the retracted position.

Furthermore, the connection device 14 is configured with a locking mechanism that allows it to move in the protruding direction when pushed in the retracted direction from the retracted position. It is also fixed to the surface extending left and right (the rear surface of the header panel 17) and the surface extending front and rear (the right surface of the partition panel 16) via the mounting fixture 15. This means that the connection device 14 can be firmly fixed to the side panel 12 and can be pushed, providing a good feel when operating it.

The above describes an embodiment of the present invention using one example, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, while the cabinet with a top 1 has been described as a kitchen countertop, the present invention is not limited to this configuration and can also be applied to a washstand installed in a bathroom or a cupboard installed in a kitchen. When the cabinet with a top 1 is configured as a washstand, a washbasin comprising a flange serving as a countertop with a flat upper surface and a bowl portion recessed downward from the flange can be provided on the upper part of the cabinet 2. Furthermore, even when the cabinet with a top 1 is configured as a countertop, it is not limited to the case in which it comprises a sink 5, a work surface (the upper surface of the work surface portion 9), and a cooking appliance 7, as in this embodiment, and it can also be configured to comprise only the sink 5, for example.

Furthermore, while a plug receptacle has been used as an example of the connection portion 39, the connection portion 39 can be configured in various other configurations without being limited to this. For example, the connection portion 39 can be configured as a USB port capable of transmitting and receiving power and sending and receiving electrical signals, or as a LAN port or HDMI (registered trademark) port capable of only sending and receiving electrical signals. It is also possible to provide multiple types of connection portions 39 on a single connection device 14. Furthermore, the connection portion 39 can be configured as a male terminal, allowing connection to an external device with a female connection terminal.

Furthermore, while the connection device 14 has been described as being provided in the sink section 6, it can be provided in any position on the cabinet 2 without being limited to this configuration. For example, the connection device 14 could be provided below the cooker 7 and the left separation section 231 (between the cooker 7 and the end of the top panel 3 on the side where the cooker 7 is located). This configuration makes effective use of the space between the cooker 7 and the end of the top panel 3, which is provided to prevent fire from spreading from the cooker 7 to the building wall. The connection device 14 could also be provided on the workbench section 9. This configuration makes it easy to connect the connection terminal of an external device placed on the workbench section 9 to the connection section 39.

Furthermore, while the connection device 14 has been described as being in a retracted position in which the entire connection portion 39 is stored inside the cabinet 2, this configuration is not limiting, and the connection device 14 may also be configured so that some or all of the connection portion 39 is exposed from the cabinet 2 even in the retracted position.

Furthermore, while the description has been given of the case where the back panel 17 is fixed and cannot be moved, this configuration is not limiting. For example, the back panel 17 can be configured to be openable and closable, allowing knives and other items to be stored inside the side panels 12. In such cases, the front of the back panel 17 is defined as the state in which the back panel 17 is closed.

In addition, while the cabinet 1 with a top has been described as being arranged with the sink 5, work surface, and cooking appliance 7 aligned in a straight line, this is not a limitation and the cabinet 1 can also be configured, for example, so that the sink 5, work surface, and cooking appliance 7 are aligned in an L-shape. In such a configuration, the front surface is the surface that the user of the plumbing equipment 4 primarily faces, and is a continuous L-shaped surface in plan view that extends in the direction in which the sink 5, work surface, and cooking appliance 7 are aligned.

Furthermore, while the pivot shaft 41 has been described as being located midway along the width of the connection device 14, it is not limited to this configuration and can also be configured to be located at one end of the width.

Furthermore, while the connection direction to the connection portion 39 has been described as extending perpendicular to the connection surface 45, this is not limited to this case and the connection portion 39 can also be provided diagonally upward or downward relative to the connection surface 45.

Furthermore, while the connection device 14 has been described as being provided on the front of the cabinet 2, it can also be provided on the left, rear, or right side. For example, if the connection device 14 is provided on the left side, the top plate 3 can be configured to have an outer end located to the left of the left side of the left side of the cabinet 2. Furthermore, if the connection device 14 is provided on the rear side, the connection device 14 can be operated from the side opposite the side facing the user who primarily uses the plumbing equipment 4 (for example, the dining side in a counter kitchen), making it easier to use from the rear side. Furthermore, the connection device 14 can also be placed on multiple sides of the cabinet 2. In this configuration, the top plate 3 can also be configured to have multiple outer ends.

Furthermore, while the cabinet with a top panel 1 has been described as being installed indoors, it is not limited to this configuration and can also be configured to be installed outdoors.

1...Cabinet with top plate, 2...Cabinet, 3...Top plate, 4...Plumbing equipment, 5...Sink, 6...Sink section, 7...Cooking appliance, 8...Heating section, 9...Work table section, 11...Bottom section, 12...Side panel, 13...Drawer section, 14...Connection device, 15...Mounting fixture, 16...Partition board, 17...Back panel, 18...Front panel, 19...Mounting main body section, 20...Front section facing section, 21...Partition board facing section, 22...Sink top plate section, 23...Heating top plate section, 24...Work top plate section, 31...Device main body, 32...Decorative frame, 33...Decorative panel, 34...Vertical frame section, 35... Horizontal frame portion, 36...horizontal frame main body portion, 37...fitting means, 38...positioning recess, 39...connecting portion, 40...main body portion, 41...rotating shaft, 42...retaining portion, 43...circuit portion, 44...decorative panel mounting surface, 45...connecting surface, 46...eaves portion, 47...board mounting portion, 48...biasing connection portion, 49...contact surface, 50...holding frame portion, 51...fixing portion, 52...vertical holding frame portion, 53...horizontal holding frame portion, 54...rotation restriction portion, 55...fitting groove, 56...fixed base portion, 57...positioning protrusion, 58...shaft main body, 59...biasing means, 60...circuit main body portion, 61...circuit terminal portion

Claims (3)

A cabinet with a top plate including a cabinet and a top plate provided on the cabinet and extending horizontally,
The cabinet comprises:
an upper portion on which the top plate is placed;
a side plate extending downward from the upper portion and constituting a side surface of the cabinet;
a connection device having a connection section to which a connection terminal for at least one of power transmission/reception and information communication of an external device can be connected;
the top plate has an outer end portion located outward from the side surface in the horizontal direction,
the connecting device is disposed below the outer end portion along the side surface, and the connecting portion is configured to be switchable between a protruding position in which at least a part of the connecting portion is located between a tip surface of the outer end portion and the side surface in the horizontal direction, and a retracted position in which the connecting portion is located closer to the side surface than the protruding position ;
the connection device includes a main body portion on which the connection portion is provided and a rotation shaft extending in a vertical direction,
The main body is a cabinet with a top panel that is configured to be able to rotate about the rotation shaft and switch between a protruding position and a retracted position . The cabinet with a top panel according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot shaft is provided at a midpoint in the width direction of the main body. 3. The cabinet with a top panel according to claim 1 , wherein the connection device includes a canopy portion located above the connection portion and extending outward in the horizontal direction in a direction in which the connection terminal is connected to the connection portion.