JP7854844B2 - Mobile fixtures - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a mobile fixture.

Currently, mobile furniture capable of moving along the floor with electronic devices such as laptop computers and tablets placed on it is used in facilities such as offices and hospitals (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Such mobile furniture generally comprises a base with a means of movement such as casters, a support column extending upward from the base, and a top plate supported by the support column. Multiple trays are provided in the space between the base and the top plate. Users, such as nurses, perform their duties while moving the mobile furniture, for example, with electronic devices placed on the top plate and medical supplies such as disposable gloves stored in the trays.

Patent No. 4846345 Patent No. 6369186

However, in conventional mobile fixtures such as those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the trays are only mounted on fixed columns. Therefore, when the user adjusts the height of the tabletop to match their posture, the trays mounted on the fixed columns do not move with the vertical sliding of the tabletop. As a result, when retrieving items from the trays mounted on the fixed columns, the user must change their posture (for example, by bending over), which can increase the physical strain on the user due to frequent retrieval.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a mobile fixture that, using a simple configuration, can achieve vertical movement of the tray by linking the attachment part for optional parts such as trays with the vertical sliding of the top plate.

To achieve the above objective, the structure comprises a fixed column fixed to the base, a movable column having an upper end to which the top plate is fixed and slidable vertically relative to the fixed column, and a bracket bar having an upper part fixed to the top plate or the movable column, and a lower part attached to the fixed column so as to be slidable vertically relative to the fixed column.

By adopting this configuration, it is possible to achieve vertical movement of a bracket bar, which is an example of an optional mounting part, in conjunction with the vertical sliding of the top plate, using a simple structure.

In the mobile fixture according to the present invention, the fixed column is an outer column that supports the vertical sliding of the movable column, and the movable column can be an inner column inserted into the outer column.

By adopting this configuration, the stability of the vertical sliding of the movable column can be improved.

In the mobile fixture according to the present invention, the outer surface of the bracket bar has a first bar side facing the outer and inner columns, and a second bar side opposite the first bar side. An optional mounting part can be attached to the second bar side, and other optional mounting parts can be attached to the second outer column side.

By adopting this configuration, it is possible to avoid collisions between the optional mounting part attached to the bracket bar and other optional mounting parts attached to the fixed column due to the vertical sliding motion of the bracket bar.

In the mobile fixture according to the present invention, the second bar side of the bracket bar can be a surface facing forward in the direction of travel of the mobile fixture.

By adopting this configuration, the second bar side of the bracket bar can be positioned on the upstream side (i.e., the user side) in the direction of travel of the mobile fixture, thereby allowing the tray attached to the bracket bar to face the user, and thus improving convenience.

In the mobile fixture according to the present invention, the outer column has a groove provided on the side surface of the first outer column that extends vertically, and the lower part of the bracket bar may have a sliding portion provided on the side surface of the first bar that is slidable along the groove.

By adopting this configuration, vertical sliding of the bracket bar can be easily achieved.

In the mobile fixture according to the present invention, two sliding parts are provided on both the left and right sides of the lower part, and two grooves can be provided on the side surface of the first outer column at positions corresponding to the two sliding parts.

By adopting this configuration, it is possible to improve the stability of the vertical sliding of the bracket bar using a simple structure.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mobile fixture that, using a simple configuration, enables the vertical movement of a tray attached to a bracket bar in conjunction with the vertical sliding of the top plate.

This is an overall perspective view of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of the support column of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the inner column of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Figure 3. This diagram illustrates the mounting relationship between the outer column and the engaging column of a movable fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram illustrates the attachment of an optional mounting part by an engaging column to a mobile fixture according to another embodiment. This diagram illustrates the mounting relationship between the outer column and bracket bar of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram illustrates the mounting relationship between the outer column and bracket bar of a mobile fixture according to another embodiment. This diagram illustrates the mounting relationship between the outer column and the mounting part of a mobile fixture according to another embodiment. This diagram illustrates the mounting relationship between the outer column, bracket bar, and mounting part of a mobile fixture according to another embodiment. This is a top view of the top plate portion of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a side view of the top plate portion of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a perspective view of the top plate portion of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows the state in which the tray has been removed from the storage space on the top of the mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram illustrates the user's actions when using conventional mobile fixtures. This diagram illustrates the user's actions when using a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a diagram illustrating a lateral fall prevention device provided on the top plate of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is an enlarged perspective view of the lateral fall prevention section provided on the top plate of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a front view illustrating a notch provided in the top plate of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a perspective view illustrating a notch provided in the top plate of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a diagram illustrating the mounting mechanism for a movable fixture into a notch according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a perspective view of the storage space provided on the top surface of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention, as seen from diagonally in front of the fixture. This is a perspective view of the storage space provided on the top plate of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention, as seen from diagonally behind the fixture. This diagram illustrates the wiring configuration in a storage space provided on the top plate of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a partial perspective view from above of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a partial side view of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a perspective view illustrating the handle of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement relationship between the handle and the top plate of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram illustrates a state in which an optional attachment part is attached to the handle of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram illustrates a state in which an optional attachment part is attached to the handle of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram illustrates a state in which an optional attachment part is attached to the handle of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram illustrates the usage state of the first part of the handle of a mobile fixture according to another embodiment. This diagram illustrates the stored state of the first part of the handle of a mobile fixture according to another embodiment. This diagram illustrates the usage state of the first part of the handle of a mobile fixture according to another embodiment. This diagram illustrates the stored state of the first part of the handle of a mobile fixture according to another embodiment. This diagram illustrates the usage state of the first part of the handle of a mobile fixture according to another embodiment. This diagram illustrates the stored state of the first part of the handle of a mobile fixture according to another embodiment. This is a diagram illustrating the first part of the handle of a mobile fixture according to another embodiment. This is a diagram illustrating the first part of the handle of a mobile fixture according to another embodiment. This is a diagram illustrating the lifting lever of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention (viewed from slightly below the front). This is a diagram illustrating the lifting lever of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention (viewed from a slightly sideways angle). This is a diagram illustrating a connecting mechanism that connects the lifting lever and the release part of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure illustrates a modified example of a lifting lever or the like of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention. This figure illustrates a modified example of a lifting lever or the like of a mobile fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are merely preferred examples, and the scope of application of the present invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in Figure 1, the mobile fixture 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a base portion 100, a support column portion 200 extending upward from the base portion 100, a top plate portion 300 supported by the support column portion 200, a handle 400 attached to the top plate portion 300, a lifting lever 500 for raising and lowering the top plate portion 300, and the like. Each component will be described below.

<Base section>
The base section 100 is configured to be able to move with the support column section 200 and the top plate section 300 mounted on top of it, and as shown in Figure 1, it has legs 110 and casters 120 attached to the ends of the legs 110. The legs 110 have a central section 111 which has a flat area to which the support column section 200 is attached, and leg rods 112 (112F and 112R) which extend radially in all four directions from the central section 111, and in plan view it has a roughly X shape. In this embodiment, the length of the two front leg rods 112F provided in the front of the direction of travel of the mobile furniture 1 is made longer than the length of the two rear leg rods 112R provided in the rear of the direction of travel of the mobile furniture 1, thereby improving stability during movement. The casters 120 are attached below the ends of each leg rod 112. Each caster 120 is configured to roll while in contact with the floor surface, and is attached to the tip of each leg rod 112 so as to be rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the floor surface. As a result, the mobile fixture 1 can move while freely changing direction. In addition, a locking mechanism can be attached to at least one caster 120 (for example, two casters 120 positioned on the front side in the direction of travel), and the movement of the mobile fixture 1 can be restricted by locking the caster 120 with the locking mechanism.

<Strut>
The support column 200 is designed to be extendable and retractable in the vertical direction, and by extending or retracting its length, it supports the top plate 300 so that it can move up and down, and is also configured to support the optional mounting section. Here, the optional mounting section consists of a tray, hook, etc., on which optional items can be placed or hung. Below, an overview of the support column 200 will be described, followed by a detailed explanation of each component.

As shown in Figure 2, the support column 200 comprises an outer column 201 fixed to the base column 100, an inner column 203 inserted into the outer column 201 and slidable vertically relative to the outer column 201, and a bracket bar 205 attached to the outer circumferential surface of the outer column 201 and slidable vertically relative to the outer column 201.

The outer column 201 has its lower end 214 fixed to the base portion 100 and its upper end 213 positioned toward the top plate portion 300. The inner column 203 is inserted into the outer column 201 from its lower end 236 and is positioned so that its upper end 235 is fixed to the top plate portion 300. The bracket bar 205 has its lower part 256 attached to the outer circumferential surface of the outer column 201 so as to be slidable vertically relative to the outer column 201, and its upper part 255 is positioned so as to be fixed to the top plate portion 300. Alternatively, the upper part 255 of the bracket bar 205 may be fixed to the upper end 235 of the inner column 203 instead of the top plate portion 300. Thus, since both the upper end 235 of the inner column 203 and the upper part 255 of the bracket bar 205 are directly or indirectly fixed to the top plate 300, when the top plate 300 slides vertically, the inner column 203 and the bracket bar 205 move in conjunction with the vertical sliding of the top plate 300.

Here, the outer column 201 is an example of a fixed column fixed to the base portion 100, and the inner column 203 is an example of a movable column supported by the fixed column and slidable vertically relative to the fixed column. The arrangement of the outer column 201 and the inner column 203 may be interchangeable. That is, the inner column 203 may be a fixed column fixed to the base portion 100, and the outer column 201 may be a movable column slidable vertically relative to the inner column 203. Furthermore, the bracket bar 205 is not an essential component of the support column portion 200. Therefore, the bracket bar 205 can be considered as one of the optional mounting parts attached to the outer column 201 of the support column portion 200, or as a mounting configuration for attaching optional mounting parts such as trays to the outer column 201.

Next, the configurations of the outer column 201, inner column 203, and bracket bar 205 will be described in detail.

As shown in Figure 4, the outer column 201 has a column wall portion 210 and an internal space 220 surrounded by the column wall portion 210. The column wall portion 210 is cylindrical. The column wall portion 210 has a first outer column side surface 211 facing the rear in the direction of travel and a second outer column side surface 212 facing the front in the direction of travel.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the column wall section 210 has two rear grooves 215 provided on both sides in the width direction of the first outer column side surface 211 and opening toward the rear in the direction of travel, and two front grooves 216 provided on both sides in the width direction of the second outer column side surface 212 and opening toward the front in the direction of travel. Both the two rear grooves 215 and the two front grooves 216 extend along the vertical direction. As shown in Figure 4, a rear space 217 is formed inside each rear groove 215, and a front space 218 is formed inside each front groove 216.

The two rear grooves 215 are configured for mounting rear option attachments, such as the tray 290 shown in Figure 2, while the two front grooves 216 are configured for mounting front option attachments, such as the tray 270 shown in Figure 1.

In the following explanation, when the two rear grooves 215 and the two front grooves 216 are not distinguished, they may be collectively referred to as the "outer column groove." Similarly, when the two rear spaces 217 and the two front spaces 218 are not distinguished, they may be collectively referred to as the "outer column groove space." Furthermore, when the rear option mounting section and the front option mounting section are not distinguished, they may be collectively referred to as the "option mounting section."

Each of the two rear grooves 215 and the two front grooves 216 enables attachment of the option mounting section to the outer column 201 via a combination of one or more of the mounting configurations of the option mounting section, such as the engaging column 2130 and mounting section 280 shown in Figures 5 and 6, the surface pressure mounting section 260 shown in Figures 9 and 10, and the bracket bar 205 shown in Figures 7, 8, and 10. Hereafter, the attachment of the option mounting section to the outer column 201 via the combination of the outer column groove and the mounting configuration may be referred to as "attachment of the option mounting section by the outer column." Furthermore, details of the attachment of the option mounting section by the outer column according to each embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 10 will be explained after describing the other configurations of the outer column 201, the configuration of the inner column 203, and the configuration of the bracket bar 205.

The internal space 220 is a space for housing the inner column 203. The inner circumferential surface of the internal space 220 is provided with a structure for supporting the inner column 203. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the inner circumferential surface of the internal space 220 has guide surfaces 225 extending vertically, provided on the front and rear portions in the direction of travel, and support surfaces 222 provided on both sides in the width direction. The guide surfaces 225 are configured to guide the vertical sliding of the sliding portion 241 of the inner column 203, which will be described later. The support surfaces 222 are configured to prevent the inner column 203 from tilting to one side in the width direction and losing its posture by contacting the posture-holding portion 242 of the inner column 203, which will be described later.

As shown in Figure 3, the inner column 203 has a column wall portion 230, an internal space 240 enclosed by the column wall portion 230, four sliding portions 241 provided on the column wall portion 230, and two posture-holding portions 242 provided on the column wall portion 230. As shown in Figure 4, a gas cylinder C for biasing the top plate portion 300 upwards is housed in the internal space 240. The column wall portion 230 has a rectangular tubular shape, as shown in Figure 3. The column wall portion 230 has a first inner column side surface 231 facing the rear in the direction of travel, a second inner column side surface 232 facing the front in the direction of travel, and a third inner column side surface 233 and a fourth inner column side surface 234 on both sides in the width direction.

As shown in Figure 3, two sliding sections 241 are provided on the lower end of the first inner column side surface 231, arranged vertically. Two similar sliding sections 241 are provided on the lower end of the second inner column side surface 232, corresponding to the two sliding sections 241 attached to the first inner column side surface 231. Each sliding section 241 includes two rollers 245, a base section 243 supporting the two rollers 245, and a screw for attaching the base section 243 to the first or second inner column side surface 231. Hereinafter, the upper of the two vertically arranged sliding sections 241 may be referred to as the "upper sliding section 241," and the lower sliding section 241 as the "lower sliding section 241."

When a user moves the top plate 300 vertically, the direction of the external force acting on the top plate 300 is often inclined forward or backward in the direction of travel relative to the vertical direction, depending on the mounting position of the lifting lever 500 for raising and lowering the top plate 300 (see Figure 1), etc. An external force with such a direction causes the inner column 203 to tilt forward or backward in the direction of travel relative to the vertical direction. As a result, at least the rollers 245 of the upper sliding part 241 of the first inner column side surface 231 and the lower sliding part 241 of the second inner column side surface 232, or the rollers 245 of the upper sliding part 241 of the second inner column side surface 232 and the lower sliding part 241 of the first inner column side surface 231, contact the corresponding guide surfaces 225 in the internal space 220 of the outer column 201 and rotate. As a result, the inner column 203 can slide smoothly vertically relative to the outer column 201. Furthermore, as mentioned above, since external forces are often inclined forward or backward in the direction of travel relative to the vertical direction, providing the sliding portion 241 on the first inner column side surface 231 and the second inner column side surface 232 of the inner column 203 (i.e., the front-to-rear surface of the inner column 203) improves the stability of guidance and support for the sliding of the inner column 203 by the sliding portion 241 compared to providing the sliding portion 241 on the third inner column side surface 233 and the fourth inner column side surface 234 of the inner column 203 (i.e., the left-to-right surface of the inner column 203).

As shown in Figure 3, a posture-holding portion 242 is provided on the lower end of the third inner column side surface 233. A similar posture-holding portion 242 is provided on the lower end of the fourth inner column side surface 234 at a position corresponding to the posture-holding portion 242 attached to the third inner column side surface 233. The posture-holding portion 242 comprises a disc-shaped main body portion 246 and a screw 247 for attaching the main body portion 246 to the third inner column side surface 233 or the fourth inner column side surface 234. The main body portion 246 is made of a material (e.g., resin) that is easily slidable against the support surface 222 in the internal space 220 of the outer column 201. Furthermore, it is preferable that the posture-holding portion 242 be mounted at the same height as the upper sliding portion 241 in the vertical direction.

When a user moves the top plate 300 vertically, the direction of the external force acting on the top plate 300 may tilt to the right or left in the width direction relative to the vertical direction, due to differences in the magnitude of the force applied by the user's hands to the lifting lever 500. Such an external force causes the inner column 203 to begin tilting to the right or left in the width direction relative to the vertical direction. When this happens, the main body 246 of the posture-holding part 242 of the inner column 203 comes into contact with the support surface 222 in the internal space 220 of the outer column 201. This contact between the main body 246 of the posture-holding part 242 and the support surface 222 reduces the amount of tilt of the inner column 203, allowing the inner column 203 to be held in a nearly vertical position. As a result, the rollers 245 of the sliding section 241 attached to the first inner column side surface 231 and the second inner column side surface 232 of the inner column 203 can be prevented from derailing from the corresponding guide surface 225 due to misalignment, thereby improving the stability of the vertical sliding of the inner column 203 relative to the outer column 201. Furthermore, when the posture holding section 242 is mounted at the same height as the upper sliding section 241, the amount of misalignment of the rollers 245 of the sliding section 241 relative to the guide surface 225 can be further reduced compared to when it is mounted at other height positions.

As shown in Figure 2, the bracket bar 205 has a first bar side surface 251 facing the outer column 201 and the inner column 203, and a second bar side surface 252 on the opposite side of the first bar side surface 251. The second bar side surface 252 is the surface for attaching a rear option mounting part, such as a tray 290. The rear option mounting part attached to the second bar side surface 252 moves in conjunction with the vertical sliding of the bracket bar 205, allowing its position to change vertically. Furthermore, because the rear option mounting part is attached to the second bar side surface 252 of the bracket bar 205, collision between the rear option mounting part and the front option mounting part, such as a tray 270, attached to the second outer column side surface 212 of the outer column 201 can be avoided.

As shown in Figures 2 and 7, the lower part 256 of the bracket bar 205 has two sliding parts 257 attached to both sides in its width direction. Each sliding part 257 has a roller 259 and a support part 258 that supports the roller 259. When the bracket bar 205 is attached to the first outer column side surface 211, the roller 259 is housed in the rear space 217 through the rear groove 215.

In the above explanation, the slide portion 257 was described assuming the use of a roller 259, but this is not the only option. For example, the slide portion 257 may employ a sliding portion 254 as shown in Figure 8. In this case, the sliding portion 254 can be provided so as to directly cover the tip of the support portion 258.

Furthermore, while the above description assumes the bracket bar 205 is attached to the first bar side 251 of the outer column 201, this is not the only possible configuration. Depending on user needs, the bracket bar 205 may also be attached to the second bar side 252 of the outer column 201. In this case, the two sliding portions 257 of the bracket bar 205 are attached to the two front grooves 216, and the two rollers 259 are housed within the two front spaces 218 through the two front grooves 216. The second bar side 252 of the bracket bar 205 is used as a surface for attaching front option mounting parts such as trays 270. Details of the attachment of the bracket bar 205 to the outer column grooves will be explained later in the description of the attachment of option mounting parts by the outer column.

<Mounting of optional attachment points using external pillars>
Next, four embodiments of the attachment of the optional mounting section using the outer column, as shown in Figures 2 and 5 to 10, will be described.

(Example 1)
First, using Figures 5 and 6, we will describe a first example showing the combination of the outer column groove (specifically, the engaging column 2130 provided in the outer column groove) and the mounting portion 280. In the first example, engaging columns 2130 extending in the vertical direction are provided in both of the two rear spaces 217 of the two rear grooves 215 and the two front spaces 218 of the two front grooves 216. Note that, depending on the user's needs, if only one of the rear option mounting portion or the front option mounting portion is to be installed, the engaging columns 2130 may be provided in either the two rear spaces 217 or the two front spaces 218.

Here, the engaging column 2130 has a plurality of engaging holes 2140 formed along the vertical direction, as shown in Figure 6. The mounting portion 280 has two engaging claws 281 for engaging with the engaging holes 2140, a threaded portion 282 that can abut against the second outer column side surface 212 or the first outer column side surface 211, and a fixing portion 283 for fixing the optional mounting portion, as shown in Figure 6. The mounting portion 280 and the engaging holes 2140 are attached by engaging the two engaging claws 281 of the mounting portion 280 with the two engaging holes 2140 corresponding to each of the two engaging claws 281. In this case, the threaded portion 282 of the mounting portion 280 is pressed against the second outer column side surface 212 or the first outer column side surface 211. The contact between the threaded portion 282 and the second outer column side surface 212 or the first outer column side surface 211 allows the two engaging claws 281 to be brought into close contact with the two engaging holes 2140, thereby improving the stability of the attachment between the mounting portion 280 and the engaging column 2130.

Thus, by attaching the outer column groove (specifically, the engaging column 2130 provided in the outer column groove) to the mounting portion 280 as described above, it is possible to engage the optional mounting portion (for example, the tray 270 shown in Figure 6) fixed to the mounting portion 280 with the engaging column 2130 and attach it to the outer column 201.

(Example 2)
Next, a second example showing the combination of the outer column groove and the bracket bar 205 will be described using Figures 2, 7, and 8. Unlike the first example described above, in the second example, the two rear grooves 215 and the two front grooves 216 are not provided with engaging columns 2130. Instead, the bracket bar 205 is mounted in the two rear grooves 215 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. Depending on the user's needs, the bracket bar 205 may be mounted in the two front grooves 216 instead of the two rear grooves 215, or in both the two rear grooves 215 and the two front grooves 216. Furthermore, if the bracket bar 205 is mounted in one of the outer column grooves of the two rear grooves 215 and the two front grooves 216, another mounting configuration, such as the engaging column 2130 in the first example, may be provided in the other outer column groove. Since the mounting of the bracket bar 205 to the two rear grooves 215 is the same as the mounting of the bracket bar 205 to the two front grooves 216, only the mounting of the bracket bar 205 to the two rear grooves 215 will be described below.

The bracket bar 205 is attached to the two rear grooves 215 by inserting the rollers 259 of the two sliding parts 257 of the lower part 256 of the bracket bar 205 into the two rear spaces 217 through the corresponding openings of the two rear grooves 215. In this case, the rearward portion of the inner circumferential surface 219 of each rear space 217 prevents each sliding part 257 from easily escaping from its corresponding rear space 217. Also, as described above, the upper part 255 of the bracket bar 205 is fixed to the top plate 300. With this configuration, when the top plate 300 slides in the vertical direction, each roller 259 can rotate along the front or rearward portion of the inner circumferential surface 219 of the rear space 217 in the direction of travel, as shown in Figure 7. The bracket bar 205 can then slide in the vertical direction in conjunction with the vertical sliding of the top plate 300 via the rotation of each roller 259.

Furthermore, if the sliding parts 254 shown in Figure 8 are used instead of the rollers 259 in each sliding part 257, when the top plate 300 is slid vertically, each sliding part 254 can slide along the inner circumferential surface 219 of the rear space 217. The bracket bar 205 can then slide vertically in conjunction with the vertical sliding of the top plate 300 via the sliding of each sliding part 254.

As described above, the mounting of the outer column groove and the two rear grooves 215 allows the bracket bar 205 to slide vertically, enabling the optional mounting part (for example, the tray 290 shown in Figure 2) fixed to the bracket bar 205 to move vertically. As a result, the user no longer needs to change their posture (for example, bend over) each time they retrieve an item from the optional mounting part fixed to the bracket bar 205, thus reducing the physical strain on the user caused by frequent retrieval.

(Third example)
Next, a third example showing a combination of the outer column groove and the surface pressure mounting portion 260 will be described using Figure 9. Unlike the first example described above, in the third example, the two rear grooves 215 and the two front grooves 216 do not have engaging columns 2130, and instead, the two rear grooves 215 have surface pressure mounting portions 260 attached. Depending on the user's needs, the surface pressure mounting portions 260 may be attached to the two front grooves 216 instead of the two rear grooves 215, or to both the two rear grooves 215 and the two front grooves 216. Furthermore, if the surface pressure mounting portion 260 is attached to one of the outer column grooves of the two rear grooves 215 and the two front grooves 216, another mounting configuration, such as the engaging column 2130 in the first example, may be provided in the other outer column groove. Note that the mounting of the surface pressure mounting section 260 to the two rear grooves 215 and the mounting of the surface pressure mounting section 260 to the two front grooves 216 are the same; therefore, only the mounting of the surface pressure mounting section 260 to the two rear grooves 215 will be described below. In the following description, the state of the surface pressure mounting section 260 when the optional mounting section is attached to the outer column 201 will be referred to as the "locked state," and the state of the surface pressure mounting section 260 when the optional mounting section is not attached to the outer column 201 will be referred to as the "released state."

Here, as shown in Figure 9, the surface pressure mounting portion 260 has a base portion 261, two claw portions 262 for fixing the base portion 261 to the outer column, and an adjustment portion 265 for adjusting the distance between the two claw portions 262. The base portion 261 has a first end portion 266 for fixing the option mounting portion, and a second end portion 267 that abuts against the first outer column side surface 211 or the second outer column side surface 212 of the outer column 201 when locked.

The two claw portions 262 are positioned facing each other from both sides of the base portion 261 so that they can engage with the two rear grooves 215 on the first outer column side surface 211 when locked. The two claw portions 262 are made of an elastic material. The adjustment portion 265 includes a connecting portion 263 connected to one of the two claw portions 262, and a lever 264 that adjusts the position of the connecting portion 263 to move the claw portion 262 connected to the connecting portion 263 closer to or further away from the other claw portion 262.

Thus, in the locked state, the lever 264 is positioned in the locked position shown by the solid line in Figure 9. At that time, the claw portion 262 connected to the connecting portion 263 is pushed toward the other claw portion 262, so that the two claw portions 262 engage with and are fixed in the two front grooves 216, and the second end portion 267 presses against the side surface 211 of the first outer column. As a result, the surface pressure from the two claw portions 262 and the second end portion 267 of the base portion 261 can securely fix the base portion 261 and the option mounting portion attached to the base portion 261 to the outer column 201. Furthermore, since the two rear grooves 215 extend along the vertical direction, the option mounting portion can be attached to any position in the vertical direction of the two rear grooves 215 by attaching the outer column groove to the surface pressure mounting portion 260. As a result, compared to the mounting method between the engaging column 2130 and the mounting portion 280 in the first example, when using the mounting method between the outer column groove and the surface pressure mounting portion 260, the user can fine-tune the mounting position of the optional mounting portion.

On the other hand, in the released state, the lever 264 is in the released position shown by the dashed line in Figure 9. At that time, the claw portion 262 connected to the connecting portion 263 is pulled away from the other claw portion 262, so the distance between the two claw portions 262 is adjusted to be greater than the distance between the two rear grooves 215 on the first outer column side surface 211. As a result, the surface pressure mounting portion 260 and the optional mounting portion attached to the surface pressure mounting portion 260 can be easily removed from the outer column 201.

(Case 4)
Next, using Figure 10, a fourth example showing the combination of the outer column groove, the bracket bar 205, and the surface pressure mounting portion 260 will be described. Unlike the first example described above, in the fourth example, the two rear grooves 215 and the two front grooves 216 are not provided with engaging columns 2130. Instead, the bracket bar 205 is mounted in the two rear grooves 215 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and the surface pressure mounting portion 260 is locked in the two front grooves 216. The mounting of the bracket bar 205 to the two rear grooves 215 and the mounting of the surface pressure mounting portion 260 to the two front grooves 216 are the same as those described in the second and third examples, so a detailed explanation will be omitted here.

In this manner, by attaching the bracket bar 205 to the two rear grooves 215 and the surface pressure mounting portion 260 to the two front grooves 216, the front option mounting portion attached to the second outer column side surface 212 of the outer column 201 can be securely fixed to the outer column 201, and the rear option mounting portion attached to the first outer column side surface 211 of the outer column 201 can be moved vertically relative to the outer column 201. As a result, the degree of freedom and stability of mounting the option mounting portion can be improved.

<Top panel>
The top plate 300 is mounted above the support column 200 and, as shown in Figure 1, is provided with a mounting surface 301U (described later) for placing various items such as electronic devices, allowing users such as nurses to perform input work on top of the top plate 300. The top plate 300 can be raised and lowered by a lifting mechanism including a gas cylinder C mounted inside the support column 200.

In this embodiment, the top plate portion 300, as shown in Figures 11 to 14, comprises an upper plate 301 positioned above, a pair of left and right side plates 302 connected to the left and right edges 301L and 301R of the upper plate 301 and extending forward from the front edge 301F of the upper plate 301, a front plate 303 connected to the front edge 302F of the side plates 302, a lower plate 304 connected to the lower edge 302D of the side plates 302 and the lower edge 303D of the front plate 303 and positioned below the upper plate 301, and a rear plate 305 provided to connect the front edge 301F of the upper plate 301 and the upper surface 304U of the lower plate 304. The front plate 303 is divided into left and right sections, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, with an opening (front opening) 306 formed between them.

As shown in Figures 1, 13, and 14, the upper surface 301U of the top plate 301 of the top plate section 300 serves as a mounting surface for various items such as electronic devices (e.g., laptop computers and tablets) (hereinafter, the upper surface 301U of the top plate 301 may be referred to as the "mounting surface" 301U). The top plate 301 of the top plate section 300 and its upper surface (mounting surface) 301U are located in the first region 310 of the top plate section 300, which is at the rear in the direction of furniture movement. Furthermore, a second region 320, adjacent to the first region 310 and located at the front in the direction of furniture movement, is provided with an item storage space 330 that opens upwards. In this embodiment, the item storage space 330 is a space enclosed by the side plates 302, the front plate 303, the bottom plate 304, and the rear plate 305, and is located below the upper surface (mounting surface) 301U of the top plate 301.

As described above, a mounting surface 301U is provided in the first region 310 located at the rear of the top plate 300 in the direction of the furniture's movement, and an item storage space 330 is provided in a second region 320, which is different from the first region 310. Therefore, items (such as laptop computers and tablets) can be placed on the mounting surface 301U of the first region 310, while other items (such as disposable gloves and other medical supplies) can be stored in the storage space 330 of the second region 320. In this case, since the item storage space 330 opens upwards, medical supplies can be easily loaded into the item storage space 330 from above the top plate 300, as shown in Figure 15B. This eliminates the need to load medical supplies into a tray located below the top plate, as in conventional mobile furniture (see Figure 15A), and also eliminates the need for the user to bend down.

As shown in Figure 13, a tray 340 is stored inside the item storage space 330. As shown in Figure 14, the tray 340 can be removed from the item storage space 330. Therefore, even if the tray 340 becomes soiled with medical supplies such as disposable gloves, it can be removed from the item storage space 330 and cleaned. In this embodiment, one tray 340 with a volume approximately the same as the volume of the item storage space 330 is used, and a flange 342 is provided on the edge 341 forming the upper opening, allowing the user to grip it with their fingers. In particular, the front flange 342 of the tray 340 extends slightly longer downwards so as to fit into the front opening 306 formed between the left and right front plates 303. Note that the tray 340 is not limited to one; multiple trays can be divided and stored in the item storage space 330. The tray 340 can be made of synthetic resin, metal, or the like.

On one (or both) of the side panels 302 of the top panel 300, a locking part (e.g., a projection) can be provided to secure the tray 340 removed from the item storage space 330. By employing such a locking part, the tray 340 removed from the item storage space 330 can be temporarily secured to the locking part. For example, if the initially used tray 340 becomes dirty but there is no immediate opportunity to clean it, the dirty tray 340 can be removed from the item storage space 330, temporarily secured to the locking part, and a new tray 340 can be installed in the item storage space 330 for use.

As shown in Figures 11 to 13, a forward fall prevention section 350 is provided on the upper surface (placement surface) 301U of the top plate 301 of the top plate section 300, near the item storage space 330, to prevent items such as electronic devices (e.g., laptop computers or tablets) placed on the upper surface 301U from falling into the item storage space 330. In this embodiment, a metal rod bent into a roughly U-shape in plan view is used as the forward fall prevention section 350. By fixing both ends of the metal rod in a state where they are inserted into the upper surface 301U of the top plate 301, the central part of the metal rod is slightly above the upper surface 301U and extends parallel to the front edge 301F of the upper surface 301U. This prevents items placed on the upper surface 301U from sliding down into the item storage space 330.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 11 to 14 and Figure 16, a lateral fall prevention section 360 is provided near the left and right edges 301L and 301R of the upper surface (mounting surface) 301U of the top plate 301 of the top plate portion 300. This section prevents items such as electronic devices (e.g., laptop computers or tablets) placed on the top surface 301U from falling downwards beyond either of the left or right edges 301L or 301R of the top surface 301U.

As shown in Figure 17, the lateral fall suppression section 360 in this embodiment consists of a small fall suppression member 361 and a slit 362 formed in the upper surface (mounting surface) 301U of the top plate 301 of the top plate section 300. The fall suppression member 361 has a gripping section 361a that is grasped by the user, an insertion section 361b that extends in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the gripping section 361a in a plan view and is inserted into the slit 362, and a connecting section 361c that connects the gripping section 361a and the insertion section 361b. In addition, a pair (i.e., two) of hemispherical protrusions 361d are provided on the upper surface of the insertion section 361b, flanking the connecting section 361c. The distance between the lower surface of the gripping section 361a and the protrusions 361d is set to be approximately the same as (or slightly shorter than) the thickness of the top plate 301 of the top plate section 300.

As shown in Figure 17, when the user inserts the insertion portion 361b into the slit 362 with the gripping portion 361a perpendicular to the slit 362 (with the insertion portion 361b parallel to the slit 362), and then rotates the gripping portion 361a and insertion portion 361b by 90°, the gripping portion 361a becomes parallel to the slit 362. In this state, the upper plate 301 is sandwiched between the lower surface of the gripping portion 361a and the protrusion 361d provided on the insertion portion 361b, and the fall suppression member 361 is fixed to the upper plate 301.

As shown in Figure 16, multiple slits 362 are provided at predetermined intervals from each of the left and right edges 301L and 301R of the top plate 301 toward the center. Therefore, the position of the fall prevention member 361 can be changed to match the width of the item placed on the top surface (mounting surface) 301U of the top plate 301. That is, the fall prevention member 361 can be inserted into a pair of slits 362 provided at approximately the same interval as the width of the item placed on the top surface 301U of the top plate 301. This allows for flexible adaptation to items of different widths.

As shown in Figures 11, 12, 16, 18, and 19, the lower plate 304 of the top plate 300 has a rear region 304A that protrudes further rearward than the rear edge 301B of the upper plate 301. This rear region 304A is provided with a notch 370, which is cut out by a predetermined dimension from both the left and right edges 304L and 304R of the lower plate 304 toward the center of the lower plate 304, and from the rear edge 304B toward the front of the lower plate 304. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 18, the notch 370 has a transition section 371 where the notch widens toward the center as it moves backward from the left and right edges 304L and 304R of the lower plate 304, and a fixed-width section 372 connected to the transition section 371, exhibiting a roughly trapezoidal shape in plan view.

The sum of the dimensions of the notch 370 in the left-right direction ( _W1 + _W1 in Figure 18) is preferably 1/4 to 1/3 of the left-right dimension of the central area of the lower plate 304 excluding the notch 370 ( _W2 in Figure 18). This allows for a relatively wide central area of the lower plate 304 excluding the notch 370, while also providing adequate width for the notch 370 (space for placing various options). Therefore, it is possible to place and use various options in the notch 370 while simultaneously placing a mouse or the like on the central area of the lower plate 304 to perform input operations.

In this embodiment, a top plate section 300 having two upper and lower plates (upper plate 301 and lower plate 304) is used, and an example is shown in which notches 370 are provided on both the left and right edges 304L and 304R of one of the two plates (lower plate 304). However, a top plate section made of a single plate can also be used, and notches can be provided on both the left and right edges (or either one of the left and right edges) of that single top plate section.

The top plate portion 300 is provided with a mounting mechanism 380 for mounting articles to be placed in the space formed by the notch portion 370 onto the top plate portion 300. As shown in Figure 20, the mounting mechanism 380 in this embodiment includes a lower wall 381 (the rear region of the side surface 308S of the tray-like structure 308, which will be described later) that extends downward by a predetermined distance from the lower surface of the portion of the left and right edges 304L and 304R of the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300 that is positioned closer to the center due to the formation of the notch portion 370, a slit 382 formed on the surface of the lower wall 381, and an article holder 384 having a locking claw 383 that engages with the slit 382. By adopting this configuration, the article (for example, a disinfectant container as shown in Figures 18 and 19, or a barcode reader as shown in Figure 20) can be held by the article holder 384, and then the locking claw 383 of the article holder 384 can be locked into the slit 382 of the lower wall 381, thereby allowing the article to be attached to the top plate portion 300.

In this embodiment, an example is shown in which a mounting mechanism 380 is employed, comprising a lower wall 381 extending a predetermined distance downward from the lower surface of the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300, a slit 382 formed on the surface of the lower wall 381, and an article holder 384 having a locking claw 383 that engages with the slit 382. However, the configuration of the mounting mechanism is not limited to this. For example, a mounting mechanism may be employed comprising a first magnetic material provided on the surface of the lower wall 381 and an article holder having a second magnetic material that is attracted to the first magnetic material by magnetic force.

The rear edge 302B of the side plate 302 of the top plate 300 is formed to extend from rear to front as it goes from top to bottom (i.e., it slopes diagonally in a side view as shown in Figure 12), as shown in Figures 12, 16, and 19. This makes it easy for the user's fingers to be inserted from the side (behind the rear edge 302B of the side plate 302) into the space between the top plate 301 and the bottom plate 304. Therefore, this has the advantage of allowing smoother work in the rear region 304A of the bottom plate 304 of the top plate 300.

Below the mounting surface (upper surface of the upper plate 301) 301U of the top plate portion 300, a wiring storage space S is provided for housing the wiring W connected to the electronic equipment mounted on the mounting surface 301U. In this embodiment, the wiring storage space S is a space enclosed by the upper plate 301, the side plate 302, the lower plate 304, the rear plate 305, and the rearmost plate 307 (described later) located further behind the rear plate 305.

The side panel 302 functions as a shielding member to prevent the wiring W stored in the wiring storage space S from being visible from the side of the furniture. The rear panel 305, as shown in Figure 14, is provided to connect the front edge 301F (or the lower surface of the upper panel 301) of the upper panel 301 and the upper surface of the lower panel 304, and functions as a cover plate that can be detachably attached to the upper panel 301 and the lower panel 304, as shown in Figure 21. The rear panel 305 also functions as a shielding member to prevent the wiring stored in the wiring storage space S from being visible from the front of the furniture. The last panel 307 is located further behind the rear panel 305, connecting the lower surface of the upper panel 301 and the upper surface of the lower panel 304, and functions as a shielding member to prevent the wiring stored in the wiring storage space S from being visible from the rear of the furniture. As shown in Figure 22, the rearmost panel 307 can be provided with a window 307W that allows the interior of the wiring storage space S to be viewed from the outside (rear). The rear panel 305 can also be provided with a window that allows the interior of the wiring storage space S to be viewed from the outside (front).

In this embodiment, the wiring storage space S houses not only the wiring W, but also an AC adapter A as shown in Figures 23 to 25, and a battery B as shown in Figures 21 and 23. The wiring W stored in the wiring storage space S is connected to an external power source (not shown) via a wiring connection part 304D provided below the lower plate 304, and lower wiring W _D (described later) connected to the wiring connection part 304D and located below the lower plate 304.

As previously mentioned, a tray (item storage section) 270 for storing items is located below the top plate 300, as shown in Figure 1. A lower wiring space _SD is provided for storing lower wiring _WD , which is positioned so as not to interfere with the tray 270. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 12, 23, and 25, a tray-like structure 308 is attached below the lower plate 304 of the top plate 300, and the space enclosed by the lower plate 304 and the tray-like structure 308 is designated as the lower wiring space _SD .

The lower wiring space S _D has a volume that can accommodate a cord reel (wiring storage means) 390 that can store the lower wiring W _D in a wound state. The tray-shaped structure 308 supports the cord reel 390 from below in this manner and also functions as a support for the lifting lever 500, which will be described later. One end of the lower wiring W _D wound on the cord reel 390 is connected to the wiring connection part 304D, and the other end of the lower wiring W _D wound on the cord reel 390 is exposed to the outside through an outlet (front outlet) 308F provided on the side surface 308S of the tray-shaped structure 308. By pulling this exposed other end of the lower wiring W _D , the lower wiring W _D wound on the cord reel 390 can be extended to the outside.

In this embodiment, a cord reel 390 is housed in the lower wiring space S _D , and the lower wiring _WD is pulled out from the front outlet 308F provided on the side surface 308S of the tray-shaped structure 308. However, instead of using a cord reel 390, a coiled cord 391 as shown in Figure 25 can also be used.

In other words, when connecting the wiring W, which is connected to the electronic equipment installed on the top plate 300, to an external power supply via a wiring connection part 304D provided below the lower plate 304 of the top plate 300, and the lower wiring W _D connected to the wiring connection part 304D, the portion of the lower wiring W _D closest to the wiring connection part 304D is housed inside the tray-shaped structure 308, and as shown in Figure 25, the lower wiring W _D is pulled out from an outlet (rear outlet) 308R provided at the rear of the tray-shaped structure 308 (behind the support column 200), and the lower wiring W _D is exposed downward from this rear outlet 308R. The space below the lower plate 304 of the top plate 300, behind the support column 200, can be made into a rear wiring space S _R for arranging at least a portion of the lower wiring W _D. The portion of the lower wiring W _D exposed from the rear outlet 308R provided in the rear wiring space S _R can be made into a coiled cord 391.

<Handle>
The handle 400 is an example of a configuration for operating the movement of the mobile furniture 1. The handle 400 is configured to operate the movement of the mobile furniture 1 and to be used for attaching optional mounting parts and hanging small items. Here, small items are, for example, medical instruments such as stethoscopes, watches, towels, etc.

As shown in Figure 26, the handle 400 is provided on the rear edge 304B side of the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300, and its shape in plan view is T-shaped. As shown in Figure 27, the upper surface 400a of the handle 400 is at the same height as the surface of the rear region 304A of the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the handle body portion 410 can be used as an extension of the top plate portion 300.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 26, the handle 400 has a handle body portion 410 that extends along the width direction, and a mounting portion 420 for attaching the handle body portion 410 to the top plate portion 300. The handle body portion 410 and the mounting portion 420 are integrally formed. Here, the width direction, i.e., the direction parallel to the rear edge 304B of the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300, is an example of a predetermined direction. The handle body portion 410 may also extend in a direction intersecting the rear edge 304B of the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300.

As shown in Figure 26, the handle body 410 has, in the width direction, two first portions 411 that constitute both ends of the handle body 410, and a second portion 412 located between the two first portions 411. The two first portions 411 and the second portion 412 are integrally formed.

Each first portion 411 is rod-shaped and is positioned to be separated from the rear edge 304B of the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 26, each first portion 411 has one end 413 connected to the second portion 412, and the other end 415 is a free end positioned to be separated from the rear edge 304B of the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300.

The other end 415 can function as a configuration for attaching optional mounting parts, as shown in Figures 28A to 28C. Specifically, optional mounting parts can be attached to the other end 415, such as an optional mounting part that protrudes rearward in the direction of travel from the other end 415 as shown in Figure 28A, an optional mounting part that protrudes from either end of the other end 415 in the width direction as shown in Figure 28B, and an optional mounting part that protrudes forward in the direction of travel from the other end 415 as shown in Figure 28C. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 26, the other end 415 is provided so as to protrude beyond the left and right edges 304L and 304R located on both sides of the rear edge 304B of the lower plate 304 of the top plate 300 in the width direction. Therefore, when an optional mounting part that protrudes forward in the direction of travel from the other end 415 as shown in Figure 28C is attached to the other end 415, collision between the optional mounting part and the top plate 300 can be avoided, and the degree of freedom in attaching the optional mounting part can be improved.

Thus, the two first parts 411 allow the user to operate the handle 400 with both hands, the other end 415 enables the attachment of optional mounting parts, and the central part of the first part 411 allows for hanging small items.

As shown in Figure 26, the mounting portion 420 is provided with a gripping portion 414 that can be held by the user. The gripping portion 414 is a through-hole provided in the thickness direction of the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300, penetrating the second portion 412. In this embodiment, the width dimension L1 of the gripping portion 414 is set to be at least 1/4 and at least 3/4 of the length L2 of one side 301 of the top plate portion 300. Such a gripping portion 414 allows for one-handed operation of the handle 400 by the user, and the gripping portion 414 can also be used as a hook for small items.

In this embodiment, the gripping portion 414 has been described as a through-hole, but it is not limited to this. For example, the gripping portion 414 may be a protrusion that projects from the upper surface 400a of the handle 400. Alternatively, the gripping portion 414 may be a recess that does not penetrate the second portion 412.

The mounting portion 420 has one end attached to the second portion 412 of the handle body portion 410, and the other end attached to the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300 by the mounting portion 401. The handle 400 is rotatably or slidably mounted on the underside of the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300, via the mounting portion 401 (for example, the mounting portions 401A to 401C shown in Figures 29A to 31B), so that it can be housed below the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300. Hereinafter, the state in which the handle 400 can be used, as shown in Figures 29A, 30A, and 31A, will be referred to as the "used state," and the state in which the handle 400 is housed below the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300, as shown in Figures 29B, 30B, and 31B, will be referred to as the "housed state."

Next, several embodiments of the mounting portion 401 will be described using Figures 29A to 31B. First, in the embodiments shown in Figures 29A and 29B, the mounting portion 401A has a rotating shaft 402A to which the handle 400 is attached. The rotating shaft 402A is provided so as to be parallel to the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300 and extending along the width direction. With such a mounting portion 401A, the handle 400 can rotate around the rotating shaft 402A as the center of rotation, along the direction A1 shown in Figure 29A or the direction B1 shown in Figure 29B. As a result, the position of the handle 400 can be freely changed from the usage state to the stowed state or from the stowed state to the usage state.

Furthermore, in the embodiments shown in Figures 30A and 30B, the mounting portion 401B has a rotating shaft 402B to which the handle 400 is attached. The rotating shaft 402B is provided perpendicular to the lower plate 304 of the top plate portion 300. With such a mounting portion 401B, the handle 400 can rotate along the direction A2 shown in Figure 30A or the direction B2 shown in Figure 30B, with the rotating shaft 402B as the center of rotation. As a result, the position of the handle 400 can be freely changed from the usage state to the stored state or from the stored state to the usage state.

Furthermore, in the embodiments shown in Figures 31A and 31B, the mounting portion 401C has two rails 402C. The handle 400 is attached to the two rails 402C via four rollers 403C. With such a mounting portion 401C, the handle 400 can slide along the two rails 402C in direction A3 as shown in Figure 31A or direction B3 as shown in Figure 31B. As a result, the position of the handle 400 can be freely changed from the usage state to the stowed state or from the stowed state to the usage state.

In the above description, the two first portions 411 of the handle 400 were described as having a fixed length, but this is not the only possible configuration. The length of the first portions 411 may be variable. For example, the handle 400D shown in Figure 32 has two first portions 411D. Each first portion 411D is an expandable tube formed by interlocking three pipes 411a, 411b, and 411c in a slidable manner. With such an expandable tube structure, the first portions 411D can be adjusted to a length that is easy for the user to use, and as shown in Figure 32, when a large option mounting part is attached to the top plate portion 300, collision between the first portions 411D and the option mounting part can be avoided, further improving the freedom of attachment of the option mounting part.

Furthermore, while the above description assumes that the two first parts 411 are formed integrally with the second part 412, the explanation is not limited to this. The two first parts 411 may be formed separately from the second part 412 and movable relative to the second part 412. For example, in the handle 400E shown in Figure 33, the two first parts 411E are provided to be foldable relative to the second part 412E. Specifically, each first part 411E can rotate relative to the second part 412E along direction A4 or A5 shown in Figure 33 via a hinge 413E. As a result, the two first parts 411E can be folded from the usage position shown by the solid line in Figure 33 to the storage position shown by the dashed line in Figure 33 using a simple configuration. As a result, the degree of freedom of use of the handle 400E can be improved, and the volume occupied by the mobile fixture 1 can be reduced.

<Lifting lever>
The lifting lever 500 is a component used to raise and lower the top plate 300 by operating a lifting mechanism that includes a gas cylinder C mounted inside the support column 200. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 24 and 34, lifting levers 500 are provided on both the left and right sides. In this embodiment, a connecting mechanism 520 (such as a hydraulic hose 521 or link mechanism 522, which will be described later) that connects these left and right lifting levers 500 and a release part 510 for releasing the upward force of the gas cylinder C is housed inside the lower wiring space S _D surrounded by the lower plate 304 of the top plate 300 and the tray-shaped structure 308. That is, the tray-shaped structure 308 functions as a support that supports the left and right lifting levers 500 and the connecting mechanism 520 from below.

As shown in Figure 35, the left and right lifting levers 500 can be attached to the side surface 308S of the tray-shaped structure 308, positioned slightly forward of the lower wall 381 which constitutes the mounting mechanism 380 for attaching options to the notch 370 of the top plate 300. As shown in Figure 36, the left and right lifting levers 500 can be attached to the side surface 308S of the tray-shaped structure 308 via the mounting portion 502 so that they rotate around a predetermined pivot axis 501. Furthermore, when either the left or right lifting lever 500 is rotated downwards, hydraulic pressure is supplied to the release portion 510 via the hydraulic hose 521. This supplied hydraulic pressure releases the upward force of the gas cylinder C, allowing the top plate 300 to be raised.

The configuration of the left and right lifting levers 500, and the configuration of the connecting mechanism 520 that connects the left and right lifting levers 500 to the release section 510, are not limited to those shown in Figure 36. For example, as shown in Figure 37, a lifting lever 500 configured to be retractable outwards can also be used. Furthermore, when either the left or right lifting lever 500 is pulled outwards, the central release section 510 may be rotated via the link mechanism 522. This rotation of the release section 510 releases the upward force of the gas cylinder C, thereby raising the top plate section 300.

Alternatively, instead of arranging the left and right lifting levers 500 on the left and right sides of the tray-like structure 308, as shown in Figure 38, the left and right lifting levers 500 can be positioned at the rear of the tray-like structure 308 so that they rotate around a predetermined pivot axis 502. In this configuration, for example, the front portions of the left and right lifting levers 500 can be connected by a connecting rod 523. When either the left or right lifting lever 500 is rotated upward around the pivot axis 502, the connecting rod 523 pushes down the release portion 510. This downward pressure on the release portion 510 releases the upward force of the gas cylinder C, thereby raising the top plate portion 300.

In the mobile fixture 1 according to the embodiment described above, the support column 200 includes an outer column 201, which is an example of a fixed column fixed to the base 100; an inner column 203, which is an example of a movable column having an upper end 235 to which the top plate 300 is fixed and which is slidable vertically relative to the outer column 201; and a bracket bar 205 having an upper part 255 fixed to the top plate 300 or the inner column 203, and a lower part 256 attached to the fixed column so as to be slidable vertically relative to the outer column 201. As a result, using a simple configuration, it is possible to achieve vertical movement of the bracket bar 205, which is an example of an optional mounting part, in conjunction with the vertical sliding of the top plate 300.

Furthermore, in the mobile fixture 1 according to the embodiment described above, the outer column 201 may be configured to support the vertical sliding of the inner column 203, and the inner column 203 may be inserted into the outer column 201. As a result, the stability of the vertical sliding of the inner column 203 can be improved.

Furthermore, in the mobile fixture 1 according to the embodiment described above, the outer circumferential surface of the bracket bar 205 has a first bar side surface 251 facing the outer and inner columns, and a second bar side surface 252 on the opposite side of the first bar side surface 251. The outer circumferential surface of the outer column 201 has a first outer column side surface 211 facing the first bar side surface 251, and a second outer column side surface 212 on the opposite side of the first outer column side surface 211. A tray 290, which is an example of an optional mounting part, can be attached to the second bar side surface 252, and a tray 270, which is another example of an optional mounting part, can be attached to the second outer column side surface 212. As a result, collision between the tray 290 attached to the bracket bar 205 and the tray 270 attached to the outer column 201 can be avoided due to the vertical sliding of the bracket bar 205.

Furthermore, in the mobile fixture 1 according to the embodiment described above, the second bar side 252 of the bracket bar 205 may be the side facing forward in the direction of travel of the mobile fixture 1. As a result, by positioning the second bar side of the bracket bar on the upstream side (i.e., the user side) in the direction of travel of the mobile fixture, the tray attached to the bracket bar can be oriented towards the user, thereby improving convenience.

Furthermore, in the mobile fixture 1 according to the embodiment described above, the outer column 201 may have a rear groove 215 provided on the first outer column side surface 211 and extending vertically, and the lower part 256 of the bracket bar 205 may have a sliding portion 257 provided on the first outer column side surface 211 and slidable along the rear groove 215. As a result, vertical sliding of the bracket bar 205 can be easily achieved.

Furthermore, in the mobile fixture 1 according to the embodiment described above, two sliding parts 257 are provided on both the left and right sides of the lower part 256, and two rear grooves 215 may be provided on the first outer column side surface 211 at positions corresponding to the two sliding parts 257. As a result, the stability of the vertical sliding of the bracket bar 205 can be improved using a simple configuration.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications made to these embodiments by those skilled in the art are also included within the scope of the present invention, as long as they retain the features of the present invention. That is, the elements, their arrangement, materials, conditions, shapes, sizes, etc., of the embodiments are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, the elements of the embodiments can be combined to the extent technically feasible, and combinations thereof are also included within the scope of the present invention, as long as they retain the features of the present invention.

1...Mobile fixture 100...Base section 200...Support column section 201...Fixed column, outer column 203...Movable column, inner column 205...Bracket bar 211...Side of first outer column 212...Side of second outer column 215...Rear groove 216...Front groove 251...Side of first bar 252...Side of second bar 255...Upper part of bracket bar 256...Lower part of bracket bar 257...Sliding section 300...Top plate section

Claims (6)

A mobile fixture comprising a base portion, a support column portion extending upward from the base portion, and a top plate portion supported by the support column portion,
The aforementioned support column is
A fixing column fixed to the base portion,
A movable column having an upper end to which the top plate portion is fixed, and which is provided to be slidable in the vertical direction relative to the fixed column,
A bracket bar having an upper part fixed to the top plate or the movable column, and a lower part attached to the fixed column so as to be slidable in the vertical direction relative to the fixed column,
Having,
Mobile fixtures. The fixed column is an outer column that supports the vertical sliding of the movable column,
The aforementioned movable column is an inner column inserted into the outer column.
The mobile fixture according to claim 1. The outer circumferential surface of the bracket bar has a first bar side facing the outer column and the inner column, and a second bar side opposite to the first bar side,
The outer surface of the outer column has a first outer column side facing the first bar side and a second outer column side on the opposite side of the first outer column side.
An optional mounting part can be attached to the side of the second bar.
Other optional mounting parts can be attached to the side surface of the second outer column.
The mobile fixture according to claim 2. The side of the bracket bar is configured such that the optional mounting portion, which can be attached to the side of the second bar, faces the user who is in front of the mobile fixture in the direction of travel .
The mobile fixture according to claim 3. The outer column has a groove provided on the side surface of the first outer column that extends in the vertical direction,
The lower part of the bracket bar has a sliding portion provided on the side surface of the first bar that can slide along the groove,
The mobile fixture according to claim 3 or 4. Two of the aforementioned sliding parts are provided on both the left and right sides of the lower part,
Two grooves are provided at positions corresponding to the two sliding portions on the side surface of the first outer column.
The mobile fixture according to claim 5.