Booth

A booth that has an opening through which a user enters and exits the booth and a desk and a chair installed in a space surrounded by a floor and a side wall, the booth includes a movable sound insulation member that is installable to enclose the user in a case where the user is below a top portion of the booth while being in the booth.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-015379 filed Feb. 3, 2021.

BACKGROUND

(i) Technical Field

The present invention relates to a booth.

(ii) Related Art

A private room box composed of a top panel, a floor panel, and four wall panels on front, back, left, and right sides is known (JP2004-150255A). Each panel is composed of a lightweight panel, the panels are bonded to each other by means of bolts and nuts so that the private room box can be freely assembled and disassembled, and at least a table portion and a one-person chair corresponding to the table portion are provided in the private room box.

A partitioning device including a main body of which three quadrangular panels are consecutively connected to each other in a channel-shaped steel shape of which opening ends are widely open and a door body that is composed of at least two quadrangular panels foldably connected to each other and of which one end side on one side is rotatably connected to an opening end side on the one side of the main body is also known (JP2003-74138A).

SUMMARY

Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a booth that can be easily installed in a space and can improve the work efficiency of a user.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a booth that has an opening through which a user enters and exits the booth and a desk and a chair installed in a space surrounded by a floor and a side wall, the booth including a movable sound insulation member that is installable to enclose the user in a case where the user is below a top portion of the booth while being in the booth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Next, the present invention will be more specifically described with reference to the drawings while using exemplary embodiments and a specific example as follows. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and the specific example.

In addition, note that, in the following description made by using the drawings, the drawings are schematic, the ratio between dimensions or the like is different from the actual ratio, and members other than members that need to be illustrated for description have been appropriately omitted for the sake of easy understanding.

(1) Overall Configuration of Booth

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG.1is an overall perspective view showing a booth1according to the present exemplary embodiment with a viewpoint on a right surface,FIG.2is an overall perspective view showing the booth1according to the present exemplary embodiment with a viewpoint on a left surface,FIG.3Ais a front view with a viewpoint on an opening portion45side of the booth1,FIG.3Bis a side view of a second panel side, andFIG.4is a view showing an installation example of the booth1. Hereinafter, the overall configuration of the booth1will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the booth1has a box shape as a whole and a desk11, a chair12, a light13(shown inFIG.3A), an electrical component box14, and a power source15are installed in the booth1. In a space formed in the booth1, a user can sit on the chair12and sit at the desk11to perform various jobs such as work or study or receive online services via an electric telecommunication line.

The booth1includes a base portion2provided on an installation surface FL, a floor plate portion3provided on the base portion2, side wall panels4erected on the base portion2, a gate bar50that is opened and closed such that the space becomes enterable for the user, and a movable sound insulation member60(shown inFIG.5) that can be installed to enclose the user.

The base portion2is obtained by bonding four beam members to each other to form a rectangular shape corresponding to the shape of the bottom of the booth1, and consists of, for example, rectangular steel pipes.

The floor plate portion3is provided to protrude inside the base portion2, and for example, a floor mat is stacked on a structural plywood which is a wooden plate material.

The side wall panels4consist of a first side wall panel41(shown inFIG.3B) constituting a back wall, a second side wall panel42and a third side wall panel43constituting left and right walls, and a fourth side wall panel44constituting a front wall. Sound absorption panels4A are provided on inner sides of the first side wall panel41, the second side wall panel42, and the third side wall panel43(inside space). Each sound absorption panel4A consists of a frame body (not shown), a fiber sheet attached to the frame body, and the like, and has an action of absorbing sound in the space.

As shown inFIG.3A, the fourth side wall panel44is provided on the second side wall panel42side at a front surface of the booth1such that the fourth side wall panel44covers a region higher than the desk11on the front side of the booth1. Accordingly, the opening portion45serving as an entrance and an exit is formed in the front surface of the booth1.

A door46that covers a portion of the opening portion45is mounted on the back side (space side) of the fourth side wall panel44. In the present exemplary embodiment, the door46is a sliding door and the user may pull out the door46in the space (as shown with arrow A inFIG.3A) to make it difficult to see a job in the space from the outside.

In addition, in the opening portion45, the gate bar50that is opened and closed such that the user can enter the space is disposed. An electromagnetic lock (refer toFIG.9) as a locking unit that can be unlocked by means of an unlocking key signal is attached to the gate bar50and the gate bar50is unlocked so that the opening portion45is opened in a case where the user performs an operation of placing a terminal, with which a reservation for use of the booth1has been made, in front of the electromagnetic lock.

The booth1is provided with the movable sound insulation member60that may be installed to enclose the user in a case where the user is below the top portion of the booth1(refer toFIG.5). The sound insulation member60is stored in a storage region S (seeFIGS.6A to6C) on the first side wall panel41side and is movable to a closing position, at which the sound insulation member60covers a portion of the opening portion45, by being pulled out from the storage region S and moved along guide grooves G each of which is provided in an arch shape protruding to an upper side of the space. The user may suppress sound leakage from the booth1and make the inside of the booth1quiet by moving the sound insulation member60to the closing position.

The desk11is disposed on the floor plate portion3to be in contact with the second side wall panel42which is on a left side as seen from the opening portion45. Above the desk11, a plug socket and a switch or the like (not shown) of the light13are disposed along the second side wall panel42and the light13is disposed to face the second side wall panel42at the top portion. The electrical component box14is disposed below the desk11. The electrical component box14receives power from the power source15and controls the operation of a device in the booth1.

The chair12is disposed on the floor plate portion3to be in contact with the third side wall panel43that is on a right side as seen from the opening portion45. A seat surface of the chair12is foldable (as shown with arrow B inFIG.3A) and the seat surface becomes sittable by being unfolded to have a length and a height such that a rear part of the femoral region of the user is not pressed.

Below the chair12, the power source15for supply of power to a device in the booth1such as the light13and the electrical component box14is disposed. In the present exemplary embodiment, the power source15is a storage battery and the booth1can be installed even in a place where there is no power supply port.

The outer periphery of the power source15is covered with a heat insulating member so that overheating of the outer periphery of the power source15is suppressed. In addition, a fan (not shown), which is an example of a cooling unit cooling the power source15, is installed to suppress overheating of the power source15. In addition, in the vicinity of the power source15, a thermistor (not shown) is provided as a detection unit detecting the heat of the power source15. Furthermore, for example, it is preferable that a fire extinguisher (not shown) is disposed in the vicinity of the power source15as a fire extinguishing unit.

The booth1configured as described above is configured such that the booth1can be assembled at a factory or the like, carried on a cargo bed of a truck or the like, and installed on the installation surface FL at a predetermined installation place. Examples of the installation place include an internal corner portion of a building frame and a place in front of a wall surface, which are examples of an external space where passersby and the user of the booth1coexist. In addition, the installation place is not limited to an internal corner portion of a building frame or a place in front of a wall surface and can be freely disposed in a concourse space, an office building passage, a trade fair hall, a commercial space, a convenience store, and the like.

Specifically, as shown inFIG.4, installation with respect to a wall surface X of a building frame is performed with the first side wall panel41facing the wall surface X. In a case where the installation is performed in such a manner, the opening portion45of the booth1faces a passage R side, the user can easily enter and exit the booth1, and the booth1can be disposed such that the booth1is restrained from protruding toward a passage side and the booth1does not inhibit the passage of passersby.

(2) Configuration of Booth

(2.1) Sound Insulation Member

FIG.5is a perspective view showing the booth1with the sound insulation member60moved to the closing position,FIG.6Ais a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the sound insulation member60is positioned at an opening position,FIG.6Bis a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the sound insulation member60is positioned at the closing position, andFIG.6Cis a front view showing a state where the sound insulation member60is positioned at the closing position in relation to the user in the space.

As shown inFIG.5, the booth1according to the present exemplary embodiment includes the movable sound insulation member60that can be installed to enclose the user in a case where the user is below the top portion of the booth1. The sound insulation member60consists of a plurality of unit panels61, each of which is transparent as a whole (portion represented by halftone inFIG.5is transparent) and which are foldably connected to each other, and as shown inFIG.6A, the sound insulation member60is stored in the storage region S defined by the first side wall panel41and the sound absorption panel4A provided at an inner surface of the space in a case where the sound insulation member60is at the opening position at which an upper side of the space in the booth1is opened.

The material of the unit panels61constituting the sound insulation member60is not particularly limited as long as the material is transparent or translucent and has a certain soundproofing performance. In the present exemplary embodiment, a soundproof transparent sheet that has a thickness of about 2 mm and of which the core material is formed of polyester and the surface is formed of a fire-resistant PVC film is used. Since the unit panels61are transparent, daylight may be provided into the space and the space may be brightened.

As shown inFIG.6A, the guide grooves G, each of which is provided in the arch shape protruding to the upper side of the space, are formed on inner surface sides of the second side wall panel42and the third side wall panel43. A plurality of rotary bodies62are rotatably provided on the unit panels61and the sound insulation member60is movable to the closing position, at which the sound insulation member60covers a portion of the opening portion45, by being pulled out from the storage region S and moved along the guide grooves G.

In a case where the sound insulation member60is to be installed, the sound insulation member60is installed such that the sound insulation member60encloses the user at a region that is on the upper side of the opening portion45and is higher than the desk11as schematically shown inFIG.6Cin a case where one end61aof the unit panel61is pulled out and moved to the closing position along the guide grooves G (refer to arrow C inFIG.6B) as shown inFIG.6Bin a state where the user is present below the top portion of the booth1.

In the space of the booth1, the sound absorption panels4A are disposed on the inner surface sides of the side wall panels4and a region higher than the desk11is covered with the sound insulation member60having a certain soundproofing performance. Therefore, it is difficult to hear an undesired sound in the space and the space is made quiet. Accordingly, it is not necessary to speak loudly and sound leakage from the booth1may be suppressed.

Modification Example

FIG.7is an overall perspective view showing the booth1including a door46A according to a modification example with a viewpoint on a right surface side,FIG.8Ais a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the door46A according to the modification example, andFIG.8Bis a front view showing a state where the door46A according to the modification example is positioned at a closing position in relation to the user in the space.

The door46A (hatched in drawings) according to the modification example is a member bent in an inverted L shape as seen in a cross-sectional view so as to cover a front portion of the opening portion45that is above the desk11and an upper portion of the space.

As shown inFIG.7andFIGS.8A and8B, the door46A is slidably and movably supported by the fourth side wall panel44and the first side wall panel41via slide rails SR.

A sound insulation sheet46Aa is attached to an inner surface of the door46A. Similarly to the sound insulation member60, the sound insulation sheet46Aa is a sheet material having a certain soundproofing performance and a soundproof sheet that has a thickness of about 2 mm and of which the core material is formed of polyester and the surface is formed of a fire-resistant PVC film is used as the sound insulation sheet46Aa.

As shown inFIG.8B, the inside of the space may be made difficult to see from the outside, sound leakage from the booth1may be suppressed, and the inside of the booth1may be made quiet in a case where the door46A in a state of being accommodated inside the fourth side wall panel44is slid and moved to cover upper portions of the opening portion45and the space. Particularly, sound leakage from the booth1may be further suppressed and the inside of the booth1may be made quiet in a case where the door46A is closed with the sound insulation member60moved to the closing position.

FIG.9is a front view showing the booth1including a covering member47for the opening portion45.

As shown inFIG.9, the opening portion45of the booth1may be provided with the covering member47that makes the feet of the user invisible or difficult to see. The covering member47is formed of a non-translucent material and is provided at a height within a range in which entry and exit of the user through the opening portion45are not inhibited and the feet of the user are made invisible. In addition, the covering member47may be a roll curtain (roll screen).

(2.2) Gate Bar

FIG.10Ais a front view of the booth1which shows the opening portion45with the gate bar50closed,FIG.10Bis a front view of the booth1which shows the opening portion45with the gate bar50opened,FIG.11Ais a schematic plan view showing an unlocked state of the gate bar50, andFIG.11Bis a schematic plan view showing a locked state.

The gate bar50includes a rotation fulcrum51and is provided to be rotatable (refer to arrow inFIG.10B) between a closing position as shown inFIG.10Aat which the opening portion45is closed such that entry from the outside is blocked and an opening position as shown inFIG.10Bat which the opening portion45is opened such that entry from the outside is allowed.

The gate bar50has a locking unit that can be unlocked by means of an unlocking key signal. Examples of the locking unit include an electromagnetic solenoid52. A transition between an energized state and a non-energized state of the electromagnetic solenoid52and the movement of a movable iron core (not shown) cause the electromagnetic solenoid52to enter a locked state (shown inFIG.11A) with a locking contact portion52afitted into a recess portion50aof the gate bar50or an unlocked state (shown inFIG.11B) with the locking contact portion52aseparated from the recess portion50aof the gate bar50.

A lock with the electromagnetic solenoid52is unlocked in a case where a smartphone is operated, the smartphone is placed in front of the electromagnetic solenoid52, or a two-dimensional code pattern which is an example of a code displayed on the booth1is read, the smartphone being an example of a terminal with which the user makes a reservation for the booth1in advance.

FIG.12is a diagram schematically showing an example of the overall configuration of a reservation system for the booth1.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, an electronic key consisting of an unlocking key signal is used to lock and unlock the gate bar50of the booth1, and the electronic key is stored in a portable reservation holder terminal SP. Although it will be assumed that the portable reservation holder terminal SP is a smartphone, examples of the portable reservation holder terminal SP include a so-called wearable terminal or a hearable terminal and a game terminal as long as the game terminal has a function of communicating with the Internet.

In a case where the reservation holder terminal SP is to be used as an electronic key, a reservation management server P transmits the electronic key to the reservation holder terminal SP after a reservation is confirmed. A user can unlock the electromagnetic solenoid52of the gate bar50by operating the reservation holder terminal SP that has received the electronic key or placing the reservation holder terminal SP in front of the electromagnetic solenoid52. In addition, the user may unlock the electromagnetic solenoid52of the gate bar50by reading a two-dimensional code pattern displayed on the booth1and using the electronic key stored in the reservation holder terminal SP. In addition, authentication of a reservation holder, who is the user, may be used instead of a key and authentication of a reservation holder may be used as a means for supplementing the electronic key.

FIGS.13A to13Eare views showing the use of the booth1together with the opening and closing of the gate bar50.

In the case of the booth1reserved for use, as shown inFIG.13A, the gate bar50is positioned at the closing position, at which the opening portion45is closed such that entry from the outside is blocked, and is locked by the electromagnetic solenoid52. Then, in a case where a user who has made a reservation for the booth1unlocks the lock with the electromagnetic solenoid52via the reservation holder terminal SP, the gate bar50rotates to the opening position and the opening portion45is opened such that entry from the outside is allowed as shown inFIG.13B.

Note that, the gate bar50may be manually rotated by the user. In this case, for example, the gate bar50may be rotated approximately 70 degrees (refer to θ inFIG.13B) to a position at which the gate bar50is inclined toward the opening portion45side with respect to the vertical line so that the opening portion45is opened. Accordingly, the gate bar50easily returns to the closing position due to the weight of the gate bar50in a case where the gate bar50is to be closed.

After the user enters the booth1through the opening portion45, the user rotates the gate bar50to the closing position as shown inFIG.13Cand the electromagnetic solenoid52operates such that the gate bar50enters a locked state. Accordingly, it is possible to cause the opening portion45to enter a state where entry from the outside is blocked.

In a case where the user exits the booth1, first, the user presses an unlocking button (not shown) disposed in the booth1to unlock the electromagnetic solenoid52as shown inFIG.13D. Then, the user can exit after rotating (refer to arrow inFIG.13E) the gate bar50to the opening position such that the opening portion45is opened as shown inFIG.13E.

Modification Example

FIG.14Ais a front view of the booth1including the gate bar50according to a modification example, andFIG.14Bis a view for describing how a weight acts in a case where the gate bar50according to the modification example is rotated to the opening position.

As shown inFIG.14A, the gate bar50according to the modification example includes a weight W provided at one end separated from the rotation fulcrum51. A gravity force g of the weight W acts such that the gate bar50is rotated around the rotation fulcrum51in a counterclockwise direction in the drawings. Accordingly, in a case where the user manually rotates the gate bar50to the opening position as shown inFIG.14B, the gate bar50may be rotated with a small force.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

FIG.15Ais a front view of a booth1A according to the present exemplary embodiment with a viewpoint on the opening portion45side andFIG.15Bis a side view of a second panel side.FIG.16Ais a front view of the booth1A according to a modification example with a viewpoint on the opening portion45side andFIG.16Bis a side view of a second panel side of the booth1A according to the modification example.

The booth1A according to the present exemplary embodiment is different from the booth1according to the first exemplary embodiment in that casters6for movement are provided below the base portion2. Therefore, the same components as components of the booth1according to the first exemplary embodiment are given the same reference numerals and detailed description of the components will be omitted.

As shown inFIGS.15A and15B, the booth1A includes the casters6that are provided below the base portion2and fixing tools7that are provided below the base portion2and provided in the vicinity of the casters6. The casters6are provided at four lower corners of the base portion2. In a case where the booth1A assembled at a factory or the like is to be installed at an installation place, the booth1A is carried on a cargo bed of a truck or the like and at the installation place, the booth1A is moved via the casters6to be installed on an installation surface.

The fixing tools7are configured to be adjustable in height and the fixing tools7fix the booth1A to the installation surface FL to be immovable with the casters6raised from the installation surface FL between the installation surface FL and the base portion2.

Modification Example

As shown inFIGS.16A and16B, in-wheel motors M that rotationally drive the casters6may be incorporated into the casters6. In a case where the in-wheel motors M are incorporated, the rotation and orientation of the casters6can be controlled so that movement at an installation place is facilitated.