Patent Publication Number: US-2017354251-A1

Title: Vibration damping shelf

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a vibration damping shelf. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional vibration damping shelf. The vibration damping shelf includes a shelf body and a pair of dampers. The shelf body has four support pillars and a plurality of rectangular shelf plates. Four corners of each shelf plate are respectively fixed to the four support pillars, and the shelf plates are disposed so as to be vertically spaced from each other. The paired dampers are each mounted between two support pillars arranged in a short side direction of the shelf plate at both ends of the shelf plate in a long side direction. The paired dampers are disposed to be inclined in opposite directions so that the dampers intersect with each other. As a result, the vibration damping shelf can suppress distortion of the shelf body due to quakes of earthquake or the like. Thus, the vibration damping shelf can suppress shake of the shelf body and accordingly suppress fall of articles placed on the shelf plate and overturn of the shelf body. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Documents 
     
         
         Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. JP 2013-42774 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problem to be Overcome by the Invention 
     However, the purpose of the vibration damping shelf of Patent Document 1 is only suppressing shake of the shelf body and suppressing fall of articles placed on the shelf plate and overturn of the shelf body. Thus, the vibration damping shelf cannot suppress quake of a room and the like in which the vibration damping shelf is installed, or suppress shake of other articles such as furniture by mounting the vibration damping shelf to other articles. 
     The present invention was made in view of the above-described circumstances in the conventional art and has an object to provide a vibration damping shelf which can suppress fall of articles placed on a shelf member while suppressing shake of other articles or the like. 
     Means for Overcoming the Problem 
     A vibration damping shelf of the present invention includes a damper and a shelf member. The damper has two ends mounted on respective positions spaced from each other in an up-down direction. The shelf member is held on the damper. 
     The shelf member may have a right end and a left end both of which are respectively held on a pair of the dampers. Furthermore, the paired dampers may have respective axis lines extending from upper ends to lower ends of the dampers. The axis lines may be inclined with the ends of the dampers being mounted on the positions spaced from each other in the up-down direction. Still furthermore, the axis lines of the paired dampers may have respective directions of inclination opposed to each other as the dampers are viewed sideways 
     The ends of the damper/dampers may respectively be mounted on an installation surface and a ceiling, or the installation surface and a wall surface extending vertically from the installation surface, or the wall surface and the ceiling, or a top surface of an article installed on the installation surface and the ceiling, or the top surface of the article and the wall surface. 
     A compression coil spring may further be mounted between counterpart members identical with those on which upper and lower ends of the damper are respectively mounted. 
     The damper or each of the dampers may include a cylinder, a piston, a rod guide and a rod, and the shelf member may be held on the cylinder. The cylinder is bottomed and cylindrical in shape. The piston is slidably inserted into the cylinder. The rod guide closes an opening of the cylinder. The rod has a proximal end connected to the piston and a distal end side which is inserted through the rod guide and protrudes out of the cylinder. 
     The article includes furniture, a bunk bed having a plurality of beds connected to each other in the up-down direction, large sized televisions, refrigerators, book shelves, showcases and server racks, all of which have a possibility of being overturned by quakes of earthquake or the like. The installation surface includes foundation surfaces which are located outside buildings and on which articles are installed, as well as floor surfaces located inside buildings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation of the vibration damping shelf of a first embodiment, illustrating both ends of the damper respectively mounted on the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vibration damping shelf of the first embodiment, illustrating both ends of each damper respectively mounted on the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the vibration damping shelf of a second embodiment, illustrating both ends of each damper respectively mounted on the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation of the vibration damping shelf of a third embodiment, illustrating both ends of the damper respectively mounted on the ceiling and a floor surface; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the vibration damping shelf of a fourth embodiment, illustrating both ends of the damper respectively mounted on the ceiling and the floor surface; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the vibration damping shelf of a fifth embodiment, illustrating both ends of each damper respectively mounted on the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     First to fifth embodiments of the vibration damping shelf of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vibration damping shelf of the first embodiment includes a pair of dampers  10  and two shelf plates  40  each serving as a shelf member. Each damper  10  has two ends respectively mounted on a top surface  1 U of a piece of furniture  1  and a ceiling C. In other words, both ends of each damper  10  are respectively mounted on positions spaced from each other in an up-down direction. The furniture  1  is installed on a floor surface (not illustrated) while a rear surface  1 B thereof is opposed to a wall surface W vertically extending from the floor surface. The furniture  1  is formed into a cuboid shape and has a door, drawers (neither illustrated), and the like in a front surface  1 F, so that clothes, accessories, and the like can be housed in the furniture  1 . The furniture  1  has a rectangle-shaped horizontal section long in a right-left direction (a depthwise direction in  FIG. 1 ). When the vibration damping shelf is not mounted on the furniture  1 , the furniture  1  would possibly be tilted frontward (rightward in  FIG. 1 ) by quakes of earthquake or the like thereby to be overturned. 
     Each damper  10  has a cylinder  11 , a rod guide (not illustrated), a piston (not illustrated), a rod  13 , a first base  20 , and a second base  30 . The cylinder  11  is bottomed and has a cylindrical shape. The cylinder  11  is provided with two holding parts  14  respectively formed on two locations of an outer peripheral surface thereof to hold shelf plates  40 . The holding parts  14  are located on a straight line parallel to an axis line of the cylinder with a distance therebetween. The holding parts  14  are configured to hold the shelf plates  40  so that upper surfaces of the shelf plates  40  are horizontally spread, when both ends of each damper  10  are respectively mounted on the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1  and the ceiling C with the axis line of each damper  10  being inclined at a predetermined angle. 
     The rod guide closes an opening of the cylinder  11 . The piston is slidably inserted into the cylinder  11 . The rod  13  has a proximal end connected to the piston and a distal end side that is inserted through the rod guide and protrudes out of the cylinder  11 . Operating oil and a compression gas are enclosed in the cylinder  11 . When each damper  10  is contracted so that the compression gas enclosed in the cylinder  11  is compressed, an expansion force of the compression gas is imparted to the damper  10  in a direction such that the length of the damper  10  is increased. 
     The first base  20  has a first base plate  21  and a first connecting part  23 . The first base plate  21  has a flat plate shape and includes a first abutment surface  21 A brought into face-to-face contact with the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1 . The first abutment surface  21 A is rectangular in shape. The first connecting part  23  has a flat plate shape and upwardly protrudes continuously from a surface  21 B of the first base plate  21  (a surface located at the side opposed to the first abutment surface  21 A) with the first base  20  having been mounted on the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1 . In more detail, the first connecting part  23  longitudinally extends in a middle part of the first base plate  21  with respect to the short side direction and, with the first base  20  having been mounted on the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1 , the first connecting part  23  has upper surfaces which are inclined so as to ascend from both longitudinal ends toward a middle part thereof and has a first convex part  25  upwardly protruding in the longitudinal middle part of the first connecting part  23 . The first convex part  25  has a first shaft  27  which is columnar in shape and extends from both side surfaces of the first convex part  25  on an identical straight line perpendicular to the side surfaces. 
     The cylinder  11  has a proximal end further having a pair of flat plate-shaped cylinder-side connecting parts  12  formed to hold the first convex part  25  of the first base  20  therebetween. Each cylinder-side connecting part  12  has a distal end with a semicircular outer edge. Each cylinder-side connecting part  12  is provided with a through hole  12 A formed on an identical straight line perpendicular to an axis line of the cylinder  11 . Both ends of the first shaft  27  extending from both side surfaces of the first convex part  25  are respectively inserted into the through holes  12 A provided in the cylinder-side connecting parts  12  in a retained state, so that the cylinder  11  is connected to the first base  20  so as to be rotatable about the first shaft  27 . 
     The second base  30  has a second base plate  31  and a second connecting part  33 . The second base plate  31  has a flat plate shape and includes a second abutment surface  31 A brought into face-to-face contact with the ceiling C. The second abutment surface  31 A is rectangular in shape. The second connecting part  33  has a flat plate shape and downwardly protrudes continuously from a surface  31 B of the second base plate  31  (a surface located at the side opposed to the second abutment surface  31 A) with the second base  30  having been mounted on the ceiling C. In more detail, the second connecting part  33  longitudinally extends in a middle part of the second base plate  31  with respect to the short side direction and, with the second base  30  having been mounted on the ceiling C, the second connecting part  33  has lower surfaces which are inclined so as to descend from both longitudinal ends toward a middle part thereof and has a second convex part  35  downwardly protruding in the longitudinal middle part of the second connecting part  33 . The second convex part  35  has a second shaft  37  which is columnar in shape and extends from both side surfaces of the second convex part  35  on an identical straight line perpendicular to the side surfaces. 
     The rod  13  has a distal end further having a pair of flat plate-shaped rod-side connecting parts  15  formed to hold the second convex part  35  of the second base  30  therebetween. Each rod-side connecting part  15  has a distal end with a semicircular outer edge. Each rod-side connecting part  15  is provided with a through hole  15 A formed on an identical straight line perpendicular to an axis line of the rod  13 . Both ends of the second shaft  37  extending from both side surfaces of the second convex part  35  are respectively inserted into through holes  15 A provided in the rod-side connecting parts  15  in a retained state, so that the rod  13  is connected to the second base  30  so as to be rotatable about the second shaft  37 . 
     Each damper  10  is a compression damper in which a damping force generated during an extending operation is smaller than a damping force generated during a contracting operation. The extending operation of the damper  10  refers to an operation which increases a protrusion length of the rod  13  out of the cylinder  11  and an entire length of the damper  10 . On the other hand, the contracting operation of the damper  10  refers to an operation which reduces the protrusion length of the rod  13  out of the cylinder  11  and the entire length of the damper  10 . 
     A mechanism that each damper  10  generates a damping force will be described. Since the mechanism has a known structure, illustration is eliminated. The cylinder  11  has an interior divided by the piston into a rod side pressure chamber in which the proximal end of the rod  13  is housed and a counter-rod side pressure chamber. The piston is formed with an orifice which may be a throttle valve communicating between both pressure chambers. The orifice functions as a damping force generator which applies resistance to a flow of the operating oil between the rod side pressure chamber and the counter-rod side pressure chamber with the extending/contracting operation of each damper  10 . Furthermore, the piston is formed with a communication path communicating via a check valve with both pressure chambers. The check valve allows the operating oil to flow from the rod side pressure chamber to the counter-rod side pressure chamber and blocks reverse flow of the operating oil. Accordingly, the damper  10  has two flow paths of the operating oil from the rod side pressure chamber to the counter-rod side pressure chamber during the extending operation, that is, one flow path including the orifice and the other flow path including the communication path. On the other hand, the damper  10  has only one flow path of the operating oil from the counter-rod side pressure chamber to the rod side pressure chamber through the orifice during the contracting operation. Accordingly, the damping force generated by the damper  10  during the extending operation is smaller than the damping force generated by the damper  10  during the contracting operation. 
     Each shelf plate  40  is flat-plate-shaped and has a rectangular shape long in the right-left direction. Each shelf plate  40  includes short sides which respectively serve as right and left ends thereof and are each held on the holding part  14  provided on the cylinder  11  of the damper  10 . Each first base  20  is mounted on the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1  and each second base  30  is mounted on the ceiling C so that the axis line of each damper  10  is inclined at a predetermined angle. In other words, each first base  20  is mounted on the top surface  1 U at the rear surface  1 B side of the furniture  1 , and each second base  30  is mounted on the ceiling C at the front surface  1 F side of the furniture  1  as compared with each first base  20 . As a result, the axis lines of the respective dampers  10  extending from the upper ends to the lower ends of the dampers  10  are inclined downwardly in the direction of the rear surface  1 B of the furniture  1  in parallel to each other, so that the shelf plates  40  are held with a space therebetween in the up-down direction so that the upper surfaces  41  are spread in the horizontal direction. 
     In the vibration damping shelf, the first abutment surfaces  21 A of the respective first bases  20  are caused to be brought into face-to-face contact with the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1  thereby to be placed thereon. Then, the second abutment surfaces  31 A of the respective second bases  30  are caused to be brought into face-to-face contact with the ceiling C while the dampers  10  having been extended to the maximum by an expansion force of the compression gas enclosed in the respective cylinders  11  are being contracted, so that the vibration damping shelf is mounted on the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1  and the ceiling C. Thus, both ends of each damper  10  of the vibration damping shelf can respectively be mounted on the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1  and the ceiling C. Upon occurrence of quakes of earthquake or the like, the dampers  10  of the vibration damping shelf are contracted with the result that the quakes can be damped by the damping force of the dampers  10 . In other words, the vibration damping shelf can suppress shake of the shelf plates  40  each having the right and left ends held by the dampers  10  and accordingly suppress fall of articles placed on the shelf plates  40 . In the vibration damping shelf, the shelf plates  40  are held on the holding parts  14  provided on the cylinders  11 . When quakes of earthquake or the like extend/contract the dampers  10 , the rods  13  move forward and backward relative to the respective cylinders  11 . Therefore, displacement of the cylinders  11  is small, and accordingly fluctuation of heightwise positions of the respective shelf plates  40  can be reduced. As a result, the vibration damping shelf can suppress fall of the articles placed on the shelf plates  40  due to quakes of earthquake or the like. 
     Furthermore, the furniture  1  on which the first bases  20  of the dampers  10  are mounted is subjected to a force from quakes of earthquake or the like. The force can be damped by the damping force of the dampers  10  with the result that shake of the furniture  1  can be suppressed. In other words, the vibration damping shelf can damp the force to tilt the furniture  1  due to quakes of earthquake or the like thereby to prevent the furniture  1  from overturn. 
     Accordingly, the vibration damping shelf of the first embodiment can prevent the furniture  1  from overturn by suppressing shake of the furniture  1 , while suppressing fall of the articles placed on the shelf plates  40 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     The vibration damping shelf of a second embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , differs from that of the first embodiment in that inclination directions of the axis lines of the respective dampers  10  inclined downwardly and extending from the upper ends to the lower ends are opposed to each other as viewed sideways. In the second embodiment, the identical or similar parts are labeled by the same reference symbols as those in the first embodiment and detailed description of such parts will be eliminated. 
     The vibration damping shelf includes the paired dampers  10  and two shelf plates  240  serving as the shelf members. Each shelf plate  240  has short sides which serve as the right and left ends thereof and are each held on the holding part  14  provided on the cylinder  11  of the damper  10 . The shelf plates  240  are held with a space therebetween in the up-down direction so that the upper surfaces  241  thereof are spread in the horizontal direction. The first bases  20  of the dampers  10  are mounted on the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1  and the second bases  30  of the dampers  10  are mounted on the ceiling c so that the axis lines of the respective dampers  10  extending from the upper ends to the lower ends further extend in opposite directions in a planar view as viewed from above. In other words, regarding the damper  10  holding the left ends of the shelf plates  240  the first base  20  is mounted on the top surface  1 U at the rear surface  1 B side of the furniture  1 , whereas the second base  30  is mounted on the ceiling C at the front surface  1 F side of the furniture  1  as compared with the first bases  20 . On the other hand, regarding the damper  10  holding the right ends of the shelf plates  240 , the first base  20  is mounted on the top surface  1 U at the front surface  1 F side of the furniture  1 , whereas the second base  30  is mounted on the ceiling C at the rear surface  1 B side of the furniture  1  as compared with the first base  20 . The right and the left refer to those as viewed from the front surface  1 F side of the furniture  1  with the vibration damping shelf being mounted between the furniture  1  and the ceiling C. 
     Since the first bases  20  and the second bases  30  are thus mounted, the locations where the shelf plates  240  are held on the holding parts  14  of the cylinder  10  at the left short sides of the shelf plates  240  differ from the locations where the shelf plates  240  are held on the holding parts  14  of the cylinder  10  at the right short sides of the shelf plates  240 . In other words, regarding the upper shelf plate  240 , a substantially middle part of the left short side in the front-back direction is held on the holding part  14 , whereas a rear part of the right short side is held on the holding part  14 . Regarding the lower shelf plate  240 , a substantially middle part of the left short side in the front-back direction is held on the holding part  14 , whereas a front part of the right short side is held on the holding part  14 . 
     In the vibration damping shelf, the first abutment surfaces  21 A of the respective first bases  20  are caused to be brought into face-to-face contact with the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1  thereby to be placed thereon. Then, the second abutment surfaces  31 A of the respective second bases  30  are caused to be brought into face-to-face contact with the ceiling C while the dampers  10  having been extended to the maximum by an expansion force of the compression gas enclosed in the respective cylinders  11  are being contracted, so that the vibration damping shelf is mounted on the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1  and the ceiling C. Thus, both ends of each damper  10  of the vibration damping shelf can respectively be mounted on the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1  and the ceiling C. Upon occurrence of quakes of earthquake or the like, the dampers  10  of the vibration damping shelf are contracted with the result that the quakes can be damped by the damping force of the dampers  10 . In other words, the vibration damping shelf can suppress shake of the shelf plates  240  each having the right and left ends held by the dampers  10  and accordingly suppress fall of articles placed on the shelf plates  240 , In the vibration damping shelf, the shelf plates  240  are held on the holding parts  14  provided on the cylinders  11 . When quakes of earthquake or the like extend/contract the dampers  10 , the rods  13  move forward and backward relative to the respective cylinders  11 . Therefore, displacement of the cylinders  11  is small, and accordingly fluctuation of heightwise positions of the respective shelf plates  240  can be reduced. As a result, the vibration damping shelf can suppress fall of the articles placed on the shelf plates  240  due to quakes of earthquake or the like. 
     Furthermore, the furniture  1  to which the first bases  20  of the dampers  10  are mounted is subjected to a force from quakes of earthquake or the like. The force can be damped by the damping force of the dampers  10  with the result that shake of the furniture  1  can be suppressed. In more detail, when the furniture  1  is tilted to the front surface  1 F side, the damper  10  holding the left ends of the shelf plates  240  is contracted to exert a damping force. Furthermore, when the furniture  1  is tilted to the rear surface  1 B side, the damper  10  holding the right ends of the shelf plates  240  is contracted to exert a damping force. Thus, the vibration damping shelf can prevent the furniture  1  from overturn by damping the force to tilt the furniture  1  due to quakes of earthquake or the like. 
     Accordingly, the vibration damping shelf of the second embodiment can prevent the furniture  1 . from overturn by suppressing shake of the furniture  1 , while suppressing fall of the articles placed on the shelf plates  240 . 
     Third Embodiment 
     The vibration damping shelf of a third embodiment includes a pair of dampers  110  and three shelf plates  140  serving as the shelf members, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that the dampers  110  and the shelf plates  140  are larger than those of the first and second embodiments in size and that the dampers  110  have both ends respectively mounted on a floor surface F and the ceiling C. In the third embodiment, the identical or similar parts are labeled by the same reference symbols as those in the first and second embodiments and detailed description of such parts will be eliminated. 
     In the vibration damping shelf, three holding parts  114  are provided on the outer peripheral surface of each cylinder  111  to hold the shelf plates  140 . The holding parts  114  are located on a straight line parallel to the axis line of each cylinder  111  at regular intervals. The first base  120  of each damper  110  is mounted on the floor surface F, and the second base  130  of each damper  110  is mounted on the ceiling C while the axis line of each damper  110  is inclined at a predetermined angle. In other words, the location of the first base  120  mounted on the floor surface F is spaced from the location of the second base  130  mounted on the ceiling C, so that the axis lines of the respective dampers  110  extending from the upper ends to the lower ends are downwardly inclined in parallel with each other. In this state, the holding parts  140  are configured to hold the shelf plates  140  so that upper surfaces  141  of the shelf plates  140  are horizontally spread. 
     Each first base  120  has the first base plate  121  and the first connecting part  123 . The first base plate  121  has a flat plate shape and includes a first abutment surface  121 A brought into face-to-face contact with the floor surface F. The first abutment surface  121 A is rectangular in shape. The first connecting part  123  has a flat plate shape and upwardly protrudes continuously from a surface  121 B of the first base plate  121  (a surface located at the side opposed to the first abutment surface  121 A) with the first base  120  having been mounted on the floor surface F. In more detail, the first connecting part  123  longitudinally extends in a middle part of the first base plate  121  with respect to the short side direction and, with the first base  120  having been mounted on the floor surface F, the first connecting part  23  has upper surfaces which are inclined so as to ascend from both longitudinal ends toward a middle part thereof. The first connecting part  123  has a first shaft  127  which is columnar in shape and extends from both side surfaces of the longitudinal middle part of the first connecting part  123  on the identical straight line perpendicular to the side surfaces. The cylinder  111  has a pair of cylinder side connecting parts  112  formed with respective through holes  112 A into which the ends of the first shaft  127  extending from both side surfaces of the first connecting part  123  are inserted in a retained state, so that the cylinder  111  is connected to the first base  120  so as to be rotatable about the first shaft  127 . 
     Each second base  130  has the second base plate  131  and the second connecting part  133 . The second base plate  131  has a flat plate shape and includes a second abutment surface  131 A brought into face-to-face contact with the ceiling C. The second abutment surface  131 A is rectangular in shape. The second connecting part  133  has a flat plate shape and downwardly protrudes continuously from a surface  131 B of the second base plate  131  (a surface located at the side opposed to the second abutment surface  131 A) with the second base  130  having been mounted on the ceiling C. In more detail, the second connecting part  133  longitudinally extends in a middle part of the second base plate  131  with respect to the short side direction and, with the second base  130  having been mounted on the ceiling C, the second base plate  131  has lower surfaces which are inclined so as to descend from both longitudinal ends toward a middle part thereof. The second connecting part  133  has a second shaft  137  which is columnar in shape and extends from both side surfaces of the longitudinal middle part of the second connecting part  133  on the identical straight line perpendicular to the side surfaces. The rod  113  has a pair of rod side connecting parts  115  formed with respective through holes  115 A into which the ends of the second shaft  137  extending from both side surfaces of the second connecting part  133  are inserted in a retained state, so that the rod  113  is connected to the second base  130  so as to be rotatable about the second shafts  137 . 
     Each shelf plate  140  is flat plate-shaped and has a rectangular shape long in the right-left direction. Each shelf plate  140  includes short sides which serve as a right and left ends and are each held on the holding part  114  provided on the cylinder  111  of each damper  110 . As described above, when the first bases  120  are mounted on the floor surface F and the second bases  130  are mounted on the ceiling C so that the axis lines of the dampers  110  extend in parallel with each other while being inclined at a predetermined angle, the shelf plates  140  are held at regular intervals in the up-down direction with the upper surfaces  141  being spread in the horizontal direction. 
     In the vibration damping shelf, the first abutment surfaces  121 A of the respective first bases  120  are caused to be brought into face-to-face contact with the floor surface F thereby to be placed thereon. Then, the second abutment surfaces  131 A of the respective second bases  30  are caused to be brought into face-to-face contact with the ceiling C while the dampers  110  having been extended to the maximum by an expansion force of the compression gas enclosed in the respective cylinders  111  are being contracted, so that the vibration damping shelf is mounted on the floor surface F and the ceiling C. Thus, both ends of each damper  110  of the vibration damping shelf can respectively be mounted on the floor surface F and the ceiling C. Upon occurrence of quakes of earthquake or the like, the dampers  110  of the vibration damping shelf are contracted with the result that the quakes can be damped by the damping force of the dampers  110 . In other words, the vibration damping shelf can suppress shake of the shelf plates  140  each having the right and left ends held by the dampers  110  and accordingly suppress fall of articles placed on the shelf plates  140 . In the vibration damping shelf, the shelf plates  140  are held on the holding parts  114  provided on the cylinders  111 . When quakes of earthquake or the like extend/contract the dampers  110 , the rods  113  move forward and backward relative to the respective cylinders  111 . Therefore, displacement of the cylinders  111  is small, and accordingly fluctuation of heightwise positions of the respective shelf plates  140  can be reduced. As a result, the vibration damping shelf can suppress fall of the articles placed on the shelf plates  140  due to quakes of earthquake or the like. 
     Furthermore, the room having the floor surface F and the ceiling C to both of which the dampers  110  are mounted is subjected to a force from quakes of earthquake or the like. The force can be damped by the damping force of the dampers  110  with the result that shake of the room can be suppressed. 
     Accordingly, the vibration damping shelf of the third embodiment can suppress shake of the room, while suppressing fall of the articles placed on the shelf plates  140 . 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     The vibration damping shelf of a fourth embodiment differs from that of the third embodiment in that two shelf plates  340  serving as shelf members are held on a single damper  310 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In the fourth embodiment, the identical or similar parts are labeled by the same reference symbols as those in the third embodiment and detailed description of such parts will be eliminated. 
     The vibration damping shelf is provided with two pairs of holding parts  314  extending from two locations on an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder  311  in the right-left direction on respective identical outer circumferences, which locations are spaced from each other along the axis line of the cylinder  311  of the damper  310 . Each shelf plate  340  has a flat plate shape long in the right-left direction. Each shelf plate  340  has right and left ends each of which is formed into an arc shape. Each shelf plate  340  has a circular through hole  342  formed through a central part thereof and having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cylinder  311  of the damper  310 . Each shelf plate  340  is nipped by the holding parts  314  of the cylinder  311  from the inner peripheral edge of the through hole  342  thereby being held with the cylinder  311  having been inserted through the through holes  342 . The first base  120  of the damper  310  is mounted on the floor surface F and the second base  130  of the damper  310  is mounted on the ceiling (not illustrated) with the axis line of the damper  310  being inclined at a predetermined angle. In other words, the position of the first base  120  mounted on the floor surface F is horizontally spaced from the position of the second base  130  mounted on the ceiling, with the result that the axis line of the damper  310  extending from the upper end to the lower end is downwardly inclined. In this state, the holding parts  314  are configured to hold the shelf plates  340  so that the upper surfaces  341  of the shelf plates  340  are horizontally spread. 
     In the vibration damping shelf, the first abutment surface  121 A of the first base  120  is caused to be brought into face-to-face contact with the floor surface F thereby to be placed thereon. Then, the second abutment surface  131 A of the second. base  130  is caused to be brought into face-to-face contact with the ceiling while the damper  310  having been extended to the maximum by an expansion force of the compression gas enclosed in the cylinder  311  is being contracted, so that the vibration damping shelf is mounted on the floor surface F and the ceiling. Thus, both ends of the damper  310  of the vibration damping shelf can be respectively mounted on the floor surface F and the ceiling. Upon occurrence of quakes of earthquake or the like, the damper  310  of the vibration damping shelf is contracted with the result that the quakes can be damped by the damping force of the damper  310 . In other words, the vibration damping shelf can suppress shake of the shelf plates  340  held by the damper  310  and accordingly suppress fall of articles placed on the shelf plates  340 . The shelf plates  340  are held on the holding parts  314  provided on the cylinder  311  of the vibration damping shelf. When quakes of earthquake or the like extend/contract the damper  310 , the rod  113  moves forward and backward relative to the cylinder  311 . Therefore, displacement of the cylinder  311  is small, and accordingly fluctuation of heightwise positions of the shelf plates  340  can be reduced. As a result, the vibration damping shelf can suppress fall of articles placed on the shelf plates  340  due to quakes of earthquake or the like. 
     Furthermore, the room having the floor surface F and the ceiling to both of which the damper  310  is mounted is subjected to a force from quakes of earthquake or the like. The force is damped by the damping force of the damper  310  with the result that shake of the room can be suppressed. 
     Accordingly, the vibration damping shelf of the fourth embodiment can suppress shake of the room, while suppressing fall of the articles placed on the shelf plates  340 . 
     Fifth Embodiment 
     The vibration damping shelf of a fifth embodiment includes a single damper  10  having an identical structure with that in the first embodiment and a single biasing member  410 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The biasing member  410  includes a cylinder  411  and a rod  413  protruding upward from the cylinder  411 . A compression coil spring  414  is housed in a space below the rod  413  in the cylinder  411 . The compression coil spring  414  biases the rod  413  in an extension direction. The compression coil spring  414  is mounted on identical counterpart members with those of the damper  10  (the top surface  1 U of the furniture  1  and the ceiling C) via the cylinder  414 , the rod  413 , the first base  20 , and the second base  30 . Upon contraction of the biasing member  410 , the compression coil spring  414  imparts an extension force to the rod  413 . In the fifth embodiment, the identical or similar parts are labeled by the same reference symbols as those in the first embodiment and detailed description of such parts will be eliminated. 
     The present invention should not be limited to the first to fifth embodiments described above with reference to the drawings, but the technical scope of the invention encompasses the following embodiments, for example. 
     (1) Although the flat plate-shaped shelf members are used in the first to fifth embodiments, another shape of shelf members may be used.
 
(2) Although two or three shelf plates are provided in the first to fifth embodiments, one, four or more shelf plates may be provided.
 
(3) Although both ends of the damper are respectively mounted on the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling in the first, second, and fifth embodiments, both ends of the damper may respectively be mounted on the top surface of the furniture and the wall surface.
 
(4) Although both ends of the damper are respectively mounted on the floor surface and the ceiling in the third and fourth embodiments, both ends of the damper may respectively be mounted on the wall surface and the ceiling, or on the floor surface and the wall surface.
 
(5) Although the dampers are compression dampers in the first to fifth embodiments, the damper may be a two-way damper or an extension damper.
 
(6) Although the shelf plates are supported on the cylinder/cylinders in the first to fifth embodiments, the shelf plates may be supported on the rod/rods.
 
(7) Although both ends of the damper are mounted on the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling or on the floor surface and the ceiling, with the axis line of the damper being inclined at the predetermined angle in the first to fifth embodiments, both ends of the damper may respectively be mounted on the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling or on the floor surface and the ceiling with the axis line of the damper extending in the vertical direction.
 
(8) The structure of adding the biasing member provided with the compression coil spring in the fifth embodiment may also be applied to the second to fourth embodiments. In the fourth embodiment in which only one damper is used, if the biasing member provided with the compression coil, spring is added between the members to which the damper is mounted, this can improve the vibration damping function at lower costs than the case where one more damper is further added.
 
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
       10 ,  110 ,  310  . . . damper,  11 ,  111 ,  311  . . . cylinder,  13 ,  113  . . . rod,  40 ,  140 ,  240 ,  340  . . . shelf plate (shelf member),  410  . . . biasing member,  414  . . . compression coil spring,  1  . . . furniture (article),  1 U . . . top surface of (the furniture), C . . . ceiling, W . . . wall surface, F . . . floor surface (installation surface).