Patent Abstract:
Provided is a desk top panel, which normally protects privacy in a complete shielding form, permits facing persons to converse and documents and the like to be passed and received by opening a lower space of the desk top panel as needed, and permits a wiring cover to be easily attached/removed or opened/closed. A desk having such desk top panel attached thereon is also provided. A desk top panel is attached to the rear portion of a top board of a desk to stand, for blocking the visual fields of sitting persons. The desk top panel is provided with a panel-like main body; a pair of right and left attaching sections, which vertically extend downward from the both lower end portions of the main body by having the lower end sections attached to the top board or a top board supporting body of the desk; and a closing plate, attached to the lower end of the main body to be opened/closed, so that a space formed between the main body and the upper surface of the top board of the desk can be opened/closed when both the attaching sections are attached to the desk.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 National Phase conversion of PCT/JP2007/071511, filed Nov. 6, 2007, which claims benefit of Japanese Application No. 2006-304225, filed Nov. 9, 2006 and Japanese Application No. 2006-304226, filed Nov. 9, 2006, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The PCT International Application was published in the Japanese language. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a desk top panel on the upper surface of a top board of a desk to block visibility of a person and a desk with the desk top panel. 
     Such a desk top panel is a perfectly-partitioned type as disclosed in JP2004-313471A. There is also a desk top panel where only upper part is partitioned and lower part comprises only posts for supporting the upper part to create openings between the posts. 
     JP2006-6771A discloses a wire storage space under a desk top panel. 
     Furthermore, JP3-98634U, JP2000-287758A and JP2006-149554A disclose an opening in a top board of a desk, wires for lighting instruments on the top board and electronic equipment being introduced to a wire duct through the opening, the opening being closed by a wire cover. 
     In JP2004-313471A, privacy of face-to-face persons who sit in front of the desk or table can be protected with the partitioning desk top panel, but one has to walk around the corner of the desk or table when one need talk to the other or give documents. 
     The lower-part open type provides advantage contrary to the above, but it is possible to see through the lower space, so that one&#39;s privacy is invaded. 
     In JP2006-6771A, a wire storage space is formed beside the desk top panel in the top board, so that an effective working area on the top board is reduced. 
     In JP3-98634U, JP2000-287758A and JP2006-149554A, when the desk top panel is mounted, the wire cover may be obstructed from opening/closing and taking on/off, and wiring will become more difficult. 
     When the wire opening is along the desk top panel, a working space is reduced, so that the top board will be less effective in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the disadvantages, it is an object of the invention to provide a desk top panel and a desk with the desk top panel, the desk being normally partitioned by a desk top panel to protect privacy, lower part of the desk top panel being opened, if necessary, to enable face-to-face persons to talk with each other and to give/receive documents, a wire cover being easily removed or opened. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a desk top panel having a wire storage space under a desk top panel without reducing effective working area on a top board of the desk. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a desk with the first embodiment of a desk top panel according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing an intermediate part of the desk top panel. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged vertical sectional side view thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged vertical sectional side view showing a desk with the second embodiment of a desk top panel according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  are enlarged sectional views of the part V in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective views showing the steps for assembling a closing member. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the main part in the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  are views showing a motion thereof. 
         FIGS. 9A-9C  are views showing a motion in the fourth embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a vertical sectional side view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the sixth embodiment of a desk top panel according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a vertical sectional side view thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1-3  show the first embodiment of the invention. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a desk  1  comprises four top boards  2  in which the two boards face each other, while the two boards are arranged side by side. The top boards  2  are supported by a top support A comprising a pair of side panels  3 , 3 ; intermediate legs  4  therebetween; and a beam (not shown) for connecting the intermediate legs  4 . The desk  1  is a face-to-face type. 
     Between the top boards  2  and  2 , there is provided a desk top panel  5  for blocking front visibility of sitting persons on a chair  6 , shown by two-dot-dash lines in front of each of the top boards  2 . 
     Under each of the top boards  2 , there is a side wagon  7  as shown by two-dot-dash lines beside the chair  6 . On the upper surface of the top board  2 , there are a notebook computer  8  in two-dot-dash lines and other electric appliance (not shown). A power source code and a connecting cable pass through an elongate opening  9  between the top boards  2  and  2  under the desk top panel  5  and is stored in a wire duct  10  in  FIG. 3 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the wire duct  10  comprises a long U-shape and the side edge thereof is fixed on the lower surface of the facing top boards  2 , 2  with a plurality of support plates  11  with a screw  12 . 
     The opening  9  is closed with a detachable wire cover  13 . 
     The wire cover  13  is formed by bending the edges of a horizontal steel plate into a U-shape and located on the middle of the support plate  11  while a gap  14  through which a wire passes still remains, such that the middle of the opening  9  is coplanar with the upper surface of the top board  2 . 
     In the middle of the support plate  11 , a pair of upward projections  11   a .  11   a  is provided to place the wire cover  13  in the middle. 
     In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the desk top panel  5  comprises a pair of vertical frames  16 , 16  having a mounting base  15  at the lower end; an upper horizontal frame  9  connecting the upper ends of the vertical frames  16 , 16 ; a lower horizontal frame  18  connecting parts close to the lower ends of the vertical frame  18 ; a pair of rectangular decoration panels  19 , 19  surrounded by the frames  16 , 17 , 18 ; and a closing member  21  the upper end of which is pivotally mounted to the vertical frames  16 , 16  on a shaft  20  under the lower horizontal frame  18 . 
     A body  5 A of the desk top panel  5  comprises the vertical frames  16 , 16  higher than the lower horizontal frame  18 ; the lower horizontal frame  18 ; and the decoration panels  19 , 19 . A pair of mounting portions  5 B comprises the vertical frames  16 , 16  lower than the lower horizontal frame  18 ; and the mounting bases  15 , 15 . The mounting portion  5 B which suspends from the lower end of the body  5 A is mounted at the lower end to the top board  2  or top board support A. 
     In this embodiment, the shaft  20  passes through the upper part of the closing member  21  and projects at the end which rotatably fits in a bearing hole  22  in the inner surfaces of the vertical frame  16 , 16 . 
     The mounting bases  15 , 15  of the mounting portion  5 B is disposed on the upper surface of the bottom of the wire duct  10  through the opening  9  and mounted with a bolt  23  and a nut  24 . Thus, the desk top panel  5  is firmly fixed to the top board support A. 
     The mounting bases  15 , 15  may be directly fixed to the side panel  3 , intermediate leg  4  or other member of the top board support A. Particularly, in a desk comprising a single top board, mounting bases  15 , 15  may be fixed to the upper surface of the top board. 
     The closing member  21  may be made in proper size to close a space S between the lower end of the body  5 A and the upper surface of the top board  2  of the desk  1  when the desk top panel  5  is mounted to the top board support A as above. 
     As shown by sold lines in  FIG. 3 , the closing member  21  is normally positioned in a close position by its own weight and closes the space S almost perfectly. The front visibility of the person sitting on the chair  6  is blocked almost perfectly, so that privacy can be protected. 
     From this position, the person pushes the closing member with a finger forward or backward. As shown by two-dot-dash lines in  FIG. 3 , the closing member  21  turns to an open position around the shaft  20  to produce the space S to allow one at one side to look at the other at the other side of the desk top panel  5 . The space S also enables one to give a document to the other. 
     The wire cover  13  can be removed from a opening-closing position while the closing member  21  is held in an open position. 
     The wire cover  13  is removed from the opening  9  to make the opening  9  greater, allowing wires to be stored or removed more easily. 
       FIGS. 4-6  show the second embodiment of the invention. The same numerals are allotted to the same members as the foregoing embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted. 
     In  FIG. 4 , an engagement groove  26  is formed at the lower part of a lower horizontal frame  25 . In  FIG. 6 , a plurality of shaft-support blocks  27  engage in the engagement groove  26  at regular intervals. The shaft-support block  27  has a lower semicircular section. In the lower part and sides of the outer circumference of the semicircular section, positioning elastic engagement projections  28  are provided, and a shaft  30  projects from the sides of the shaft-support block  27  at the center of the semicircular section, and the closing member  29  turns with the shaft  30 . The shaft  30  may be integrally formed with the shaft-support block  27 . 
     A closing member  29  is molded of synthetic resin and has a pair of arc-like elastically deformable shaft-holding portions  29   a , 29   a  at the upper end. In the middle of the upper end of the closing member  29 , there is formed a groove  31  for improving elastic flexibility of the shaft-holding portions  29   a , 29   a . An elastic engagement projection of the shaft-support block  27  fits in the groove  31 . 
     To the shaft support blocks  27  mounted to the lower end of the lower horizontal frame  25  in  FIG. 6A , the closing member  29  is pressed up in  FIGS. 6A and 5A . In  FIGS. 5B and 6B , the shaft  30  is held by the shaft-holding portions  29   a  at the ends projecting from the shaft-support block  27 . The elastic engagement projection  28  at the lower end of the shaft-support block  27  fits in the groove  31 . 
     The closing member  29  is stably held in a closed position by engagement of the elastic engagement projection  28  in the groove  31 . 
     Then, the closing member  29  turns forward or backward around the shaft  30 . For example, in  FIG. 5C , in the backward open position, the groove  31  engages with the elastic engagement projection  28  at the rear surface of the shaft-support block  27  to allow the closing member  29  to be held stably in the open position. 
     The wires can be taken in and out of the opening  9  easily. 
     In this embodiment, the closing member  29  is stably held in the closed and open positions by holding means comprising the groove  31  and the three elastic engagement projections  28 . Accordingly, the closing member  29  need not to be held with a hand in the open position and does not swing to the closed position. 
     The third embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     In the embodiment, a pair of shaft support blocks  33  is fixed to the sides of the lower end of a lower horizontal frame  32 , and each end of a shaft  35  around which the closing member  34  turns is pressed and fitted in the shaft support block  33 . An upper flat surface  35   a  is formed on the shaft  35  and is corresponding in shape to an engagement hole  36  in the shaft-support block  31 . 
     The closing member  34  comprises a pair of elastically deformable shaft-holding portions  34   a , 34   a  similar to the second embodiment. The distance between the shaft-holding portions  34   a  and  34   a  is smaller than an external diameter of the shaft  35 . In  FIG. 8A , when the closing member  34  is in the closed position, the shaft-holding portions  34   a , 34   a  expands at largest, and the side edge of the flat surface  35   a  of the shaft  35  is held by the shaft-holding portions  34   a , 34   a  stably in the closed position. In  FIG. 8C  from  FIG. 8B , when the closing member  34  turns to the open position, the shaft  35  is held while one of the shaft-support portions  34   a  is placed on the flat portion of the shaft  35 , so that the closing member  34  is stably held. 
     In the third embodiment, similar function and advantages to the second embodiment can be achieved. 
       FIG. 9  shows the fourth embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 9A , a shaft-support block  39  engages in an engagement groove  38  and has a rectangular-sectioned shaft  40  therefrom. 
     At the upper end of the closing member  41 , an axial hole  42  which fits the shaft  40  is formed and a gap  43  communicates with the axial hole  42 . 
     In  FIG. 9A , when the closing member  41  is in the closed position, the inner surface of the axial hole  42  in the closing member  41  tightly contacts the outer circumference of the shaft  40 , so that the closing member  41  is stably held. 
     The closing member  41  is pressed rearward and turned around the shaft  40 . In  FIG. 9B , at a turning angle for 45 degrees from the closed position, the axial hole  42  and its outer circumference at the upper end of the closing member  41  are elastically deformed to expand at largest. Besides the angle, elastic deformation of the axial hole  42  and its circumference gradually decreases. When the closing member  41  reaches an open position in  FIG. 9C , the inner surface of the axial hole  42  tightly contacts the outer circumferential surface of the shaft  40 , so that the closing member  41  is stably held. 
     The fourth embodiment achieves function and advantages similar to the second and third embodiments. The closing member  41  can be forced so as to reverse a turning direction at the intermediate position between the closed position and open position. 
     The shaft  40  and axial hole  42  may be provided in the closing member  41  and shaft-support block  39  respectively. 
     The shaft  40  and axial hole  42  may be like a polygon such as a hexagon to allow the closing member  41  to be held stably. 
       FIG. 10  shows the fifth embodiment of the invention. 
     In the embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the upper end of a closing member  21  is pivotally mounted to vertical frames  16 , 16  on a shaft  20 . The closing member  21  is pivotally mounted to the vertical frames  16 , 16  on a shaft  20 . The closing member  21  is thinner than a lower horizontal frame  18 . The closing member  21  is disposed in the middle of the lower horizontal frame  18 . When the closing member  21  is in a closed position, there are recesses  44 , 44  in front of and behind the closing member  21  under a body  5 A of a desk top panel  5 . Swaying wire cover  45 , 45  for an opening  9  turns upward to allow the wire cover  45  to be stored into the recesses  44  when the opening  9  is open. 
     A plurality of cover supports  47  is arranged at regular intervals and has mounting portion  47   a  at the lower end fixed with a bolt and a nut  46  to the bottom of the wire duct  10 . The wire covers  45 , 45  are pivotally mounted to the upper end of the cover supports  47  on pivot shafts  48 , 48  and turns with the pivot shaft  48  between a horizontal closed position coplanar with a top board  2  as shown by solid lines in  FIG. 10  and an open position as shown by two-dot-dash lines. 
     On the lower side of the wire cover  45 , there is provided an engagement projection  45   a  which elastically engages with an engagement portion  47   b  extending from the upper end of the cover support  47 . When the wire cover  45  turns from the open position to the closed position, the engagement projection  45   a  elastically engages with the engagement portion  47   b  to allow the wire cover  45  to be elastically held in the closed position. 
     The wire cover  45  turns upward to the open position. When the opening  9  is open, each of the wire covers  45  is stored in the recess  44 , allowing the opening  9  to open larger to facilitate wires to be taken in and out of the wire duct  10 . 
     The opening  9  can be provided close to the desk top panel  5 , thereby providing broader working space on the top board  2 . 
     The sixth embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
     In the embodiment, wire covers  45 , 45  have the same structure as those in the fifth embodiment. There is provided a suspension  49  thinner than the lower horizontal frame  18  at the lower end of a body  5 A of a desk top panel  5  or in the middle of the lower surface of a lower horizontal frame  18 . There are grooves  50 , 50  on the lower end of the desk top panel  5 , When the wire covers  45 , 45  turns upward to open an opening  9 , the wire covers  45  are stored in the grooves  50 , 50 . 
     Each of the wire covers  45  turns to an open position to make the opening  9  broader, allowing wires to be taken in and out of a wire duct  10  easily. The opening  9  can become close to the desk top panel  5 , making working space on a top board broader. 
     The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, but variations may be made without departing from the scope of claims. 
     For example, in the foregoing embodiments, the desk  1  comprises face-to-face connected desks, but the present invention can apply to a single top board desk. 
     In this case, the desk top panel  5  may be mounted not only to the top board support A but also to the top board  2  directly. The opening  2  may comprise an elongate hole at the rear part of the top board  2  or may be cut away forward from the rear end of the top board  2 .

Technology Classification (CPC): 0