Moving apparatus

TECHNICAL FIELD

The current invention relates to a moving apparatus, more specifically, a moving apparatus which moves a personal computer vertically.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Generally, office workers work with a personal computer (PC) placed on their desks. For example, in case of a desk-top type computer, at least a display and a keyboard, in some cases the computer main unit, are placed on a desk. In addition, in case of a laptop-type computer, the entire laptop is placed on a desk.

However, office workers are not always using their PC when they are working. For example, when reading a document or taking notes while on the phone, the time when not using a computer is not necessarily short. Thus, if a PC is placed on a desk even when it's not in use, it takes up working space on the desk.

The current invention is made with a view of above fact and its objective is to propose a moving apparatus which enables to effectively utilize work space on a desk.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Such objective can be achieved by the current invention described below. (1) A moving apparatus comprising a placing portion to place a personal computer or a keyboard for a personal computer, a moving portion to move the placing portion from a use position for using the placed personal computer or keyboard, to any non-using position located different from the use position, and a fixing means to fix the moving portion to a desk.

(2) The moving apparatus according (1), wherein the placing portion comprises a control means to control the placing portion from exceeding a predetermined angle when the placing portion is positioned at the using position.

(3) The moving apparatus according to (1) or (2), further comprising a permission means to permit the movement of the placing portion wherein the moving portion can move, at least, from one position to another among the use position and the nonuse position when a permission for moving is given by the permission means.

(4) The moving apparatus according to any of (1) to (3) comprises a storage portion that is provided at least internal of the moving portion to store at least one of a power cable of the personal computer or a signal cable of the personal computer.

(5) A moving apparatus comprising a platform, a placing portion having a placing face to place a placing object, an elevation oscillating member having the rear end portion oscillatably connected to the platform and the front end portion oscillatably connected to the placing portion, an extension means comprised between the elevation oscillating member and the platform, a locking means to lock the position of extension means, an operating means to switch said lock means to a lock state and a release state that allows extension and wherein said elevation oscillating member, said platform, and said extension means comprises a triangular link structure.

(6) The moving apparatus according to (5), wherein the placing portion comprises either of a first power terminal or a first signal terminal; and the platform comprises a second power terminal conducting the first power terminal or a second signal terminal conducting the first signal terminal.

(7) The moving apparatus according to (6) above wherein, the electrical wire conducting the first power terminal and the second power terminal or the electrical wire conducting the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal is inserted into the elevation oscillating member.

(8) The moving apparatus according to any one of (5)-(7) above, wherein the elevation oscillating material therein comprises an inserting portion to insert an electric wire.

(9) The moving apparatus according to any one of (5)-(8) above, wherein said extension means comprises a cylinder, a piston head moves within cylinder chamber of the cylinder, a piston rod wherein one end is connected to the piston head and the other end is protruding outside of the cylinder, a channel to circulate liquid filled in a cylinder chamber between a first cylinder chamber which expands its volume when extended, and a second cylinder which reduces its volume when extended, divided by the piston, and wherein the locking means is a switching valve comprised on the channel and the operating means operates the switching valve to open and close.

(10) The moving apparatus according to (9) above, wherein the piston head comprises a communicating passage communicating a first cylinder chamber with a second cylinder chamber and a safety valve provided to the communicating passage, wherein the safety valve is in an open state when the pressure in the first cylinder chamber exceeds a predetermined pressure.

(11) The moving apparatus according to (10) above wherein the communicating passage comprises an aperture which is operated after the safety valve is opened.

According to the invention of (1), since the placing portion to place a personal computer or a keyboard for a personal computer can be moved from a use position to a nonuse position with the moving portion, work space on the desk can be effectively used when the personal computer is not in use by moving the placing portion from the use position to the nonuse position. Further, because the current invention detachably fixes the moving portion to the desk, the moving apparatus can be detached from the desk so that the desk and the personal computer can be moved separately, which will be useful when relocating, or replacing the desk.

According to the invention of (2), the control means can prevent the placing portion from exceeding a predetermined angle when positioned in the use position, and prevent a personal computer from dropping from the placing portion when moved from the nonuse position to the use position.

According to the invention of (3), the placing portion can be stabilized in a relevant place since it can be moved at least one position from another among the use position and the nonuse position when moving is permitted by the permission means.

According to the invention of (4), since the storage portion to store at least one of the power wire of the personal computer or the signal wire of the personal computer is provided internal to the moving portion, these wires can be prevented from entangling and becoming an obstacle.

According to the invention of (5), the placing portion moves up and down by the elevation oscillating member oscillating in a vertical direction on the platform. Since the link structure is comprised by the elevation oscillating member, the platform, and the extension means, a oscillating position of the elevation oscillating member can be provided by expanding and contracting the extension means. And, by locking the position of the extension means with the locking means, fix the oscillating portion of the elevation oscillating member, which enables the placing portion to be fixed at the desirable height.

According to the invention of (6), since the power terminals and the signal terminals are provided to the placing portion, a LAN cable or a power wire for the personal computer and so on can be connected on the placing portion without hanging down from the placing portion. Also, since the platform has the terminals that conduct each of the power terminal and the signal terminal of the placing portion, connection with a communication wire to another device or a power wire can be made with these second terminals, so that inconveniences, such as a power wire connected to a personal computer interfering with the elevation operation, can be prevented.

According to the invention of (7), the electrical wires itself will not be exposed to the outside since the wire conducting the first power terminal and the second power terminal or the wire conducting the first signal terminal and the second signal terminal are inserted into the elevation oscillating member, so that it will not prevent elevating operation.

According to the invention of (8), the power wires will not prevent the elevating operation by inserting power wires into the inserting portion in the elevation oscillating member. The power wires connected to a personal computer can also be inserted through the inserting portion. In this way, no terminals are needed for the placing portion.

According to the invention of (9), the placing portion can be fixed certainly in a desirable position with the extension means comprised of a cylinder and a piston.

According to the invention of (10), since the safety valve is provided, damage to the mechanism can be prevented when placing a placing object exceeding a tolerable weight because the safety valve operates to move the placing portion downward. Also, when rapid vibration, such as earthquake, is applied, the placing portion can certainly be moved downward because it has structure that opens with an instantaneous increase of cylinder inner pressure from impact, and retains that open state after that.

According to the invention of (11), the aperture operates after the safety valve is opened, so that a sudden drop of the placing portion is restrained, which leads to prevent placed objects, such as a personal computer, from damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a moving apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a moving apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an obliquely upward view of a moving apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a view of a placing portion with a personal computer placed thereon.

FIG. 5(A) is a view of a placing portion in the nonuse position and 5(B) is a view of a placing portion in the use position.

FIG. 6(A) is another view of a placing portion in the nonuse position and 6(B) is another view of a placing portion in the use position.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a deformation example of a moving apparatus (specially a fixation device).

FIG. 8 is a partial bottom view of a placing portion showing an operation means.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure of placing portion.

FIG. 10 is an overall side view showing a structure of another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a plane view as well.

FIG. 12 is a plane view of a cover member.

FIG. 13 is an overall prospective view of a moving apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a cross section frame format of a structure for cylinder construction.

FIG. 15 is a partial enlarged cross section view of a piston head portion.

FIG. 16 is a partial enlarged cross section view of a piston head portion.

FIG. 17 is a cross section side view showing a structure of operation means.

FIG. 18 is a A-A cross section view of an operation means.

FIG. 19 is an overall prospective view of a cooling equipment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will hereinafter be more specifically described in reference to drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the moving apparatus of the current invention comprises a placing portion 18 (see also FIG. 4) for placing a personal computer or laptop type, a moving portion 12 to move the placing portion 18 between a use position for using the placed personal computer and an arbitrary nonuse position different from the use position, and a fixation device 14 to fix the moving portion 12 to a desk 16 detachably as a fixing means.

The fixation device 14 comprises a contact portion 14C with angled “U”-shaped cross section, and its upper face contacting with the lower face of a base 20 of the moving portion 12, and the upper inner face contacting with the surface of desk 16. This contact portion 14c is fixed to the desk 16 by contacting a front end portion 14B with the back face of the desk by a screw 14A, resulting the moving portion 12 fixed to the desk 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the moving portion 12 is rotatably attached to the base 20, a prop portion 22 which is rotatably attached to the base 20 through link 26, and the prop 22 through the link 28, and comprises the support portion 24 supports the placing portion 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, the prop 22 as a elevation oscillating member comprising two prop members 22A and 22B. Two prop members 22A and 22B are installed on the base 20 which is a platform, and the support portion 24, in a way that retains a predetermined spacing.

A link 25 is provided to a position that moved from the center of two prop member 22A and 22B towards the support portion 24 side. The link 25 has a fixation portion 32D installed rotatably. The fixation portion 32D has the supporting portion 32C which supports one end of the piston 32B, fixed. The other end of the piston 32B is located in the cylinder 32A. The end that is opposite from the end that piston of the cylinder 32A is rotatably fixed to the link 30A which is provided to the support base 30 fixed to the base 20.

The cylinder 32A is filled with oil. And the other end of the piston 32B separates a chamber of the cylinder 32A into a side that closer to the piston than the other end of the piston 32B and a side that closer to the support base 30 than the other end of the piston 32B. Each separated chamber is filled with oil, so that the piston 32B can not move within the cylinder 32. However, in this embodiment, the other end of piston 32 is provided with a switching valve which is not shown. So, when this switching valve is opened, oil can move within the separated chambers and the piston 32B can move within the cylinder 32. This switching valve is connected to the button operation portion 40 attached to the placing portion 18 through the wire 42. That is, when the button operation portion 40 operated, the switching valve is opened with the wire 42 which enables the piston 32B to move within cylinder 32. In addition, the button operation portion 40 corresponds to the permission means. Moreover, a flange is formed on the narrow side of near side of the placing portion 18, and constructed to prevent a placed personal computer from dropping when the placing portion is tilted. A light 181 is provided to the lower face of placing portion 18 and constructed to illuminate the downside of placing portion 18 when the placing portion 18 is at a nonuse position. When the placing portion 18 is in nonuse position, the surface of desk tends to be dark because it hides in shade of the placing portion 18, however, the lighting 181 can maintain the luminance of desk.

As shown in FIG. 3, a upper projection 34 on opposite side from the front end of supporting portion 24, a lower projection 36 on the portion where the supporting member 22 mounted to the link 26, and a wire 38 connected to the upper projection 34 and the lower projection 36, are provided to the side opposite from the prop portion 22 shown in FIG. 2. In this way, since the upper projection 34 is on an opposite side from the front end of supporting portion 24 and the lower projection 36 is on the portion where the supporting member 22 is mounted to the link 26, and are connected by the wire 38, the supporting portion 24, therefore, the placing portion 18 are regulated not to tilt exceeding a predetermined angle λ (see FIG. 1) against the prop portion 22. In addition, the upper projection 34, the lower projection 36, and the wire 38 comprise a control means.

When above cylinder 32 is comprised with a pneumatic cylinder, by impinging the air pressure to the direction of the expansion of the cylinder, and impinging this force to the direction that pushes up the placing portion from lower side, it can be utilized as a supporting force to elevate the placing portion with a heavy placed object. This enables a strengthless operator, such as a child or an senior to utilize the apparatus easily. Also, by using the cylinder, it becomes easier to fix (lock) the position of the above placing portion 18 at an arbitrary position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the storage portion 100 which stores a power wire 102 of the personal computer, is provided to the inside of each prop member 22A and placing portion 18. In this embodiment, an outlet 110a and 100b (see FIG. 4) is provided to connect a jack of the power wire that directly connected to the personal computer placed on the placing face of placing portion 18. One end of the storage portion 100a reaches the outlet 110a and the other end reaches an opening 100A provided close to the base 20 of prop member 22A. The outlet 110a and/or 110b (see FIG. 4) on one end of the storage portion 100, as shown in FIG. 2, is connected to a jack 106 through the power wire 102 that is stored in the storage portion and extends externally thorough the opening 100A, and this jack 106 is connected to a main outlet (external source such as lighting power) which is not shown.

Further, the storage portion 100 can be provided also within the fixation device 14 or only within the prop member 22A. In addition, when provided only within the prop member 22A, the outlet 110a can also be provided on the side face of prop member 22A. Also, the storage portion 100 is not limited to a power wire, along with this, or instead of this, a signal cable of a personal computer can be stored. The signal wire can be, for example, a printer cable.

Also, in this embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the placing face of placing portion 18 has the mouse storage box 132 fixed to store a mouse 130. In addition, a hook to hang a mouse can be provided instead of the mouse storage box 132.

Next, operation of the current embodiment will be explained. First, for example, the placing portion 18 is positioned at the nonuse position (arbitrary position) shown in FIG. 5 (A). When the button operation portion 40 is operated in this condition, the piston 32B can be moved within the cylinder 32A as described above. So a user moves the placing portion 18 to the use position shown in FIG. 5 (B) in this condition and stop operating the button operation portion 40. When there is no operation of the button operation portion 40, the piston 32B can not be moving within the cylinder 32A. Therefore, the placing portion 18 is stably positioned at the use position.

When there is no necessity for use of PC, again, operate the button operation portion 40 to position the placing portion 18 to a nonuse position ((arbitrary position) see FIG. 6 (A)). An example of moving the placing portion 18 from either one of use position or non use position to another when the placing portion 18 is controlled to a predetermined angle by the wire 38 etc., explained in above. In addition, the placing portion 18 can be tilted below the predetermined angle in this embodiment as shown in FIG. 6 (B).

As explained above, in this embodiment, because the placing portion that has personal computer placed can be moved from use position to nonuse potion by the moving portion, work space on the desk can be effectively utilized by moving the placing portion to the nonuse position when the personal computer is not in use. Moreover, in this embodiment, the moving apparatus can be detached from the desk because the moving portion is detachably fixed to the desk, so that the desk and the personal computer can be moved separately, which will be useful when relocating, or replacing the desk.

Further, the placing portion can be prevented from tilting exceeding a predetermined angle by a control means, such as wire, when the placing portion is positioned at the use position, so that the personal computer can be prevented from dropping from the placing portion when moved from nonuse position to use position. Also, the lighting 181 can be provided to the lower side of the placing portion 18. This will be used as a lighting to illuminate the desktop when positioning the placing portion 18 at a nonuse position. Additionally, the placing portion can be moved from either one of use position or nonuse position to another when movement is permitted by the button, so that the placing portion can be stabilized to the position.

Also, in the embodiment described above, the storage portion 100 is provided to inside of each prop member 22A and placing portion 18 to store the power wire 102 of personal computer, so that it prevent the power wire from becoming an obstacle. Further, the mouse storage box 132 is fixed on the placing face of the placing portion 18, it also prevent a mouse and its signal sire to be come obstacle when moving the placing portion in this case.

The method of the fixation device 14 adopted in above embodiment is that fix the contacting portion 14C to the desk 16 by the screw 14A, however, the current invention is not limited to this, and for example, a inserting portion 140 which extends from base portion 20, can be provided as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, provide an insertion hole 16S to the desk 16 for insertion portion 140 to be inserted. Therefore, the moving portion can be fixed to the desk detachable by inserting the inserting portion 140 to the inserting hole 16S. Also, a binding bolt 16R is threaded to the inserting hole 16 S from outside as a positioning fixing means, and the positioning is made by threading the binding bolt 16R and contact the front end with the inserting portion 140 after deciding a position of horizontal direction for the placing portion 18. In addition, a construction can also be as follows, a spring inserted into inserting hole 16S, and a compression spring inserted between the inserting portion 140 and bottom of the inserting hole 16S. In this case, the spring absorbs a vibration from earthquake and damage to the personal computer placed on the placing portion 18 can be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 8, an operating means 5 capable of operating with a light operation load can be provided to the button operating portion 40. In this configuration example, the button operating portion 40 is provided in the position where hides completely on the lower side of placing portion 18, and the button 41 that is provided to be able to appear and disappear, is arranged to be able to move advance and retreat towards the side of placing potion 18.

The operating means 5 has an arm 51, a supporting portion 52 which ocillatably supports the arm, a contacting portion 53 provided to the rear end of arm 51, and operating portion 54 provided to the front end portion. The arm 51 is provided to the bottom face of placing portion 18 and oscillatably supported through supporting point 52. The position of supporting portion 52 is located where distance from the supporting portion 52 to the operating portion 54 on front end portion is longer than the distance to the contacting portion 53. Also, the operation portion 54 is hidden in the lower side of placing portion 18 at the non-use position and positioned near the end portion of placing portion 18.

The contacting portion 53 contacts the front end of button 41, and has a structure that moves along the advance and retreat direction of the button 41 by oscillation of the arm 51. In such construction, when the operating portion 54 is pulled outward (lateral of the placing portion 18), the arm 51 is oscillated, the contacting portion 53 moves the button 41 to the direction for pressing in, and the button 41 is pressed in by the contacting portion 53. This enables the vertical movement of the placing potion 18. Also, non operating position of the operating portion 54 can be the position slightly exposed from the end of placing portion 18. In this case, position of the operating portion 54 can easily be recognized visually and it make easier to find the operating portion 54. And, since the distance from the supporting point 52 to the operating portion 54 is longer than the distance to the contacting portion 53, the operating load impinging on the operating portion is decreased by the principle of leverage, and the button 41 can be pressed in with a mild operation, which make the elevation operation of the placing portion 18 easy. In addition, such operating means 5 can be provided not only to the lateral of the placing portion 18, but also to the end of near side.

A bias member, such as a spring, is housed in the cylinder 32A, and it can be comprised to bias the piston 32B in projection direction. By comprising in this way, the force is always acting in the direction to elevate the placing portion 18 and, it can also act as a supporting force when pushing a weighty personal computer in an upward position. Moreover, when the permission means is released and allowed to move, it can act as a buffering means without rapidly dropping the placing portion 18 by the weight of the personal computer.

Also, the placing portion is comprised to place a laptop type personal computer in aforementioned embodiment, however, the current invention is not limited to this, and it can be comprised to place a keyboard of a desk top type personal computer. In addition, a signal wire of the keyboard can be housed in above storage portion in this case.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure of placing portion 18. A groove 241 is formed on the supporting portion 24 in an anteroposterior direction on the face opposite to the placing portion 18 and a projection 182 which is intruded into the groove 24, is formed on the placing portion 18. Since the cross section of projection 182 is formed in a wedged shape, the placing portion does not secede from the supporting portion 24 except for the inserting direction when inserted into the groove 241, and comprised in a way that movable in an anteroposterior direction (inserting direction). By comprising in such way, unteroposterioorly moving the placing portion 18 at a using position and the placing portion 18 can be moved to the position desirable for a user. Also, the placing portion 18 can be replaced depending on the size of placing object by making it possible to mount detachably to the prop portion 22, so that the versatility of the apparatus of the current invention can be improved.

FIG. 10 is an overall side view of the moving apparatus showing a structure of other embodiment, FIG. 11 is also a overall plane view, FIG. 12 is a plane view of a cover member, and FIG. 13 is a overall prospective view of the moving apparatus. The moving apparatus in this embodiment comprises a platform 61, an elevation oscillating member 65, a cylinder mechanism 7 as a extension means, and positioning device 77 as a locking means. The platform 61 comprises a mechanism to fix on the end portion of top panel of desk. The platform 61 has an upper substrate 612 and a lower substrate 611 comprised parallel to each other. The lower substrate 611 has a rotating shaft 624 penetrating the lower substrate 611, and a turning operation portion 621 connected to the rear end of rotation shaft 624, and binding portion 623 connected to the top end of rotation shaft 624, and it has a construction that the binding portion moves in advance and retreat direction of the upper substrate by screwing the external thread portion formed on an outer circumference of rotation shaft 64 together with a internal thread portion formed on the lower substrate 611 and operates the turning operation portion 621. The platform 61 is tightly fixed onto the desk end portion by holding the top panel of desk, which is inserted between the lower substrate 612 and the binding portion 623, between the lower face of upper substrate 612 and binding portion 623, and binding the same.

On the other hand, a turning support shaft 631 is installed upright onto the upper substrate 612 and a pedestal 63 is connected to the turning support shaft 631 rotatably. The pedestal 63 is centering the turning support shaft 631 and rotatably supported on the upper substrate 612. The pedestal 63 has a concave portion 632 in a mortar form slant downward towards the turning support shaft 631, and a supporting member 64 which is installed upward. The supporting portion 64 turns as a unit with the pedestal 63. A connection supporting point 641 is provided to the rear end portion of supporting member 64, and this connection supporting point 641 is connected to one end of a cylinder mechanism 7 which is described later, as an extension means. This connection supporting point 641 is located on axis line of turning support shaft 631.

The support shaft 642 is inserted into the front end of supporting member 64 and the elevation oscillating member 65 is oscillatably connected to the support shaft 642. The elevation oscillating member 65 is comprised with a pair of arm member, 65a and 65b. Each rear end portion of each arm member 65a and 65b is connected to both ends across the supporting member 64. A front end supporting shaft 651 is inserted into the front end portion of each arm member 65a and 65b at the same time, and this front end supporting shaft 651 vertically oscillatably supports the connection supporting member 67 which supports the placing portion 68.

While the connection supporting member supports 67 the placing portion 68 from bottom, it has a function to connect the elevation oscillating member 65 turnably to the placing portion 68, so that the placing face of placing portion 68 maintains a constant angle. The placing portion 68 has a placing face 66 on upper side to place a placing object, and is provided in a way so that it can maintain an axial direction of the elevation oscillating member 65 against the connection supporting member 67. On the other hand, a link 66 is installed between the connection support member 67 and the front end of supporting member 64. That is, the front end of connection link 66 is connected to a connection pin 661 provided on the connection support member 67 and the rear end is connected to a connection pin 643 provided on the front end of supporting member 64. Such connection link 66, elevation oscillating member 65, connection supporting member 67 and supporting member 64 comprise a link mechanism having four turning supporting points, and an action of this link mechanism maintains the placing face 681 of placing portion 68 at a fixed angle (for example, horizontal) consistently, regardless of the oscillating portion of the elevation oscillating member 65. The connection link 66 can be comprised with a material that bend, such as wire or chain, or a bar material comprised with rigid body, such as metal. In case of a material with flexibility, the placing portion 68 can be oscillated upward. In case of rigid body, position of the placing portion 68 is fixed.

The rear end portion of elevation oscillating member 65 has a pin constructed between the arm member 65a and 65b and a connection supporting point 652 is provided. A cylinder mechanism 7 as a extension means is constructed between the connection supporting point 652 and 641. This cylinder mechanism 7 having a structure that expand and contract along with the vertical oscillation of the elevation oscillating member 65, and the length of expansion can be fixed with a locking means which will be described hereinafter. This structure enables the placing portion 68 to be fixed at arbitrary height.

FIG. 14 is a cross section pattern diagram showing the structure of cylinder mechanism 7. The cylinder mechanism 7 is an extension means and has a cylinder 71 and a piston 72 inserted into the cylinder 71. One end of the cylinder 71 is connected to a connection supporting point 641 and the piston rod 722 is protruding on the other end. The piston head 722 is housed in the cylinder chamber 711 within the cylinder 71. A sealing material 721 is inserted between the inner wall of cylinder chamber 711 and the piston head 720, and the cylinder chamber 711 is divided into chamber 711a and chamber 711b by the piston head 720. In such cylinder mechanism 7, the total length provided by the cylinder 71 and piston rod 722 is changed by changing the position of the piston 72 to the cylinder 71. Also, the total length of cylinder mechanism 7 is locked by fixing the position of piston head 720. Such lock means 73 that locks the length of cylinder mechanism 7 has a bypass passage 73 and a switching valve 735.

Each of chamber 711a and chamber 711b is filled with oil and the oil circulates between chamber 711a and chamber 711b through the bypass passage 733 which is a channel formed within the cylinder. The chamber 711a is contracted when the piston head 720 moves to the direction that contracts total length, and expanded when the piston head 720 moves to the direction that expands. The chamber 711b is opposite of the chamber 711a.

The bypass passage 733 has apertures 731 and 732 respectively on the both end of cylinder chamber 711 and communicating chamber 711a with chamber 711b. A switching valve 735 is provided to the bypass passage 733 and oil in the bypass passage 733 is controlled by switching this switching valve 735. For example, circulation of the oil in the bypass passage 733 is shut off when the switching valve 735 is closed, so that the piston head 720 can not moved within the cylinder chamber 711 and the position can be fixed. That is, the length of cylinder mechanism 7 (extension means) that defined by the cylinder 71, and the piston rod 722 is locked. Switching of the switching valve 735 is operated by a operating means which will be described hereinafter. Opening of switching valve 735 is operated by advance and retreat of the front end of operating wire 94. Well known structure is used to the structure of the switching valve 735 it self, therefore the explanation is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 15, the safety device 74 is provided to the piston head 720. This safety device 74 comprises a communication passage 741 communicates the chamber 711a with chamber 711b, a valve chest 743 provided on chamber 711b side, and a valve element 742 housed within the valve chest 743. The valve element 742 is a sphere, and formed in a diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of hole 744 which communicate the valve chest 743 with the chamber 711b.

A sealing material 745 is inserted on the chamber 711a side between the valve chest 743 and the valve element 742 to prevent oil leak. To explain the operation of this safety device 74, a load applied to the direction compress the cylinder mechanism 7, so that the pressure in the chamber 711a increases when load exceeds the tolerable weight applied on the placing portion, or impact load or dynamic load applied to the vertical direction by the vibration of earth quake. This will increase the force to push out towards the chamber 711b side relative to the valve element 742. Since the inner diameter of the hole 744 is only slightly smaller than the outer diameter of valve element 742, the hole 744 is expanded and the valve element 742 is contracted by peripheral material of the hole 744, or an elastic deformation of the valve element 742, then the valve element 742 is pressed out of the hole 744. In this way, the communication passage 741 communicates the chamber 711a and the chamber 711b, and oil flow from the chamber 711a to the chamber 711b through the communication passage 741. At this time, the communication passage 741 functions as an aperture and gives adequate resistance to the flow of oil, so that the placing portion slowly moves down and reaches to the use position without moving down rapidly. The valve element 742 can be comprised by a deformable resin. By changing the resin material or the diameter of hole 744 or valve element 742, the load to operate the safety device can be changed.

Also, as show in FIG. 16, form an aperture member 747 and an aperture housing portion 746 on the communication passage 741 side of valve element 742 and a bias member 748 can be provided to bias the aperture member 747 to the chamber a 711a side. The aperture housing portion 746 is formed in a length that the aperture member 747 can move adequately. The aperture member 747 has an aperture hole 749 in the center, and pressed to the chamber 711a side with the bias member 748. For example, when impact load is applied lower to the placing portion, the pressure in the chamber 711a increases. Since the aperture member 747 can move to the chamber 711b direction, the pressure of chamber A 711a easily reach the valve element 742 and press the valve element 742 out of the valve chest 743. In this way, although oil flows from chamber 711a to chamber 711b, the inflow is controlled by the aperture member 747 so that the placing portion moves down slowly and reaches to the use position D. That is, it prevents placed precision devices, such as personal computers from impact due to rapid drop of the placing portion.

By providing such aperture mechanism, the pressure from the chamber 711a certainly applied to the valve member 742 (that is, the safety device operates certainly) when an impact applied, and an aperture function is operated when the valve element 742 is pressed out, so that descent speed of the placing portion can be reduced sufficiently. Because this valve element 742 will not returned to the original position once opened, it is useful as a safety device operates in case of an earth quake, in the sense that unlike in the case of a pressure exceeds tolerable pressure constantly applied, the valve that is operated by an impact load applied instantaneously will not close thereafter and maintained in the open state.

As for earth quake measure, in addition to above, damper SD can be installed between the placing portion 68 and the elevation oscillating member 65a, 65b, as shown with a imaginary line in FIG. 11. Such damper SD decrease the horizontal oscillation to the placing portion 68 and prevent a placed object from damage or dropping from the placing portion 68.

The supporting member 64, the pedestal 63, and the cylinder mechanism 7 comprised in such way, are housed in inside of the cover member 8. FIG. 12 is a plane view of the cover member 8. The cover member 8 is formed in cylindrical and divided into two cover pieces 81a and 81b on both side along the center of cylindrical. Each cover piece 80a and 80b on both sides is respectively provided with outer edge portion 81a, 83a, 81b, and 83b that are curved in arc, and having partition 82a and 82b inside. The cover pieces 80a and 80b on the both side is mounted in the way that bind support member 64 from both side, and the pedestal 63 is housed on the bottom end of cover pieces 80a and 80b on both side. In a mounted state, form into a cylinder as a whole and the top end portion is a angled opening. Also, a first storage portion 821 is demarcated between partition 82a and 82b on both side, and the supporting member 64 and the cylinder mechanism 7 are stored within this first storage portion 821. Large portion of the supporting member 64 and cylinder mechanism 7 is covered by the cover member 8 which prevents disfigure, and improves sensuousness. Also, the cover member 8 turns as a unit with the pedestal 63 and the supporting member 64.

Divider 84a and 84b are provided between partitions 82a, 82b and outer edge portions 81a, 83a, 81b, 83b. In this way, a second storage portion 811a by the outer edge portion 81a, partition 82a and divider 84a, and a third storage portion 831a by the outer edge portion 83a, partition 82a and divider 84a, are demarcated respectively on the cover piece 80a. In the similar manner, a second storage portion 811b by the outer edge portion 81b, partition 82b and divider 84b, and a third storage portion 831b by the outer edge portion 83b, partition 82b and divider 84b, are demarcated respectively on the cover piece 80b.

Each storages portion stores attached equipment accordingly. In this embodiment, the operating means 9 of cylinder mechanism 7 is stored in the third storage portion 831a. FIG. 17 is a cross section side view showing a structure of operation means 9 and FIG. 18 is a A-A cross section view, as well. The operating means 9 comprises a main body 91 in cylinder form, a spline shaft 92 and a sliding member 93 externally mounted on the spline shaft 92. The slide member 93 and the spline shaft 92 is stored in the main body 91, and a operating portion 921 is protruding in the front end of spline shaft 92, and a handle 922 is provided on the circumference face of operating portion 921. The spline shaft 92 is turnably supported through a bearing 911 within the main body 91. The sliding member 93 is fitted at outside of the spline shaft 92.

A key groove 931 is formed on the inner circumference of slide member 93 in the axis direction of spline shaft 92 fitted to the spline 923, sliding member 93 turns as a unit with spline shaft 92 and comprised in the a way that able to slide in axis direction. On the other hand, a key groove 932 in spiral form is formed on the circumference face of sliding member 93. The key groove 932 is fitted to a key 912 which is formed protruded to the inner wall of main body 91. The slide member 93 has a structure that moves in an axis direction while turning by the fitting of this key 912 and the key groove 932, and turning of spline shaft 92.

One end of the slide member 93 is closed and the closed end 933 is contacting with the contacting member 941 which is connected to the rear end of wire 94 that impinges the switching valve 735. When the slide member 93 is slide to the direction of wire 94, the contacting member 941 is pushed in and the wire 94 is pushed out to the direction of switching valve 735. This movement of the wire 94 opens the switching valve 735. The wire 94 is biased towards the constant operating means 9 from the switching valve 735 side, and the contacting member 941 biases the slide member 93 towards front end, and the slide member 93 is positioned on the side that the handle 922 of splined shaft 92 is positioned, when in non operating state.

Such operating means 9 as above is housed in the third storage portion 831a of cover member 8 and only the operating portion 921 and handle 922 are provided protruding outside. In this way, the operating means 9 and wire 94 hide inside of the cover member 8, so that sensuousness of the apparatus can be secured.

In addition to this, the main unit of operating device can be stored in the cover member 8 to operate the personal computer to be placed on the placing portion 68. For example, storing the connecting device for a pointing device, such as mouse, within the cover member 8 and provide its connection terminal to the circumference face of cover member 8. Or, a receiving portion for infrared communication can be provided.

The personal computer itself is placed on the placing portion 68 and vertically moved, so that the vertical movement is disturbed by wiring connecting a device to operate on desktop and a personal computer when external devices are connected. For this reason, disturbance to the vertical movement can be avoided by providing a connection terminal and a receiving portion to the cover member 8, and wire these connection terminal with the main unit of personal computer through a cord inserted into the storage portion 100 within the elevation oscillating member 65.

As shown in FIG. 19, a cooling device 682 can be provided to the lower side of placing portion 68. The cooling device 682 has a baffle case 683, a fan 684 which is a blowing means, a cooling fin 684. The baffle case 683 is fixed on the lower side of placing portion 68 and multiple fins 684 connected to the lower face of placing portion 68 are stored within the baffle case 683. The fan 684 is provided to the corner of baffle case 683 to blow air into the baffle case 683.

The flow of blown air is circulated within the baffle passage 685 formed between the cooling fins 684 while drawing heat from the cooling fin 684, flown to an exhaust outlet 686, and exhausted. The placing portion 68 is preferably a metal with good heat conductance, such as aluminum or copper. By providing such cooling device 682, electric devices, such as placed personal computer, can be cooled.

In addition to this, provide a sensor to the placing portion 68 to detect if a object is placed thereon, store a control device inside of the cover member 8, the control devices receives detection signal of this sensor and determines whether an object is placed on the placing portion 68, and a structure with a release switch and an alarm device can be added to inside of the cover member 8. The control device detects the time point when the object can no longer be detected from the state that an object is placed on the placing portion, and comprises a timer to measure elapsed time from that point. The control device operates an alarm device at the point when predetermined time has passed and sends out warning, except for a case where a release switch is pressed before predetermined time (for examples, 15 seconds) from the start of measurement passes. This will exercise an anti-theft action to the object placed on the placing portion 68.

Moving apparatus

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CPC

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Priority Claims (1)