WO2024135653A1 - Plate block for floor outlet, and floor outlet - Google Patents

Abstract

A plate block (10) for a floor outlet (1) has a plate frame (11) and a lid (12). The lid (12) has: a lid body (30) including projections (34a, 34b); and a cord chip (40) held by the projections (34a, 34b). The cord chip (40) includes a top board (41) and leg pieces (42a, 42b) having formed therein grooves (44) to which the projections (34a, 34b) are fitted, and is configured to be able to have a first state in which the upper surface of the top board (41) is disposed along the upper surface of a base part (31) of the lid body (30) to close an opening part (21), and a second state in which the top board (41) is inclined to partially open the opening part (21).

Description

Plate block for floor outlet and floor outlet

This disclosure relates to a plate block for a floor outlet and a floor outlet using the plate block.

　Floor outlets that are embedded in the floor are widely known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). A floor outlet, for example, comprises a plate block that is placed on the floor surface, and an appliance block that includes an outlet unit into which a plug is inserted and is embedded in the floor, and the lid of the plate block is configured to be openable and closable. When the outlet is not in use, the lid of the plate block is closed to conceal the appliance block, and a plug can be inserted by opening the lid. The lid of the plate block is also provided with a cord chip for passing a cord through.

Floor outlets are installed, for example, on free access floors (also called OA floors). Free access floors are constructed by laying floor panels on top of the original floor, and have a double structure that allows electrical wiring, network wiring, etc. to be placed in the space created under the floor panels. The floor panels have panel openings for installing the outlets. Furthermore, on free access floors, a surface material such as tile carpet is generally placed on the floor panels to conceal them.

JP 2008-109738 A JP 2014-220974 A JP 2020-48357 A

When a cord is connected to a floor outlet, the cord tip is in an open state, but with conventional general outlets, the cord tip may not open or close smoothly. Also, the cord tip may not be able to stably maintain the open state.

The plate block for a floor outlet according to the present disclosure is a plate block for a floor outlet, comprising a plate frame and a lid rotatably supported on the plate frame for opening and closing an opening of the plate frame, the lid having a lid body and a code chip held by the lid body, the code chip including a top plate and a leg piece extending downward from the top plate, and configured to be capable of taking a first state in which the opening is closed so that the upper surface of the top plate is aligned with the upper surface of the lid body, and a second state in which the top plate is raised to open a portion of the opening, a protrusion or shaft is provided on one of the lid body and the leg piece, and a receiving portion for the protrusion or shaft is formed on the other of the lid body and the leg piece.

The floor outlet according to the present disclosure is a floor outlet that is installed in an opening of a floor panel, and includes a plate frame that is placed on the lower surface of a step formed on the edge of the opening, a plate block that is rotatably supported on the plate frame and includes a lid that opens and closes the opening of the plate frame, and an appliance block that includes a socket unit and to which the plate block is fixed, the lid has a lid body and a code chip held by the lid body, the code chip includes a top plate and a leg piece extending downward from the top plate, and is configured to be capable of taking a first state in which the opening is closed so that the upper surface of the top plate is aligned with the upper surface of the lid body, and a second state in which the top plate is raised to open a part of the opening, and a protrusion or shaft is provided on one of the lid body and the leg piece, and a receiving portion for the protrusion or shaft is formed on the other of the lid body and the leg piece.

The plate block for floor outlets according to the present disclosure allows the cord tip to be opened and closed smoothly; for example, when the cord is connected, the height of the cord tip protruding from the floor surface can be kept low, while the cord tip can be stably maintained open at the desired angle of inclination. In this case, the cord tip is less likely to get in the way, and the risk of it being kicked is reduced. In addition, the inside of the outlet is less visible, improving its appearance.

1 is a perspective view of a floor outlet according to an embodiment, showing a state in which the code chip is open. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a floor outlet according to an embodiment is installed on a free access floor. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a surface material and a part of a floor panel are removed from FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a floor panel. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a floor outlet according to an embodiment; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the plate block seen from below with the code chip open; FIG. 4 is a plan view of a plate frame that constitutes a plate block. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a floor outlet according to an embodiment is installed in an opening of a floor panel, with the code chip in an open state. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 8 . FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a code chip that constitutes the lid of the plate block. FIG. 13 shows the code chip in a closed state. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the code chip in an open state. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a usage pattern of a floor outlet according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a usage pattern of a floor outlet according to an embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a first modified example of the code chip, showing the code chip in a closed state. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a first modified example of the code chip, showing the code chip in an open state. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second modified example of the code chip, showing the code chip in a closed state. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second modified example of the code chip, showing the code chip in an open state. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing a first modified example of a plate frame that constitutes a plate block. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second modified example of a plate frame that constitutes a plate block.

Below, with reference to the drawings, a detailed description will be given of an example of an embodiment of a plate block for a floor outlet according to the present disclosure, and a floor outlet using the plate block. Note that the scope of this disclosure includes configurations that selectively combine the components of the multiple embodiments and modified examples described below.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floor outlet 1 according to an embodiment, showing the code chip 40 of the plate block 10 in an open state. As shown in FIG. 1, the floor outlet 1 comprises the plate block 10, an appliance block 80 including an outlet unit 81, and a cover 90 that covers the appliance block 80. The plate block 10 is a member that is placed on the floor surface, and the surface of the block forms the floor surface together with a tile carpet 102, which will be described later. The plate block 10 is also generally referred to as a floor plate. The floor outlet 1 is installed with the appliance block 80 and cover 90 embedded in the floor.

The floor outlet 1 may be circular, square, etc. in plan view, but in this embodiment, it has a rectangular shape in plan view. The plan view shape of the floor outlet 1 (shape when viewed from above) depends on the shape of the plate block 10. The plan view shape of the plate block 10 may be circular, square, etc., but in this embodiment, it is rectangular.

For ease of explanation, terms indicating up-down, front-back, and left-right directions are used in this specification. In this embodiment, the up-down direction of the floor outlet 1 and the components of the outlet refers to the direction along the vertical direction when the outlet is attached to a flat floor whose floor surface is aligned horizontally. In addition, the direction along the rotation axis of the lid 12 of the plate block 10 is the left-right direction, and the direction perpendicular to the up-down and left-right directions is the front-back direction. In the floor outlet 1, which is rectangular in plan view, the direction along the long sides of the rectangle is the front-back direction, and the direction along the short sides is the left-right direction (left and right are measured from the front).

Floor outlet 1 is a power outlet equipped with an outlet unit 81 into which a plug is inserted. However, the floor outlet according to this disclosure is not limited to a power outlet for supplying electric power, and in a broad sense may be anything to which a cable can be connected, such as an optical outlet, a LAN outlet, a telephone line outlet, or any other type of outlet known as an information outlet or modular outlet.

The plate block 10, the tool block 80, and the cover 90 that make up the floor outlet 1 are each constructed as separate parts and are integrated by screwing. Therefore, for example, if the plate block 10 is damaged, it is possible to replace only the plate block 10. Also, if the shape, size, etc. are suitable, the plate block 10 can be attached to a tool block other than the tool block 80 and used.

The plate block 10 comprises a plate frame 11 and a lid 12. The plate frame 11 has a frame body 20 in which an opening 21 (see FIG. 5, etc.) is formed, and is a member that rotatably supports the lid 12. The lid 12 is a member that opens and closes the opening 21 of the frame body 20, and is closed when the floor outlet 1 is not in use. When a plug is inserted into the outlet unit 81, the lid 12 is opened and the opening 21 is wide open (see FIG. 13). The lid 12 has a lid body 30 and a code chip 40 that is rotatably supported relative to the lid body 30. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the lid body 30 is closed and only the code chip 40 is open.

Although more details will be described later, the plate frame 11 has protrusions 27a, 27b that protrude outward from the ends of the frame body 20 along the surface direction of the plate. The protrusions 27a, 27b support the tile carpet 102 and prevent the tile carpet 102 from sinking around the outlet, maintaining a beautiful installation state for a long time. In addition, the screw insertion holes 24a, 24b used to fix the plate block 10 and the fixture block 80 are long holes that extend in at least one direction. In this case, the position of the plate block 10 can be easily adjusted to match the arrangement of the tile carpet 102.

The cord chip 40, which constitutes part of the lid 12, is a member that forms an opening for passing a cord through, and is also called a wire-passing chip. When the cord chip 40 is opened while the lid body 30 is closed, part of the opening 21 is opened, allowing the cord to pass through. That is, when the floor outlet 1 is in use and a cord is connected, the cord chip 40 shown in FIG. 1 is in an open state. The cord chip 40 has a top plate 41 and legs 42a, 42b that extend downward from the top plate 41, and is held in place by projections 34a, 34b (see FIG. 5 for projection 34b) formed on the lid body 30 fitting into grooves 44 formed in the legs 42a, 42b.

In this embodiment, protrusions 34a, 34b are provided on the lid body 30, and grooves 44 are formed in the legs 42a, 42b of the code chip 40 as receiving portions for the protrusions, but it is also possible to adopt a structure in which a protrusion or shaft is provided on the leg pieces, and a receiving portion for the protrusion or shaft is formed on the lid body.

The code chip 40 is configured to rotate in the same direction as the lid body 30 by changing the positions of the protrusions 34a, 34b in the groove 44. In this case, as described below, it is possible to easily and quickly switch from a first state in which the upper surface of the top plate 41 is flush with the upper surface of the base 31 and the opening 21 of the plate frame 11 is closed to a second state in which the top plate 41 is raised and part of the opening 21 is open, and vice versa. In this specification, the first state may be referred to as a state in which the code chip 40 is closed (closed state), and the second state may be referred to as a state in which the code chip 40 is open (open state).

The plate frame 11 and the lid 12 are preferably made of metal from the standpoint of durability, etc. A resin chip can be used for the code chip 40, but a metal chip is preferably used. The code chip 40 can be made, for example, by die-casting a metal whose main component is aluminum.

The instrument block 80 has an outlet unit 81 into which a plug is inserted, and a mounting bracket 82 that supports the outlet unit 81. The mounting bracket 82 supports the outlet unit 81 so that the unit faces the code chip 40 and is tilted in the up-down and front-to-back directions. The plate block 10 is screwed to the mounting bracket 82. The cover 90 covers the periphery of the instrument block 80. The cover 90 is screwed to the instrument block 80 in the same way as the plate block 10.

Below, the structure of the floor 100 on which the floor outlet 1 is installed and the installation form of the floor outlet 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Figures 2 and 3 show the state in which the floor outlet 1 is installed on the floor 100. Figure 4 shows the floor panel 101 that constitutes the floor 100.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the floor outlet 1 is installed in a panel opening 103 formed in a floor panel 101. The floor outlet 1 is installed with the fixture block 80 inserted into the panel opening 103 and embedded in the floor, and the plate block 10 exposed on the floor surface. The floor 100 is a free access floor, and has a double structure formed by laying the floor panel 101 on top of the original floor. The space created between the original floor and the floor panel 101 is used as a space for arranging electrical wiring, network wiring, etc.

The floor outlet 1 is installed in a panel opening 103, sandwiched between two floor panels 101 that are rectangular in plan view. The floor outlet 1 is inserted into a panel opening 103 formed at the end of the first floor panel 101, and is sandwiched on both the left and right sides between the first floor panel 101 and a second floor panel 101 that is arranged adjacent to the first floor panel 101. As will be described in more detail later, the second floor panel 101 does not have an opening, and is arranged so that the panel end that extends straight abuts against the floor outlet 1.

A carpet tile 102 is placed on the floor panel 101 as a surface material that covers the panel surface. The floor outlet 1 is installed in the panel opening 103 so that the surface of the plate block 10 is flush with the surface of the carpet tile 102, and more preferably so that the carpet tile 102 and the surface of the plate block 10 are flush with each other. In this specification, "flush" includes not only a state where there is no step at all, but also a state where there is no step. The plate block 10, together with the carpet tile 102, forms a flat floor surface without steps. In general, an opening is formed in the carpet tile 102 at a position corresponding to the floor outlet 1 when the floor 100 is constructed, into which the outlet fits. In this specification, the surface of the floor outlet 1 and the components of the outlet that faces vertically upward is referred to as the "upper surface."

The floor panel 101 may be a resin or metal panel, but in this embodiment, a concrete panel is used. The floor panel 101 is made of, for example, fiber-reinforced concrete containing glass fiber. The tile carpet 102 is a panel-shaped surface material having approximately the same size as the floor panel 101. Note that the tile carpet 102 can be made of carpets made of various materials. An example of the thickness of the tile carpet 102 is approximately 5 mm.

As shown in FIG. 4, floor panel 101 has a square shape in plan view, with panel opening 103 formed in the center of one side of the square. Panel opening 103 is a recess that is roughly U-shaped in plan view, formed by cutting out the panel from its end. Panel opening 103 is also formed long in the direction along that side of the panel. As shown in FIG. 3, floor outlet 1 is installed in the opening so that its long side (front-to-back direction) is aligned with the longitudinal direction of panel opening 103.

A step is formed along the edge of the panel opening 103 in the floor panel 101. A lower cross section 104 that is one step lower than the surface of the panel is formed at the edge of the panel opening 103. The lower surface 104 has, for example, a constant width and depth over its entire length. An example of the depth of the lower surface 104 is 1 mm to 7 mm, or 4 mm to 6 mm. Note that the size of the panel opening 103 is generally standardized by each floor panel manufacturer, but the shape and size of the step portion differ from manufacturer to manufacturer.

The floor outlet 1 can be installed on various panels thanks to the function of the plate block 10. The floor outlet 1 is in a state where the plate frame 11 of the plate block 10 and the mounting bracket 82 of the fixture block 80 are arranged on the lower surface 104. Also, a part of the plate frame 11 is arranged on the surface of the floor panel 101. At this time, the surface (upper surface) of the plate block 10 protrudes from the surface of the floor panel 101, but by placing a tile carpet 102 on the floor panel 101, it becomes flush with the floor surface.

The size of the plate block 10 is not particularly limited, but as an example, the length in the front-to-rear direction is 90 mm to 110 mm, and the length in the left-to-right direction is 45 mm to 55 mm. With this size, it is difficult to reach inside the outlet, so it is preferable to place the outlet unit 81 close to the floor surface. The floor outlet 1 is fixed to the panel by sandwiching the floor panel 101 from both sides in the thickness direction with the mounting bracket 82 and the fixing bracket 88 screwed to the mounting bracket 82. The fixing bracket 88 includes, for example, a stopper that is hooked onto the back surface of the floor panel 101, and a screw that extends in the vertical direction and supports the stopper.

When the lid 12 of the plate block 10 is closed, the lid 12 and the upper surface of the frame body 20 are flush with each other. The lid 12 is opened by placing a finger on the finger loop 43 formed at the front end of the code chip 40, lifting it, and rotating it backwards. The finger loop 43 is a recess formed by cutting out the top plate 41 from its end. The finger loop 43 is formed in the center of the top plate 41 in the left-right direction and is elongated in the left-right direction. The width (front-back length) of the finger loop 43 is, for example, 6 mm or more and 9 mm or less. In this case, it is possible to prevent the heel from getting stuck in the finger loop 43 while ensuring good opening and closing operability of the lid 12. The length (left-right length) of the finger loop 43 is, for example, 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

The overall structure of floor outlet 1 will be described in more detail below with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of floor outlet 1.

As shown in FIG. 5, the floor outlet 1 has a structure in which the plate block 10 and cover 90 are screwed to the mounting bracket 82 of the appliance block 80, and the three components are integrated. The screws 50 that secure the plate block 10 are passed through insertion holes 24a, 24b formed in the plate frame 11 and fixed to screw holes 87a, 87b formed in the mounting bracket 82. For example, a countersunk head screw with a flat top surface and a conical seat is used for the screws 50. The cover 90 is similarly fixed to the mounting bracket 82 using screws 51.

The plate frame 11 has a frame body 20 that is rectangular in plan view, and is placed on the instrument block 80 so as to cover the entire block from above. The frame body 20 has thick peripheral portions along the sides of the rectangle, and the upper surface of the inner portion surrounded by the peripheral portions is one step lower. A lid 12 is placed on the inner portion of the frame body 20, and an opening 21 is formed that allows access to the outlet unit 81. A small opening 22 is formed behind the opening 21 in the frame body 20, and an axis 25 that supports the lid 12 is placed within the opening 22.

Thin plate-like fixing parts 23a, 23b are formed in front of and behind the opening 21 of the frame body 20. The fixing parts 23a, 23b have insertion holes 24a, 24b, respectively, and are screwed to the mounting bracket 82. The fixing parts 23a, 23b are thinner than the peripheral part of the frame body 20, and their upper surfaces are one step lower than the upper surface of the peripheral part. The fixing parts 23a, 23b also function as supports that support the lid 12. As will be described in more detail later, the leg pieces 42a, 42b of the cord chip 40 are hooked onto the fixing part 23a, so that the top plate 41 of the cord chip 40 is kept in an open state with the chip tilted at a predetermined angle.

The lid 12 is disposed on the inner side of the frame body 20 and is supported rotatably relative to the frame body 20 by an axis 25 fixed to the rear of the frame body 20. When closed, the lid 12 fits within the inner side of the frame body 20 and its upper surface is flush with the upper surface of the peripheral edge of the frame body 20. As described above, the lid 12 is composed of the lid body 30 and the code chip 40. The lid body 30 has a base 31 and two arms 32a, 32b extending from the base 31. The protrusions 34a, 34b (see FIG. 1 for protrusion 34a) that support the code chip 40 are formed on the tip side of the arms 32a, 32b, respectively.

As described above, the appliance block 80 has a mounting bracket 82 that holds the outlet unit 81. The outlet unit 81 shown in FIG. 5 can accommodate one plug, but may accommodate multiple plugs. The outlet unit 81 is positioned so that it overlaps the opening 21 of the plate frame 11 in the vertical direction, and is held with the plug insertion hole facing the code chip 40. The fixing brackets 88 are attached to both the front and rear ends of the mounting bracket 82, one each.

The mounting bracket 82 is formed, for example, by bending a single metal plate so that the central portion in the front-to-rear direction is convex downward. A first portion 83 and a second portion 84 located on both sides of the mounting bracket 82 in the front-to-rear direction are formed flat along the front-to-rear direction and are placed on the lower surface 104 of the floor panel 101. The first portion 83 and the second portion 84 each have screw holes 87a, 87b into which the screws 50 are fixed, formed in an area that does not overlap with the lower surface 104.

The mounting bracket 82 is formed with a fourth part 86 that extends downward and forward from the second part 84 and to which the outlet unit 81 is attached, and also has a third part 85 that connects the first part 83 and the fourth part 86. The fourth part 86 has an opening through which the outlet unit 81 is inserted, and is inclined so that it is positioned gradually downward from the rear to the front. The third part 85 is formed in a roughly L-shape in cross section.

The structure of the plate block 10 that constitutes the floor outlet 1 will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 6 to 12. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the plate block 10 seen from below, showing the code chip 40 in an open state. Figure 7 is a plan view of the plate frame 11.

As shown in FIG. 6, the plate block 10 is configured so that when the lid body 30 of the lid 12 is closed, a portion of the lid 12 is inserted into the opening 21 of the plate frame 11. More specifically, the arm portions 32a, 32b of the lid body 30 and the leg pieces 42a, 42b of the code chip 40 are inserted into the opening 21 from above. That is, the opening 21 of the plate frame 11 is formed so that the arm portions 32a, 32b and the leg pieces 42a, 42b can be inserted. When the code chip 40 is open, only the tips of the leg pieces 42a, 42b are inserted into the opening 21, and when the code chip 40 is closed, most of the leg pieces 42a, 42b are inserted into the opening 21.

In the opening 22 of the plate frame 11, a shaft 25 that rotatably supports the lid 12 is provided along the left-right direction. A bearing portion 33 formed on the rear end side of the lid body 30 is disposed within the opening 22. The opening 22 is smaller in both the left-right and front-to-rear directions compared to the opening 21, and shaft fixing portions 26 that fix the shaft 25 to the frame body 20 are provided on both the left and right sides of the opening 22. The frame body 20 also has protruding portions 29a, 29b formed along one long side and one short side. The protruding portions 29a, 29b are formed so that the upper surface portions protrude further outward than the lower surface portions.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the plate frame 11 has convex portions 27a, 27b that protrude outward from the ends of the frame body 20 along the surface direction of the plate. The upper surfaces of the convex portions 27a, 27b are one step lower than the upper surface of the frame body 20. The convex portions 27a, 27b are formed, for example, by the lower surface side portion of the plate frame 11 protruding outward further than the upper surface side portion. Here, the surface direction of the plate means the direction along the upper surface of the plate block 10 when the lid 12 is closed, in other words, the direction along the floor surface. It is preferable that the upper surfaces of the convex portions 27a, 27b are parallel to the upper surface of the plate block 10.

The protrusions 27a and 27b are disposed on the lower surface 104 of the floor panel 101, and support the tile carpet 102 disposed on the floor panel 101. The tile carpet 102 is supported by the protrusions 27a and 27b, which effectively prevents the tile carpet 102 from sinking around the floor outlet 1. The protrusions 27a and 27b are support portions for the tile carpet 102, and also reinforce the frame body 20 to prevent deformation of the plate frame 11, for example. The difference in height between the top surface of the frame body 20 and the top surfaces of the protrusions 27a and 27b corresponds to the thickness of the tile carpet 102, and is, for example, substantially the same as the thickness of the carpet. An example of the height difference is about 5 mm.

Protrusion 27a is provided along the long side of frame body 20 and protrudes rightward from the right end of frame body 20. Protrusion 27b is provided along the short side of frame body 20 and protrudes forward from the front end of frame body 20. In other words, in plate frame 11, protrusions 27a, 27b are provided along one long side and one short side of frame body 20. Note that protrusions may be formed only along the long side or only along the short side of frame body 20, but forming two protrusions 27a, 27b more effectively prevents tile carpet 102 from sinking around floor outlet 1.

The protrusion 27a may be formed over the entire length of the long side of the frame body 20, but in this embodiment, it is formed at a position away from both ends of the long side. The protrusion 27a is formed, for example, with a length of 50% to 95% or 70% to 90% of the long side of the frame body 20, closer to the front end than the rear end of the frame body 20. Similarly, the protrusion 27b may be formed over the entire length of the short side of the frame body 20, but in this embodiment, it is formed at a position away from both ends of the short side. The protrusion 27b is formed, for example, with a length of 80% to 98% or 85% to 95% of the short side of the frame body 20.

The protrusions 27a may be formed intermittently along the long sides of the frame body 20, but in this embodiment, they are formed continuously. The longitudinal ends of the protrusions 27a may be curved to be rounded. The protrusions 27a have, for example, a constant protruding length (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "width") over the entire length excluding both longitudinal ends. An example of the width of the protrusions 27a is 3 mm or more and 6 mm or less. Similarly, the protrusions 27b may be formed intermittently along the short sides of the frame body 20, but in this embodiment, they are formed continuously. The longitudinal ends of the protrusions 27b may be chamfered and curved to be rounded.

The width of the convex portion 27a may be the same as or different from the width of the convex portion 27b. In this embodiment, the convex portion 27a is formed slightly wider than the convex portion 27b. The width of the convex portion 27b is, for example, 80% to 99% of the width of the convex portion 27a. The convex portion 27b has a constant width over its entire length excluding the chamfered portion. In addition, the upper surface of the convex portion 27a is located at the same height as the upper surface of the convex portion 27b. The convex portions 27a and 27b are positioned on the lower cross section 104 so that their upper surfaces are at the same height as the surface of the floor panel 101.

A second protrusion 28 is formed on the underside of the protrusion 27a at a position that does not overlap with the instrument block 80, protruding downward. The protrusion 28 comes into contact with the lower cross section 104 of the floor panel 101, for example, either at all times or when a load is applied to the plate frame 11. The protrusion 28 is formed in a position away from both ends of the protrusion 27a in the length direction, and in a range that does not come into contact with the mounting bracket 82. Both ends of the protrusion 27a in the length direction are respectively positioned on the first part 83 and the second part 84 of the mounting bracket 82, but the central part of the protrusion 27a in the length direction is not connected to any bracket and is raised above the lower cross section 104. In other words, the protrusion 28 functions as a support for the protrusion 27a.

The protrusion 28 has a protruding length (thickness) that corresponds to the thickness of the mounting bracket 82 (first portion 83 and second portion 84), for example. The length of the protrusion 28 is preferably close to the distance between the first portion 83 and the second portion 84 in the front-to-rear direction, but shorter than this distance. The protrusion 28 may be formed wider than the protrusion 27a, but preferably does not overlap the opening 21. The width of the protrusion 28 may be equal to or smaller than the width of the protrusion 27a. The protrusion 28 is formed, for example, within the range of the protrusion 27a from the outer end of the protrusion 27a in the left-right direction of the plate frame 11.

On the other hand, the underside of convex portion 27b is flat and does not have a protrusion. Since convex portion 27b is disposed on first portion 83 over substantially its entire length, it is preferable that its underside is flat. In other words, when only a portion of the convex portion is disposed on lower cross section 104 via mounting bracket 82, as in the case of convex portion 27a, it is preferable to provide a second convex portion that functions as a support.

As described above, the frame body 20 has overhanging portions 29a, 29b at the end opposite the end where the convex portions 27a, 27b are formed. The overhanging portions 29a, 29b are formed by the upper surface side portion of the frame body 20 protruding outward more than the lower surface side portion. The overhanging portion 29a is formed with a constant width along one long side, and the overhanging portion 29b is formed with a constant width along one short side. In other words, the convex portion 27a and the overhanging portion 29a are arranged parallel to each other on both the left and right sides of the plate frame 11, and the convex portion 27b and the overhanging portion 29b are arranged parallel to each other on both the front and rear sides of the plate frame 11.

The widths of the overhanging portions 29a, 29b may be the same as each other or may be different. The widths of the overhanging portions 29a, 29b are, for example, 2 mm or more and 5 mm or less, and are approximately the same as the widths of the convex portions 27a, 27b. The overhanging portion 29a may be formed over the entire length of the long side of the frame body 20, and the overhanging portion 29b may be formed over the entire length of the short side of the frame body 20. The overhanging portions 29a, 29b may also be formed continuously. The overhanging portions 29a, 29b are, for example, disposed on the surface of the floor panel 101. The lower surface of the overhanging portion 29a is located at the same height as the lower surface of the overhanging portion 29b.

As described above, the frame body 20 has through holes 24a, 24b through which the screws 50 for fixing the plate frame 11 to the fixture block 80 are passed. The through holes 24a, 24b are long holes extending in at least one of the long side directions (front-to-back direction) and short side directions (left-to-right direction) of the frame body 20. By making the through holes 24a, 24b long holes, for example, the position of the plate block 10 can be fine-tuned by moving it back-to-back or left-to-right, and a good finish without large gaps between the plate block 10 and the tile carpet 102 can be easily achieved.

The insertion hole 24a is formed in the fixing portion 23a located closer to the front end of the frame body 20 than the opening 21, and the insertion hole 24b is formed in the fixing portion 23b located closer to the rear end of the frame body 20 than the opening 21. In other words, the frame body 20 has a structure in which, from the front, the fixing portion 23a with the insertion hole 24a formed therein, the opening 21, and the fixing portion 23b with the insertion hole 24b formed therein are arranged, with the insertion holes 24a and 24b being provided on both sides of the opening 21 in the front-rear direction of the frame body 20. In this case, the plate frame 11 can be stably fixed to the mounting bracket 82 in front of and behind the opening 21. In addition, the left-right length of the plate frame 11 can be shortened, allowing for a compact design.

The insertion holes 24a, 24b penetrate the fixing parts 23a, 23b in the vertical direction, and are formed so that the heads of the screws 50 engage with the periphery of the holes. The insertion holes 24a, 24b are not threaded, and the screws 50 are fastened to the screw holes 87a, 87b of the mounting bracket 82. The insertion hole 24a is formed in the fixing part 23a arranged on the first part 83 of the mounting bracket 82 at a position that overlaps vertically with the screw hole 87a formed in the first part 83. The insertion hole 24b is formed in the fixing part 23b arranged on the second part 84 at a position that overlaps vertically with the screw hole 87b formed in the second part 84.

The through holes 24a, 24b are preferably shaped to accommodate the head of the screw 50 so that the head does not protrude from the upper surface of the fixed portion 23a. As described above, the screw 50 is a flat head screw with a flat head and a conical seat. The periphery of the through holes 24a, 24b is tapered to fit the seat of the screw 50. That is, the through holes 24a, 24b become gradually larger from the lower surface side to the upper surface side of the fixed portion 23a, 23b. The tapered surface is formed over the entire length of the long hole, so that the head of the screw 50 fits into the through holes 24a, 24b no matter where the screw 50 is inserted, and for example, the upper surface of the head of the screw 50 is flush with the upper surface of the fixed portion 23a, 23b.

In this embodiment, the insertion holes 24a and 24b are both formed straight in the left-right direction. The insertion hole 24a is longer in the left-right direction than the screw hole 87a, and the plate block 10 can be moved left-right relative to the mounting bracket 82 by the length of the insertion hole 24a (the same applies to the insertion hole 24b). In this case, it is possible to effectively prevent gaps from occurring between the long sides of the frame body 20 and the tile carpet 102. Since gaps along the long sides of the frame body 20 are more noticeable than gaps along the short sides, it is preferable that the insertion holes 24a and 24b extend at least in the direction of the short sides of the frame body 20.

The insertion holes 24a, 24b have the same length and their length directions are parallel to each other. The length of the insertion holes 24a, 24b is not particularly limited, but as an example, it is 5% to 40%, or 10% to 30%, of the left-right length of the plate frame 11. Furthermore, the insertion holes 24a, 24b are not lined up in the front-rear direction, so that the insertion hole 24a is formed on one left-right side of the fixed part 23a and the insertion hole 24b is formed on the other left-right side of the fixed part 23b.

Figure 8 shows the floor outlet 1 installed in the floor panel 101, with the code chip 40 in an open state. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 8. Note that while the tile carpet 102 is not shown in Figure 8, Figure 9 shows the tile carpet 102. In Figures 8 and 9, the panel having the panel opening 103 is referred to as the first floor panel 101a, and the panel not having the panel opening 103 is referred to as the second floor panel 101b.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, when the floor outlet 1 is installed on the floor panel 101, the plate frame 11 of the plate block 10 is positioned on the lower cross section 104 of the step portion formed on the edge of the panel opening 103. The first part 83 and the second part 84 of the mounting bracket 82 are positioned on the lower cross section 104, so that the plate frame 11 is positioned on the lower cross section 104 via the mounting bracket 82. Note that the insertion hole 24a and the screw hole 87a are formed in a position that does not overlap with the lower cross section 104 so that the screw 50 that fixes the plate frame 11 to the mounting bracket 82 does not interfere with the floor panel 101a (the same applies to the insertion hole 24b and the screw hole 87b).

The protrusions 27a, 27b of the plate frame 11 are placed on the lower cross section 104 via the mounting brackets 82, and their upper surface is located at the same height as the surface of the floor panel 101. If the lower cross section 104 is deep, the height of the plate frame 11 may be adjusted using a spacer (not shown). The tile carpet 102 is placed against the frame body 20 of the plate frame 11, and the opening edge of the carpet is supported by the protrusions 27a, 27b. This prevents large gaps from occurring between the frame body 20 and the tile carpet 102, and prevents the tile carpet 102 from sinking around the floor outlet 1, achieving a good floor finish.

As described above, floor outlet 1 is sandwiched between two floor panels 101a, 101b on both the left and right sides. Floor outlet 1 is installed so that it is pushed into panel opening 103 by the straight panel end of floor panel 101b. Floor outlets are often installed in an opening formed by joining the openings of two panels, but floor outlet 1 can be installed in an opening in a single floor panel 101a. This allows for a high degree of freedom in where the outlet can be installed, and makes installation easy.

In the example shown in Figures 8 and 9, a part of the plate frame 11 is disposed on the surface of the floor panel 101. Specifically, the protruding portion 29a formed along the long side of the frame body 20 is disposed on the surface of the floor panel 101b, and the protruding portion 29b formed along the short side of the frame body 20 is disposed on the surface of the floor panel 101a. In this case, part of the load acting on the plate frame 11 can be received by the surface of the floor panel 101, improving the load-bearing capacity of the plate frame 11. Depending on the size of the step, the protruding portion 29b may not be disposed on the surface of the floor panel 101a, but it is preferable that at least the protruding portion 29a is disposed on the surface of the floor panel 101b.

The lid 12 is housed in an inner portion that is one step lower than the peripheral portion of the plate frame 11, and is supported by the fixing portions 23a, 23b of the frame body 20 that are screwed to the mounting bracket 82. Specifically, the lid body 30 is supported by the fixing portion 23b, and the code chip 40 is supported by the fixing portion 23a. As will be described in detail later, the leg pieces 42a, 42b of the code chip 40 are formed with locking portions 45a, 45b, which are hooked onto the fixing portion 23a to maintain the open state of the code chip 40 with the top plate 41 tilted relative to the floor surface. Note that a screw 50 is placed in the fixing portion 23a, but since its head is housed in the insertion hole 24a and does not protrude from the upper surface of the fixing portion 23a, the screw 50 may be fixed at a position where the leg pieces 42a, 42b abut.

The outlet unit 81 fixed to the mounting bracket 82 is positioned in the center of the panel opening 103 in the longitudinal direction of the opening. The surface on which the plug-in hole of the outlet unit 81 is formed (hereinafter referred to as the "unit surface") is inclined so that it is positioned gradually downward from the rear to the front of the outlet, and faces the direction of the code chip 40. The unit surface is inclined backward at an angle of, for example, 30° to 60°, or 40° to 50° with respect to the up-down direction.

The unit surface is positioned so that it overlaps vertically with the opening 21 of the plate frame 11; for example, at least all of the insertion holes are positioned so that they overlap vertically with the opening 21. It is also preferable that the unit surface is located close to the surface of the floor panel 101. In this embodiment, the entire unit surface is located within the panel opening 103. This makes it easy to insert and remove the plug without having to reach inside the outlet.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the code chip 40. Figure 11 shows the code chip 40 in a closed state, and Figure 12 shows the code chip 40 in an open state.

As shown in Figures 10 to 12, the code chip 40 has a top plate 41 and two legs 42a, 42b arranged opposite each other in the left-right direction along the axis 25 of the lid 12, and is held by protrusions 34a, 34b (see Figure 5 for protrusion 34b) of the lid body 30. The lid body 30 has a structure in which two arms 32a, 32b (see Figure 5 for arm 32b) extend forward from both left and right sides of a plate-shaped base 31 arranged behind the plate frame 11. The top surfaces of the base 31 of the lid body 30 and the top plate 41 of the code chip 40 are flush with each other when the code chip 40 is closed, and are arranged along the floor surface. The arms 32a, 32b extend forward from the bottom surface of the base 31, and their top surfaces are located lower than the top surface of the base 31.

The code chip 40 is placed on the arm portions 32a and 32b. In this embodiment, the left-right lengths of the base 31 and the top plate 41 are the same, and the base 31 and the top plate 41 are placed so as to completely fill the inner portion of the frame body 20. The leg pieces 42a and 42b extending from the underside of the top plate 41 extend slightly inward away from both the left and right ends of the underside of the top plate 41 so as to fit inside the arm portions 32a and 32b. As a result, the leg pieces 42a and 42b are inserted between the arm portions 32a and 32b, and when the code chip 40 is closed, both the left and right ends of the top plate 41 are placed on the arm portions 32a and 32b.

The front-rear length of the top plate 41 may be shorter or longer than the front-rear length of the base 31 of the lid body 30, but in this embodiment, the base 31 and the top plate 41 have the same front-rear length. The front-rear length of the top plate 41 is, for example, 40% to 60% of the total length of the lid 12. The arm portions 32a and 32b are formed to a length that fits into the opening 21 so as not to interfere with the plate frame 11. Therefore, the tip of the top plate 41 extends forward beyond the tips of the arm portions 32a and 32b. Similarly, the leg pieces 42a and 42b are formed to a front-rear length that fits into the opening 21 when the code chip 40 is closed. The leg pieces 42a and 42b are formed to avoid the front end of the top plate 41 that abuts against the fixing portion 23a of the plate frame 11.

The code chip 40 is configured to be capable of assuming a first state (closed state) in which the top surface of the top plate 41 is arranged along the top surface of the base 31 to close the opening 21 of the plate frame 11, and a second state (open state) in which the top plate 41 is inclined relative to the top surface of the base 31 to open a portion of the opening 21. In this embodiment, the code chip 40 rotates by changing the positions of the protrusions 34a, 32b in the groove 44. That is, the code chip 40 is configured to change from a closed state to an open state and from an open state to a closed state by the protrusions 34a, 34b formed on the arm portions 32a, 32b moving within the grooves 44 formed in the leg pieces 42a, 42b. In addition, in the closed state, the top surface of the top plate 41 and the top surface of the base 31 are flush with each other.

Protrusion 34a is inserted into groove 44 of leg piece 42a from the outside of leg piece 42a, and protrusion 34b is inserted into groove 44 of leg piece 42b from the outside of leg piece 42b. That is, grooves 44 are formed on the outer surfaces facing outward on the opposite sides to the opposing inner surfaces of leg pieces 42a, 42b, and each leg piece is held from the outside by arm portions 32a, 32b. The groove 44 of leg piece 42b (see Figure 8) is formed in a pattern that projects the groove 44 of leg piece 42a.

The protrusions 34a, 34b have, for example, a rectangular prism shape, but the shape is not particularly limited and may be a cylinder or other polygonal prism shape. The rectangular prism-shaped protrusions 34a, 34b have the advantages that the sides of the rectangle tend to catch on the groove walls and remain stable in the desired position within the groove 44, and that they are easy to mold by die casting. Furthermore, if the corners of the rectangle are chamfered, the intended operation of the tip can be performed more smoothly.

The groove 44 will be described in detail later, but the groove 44 is a protrusion receiving portion formed on the surface of the leg pieces 42a, 42b into which the protrusions 34a, 34b fit, and has a width that allows the protrusions 34a, 34b to move within the groove. The groove 44 is formed, for example, with a constant depth over its entire length. In this embodiment, the groove 44 is formed on the outer surface of the leg pieces 42a, 42b, but if the arm portion is disposed inside the leg pieces, the groove may be formed on the inner surface of the leg pieces. In addition, the protrusion receiving portion can be a groove formed through the leg pieces, or a non-groove-shaped recess such as a circular or polygonal shape. However, it is preferable to use the groove 44 as the receiving portion due to the strength of the leg pieces 42a, 42b and various reasons that will be described later.

The leg pieces 42a, 42b have locking portions 45a, 45b that hook onto the fixed portion 23a of the plate frame 11 when the code chip 40 is in the open state. The locking portions 45a, 45b are convex portions that protrude downward and are formed on the front end side of the leg pieces 42a, 42b. In this embodiment, a triangular recess is formed on the lower end of the leg pieces 42a, 42b, and the front end portion of the leg pieces 42a, 42b that protrudes relatively more than this recess becomes the locking portions 45a, 45b. When the code chip 40 is in the open state, for example, the locking portions 45a, 45b abut against the fixed portion 23a, and the rear end of the inclined top plate 41 abuts against the arm portions 32a, 32b, respectively, providing stable support at four points.

In other words, the code chip 40 is supported from below only by the fixed portion 23a of the plate frame 11 to which the arms 32a, 32b and the locking portions 45a, 45b hook. When the code chip 40 is opened, the opening surrounded by the top plate 41, the legs 42a, 42b, and the plate frame 11 can be provided with a member for fixing the chip to the plate frame 11, for example, but in this embodiment, no member is provided across the opening, and there is no obstacle that would interfere with inserting or removing the plug (see Figure 8, etc.).

The degree of opening of the cord chip 40 can be adjusted, for example, by changing the length of the legs 42a and 42b, the shape of the locking parts 45a and 45b, etc. Increasing the distance from the top plate 41 to the locking parts 45a and 45b allows the top plate 41 to open wider. The angle between the top surface of the arms 32a and 32b and the top plate 41 can be 90° (the top plate 41 is perpendicular to the top surface of the base plate 31) or an angle greater than 90°, but it is preferable that the angle is small enough to not interfere with the connection of the cord, from the viewpoint of preventing the cord chip 40 from getting in the way and preventing the inside of the outlet from being completely visible. A suitable example of the angle between the top surface of the arms 32a and 32b and the top plate 41 in a side view of the outlet (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "inclined angle of the top plate 41") is 30° to 60°, or 40° to 50°. In this case, the above problem can be addressed while preventing interference between the cord chip 40 and the plug.

The groove 44 includes a first groove 44a that opens to the rear of the code chip 40 and extends at least in the front-rear direction, and a second groove 44b that extends in the direction in which the leg piece 42a extends (up-down direction). The groove 44b is connected to the groove 44a. The groove 44 in the leg piece 42a will be described below as an example, but a similar description can be applied to the groove 44 in the leg piece 42b. The groove 44a that opens toward the rear allows the protrusion 34a to be easily inserted into the groove 44, for example, when the lid 12 shown in FIG. 13 is open. The groove 44a extends in the front-rear direction to the front end side of the leg piece 42a.

Here, the groove 44a opening to the rear means that there is no groove wall at the rear end of the leg piece 42a and the rear end of the groove 44a is not closed. The groove 44 opens in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the leg piece 42a, but there is no clearance between the arm portion 32a and the leg piece 42a that is greater than the height of the protrusion 34a. Therefore, the protrusion 34a can be introduced into the groove only through the opening formed at the rear end of the groove 44a. For example, with the opening at the rear end of the groove 44a aligned with the positions of the protrusions 34a and 34b, the protrusions 34a and 34b can be introduced into the groove 44a by sliding the leg pieces 42a and 42b from their tip sides between the arm portions 32a and 32b.

The groove 44 further includes a third groove 44c extending from the first groove 44a toward the top plate 41. The grooves 44b and 44c are connected to the front end of the groove 44a, with the groove 44b extending downward from the groove 44a and the groove 44c extending upward from the groove 44a. That is, the groove 44 branches off at the front end side of the leg piece 42a. The code chip 40 rotates as the protrusion 34a moves within the groove 44, but the protrusion 34a is located within the groove 44b when the code chip 40 is in the open state and within the groove 44c when the code chip 40 is in the closed state. The longitudinal ends of the grooves 44b and 44c opposite the groove 44a (hereinafter referred to as the "tip") are closed and do not open. That is, the groove 44 is open only at the rear end of the groove 44a.

The groove 44a functions as an introduction path for introducing the protrusion 34a into the grooves 44b and 44c. The groove 44a is formed at the top of the leg piece 42a with a predetermined distance between it and the top plate 41. This predetermined distance corresponds to the length of the groove 44c. The groove 44a may be widened toward the rear to make it easier to insert the protrusion 34a. The width (vertical length) of the groove 44a is slightly larger than the vertical length of the protrusion 34a. In this case, the protrusion 34a can be moved smoothly in the front-rear direction while restricting its movement in the vertical direction. When the protrusion 34a is located in the groove 44a, a step is formed between the upper surface of the top plate 41 and the upper surface of the base 31, and when the protrusion 34a is located in the groove 44c, the upper surfaces of the top plate 41 and the base 31 are flush and in a closed state.

The groove 44b extends in a direction intersecting the front-rear and up-down directions so that its tip is located behind the intersection with the groove 44a. In this case, the code chip 40 rotates as the protrusion 34a moves within the groove 44b, and the code chip 40 changes from a closed state to an open state, or from an open state to a closed state. The groove 44b is also curved so as to be convex toward the front of the code chip 40, more specifically, toward the locking portion 45a. In this case, the movement of the protrusion 34a in an unintended direction (for example, the front-rear direction) is restricted, while the code chip 40 can rotate more smoothly. The groove 44b only needs to have a curved front groove wall, and the rear groove wall may be formed in a straight line.

The groove 44b is preferably formed to a length such that the protrusion 34a does not come into contact with its tip when the code chip 40 is in the open state. In other words, it is preferable that the protrusion 34a does not come into contact with the tip of the groove 44b when the locking portion 45a is hooked onto the fixed portion 23a. The tip of the groove 44b is located lower than the locking portion 45a when the code chip 40 is in the open state. On the other hand, the tip of the groove 44b restricts the rotation of the code chip 40 beyond the desired inclination angle of the top plate 41. As will be described in more detail later, when an attempt is made to further pull up the code chip 40 from its open state, the lid body 30 rotates and the entire lid 12 opens (see FIG. 13).

The groove 44b is preferably formed so that the protrusion 34a abuts against the groove wall at the tip of the groove 44b when the lid body 30 is open. In other words, it is sufficient that the tip of the groove 44b is closed and not open, in which case the groove wall at the tip functions as a stopper. Also, the groove 44b is preferably formed on an extension of the groove 44c. In this case, the cord chip 40 and the lid 12 itself can be easily opened by simply placing a finger on the finger loop portion 43 of the cord chip 40 in the closed state and pulling up the front end of the chip.

The groove 44c is a short groove that extends vertically from the front end of the groove 44a and regulates the front-rear movement of the protrusion 34a. The width (front-rear length) of the groove 44c is slightly larger than the front-rear length of the protrusion 34a. It is preferable that the groove 44c is formed to a length that does not allow the protrusion 34a to come into contact with its tip, so that the top plate 41 does not float up when the code chip 40 is closed. The length (vertical length) of the groove 44c may be shorter than the vertical length of the protrusion 34a, and may be, for example, 30% to 70% or 40% to 60% of the vertical length of the protrusion 34a.

The groove 44 may be composed of only the first groove 44a formed in the front-rear direction at a position close to the top plate 41, and the second groove 44b that communicates with the groove 44a. In this case, however, the protrusion 34a may easily slip out from the opening of the groove 44a. By forming the groove 44a at a predetermined distance from the top plate 41 and forming the third groove 44c that extends from the groove 44a toward the top plate 41, it is possible to effectively prevent the protrusion 34a from slipping out unintentionally.

Below, the usage of the floor outlet 1 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 13 and 14. Figure 13 is a side view showing the state in which the lid 12 is open to expose the opening 21 of the plate frame 11. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the plug 110 is inserted into the outlet unit 81.

As shown in FIG. 13, the lid body 30 and the code chip 40 rotate in the same direction, so that by lifting the code chip 40, the lid body 30 rotates around the axis 25, and the entire lid 12 can be opened. When inserting the plug 110 (see FIG. 14) into the outlet unit 81, the entire lid 12 is opened, widening the opening 21 of the plate frame 11. At this time, the rear end of the lid body 30 abuts against the frame body 20, restricting the rotation of the lid 12. Also, as described above, the protrusions 34a, 34b of the arm portions 32a, 32b abut against the tips of the grooves 44b of the leg pieces 42a, 42b, restricting the rotation of the code chip 40 and maintaining the code chip 40 held by the lid body 30.

As shown in Figure 14, when the outlet is in use with the plug 110 inserted into the outlet unit 81, the lid body 30 is closed and only the cord chip 40 is open. At this time, the legs 42a, 42b of the cord chip 40 hook onto the fixed portion 23a of the plate frame 11, and the top plate 41 is tilted at an angle of, for example, 40° to 50° with respect to the upper surfaces of the arm portions 32a, 32b. Note that because the outlet unit 81 is located shallow within the panel opening 103, part of the plug 110 protrudes upward from the opening 21.

The cord chip 40 is supported by the locking portions 45a, 45b of the legs 42a, 42b on the fixed portion 23a of the plate frame 11, and the rear end of the top plate 41 is supported by the arms 32a, 32b, so that the top plate 41 is stably maintained in an inclined open state. To avoid interference between the top plate 41 and the plug 110, it is necessary to incline the top plate 41 to match the inclination of the plug 110, but if the top plate 41 is at an angle close to vertical, the cord chip 40 gets in the way and the inside of the outlet becomes completely visible, which is not preferable. For this reason, the inclination angle of the top plate 41 relative to the upper surfaces of the arms 32a, 32b is preferably 60° or less, and more preferably 50° or less.

In this embodiment, after inserting the plug 110 into the outlet unit 81 with the entire lid 12 as shown in FIG. 13 open, closing the lid 12 results in only the code chip 40 being open as shown in FIG. 14. In other words, there is no need to remove the code chip 40 or change its orientation; simply closing the lid 12 results in the state shown in FIG. 14. When opening or closing the lid 12, the front end of the code chip 40 is gripped, but the code chip 40 is stably supported by the arm portions 32a and 32b due to the engagement between the projections 34a and 34b and the grooves 44. This prevents the code chip 40 from coming off during opening and closing operations, allowing for smooth opening and closing.

When the outlet is not in use, for example, the lid 12 is opened and the plug 110 is removed from the outlet unit 81, and then the lid 12 is closed so that the legs 42a, 42b do not get caught on the plate frame 11. That is, by closing the lid 12 so that the legs 42a, 42b are inserted into the opening 21, the code chip 40 is closed in a state where the top surfaces of the base 31 and the top plate 41 are flush. When closing the code chip 40, there is no need to remove the code chip 40 or change the orientation of the code chip 40; simply close the lid 12.

As described above, with the plate block 10 having the above configuration, when the outlet is in use with the plug 110 inserted, the height of the cord chip 40 protruding from the floor surface can be kept low, while the cord chip 40 can be stably maintained in an open state at the desired inclination angle. This means, for example, that the cord chip 40 is less likely to get in the way, the risk of being kicked is reduced, and the inside of the outlet is less visible, improving its appearance. Furthermore, it can be attached to various floor panels, and the tile carpet 102 does not sink around the outlet, and large gaps do not occur between the tile carpet 102 and the outlet, resulting in a good floor surface finish.

The above embodiment may be modified as appropriate without impairing the purpose of this disclosure. For example, in the above embodiment, a pair of legs 42a, 42b arranged opposite each other in the left-right direction is illustrated, but a code chip without one of the legs 42a, 42b can be considered as a modified example. In addition, as another modified example, instead of the protrusions 34a, 34b formed on the arm portions 32a, 32b, an axis connecting the two arm portions is provided, and the axis is inserted into the receiving portion of the leg portion. In the above embodiment, a protrusion integrally molded with the lid body is illustrated, but the protrusion or axis of the lid body may be provided by attaching a separate member such as a pin to the arm portion. Furthermore, the protrusion of the plate frame may also be provided by attaching a separate member such as a pin to the frame body.

Below, another example (variant) of the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 20. In the following, components that are common or similar to those in the above embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted (the above description will be used by reference).

The code chip 60 shown in Figures 15 and 16 differs from the code chip 40 in that the second groove 61 extending downward from the first groove 44a extending in the front-rear direction of the leg piece 42a is curved so as to be convex toward the rear. Note that a groove is formed in the leg piece 42b in a pattern that is a projection of the groove in the leg piece 42a (the same applies to the code chip 62 described below). The second groove 61 also differs from the second groove 44b of the code chip 40 in that it is connected to the center of the length of the groove 44a and is not formed on the extension line of the third groove 44c.

The code chip 60, like the code chip 40, rotates as the protrusion 34a of the arm portion 32a moves within the second groove 61, changing from the closed state to the open state or from the open state to the closed state. The protrusion 34a is located within the third groove 44c in the closed state, and within the second groove 61 in the open state. Since the second groove 61 is not disposed on an extension line of the third groove 44c, when opening the code chip 60, for example, it is necessary to open the chip while pulling it slightly forward. As a result, the protrusion 34a moves backward within the first groove 44a and is introduced into the second groove 61. In the case of the code chip 60, the tip of the second groove 61 is also closed, so that the code chip 60 can be prevented from unintentionally falling off when the lid 12 is opened or closed.

The code chip 62 shown in Figures 17 and 18 differs from the code chips 40, 60 in that a first groove 63 that opens rearward and extends at least in the front-to-rear direction and a second groove 64 that extends in the direction in which the leg piece 42a extends are separate and do not communicate with each other. The first groove 63 is formed in the lower part of the leg piece 42a and is inclined in the front-to-rear direction so that the front end is located lower than the rear end. The grooves formed in the leg piece 42a further include a third groove 65 that extends from the front end of the first groove 63 toward the top plate 41 and restricts the movement of the protrusion 34a in the front-to-rear direction, and a fourth groove 66 formed parallel to the second groove 64.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 17 and 18, the protrusion 34a of the arm portion 32a is located in the second groove 64 when the cord chip 62 is closed, and in the third groove 65 when it is open. Since the second groove 64 and the third groove 65 are not connected to each other, it is necessary to remove the chip from the arm portion 32a when opening and closing the cord chip 62. In the embodiment shown in Figures 17 and 18, a second protrusion 67a is formed on the arm portion 32a, and is inserted into the fourth groove 66 when the cord chip 62 is open. The second protrusion 67a is elongated in the vertical direction compared to the protrusion 34a, and is formed on the base side of the arm portion 32a.

The second groove 64 is formed on the front end side of the leg piece 42a over the entire vertical length of the leg piece 42a and opens downward. The protrusion 34a can be inserted and removed from the opening at the bottom end of the second groove 64. The fourth groove 66 is a long and narrow groove into which only the protrusion 67a can be inserted, and is formed on the rear end side of the leg piece 42a, crossing the first groove 63, over the entire vertical length of the leg piece 42a and opening downward. The third groove 65 is perpendicular to the first groove 63 and extends in the direction of the second groove 64. The third groove 65 is formed to a length such that its tip is located above the locking portion 45a when the cord chip 62 is in the open state.

The code chip 62 does not rotate as the protrusion 34a moves within the second groove 64, but moves vertically relative to the arm portion 32a, and can assume a closed state in which the top surface of the top plate 41 is flush with the top surface of the base portion 31. The code chip 62 can also assume an open state in which the top plate 41 is inclined relative to the top surface of the base portion 31 (arm portions 32a, 32b) as the protrusion 34a is inserted into the third groove 65 via the first groove 63. In other words, the code chip 62 is configured to change from a closed state to an open state and from an open state to a closed state by changing the positions of the protrusions 34a, 34b within the grooves, just like the code chips 40 and 60.

The plate frame 70 shown in FIG. 19 is similar to the plate frame 11 in that it has screw insertion holes 71a, 71b formed in each of the fixing parts 23a, 23b located on both sides of the opening 21 in the front-rear direction. However, it differs from the insertion holes 24a, 24b of the plate frame 11, which extend straight in the short side direction, in that some of the insertion holes 71a, 71b extend in a direction that intersects with the long side and short side directions of the frame body 20. The longitudinal center of the insertion holes 71a, 71b extends in the short side direction of the frame body 20, and both longitudinal ends extend in a direction that intersects with the long side and short side directions.

The insertion hole 71a has a shape in plan view in which the center portion in the length direction protrudes forward so that the center portion is located further forward of the plate frame 70 than both ends. The insertion hole 71b may have the same shape in plan view as the insertion hole 71a, but in the example shown in FIG. 19, the center portion in the length direction protrudes rearward so that the center portion is located further rearward of the plate frame 70 than both ends. The plate frame 70 allows the frame position to be fine-tuned by moving it not only left-right but also back-and-forth, making it easy to achieve a good finish without large gaps between the plate block and the tile carpet 102.

The plate frame 75 shown in FIG. 20 is the same as the plate frame 70 in that the longitudinal center portions of the insertion holes 76a and 76b are curved or bent so as to be convex in the direction opposite to the opening 21. The insertion holes 76a and 76b extend in a direction intersecting the long side direction and the short side direction of the frame body 20, similar to the insertion holes 71a and 71b. The insertion hole 76a is gently curved so as to be convex forward, and the insertion hole 76b is gently curved so as to be convex backward. The two insertion holes 76a and 76b are arranged on concentric circles. In the example shown in FIG. 20, the insertion holes 76a and 76b are formed along the arc of a circle α whose center is within the opening 21 in a plan view of the plate frame 75. In this case, the plate frame 75 can be rotated to fine-tune the position of the frame.

The plate block of the above embodiment and the floor outlet equipped with said block are of high commercial value with excellent usability, but it is possible to change the configuration of the plate block other than the lid, or to omit it. One example would be to change the screw insertion holes formed in the plate frame from elongated holes to circular holes, or to not form the protrusions that support the surface material formed on the plate frame.

LIST OF SYMBOLS 1 Floor outlet, 10 Plate block, 11 Plate frame, 12 Lid, 20 Frame body, 21, 22 Opening, 23a, 23b Fixing portion, 24a, 24b Insertion hole, 25 Shaft, 26 Shaft fixing portion, 27a, 27b, 28 Convex portion, 29a, 29b Protruding portion, 30 Lid body, 31 Base, 32a, 32b Arm portion, 33 Bearing portion, 34a, 34b Protrusion, 40 Cord tip, 41 Top plate, 42a, 42b Leg piece, 43 Finger hook portion, 44, 44a, 44b, 44c Groove, 45a, 45b Locking portion, 50, 51 Screw, 80 Appliance block, 81 Socket unit, 82 Mounting bracket, 83 First portion, 84 Second portion, 85 Third portion, 86 Fourth portion, 87a, 87b screw holes, 88 fixing bracket, 90 cover, 100 floor, 101, 101a, 101b floor panel, 102 tile carpet, 103 panel opening, 104 lower surface, 110 plug

Claims (14)

A plate block for a floor outlet, comprising:
A plate frame and
a cover that is rotatably supported on the plate frame and that opens and closes an opening of the plate frame;
Equipped with
The lid has a lid body and a code chip held by the lid body,
the code chip includes a top plate and a leg piece extending downward from the top plate, and is configured to be capable of assuming a first state in which an upper surface of the top plate is disposed along an upper surface of the lid body and the opening is closed, and a second state in which the top plate is lifted and a part of the opening is opened,
A plate block for a floor outlet, wherein a protrusion or shaft is provided on one of the lid body and the leg piece, and a receiving portion for the protrusion or shaft is formed on the other of the lid body and the leg piece. The projection or the shaft is provided on the lid body, and the receiving portion is formed on the leg piece,
The leg pieces include first and second leg pieces disposed opposite to each other in the left-right direction along the rotation axis of the lid,
2. The plate block for a floor outlet according to claim 1, wherein the code chip is configured to change from the first state to the second state by changing the position of the protrusion or the axis within the receiving portion. The plate block for a floor outlet according to claim 2, wherein the code chip rotates in the same direction as the cover body by changing the position of the protrusion or the axis in the receiving portion, and changes from the first state to the second state. the receiving portion is a groove formed on a surface of the leg piece into which the protrusion fits,
3. The plate block for a floor outlet as described in claim 2, wherein the groove includes a first groove that opens to the rear of the code chip and extends at least in the front-to-rear direction, and a second groove that extends in the extension direction of the leg piece. the second groove communicates with the first groove,
5. The plate block for a floor outlet according to claim 4, wherein the code chip rotates by changing the position of the protrusion within the second groove. The plate block for a floor outlet according to claim 5, wherein the second groove is curved so as to be convex toward the front or rear of the code chip. The plate block for a floor outlet according to claim 5, wherein the second groove is closed at the end opposite the first groove, and the protrusion is formed so as to abut against the groove wall at that end when the cover body is open. The plate block for a floor outlet according to claim 5, wherein the groove includes a third groove that extends from the first groove toward the top plate and restricts the movement of the protrusion in the front-rear direction. The plate block for a floor outlet according to claim 8, wherein the second groove is formed on an extension line of the third groove. The plate block for a floor outlet according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the leg piece has a locking portion that hooks onto the plate frame in the second state. The lid body includes an arm portion on which the protrusion is provided,
11. The plate block for a floor outlet according to claim 10, wherein the top plate is placed on the arm portion, and the code chip is supported from below only by the arm portion and the portion where the locking portion of the plate frame is hooked. The plate block for a floor outlet according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the protrusion is inserted into the receiving portion from the outside of the leg piece. A floor outlet installed in an opening of a floor panel,
a plate block including a plate frame disposed on a lower surface of a step formed on an edge of the opening, and a lid rotatably supported on the plate frame and configured to open and close the opening of the plate frame;
an instrument block including an outlet unit and to which the plate block is fixed;
Equipped with
The lid has a lid body and a code chip held by the lid body,
the code chip includes a top plate and a leg piece extending downward from the top plate, and is configured to be capable of assuming a first state in which an upper surface of the top plate is disposed along an upper surface of the lid body and the opening is closed, and a second state in which the top plate is lifted and a part of the opening is opened,
A floor outlet, wherein a protrusion or shaft is provided on one of the lid body and the leg piece, and a receiving portion for the protrusion or shaft is formed on the other of the lid body and the leg piece. The floor outlet according to claim 13 , wherein the outlet unit is arranged so as to overlap in the vertical direction with the opening of the plate frame.

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