PRIVATE BOOTH EQUIPMENT

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-077124 filed on May 10, 2024 with the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a private booth equipment for realizing a capsule-shaped private space.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2023-29509 describes a human body housing structure for a user to rest or sleep in a small capsule-shaped space (hereinafter, referred to as “private booth”).

SUMMARY

The user's head position when the user is seated in a seat (hereinafter, referred to as “seated height”) is lower than the head position when the user is standing (hereinafter, referred to as “standing height”).

Accordingly, if the seat is installed in the private booth, it is sufficient that the inner height of the private booth is at least the seated height. However, the seated height is lower than the standing height.

Thus, if the inner height of the private booth is approximately the seated height, the user must bend down to enter the private booth, which significantly reduces user-friendliness.

On the other hand, if the inner height of the private booth is approximately the standing height, the user-friendliness is improved as compared to the case where the inner height of the private booth is approximately the seated height, but the private booth becomes larger. The present disclosure discloses an example of a private booth equipment in view of this point.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, it is desirable that the private booth equipment comprises at least one of the following components, for example.

Specifically, the components include: a seat body for a user to sit in; a private booth that covers the seat body and forms a space for accommodating the seat body, the private booth having an opening, through which the user is allowed to enter or exit the private booth; and a moving device configured to move the seat body between a normal position spaced apart from the opening and a receiving position located closer to the opening than the normal position is, the moving device being configured to perform a receiving function.

It is desirable that the receiving function is a function to position the seat body in the receiving position when an instruction is received from the user or when the user is detected. Thus, the user need not enter deep into the private booth to sit in the seat body.

In other words, when the user sits in the seat body, the user can sit in the seat body located close to the opening. Thus, the user can sit in the seat body without bending largely.

Furthermore, according to the private booth equipment, it is possible to inhibit increase in the size of the private booth while improving the user-friendliness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a private booth equipment according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows the private booth equipment according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining an operation of the private booth equipment according to the first embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a sliding device according to the first embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the invention below shows an example of embodiments that fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. In other words, matters specifying the invention and so on recited in the claims are not limited by any specific configuration, structure, or the like described in the embodiment below.

The present embodiment shows an example where a private booth equipment according to the present disclosure is applied to a private booth installed inside or outside a building (inside a building, in the present embodiment). Arrows for indicating directions, oblique lines, or the like in each drawing are provided to facilitate understanding of mutual relations between the drawings, the shapes of members or portions, or the like. Accordingly, orientation of the private booth equipment is not limited to how the private booth equipment is oriented in each drawing.

With respect to at least a member or a portion explained with a reference numeral, at least one of such a member or a portion is provided unless it is described using a term such as “only one”. The private booth equipment of the present disclosure includes at least one element, such as a member or a portion explained at least with reference numerals, or a structural component shown in the drawings.

First Embodiment

1. Outline of Private Booth Equipment

As shown in FIG. 1, a private booth equipment 1 at least comprises a seat body 2, a private booth 3, and a sliding device 4. The seat body 2 is a seat, in which a user of the private booth equipment 1 sits.

<1.1 Seat Body>

The seat body 2 includes at least a seat cushion 2A and a seatback 2B. The seat cushion 2A is a portion for supporting the buttocks of a seated person. The seatback 2B is a portion for supporting the back of the seated person.

The seatback 2B is arranged at a rear end of the seat cushion 2A in seat front-rear directions, and is displaceable relative to the seat cushion 2A. The seat body 2 of the present embodiment also includes an ottoman 2C.

The ottoman 2C supports the lower limbs of the seated person. The ottoman 2C is arranged at a front end of the seat cushion 2A in the seat front-rear directions, and is displaceable between a deployed position where the lower limbs of the seated person can be supported and a retracted position where such support is not provided (see FIG. 2, etc.)

The seat body 2 can change arrangement between a normal arrangement where the seatback 2B is in an upright position (see FIG. 2, etc.) and a comfortable arrangement where the seatback 2B is tilted compared to the normal arrangement. In the seat body 2 of the present embodiment, the seatback 2B and the ottoman 2C are electrically displaceable.

Thus, the ottoman 2C of the present embodiment automatically assumes the retracted position when the seat body 2 is in the normal arrangement, and automatically assumes the deployed position when the seat body 2 is in the comfortable arrangement.

<1.2 Private Booth>

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the private booth 3 is a shell body that covers the seat body 2 and forms a capsule-like space (cylindrical capsule space, in the present embodiment) for accommodating the seat body 2.

Specifically, the private booth 3 at least includes a peripheral wall 3A and a ceiling 3B. The peripheral wall 3A is a tubular wall that surrounds the seat body 2 horizontally. The peripheral wall 3A has an opening 3C, through which the user can enter or exit the private booth 3.

<1.3 Sliding Device>

The sliding device 4 is an example of a moving device capable of moving the seat body 2 between a normal position (see FIG. 1) and a receiving position (see FIG. 2).

The normal position is a position away from the opening 3C and on a far side of the private booth 3, as shown in FIG. 3. The receiving position is closer to the opening 3C than the normal position is. The receiving position also includes a state where a part or whole of the seat body 2 is exposed through the opening 3C.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sliding device 4 at least includes a sliding mechanism 4A, a controller 4B, and a manipulation part 4C. The sliding mechanism 4A is an electrically powered mechanism that can allow the seat body 2 to translate between the normal position and the receiving position, as shown in FIG. 3.

The sliding mechanism 4A slides the seat body 2 in the seat front-rear directions to translate the seat body 2. In other words, the opening 3C is located at least in front of the seat body 2 located in the receiving position.

The controller 4B controls an operation of the sliding mechanism 4A. The controller 4B of the present embodiment can also control operations of the seatback 2B and the ottoman 2C. The controller 5 can perform a receiving function on the sliding mechanism 4A, the seatback 2B and the ottoman 2C.

The receiving function is a function to at least position the seat body 2 in the receiving position when an instruction is received from the user via the manipulation part 4C. In the present embodiment, when the receiving function is performed and the seat body 2 is brought to the receiving position, the seat body 2 automatically assumes the normal arrangement.

In other words, if the seat body 2 is in the comfortable arrangement when the controller 4B is instructed to perform the receiving function by the user, the controller 4B moves the seat body 2 to the receiving position while or after returning the seat body 2 to the normal arrangement.

The manipulation part 4C is manipulated by the user to perform the receiving function. As shown in FIG. 1, the manipulation part 4C is provided in a portion of the private booth 3 that is visible to the user from outside the private booth 3.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the manipulation part 4C is arranged on an outer wall of the private booth 3 located close to the opening 3C. The manipulation part 4C of the present embodiment comprises a touch panel or an electrostatic switch.

When the user sits in the seat body 2 located in the receiving position, the sliding device 4 moves the seat body 2 to the normal position. The sliding device 4 uses a load acting on the seat cushion 2A to determine whether the user is seated.

2. Features of Private Booth Equipment of Present Embodiment

The private booth equipment 1 of the present embodiment can perform the receiving function to position the seat body 2 in the receiving position when the user's instruction is received. As a result, the user need not to enter deep into the private booth 3 to sit in the seat body 2.

In other words, when the user sits in the seat body 2, the user can sit in the seat body 2 located close to the opening 3C. Thus, the user can sit in the seat body 2 without bending largely. Furthermore, according to the private booth equipment 1, it is possible to inhibit increase in the size of the private booth 3 while improving the user-friendliness.

In the private booth equipment 1, when the receiving function is performed and the seat body 2 is brought to the receiving position, the seat body 2 automatically assumes the normal arrangement. Thus, the user can easily sit in the seat body 2.

If the seat body 2 in the receiving position is in the comfortable arrangement, it is difficult for the user to sit in the seat body 2. In the present embodiment, since the seat body 2 in the receiving position is in the normal arrangement, the user can easily sit in the seat body 2.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The opening 3C in the above-described embodiment is provided in front of the seat body 2. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, in a state where the seat body 2 is in the receiving position, it is sufficient that the opening 3C faces the front of the seat body 2.

Accordingly, if a moving device is used, which can rotate the seat body 2, the opening 3C may be located on a lateral side of the seat body 2 that is in the normal position, for example.

The manipulation part 4C of the above-described embodiment is arranged on the outer wall of the private booth 3 at a location close to the opening 3C. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, in the present disclosure, the manipulation part 4C may be arranged slightly away from the private booth 3, for example.

In the above-described embodiment, the receiving function is performed when the user's instruction is received via the manipulation part 4C or when the user is detected. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, in the present disclosure, for example, a human sensor may be provided in place of the manipulation part 4C, and when a human is detected by the human sensor, the receiving function may be performed assuming that the user's instruction has been received or the user has been detected.

In the above-described embodiment, whether the user's instruction is received or whether the user is detected is determined via the manipulation part or the human sensor provided in the private booth equipment. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure, for example, may be a configuration to receive the user's instruction from a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone.

The moving device, etc. of the above-described embodiment are electrically powered. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure, for example, may comprise a mechanical moving device that uses a spring, a manipulation cable, and so on.

Furthermore, the present disclosure is only required to conform to the gist of the invention described in the above-described embodiments, and thus is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Accordingly, the present disclosure may be configured in combination of at least two of the above-described embodiments, or may be configured without some of the elements illustrated in the drawings or described with reference numerals in the above-described embodiments.