GB2455591A

GB2455591A - Foldable writing desk or table

Info

Publication number: GB2455591A
Application number: GB0808148A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hussein Tahsin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-12-14
Filing date: 2008-05-06
Publication date: 2009-06-17
Also published as: GB0724479D0; GB0808148D0

Abstract

A foldable writing desk or table 1 comprises a case assembly having a chassis 6 carrying leg support brackets 7 for two pairs of legs 4, the two legs of each pair being joined by a strut 9, such that the leg pairs 4 may be unfolded so they lie generally at right angles to said chassis. Preferably the struts 9 on the legs pairs 4 are positioned asymmetrically to prevent their mutual obstruction during unfolding and there is a stop means, stay 8, with pivot 12. The legs may further comprise a telescopic extendable portion 13 and a case cover 3 which may be a flexible flap. The device is disclosed to be usable as a portable table with a carrying handle and may house a laptop or notebook computer.

Description

CONVERTIBLE WRITING CASE/TABLE This invention relates to a convertible writing case/table. It relates particularly to a writing case which may be of a briefcase construction or a case of a different kind such as a laptop computer case. Additionally, the case includes mounting means whereby it may be supported above a floor surface in order to enable a user to make written notes at a suitable working height above floor level.

In some occupations, it is necessary for a person to take written notes at a working site where they are away from their own office situation and there is no available desk or table. These people might include building site surveyors, fire safety inspectors, warehouse surveyors and architects. It would be helpful to have a briefcase size device that could be readily carried to the site and which was able to be supported at a convenient working height to provide a writing surface and enable notes or sketches to be made. If the case is a briefcase construction, the writing surface could be used for handwriting the required information. Alternatively, if the case included a laptop computer, the surface would provide a support for the computer keyboard for entering the necessary information.

There has already been proposed a portable workstation construction in patent specification US6068355. This specification discloses a foldable table top mounted on two pairs of legs which can be extended when the workstation is needed for use at the working site.

The present invention was devised in an attempt to provide a convertible writing case that may be readily taken to a site where it is required to make written notes, the case being provided with leg supports which may be opened out and then secured in place. The resulting assembly then forms a stable writing surface that is resistant to sideways movements.

According to the invention, there is provided a convertible writing case/table comprising a case assembly having a chassis carrying leg support brackets, the brackets providing mountings for two pairs of legs, the two legs of each pair being additionally joined by a leg strut, such that the leg pairs are movable from a folded position where they lie alongside the chassis to an open position where they lie generally at right angles to said chassis.

The leg struts may be located on the leg pairs asymmetrically whereby obstruction between the leg pairs is avoided when the pairs are arranged compactly in the folded position. Each leg pair may include stop means effective to limit outward movement when the leg pair is in the open position. The stop means may be a movable stay.

The movable stay may be provided with a pivot between its ends such that it may be folded when out of use. One or more of the legs may include an extendible foot portion. Preferably, each leg of the construction includes a telescoping foot portion.

The writing case construction may include a cover capable of being secured over the chassis and legs when the legs are in the folded position. The cover may be of rigid construction or of a flexible material formed as a flap which may be secured to a base member by fastener means.

By way of example, a particular embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the writing case/table of the invention in a closed condition, Figure 2 shows the case in an inverted attitude with a bottom cover opened, Figure 3 shows the case with a first leg pair opened out, Figure 4 shows both leg pairs opened out, Figure 5 shows the case in a working condition, and, Figure 6 shows the case with telescoping foot portions extended.

As shown particularly in Figure 1, the writing case/table I in the closed condition is similar in appearance to a conventional briefcase which in this embodiment is a case of a rigid construction formed of a hard plastics material. The writing case I is provided with a handle and it also has a hinged top cover 2 and a hinged bottom cover. Both of these covers are secured by catches (not shown) when in the closed condition.

In addition, the writing case/table includes a strong internal chassis which is located parallel to the major surfaces of the case and which provides a suitable metal base to which support legs for the case can be attached.

Figure 2 shows the case 1 having been turned over so the lower case surface is uppermost. The release of the relevant catch has allowed the case bottom cover 3 to be opened on its hinge so that two folded leg pairs 4 can be seen. Each leg pair 4 is constructed of a single length of aluminium tubing which has been given two bends to form a U-shape. The middle section of the U-shape is secured to the case chassis 6 by mounting brackets 7 which allow the leg pair to be moved from a folded position where the legs lie parallel to the chassis 6 surface to an open position where the legs are located generally at right angles to the chassis. For the improvement of clarity in Figure 2, the presence of a leg strut which serves to connect together the two legs of each leg pair 4 has been omitted from the drawing.

In Figure 3, a first leg pair 4 has been moved outwards so it stands generally at right angles to the chassis 6. A folding stay 8 attached to the leg pair 4 has been extended so it will tend to hold the leg pair in the open position. It will be noted that the two leg pairs 4 have been arranged to lie side-by-side when the)' are in the folded position so they do not occupy an excessive proportion of the overall depth of the closed case. The two legs of each leg pair 4 are secured together by a rigid leg strut 9 which is positioned close to the free ends of the two legs. It will be seen that the strut 9 on the first pair of legs is located on the upper side of those legs when they are folded. Conversely, the strut 9 on the second pair of legs is located on the lower side of these legs when they are folded. This provision ensures that the two pairs of legs can be folded tidily in the case without obstructing each other during the folding process.

As already mentioned, the two leg pairs 4 are constructed of an aluminium tubing material which is formed into a U-shape for each leg pair. The rigid leg strut 9 which is mounted on each leg pair 4 is also of aluminium and this is attached to the outer surface of each leg by a low temperature jointing method such as soldering. The reason for chosing this jointing method is that it is necessary to prevent the internal walls of the aluminium leg pairs 4 from becoming distorted in shape so that they will no longer provide a smooth surface for supporting an internal telescoping extension on each leg.

In the case of the fixing of the folding stay 8 to each leg, a hollow metal sleeve 11 is secured to the outer wall of each leg and this sleeve 11 carries an outwardly directed pin (not shown) to which the folding stay 8 is attached. The pin thus secures one end of the stay 8 and an opposite end of the stay is connected to a mounting on the chassis 6 of the writing case. The metal sleeve 11 is secured to the leg and the stay 8 includes a pivot connection 12 between its ends such that the stay 8 will become folded when the leg is moved into the leg-closed position.

in Figure 4, both leg pairs 4 have been opened out. Figure 5 shows the writing case/table in the Figure 4 condition but where the whole construction has been inverted to form a table arrangement. In addition, the second catch has been released to allow the case top cover 2 to be opened on its hinge. Figure 6 shows the writing case in the same condition but where a telescoping foot portion 13 on each leg has been pulled out and clamped in this position to provide a table at a suitable working height above floor level.

The telescoping foot portion 13 on the leg is provided by a length of aluminium tube material which is initially housed within each leg of the two leg pairs 4. When accommodated in the leg, each foot portion 13 is long enough to extend almost as far as the bend in the U-shaped leg pair 4. Since the smooth internal surface of each leg pair 4 has not been distorted by the provision of the fixings for the strut 9 or the folding stay 8, the foot portion 13 may be readily pulled out when required. The end of each leg pair 4 includes a fixing means such as a spring-loaded ball to enable the telescoping foot portion 13 to be retained in the extended position.

in the Figure 6 condition, the writing case 1 is suppported at a practical working height to enable the user to make notes in a briefcase file if this is accommodated in the case. If the user has a preference for a laptop computer, an appropriate model may alternatively be fitted in the case to provide a suitable writing accessory.

In use of the writing case/table, the user will carry this by hand to the proposed working site. The package has the general appearance of a conventional briefcase and it is only slightly larger in its dimensions. At the site, the case will be turned over so the bottom cover 3 can be opened by releasing the relevant catch. One pair of legs will be folded outwards and then the second pair of legs. The folding stays 8 will be opened out automatically when the leg pairs 4 have been pushed fully back. The telescopic foot portions 13 on each leg are then extended and clamped into place. The case may then be inverted and the leg pairs 4 with the foot portions 13 placed on the floor surface to form the required table structure. The user may then release the second catch and open the top cover 2 to get access to the briefcase file inside the case. Notes may be made in the file as necessary and the user may have to move away from the case to get the required information and take relevant measurements and then enter this information on the briefcase documents. The writing case/table provides a stable writing surface at a practical working height above the floor level and the writing surface is resistant to unwanted sideways movements. At the end of the session, the user may close the briefcase file, close the case top cover 2 and secure this with the catch. The case may then be inverted again and the leg pairs 4 repositioned and folded back in the case. The case bottom cover 3 may be closed and secured and the case has then been restored to its original briefcase format. It may be carried readily to another site, as necessary.

If the user prefers to make the notes on a laptop computer, this may be provided instead of the briefcase file within the top cover space of the case.

The writing case/table of the invention has been found to be capable of being manufactured at a comparatively low cost and it is able to provide a convenient writing surface that is resistant to sideways movements when in use. The writing case can be light in weight and it may be readily carried to a site where the work is required to be done and quickly made ready for the writing operation.

The foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention has been given by way of example only and a number of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance, instead of the case being made of a rigid construction, it may be made of a soft material such as a leather ora nylon fabric. The clamping of the telescoping foot portions 13 of the legs may be done by use of a collet and a screwed ring on each leg but another method such as the engagement of a spring-loaded pin in one of a series of holes could alternatively be used.

The construction of the folding stay 8 which acts to secure the leg pair 4 in the open condition may also be modified. The stay 8 may be secured by a pivot fixing at each of its ends. If the stay 8 is provided in a non-folding form, it may be arranged to have a sliding connection between its ends. Alternatively, the stay 8 may be mounted on a sliding sleeve or shoe which is secured to one leg of the leg pair or else to a slidable fixing on the chassis 6. CONVERTIBLE WRITING CASE/TABLE This invention relates to a convertible writing case/table. It relates particularly to a writing case which may be of a briefcase construction or a case of a different kind such as a laptop computer case. Additionally, the case includes mounting means whereby it may be supported above a floor surface in order to enable a user to make written notes at a suitable working height above floor level.

The construction of the folding stay 8 which acts to secure the leg pair 4 in the open condition may also be modified. The stay 8 may be secured by a pivot fixing at each of its ends. If the stay 8 is provided in a non-folding form, it may be arranged to have a sliding connection between its ends. Alternatively, the stay 8 may be mounted on a sliding sleeve or shoe which is secured to one leg of the leg pair or else to a slidable fixing on the chassis 6.

Claims

A convertible writing case/table comprising a case assembly having a chassis carrying leg support brackets, the brackets providing mountings for two pairs of legs, the two legs of each pair being additionally joined by a leg strut, such that the leg pairs are movable from a folded position where they lie alongside the chassis to an open position where they lie generally at right angles to said chassis.
2 A writing case/table as claimed in Claim 1, in which the leg struts are located on the leg pairs asymmetrically whereby obstruction between the leg pairs is avoided when the pairs are arranged compactly in the folded position.
3 A writing case/table as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which each leg pair includes stop means effective to limit outward movement when the leg pair is in the open position.
4 A writing case/table as claimed in any one of Claims I to 3, in which the stop means is a movable stay by which the leg pair may be secured in the open position.
A writing case/table as claimed in Claim 4, in which the movable stay is provided with a pivot between its ends such that it may be folded when out of use.
6 A writing case/table as claimed in any one of Claims I to 5, in which one or more of the legs includes an extendible foot portion.
7 A writing case/table as claimed in Claim 6, in which each leg of the construction includes a telescoping foot portion.
8 A writing case/table as claimed in any one of Claims I to 7, in which the case includes a cover capable of being secured over the chassis and legs when the legs are in the folded position.
9 A writing case/table as claimed in Claim 8, in which the cover is of a flexible material formed as a flap which may be secured to a base member by fastener means.

A convertible writing case/table, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

9 A writing case/table as claimed in Claim 8, in which the cover is of a flexible material formed as a flap which may be secured to a base member by fastener means.

A convertible writing case/table, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

A convertible writing case/table comprising a case assembly having a chassis carrying leg support brackets, the brackets providing mountings for two pairs of legs, the two legs of each pair being additionally joined by a leg strut, such that the leg pairs are movable from a folded position where they lie alongside the chassis to an open position where they lie generally at right angles to said chassis.

2 A writing case/table as claimed in Claim 1, in which the leg struts are located on the leg pairs asymmetrically whereby obstruction between the leg pairs is avoided when the pairs are arranged compactly in the folded position.

3 A writing case/table as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which each leg pair includes stop means effective to limit outward movement when the leg pair is in the open position.

4 A writing case/table as claimed in any one of Claims I to 3, in which the stop means is a movable stay by which the leg pair may be secured in the open position.

A writing case/table as claimed in Claim 4, in which the movable stay is provided with a pivot between its ends such that it may be folded when out of use.

6 A writing case/table as claimed in any one of Claims I to 5, in which one or more of the legs includes an extendible foot portion.

7 A writing case/table as claimed in Claim 6, in which each leg of the construction includes a telescoping foot portion.

8 A writing case/table as claimed in any one of Claims I to 7, in which the case includes a cover capable of being secured over the chassis and legs when the legs are in the folded position.