WO2004010824A1

WO2004010824A1 - Portable fold up work surface and seat combination

Info

Publication number: WO2004010824A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/003202
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Andrew Barker
Original assignee: Thomas Andrew Barker
Priority date: 2002-07-29
Filing date: 2003-07-29
Publication date: 2004-02-05
Also published as: GB0217435D0; AU2003281759A1; GB2391167A

Abstract

A portable fold up work surface and seat combination comprises a work surface (30), a seat (15), and front and rear support legs (5, 3) pivoted at (11) and connected respectively to the seat and work surface, wherein the combination is collapsible to a substantially flat state. Seat (15) is rotatable through an angle greater than 270 degrees on twin pivot hinges (13) to fold substantially flat against the legs when in the collapsed position. Work surface (30) is adjustable for both linear and angular movement , being locked in position by quick release lever cams (25), and is supported by telescopic members (20) and (22) which are locked in position by quick release lever cam (21). Work surface (30) folds flat against support members (24), which in turn rotate downwards to fold substantially flat against the leg assemblies when collapsed for easy storage or transport.

Description

PORTABLE FOLD UP WORK SURFACE AND SEAT

COMBINATION

This invention relates to a fold up work surface and seat combination.

Such fold up work surface and seat combinations are well known, but suffer from disadvantages such as being too bulky to be easily carried by one hand, or overly complicated to deploy between the "erect " and "collapsed" positions.

An object of this invention is to provide a work surface and seat combination which in the collapsed position is easily carried, for example in the manner of a briefcase, which occupies minimum space so as to be transportable, for example, in the space between the front and rear seats of a car and which is simple to erect and collapse, if necessary, using only one hand.

A further object is to provide a combination in which the work surface is capable of both linear and angular movement so as to be usable for various purposes.

According to the present invention, a fold up work surface and seat combination comprises first and second support legs pivotally connected at a point intermediate their ends so as to be capable of movement from a first or "erect" position in which the support legs have an "X" configuration to a second or "collapsed" position in which the support legs are adjacent and substantially parallel to one another, a seat pivotally connected at its rear edge to the first support leg and a work surface pivotally connected to the second support leg, characterized in that the seat is connected so as to be rotatable through an angle greater than 270 degrees so that in the "collapsed "position the seat lies adjacent and substantially parallel to the first support leg. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided at least one elongate member pivotally connected at one end to the second support leg and at the other to the work surface such that in the "collapsed" position the elongate

member and the work surface lie adjacent and substantially parallel to the second support leg.

According to a further aspect of the invention, in the "erect" position the front edge of the seat engages latch means on the elongate member connected to the second support leg whereby the combination is retained in the "erect" position.

Preferably, the latch means comprises a double ended, spring loaded, slam bolt.

According to another aspect of the invention, the elongate member is connected to the work surface by means providing linear and angular movement when the combination is in the "erect" position.

Preferably the fold up work surface and seat combination is made of lightweight metal, carbon fibre or plastics material, but it may instead be made from wood, or from a combination of these materials.

A specific embodiment of the invention with a work surface in the form of a desk top will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of the fold up desk and seat combination in its erect position; FIGURE 2 shows a side elevation of the fold up desk and seat combination in its erect position;

FIGURE 3 shows an end elevation of the fold up desk and seat combination in its erect position;

FIGURE 4 shows an end elevation of the fold up desk and seat combination in its collapsed position;

FIGURE 5 shows a side elevation of the fold up desk and seat combination in its collapsed position;

FIGURE 6 is a section showing how the seat of the fold up desk and seat combination rotates from the erect to the collapsed position; and

FIGURE 7 shows a perspective view illustrating the desk top with detachable side extensions.

As shown in Figure 1 , the fold up desk and seat combination comprises first (front) legs 5 and second (rear) legs 3 pivotally connected at point 11 so as to form an "X" configuration. Front legs 5 form a rectangular frame with base tubular structure 4 forming a front foot and top angled section 12 being hingedly attached to seat 15 with twin pivot hinges 13. Rear legs 3 form a rectangular frame with cross member 31 and base tubular structure 1 forming a rear foot. Both front foot tubular structure 4 and rear foot tubular structure 1 are curved at both ends as shown in Figure 4 to form a stable four point loading when in use. Each foot tubular structure extremity is fitted with a rubber end cap 2 to prevent sliding and damage to the foot tubular structure ends when in use. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, elongate members 24 and a telescopic member 20 are pivotally connected at one end to the rear legs 3 by bracket 18 and shaft 19. The other end of the elongate member has a transverse spindle 26, which engages in a slot between rails 27 and 28 attached to the underside of the work surface by bolts 29. A telescopic member 22, movable relative to the member 20, is pivotally attached to the front extremity of the rail 28 by a shaft 23. This arrangement provides both linear and angular motion allowing the work surface to be positioned for optimum use, with the telescopic members 20 and 22 proving support to the front of the work surface whatever the position in which the work surface is placed .

The work surface is locked in position by means of quick release cams 25 at each end of the spindle (either of which can be released to allow movement of the surface) and a quick release cam 21 on the telescopic members 20 and 22.

In the erect position, the elongate members 24 are held in engagement with the rear leg cross member 31 (thus preventing pivotal movement) by conventional latch means such as a spring loaded slam bolt (not shown).

The front and rear legs are held in the erect position 'X' configuration by elongate members 7 and 9 pivotally hinged centrally at point 8 and pivoted from the front leg 5 on shaft 10 and rear leg 3 on shaft 6 which limit the degree of opening of the legs.

Seat 15 is provided with a locking tab 32 which in the erect position of the combination fits over a cross member 17on the rear leg with the seat being supported by the cross member 17. A stop bracket 16 is mounted on the elongate members 24 in such a position that it is in contact with the seat (and hence retains the seat in its correct position) when the slam bolt is engaged. This arrangement allows the combination to be lifted and moved about by holding the seat. Collapse of the combination is easily achieved, if necessary using only one hand. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, release of the lever cams 25 and 21 and the double ended spring loaded slam bolt (not shown) allows the elongate members 24 and the desk top surface to swing downwards. The resultant movement of stop bracket 16 away from seat 15 releases the seat allowing it to be swung up and over on twin pivot hinges 13. Lifting the combination by the cross member 31 allows the link members 7 and 9 to swing downwards around pivot 8 and legs 5 and 3 to come together. The result is that the front and rear legs are substantially parallel to one another with the seat being adjacent and substantially parallel to the front leg and the work surface to be adjacent and substantially parallel to the rear leg.

Spring clips 14 (shown in Figure 2) engage onto shaft 10 ensuring that the desk and seat combination is held together in the collapsed position for transport or storage.

Erection is equally simple. With the end of leg 5 on the floor, pulling on the cross member 31 of leg 3 releases the grip of the clips 14 allowing the legs to take up the X configuration. The seat is then swung into position with the front resting on cross member 17. Rotation of the elongate members 24 engages the slam bolt to fix the combination in the erect position.

Clearly, the collapse and erection are more easily achieved if two hands are used.

Referring to Figures 6a and 6b, the twin pivot hinges shown in detail are attached to the front legs 5 cross member 12 and the rear of seat 15. Figure 6a shows the seat 15 in the erect position. Figure 6b shows the seat 15 in the collapsed position after swinging through circa 300 degrees anticlockwise. Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention. Here the desk top surface 30 is extended on either or both sides by use of the detachable side extensions 35. Each side extension is attached to the desk top surface 30 by means of the first tubular structure 34 being telescopically inserted fully into second tubular structure 33, tubular structure 34 being attached to side extension 35 and tubular structure 33 being attached to desk top surface 30 respectively.

The work surface can be any of the following:- An artists easel A sheet music stand An ironing board A desk top surface

A desk top surface suitable for a Laptop or Notebook style computer A revolving work top A work top with attached gripping device A craft or hobby work top An embroidery or tapestry frame A drawing board A black or white board A reading table A school desk top A child's desk

A seat back (to form a chair when sat on in the opposite direction) A light box A fishing rod attachment.

A particular advantage of a work surface and seat combination according to the invention is that in the collapsed state the height is such that the combination can be carried in one hand in the same manner as a briefcase by holding the cross member 31 , which can be shaped to form a comfortable handle. Alternatively, a handle could be provided on the side of the leg 5 at a suitable balance point so that the combination could be carried horizontally.

Clearly, the height of the combination in the collapsed position depends on the lengths of the legs 3 and 5. Shorter legs would ease transport and storage but would lower the height of the seat in the erect position, which could cause problems for taller persons.

A suitable compromise for the collapsed height has been found to be circa 76cm. However, an alternative solution is for the length of the legs 3 and 5 to be adjustable, for example, by making them telescopic and providing a suitable locking mechanism.

Claims

1. A fold up work surface and seat combination comprising first and second support legs pivotally connected at a point intermediate their ends so as to be capable of movement from a first or "erect" position in which the support legs have an "X" configuration to a second or "collapsed" position in which the support legs are adjacent and substantially parallel to one another, a seat pivotally connected at its rear edge to the first support leg and a work surface pivotally connected to the second support leg, characterized in that the seat is connected so as to be rotatable through an angle greater than 270 degrees so that in the "collapsed "position the seat lies adjacent and substantially parallel to the first support leg.

2. A fold up work surface and seat combination according to claim 1 characterized by the provision of at least one elongate member pivotally connected at one end to the second support leg and at the other to the work surface such that in the "collapsed" position the elongate member and the work surface lie adjacent and substantially parallel to the second support leg.

3. A fold up work surface and seat combination according to claim2, characterized in that in the "erect" position, the front edge of the seat is retained by latch means on the elongate member connected to the second support leg, whereby the combination is fixed in the "erect" position.

4. A fold up work surface and seat combination according to claim 3, characterized in that the latch means comprises a double ended, spring loaded, slam bolt.

5. A fold up work surface and seat combination according to claim 2, characterized in that the elongate member is connected to the work surface by means providing linear and angular movement when the combination is in the "erect" position.

6. A fold up work surface and seat combination according to claim 5, characterized in that said means comprises a pair of spaced apart, slotted members fixed to the underneath of the work surface and a transverse spindle on the elongate member engageable in said slots.

7. A fold up work surface and seat combination according to claim 6, characterized in that locking means are provided to prevent unwanted movement of the spindle in the slots.

8. A fold up work surface and seat combination according to claim 7, characterized in that said locking means comprise at least one quick release lever cam.

9. A fold up work surface and seat combination according to any preceding claim, characterized by the provision of elongate members pivotally connected together, the free ends being pivotally connected respectively to the support legs so as to limit the degree of opening of the support legs.

10. A fold up work surface and seat combination according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the support legs are structured such that in the "erect" position, the end of the first leg remote from the seat lies beneath the work surface to increase stability.

11. A fold up work surface and seat combination as claimed in any preceding claim, which is made from metal, carbon fibre, plastics material or wood, or from a combination of these materials

12. A fold up work surface and seat combination according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the work surface forms an easel, a sheet music stand, an ironing board, a revolving work top, a craft/hobby work top, an embroidery/tapestry frame, a drawing board, a black board, a white board, a reading table, a school desk, a light box, a fishing rod attachment or a desk top suitable for Laptop or Notebook style computer.

13. A fold up work surface and seat combination as described herein with reference to Figures 1 - 7 of the accompanying drawings.