Apparatus and method for providing a workspace

• US 20060162623A1
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tom Ciulla
• Inventors: Ciulla, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 7,421,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/48
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/06 with legs for supporting the table on the floor tables combined with cabinets A47B83/045

Abstract

A portable and wall mountable apparatus comprising a flexible case having one or more internal compartments for removably receiving stiffeners to thereby form a pair of panels. The panels are pivotally joined and fold shut against each other to form a portable carrier for articles such as architectural plans and the like. Handles are attached to the flexible case to facilitate transport. A plurality of tabs with grommets are attached to the flexible case to allow the panels to be removably mounted to a wall such that one of the panels may be used as a desktop or workspace. One or more restraining devices suspend the panel being used as a desktop or workplace in a horizontal position when the case is mounted to a wall. The flexible case may also be conveniently stored by removing the stiffeners when not in use and rolling up the shell into a compact shape.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a workspace, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible material having a first portion, the first portion being configured and arranged to enclose a stiffener beneath a workspace section of said material to thereby stiffen said workspace section; and

means for suspending the workspace section in an elevated, lateral orientation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible material further comprises a second portion, the second portion being configured and arranged to enclose a stiffener beneath a panel section of said material to thereby stiffen said panel section.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the workspace section and the panel section are disposed in a pivotal relationship with respect to each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the flexible case further comprises at least one opening for inserting and removing the stiffeners.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible case further comprises at least one opening for inserting and removing the stiffener.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for suspending the workspace section comprises a pair of flexible restraining members and at least one fastener device connected to the flexible case for removably mounting the flexible case to a structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means for securing the workspace section in a vertical orientation.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the workspace section terminates in a proximal free edge.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for suspending the workspace section is operable to suspend the workspace section in a substantially horizontal orientation.

10. An apparatus for providing a portable and wall mountable workspace, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible case having a first portion, the first portion being configured and arranged to enclose a stiffener beneath a workspace section of said material to thereby stiffen said workspace section;

at least one fastener device connected to the flexible case for removably mounting the flexible case to a structure; and

at least one restraining device operable to support the first portion of the flexible case in an elevated, lateral orientation when said flexible case is mounted to a structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the flexible case further comprises an opening for inserting and removing the stiffener.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one restraining device is formed of a flexible material.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the at least one restraining device comprises two restraining devices disposed proximate opposing ends of the first portion, each of the retraining devices being substantially triangular in shape.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one fastener comprises a plurality of tabbed portions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the tabbed portions are spaced about sixteen (16) inches (0.41 meters) apart.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of storage pockets attached to the flexible case.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a handle connected to the flexible case.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the workspace section is pivotally operable between an open position and a closed position.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a fastener for securing the workspace section in the closed position.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the fastener comprises a flap removably securable to the workspace section.

21. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the flexible case is collapsible into a rolled up position when the stiffener is removed from the flexible case.

22. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the flexible case is formed of a waterproof material.

23. An apparatus for providing a wall mountable workspace, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible case including a pair of rigid panels, the pair of rigid panels being pivotally interconnected such that the panels are operable to move between an open position and a closed position;

at least one fastener connected to the flexible case for removably mounting the flexible case to a structure; and

at least one restraining device operable to suspend one of the rigid panels in a substantially horizontal position when said flexible case is mounted to a structure to thereby allow the suspended rigid panel to function as a workspace.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein each of the rigid panels comprises a stiffener.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising at least one opening in the flexible case for removing the stiffeners from each of the rigid panels.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the at least one restraining device is formed of a flexible material.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the at least one fastener comprises a plurality of tabbed portions connected to the flexible case.

28. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising a handle connected to the flexible case.

29. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising a plurality of storage pockets disposed on the flexible case.

30. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the flexible case is collapsible into a rolled up position.

31. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising a fastener for releasably securing the pair of panels in the closed position.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the fastener comprises a flap.

33. An apparatus for providing a portable workspace, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible case having a workspace section and at least one internal compartment;

one or more openings in the flexible case, the one or more openings selectively permitting stiffeners to be inserted into and removed from the at least one internal compartment; and

at least one fastener connected to the flexible case for removably mounting the flexible case to a support such that the workspace section may be suspended in an elevated, lateral orientation.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the at least one internal compartment is configured and dimensioned for removably receiving a stiffener that is substantially rectangular in shape.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the at least one internal compartment is configured and dimensioned for removably receiving a piece of wood.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising at least one restraining device for maintaining the workspace section in a substantially horizontal orientation.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the at least one restraining device is formed of a flexible material that is substantially triangular in shape.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the at least one restraining device comprises two restraining devices connected proximate opposing ends of the at least one internal compartment.

39. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the at least one fastener comprises a plurality of tabbed portions that are each spaced about sixteen (16) inches (0.41 meters) apart.

40. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a handle connected to the flexible case.

41. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a plurality of storage pockets disposed on the flexible case.

42. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the flexible case is formed of a waterproof material.

43. An apparatus for providing a wall mountable workspace, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible case having a pair of panels pivotably moveable between an open position and a closed position; and

at least one fastener connected to the flexible case for removably mounting the flexible case to a support;

wherein one of the panels functions as the workspace when said flexible case is mounted on a support and when the panels are in the open position and wherein the panels form a space for storage between each other when the panels are in the closed position.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein each of the panels comprises a removable stiffener.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising one or more openings in the flexible case, the one or more openings selectively permitting insertion and removal of the stiffeners.

46. The apparatus of claim 43 further comprising an internal compartment located inside each panel.

47. The apparatus of claim 43 further comprising at least one restraining device to prevent the panels from pivotally moving more than about 90 degrees apart.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the at least one restraining device is formed from a flexible material of having a triangular shape.

49. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein the at least one restraining device folds to fit between the pair of panels when the panels are in the closed position.

50. The apparatus of claim 43 further comprising a handle coupled to the flexible case.

51. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the at least one fastener comprises a plurality of tabbed portions.

52. The apparatus of claim 43 further comprising a plurality of storage pockets disposed on the flexible case.

53. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the flexible case is formed of a waterproof material.

54. An apparatus for providing a portable and wall mountable workspace, the apparatus comprising:

a flexible case having a pair of panels joined in a pivotal relationship to thereby allow the panels to be pivotally moveable between an open position and a closed position;

a pair of internal compartments, one of the compartments located in each of the panels;

a pair of openings on the flexible case, the pair of openings selectively permitting stiffeners to be inserted and removed from the internal compartments;

a plurality of fasteners coupled to the flexible case for removably mounting the flexible case to a structure, the plurality of fasteners comprising a plurality of tabbed portions spaced about sixteen (16) inches (0.41 meters) apart;

at least one handle connected to the flexible case;

one or more storage pockets on the flexible case;

a flap connected to one of the panels, the flap being operable to temporarily secure the panels in the closed position; and

a pair of flexible restraining devices for maintaining one of the panels in a substantially horizontal position when the flexible case is mounted to a structure to thereby form a work area, each of the flexible restraining devices being substantially triangular in shape;

wherein the flexible case is collapsible into a compact position when the stiffeners are removed from the internal compartments.

55. A method for providing a wall mountable workspace, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a flexible case having at least one internal compartment and at least one fastening device for removably mounting the flexible case to a structure;

inserting a first stiffener into one of the internal compartments in the flexible case; and

mounting the flexible case to a structure such that a portion of the flexible case is disposed in an elevated, lateral orientation to thereby function as the workspace.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the flexible case is formed of a waterproof material.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein the flexible case further comprises one or more storage pockets.

58. The method of claim 55 wherein the flexible case further comprises a handle.

59. The method of claim 55 further comprising the steps of removing the first stiffener from the internal compartment and rolling the flexible case into a compact storage position.

60. The method of claim 55 further comprising the step of inserting a second stiffener into another of the internal compartments.

61. The method of claim 55 wherein the stiffener is a piece of plywood.