Barricade Attachable Activity Surface

• US 20100101459A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henelson Incorporated
• Original Assignee: He Nelson Incorporated
• Inventors: Nelson, Hans Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,479,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/47
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/04 foldable

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus attachable to a barricading structure and method for providing an activity surface. The barricading structure may be, for example, a railing. The apparatus comprises a mountable backsplash attached to the barricading structure, a foldable support platform attached to the mountable backsplash via multiple connectors, and a locking system for locking the mountable backsplash to the barricading structure. The foldable support platform comprises a first inlay fitted into a support structure for providing an activity surface to hold objects. The connectors are accommodated in slots provided on the mountable backsplash. The accommodated connectors are hinged to the mountable backsplash using a hinge pin to facilitate pivotal connection of the foldable support platform to the mountable backsplash. The apparatus may comprise leg supports for supporting weight of the foldable support platform. The apparatus is made of a weather resistant material and a heat resistant material.

Claims

1. An apparatus detachably attachable to a barricading structure for providing an activity surface, comprising:

a mountable backsplash detachably attached to said barricading structure, wherein said mountable backsplash comprises a plurality of slots;

a foldable support platform attached to said mountable backsplash via a plurality of connectors, wherein said foldable support platform comprises a first inlay fitted into a support structure for providing said activity surface to hold one or more of a plurality of objects; and

said connectors accommodated in said slots of the mountable backsplash for connecting the foldable support platform to the mountable backsplash, wherein said accommodated connectors are hinged to the mountable backsplash using a hinge pin to facilitate pivotal connection of the foldable support platform to the mountable backsplash;

whereby the apparatus detachably attaches to the barricading structure to provide the activity surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mountable backsplash comprises a second inlay fitted into a back support for preventing the objects from falling off the foldable support platform, wherein said second inlay is replaceable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first inlay is replaceable.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a locking system for locking the mountable backsplash to the barricading structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said locking system comprises one or more of a hook panel, a plurality of height adjustment cables, suction cups, an adaptable hooking unit, and a plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said hook panel attached inside a back support of the mountable backsplash secures said height adjustment cables in order to suspend the apparatus using the height adjustment cables, wherein the hook panel controls adjustment of height of the apparatus on the barricading structure to a plurality of height adjustment levels using the height adjustment cables.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said hook and loop fasteners fasten the apparatus to the barricading structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein rear surface of the mountable backsplash comprises one or more of a plurality of openings for inserting said suction cups, wherein the suction cups fasten the apparatus to one of a smooth surface and a coarse surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the mountable backsplash is mounted onto the barricading structure using said adjustable hooking unit attached to said hook panel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the barricading structure is one or more of a railing, a fence, a vertical picket, a flat horizontal surface, a flat vertical surface, a wall, a floor, an elevated platform, a desk, and a door fabricated in a plurality of design configurations, wherein the barricading structure is made of one of a plurality of materials and is of different sizes.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of leg supports hinged to the mountable backsplash for supporting weight of the foldable support platform, wherein a clearance is provided between said leg supports and an underlying surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein axial movement of the connectors about the hinge pin enables folding and unfolding of the foldable support platform.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is made of one of a weather resistant material and a heat resistant material.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mountable backsplash and the foldable support platform comprise a plurality of openings for draining accumulated water.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more coupling members for connecting a plurality of apparatuses and aligning said apparatuses at an equal level with respect to each other, wherein each of said connected apparatuses are used independently.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mountable backsplash and the foldable support platform is rounded at edges for appearance and safety.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of end caps for providing a protective covering for both ends of the mountable backsplash.

18. A method of providing an activity surface on a barricading structure, comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus comprising;

a mountable backsplash detachably attached to said barricading structure, wherein said mountable backsplash comprises a plurality of slots;

a foldable support platform attached to said mountable backsplash via a plurality of connectors, wherein said foldable support platform comprises a first inlay fitted into a support structure for providing said activity surface to hold one or more of a plurality of objects;

said connectors accommodated in said slots of the mountable backsplash for connecting the foldable support platform to the mountable backsplash, wherein said accommodated connectors are hinged to the mountable backsplash using a hinge pin to facilitate pivotal connection of the foldable support platform to the mountable backsplash; and

a locking system;

locking the mountable backsplash to the barricading structure using said locking system; and

positioning said foldable support platform pivotally about said hinge pin in a horizontal position;

whereby the activity surface is provided on the barricading structure.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of leg supports hinged to the mountable backsplash for supporting weight of the foldable support platform, wherein a clearance is provided between said leg supports and an underlying surface.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the mountable backsplash comprises a second inlay fitted into a back support for preventing one or more of a plurality of objects from falling off the foldable support platform.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein axial movement of the connectors about the hinge pin enables folding and unfolding of the foldable support platform.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of adjusting height of the apparatus on the barricading structure using height adjustment cables, wherein a hook panel attached inside a back support of the mountable backsplash controls said adjustment of said height of the apparatus on the barricading structure using said height adjustment cables.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of connecting a plurality of apparatuses and aligning said apparatuses at an equal level with respect to each other, wherein each of said connected apparatuses are used independently.