Space definer for use on horizontal surfaces

• US 4,957,262 A
• Filed: 08/05/1988
• Issued: 09/18/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovec Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innovec Incorporated
• Inventors: Kemper, Alicia W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Application Number:
  US07/228,943
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 248/460, 248/441.1, 248/150, 248/176, 248/118, 108/27, 108/28, 108/43, 297/148, 297/153, 211/189, 264/344
• US Class Current: 248/460
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/04 supported from table, floor or wall
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 41/06 Holders or supports for guiding copy-books, slates, or the like

Abstract

A spaced definer supportable on a table top to define an activity area comprising a perimeter wall enclosing an activity surface area on three sides and a fourth open side toward the user adapted to be placed along an edge of a table top. The perimeter wall has a plurality of interlocking portions and a plurality of attachable components for connecting optional accessory devices, such as subdividing walls, open top containers, and a framework to span the working surface for holding books or writing surfaces.

Claims

1. A space definer comprising a wall with two free ends and adapted to lie on a generally horizontal flat supporting surface to define an enclosed activity area open on one side thereof facing a user, said wall including a forward wall portion and two side wall portions connected to each other to form said wall in a generally U-form, said U-form wall having an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface, at least one of said wall portions having a storage space located between said wall surfaces for accessories to be used with said space definer.

2. The space definer of claim 1 wherein said enclosed activity area is generally semicircular.

3. The space definer of claim 1 wherein said enclosed activity area is generally rectangular.

4. The space definer of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said wall portions includes a means for releasably connecting accessory devices to said wall which includes a plurality of spaced recesses in said wall portions into which corresponding tongues of accessory devices are insertable.

5. The space definer of claim 4 which includes a linear wall having spaced tongues attachable to respective said recesses to divide the area within said space definer into one enclosed space and a generally rectangular open area adjacent a user thereof, said linear wall being generally parallel with a line connecting said two free ends.

6. The space definer of claim 4 which includes a linear wall having a free end and an opposite end with a tongue extending therefrom, said linear wall being attachable by said tongue thereon to said forward wall portion to divide said activity area into two work space portions both of which are open on said open side of said activity area.

7. The space definer of claim 1 further comprising an open top container and means for releasably attaching said container to said wall with said container being located in said activity area.

8. The space definer of claim 1 further comprising an elongated barrier rod releasably attachable at each end thereof to each of said side wall portions adjacent respective said two free ends, said rod being supportable by a generally horizontal flat surface and having a height thereabove of no more than about 25% of the height of said curved wall.

9. The space definer of claim 1 further comprising means for forming a waterproof containment for liquids in said enclosed activity area.

10. The space definer of claim 1 which additionally includes two widely spaced passageways adapted to receive complemental legs of a framework extending across said activity area, said framework being adapted to position a generally slanted work surface from said framework to a generally horizontal flat surface onto which said definer is placed.

11. The space definer of claim 10 wherein said slanted work surface includes a flange along its lower edge adapted to support a book.

12. The space definer of claim 10 wherein said slanted work surface is a writing surface.

13. The space definer of claim 1 wherein at least another of said wall portions includes a storage space located between said wall surface.

14. A space definer comprising a wall with two free ends and adapted to lie on a generally horizontal flat supporting surface to define an enclosed activity area open on one side thereof facing a user, said wall including a forward wall portion and two side wall portions connected to each other to form said wall in a generally U-form, at least one of said wall portions having a storage space for accessories to be used with said space definer, at least one of said wall portions having a substantial hollow interior space, and door means through said wall portion for accessing said interior space.

15. An activity space definer adapted to be on a table or the like and comprising a perimeter wall having a lower planar surface and two free ends between which is formed an activity space inside said wall, accessory devices including subdivider walls adapted to be releasably attached to said perimeter wall to subdivide said activity space into two or more sub-activity spaces within said perimeter wall, and open top containers releasably attachable to said perimeter wall.

16. The space definer of claim 15 wherein said perimeter wall has an upper surface adapted to support said accessory devices.

17. The space definer of claim 15 wherein said perimeter wall includes a plurality of wall portions and means for detachably securing said wall portions together to form a generally U-shaped said curved perimeter wall.

18. The space definer of claim 15 wherein said subdivider walls include a selectable first wall attachable at each end thereof to said perimeter wall to divide said activity space into one sub-activity space which is totally enclosed by said perimeter wall and said first wall and another sub-activity space which is open between said two free ends, and a selectable second wall attachable at one end thereof to said perimeter wall and having the other end unattached to divide said activity space into two sub-activity spaces, both of which are open on one side between one of said free ends of said perimeter wall and said unattached end of said second wall.

19. The space definer of claim 15 wherein said perimeter wall includes a front wall portion having two ends and two linear end wall portions attachable respectively to said ends of said front wall portion, and a barrier rod spanning between said ends of said linear end wall portions.

20. The space definer of claim 19 further comprising a hollow interior in at least one of said wall portions with a covered access opening to said hollow interior, said hollow interior forming an enclosed storage space for optional accessories to be used with said space definer.

21. The space definer of claim 15 wherein said perimeter wall includes at least one hollow interior forming an enclosed storage space for optional accessories to be used with said space definer, said perimeter wall having an access opening communicating with said storage space and an openable door covering said opening.

22. The space definer of claim 15 further comprising a framework releasably attachable to said perimeter wall adapted to hold reading and writing materials in an accessible substantially slanted position in front of a user of said definer.

23. The space definer of claim 15 which additionally comprises a low barrier wall connecting said two free ends of said perimeter wall, said barrier wall having a lower surface which is coplanar with said lower surface of said perimeter wall, and an upper surface which lies at an elevation above said lower surface of not more than 25% of the elevation of said upper surface of said perimeter wall.

24. The space definer of claim 23 wherein said barrier wall includes an arcuate portion medially of the ends thereof and extending toward said perimeter and adapted to partially encircle a human torso to permit easier access to all portions of said work space.

25. The space definer of claim 15 further comprising a barrier rod spanning between said two free ends, a waterproof sheet overlying said perimeter wall and barrier rod to form a liner containment for liquids and the like.

26. The space definer of claim 25 wherein said perimeter wall has spaced recesses to accommodate complemental tongues on said accessory devices, said sheet having spaced openings therethrough in general alignment with said recesses when said sheet is positioned in its location over said perimeter wall whereby said tongues may be respectively positioned through said openings and into respective said recesses.

27. The spaced definer of claim 25 wherein said sheet is contoured and substantially to said perimeter wall to conform to its upper surf and to overlie its inner generally upright surface and to y overlie its outer generally upright surface.