Portable work station

• US 5,078,460 A
• Filed: 11/16/1990
• Issued: 01/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Melvin L. Holsinger
• Original Assignee: Melvin L. Holsinger
• Inventors: Holsinger, Melvin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Falk, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US07/614,156
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 312/282, 312/241, 312/311, 312/244
• US Class Current: 312/244
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/02 Briefcases or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer

Abstract

A portable work station that can be folded into a compact unit with the appearance of a briefcase. The unit is designed to give the user the comfort and efficiency of an office environment by providing easy access to supplies used in the course of his or her work. The unit opens up to form a rigid desk top for writing and supporting portable equipment, such as computers, and provides various shelves for holding supplies and work material during use. A set of drawers function as regular desk drawers for storage and access to needed material. During transportation of the unit, the same drawers provide storage like a standard briefcase.

Claims

1. A portable work station for carrying office supplies to a work location where it can be set up to provide a desk top, comprising:

(a) a main shell, to provide structural support for said work station, wherein the top surface is rigid and flat for use as a desk top;

(b) a rigid top cover, hinged on the top back edge of said main shell, so that it can be folded open to form a continuous plane with said top surface and effectively double the area available for use as a desk top;

(c) a set of at least one drawer, slidably enclosed in said main shell, for storing and transporting office supplies and accessories;

(d) a rigid drawer cover, hinged on the bottom front edge of said main shell and capable of folding open at an angle of approximately 90 degrees for providing a functional shelf to hold papers and similar work material, whereas in its closed position said drawer cover is folded over said set of at least one drawer to keep it in place;

(e) two rigid side covers, hinged on the lateral edges of said main shell and capable of folding open at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to provide additional shelves for holding material during use of the work station;

(f) means for retaining said top cover, said drawer cover, and said side covers in a shut position when they are folded closed; and

(g) a handle, attached to said drawer cover, for use during transport of the work station.

2. The work station described in claim 1, wherein said top cover includes a lip that provides a retaining rim when used as a desk top and is capable of overlapping the top edge of said drawer cover when both covers are in a closed position.

3. The work station described in claim 2, wherein said means for retaining said top cover and said drawer cover in a shut position when they are folded closed consists of a standard briefcase lock mounted on said top cover lip for engagement with a corresponding latch mounted on said drawer cover.

4. The work station described in claim 3, wherein any drawer in said set of at least one drawer is compartmentalized and equipped with fasteners for holding office accessories in place during transport of the work station.

5. The work station described in claim 4, wherein all drawers in said set of at least one drawer include a finger hold for easy opening and closing of said drawers.

6. The work station described in claim 5, wherein said means for retaining said side covers in a shut position when they are folded closed consists of overlapping lips on the lateral edges of said top cover.

7. The work station described in claim 6, wherein said means for retaining said side covers in a shut position when they are folded closed further consists of mechanical fasteners.

8. The work station described in claim 7, wherein at least one of said side covers is modified to provide a supporting adjustment for keeping said work station on a horizontal plane when it is set up on a slanted surface.

9. A method for reproducing a business desk environment while away from the office by carrying a work station and office supplies to a work location where it can be set up to provide a desk facility, comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a main shell to constitute the structural support for said work station, wherein the top surface is rigid and flat for use as a desk top;

(b) providing a rigid top cover, hinged on the top back edge of said main shell, so that it can be folded open to form a continuous plane with said top surface and effectively double the area available for use as a desk top;

(c) providing a set of at least one drawer, slidably enclosed in said main shell, for storing and transporting office supplies and accessories;

(d) providing a rigid drawer cover, hinged on the bottom front edge of said main shell and capable of folding open at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to form a functional shelf to hold papers and similar work material, whereas in its closed position said drawer cover is folded over said set of at least one drawer to keep it in place;

(e) providing two rigid side covers, hinged on the lateral edges of said main shell and capable of folding open at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to form additional shelves for holding material during use of the work station;

(f) providing means for retaining said top cover, said drawer cover, and said side covers in a shut position when they are folded closed;

(g) providing a handle, attached to said drawer cover, for use during transport of the work station; and

(h) carrying said work station and office supplies to a work location and setting it up to provide a desk facility for use in conjunction with portable equipment.

10. The method described in claim 9, wherein said top cover includes a lip that provides a retaining rim when used as a desk top and is capable of overlapping the top edge of said drawer cover when both covers are in a closed position.

11. The method described in claim 10, wherein said means for retaining said top cover and said drawer cover in a shut position when they are folded closed consists of a standard briefcase lock mounted on said top cover lip for engagement with a corresponding latch mounted on said drawer cover.

12. The method described in claim 11, wherein any drawer in said set of at least one drawer is compartmentalized and equipped with fasteners for holding office accessories in place during transport of the method.

13. The method described in claim 12, wherein all drawers in said set of at least one drawer include a finger hold for easy opening and closing of said drawers.

14. The method described in claim 13, wherein said means for retaining said side covers in a shut position when they are folded closed consists of overlapping lips on the lateral edges of said top cover.

15. The method described in claim 14, wherein said means for retaining said side covers in a shut position when they are folded closed further consists of Velcro®

strips.

16. The method described in claim 15, wherein at least one of said side covers is modified to provide a supporting adjustment for keeping said method on a horizontal plane when it is set up on a slanted surface.