Portable collapsible lectern

• US 5,224,768 A
• Filed: 05/29/1992
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: D Roberts' Company IHS
• Original Assignee: D Roberts' Company IHS
• Inventors: Vautier, D. Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US07/891,434
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 312/262, 312/258, 312/244, 312/233
• US Class Current: 312/262
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 9/00 Purses, Luggage or bags convertible into objects for other use sacks or packs carried on the body and convertible into other articles A45F4/02; trunk-wardrobes A47B61/06; trunk-beds A47C17/82
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 19/08 Foldable reading desks A47B19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/10 Travelling or trunk tables

Abstract

A portable collapsible lectern is featured that is easily transposed into an attache case. The lectern comprises an upright front panel having opposing vertical side walls perpendicularly joined thereto, and top and bottom panels horizontally disposed and perpendicularly fixed to the front panel and side walls. A pair of vertically disposed wing panels is pivotally joined along the respective vertical edge of the side walls for receiving and supporting a leaf panel therebetween. The leaf panel is pivotally joined along the horizontal edge of the top panel within the confines of the side walls, and is arranged so that it will extend from a closed position, wherein it is parallel to the front panel, to a deployed position, wherein it is outwardly extended about its pivotal axis to form a declining platform relative to the top panel. When the leaf panel is returned to its closed position, the wing panels are swung towards the center of the lectern and overlap the leaf panel in a parallel adjacent relationship thereto, thereby forming an enclosed attache case. Means are also provided for releasably securing the wing panels over the leaf panel when in its closed position.

Claims

1. A portable collapsible lectern comprising

a) an upright front panel having opposing vertical side walls perpendicularly fixed thereto;

b) a top and bottom panel horizontally disposed between said side walls and perpendicularly fixed to said front panel and said side walls, said top and bottom panels being spaced apart in parallel relationship relative to each other;

c) a leaf panel positioned between said side walls and pivotally joined along the horizontal edge of said top panel for extending from a closed position, wherein a closed compartment is defined when said leaf panel is parallel to said front panel, to a deployed position wherein said leaf panel is outwardly extended about its pivotal axis to form an inclined platform;

d) a pair of vertically disposed wing panels pivotally joined along the respective vertical edges of said side walls, for receiving said extended leaf panel therebetween when said leaf panel is in a deployed position, and for overlapping said leaf panel in a parallel adjacent relationship thereto when said leaf panel is in the closed position; and

e) means for supporting said leaf panel between said wing panels when said leaf panel is in the deployed position.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 additionally comprising handle means within the top portion of said front panel for transporting said lectern.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 additionally comprising handle means disposed about the top of said top panel for transporting said lectern.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 additionally comprising a lip support transversely disposed along the outside bottom portion of said leaf panel.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 additionally comprising means for releasably securing the overlapping of said wing panels in place when said leaf panel is in the closed position.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said means for releasably securing said wing panels in place comprises cabinet clasps fixed to the bottom portion of said wing panels and said bottom panel.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said leaf panel between said wing panels comprises a wedge support fixed to the inside portion of each wing panel to permit support of said leaf panel in a downwardly extending angle relative to said top panel.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the top portion of said wing panels slant at a downward angle approximating the same angle as that formed by the extension of said leaf panel relative to said top panel in the deployed position.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said wing panels are pivotally mounted to their respective side walls by means of a hinge having a spring bias.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said side walls and panels are fabricated from a rigid material.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said side walls and panels are fabricated from wood.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said side walls and panels are fabricated from a rigid plastic material.

13. A portable collapsible lectern comprising

a) an upright front panel having opposing vertical side walls perpendicularly fixed thereto;

b) a top and bottom panel horizontally disposed between said side walls and perpendicularly fixed to said front panel and said side walls, said top and bottom panels being spaced apart in parallel relationship relative to each other;

c) a leaf panel positioned between said side walls and pivotally joined along the horizontal edge of said top panel for extending from a closed position, wherein a closed compartment is defined when said leaf panel is parallel to said front panel, to a deployed position wherein said leaf panel is outwardly extended about its pivotal axis to form an inclined platform;

d) a pair of vertically disposed wing panels pivotally joined along the respective vertical edges of said side walls, for receiving said extended leaf panel therebetween when said leaf panel is in a deployed position, and for overlapping said leaf panel in a parallel adjacent relationship thereto when said leaf panel is in the closed position;

e) means for supporting said leaf panel between said wing panels when said leaf panel is in the deployed position; and

f) means for releasably securing the overlapping of said wing panels in place when said leaf panel is in the closed position.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 13 additionally comprising handle means within the top portion of said front panel for transporting said lectern.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 13 additionally comprising handle means disposed about the top of said top panel for transporting said lectern.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 13 additionally comprising a lip support transversely disposed along the outside bottom portion of said leaf panel.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein said means for releasably securing said wing panels in place comprises cabinet clasps fixed to the bottom portion of said wing panels and said bottom panel.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein said means for supporting said leaf panel between said wing panels comprises a wedge support fixed to the inside portion of each wing panel to permit support of said leaf panel at a downwardly extending angle relative to said top panel.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein the top portion of said wing panels slant at a downward angle approximating the same angle as that formed by the extension of said leaf panel relative to said top panel in the deployed position.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein said wing panels are pivotally mounted to their respective side walls by means of a hinge having a spring bias.

21. The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein said side walls and panels are fabricated from a rigid material.

22. The apparatus defined in claim 21 wherein said side walls and panels are fabricated from wood.

23. The apparats defined in claim 21 wherein said side walls and panels are fabricated from a rigid plastic material.