Workstation for laptop-type computer

• US 5,470,041 A
• Filed: 02/02/1994
• Issued: 11/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James L. Cucinotta
• Original Assignee: James L. Cucinotta
• Inventors: Cucinotta, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Blair M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, CATHER
• Application Number:
  US08/191,021
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 211/13, 211/163, 211/131, 248/349, 248/346, 248/444, 248/447, 248/450, 248/451, 248/458, 248/460, 248/917
• US Class Current: 248/349.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2023/045 made of metal wires
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2023/049 Desk stand for laptop computer
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/042 Book-rests or note-book holders resting on tables releasably mounted A47B23/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/08 Foot or support base

Abstract

A two section plastic resin computer stand for support at a convenient angle of a laptop computer in a permanent office or residential environment is provided with an upper section and a lower section which are rotatable with respect to each other within a certain range to increase the convenience.

Claims

1. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer comprising:

(a) a lower section forming a base adapted for placement and support upon a flat working surface

(b) an upper section forming a laptop computer support means adapted for at least partially rotatable engagement with said base,

(c) said support means having a substantially flat horizontally disposed bottom surface adapted for rotational movement relative to an adjacent substantially flat horizontally disposed top surface of said base,

(d) said base and laptop computer support being rotatably engaged with each other by a rotatable broadbase engagement means allowing relative rotational movement between said base and support means while providing lateral stability to said support means,

(e) the top surface of the support means being inclined at an angle of between fifteen to thirty-five degrees with respect to horizontal and being sufficiently extended to underlie substantially an entire under surface of an average laptop computer, and

(f) said rotatable engagement means being arranged and constructed to allow relative rotatable movement, when an average weight laptop computer is supported by the support means, between the support means and base through rotation of an extension of one member of said rotatable engagement means within a receiving depression in a second member of said rotatable engagement means upon the application of an off-center force to the support means preferentially to causing the base to slide upon the working surface upon which it is supported, but not to allow relative rotation between the base and the support means under the impetus of environmental or use related vibration or forces applied to the laptop computer or the support means and

(g) wherein the relatively rotatable engagement means comprises a projecting extension extending between the base and the support means and received into an extension receiving depression, said projecting extension and extension receiving depression both having a width at least several times their respective height and depth and

(h) wherein the height of the projecting extension means is at least slightly different from the depth of the extension receiving depression such that the weight of the support means and any computer thereupon is effectively transferred to the base at points sufficiently laterally spaced to provide lateral stability to the support means at all achievable rotational positions of the support means with the base.

2. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the projecting extension means extends from the base into a configurationally matching receiving depression in a lower surface of the support means.

3. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the projecting extension means extends from a lower portion of the support means into a configurationally matching receiving depression in the base means.

4. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer in accordance with claim 2 wherein the projecting extension means is sufficiently greater in length than the depth of the receiving depression so that the weight of the support means and any supported laptop computer is essentially supported and stabilized upon the face of the extension and the bottom of the receiving depression, the lateral extent of the face of the extension in contact with a bottom of the receiving depression means being sufficient to laterally stabilize the support means.

5. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer in accordance with claim 3 wherein the length of the projecting extension means is sufficiently greater than the depth of the receiving depression so that the weight of the support means and any supported laptop computer is essentially supported and stabilized upon the face of the extension and the bottom of the receiving depression, the lateral extent of the extension being sufficient to laterally stabilize the support means.

6. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer in accordance with claim 2 wherein the length of the projecting extension means is not sufficient to reach the bottom of the receiving depression and the support of the support means is substantially upon alternative engaging surfaces of the base means and support means.

7. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer in accordance with claim 3 wherein the length of the support extension is not sufficient to reach the bottom of the receiving depression and the support of the support means is substantially upon alternative engaging surfaces of the base means and support means.

8. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer in accordance with claim 4 wherein at least major portions of the base and support means are formed of a synthetic plastic polymeric material.

9. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer in accordance with claim 8 additionally comprising trays positioned and supported upon both sides of the inclined top surface of the support means.

10. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer in accordance with claim 9 wherein a substantial portion of the trays are integral with the support means.

11. work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer in accordance with claim 9 wherein the tray means are suspended by attachment means to a side of the support means.

12. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer in accordance with claim 11 wherein the tray means are sectionally divided to provide separate support and storage for computer-type aids.

13. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop-type computer in accordance with claim 12 wherein top surfaces of front trays of the support stand are lower than an inclined surface of the support means and a top surface of at least one rear tray is higher than a top surface of the front trays in order to adapt said one rear tray for the storage of elongated articles.

14. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop computer in accordance with claim 4 wherein an additional support extension means extends between the extension and a bottom of the receiving depression.

15. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop computer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the top support surface of the support means is between 20 and 30 degrees from horizontal.

16. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop computer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the top support surface of the support means is about 25 degrees plus or minus 3 degrees of from horizontal.

17. A work-top surface support stand for a laptop computer in accordance with claim 1 wherein both the support means and base incorporate interconnecting electrical power circuit means.