Portable collapsible self-assembling desk

• US 6,041,723 A
• Filed: 09/24/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peterson, Graham
• Original Assignee: Peterson, Graham
• Inventors: Peterson, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buck, Brian H.
• Application Number:
  US09/160,784
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 108/35, 108/36, 108/38, 108/115, 108/128, 312/241, 312/244
• US Class Current: 108/115
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/00 Folding or stowable tables folded and suspended or hinged, or wall tables A47B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/06 with legs for supporting the table on the floor tables combined with cabinets A47B83/045

Abstract

The portable collapsible self-assembling desk having a desktop, base unit, pivotal side supports, a tray and a lower shelf The desk in its collapsed configuration allows for easy transportation and storage and can be carried by a handle in a suitcase-like manner. The desk in its erected configuration provides a substantially horizontal work space. The pivotal side supports are automatically extended to provide support to the desktop allowing the desk to be easily converted between the collapsed and erected positions. These two configurations allow the desk to be in a collapsed configuration providing a small footprint and occupying substantially less space than when in the erect position.

Claims

1. A portable, collapsible, self-assembling desk, said desk having a collapsed configuration and an erected configuration, comprising:

a stand alone base pivot unit having a front side, a rear side, and first and second fixed sides adjoining said front and rear sides;

a storage space defined within a perimeter of said front side, said rear side, said first fixed side and said second fixed side;

a desktop pivotally carried by said base pivot unit, said desktop having an upward position, a downward storage position and a work position;

a first pivotal side support pivotally carried by said base unit, said first pivotal side support having a retracted position when said desk is in said collapsed configuration, and an extended position when said desk is in said erected configuration;

a second pivotal side support pivotally carried by said base unit, said second pivotal side support having a retracted position when said desk is in said collapsed configuration, and a extended position when said desk is in said erected configuration;

said pivotal side supports are contained within said storage space when said desk is in said collapsed configuration, said first and said second pivotal side supports are generally perpendicular to said rear side of said base pivot unit when said pivotal side supports are in said extended position;

a first flexible connection assembly connected between said desktop and said pivotal side supports so that said pivotal side supports are automatically pivoted from said retracted position to said extended position when said desktop is pivoted from said downward position to said upward position;

said first and second pivotal support sides engage said desktop to support said desktop in a generally horizontal fashion when said desktop is in said work position and said desk is in said erected configuration;

a tray pivotally carried by said rear side of said base pivot unit, said tray having a lowered position when said desk is in said collapsed configuration, said tray having a raised position when said desk is in said erected configuration;

a fastening assembly for attaching said tray to said first and second pivotal side supports providing for additional structural support when said desk is in said erect position;

said tray in said lowered position being recessed within said storage space and said first and second side supports being recessed within said storage space when said desk is in said collapsed configuration so that a highly portable compact desk is provided.

2. The desk of claim 1 wherein:

said first and second side supports are tapered downwardly away from said base unit so that a tilted work surface is provided when said pivotal side supports are extended and said desk is in said erected configuration.

3. The desk of claim 1 wherein:

said desktop has an underside;

a leveling bar pivotally connected to said underside of said desktop;

said leveling bar having a raised position so as to engage said first and second pivotal side supports so as to place said desktop in a generally tilted slope away from said base unit when said desktop is in said work position, and;

said leveling bar having a lowered position so as to engage said first and second pivotal side supports so as to place said desktop in a generally horizontal position when said desktop is in said work position.

4. The desk of claim 1 further comprising:

a connection between said tray in its raised position and said first and second pivotal side supports thereby providing additional structural strength to said desk.

5. Then desk of claim 1 further comprising:

a lower shelf;

said lower shelf having a raised position so that said lower shelf is generally flush with said front side of said base pivot unit providing a modesty screen preventing viewers from viewing underneath said desk when said desk is in its erected configuration, and;

said lower shelf having a lowered position so as to provide a lower shelf as well as additional stability to said desk.

6. The desk of claim 1 wherein:

said pivotal side supports having a leg, a top crosspiece and a bottom crosspiece;

said top and bottom crosspieces pivotally carried by said base unit, and;

said leg adjoining said top crosspiece and said bottom crosspiece of said pivotal side support forming a frame providing a light, sturdy structure for supporting said desktop when said desktop is in its work position.

7. The desk of claim 1 wherein said flexible connection assembly is at least a first chain connecting said desktop to said first side support and a second chain connecting said desktop to said second pivotal side support.

8. A portable, collapsible, self-assembling desk, said desk having a collapsed configuration and an erected configuration, comprising:

a freestanding base unit of fixed size having a front side, a rear side, and first and second sides adjoining said front and rear sides;

a storage space defined within a fixed perimeter of said front side, said rear side, said first side and said second side;

a desktop pivotally carried by said rear side of said base unit;

a first pivotal side support, a second pivotal side support and pivotal members pivotally connecting said first and second pivotal side supports in fixed spaced relation of said front side;

said first and second pivotal side supports terminating in floor engaging supports;

said first pivotal side support having a retracted position in which said first pivotal side support is generally disposed within said storage space, and said first pivotal side support having an extended position in which said first pivotal side support is pivoted away from said base unit to engage the floor to support said desktop in a generally horizontal position;

said second pivotal side support having a retracted position in which said second pivotal side support is generally disposed within said storage space, and said second pivotal side support having an extended position in which said second pivotal side support is pivoted away from said base unit to engage the floor to support said desktop in a generally horizontal position, and;

said desktop having a work position when supported-by said first and second pivotal side support when said desk is in said erected configuration, wherein said desktop is generally horizontal, and said desktop having a downward position when said desk is in said collapsed configuration to co-extend over at least a portion of said rear side of said base unit in said collapsed configuration so that a compact, collapsed desk is provided for portability.

9. The desk of claim 8 wherein said base unit includes:

a base top;

a handle carried by said base top, said handle having a storage position and a carrying position, and;

said carrying position allowing said desk to be carried by one hand in a suitcase manner further providing an easily portable and transportable desk.

10. The desk of claim 9 wherein said:

base top includes a recess space for receiving said handle in said storage position wherein said handle is generally below a surface of said base top while allowing transportation with one hand when said handle is removed from said recess space.

11. The desk of claim 8 wherein:

said first and second side supports are tapered downward away from said base unit so that a tilted work surface is provided when said pivotal side supports are extended and said desk is in said erected configuration.

12. The desk of claim 11 wherein:

said desktop having an underside;

a leveling bar pivotally connected to said underside of said desktop;

said leveling bar having a raised position so as to engage said first and second pivotal side supports so as to place said desktop in a generally tilted slope away from said base unit when said desktop is in said work position, and;

said leveling bar having a lowered position so as to engage said first and second pivotal side supports so as to place said desktop in a generally horizontal position when said desktop is in said work position.

13. The desk of claim 8 further comprising:

a cross-brace bracing between said first and second pivotal side supports when said desk is in said erected configuration.

14. Then desk of claim 13 wherein:

said cross-brace is a lower shelf;

said lower shelf having a raised position so that said lower shelf is generally flush with said front side of said base pivot unit providing a modesty screen preventing viewers from viewing underneath said desk when said desk is in its erected configuration;

said lower shelf in said raised position allowing for said storage space of said base unit to receive said pivotal side supports in their retracted position, and;

said lower shelf having a lowered position so to provide a lower shelf and additional stability to said desk when said desk is in said erected configuration.

15. The desk of claim 14 further comprising:

a tray pivotally connected to said rear side of said base unit;

said tray having a downward position when said desk is in said collapsed configuration;

said tray having a raised position when said desk is in said erected configuration, and;

a connection between said tray in its raised position and said first and second pivotal side supports thereby providing additional structural strength to said desk when said desk is in said erected configuration.

16. The desk of claim 13 further comprising:

a tray pivotally connected to said rear side of said base unit;

said tray having a downward position when said desk is in said collapsed configuration;

said tray having a raised position when said desk is in said erected configuration, and;

a connection between said tray in its raised position and said first and second pivotal side supports thereby providing additional structural strength to said desk when said desk is in said erected position.

17. A portable, collapsible, self-assembling desk, said desk having a collapsed configuration and an erected configuration, comprising:

a base unit;

a desktop pivotally carried by said base unit, said desktop having an upward position and a downward position;

a first pivotal side support pivotally carried by said base unit, a second pivotal side support pivotally carried by said base unit;

said first and second pivotal side supports having both an extended position and a retracted position, said pivotal side supports being folded generally adjacent said base unit when said pivotal side supports are in said retracted position, said pivotal side supports being extended away from said base unit when said pivotal side supports are in said extended position;

a first flexible connection assembly connecting said desktop to said first pivotal side support and said second pivotal side support;

said flexible connection assembly being connected between said desktop and said pivotal side supports to move said pivotal side supports from said retracted position toward said extended position when said desktop is pivoted from said downward position to said upward position, so that said pivotal side supports are extended automatically by movement of said desk top and in one step, and;

said desktop having a work position when said first and second pivotal side supports are in an extended position so that said desktop engages said first and second pivotal side supports to form a generally horizontal surface.

18. The desk of claim 17, further comprising:

at least a first double hinge affixing said desktop to said base unit allowing said desktop to have said downward position, said upward position and said work position.

19. The desk of claim 17 wherein:

said first double hinge having a first pivot axis;

said first pivot axis allowing said desktop to pivot from said downward position to said work position of said desktop;

said first double hinge having a second pivot axis, and;

said second pivot axis allowing said desktop to pivot from said work position to said raised position of said desktop.

20. The desk of claim 17 wherein said base unit includes:

a base top;

a handle carried by said base top, said handle having a storage position and a carrying position, and;

said carrying position allowing said desk to be carried by one hand in a suitcase manner further providing an easily portable and transportable desk.

21. The desk of claim 20 wherein said:

base top includes a recessed space for receiving said handle in said storage position wherein said handle is generally below a surface of said base top while allowing transportation with one hand when said handle is removed from said recess space.

22. The desk of claim 17 further comprising:

a tray pivotally connected to said rear side of said base unit;

said tray having a downward position when said desk is in said collapsed configuration;

said tray having a raised position when said desk is in said erected configuration, and;

a connection between said tray in its raised position and said first and second pivotal side supports thereby providing additional structural strength to said desk.

23. Then desk of claim 17 further comprising:

a lower shelf;

said lower shelf having a raised position so that said lower shelf is generally flush with said front side of said base unit providing a modesty screen preventing viewers from viewing underneath said desk when said desk is in its erected configuration, and;

said lower shelf having a lowered position so as to provide a lower shelf as well as additional stability to said desk.