Work surface for luggage and luggage carriers

• US 6,439,134 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jon B. Ryburg
• Original Assignee: Jon B. Ryburg
• Inventors: Ryburg, Jon B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/643,079
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 108/42, 108/48, 108/150, 248/161, 248/157, 248/229.1, 248/229.11, 248/229.12, 248/231.41, 248/229.22, 190/11, 190/12.A, 190/15.1
• US Class Current: 108/42
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/00 Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other objects or articles A45C1/08, A45C3/14, A45C11/321, A45C13/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/00 Collapsible or extensible purses, luggage, bags or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/02 releasably mounted on the bedstead or another item of furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/04 supported from table, floor or wall

Abstract

A portable work station having a work surface, a leg assembly operably coupled to said work surface and a clamp coupled to said work surface, for mounting the portable work station to an upright support.

Claims

1. A portable work station comprising:

a luggage carrier having at least one handle member;

a support member having portions defining a work surface and at least one first clamp surface, said support member being coupled to said handle member; and

a clamp mounted to said support member for movement toward and away therefrom, said clamp including portions defining at least one second clamp surface, said second clamp surface generally opposing and being spaced apart from said first clamp surface, said clamp also including a mounting mechanism mounting said second clamp surface with respect to said support member, said mounting mechanism including portions for causing advancement of said second clamp surface toward and away from said first clamp surface and retaining said second clamp surface in position with respect to said first clamp surface so as to clamp a structure therebetween.

2. A portable work station as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a collapsible rod assembly attached to said support member, said rod assembly being adjustable to vary the height of said work surface relative to ground level.

3. A portable work station as claimed in claim 2 wherein said collapsible rod is pivotably mounted to said support member.

4. A portable work station as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support member is formed of two halves and a hinge member connecting one of said halves to the other of said halves so that in one position said two halves form a planar surface and in another position said two halves are pivoted about said hinge member into a folded condition.

5. A portable work station as claimed in claim 4 wherein said mounting mechanism includes a threaded member extending from said support member and a rotatable member threadably engaging said threaded member.

6. A portable work station as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first clamp surface is generally perpendicular to said work surface.

7. A portable work station as claimed in claim 4 further comprising:

a rod assembly pivotably attached to one of said two halves, said rod assembly being longitudinally extensible between a stowed position and a use position.

8. A portable work station as claimed in claim 4 wherein said hinge is formed of a polymeric material having high cycle fatigue strength, said hinge including a pair of relatively thick portions and a relatively thin portion between said pair of thick portions to permit flexing between each of said thick portions, one of said thick portions attached to one of said halves and the other of said thick portions attached to the other of said halves.

9. A portable work station as claimed in claim 8 wherein said pair of elongated arms each include a friction surface, said friction surface being formed with an elastomeric layer.

10. A portable workstation as claimed in claim 4 wherein one of said halves includes a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface having a plurality of stiffening strips, said strips forming a partial cavity.

11. A portable work station as claimed in claim 10 further comprising:

a storage pouch member attached to the bottom surface, said storage pouch member being foldable in one condition to assume a storage condition in said cavity in said bottom surface and in another condition to extend from said bottom surface to permit article storage therein.

12. A portable work station as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting mechanism includes a threaded member extending from said support member and a rotatable member threadably engaging said threaded member.

13. A portable work station as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting mechanism includes a threaded member extending from said support member and a rotatable member threadably engaging said threaded member.

14. A portable work station as claimed in claim 13 wherein said rotatable member is operable in one direction of rotation to advance said second clamp surface toward said first clamp surface and is operable in an opposite direction of rotation to retract said second clamp surface from said first clamp surface.

15. A portable work station as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clamp includes a pair pivotable arms, said arms being moveable to an extended position wherein said arms extend generally away from each other and to a storage position wherein said arms are adjacent to each other.

16. A portable work station as claimed in claim 15 wherein said pair of elongated arms each include a friction surface, said friction surface being formed with an elastomeric layer.

17. A portable work station comprising:

a support member having portions defining a work surface and at least one first clamp surface; and

a clamp mounted to said support member for movement toward and away therefrom, said clamp including portions defining at least one second clamp surface, said second clamp surface generally opposing and being spaced apart from said first clamp surface, said clamp also including a mounting mechanism mounting said second clamp surface with respect to said support member, said mounting mechanism including portions for causing advancement of said second clamp surface toward and away from said first clamp surface and retaining said second clamp surface in position with respect to said first clamp surface so as to clamp a structure therebetween, said clamp including a pair of elongated arms pivotably attached to a base member, said arms being pivotable between a position adjacent to each other and a position axially aligned with one another, in said aligned position said arms being generally opposed to said first clamp surface.

18. A portable work station as claimed in claim 17 wherein said pair of elongated arms having a friction surface, said friction surface being formed with an elastomeric layer.

19. A portable work station comprising:

a support member having portions defining a work surface and at least one first clamp surface;

a clamp mounted to said support member for movement toward and away therefrom, said clamp including portions defining at least one second clamp surface, said second clamp surface generally opposing and being spaced apart from said first clamp surface, said clamp also including a mounting mechanism mounting said second clamp surface with respect to said support member, said mounting mechanism including portions for causing advancement of said second clamp surface toward and away from said first clamp surface and retaining said second clamp surface in position with respect to said first clamp surface so as to clamp a structure therebetween; and

a storage pouch member attached to a bottom surface of the support member, said storage pouch member being moveable so as to assume a storage condition in a partial cavity.

20. A portable work station comprising:

a support member having portions defining a work surface and at least on e first clamp surface;

a clamp mounted to said support member for movement toward and away therefrom, said clamp including portions defining at least one second clamp surface, said second clamp surface generally opposing and being spaced apart from said first clamp surface, said clamp also including a mounting mechanism mounting said second clamp surface with respect to said support member, said mounting mechanism including portions for causing advancement of said second clamp surface toward and away from said first clamp surface and retaining said second clamp surface in position with respect to said first clamp surface so as to clamp a structure therebetween; and

an arm pivotably attached to said support member at one end, said arm having at a second end a portion forming a slot to secure a document therein.

21. A portable workstation as claimed in claim 20 wherein said arm includes first and second portions pivotably connected together, said first portion being attached to said support member and said second portion including said slot, said first and second portions being foldable about one another to be stored adjacent to a bottom surface of said support member.