Barricade attachable activity surface

• US 8,479,664 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henelson Incorporated
• Original Assignee: He Nelson Incorporated
• Inventors: Nelson, Hans Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkens, Janet M
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROHRHOFF, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/257,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20100101459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 108/42, 108/135, 108/134, 108/27, 108/152, 312/313, 312/316, 550/71, 550/31, 594/7, 5/3, 5622-624, 182/129, 248/311.2, 248/312.1, 248/340
• US Class Current: 108/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/04 foldable

Abstract

An apparatus attachable to a barricading structure and method for providing an activity surface are provided. The barricading structure may be, for example, a railing. The apparatus comprises a mountable backsplash attached to the barricading structure, a foldable support platform attached to the mountable backsplash via multiple connectors, and a locking system for locking the mountable backsplash to the barricading structure. The foldable support platform comprises a first inlay fitted into a support structure for providing an activity surface to hold objects. The connectors are accommodated in slots provided on the mountable backsplash. The accommodated connectors are hinged to the mountable backsplash using a hinge pin to facilitate pivotal connection of the foldable support platform to the mountable backsplash. The apparatus may comprise leg supports for supporting weight of the foldable support platform. The apparatus is made of a weather resistant material and a heat resistant material.

Claims

1. An apparatus for connection to a barricading structure, the apparatus comprising:

a mountable backsplash, said backsplash being configured for attachment to the barricading structure, said backsplash defining a plurality of backsplash slots;

a hinge pin, said hinge pin penetrating each of said plurality of backsplash slots;

a foldable support platform, said foldable support platform defining a plurality of connectors, each of said plurality of connectors defining a connector slot penetrating through said connector, each of said plurality of connectors being disposed within a one of said plurality of backsplash slots, said hinge pin penetrating each said connector slot;

said plurality of connectors being configured for a slideable engagement with said plurality of backsplash slots, said foldable support platform being supported by said backsplash in a horizontal position when said plurality of connectors is in said slideable engagement with said plurality of backsplash slots and said backsplash is attached to the barricading structure;

said foldable support platform being rotatable about said hinge pin between said horizontal position and a downward position when said plurality of connectors are not in said slideable engagement with said plurality of backsplash slots,

a leg support axle, said leg support axle being attached to said backsplash and oriented in a vertical direction when said backsplash is attached to the barricading structure;

a leg support, supported by said leg support axle, said leg support being configured for rotation about said leg support axle between a stored position and a deployed position, said leg support defining an arc when said leg support moves between said stored position and said deployed position, said leg support having an intermediate position between said stored position and said deployed position along said arc, said leg support being configured to support said foldable support platform when said leg support is in said deployed position, said leg support being configured to support said foldable support platform when said leg support is in said intermediate position, said leg support being configured not to support said foldable support platform when said leg support is in said stored position;

a ramp, said ramp being defined by a bottom side of said foldable support platform, said ramp being in the shape of a quadrant, said leg support and said ramp being configured for engagement when said leg support is in said intermediate position and when said leg support is in said deployed position, said ramp defining a rise with respect to said foldable support platform, said rise of said ramp corresponding to said intermediate position of said leg support being less than said rise of said ramp corresponding to said deployed position, whereby a user may level said foldable support platform by selecting said intermediate position or said deployed position of said leg support.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said foldable support platform comprises a first inlay and wherein said first inlay is replaceable.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the mountable backsplash comprises a second inlay for preventing objects from falling off the foldable support platform, wherein said second inlay is replaceable.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a locking system attached to said backsplash for locking the mountable backsplash to the barricading structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said locking system comprises one or more of a hook panel, a plurality of height adjustment cables, suction cups, an adjustable hooking unit, and a plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said locking system comprises a hook panel and a plurality of height adjustment cables, wherein said hook panel is attached inside a back support of the mountable backsplash for securing said height adjustment cables in order to suspend the apparatus using the height adjustment cables, wherein the hook panel is configured to adjust the height of the apparatus on the barricading structure to a plurality of height adjustment levels using the height adjustment cables.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said locking system comprises a plurality of hook and loop fasteners, wherein said hook and loop fasteners fasten the apparatus to the barricading structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said locking system comprises a plurality of suction cups, wherein a rear surface of the mountable backsplash comprises one or more of a plurality of openings for inserting said suction cups, wherein the suction cups fasten the apparatus to one of a smooth surface and a coarse surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said locking system comprises an adjustable hooking unit and a hook panel, wherein the mountable backsplash is configured to be mounted onto the barricading structure using said adjustable hooking unit attached to said hook panel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the barricading structure is one or more of a railing, a fence, a vertical picket, a flat horizontal surface, a flat vertical surface, a wall, a floor, an elevated platform, a desk, and a door fabricated in a plurality of design configurations, wherein the barricading structure is made of one of a plurality of materials and is of different sizes.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the leg supports support weight of the foldable support platform, and wherein a clearance is provided between the leg supports and an underlying surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is made of one of a weather resistant material and a heat resistant material.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mountable backsplash and the foldable support platform comprise a plurality of openings for draining accumulated water.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more coupling members for connecting a plurality of apparatuses and aligning said apparatuses at an equal level with respect to each other, wherein each of said connected apparatuses are used independently.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mountable backsplash and the foldable support platform is rounded at edges for appearance and safety.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of end caps for providing a protective covering for both ends of the mountable backsplash.