Portable utility surface

• US 9,526,329 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jacob J. Glover, Joseph F. Glover, Loretta M. Glover, Samuel J. Glover
• Original Assignee: Jacob J. Glover, Joseph F. Glover, Loretta M. Glover, Samuel J. Glover
• Inventors: Glover, Loretta M., Glover, Joseph F., Glover, Jacob J., Glover, Samuel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V
• Application Number:
  US14/456,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20160037905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 108/42, 108/47, 108/46, 108/48, 108/49, 108/152, 224/440, 190/115, 248/163.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/28 Combinations of handles with other devices
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/03 Suitcases
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/14 with built-in rolling means
• 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 13/003 Connecting table tops to underframes connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/14 Detachable serving plates
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/16 Holders for glasses, ashtrays, lamps, candles or the like forming part of tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/001 Trays, e.g. with foldable legs
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/04 supported from table, floor or wall
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 23/06 characterised by association with auxiliary devices, e.g. line indicators, leaf turners, lampholders, book or page holdersspot indicators, leaf turners, per se B42D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/10 Travelling or trunk tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/12 Stowable tables with detachable top leaves

Abstract

A portable utility surface appliance disposed on a top surface of a personal articles container engaging upright handles usually used for rolling the container (luggage) behind the traveler. An arrangement of attachments, cantilevers, and resilient leveling regions transform the uneven top-handled surface of the suitcase into a flush, substantially level working surface upon which personal articles, beverages, and electronic devices may be placed. The portable rigid utility surface appliance includes a utility surface adapted to bear on a personal articles container in a substantially horizontal position, a crossmember attached to the utility surface and adapted to extend between parallel uprights extending from the personal articles container, and a pair of opposed, elongated protrusions extending from the crossmember and adapted for simultaneous engagement with the uprights. The appliance further includes a leveling region on underside of the utility surface, to engage an uneven bearing surface on top of the luggage.

Claims

1. A portable rigid utility surface appliance comprising:

a utility surface adapted to bear on a personal articles container in a substantially horizontal position;

a leveling region attached to an underside of the utility surface, the leveling region including a deformable granular substance adapted to engage surface discontinuities on an uneven bearing surface for maintaining stability of the utility surface, the leveling region configured to substantially conform to a top surface of the personal articles container for which the leveling region is adapted to engage;

a crossmember having a distal end and a proximate end, the proximate end attached to the utility surface and the distal end adapted to extend between parallel uprights extending from the personal articles container;

a downward annular slope defined by the crossmember, the downward annular slope extending from the proximate end and sloping below a plane defined by the utility surface, a distance of the downward annular slope based on accommodation of the surface discontinuities by the leveling region; and

a pair of opposed, elongated protrusions extending perpendicularly from the crossmember and adapted for simultaneous engagement with the parallel uprights, the parallel uprights extending vertically from the personal articles container, each protrusion configured to engage a respective upright, the protrusions defining a brace extending parallel to a handle connecting an upper end of the parallel uprights;

the defined brace and distal end configured for engagement and downward bias from retracted uprights resulting from disposing the handle adjacent to the brace; and

the engaged, biased brace providing a cantilever for the utility surface by opposing downward force on the utility surface.

2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the leveling region further comprises a flexible containment of a granular filler adapted to mold around the top surface for maintaining the utility surface in a substantially level orientation.

3. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the elongated protrusions are defined by a brace extending beyond the uprights on an opposed a side of the uprights from the utility surface, the protrusions adapted to bear against the protrusions when biased against the uprights resulting from a downward force on the utility surface.

4. The appliance of claim 3 wherein the protrusions are drawn against the uprights from a gravitational force on the utility surface, the protrusions biased against the uprights from a cantilever defined by a top surface of the personal articles container and a portion of the utility surface extending beyond the top surface.

5. The appliance of claim 1 where the protrusions counterbalance a gravitation force on the utility surface by offsetting a downward force on the utility surface, the downward force exerted on an opposed side of the personal articles container from the uprights.

6. The appliance of claim 5 wherein the uprights are defined by telescoping handles on travel luggage defining the personal articles container.

7. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the crossmember extends from the utility surface, the elongated protrusions extending from a distal end of the crossmember, the crossmember attached to the utility surface at a proximate end.

8. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the crossmember forms a continuous molded surface from the utility surface to a brace extending between the uprights and extending along an opposed side of the uprights from the utility surface, the brace having protrusions at ends of the brace.

9. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the utility surface further comprises a plurality of layers including:

a top layer adapted for engagement with user items;

a middle layer having rigidity for supporting the user items and withstanding engagement of the protrusions with the uprights; and

a bottom layer having resilient material for maintaining a substantially level and flush engagement with the personal articles container.

10. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the crossmember defines a downward annular slope from the utility surface for accommodating a recessed position of a handle connecting the uprights for biasing the crossmember downward.

11. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of crossmembers, each crossmember defining a pair of opposed protrusions adapted for alternate orientation for engaging the uprights.

21. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the crossmember and brace are configured to engage the telescoping handle such that a downward bias is imparted.

22. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the deformable granular substance has a shape adapted to receive a luggage handle and is configured to resiliently engage the luggage handle.

12. A portable rigid utility surface appliance comprising:

a planar surface adapted to bear on a personal articles container in a substantially horizontal position;

a leveling region including a deformable granular substance attached to an underside of the planar surface, the leveling region adapted to engage surface discontinuities on an uneven bearing surface for maintaining stability of the planar surface, the leveling region configured to substantially conform to a top surface of the personal articles container for which the leveling region is adapted to engage; and

a crossmember having a distal end and a proximate end, the proximate end attached to the utility surface and the distal end adapted to extend between parallel uprights extending from the personal articles container,

a downward annular slope defined by the crossmember, the downward annular slope extending from the proximate end and sloping below a plane defined by the utility surface, a distance of the downward annular slope based on accommodation of the surface discontinuities by the leveling region;

a pair of opposed, elongated protrusions extending perpendicularly from the crossmember and adapted for simultaneous engagement with the parallel uprights, the parallel uprights extending vertically from the personal articles container, each protrusion configured to engage a respective upright, the protrusions defining a brace extending parallel to a handle connecting an upper end of the parallel uprights;

the protrusions defining a pair of receptacles on opposed sides of the planar surface, the receptacles adapted for engagement with corresponding uprights extending from the personal articles container when the uprights extend vertically from the personal articles container;

the defined brace and distal end configured for engagement and downward bias from retracted uprights resulting from disposing the handle adjacent to the brace; and

the engaged, biased brace providing a cantilever for the utility surface by opposing downward force on the utility surface.

13. The appliance of claim 12 wherein the uprights are defined by telescoping handles on travel luggage defining the personal articles container.

14. The appliance of claim 13 further comprising a crossmember extending from the utility surface, the elongated protrusions extending from a distal end of the crossmember, the crossmember attached to the utility surface at a proximate end.

15. The appliance of claim 14 wherein the receptacles define a pair of opposed protrusions adapted for engagement with the uprights on a side of the uprights at the distal end of the crossmember.

16. A method of providing a workspace in a confined area, comprising:

inserting a planar utility surface between retracting telescoping uprights, the telescoping uprights for drawing a handle connecting the uprights into engagement with the planar utility surface, the planar utility surface having recesses defining a crossmember for engaging the uprights for preventing lateral movement, the telescoping uprights extending vertically from the personal articles container, each recess configured to engage a respective telescoping upright for engagement, the crossmember having a distal end and a proximate end, the proximate end attached to the utility surface and the distal end adapted to extend between parallel uprights extending from the personal articles container,

the crossmember defining a downward annular slope, the downward annular slope extending from the proximate end and sloping below a plane defined by the utility surface, a distance of the downward annular slope based on accommodation of the surface discontinuities by the leveling region; and

attaching a leveling region to an underside of the utility surface, the leveling region adapted to engage an uneven bearing surface for maintaining stability of the planar utility surface and configured to substantially conform to a top surface of the personal articles container;

the leveling region including a deformable granular substance adapted to engage surface discontinuities on an uneven bearing surface for maintaining stability of the utility surface, the leveling region configured to substantially conform to a top surface of the personal articles container for which the leveling region is adapted to engage

attaching a pair of opposed, elongated protrusions extending perpendicularly from the crossmember and adapted for simultaneous engagement with the parallel uprights, the parallel uprights extending vertically from the personal articles container, each protrusion configured to engage a respective upright, the protrusions defining a brace extending parallel to a handle connecting an upper end of the parallel uprights;

the defined brace and distal end configured for engagement and downward bias from retracted uprights resulting from disposing the handle adjacent to the brace; and

the engaged, biased brace providing a cantilever for the utility surface by opposing downward force on the utility surface.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising deploying the planar utility surface on a top surface of a personal articles container, the telescoping uprights for transporting the personal articles container when not deployed.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising drawing the protrusions against the uprights from a gravitational force on the utility surface, the protrusions biased against the uprights from a cantilever defined by a top surface of the personal articles container and a portion of the utility surface extending beyond the top surface.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the leveling region engages and accommodates a centrally located handle on the top surface of the personal articles container.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the crossmember is responsive to a downward force from the handle for counterbalancing the utility surface and a cantilever counterforce generated by the protrusions biased against the uprights.