U.S. patent application number 10/755884 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-14 for foldable table for notebook computer.
Invention is credited to Lo, Yung-Sheng.
Application Number | 20050150433 10/755884 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34739690 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050150433 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lo, Yung-Sheng |
July 14, 2005 |
Foldable table for notebook computer
Abstract
A foldable table for a notebook includes a main board, two
foldable stands each pivotally mounted on the main board, and a
locking unit mounted on the main board for locking the two foldable
stands when the two foldable stands are folded on the main board.
Thus, the foldable table when being extended outward can be used
for supporting the notebook computer, and the foldable table when
being folded can be used for carrying the notebook computer,
thereby facilitating the user carrying and operating the notebook
computer.
Inventors: |
Lo, Yung-Sheng; (Chiayi,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIKOLAI & MERSEREAU, P.A.
900 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH
SUITE 820
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
34739690 |
Appl. No.: |
10/755884 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/50.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 9/20 20130101; A47B
37/00 20130101; A47B 9/14 20130101; A47B 3/0818 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/050.01 |
International
Class: |
A47B 037/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A foldable table for a notebook computer, comprising: a main
board; two foldable stands each pivotally mounted on the main
board; and a locking unit mounted on the main board for locking the
two foldable stands when the two foldable stands are folded on the
main board.
2. The foldable table in accordance with claim 1, wherein the main
board has a first face formed with a rectangular receiving recess
for receiving a notebook computer and a second face formed with a
receiving space.
3. The foldable table in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of
the two foldable stands is pivoted on the main board to be received
in the receiving space of the main board.
4. The foldable table in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of
the two foldable stands includes two opposite outer tubes each
pivotally mounted on the second face of the main board, two
opposite inner tubes each retractably mounted on a respective one
of the two outer tubes, and a substantially U-shaped support frame
mounted between the two outer tubes.
5. The foldable table in accordance with claim 4, wherein the
locking unit is rotatably mounted on the main board and includes a
substantially T-shaped support pin secured on the second face of
the main board, a substantially T-shaped rotation member rotatably
mounted on the second face of the main board and having an end
formed with two outward extending press bars each urged on the
support frame of a respective one of the two foldable stands, and
an elastic member mounted on the support pin and urged between the
support pin and the rotation member.
6. The foldable table in accordance with claim 5, wherein the
support frame has a mediate portion formed with a locking groove,
and each of the two press bars of the rotation member is detachably
locked in the locking groove of the support frame of a respective
one of the two foldable stands.
7. The foldable table in accordance with claim 5, wherein the
rotation member has an inside formed with a recess for receiving
the support pin and the elastic member.
8. The foldable table in accordance with claim 7, wherein the
elastic member has a first end urged on an enlarged end of the
support pin and a second end urged on a wall of the recess of the
rotation member.
9. The foldable table in accordance with claim 5, wherein the
locking unit is rotated on the main board to move to a first
position where the two press bars of the rotation member are
parallel with the support frame of each of the two foldable stands,
so that each of the two foldable stands is pivoted on the main
board to be received in the receiving space of the main board.
10. The foldable table in accordance with claim 5, wherein the
locking unit is rotated on the main board to move to a second
position where the two press bars of the rotation member are
vertical to the support frame of each of the two foldable stands,
and each of the two press bars of the rotation member is locked in
the locking groove of the support frame of a respective one of the
two foldable stands, so that each of the two foldable stands is
folded in the receiving space of the main board and fixed by the
locking unit.
11. The foldable table in accordance with claim 1, wherein the main
board has a periphery formed with four opposite through holes.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a foldable table for a
notebook computer, and more particularly to a foldable table that
can be used for supporting the notebook computer and can be folded
when not in use, thereby saving space of storage and
transportation.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional notebook computer is light and portable to
facilitate a user carrying and operating the notebook computer.
However, when the notebook computer is used at an outdoor place
without providing a table or any support object, the user has to
place the notebook computer on his legs for use, thereby greatly
causing inconvenience to the user when operating the notebook
computer outdoors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a foldable table for a notebook computer, wherein the foldable
table when being extended outward can be used for supporting the
notebook computer, and the foldable table when being folded can be
used for carrying the notebook computer, thereby facilitating the
user carrying and operating the notebook computer.
[0006] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
foldable table for a notebook computer, wherein the foldable stands
are fully expanded to support the main board, so that a user seated
on a chair can use the notebook computer supported on the main
board easily and conveniently.
[0007] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
foldable table for a notebook computer, wherein the foldable table
is folded when not in use, thereby saving space of storage and
transportation.
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a foldable table for a notebook computer, comprising:
[0009] a main board;
[0010] two foldable stands each pivotally mounted on the main
board; and
[0011] a locking unit mounted on the main board for locking the two
foldable stands when the two foldable stands are folded on the main
board.
[0012] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable table for a
notebook computer in accordance with the preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the foldable table for a
notebook computer in accordance with the preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing usage of the
foldable table as shown in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic folded view of the foldable table as
shown in FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 4A is a partially enlarged view of the foldable table
as shown in FIG. 4;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a partially cut-away plan cross-sectional view of
the foldable table as shown in FIG. 2;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the foldable table
as shown in FIG. 5; and
[0020] FIG. 7 is a partially cut-away plan cross-sectional view of
the foldable table as shown in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a
foldable table for a notebook computer 4 in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a main
board 1, two foldable stands 2 each pivotally mounted on the main
board 1, and a locking unit 3 mounted on the main board 1 for
locking the two foldable stands 2 when the two foldable stands 2
are folded on the main board 1.
[0022] The main board 1 has a first face formed with a rectangular
receiving recess 11 for receiving the notebook computer 4 as shown
in FIG. 3 and a second face formed with a receiving space 13 as
shown in FIG. 2. The main board 1 has a periphery formed with four
opposite through holes 12 for passage of two spaced flexible
binding straps (not shown) so as to fix the notebook computer 4 in
the receiving recess 11 of the main board 1.
[0023] Each of the two foldable stands 2 is pivoted on the main
board 1 to be received in the receiving space 13 of the main board
1 as shown in FIG. 4.
[0024] Each of the two foldable stands 2 includes two opposite
outer tubes 22 each pivotally mounted on the second face of the
main board 1, two opposite inner tubes 21 each retractably mounted
on a respective one of the two outer tubes 22 by an elastic locking
member 221, and a substantially U-shaped support frame 23 mounted
between the two outer tubes 22. Each of the two inner tubes 21 is
formed with a plurality of adjusting holes 211, and the elastic
locking member 221 is mounted in either one of the adjusting holes
211 of each of the two inner tubes 21. The support frame 23 has a
mediate portion formed with a locking groove 231.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 5 with reference to FIGS. 1-4, the locking
unit 3 is rotatably mounted on the main board 1 and includes a
substantially T-shaped support pin 31 secured on the second face of
the main board 1, a substantially T-shaped rotation member 35
rotatably mounted on the second face of the main board 1 and having
an end formed with two outward extending press bars 33, and an
elastic member 32 mounted on the support pin 31 and urged between
the support pin 31 and the rotation member 35.
[0026] Preferably, the rotation member 35 has an inside formed with
a recess 34 for receiving the support pin 31 and the elastic member
32, and the elastic member 32 has a first end urged on an enlarged
end 310 of the support pin 31 and a second end urged on a wall of
the recess 34 of the rotation member 35.
[0027] In operation, referring to FIGS. 4-7 with reference to FIGS.
1-3, the locking unit 3 is rotated on the main board 1 to move to a
first position as shown in FIG. 2 where the two press bars 33 of
the rotation member 35 are parallel with the support frame 23 of
each of the two foldable stands 2. Then, each of the two foldable
stands 2 is pivoted on the main board 1 to be received in the
receiving space 13 of the main board 1 as shown in FIG. 4. Then,
the locking unit 3 is rotated on the main board 1 to move to a
second position as shown in FIG. 4 where the two press bars 33 of
the rotation member 35 are vertical to the support frame 23 of each
of the two foldable stands 2, and each of the two press bars 33 of
the rotation member 35 is locked in the locking groove 231 of the
support frame 23 of a respective one of the two foldable stands 2
as shown in FIGS. 4A and 7, so that each of the two foldable stands
2 is folded in the receiving space 13 of the main board 1 and fixed
by the locking unit 3.
[0028] At this time, the two press bars 33 of the rotation member
35 are moved outward relative to the main board 1 to compress the
elastic member 32, so that each of the two press bars 33 of the
rotation member 35 is urged on the support frame 23 of a respective
one of the two foldable stands 2 by the elastic force of the
elastic member 32 as shown in FIG. 6.
[0029] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood
that many other possible modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is,
therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will
cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true
scope of the invention.
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