U.S. patent application number 11/542899 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-10 for portable desk for vehicles.
Invention is credited to Kevin J. Bart, Michael S. Joss, Charles E. Lippert, David T. Lippert, Mark A. Zavada, Peter J. Zerillo.
Application Number | 20080083351 11/542899 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39264291 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080083351 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lippert; Charles E. ; et
al. |
April 10, 2008 |
Portable desk for vehicles
Abstract
A portable office device is adapted for use with a seat in a
vehicle to form a desk and includes positionable support members or
legs that may be folded or pivoted into either an extended or a
retracted orientation. The positionable legs enable the portable
desk to be selectively positioned within a vehicle at an elevated
height for use within the vehicle with the legs in the extended
orientation, and with the legs in the retracted orientation,
enables the portable desk to be readily transported by hand. The
portable desk may further include a pivoting work surface member,
various storage compartments, and a slot for receiving a seat belt
to secure the portable desk to the vehicle seat.
Inventors: |
Lippert; Charles E.; (Grand
Rapids, MI) ; Bart; Kevin J.; (Grand Rapids, MI)
; Lippert; David T.; (Grand Rapids, MI) ; Joss;
Michael S.; (Chicago, IL) ; Zavada; Mark A.;
(Evanston, IL) ; Zerillo; Peter J.; (Chicago,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VAN DYKE, GARDNER, LINN & BURKHART, LLP
SUITE 207, 2851 CHARLEVOIX DRIVE, S.E.
GRAND RAPIDS
MI
49546
US
|
Family ID: |
39264291 |
Appl. No.: |
11/542899 |
Filed: |
October 4, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 3/10 20130101; A47B
31/06 20130101; B60R 7/043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/44 |
International
Class: |
A47B 37/00 20060101
A47B037/00 |
Claims
1. A collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a
vehicle, said portable desk comprising: a main body, said main body
including a top portion; and at least one positionable support
member, said at least one positionable support member adapted to
being selectively positioned to said main body in an extended
orientation and a retracted orientation; said portable desk adapted
to being installed on a seat in a vehicle with said at least one
movable support member contacting the seat such that said top
portion is able to support and/or contain business and office
items.
2. The portable desk of claim 1, wherein said at least one
positionable support member comprises at least one movable support
member movably affixed to said main body.
3. The portable desk of claim 2, wherein said at least one movable
support member comprises two legs.
4. The portable desk of claim 3, wherein said legs are pivotally
mounted to said main body.
5. The portable desk of claim 3, wherein said portable desk
includes a front side, a right side, a left side, and a back side,
and wherein said legs comprise a front leg and a back leg, said
front leg being pivotally mounted to said main body adjacent said
front side and said back leg being pivotally mounted to said main
body adjacent said back side,
6. The portable desk of claim 3, wherein said portable desk
includes a front side and a back side and said legs comprise a
front leg and a back leg, and wherein said top portion and said
front leg define a front profile height in both said extended and
retracted orientations of said front leg, and said top portion and
said rear leg define a rear profile height in both said extended
and retracted orientations of said rear leg, said rear profile
height being greater than said front profile height when said front
and rear legs are in at least one of said extended orientations and
said retracted orientations.
7. The portable desk of claim 2, further including a lock
apparatus, said lock apparatus adapted to retain said at least one
movable support member in said retracted orientation.
8. The portable desk of claim 1, wherein said portable desk
includes at least one brace member, said at least one brace member
adapted to retain said at least one positionable support member in
said extended orientation.
9. The portable desk of claim 1, further including a handle, said
handle adapted to being grasped by a user for transporting said
portable desk.
10. The portable desk of claim 9, wherein said handle is located on
said main body.
11. The portable desk of claim 1, further including at least one
strap attachment element, said at least one strap attachment
element adapted for receiving a carrying strap to be held and/or
worn by a user for transporting said portable desk.
12. The portable desk of claim 11, wherein said at least one strap
attachment element comprises two strap attachment elements, said
strap attachment elements being located on said main body.
13. The portable desk of claim 1, wherein said main body includes a
slot adapted to receive a vehicle seat belt.
14. The portable desk of claim 1, further including a work surface
member, said work surface member being movably mounted to said top
portion of said main body.
15. The portable desk of claim 1, wherein said main body includes
at least one compartment.
16. The portable desk of claim 15, wherein said at least one
compartment is at least one chosen from a vertical compartment and
a tray compartment.
17. A collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a
vehicle, said portable desk comprising: a main body, said main body
including a top portion; and first and second legs, said first and
second legs being pivotally mounted to said main body and adapted
to being selectively positioned in an extended and a retracted
orientation, each said leg being generally perpendicular to said
top portion when in said extended orientation and being generally
parallel to said top portion when in said retracted orientation;
said portable desk adapted to being installed on a seat in a
vehicle with said first and second legs contacting the seat such
that said top portion is able to support and/or contain business
and office items.
18. The portable desk of claim 17, further including a work surface
member pivotally mounted to said top portion of said main body such
that said work surface member is selectively positionable between
an open and a closed position.
19. The portable desk of claim 18, wherein said main body includes
a tray compartment, said tray compartment of said main body adapted
to being covered by said work surface member when said work surface
member is in said closed position.
20. The portable desk of claim 17, further including first and
second brace members, said first and second brace members being
adapted to retain said first and second leg members in said
extended orientation.
21. The portable desk of claim 17, further including a leg lock
apparatus, said leg lock apparatus adapted to retain said first and
second legs in said retracted orientations.
22. The portable desk of claim 17, wherein said first and second
legs comprise front and back legs, and wherein said front and back
legs each include a seat contacting end, said seat contacting end
of said back leg extending further from said top portion relative
to said seat contacting end of said front leg when said front and
back legs are in said extended orientations.
23. The portable desk of claim 17, wherein said main body includes
a vertical compartment, said vertical compartment adapted to retain
hanging folders when said first and second legs are in said
extended orientation.
24. The portable desk of claim 17, wherein said main body includes
a slot adapted to receive a vehicle seat belt.
Description
BACKGROUND AND TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to portable work surfaces,
and in particular to a collapsible portable desk or office device
for use in vehicles as both a storage medium and a portable laptop
computer or typing support, and/or writing surface.
[0002] People regularly conduct business away from fixed locations
such as offices or homes. In such cases, individuals such as
salespersons, contractors, and truckers frequently travel using
motor vehicles to reach their contacts or destinations.
[0003] Along with reaching remote locations, traveling by motor
vehicle enables these individuals to transport many of the items
they may need to conduct their business, such as cellular phones,
personal data assistants (PDA's), documents, files, laptop
computers, pens, paperclips, and the like. By having such items in
their vehicle, business people are better equipped to efficiently
and effectively conduct a broad scope of business without having to
make multiple trips between the location of their business contacts
and fixed office environments.
[0004] However, the glove boxes, center consoles, and door pockets
of most motor vehicles are ill equipped to contain the wide array
of business and office equipment needed by individuals conducting
business "on the road." As such, the motor vehicles of these
individuals can become cluttered, making it hard to find needed
items or even resulting in lost items, thereby reducing the
efficiency of business people conducting mobile business. Such
equipment is also likely to move about the vehicle passenger
compartment when the vehicle is driven, making it even more
difficult to find specific items, and searching for items while
driving is an unsafe practice that may lead to accidents.
Furthermore, in the event of an accident, loose items in the
passenger compartment of a vehicle can become dangerous projectiles
that may injure the occupants.
[0005] Another difficulty with conducting business from a vehicle
is that there are inadequate surfaces upon which to write or type.
Center consoles are generally narrow and awkwardly positioned and
vehicle seats are low and sloped, forcing the individual to lean
over and twist him or herself. Furthermore, as laptop computers and
the ability to remotely send and receive data have become more
commonplace and enabled a greater scope of business to be conducted
on the road, the use of such computers and the amount of typing
thereon has greatly increased.
[0006] Therefore, what is needed is a device to contain and
organize business and office items used by individuals transacting
business from motor vehicles. Additionally, adequate writing or
typing surfaces are needed in the passenger compartment of such
vehicles to enable typing and writing to be conducted more
efficiently and effectively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a collapsible portable desk
adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle for containing and
organizing business and office items. The portable desk includes
positionable support members or legs that may be selectively
positioned into an extended orientation when the portable desk is
installed to a vehicle seat such that a top portion or a work
surface member of the portable desk is positioned in an elevated
orientation. The support members or legs may also be placed in a
retracted position such that the portable desk may be readily
transported apart from a vehicle.
[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, a
collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle
comprises a main body including a top portion and at least one
positionable support member. The at least one positionable support
member is adapted to being selectively positioned to the main body
in an extended orientation and a retracted orientation. The
portable desk is adapted to being installed on a seat in a vehicle
with the at least one movable support member contacting the seat
such that the top portion is able to support and/or contain
business and office items.
[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle
comprises a main body including a top portion and first and second
legs. The first and second legs are pivotally mounted to the main
body and are adapted to being selectively positioned in an extended
and a retracted orientation. The legs are generally perpendicular
to the top portion when in the extended orientation and are
generally parallel to the top portion when in the retracted
orientation. The portable desk is adapted for installation on a
seat in a vehicle with the first and second legs contacting the
seat such that the top portion is able to support and/or contain
business and office items.
[0010] The collapsible and portable desk of the present invention
provides a convenient apparatus for both working on and storing
work related items in a vehicle for individuals conducting work
from their vehicles. The ability of the support members or legs to
be selectively positioned in-an extended orientation enables the
portable desk to be positioned within a vehicle at an elevated
height for use within the vehicle. In addition, the ability of the
support members or legs to be collapsed or folded into a retracted
position enables the portable desk to be readily transported by way
of either an integrated handle or a carrying strap connected to
integrated carrying strap receiving elements. The pivoting work
surface member may be extended into an open position for ready use
by an individual sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle. In the
closed position, the work surface member may be held securely shut
by a locking device such that office or work related type items may
be stored within the portable desk, including when transporting the
portable desk apart from a vehicle. Further, the inclusion of a
shorter front profile height relative to the back profile height of
the portable desk enables the top portion and/or work surface
member to be positioned substantially horizontally when installed
to a typical, rearwardly tipped or tilted vehicle seat when the
legs are in either an extended or retracted orientation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable desk in
accordance with the present invention shown installed to the front
passenger seat of a vehicle;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the portable desk of
FIG. 1 removed from the vehicle seat shown with the legs in an
extended orientation and a work surface member in an open
position;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the portable desk of
FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed position;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the portable desk of
FIG. 2 shown with the legs in a retracted orientation;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the portable desk of
FIG. 2 shown with the legs in a retracted orientation and the work
surface member in a closed position;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a right side elevation view of the portable desk
of FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed
position;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a right side elevation view of the portable desk
of FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed position
and the legs in a retracted orientation;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the portable desk of
FIG. 2;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the portable desk of
FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed position;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the portable desk of
FIG. 2 shown with the work surface member in a closed position and
the legs in a retracted orientation;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the portable desk of FIG.
2;
[0022] FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the portable desk of FIG. 2
shown with the work surface member in a closed position;
[0023] FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the portable desk of FIG. 2
shown with the work surface member in a closed position and the
legs in a retracted orientation;
[0024] FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the portable desk of FIG. 2;
and
[0025] FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the portable desk of FIG. 2
shown with the work surface member in a closed orientation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] The present invention will now be described with reference
to the accompanying figures, wherein the numbered elements in the
following written description correspond to like numbered elements
in the figures. A collapsible portable desk 40 is shown in FIG. 1
secured to the passenger seat 42 of a vehicle 44 using the
vehicle's seatbelt 46. When installed on a vehicle seat 42 in this
manner, portable desk 40 provides a convenient location to store
items such as hanging file folders and other types of folders,
cellular phones, pens (not shown) and the like, as well as provides
a convenient surface upon which to place and/or use a laptop
computer, writing pad, or for use as a writing surface for various
documents.
[0027] As described in more detail below, portable desk 40 includes
movable or collapsible or foldable support members or legs 50, 52
(see FIGS. 3 and 4). The legs 50, 52 are movably affixed to a main
body 54 and are adapted to be placed in either an extended (FIG. 3)
or retracted position or orientation (FIG. 4). The ability of legs
50, 52 to be selectively positioned into an extended orientation
enables a top portion 56 and/or a work surface member 58 of
portable desk 40 to be selectively positioned in an elevated
orientation when installed to a vehicle passenger seat 42 for use
by an individual sitting in the vehicle's driver seat. Further, the
ability of legs 50, 52 to be retracted enables portable desk 40 to
be placed in a convenient collapsed state (FIG. 5) for transporting
by hand. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the legs 50, 52
create a support surface for contacting the vehicle seat 42 in both
the extended and retracted positions in which the top portion 56 of
the main body 54 of the portable desk 40 is angled thereto. Thus,
when legs 50, 52 of portable desk 40 are installed on a normally
rearwardly tilted vehicle seat bottom 59, as in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6,
with the legs 50, 52 in either the extended or retracted positions,
the top portion 56 of portable desk 40 is kept in a substantially
horizontal orientation. Portable desk 40 thereby provides a
convenient and level desk structure for retaining office-type
equipment and enabling a user to readily type or write thereon.
[0028] Legs 50, 52 of portable desk 40 are affixed to main body 54,
with main body 54 including a tray compartment 60 and a vertical
compartment 62 for receiving hanging file folders 48. Work surface
member 58 is also secured to main body 54 of portable desk 40 and
when needed for typing or writing, provides a convenient area upon
which to support a laptop computer, writing pad, documents, or the
like.
[0029] In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2-12, legs 50, 52 are
constructed as a front leg 50 and a back leg 52 each of which are
pivotally mounted to main body 54 via hinges 68, 70. In the
extended position front and back legs 50, 52 are generally or
approximately perpendicular, or slightly inwardly angled, to main
body 54, as shown in FIG. 6, and in the retracted position, as
shown in FIG. 7, front and back legs 50, 52 are generally parallel
to main body 54. As shown, front leg 50 is pivotally mounted
adjacent or toward front side 64 of main body 54 using hinges 68
and back leg 52 is pivotally mounted adjacent back side 66 of main
body 54 using hinges 70. Main body 54 includes front hinge tabs 72
for mounting front leg 50 thereto using hinges 68 and includes back
hinge tabs 74 for mounting back leg 52 thereto using hinges 70. It
should be appreciated, however, that alternative hinge styles and
manners of mounting legs to a main body may be employed within the
scope of the present invention, such as, for example, piano hinges,
spring hinges, or the like.
[0030] In the extended orientation, as shown in FIG. 6, back leg 52
is positioned or aligned to be slightly inwardly angled with back
side 66. As such, when portable desk 40 is installed to vehicle
seat 42 with legs 50, 52 in the extended orientation, as shown in
FIG. 1, surface 76 of back leg 52 is able to generally contact the
upright and normally slightly rearwardly angled seat back 78 of
vehicle seat 42 and thereby provide support to or stabilize
portable desk 40 when so installed.
[0031] Front leg 50, in the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 6,
is offset toward back side 66 from front side 64, thus, a portion
80 of main body 54 extends beyond front leg 50 in a cantilevered
manner. Front and back legs 50, 52 are spaced apart from each other
in the extended orientation such that portable desk 40 may be
supported on lower seat members 59 and be compatible with vehicles
having a wide range of sizes of lower seat members or seat member
bottoms. The extension of a portion 80 of main body 54 beyond front
leg 50 thus increases the useful area of portable desk 40. It
should be appreciated, however, that a portable desk in accordance
with the present invention may alternatively not include an
extending portion and still function as intended.
[0032] Front and back legs 50, 52 each include a rounded seat
contacting end 84, 86, respectively, that, when front and back legs
50, 52 are in the extended orientation, are adapted to contact a
vehicle seat bottom 59 when portable desk 40 is installed on a
vehicle seat 42. As shown in FIG. 6, the seat contacting end 86 of
back leg 52 is located further away from the top portion 56 of main
body 54 in comparison to the seat contacting end 84 of front leg
50. In addition, when back and front legs 50, 52 are in the
retracted position as shown in FIG. 7, back leg 52 lies further
from top portion 56 in comparison to front leg 50.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, portable desk 40 includes a front
profile height 88a, 88b as defined from top portion 56 of main body
54 relative to front leg 50 in the extended and retracted
orientations, respectively. Similarly, portable desk 40 includes a
back profile height 90a, 90b defined from top portion 56 of main
body 54 relative to back leg 52 in the extended and retracted
orientations, respectively. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate that back
profile height 90 of portable desk 40 is greater than front profile
height 88 in both the extended and retracted orientations of front
and back legs 50, 52. Thus, when portable desk 40 is installed to a
vehicle seat 42 having an angled bottom seat member 59, as shown in
FIG. 1, with front and back legs 50, 52 in either the extended or
retracted orientations, top portion 56 of main body 54 is
maintained in a generally horizontal orientation such that top
portion 56 may be readily used for writing and/or typing
thereon.
[0034] Portable desk 40 also includes left and right brace members
92, 94 that are pivotally joined to main body 54 and used to
maintain front and back legs 50, 52 in the extended orientation.
Left and right brace members 92, 94, in the illustrated embodiment,
are constructed of tubular metal, but may alternatively be
constructed of plastic, a polymeric material, or the like. Left
brace member 92 is pivotally connected to left side 96 of main body
54 of portable desk 40 and right brace member 94 is pivotally
connected to right side 98 of main body 54 with the pivot axes of
left and right brace members 92, 94 being generally parallel to the
left and right sides 96, 98, respectively, of portable desk 40.
When pivoted to retain front and back legs 50, 52 in the extended
orientation, left and right brace members 92, 94 include generally
vertically downward front elements (not shown) and back elements
102 that are joined by a connecting element 104.
[0035] Although not shown on front leg 50, front and back legs 50,
52 each include two brace retainer elements 106 for receiving and
securing left and right brace members 92, 94 when extended to
retain front and back legs 50, 52 in the extended orientation.
(FIGS. 2, 8, and 9). Each leg 50, 52 receives both the right and
left brace members 92, 94, with the left brace member 92 being
simultaneously retained in a retainer element 106 on the front leg
50 and a retainer element 106 on the back leg 52. Similarly, the
right brace member 94 is retained in the other retainer elements
106 of the front and back legs 50, 52. In addition, as shown in
FIGS. 11 and 12, the bottom surface 108 of main body 54 includes
left and right brace retainer elements 110, 112, respectively, for
receiving and securing left and right brace members 92, 94 when
pivoted upwards toward bottom surface 108 to enable front and back
legs 50, 52 to be pivoted into the retracted position. Although not
shown in detail, the various brace retainer elements 106, 110, 112
may be adapted to receive brace members 92, 94 in a snap-fit
matter, and may be constructed as generally conventional C-shaped
or U-shaped members having at least one flexible arm adapted to
releasably retain brace members 92, 94.
[0036] FIGS. 11 and 12 disclose the inclusion of a leg lock
apparatus 114 on the bottom surface 108 of main body 54 that is
adapted to selectively and releasably retain front and back legs
50, 52 in the retracted orientation. Leg lock apparatus 114, as
shown in FIG. 6, includes a downwardly extending cantilevered front
tab element 116 and a downwardly extending cantilevered back tab
element 118. Front tab element 116 includes a hook member 120 and a
release portion 122 and, similarly, back tab element 118 includes a
hook member 124 and a release portion 126. FIGS. 11 and 12 disclose
the inclusion of a front catch element 128 on front leg 50 and a
back catch element 130 on back leg 52. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 13,
front tab 116 is adapted to receive front catch 128 and back tab
118 is adapted to receive back catch 130 when front and back legs
50, 52 are pivoted into the retracted orientation. When front leg
50 is pivoted into the retracted orientation, front catch 128
deflects front tab element 116 to enable front catch 128 to be
retained on and by hook member 120. Similarly, when back leg 52 is
pivoted into the retracted orientation, back catch 130 deflects
back tab element 118 to enable back catch 130 to be retained on and
by hook member 124. Front leg 50 is released from front tab element
116 by a user pushing on release portion 122 to deflect front tab
116 towards back side 66 of portable desk 40 and thereby release
front catch 128 from hook member 120. Back leg 52 is released in
like manner by the application of pressure to release portion 126
to deflect back tab 118 towards front side 64 of portable desk 40
and thereby release back catch 130 from hook member 124.
[0037] Although portable desk 40 is shown to include front and back
legs 50, 52 in the illustrated embodiment, it should be appreciated
that alternative legs or support members may be employed with a
portable desk in accordance with the present invention and still
function as intended. For example, a portable desk may include
right and left side legs that are pivotally or otherwise mounted to
the left and right sides of the main body of the portable desk. In
such case, the portable desk may include front and back brace
members pivotally connected to the front and back sides of the main
body of the portable desk. Further, such left and right legs may
include angled contacting ends to enable the top portion of the
portable desk to be maintained in a generally horizontal
orientation when the portable desk is installed to a vehicle seat.
Still further, a portable desk could be constructed to include a
single support member or leg or more than two support members or
legs, or may utilize telescopic or removable support members or
legs.
[0038] The portable desk may also employ alternative braces, brace
retainer elements, and/or leg locking apparatuses and still
function as intended within the scope of the present invention. For
example, braces could be constructed to pivot from the same
direction as legs or braces may be incorporated into legs. Still
further, an alternative portable desk may be constructed without
braces.
[0039] Referring again to FIGS. 2-12, main body 54 of portable desk
40, as previously noted, includes a work surface member 58
pivotally mounted thereto, a tray compartment 60, and a vertical
compartment 62 for receiving hanging file folders 48. Main body 54
also includes a slot 140 for receiving the lap belt portion of
vehicle seat belt 46 when portable desk 40 is installed to vehicle
seat 42 to securely retain portable desk 40 when vehicle 44 is in
motion.
[0040] Work surface member 58 is pivotally connected to main body
54 via hinges 142, 144 such that work surface member 58 may be
selectively placed in an open position, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 8,
and 11, or a closed position as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 9, 10, and
12.
[0041] In the open position of work surface member 58, when
portable desk 40 is installed to a vehicle 44 as shown in FIG. 1,
work surface member 58 is open toward and located closer to an
individual sitting in the vehicle driver's seat. Work surface
member 58 includes a pad 146 that is exposed when work surface
member 58 is in the open position. Pad 146 may be constructed of a
non-slip coating, such as a rubberized or polymeric coating, or the
like, to inhibit work items from slipping from work surface member
58. As shown, work surface member 58 may also include work surface
member trays 148, 149 that are exposed when work surface member 58
is in the open position, with work surface member trays 148, 149
being adapted to retain items such as pencils, paper clips, pens,
or the like.
[0042] In the open position, work surface member 58 is retained in
a substantially co-planar orientation relative to top portion 56 of
main body 54 by being supported on a ledge 150 of main body 54
located adjacent hinges 142, 144 of work surface member 58 (FIGS.
3, 5, and 8). In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, work surface member
58 may alternatively or additionally be supported by the armrest
151 of vehicle 44 because legs 50, 52 are long enough to position
work surface member 58 at a height compatible with armrest 151.
[0043] In the closed position, work surface member 58 is adapted to
cover or close tray compartment 60. Tray compartment 60 includes a
corner ledge 152 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) that supports a corner 154 of
work surface member 58 in the closed position. Further, work
surface member 58 includes an extension tab 156 (see FIGS. 11, 14,
and 15). In the closed position, extension tab 156 of work surface
member 58 is retained in a tab receptacle 158 (FIGS. 2, 4, 6, and
14) recessed below the surface of top portion 56 of main body 54 to
provide further support to work surface member 58 in the closed
position.
[0044] Although work surface member 58 is disclosed as a pivoting
work surface member in the illustrated embodiment, it should be
appreciated that alternative work surface members may be employed
within the scope of the present invention. Such alternatives may
include, for example, a work surface member that is adapted to
slide out of or from a main body, or a detachable work surface
member.
[0045] Extension tab 156 of work surface member 58 includes a lock
device 160 having a retractable lock element 162 (FIGS. 11 and 14)
extending from extension tab 156 that is used to retain work
surface member 58 in the closed position. As shown in FIGS. 11 and
15, extension tab 156 includes a lock release button 164 which may
be slid toward the back side 66 of portable desk 40 to release the
retractable lock element 162 of lock device 160 from main body 54
and thereby enable work surface member 58 to be opened. Thus,
portable desk 40 may be used to transport various items in a
briefcase-like fashion with the items retained within the tray
compartment 60 and work surface member 58 in the closed position
and locked via lock device 160.
[0046] As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, vertical compartment 62
is constructed as a through hole 166 to enable hanging file folders
48 to be disposed therein when back leg 52 is in the extended
position as illustrated in FIG. 1. FIGS. 14 and 15 also disclose
the inclusion of hangers 168, 170 for receiving conventional hooks
(not shown) of the hanging file folders 48. Further, a removable
insert 172 may be placed within vertical compartment 62 such that
vertical compartment 62 may receive standard sized hanging file
folders between hanger 168 and insert 172 and may also receive
legal size hanging file folders by removing removable insert 172
and placing the hooks of legal size hanging file folders over
hangers 168, 170.
[0047] Referring now to FIGS. 5, 11-13, and 15, main body 54 also
includes a handle 174 adapted for use in transporting portable desk
40 when removed from a vehicle seat. In the illustrated embodiment
main body 54 is formed of a polymeric or plastic material and is
constructed by a molding process. As such, handle 174 may be
integrally formed via the molding process when main body 54 is
constructed. The ability of front and back legs 50, 52 to be
fixedly retained by leg locking apparatus 114 in the retracted
position enables portable desk 40 to be readily transported,
particularly by use of handle 174.
[0048] In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2-5, main body further
includes strap attachment elements 178 for receiving a strap (not
shown) such that a user may also or alternatively transport
portable desk 40 using a strap. In the illustrated embodiment,
strap attachment elements 178 are constructed by forming apertures
180 on either side of corners 182 to create posts 184 adapted to
receive the ends of a strap. The strap may include mechanical type
hooks for engaging posts 184 or may be strung through apertures 180
about posts 184 and affixed to the strap via a conventional
adjustable strap locking mechanism. It should be appreciated that
portable desk 40 may be alternatively constructed and still
function as intended within the scope of the present invention. For
example, a portable desk may include a handle and/or a strap
receiving element on a leg, or may even not include a handle or
strap receiving elements.
[0049] The collapsible and portable desk of the present invention
provides a convenient apparatus for people conducting work from
their vehicles for both working on and storing work related items
in a vehicle. The ability of the support members or legs to be
positioned in an extended orientation enables the portable desk to
be selectively positioned within a vehicle at an elevated height
for use within the vehicle. In addition, the ability of the support
members or legs to be collapsed or folded into a retracted position
enables the portable desk to be readily transported by way of
either the integrated handle or a carrying strap connected to
integrated carrying strap receiving elements. The pivoting work
surface member may be extended into an open position for ready use
by an individual sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle. In the
closed position, the work surface member may be held securely shut
by way of a locking device such that office or work related type
items may be stored within the portable desk, including when
transporting the portable desk apart from a vehicle. Further, the
inclusion of a shorter front profile height relative to the back
profile height of the portable desk enables the top portion and/or
work surface member to be positioned substantially horizontally
when installed to a vehicle seat.
[0050] The above is a description of the preferred embodiments. One
skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications
may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosed
invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the claims
which follow and the breadth of interpretation that the law
allows.
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