U.S. patent application number 14/179504 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-19 for worknstand.
The applicant listed for this patent is Tadhg James O'Gara. Invention is credited to Tadhg James O'Gara.
Application Number | 20140165884 14/179504 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50929440 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140165884 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
O'Gara; Tadhg James |
June 19, 2014 |
WorknStand
Abstract
A WorknStand is an apparatus which quickly unfolds and sits on
an existing desk structure. It permits the user to stand while
working. It folds perfectly flat, allowing easy transportation and
shipping. Its hinge structure is designed in such a way that it
will resist folding when open and can be leaned on with a sturdy
feel. It also securely locks in both the folded and unfolded
positions.
Inventors: |
O'Gara; Tadhg James;
(Winston Salem, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
O'Gara; Tadhg James |
Winston Salem |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50929440 |
Appl. No.: |
14/179504 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61797835 |
Dec 17, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/115 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 3/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/115 |
International
Class: |
A47B 3/00 20060101
A47B003/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprised partly of a rectangular platform which
may include blocking rails oriented front to back along the
platform's underside and located near the left and right edges,
where the platform is connected with a horizontally oriented hinge
along its rear edge to a horizontal extension of a back portion and
the back portion in turn is connected on each side edge to two side
portions by hinges oriented vertically along their rear edges,
which folds and in so doing causes its side portions to fold
inwards and to the rear and the platform to fold down and to the
rear so that when closed the apparatus's platform, sides and back
exist in parallel planes and in this closed condition the apparatus
may or may not have a latching mechanism that connects the front
undersurface of the platform to the lower aspects of a side portion
or the back portion or both and in so doing, prevents the apparatus
from opening.
2. An apparatus as in claim 1) where upon being opened the side
portions and platform are connected to each other via a mechanism
that secures the sides to the undersurface of the platform or the
platform's blocking rails or both.
3. An apparatus as in claim 2) where the securing mechanism is
comprised of a cam type lock that, when activated, pulls the
platform securely against the top of the sides preventing rising of
the platform or accidental folding of the sides or both.
4. An apparatus as in claim 3) where if the CAM lock projects from
the outside aspect of the side portion, when folded, the CAM lock
is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus'
platform's undersurface or backward facing aspect of the opposite
folded side portion or both permitting flat folding.
5. An apparatus as in claim 3) where if the CAM lock projects from
the inside aspect of the side portion, when folded, the CAM lock is
recessed within a corresponding recess in the forward facing aspect
of the back portion or forward facing aspect of the opposite folded
side portion or both, permitting flat folding.
6. An apparatus as in claim 3) where if the CAM lock projects from
the platform's rail, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within a
corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's
external rear edge, permitting flat folding.
7. An apparatus as in claim 3) where if the CAM lock projects from
the undersurface of the platform, when folded, the CAM lock is
recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's
side portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding.
8. An apparatus as in claim 2) where the securing mechanism is a
widening non-cam male projection from either the platform's
underside or platform's rail or side portions and which articulates
with the corresponding rail, undersurface of platform or side
portion via a female keep whose diameter is smaller than the male
projection's diameter.
9. An apparatus as in claim 8) where if the male projection locks
into a keep in the platform's rails, when folded, the male
projection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded
apparatus' platform's undersurface or backward facing aspect of the
opposite folded side portion or both permitting flat folding.
10. An apparatus as in claim 8) where if the male projection
projects from the rail and locks into a keep on the outside of the
side portion, when folded, the male projection is recessed within a
corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's
external rear edge, permitting flat folding.
11. An apparatus as in claim 8) where if the male projection locks
into a keep in the undersurface of the platform, when folded, the
male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the
folded apparatus' platform's undersurface or back portion's
horizontal projection's undersurface or both permitting flat
folding.
12. An apparatus as in claim 8) where if the male projection
projects from the undersurface of the platform into a keep on the
top of the side portion, when folded, the male projection is
recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's
side portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding.
13. An apparatus as in claim 2) where the securing mechanism is
comprised of magnets where one polarity is a component of the
undersurface of the platform or platform's rail or both and the
opposite polarity is attached to the top of the side or inside or
outside of the side or both depending on its opposing position to
its mate.
14. An apparatus, designed to have a smaller platform in a left to
right orientation than that described in claim 1 and which
therefore necessitates overlapping sides when closed and which is
therefore comprised of a rectangular platform which may include
blocking rails oriented front to back along the platform's
underside and located near the left and right edges, where the
platform is connected with a horizontally oriented hinge along its
rear edge to a horizontal extension of a back portion and the back
portion in turn is connected on one side immediately to a side
portion via hinges oriented vertically along their joining edge and
on the other side of the back piece there is an extension of the
back piece projecting to the front which is then connected to a
side portion via vertically oriented hinges, which folds and in so
doing causes the side portion which is connected directly to the
back portion to fold first and the opposite side to fold second so
that they overlap on each other, and the platform folds down and to
the rear so that when closed the apparatus's platform, sides and
back exist in parallel planes and in this closed condition the
apparatus may or may not have a latching mechanism that connects
the front undersurface of the platform to the lower aspects of a
side portion or the back portion or both and in so doing, prevents
the apparatus from opening.
15. An apparatus as in claim 14) where upon being opened the side
portions and platform are connected to each other via a mechanism
that secures the sides to the undersurface of the platform or the
platform's blocking rails or both.
16. An apparatus as in claim 15) where the securing mechanism is
comprised of a cam type lock that, when activated, pulls the
platform securely against the top of the sides preventing rising of
the platform or accidental folding of the sides or both.
17. An apparatus as in claim 16) where if the CAM lock projects
from the outside aspect of the side portion, when folded, the CAM
lock is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded
apparatus' platform's undersurface or backward facing aspect of the
opposite folded side portion or both permitting flat folding.
18. An apparatus as in claim 16) where if the CAM lock projects
from the inside aspect of the side portion, when folded, the CAM
lock is recessed within a corresponding recess in the forward
facing aspect of the back portion or forward facing aspect of the
opposite folded side portion or both, permitting flat folding.
19. An apparatus as in claim 16) where if the CAM lock projects
from the platform's rail, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed
within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side
portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding.
20. An apparatus as in claim 16) where if the CAM lock projects
from the undersurface of the platform, when folded, the CAM lock is
recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's
side portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding.
21. An apparatus as in claim 15) where the securing mechanism is a
widening non-cam male projection from either the platform's
underside or platform's rail or side portions and which articulates
with the corresponding rail, undersurface of platform or side
portion via a female keep whose diameter is smaller than the male
projection's diameter.
22. An apparatus as in claim 21) where if the male projection locks
into a keep in the platform's rails, when folded, the male
projection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded
apparatus' platform's undersurface or backward facing aspect of the
opposite folded side portion or both permitting flat folding.
23. An apparatus as in claim 21) where if the male projection
projects from the rail and locks into a keep on the outside of the
side portion, when folded, the male projection is recessed within a
corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's
external rear edge, permitting flat folding.
24. An apparatus as in claim 21) where if the male projection locks
into a keep in the undersurface of the platform, when folded, the
male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the
folded apparatus' platform's undersurface or back portion's
horizontal projection's undersurface or both permitting flat
folding.
25. An apparatus as in claim 21) where if the male projection
projects from the undersurface of the platform into a keep on the
top of the side portion, when folded, the male projection is
recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's
side portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding.
26. An apparatus as in claim 15) where the securing mechanism is
comprised of magnets where one polarity is a component of the
undersurface of the platform or platform's rail or both and the
opposite polarity is attached to the top of the side or inside or
outside of the side or both depending on its opposing position to
its mate.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional utility patent application claims
priority to provisional application No. 61/797,835 filing date Dec.
17, 2012.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Most offices, work or study environments come pre-furnished
with sitting desk arrangements. If an individual prefers to stand
while working it is therefore advantageous to have a portable
apparatus that unfolds and can be utilized with the existing
furnishings. An apparatus is described that sits on top of existing
desk structures permitting an individual to have a standing desk.
Its design and hinge structure is in such a manner that an
individual can lean on the apparatus and it will remain very stable
while also being light and foldable. There is a lot of prior art in
this category however none that meets the specifications of the
WorknStand: U.S. Pat. No. 426,7998, DE 202011105421 U1, DE
102012100867 A1.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention is designed to provide a working surface that
allows an individual to stand while working without needing a large
renovation to a traditional desk environment. The device is
designed to fold up flat so that it can be shipped and moved
easily. The device has sides with hinges that are oriented in a
vertical manner which provides residence to axial force and gives
the apparatus a very sturdy feel, appropriate for a working and
writing surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] An exemplary embodiment of the apparatus is demonstrated via
the following drawings.
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a WorknStand from an angled frontal view.
Note the rails 11 attached to the undersurface of the platform 1
which prevent the sides 2 from opening past the outer edges of the
platform.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a WorknStand from the front where the sides are
beginning to be folded in. Note the recesses 10 into which the
locking mechanism 6 (shown in FIG. 1) will mate, permitting folding
flat. In FIG. 2 the locking mechanism 6 is not visible because it
is now hidden by the closing sides.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a WorknStand from an angled frontal view where the
sides are completely folded in and the platform 1 is beginning to
fold down. Note the critical design where the extension 4 is
allowing the platform 1 to fold down flat over the side pieces
2.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a WorknStand from the bottom where the side pieces
2 are folding in. In this version of the WorknStand the platform is
smaller from side to side, necessitating the sides to overlap when
folded. Because of this there is an extension 5 on the side of the
back piece 3 which is allowing the side piece to fold flat over the
other side piece. On this view, the protrusion of the locking
mechanism 6 out of the plane of the side 2 can be seen,
necessitating the design element of the recesses 10 (shown in FIG.
2) to allow the apparatus to fold flat.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a WorknStand from the bottom showing the fully
folded form. Note the critical function of the back's top extension
4 and side extension 5 to permit this folding flat. Note also the
strap 8 and button 9 (seen in FIG. 4) which lock the folded
WorknStand, preventing it from opening.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a WorknStand view focused on the locking mechanism
which sits on the top of the side piece and consists of a cam type
lock 6 that rotates to engage a flat keep 7 on the bottom of the
platform 1. This design component is critical to allow folding flat
of the WorknStand.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a WorknStand view focused on a cam version of the
locking mechanism. Note the cam 6 rotating into the keep 7, locking
the platform 1, down on top of the sides 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The apparatus has a top piece or platform 1 which folds down
over the folding sides 2. The platform can be made of any substance
typically used for flat working surfaces; examples include wood,
particle board, plywood, machined wood, melamine, metal, aluminum,
and plastic. The top piece articulates with the back piece 3 via an
extension on top of the back piece 4. This extension allows the top
piece to fold flat over the side pieces.
[0013] The side 2 of the device is a structure that supports the
platform and can be comprised and made of the same or different
materials as the desk platform. The sides of the device articulate
along the back of the side via hinges with the back of the device.
The sides of the device fold inwardly to become parallel planes
with the back of the device when closed. The side of the device can
be in the form of a leg or numerous legs or planes of material that
can support the weight of the platform. The sides can have many
holes in them for various reasons such as to decrease weight or for
passing cables or allowing air circulation. Furthermore, the sides
provide stability to the device to not only support the platform
but to also prevent the back from toppling over.
[0014] The apparatus folds. In so folding it becomes flat for
storing or transportation. It folds specifically by the sides
folding along a generally vertically oriented hinge axis, defined
by the side's edges that articulate with the back, to become
parallel planes, when closed, with the back of the device. The
platform top folds down, specifically along a generally horizontal
axis defined by the edge that articulates with the back of the
device, to become parallel planes, when closed, with both the
closed sides and the back.
[0015] The back 3 of the device is a structure that supports the
platform 1 and can be comprised and made of the same or different
materials as the desk platform. The back articulates with the
platform via an articulating hinge along its superior edge oriented
in a generally horizontal direction. The back also articulates with
both sides along the left and right sides of the back's edges with
articulating hinges that are oriented in a vertical direction.
Similar to the sides, the back portion can be in the form of a leg
or numerous legs or planes of material that support the hinges and
weight of the platform. Furthermore, the back portion can have many
holes in it for various reason such as to decrease weight or for
passing cables or allowing air circulation.
[0016] In one version of the invention, one designed to be smaller
in a side to side dimension, the back piece not only has the top
extension 4 but also a side extension 5 on one of the sides. This
allows that side to fold flat over the other side, thereby keeping
the unit flat for shipping purposes. The side pieces 2 lock into
place via a securing mechanism 6 that is attached to the top of the
side piece 2. In one version of the invention the securing
mechanism is a rotating cam lock 6 that articulates with the
platform 1 via a "flat keep" 7 which is routed into the top piece.
When opened, the side pieces 2 are prevented from opening beyond
the outside edge of the platform 1 by rails 11 which run along the
underside of the platform 1 in a front to back orientation. Various
locking mechanisms can utilize either the rails 11, the
undersurface of the platform 1 or the side pieces 2. When closed,
the locking mechanism 6 will fit into recesses 10 located in either
the back or the outside of the contralateral side piece permitting
flat folding.
[0017] The cam lock is a rotating lock 6, comprising a male
projecting part that is designed to make sliding contact with its
keep 7 or female part and in so doing to impart reciprocal motion
to the keep and what is attached to the keep. The cam lock can
impart a unidirectional force vector or multidirectional force
vector, depending on the cross sectional shape of the male
projecting part. For example, some cam locks will be comprised of a
flat piece of material which will taper in one plane; this imparts
reciprocal motion to the keep in only that plane. On the other
hand, if the cam's projection in cross section tapers more as a
cone or fraction of a cone, then it will impart reciprocal motion
to the keep in the planes of motion defined by the tapering of the
cone's dimension.
[0018] The rail 11 is a raised part of the undersurface of the
platform 1 that functions to block the sides from folding beyond
the outer limits of the platform edges or to provide material into
which the sides can lock themselves or both.
[0019] A keep 7 refers to the female component of the lock that the
cam mechanism rotates into or the non-cam projection inserts into
or both, in the later case the non-cam projection's keep has an
opening that is narrower than the maximum diameter of its male
companion's projection.
[0020] The recesses 10 are areas where the lock mechanism will slip
into when the apparatus is closed permitting flat folding. Recesses
can be notched out parts of either the back or the sides. Recesses
can also be hollowed or absent areas within the back or sides which
allow the locking mechanism to hold into.
[0021] Finally, the device consists of having a strap 8 and button
9 or other basic lock mechanism which keeps the device folded and
prevents it from accidentally opening when transported or
stored.
* * * * *