Abstract:
A stand comprising a camera tripod and a support tray for reading material and laptop computers. A quick-release mechanism allows for quickly attaching the tray to, and detaching the tray from, the tripod. The tray may have a flat base and a lip which prevents articles from rolling off the tray. Apertures in the tray allow access to the locking mechanism. A handle aperture in the tray allows for ease of carrying the device. The tray has articulated extension arms for supporting oversized papers. The tripod may be equipped with an accessory tray fastened between the legs.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES  
         [0001]    This application claims the priority date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/247,216, filed Nov. 13, 2000.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates, generally, to a support stand for reading material such as books, magazines, or a laptop computer. More particularly, the invention relates to a support stand for reading material, which stand connects to a camera tripod.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    The state of the art includes various devices and methods for supporting reading material and other items such as artist&#39;s materials. Some of these devices are designed to connect to a camera tripod. U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,346 to Bahm discloses an art easel that attaches to a camera tripod using a retaining plate which connects to the tripod by conventional screw connection. The retaining plate is configured to mate with portions of the easel so that the easel can be removably clamped to the retaining plate. The easel portion can be easily separated from the retaining plate, but the retaining plate is left attached to the tripod and must be removed by the screw connection if the tripod is to be used for other purposes.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,791,623, 5,083,737, and 3,580,653 disclose other more complex artist easels designed to attach to a camera tripod, and they all attach by a screw connection to the top plate of a camera tripod. These devices are not readily separable from the tripod and are not intended to be used apart from the tripod.  
           [0007]    Many other devices support reading material, but they are not intended to be used with a camera tripod.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides an improved stand for reading materials which overcomes the limitations and shortcomings of the prior art. It is designed specifically for use with a camera tripod and has a quick-release adapter which interfaces with a receptacle on the top of the tripod. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a side view of a stand of the present invention showing a tripod with a stand attached..  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a view along the line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1 showing the support exploded from the receptacle.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a locking plate which may be attached to the support tray.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a support tray (in part) having the quick-release locking mechanism attached.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the quick-release mechanism of this invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the support tray of this invention with a bolt therethrough.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the back of the support tray with the support plate retracted and illustrating different apertures in the tray.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a plan view of the front of the tray showing articulated extension arms in an extended condition.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a stand of the present invention as used with a laptop computer.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a plan view of a support tray for use with a laptop computer showing a wrist rest attached to the tray.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 11 is a side view of the tray and wrist rest attachment of FIG. 10.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the stand of the present invention showing an accessory tray attached. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 6 , a stand  2  of the present invention is illustrated. The stand  2  comprises a camera tripod  4  and a support tray  6  adapted to releasably connect to the tripod  4  through a quick-release locking mechanism  8 . A first portion  10  of the quick-release locking mechanism  8  remains permanently attached to the tripod  4  and a second portion  12  is preferably permanently attached to the support tray  6 . A handle- 14  operated cam mechanism  16  secures the first  10  and second  12  portions together and allows them to readily be separated so that the support tray  6  may be quickly and easily securely attached to and detached from the tripod  4 . When attached to the tripod  4 , the support tray  6  can be positioned as needed using the conventional adjustment features contained in the head of the tripod  4 . The height of the support tray  6  is adjusted by adjusting the length of the legs  18  and the center post  20  of the tripod  4 .  
         [0022]    The quick-release locking mechanism  8  is typically square or rectangular in shape, and includes a receptacle  22  attached to the tripod  4  and a locking plate  24  which is attached to the tray  6 , preferably at a central location. The receptacle  22  typically has a rectangular or square cavity  26  which receives the locking plate  24 . At least two sides of the cavity  26  are bounded by undercut sides  28  which mate with the first undercut side  30  of the locking plate  24 . The locking plate  24 , typically 1½ to 2 inches square, has a second undercut side  32  opposite the first undercut side  30  which is retained by a handle- 14  operated cam mechanism  16  connected to the receptacle  22 . The handle- 14  operated cam mechanism  16  has an engaging portion  34  and a handle portion  14  which rotates about a pivot  36  on the receptacle  22 . When the locking plate  24  is positioned in the cavity  26 , the handle portion  14  is moved to engage the engaging portion  34  with the second undercut side  32  thereby retaining the locking plate  24  in the cavity  26 . By moving the handle portion  14  to disengage the engaging portion  34  from the second undercut side  32 , the locking plate  24  is quickly and easily separated from the receptacle  22 .  
         [0023]    Tripod manufacturers typically supply locking plates with receptacles and there is little standardization among tripod manufacturers regarding the size and shape of locking plates and cavities. However, most locking plates have two opposite undercut sides. A typical locking plate which comes with a tripod has a center aperture and a screw through it for attaching to female screw threads in a camera body. To use a locking plate provided by a tripod manufacturer with the tray  6  of the present invention, preferably the screw is removed and a more permanent connection, such as a rivet  38 , is made between the tray  6  and the locking plate  24 .  
         [0024]    Referring to FIG. 3, alternatively a locking plate  40  may be fabricated with the tray  6  and attached to it by conventional means such as mechanical fasteners and/or bonding. The locking plate  40  is constructed and arranged to be received in the cavity of a receptacle of a quick-release locking mechanism  8  on a tripod  4  and several configurations of the locking plates  40  may be necessary to accommodate a variety of tripods  4 . The locking plate  40  has an upper surface  42  which mates with the support tray  6  and a first  44  and second  46  opposite undercut sides which, along with the lower surface  48 , mate with a cavity  26  in a receptacle  22  of a quick-release locking mechanism  8  on a tripod  4 .  
         [0025]    Referring to FIGS.  6 - 10 , the support tray  6  may have many configurations. Preferably, it has a flat base  50  with a lip  52  extending outward from the base  50  approximately normal to the base  50  at its lower edge  54 . The base  50  is preferably rectangular in shape, but it may be round, oval, or any other desired shape. It is preferably made of wood, but it may be plastic, metal, or other suitable material. The lip  52  is provided to prevent whatever objects are placed on the tray  6  from sliding down and off of the base  50 . The ends of the lip  52  are curved to prevent damage to paper or other objects.  
         [0026]    The base  50  has apertures  56  on either or both sides of the locking plate  24 . The apertures  56  provide for viewing of the locking plate  24  and the locking mechanism  8  from above the support tray  6  to facilitate easier attachment to and detachment from the receptacle  22  of the locking plate  24  on the tripod. These apertures  56  may be elongated as illustrated in FIG. 7.  
         [0027]    The base  50  has a handle aperture  58  which preferably is an elongated horizontally oriented slot centrally located near the upper edge  60 . The primary function of the handle aperture  58  is to provide a handle for carrying the tray  6  with or without the tripod  4  attached. The handle aperture  58  is preferably approximately ¾ inch wide by 4 inches long.  
         [0028]    The tray  6  may be disconnected from the tripod  4  and used separately. For such use, a foldable support structure  62  is attached to the back of the base  50  to allow the base  50  to be tipped up on a support surface. Referring to FIG. 7, an embodiment of the support structure  62  includes a stand plate  64  attached to the base  50  by hinges  66  located transversely slightly below the position of the locking plate  24 . A stand plate  64  pivots outward from the back of the base  50 , preferably to a stop which leaves the stand plate  64  extending outward from the base  50  at an angle which may range preferably from 45° to 135°. The inclination angle of the base  50  relative to a support surface on which it rests depends on the angle of the stand plate  64  relative to the base  50 . The lower the angle between the stand plate  64  and the base  50 , the steeper the inclination angle of the base  50 . An adjustable stop may be provided between the stand plate  64  and the base  50  to allow adjustment of the inclination angle of the base  50 . The stand plate  64  preferably has a cut-out  68  which allows clearance for the quick-release locking mechanism  8  attached to the tripod  4  when the stand plate  64  is folded flat against the base  50 . When not in use, the stand plate  64  may be secured against the base  50  by a fastener, such as hook and loop material, or hinges  66  may provide sufficient friction to maintain the stand plate  64  in position against the base  50 .  
         [0029]    Referring to FIG. 8, another embodiment of the tray  6  includes extension arms  70  pivotally connected to the back of the base  50 , preferably near the sides  72 ,  74  and the upper edge  60 . The arms may be extendible telescopic arms or articulated arms. The articulated arms  70  have a plurality of segments  70   a,    70   b,    70   c  pivotally connected at their ends in a manner, such as by riveting, that provides enough friction between the segments  70   a,    70   b,    70   c  so that the segments  70   a,    70   b,    70   c  will stay in a position that they are placed, yet not so much friction that it is difficult to move the segments  70   a,    70   b,    70   c.  The purpose of the arms  70  is to provide support for oversized documents such as newspapers or blueprints. The arms  70  can be pivoted out from the base  50  and the segments  70   a,    70   b,    70   c  positioned as necessary to provide the required support. When the arms  70  are not needed, the segments  70   a,    70   b,    70   c  are folded onto themselves and then pivoted behind the base  50  where they are stored flush against it and do not interfere with any of the apertures  56 ,  58 , in the base  50  or the operation of the stand plate  64 .  
         [0030]    Referring to FIG. 9, the stand  2  with its tripod  4  and support tray  6 , may be used to support a laptop computer  72 . The tray  6  may be dimensioned so that it approximately matches the base of the laptop computer  72  as shown. The laptop computer  72  may simply rest on the tray  6 , or attachment features, such as hook and loop fastener material, may be provided between the tray  6  and the base of the laptop computer  72  to better secure the laptop computer  72  to the tray  6 .  
         [0031]    Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a wrist rest  74  may be attached to the base  50  for using the support tray  6  with a laptop computer  72 . The wrist rest  74  has a clip portion  76  which receives the lip  52  of the base  50  and frictionally holds the wrist rest  74  secure against the lower edge  63  of the base  50 .  
         [0032]    Referring to FIG. 12, an accessory tray  78  may also be used with the stand  2 . Such an accessory tray  120  is disclosed in U.S. provisional Ser. No. 60/164,584, filed Nov. 11, 2000, and later-filed U.S. Ser. No. ______ filed ______ which are incorporated herein by reference. The accessory tray  78  removably attaches to the center post  18  of the tripod  4 . The accessory tray  78  is preferably semicircular or circular in shape and is sheltered by the legs  16  of the tripod  4 . The tray  78  pivots about the center post  18  and is constructed and arranged so that the legs  16  do not interfere with such motion.  
         [0033]    Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.