Abstract:
A portable, ergonomic work structure for designing and viewing scrapbook layouts. The desktop device includes a tabletop that contains magnets to which a layout mat may be removably attached. The layout mat is preferably a ferromagnetic sheet on which a scrapbook layout can be held in place by removable magnets. The tabletop preferably includes a foldable support to allow the layout to be viewed at an angle and to reduce the desktop table&#39;s footprint on the working surface. In order for the layout mat to be held securely to the tabletop while in use, the surface of the magnets in contact with the layout mat are raised slightly above the tabletop surface.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to, and claims priority from, U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 60/912,750 filed on Apr. 19, 2007, by Brian Pellegrino and Shawn Daniels entitled “Folding Desktop Table”, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to portable working surfaces, and more particularly to a desktop table having a magnetically attached, removable mat capable of temporarily, magnetically holding design elements in place. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Scrapbooking is a way of preserving personal and family memorabilia in the form of photographs and printed media in decorated albums called scrapbooks. 
         [0004]    People have probably been scrapbooking since printed material became available to the average person. Some of the earliest and most famous American scrapbookers include Thomas Jefferson and Mark Twain. Mark Twain, or rather, Samuel L. Clemens, received U.S. Pat. No. 140,245 for his invention of an “Improvement in Scrap-books”, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0005]    Modern scrapbooking has evolved into a social hobby in which attractive displays of photos, text, journaling and memorabilia are created, typically using patterned and colored background papers and a host of so-called embellishments. As a hobby, scrapbooking has recently surpassed golf in popularity in the US, with one in three households having some involved in scrapbooking while only one in four households has someone playing golf. In 2004, scrapbooking was a $2.5 billion industry, with over 1,600 companies creating scrapbooking products. Creative Memories, a leading home-based retailer of scrapbooking supplies founded in 1987, had revenues of $425 million in retail sales in 2004. 
         [0006]    The basic materials used in scrapbooking include background papers that are typically 12 inch square or 8½×11 inch pages and may be printed or cardstock paper. Recently new, smaller album formats have become popular, including 6, 7 or 8 inch square formats. Other materials include photo corner mounts or some other means of mounting photos such as adhesive dots, photo mounting tape, or acid-free glue, scissors, a paper trimmer and art pens or archival pens for journaling More elaborate designs require more specialized tools such as die cut templates, rubber stamps, craft punches, stencils, inking tools, eyelet setters, heat embossing tools and powders and personal die cut machines. 
         [0007]    Various accessories, referred to as “embellishments,” are used to decorate the scrapbook pages. Embellishments include stickers, rub-ons, stamps, eyelets, brads, chipboard elements in various shapes, alphabet letters and ribbon. The use of die cut machines is also increasingly popular as in recent years electronic die-cutting machines, similar to printers, that can be connected to one&#39;s computer to cut any shape or font have become available. 
         [0008]    In addition to preserving memories, scrapbooking is popular for the strong social network that it can provide. Hobbyists, known as “scrappers” or “scrapbookers,” get together and scrapbook at each other&#39;s homes, local scrapbook stores, scrapbooking conventions, retreat centers, and even on cruises. The attendees share tips and ideas as well as enjoying a social outlet. The term “crop,” a reference to cropping or trimming printed photographs, was coined to describe these events. 
         [0009]    Crops typically last about 12 hours, though some can be multi-day affairs. Attendees at crops typically have limited space because of the desire to accommodate as many scrappers as reasonably possible. There is, therefore, a need for a structure that allows a scrapper to ergonomically assemble and adjust scrapbook pages while having a relatively small footprint on the working surface to allow space for scrapbook materials. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Briefly described, the invention provides a portable work structure for designing and viewing scrapbook layouts that is ergonomic to use. 
         [0011]    In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes a tabletop containing magnets to which a layout mat may be removably attached. The layout mat is preferably a ferromagnetic sheet on which the scrapbook layout can be held in place by removable magnets. The tabletop preferably includes a foldable support to allow the layout to be viewed at an angle and to reduce the desktop table&#39;s footprint on the working surface. 
         [0012]    In order for the layout mat to be held securely to the tabletop while in use, the surface of the magnets in contact with the layout mat are proud of the tabletop surface, i.e., they are raised slightly above the tabletop surface. 
         [0013]    These and other features of the invention will be more fully understood by references to the following drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic 3-D representation of a tabletop with contained magnets. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is schematic 3-D representation of a desktop table of the present invention being used to hold a card in place. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is cross-sectional representation of a desktop table of the present invention being used to hold a card in place. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a schematic 3-D representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a tabletop with contained magnets in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a schematic 3-D representation of a further exemplary embodiment of desktop table of the present invention being used to hold a card in place. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5A  is a close up of a removable mat showing a bent corner serving as a handle element. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5B  is a close up of a removable mat showing a hole serving as a hanging element. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a schematic 3-D representation of two tabletops of the present invention joined in an operational configuration by latching devices. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6A  is a close up of a closed latching device. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6B  is a close up of an open latching device. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a schematic 3-D representation of a tabletop and a tabletop device of the present invention joined in an operational configuration by latching devices. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a schematic 3-D representation of two tabletop devices of the present invention joined in an operational configuration by latching devices. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a schematic cross-sectional representation of two tabletop devices of the present invention joined in a carrying or storage configuration by latching devices. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    The present invention relates to portable work tables suitable for use in hobbies such as scrapbooking. In particular, the present invention is concerned with portable work tables having removable layout mats on which a layout such as, but not limited to, a scrapbook layout may be assembled and viewed. 
         [0028]    The portable desktop devices of this invention are preferably made of materials that provide a balance between being heavy enough to be stable while working and being light enough to be easily portable. 
         [0029]    A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings in which, as far as possible, like elements are designated by like numbers. 
         [0030]    Although every reasonable attempt is made in the accompanying drawings to represent the various elements of the embodiments in relative scale, it is not always possible to do so with the limitations of two-dimensional paper. Accordingly, in order to properly represent the relationships of various features among each other in the depicted embodiments and to properly demonstrate the invention in a reasonably simplified fashion, it is necessary at times to deviate from absolute scale in the attached drawings. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would fully appreciate and acknowledge any such scale deviations as not limiting the enablement of the disclosed embodiments. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a schematic 3-D representation of a tabletop  12  with contained magnets  14 . The tabletop  12  may be made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, wood, plastic, ceramic and stone, or any suitable combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the tabletop  12  is made from a medium density fiberboard. This has been found to be easily machined, to provide dimensional stability and to be a good compromise between being heavy enough to minimize movement in use, and being light enough to be transported. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is schematic 3-D representation of a desktop table device  10  of the present invention being used to hold a scrapbook layout  20  in place using neodymium magnets  22 . The desktop table device  10  includes a removable mat  16 . The removable mat  16  removably attaches to the tabletop  12  via the magnets  14 . The removable mat  16  has a handle element  18  to facilitate removal of the removable mat  16  from the magnets  14 . The scrapbook layout  20  is held in place on the removable mat  16  by the neodymium magnets  22 . The scrapbook layout  20  may include, but is not limited to, background paper, photographs, fabrics and assorted embellishments, or some combination thereof. The neodymium magnets  22  may be coated with a protective coating to reduce their impact on more delicate scrapbook layout  20  elements. The protective coating may, for instance, be a soft polymer coating or a layer of felt material. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional representation of a desktop table device  10  of the present invention being used to hold the scrapbook layout  20  in place.  FIG. 3  clearly shows how the magnets  14  are retained in the tabletop  12  by recesses  24 . 
         [0034]    The recesses  24  may be machined so that the magnets  14  is a sufficiently snug fit to be securely fixed to the tabletop  12 . The magnets  14  may also, or instead, be secured to the tabletop  12  by a suitable glue such as, but not limited to, a suitable high strength epoxy glue. The magnets  14  are retained such that the top surfaces of the magnets  14  are slightly proud of the top surface of the tabletop  12 , i.e., the top surfaces of the magnets  14  are higher than the top surface of the tabletop  12  by about 0.1 mm to about 2 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the magnets  14  are proud of the top surface of the tabletop  12  by about one sixty-fourth of an inch. This ensures that the removable mat  16  contacts the magnets  14  evenly and is securely held in place while in use. 
         [0035]    In a preferred embodiment, the magnets  14  are disk-shaped grade 8 ceramic magnets as made by, for instance, Bunting Magnetics Co. of Newton, Kans. T 
         [0036]    The removable mat  16  is made from a suitable ferromagnetic material such as, but not limited to, steel. The thickness of the removable mat  16  is selected to provide sufficient stiffness to maintain rigidity when being removed from the magnets  14  while being as thin as possible to be as light as possible for transportation. The size of the removable mat  16  is selected to accommodate the standard scrap book page sizes of a 12 inch square or a 12 inch by 14 inch rectangle. The removable mat  16  may also be coated to prevent rusting of the steel. Suitable coatings include, but are not limited to, paint, plastic, galvanized finishes or powder coating. 
         [0037]    In a preferred embodiment, the removable mat  16  is a thin steel sheet large enough to accommodate a standard scrap book page, finished with a durable coating in a neutral color. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the removable mat  16  is an agate gray, matte finish, powder coated 14 inch square of 24 gauge steel. Such a removable mat  16  is easily removable from the magnets  14  and maintains its shape. The matte finish reduces glare. The agate gray is a neutral color that does not clash with designs being displayed on the removable mat  16 . 
         [0038]    The removable mat  16  may also contain alignment markings such as, but not limited to, a grid to facilitate alignment of the scrapbook layout  20  elements. 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the desktop table device  10  is shown in use with a scrapbook layout  20  being held in place on the removable mat  16  using neodymium magnets  22 . The scrapbook layout  20  may continue to be held in place on the removable mat  16  by the neodymium magnets  22  even when the removable mat  16  is removed from the magnets  14 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a schematic 3-D representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a tabletop  12  with contained magnets  14  in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  is a schematic 3-D representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a desktop table device  10  of the present invention being used to hold in place a card  20  that may be an element of a scrapbook layout. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5A  is a close up of a portion of a removable mat  16  removable mat showing a bent corner serving as a handle element  18 . In a preferred embodiment the corner that is bent in to a handle element  18  is bent at an angle of between 20 degrees and 60 degrees, and more preferably at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. 
         [0043]    Alternate forms of handles include, but are not limited to, a cutout in the tabletop  12  that allows access to the underside of the removable mat  16 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 5B  is a close up of a portion of a removable mat  16  showing a hole serving as a hanging element  37 . The hanging element  37  may, for instance, be used to display a scrapbook layout  20  retained on the removable mat  16  by neodymium magnets  22  by suspending the removable mat  16  from a picture hanging element such as, but not limited to, a nail or a hook, using the hanging element  37 . 
         [0045]    In this embodiment, the tabletop  12  includes an inner board  26  and edging  28 . The inner board  26  may, for instance, be made of some rigid, but light and easily machined material, while the edging  28  may be made of a material that is heavy or more durable or more aesthetically pleasing. The inner board  26  may, for instance, be made of molded plastic or fiberboard, while the edging  28  is made of, for instance, wood, chrome finished metal or aluminum extruding. In a preferred embodiment, inner board  26  is made from medium density fiberboard while the edging  28  is made from furniture grade solid wood. 
         [0046]    The tabletop  12  of  FIG. 4  includes a plurality of magnets  14  located towards the periphery of the inner board  26 . In this way the magnets  14  used to hold the removable mat  16  are less likely to interfere with the neodymium magnets  22  used to hold objects to the removable mat  16 . In a preferred embodiment there are twelve ceramic magnets evenly distributed around the periphery of the inner board  26 . 
         [0047]    A stand element  30  enables the tabletop  12  to be angled with respect to a surface it is being used on. In addition to reducing the footprint of the tabletop  12 , being supported at an angle by the stand element  30  allows a user to view and design layouts while maintaining a clear, working space immediately in front of the user. The stand element  30  may be removable or foldable for easy carrying of the tabletop  12 . The stand element  30  may also have a foot element  32  to help prevent the tabletop  12  sliding when in use. 
         [0048]    In a preferred embodiment, the stand element  30  is foldable and made of a suitable tubular material such as, but not limited to, a metal or plastic tubing or wire. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the stand element  30  is made of three-sixteenth of an inch diameter galvanized steel wire. The galvanizing prevents corrosion and this dimension of steel wire has been found to be an optimal balance between being strong and being light weight. The foot element  32  may, for instance, be a length of polyethylene tubing covering a portion of the foot element  32 . 
         [0049]    The tabletop  12  may also include a latch element  35  and a pin element  36  to allow two tabletops  12  to be joined together. 
         [0050]      FIG. 6  is a schematic 3-D representation of two tabletops  12  of the present invention joined in an operational configuration by latching devices  34 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 6A  is a close up of a closed latching device  34 . The latching device  34  includes a hinged latch element  35  and a latching pin  36 . The hinged latch element  35  is rotatably secured to the tabletop  12  by a suitable fastener  40 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 6B  is a close up of an open latching device  34 . The hinged latch element  35  has been rotated around the suitable fastener  40  so that a latch opening  38  no longer engages the latching pin  36 . The hinged latch element  35  may have a latch extension  42 . The latch extension  42  may, for instance, function as a handle providing leverage thereby facilitating opening and closing of the latching device  34 . 
         [0053]    In a preferred embodiment the hinged latch element  35  is formed from a suitable hard wearing material such as a metal, a plastic or a hard wood. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the hinged latch element  35  is molded from a hard plastic such as, but not limited to, a polyacetal resin or a polyformaldehyde such as the Delran® resin marketed by the Dupont Corporation of Delaware. The latching pin  36  may, for instance, be a soft plastic standoff such as, but not limited to, a nylon standoff. The nylon latching pin  36  may be attached to the tabletop  12  by as suitable attachment means such as, but not limited to, a nail, rivet or a screw. In a preferred embodiment the latching pin  36  is attached to the tabletop  12  by a stainless steel truss head screw. 
         [0054]      FIG. 7  is a schematic 3-D representation of a tabletop  12  and a tabletop device  10  of the present invention joined in an operational configuration by latching devices  34 . The desktop table device  10  includes a tabletop  12  and a removable mat  16 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 8  is a schematic 3-D representation of two tabletop devices  10  of the present invention joined in an operational configuration by latching devices  34 . Although only two desktop table devices  10  are shown attached in an operational configuration in  FIG. 8 , one of ordinary skill will appreciate that as many desktop table devices  10  as are available may be latched together by such a latching arrangement. A desktop table device  10  may for instance be attached to between one and, in principle, an infinite number of other desktop table devices  10 , all in a serial, operational configuration with respect to each other. Such arrangements may, for instance, be useful in laying out multiple scrapbook pages at the same time. 
         [0056]      FIG. 9  is a schematic cross-sectional representation of two tabletop devices  10  of the present invention joined in a carrying or storage configuration by latching devices  34 . In this carrying configuration the magnet surfaces of the two tabletops  12  confront each other. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the distance between the fastener  40  about which the latching hinged latch element  35  rotates and the latch opening  38  is such that in the storage configuration, the removable mats  16  may stay in place on the tabletop  12 . Moreover, the distance between the fastener  40  and the latch opening  38  may be such that there is clearance in the carrying configuration for scrapbook layouts  20  to remain held in place by neodymium magnets  22  on the removable mat  16 . In this way incomplete scrapbook layouts  20  may, for instance, be stored from one crop to the next. 
         [0057]    Although the invention has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claimed invention. Modifications may readily be devised by those ordinarily skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.