Adjustable level play desk for a child

The adjustable level play desk is for a child. It comprises at least three elongated legs of substantially circular cross section, each of the legs having a lower end for resting on the ground and an outer cylindrical surface provided with a first locking device; and a top body having an upper play surface, and at least three sleeves oriented downwardly when in use, the sleeves being for slidably receiving respectively the legs, the sleeves being solid with the top body at positions providing steadiness thereof. Each of the sleeves has a lower opening for receiving the corresponding leg, and an inner cylindrical surface provided with a second locking device for removably engaging with the first locking device of the corresponding leg upon a predetermined rotation thereof to lock the corresponding leg with respect to the sleeve, and a guiding device for guiding the corresponding leg along a longitudinal direction of the sleeve, whereby, in operation, the play surface is adjusted with respect to the child according to a given level by sliding and locking the legs with respect to the sleeves.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is concerned with an adjustable level play desk for a 
child. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the art, there is no adjustable play desk where the play surface can be 
adjusted with respect to the child as it grows in a simple manner. 
OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable play desk 
for a child where the play surface can be adjusted with respect to the 
child as it grows in a simple manner. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention, there is provided an adjustable level 
play desk for a child, comprising: 
at least three elongated legs of substantially circular cross section, each 
of the legs having a lower end for resting on the ground and an outer 
cylindrical surface provided with first locking means; 
a top body having an upper play surface, and at least three sleeves 
oriented downwardly when in use, the sleeves being for slidably receiving 
respectively the legs, the sleeves being solid with the top body at 
positions providing steadiness thereof, each of the sleeves having: 
a lower opening for receiving the corresponding leg, and 
an inner cylindrical surface provided with second locking means for 
removably engaging with the first locking means of the corresponding leg 
upon a predetermined rotation thereof to lock the corresponding leg with 
respect to the sleeve, and a guiding means for guiding the corresponding 
leg along a longitudinal direction of the sleeve, whereby, in operation, 
the play surface is adjusted with respect to the child according to a 
given level by sliding and locking the legs with respect to the sleeves, 
Further objects, advantages and other features of the present invention 
will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive 
description of preferred embodiments thereof given for the purpose of 
exemplification only with reference to the accompanied drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15 and 17, there is 
shown an adjustable level play desk for a child. The play desk comprises 
four elongated legs 2 of substantially circular cross section. Each leg 2 
has a lower end 4 for resting on the ground and an outer cylindrical 
surface 6 provided with first locking means. Preferably, these first 
locking means comprise four aligned, spaced apart locking buttons 8 
outwardly projecting from the outer cylindrical surface 6 along a 
longitudinal direction thereof. 
The play desk also comprises a top body 10 having an upper play surface 12, 
and four sleeves 14 oriented downwardly when in use. The sleeves 14 are 
for slidably receiving respectively the legs 2 as shown in FIG. 2. The 
sleeves 14 are solid with the top body 10 at position providing steadiness 
thereof. 
Each sleeve 14 has a lower opening 16 for receiving the corresponding leg 2 
and an inner cylindrical surface 20 provided with second locking means for 
removably engaging with the first locking means of the corresponding leg 
2. Upon a predetermined rotation of the leg 2 with respect to the 
corresponding sleeve 14, they are locked together. Each sleeve 14 also has 
a guiding means for guiding the corresponding leg 2 along a predetermined 
longitudinal direction of the sleeve 14. Preferably, the guiding means 
comprise parallel, spaced apart ribs 18 outwardly projecting from the 
inner cylindrical surface 20 and extending along a longitudinal direction 
thereof for restricting the buttons 8 along a predetermined path. The 
predetermined path is wide enough to allow the predetermined rotation of 
the leg 2 with respect to the sleeve 14. 
Preferably, the second locking means comprise at least one flange 22 
outwardly projecting from the inner cylindrical surface 20 and located 
within the predetermined path. Strengthening cells 17 are provided to 
strengthen the top body 10. 
In FIGS. 2, 16 and 17, two opposite flanges 22 are shown. Each flange 22 
has a narrow portion corresponding substantially to a distance between two 
adjacent buttons 8. In use, one leg 2 is slid into the corresponding 
sleeve 14 by sliding a row of the buttons 8 along the predetermined path 
of the sleeve 14, and the leg 2 is locked with respect to the sleeve 14 by 
circumferentially sliding the buttons 8 to lock each of the opposite 
flanges 22 between two adjacent buttons 8 as shown respectively in FIGS. 
16 and 17. Accordingly, in operation, the play surface is adjusted with 
respect to the child according to a given level by sliding and locking the 
legs 2 with respect to the sleeves 14. 
Referring again to FIGS. 2, 16 and 17, as there are four buttons 8 in a 
row, the leg 2 can be locked in three positions. Also, in FIG. 16, it can 
be seen that the leg 2 is provided with two opposite rows of buttons 8, 
and the sleeve 14 is provided with two opposite flanges 22 to better 
secure each locking position of the leg 2 with respect to the sleeve 14. 
Also, the buttons 8 can be provided respectively with different color 
stickers to easily identify in which position each leg 2 is locked. In 
use, the legs 2 are not necessarily locked at the same height. For 
example, the front legs 2 can be locked at a height which is lower than 
the one at which the rear legs 2 are locked to give a slope to the upper 
play surface 12. 
Preferably, the lower end of the sleeve 14 and the upper end of the leg 2 
are provided respectively with notches 106 and 108. These notches 106 and 
108 constitute visual marks by which the user aligns the leg 2 with 
respect to the corresponding sleeve 14 before its insertion therein. A 
stop 100 is provided on each leg 2 to prevent that the leg 2 be completely 
inserted into the corresponding sleeve 14. Covers 110 are provided for 
covering the upper ends of the sleeves 14. Each cover 110 is provided on 
its lower or interior surface with hooks 96 and 98. The hooks 96 are 
inserted into the U-shaped slots 94 by forcing them into slots which are 
momentarily bent out of shape to allow introduction of the looks 96 
therein. Then, a downward pressure is applied on the cover 110 to insert 
the hook 98 underneath the stop 92. To remove a cover 110, the user 
applies an upward force on the portion of the cover between the looks 96, 
the slots 94 are then momentarily bent out of shape to extract the hooks 
96 therefrom. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, preferably the upper play surface 12 is 
substantially square and is inwardly projecting in the top body 10 to form 
a substantially square containing section with an open top. The containing 
section has a depth of one inch for containing for example a plurality of 
toy blocks. The upper play surface 12 is provided with longitudinal and 
transversal upwardly projecting flanges 24 to strengthen the top body. The 
play surface 12 is also provided with lateral strengthening flanges 104. 
Referring now more specifically to FIG. 14, preferably, the top body has a 
back wall 30 and a bottom wall 32. The back wall 30 has a central portion 
provided with a first outer opening 34 having appropriate dimensions for 
receiving a hand 31 of the child. The bottom wall 32 has also a central 
portion adjacent to the central portion of the back wall 30, provided with 
a second outer opening 36 distal from the first opening 34 so that a 
handle 38 which is between the first and second openings 34 and 36 is 
formed for carrying the desk. The handle 38 is made of two parts. The 
first part 39 is made by a portion of the back wall 30, which is between 
the first and second openings 34 and 36. The second part 41 is adjacent to 
the first part 39 and is fitted into position by means of pins 43 which 
are received into tight recesses. 
Preferably, as it can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the top body 10 is 
substantially square and has four corners. There are four sleeves 14 
respectively located at the corners of the top body 10. The four sleeves 
14 open out downwardly with respect to the top body 10. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, there is shown that the 
adjustable level play desk also preferably comprises a substantially 
rectangular lid 40 for covering the containing section of the top body 10. 
A hinge is provided for pivotally connecting a first side 42 of the top 
body 10 with a first side 44 of the lid 40 so that, in operation, the lid 
40 is pivoted with respect to the top body 10 by means of the hinge to 
either open or close the containing section of the top body 10. The first 
side 42 of the top body 10 has a back wall 30 from which two pairs of 
inner transversal partition walls 50 extend. Each of the pairs of 
partition walls 50 has opposite faces which are respectively provided with 
facing pegs 52. All of the pegs 52 are aligned along a same axis which is 
offset with respect to the back wall 30. The first side 44 of the lid 40 
has an outer back side 54 from which two pairs of inner transversal 
partition walls 56 extend. Each pair of the partition walls 56 has 
opposite faces which are respectively provided with opposite recesses 58 
adapted to receive the pegs 52 to form the hinge for pivoting the lid 40 
with respect to the top body 10. Each partition wall 56 has a back side 
provided with a curve-shaped hollow 60 above the corresponding recess 58 
to receive the upper edge of the back wall 30 when the lid 40 is open. 
Preferably, the top body 10 has a second side 70 opposite to the first side 
42 thereof, which is provided with an outwardly and downwardly projecting 
edge 72 as shown more specifically on FIGS. 10, 11 and 13. The lid 40 is 
made of a resilient plastic material and has a second side 74 opposite to 
the first side 44 thereof. The second side 74 is provided with an inwardly 
projecting hook 76 shown more specifically on FIG. 13 for snap-fit 
engagement with the outwardly and downwardly projecting edge 72 of the top 
body 10 to lock the lid 40 on the top body 10. In use, when the lid 40 
closes the containing section, the hook 76 is attached around and under 
the outwardly and downwardly projecting edge 72 and when the child opens 
the lid 40 it pulls the second side 74 of the lid 40 by means of a button 
75 to slide the hook 76 off the outwardly and downwardly projecting edge 
72. 
Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 3, 10, 11, 12 and 13, the 
adjustable level play desk preferably further comprises substantially 
flat, rectangular play plates 80. The lid 40 comprises a top surface 
provided with a rectangular-shaped recessed surface 82 having a perimeter 
edge step 84 provided with an inwardly projecting edge 87 spaced apart 
from the recessed surface 82. The recessed surface 82 has appropriate 
dimensions for receiving, side by side, the play plates 80 which, in use, 
are held in position by means of the inwardly projecting edge 87. The 
recessed surface 82 is provided with through holes 89 which face 
respectively the play plates 80 when they are held in position in the 
recessed surface 82. In use, the child can push each of the plates 80 off 
position by means of a finger. It can be noted that when the cover is 
closed, it is not possible to remove the play plates from the lid 40. 
Accordingly, when the play desk is in store for sale, it is possible to 
seal the lid 40 on the top body 10 by means of a sticker and even if the 
play plates are exposed to the customer they cannot be removed from the 
desk. 
Referring now to FIGS. 18, 19 and 20, there is shown how a leg 2 is 
initially inserted into a sleeve 14. First, the leg 2 is inserted into the 
lower opening of the sleeve 14 according to a given position which is 
determined by the guiding ribs 18. The leg 2 is provided along its length 
with outer longitudinal ribs 90 having upper bias ends and lower square 
angle ends which form a stop. In the given position, the ribs 90 face the 
flanges 22. When the leg 2 is inserted into the sleeve 14, the flanges 
slide over the ribs 90 via their bias ends, and the leg 2 is momentarily 
bent out of shape as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. As the leg 2 is further 
inserted into the sleeve 14, it will be secured in the sleeve 14 as shown 
in FIG. 20. In the position shown in FIG. 20, the leg 2 cannot be easily 
removed from the sleeve 14 because the flanges 22 act like a stop against 
the lower ends of the ribs 90 to prevent a removal of the leg 2 from the 
sleeve 14. 
Preferably, the top body 10, the legs 2 and the lid 40 are made of plastic 
material and are produced by moulding. 
Although the present invention has been explained hereinafter by way of 
preferred embodiments thereof, it should be pointed out that any 
modifications to these preferred embodiments, within the scope of the 
appended claims, are not deemed to change or alter the nature and scope of 
the present invention.