Portable and convertible washstand

Portable and convertible washstand characterized by the nestable relationship of the basic elements, the stand being adapted to tripod support and having at least two utility shelves, adapted to fabrication from essentially rigid, lightweight, readily extruded materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
The invention is essentially a utility convenience for campers and those 
serving in official capacities in the outdoors such as the military, the 
various government agencies related to the outdoors. Its uniqueness 
resides in the extreme collapsible and portable nature, wherein a 
conveniently raised stand extending over three to four feet or more from 
the surface of the ground, can be reduced to a compact carrying unit of 
box-like construction. The best known art is represented by the following: 
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1,978,650 Shannon 3,186,780 Schaerf 
2,411,332 Orchard 3,617,104 Stadig 
2,575,537 Trumfio 3,687,092 Manning 
2,610,761 Fleming 3,875,873 Howitt 
2,944,862 Heil 3,923,356 Washburne 
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Whereas the art is highly developed in this field, no combination of the 
aforementioned patents suggests the hereinafter described and illustrated 
invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The invention, it will be noted from reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and 3 
relates to a portable stand, ideally suited for transport and assembly of 
toiletries, which is constructed of durable, lightweight, preferably 
injection molded synthetic plastic materials. It is designed to be broken 
down as in FIGS. 2 and 3 into a convenient package. The collapsible nature 
of the stand is such as to provide nestable components, all readily fitted 
into each other, resulting in the compact portable unit of FIG. 3. 
More specifically, the portable stand 10 comprises a stand case 12, said 
case 12 having ports 14, sufficient in number to accommodate the tripod 
section 16. It will be noted that the stand case 12 also includes in its 
base portion, elongated apertures 18, said apertures being adapted to 
receive the extensions of the vertical supports 30 therein, as will be 
more fully explained hereinafter. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be noted that wing-shelves 20 may be 
adapted, in the form shown, to provide lateral extensions to the stand 
case 12, all of which may serve as a temporary container during outdoor 
usage. These winged shelves 20-20', having candelstick apertures 21, are 
shown inverted in the containerized exploded view of FIG. 2. In turn, the 
washbasin 12" is adapted to seat itself between the respective inverted 
wing-shelves 20" or 20' and the half moon mirror shelf 40, as well as the 
vertical supports 30 are adapted in the compacted configuration of FIGS. 2 
and 3 to seat within the washbasin 12", the entire being superposed by the 
cover member 12', reference FIG. 2. 
A modified version of the washstand is shown in FIG. 4 wherein the stand 
case 12, having the plural vertical supports 30 connecting the receptacle 
12' for a removal of the wing shelves 20" or 20' to the upper level 
providing an approximate shelf to the seated washbasin 12". 
A further modification of the construction shown in FIG. 4, will be 
apparent from reference to FIG. 5 wherein the washbasin 12" when 
overturned, provides together with the wing shelves 20" or 20' a suitable 
desk for writing and the like. The remainder of the drawings show the 
interrelationship of the winged elements, 20, supporting elements 30, and 
receptacle portions 18 of the stand case. 
It will thus be apparent from reference to FIGS. 1 and 7 that the vertical 
supports are adapted to friction-fit seating within the apertures provided 
in the stand case elements 12 and 12' whereupon as seated, a substantially 
rigid interconnection is made between those two stand case elements. And, 
too, by reason of the construction of the vertical supports 30 and the 
half moon mirror shelf 40, it can be seen that a substantially rigid, 
smaller mirror shelf is presented for the preferred utility of the 
washbasin 12' or 12" in fitted relationship thereto, reference FIG. 1. 
The mirror shelf 40, it will be noted is provided with a suitable aperture 
41, serving as a candlestick repository. 
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that various modifications to the 
invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, 
as claimed. For example, the segments forming the tripod support may be 
increased or decreased in number to provide a washstand or desk of varying 
types and, too, whereas substantially rectangular nesting stand case and 
washbasin portions are illustrated, it will be obvious that other 
geometric forms may be utilized in connection with the vertical supports 
and accompanying wing shelves without departing further from the spirit of 
invention. All interlocking elements are suited to friction-fit contact, 
thus lending more stability than would otherwise be possible.