Collapsible stand

A portable, collapsible stand includes first, second and third substantially rectangularly shaped and rigid panels hinged together so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position. Flexible straps extend between the panels to prevent them from fully opening. Hooks located adjacent the top edge of the first panel allow the stand to be suspended from a horizontally arranged support such as the handle of a piece of luggage or the back of an airplane seat. When so suspended, the panels are in partially opened positions with respect to each other so that the first panel can function as a desk, computer support or a head rest. The second panel includes a plurality of openings formed therein for holding a drinking cup or a pen or other writing utensil. In lieu of suspending the stand, rigid rods or bars movable into position between the panels can maintain them in their open position. Feet at the bottom of the third panel allow the stand to sit on a desk or table or other horizontal surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a portable and collapsible workstation stand and more particularly, toward a stand that may be attached to a piece of luggage, the back of a chair or airplane seat or used alone and which may be used as a desk or headrest.

An increasing number of people today must work while traveling or find that they are traveling more for work. Also, many business people have portable offices. In which case, they do not have traditional offices so all of their work is done in transit. In any of these situations, very rarely is a suitable work area available in airports, train stations, bus terminals, and the like. As a result, travelers may feel that they are being unproductive as they wait for an airplane, train, or bus.

Another problem that occurs while business people are traveling is that people are often carrying luggage as well office equipment such as laptop computers while traveling. Trying to carry all of these personal items can become burdensome and cumbersome.

A further problem associated with the use of public transportation is the inability to rest while waiting for a particular mode of transportation. Frequently, airplanes, trains, and buses may run behind schedule or there may be a large gap between connecting flights, trains, or buses. Often the space in waiting rooms or areas is limited so a person may not be able to rest comfortably.

The above-mentioned trends have become quite evident and solutions have been proposed that seek to alleviate the problems associated with working while traveling. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,508 to Ryburg discloses a wheeled suitcase with a collapsible table attached thereto. This device, however, does not appear to work effectively without a luggage carrier.

Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,019 to Miller discloses a travel case with a deployable and retractable tray table assembly mounted thereto. Again, however, this table does not appear to be functional without the luggage carrier.

Therefore, a need exists for a portable, collapsible stand that may be attached to luggage, to a seat back or used alone and may be used as a desk, a support surface for a portable computer, or as a headrest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable, collapsible stand that may be attached to a luggage carrier and be used as a desk, a support surface for a portable computer, or a headrest.

It is another object of the present invention to provide portable, collapsible stand that may rest on a horizontal surface and be used as a desk, portable computer support, or a headrest.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable, collapsible stand that may be secured to a vertical surface and be used as a desk, a portable computer support, or headrest.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a portable, collapsible stand which includes first, second and third substantially rectangularly shaped and substantially rigid panels hinged together so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position relative to each other. Flexible means extend between the panels to prevent them from fully opening. Hooks located adjacent the top edge of the first panel allow the stand to be suspended from a horizontally arranged support such as the handle of a piece of luggage or the back of an airplane seat. When so suspended, the panels are in partially opened positions with respect to each other so that the first panel can function as a desk, computer support or a head rest. The second panel includes a plurality of openings formed therein for holding a drinking cup or a pen or other writing utensil. In lieu of suspending the stand, rigid rods or bars movable into position between the panels can maintain them in their open position. Feet at the bottom of the third panel allow the stand to sit on a desk or table or other horizontal surface.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the various figures to designate like elements, there is shown inFIG. 1a portable, collapsible stand constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as10.

The stand of the present invention essentially includes a first or upper panel12, a second or middle panel14and a third or lower panel16. The panels12,14and16are substantially rigid and, in the preferred embodiment, are substantially rectangularly shaped. Each panel also has an upper edge and a lower edge that are identified as edges18,20,22,24,26and28. As can be seen, all of the edges18,20,22,24,26and28are essentially parallel to each other. A hinge30connects the lower or second edge20of the first panel12to the upper or first edge22of the second panel14while a similar hinge32connects the lower or second edge24of the second panel14to the upper or first edge26of the third panel16.

The hinges30and32allow the first and second panels12and14and the second and third panels14and16to move between closed positions wherein they lie essentially against each other as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3and an open position as shown inFIGS. 4 and 6. Flexible straps34and36extending between the first and second panels12and14prevent the panels from fully opening with respect to each other. The amount that they can open can be adjusted through the use of Velcro or similar fasteners38at one end of each of the straps34and36. A similar flexible strap40extends between the second panel14and the third panel16to prevent those two panels from fully opening with respect to each other.

Located at the top or first edge18of the first panel12is a hook42. As best shown inFIG. 6, the hook42can be used to suspend the workstation stand10from a horizontally arranged support such as the handle44of a rolling suitcase46. To prevent the device from inadvertently being dislodged from the handle44, an additional flexible strap48attached to the upper edge18of the panel12can loop around the handle44and can be closed utilizing Velcro or some other similar fastening means.

As shown most clearly inFIG. 10, the hook42can also be used to suspend the portable workstation stand10from the back of an airplane seat50that includes a stowable tray52. As should be readily apparent, this is accomplished by slightly opening the tray, passing the hooks42over the top edge of the tray and then closing the same.

With the portable workstation stand10suspended from the handle of the suitcase as shown inFIG. 6or from the back of an airplane seat as shown inFIG. 10, various articles can be placed on the upper surface of the first panel12. By way of example, the panel could hold a book or papers54as shown inFIG. 10, a laptop computer56as shown inFIG. 9or a headrest58as shown inFIG. 8. A raised ledge60located at the lower edge20of the first panel12prevents any object resting on the panel12from sliding downwardly.

In lieu of suspending the portable workstation stand10from the top as shown inFIGS. 6 and 10, the stand can also be self supporting and rest on a table or other horizontal support surface. This is accomplished through the use of a pair of pivotally arranged rigid members62and64. Member62has one end pivotally secured to the back of the first panel12as shown at66and has a free end68that is adapted to pivot downwardly and away from the rear surface of the panel12. Velcro or other fastening means70temporarily maintain the rigid member62in its inoperative position as shown inFIG. 3. Similarly, the rigid member64is hinged at72to the upper surface of the lower panel16with its free end74suspended downwardly and temporarily held onto the surface through the use of Velcro or similar fasteners76.

When it is desired to erect the portable workstation stand10and maintain it in its opened position, the panels12,14and16are opened and the rigid member62is pivoted downwardly so that the free end68fits into a notch or opening78located adjacent the center of the second panel14. Similarly, the free end74of the lower rigid member64is pivoted upwardly to fit into the notch79from the bottom. (SeeFIG. 4.) The rigid members62and64, as interconnected between the panels12,14and16, thereby hold the panels in the open position such as shown inFIG. 8.

With the panels held in their open position, the entire device can be placed on a table or similar horizontal support surface. In order to prevent marring of the table, the lower surface of the lowermost panel16may be provided with rubber feet or the like such as shown at80. The portable workstation stand10, as supported on a desk or table, can then be used to support a headrest, or laptop computer, or papers or a book in essentially the same manner as if the device were suspended from the hook42as discussed above. On certain surfaces such as an arm tray on an airplane, the workstation may have a tendency to move rearwardly. In order to prevent this from happening, the front edge of the lowermost panel16may be provided with a lip81.

The collapsible and portable workstation stand10includes additional features that make the same useful for the traveling businessman, or student or the like. For example, a mouse pad82may be mounted on the upper surface of the lower panel16. In addition, the second or middle panel14may be provided with a plurality of openings such as shown at84and86. The opening84may be large enough to hold a drinking cup88or the like while the opening86is intended to hold a pen or pencil or other writing utensil.