A universal space saving flatbed scanner stand

Abstract: A universal space saving flatbed scanner stand (100) that has a scanner platform section (103) and a counterweight platform section (102) which are connected by a hinge (104) that permits the two sections to be at approximately 180 degree angle or 90 degree angle with respect to each other. The flatbed scanner stand (100) permits a desktop (134) to be extended to allow space for a flatbed scanner (120). The flatbed scanner (120) may be used when the flatbed scanner stand (100) is in the fully extended (180 degree) position. Some scanners (120) may be used when the flatbed scanner stand (100) is in the folded-up (90 degree) position. Alternatively, when the flatbed scanner (120) is not being used, the flatbed scanner stand (100) may be in the folded-up (90 degree) position, in which the flatbed scanner (120) takes-up the space of a sheetfeed scanner. A CPU box (128), monitor (126), printer (122) or other sufficiently heavy object may be positioned on the counterweight platform section (102) in order to counter the weight of the flatbed scanner (100) on the scanner platform section (103) of the scanner stand (100). The scanner stand (100) may also include a cabling hole (125) for the scanner power cable and other cables (124) to be threaded through.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of flatbed scanners. In particular, this invention provides a universal flatbed scanner stand that saves work space . BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As the use of personal computers proliferates in everyday business and personal life and as the use of peripheral devices becomes more and more standard at each individual desktop, the space on the individual desktop has become extremely crowded. Computer manufacturers have used different approaches to address the problem of a crowded desktop. These approaches have included various stacking schemes, such as stacking the monitor or printer on top of the computer chassis, combining the mouse and the keyboard as an integral unit, or making the computer or peripherals narrower and taller, such as the computer tower. Manufacturers of flatbed scanners have made minimal strides in reducing the footprint of the flatbed scanners, but overall, flatbed scanners still take up too much space on the desktop. Some scanner users have moved to sheetfeed scanners, which take up significantly less desktop space than the flatbed scanners. However, sheetfeed scanners do not have the scanning capabilities of a flatbed scanner, such as scanning bound documents, scanning fragile documents and photographs, scanning objects thicker than a sheet of paper, scanning odd shaped objects, etc. A flatbed scanner offers these and other scanning capabilities over the sheetfeed scanner, but takes up a great deal of precious space on the desktop. This leaves scanner users with the choice of trading desktop space for scanner functionality. It would be desirable to have a scanner with the flexibility and functionality of a flatbed scanner that only takes up the desktop area of a sheetfeed scanner. U.S. Patent No. 5,040,760 discloses a support for a computer keyboard that includes two articulated elongated members which are spaced apart laterally by crossbraces. First end sections of the elongated members are placed between the computer and a support surface so that middle sections extend generally downwardly adjacent the edge of the support surface and so that second end sections extend generally laterally outwardly from the middle sections to formed spaced-apart supports for a computer keyboard. It is the object of the present invention to provide for a scanner arrangement on a desktop having reduced space requirements. This object is achieved by a scanner stand in accordance with claim 1 or 2. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following more particular description of the invention, presented in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of the universal space saving scanner stand in the fully extended position on the right side of the desktop with a printer as the counterweight according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a front perspective view of the universal space saving scanner stand in the folded up position on the right side of the desktop with a printer as the counterweight according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows a front perspective view of the universal space saving scanner stand in the fully extended position on the left side of the desktop with a CPU box and monitor as the counterweight according to the present invention; Figure 4 shows a front perspective view of the universal space saving scanner stand in the folded up position on the left side of the desktop with a CPU box and monitor as the counterweight according to the present invention; Figure 5 shows a front perspective view of the universal space saving scanner stand alone in the fully extended position according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 6 shows a front perspective view of the universal space saving scanner stand alone in the fully extended position according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figures 1 and 2 show some of the components of a typical personal computer user's desktop 134 today, that is a CPU box 128, a monitor 126, a keyboard 130, a mouse 132 a printer 122 and a scanner 120. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the universal space saving flatbed scanner stand 100 being used on the right hand side of the desktop 134 with a printer 122 as the counterweight on the counterweight platform section 102 of the scanner stand 100. In Figure 1, the universal space saving flatbed scanner stand 100 is in the fully extended position with the scanner 120 on the scanner platform section 103 of the scanner stand 100 and the power and computer connection cables 124 of the scanner 120 threaded through the cabling hole 125 of cabling section 123 of the scanner stand 100. The scanner platform section 103 is connected to the counterweight platform section 102 by a hinge 104 that enables the two sections of the scanner stand 100 to be at either 180 degrees or 90 degrees with respect to each other. Figure 1 shows the scanner platform 103 at approximately a 180 degrees to the counterweight platform 102 with the scanner lid 121 capable of being opened and the scanner 120 capable of being used. Figure 2 illustrates the universal space saving flatbed scanner stand 100 being used on the right hand side of the desktop 134 with a printer 122 as the counterweight on the counterweight platform section 102. The flatbed scanner 120 and the flatbed scanner platform section 103 are in the folded-up position at approximately a 90° angle to the counterweight platform section 102. It will be appreciated in Figure 2 that when the scanner platform 103 is in the folded-up position, some scanners 120 may not be useable and some scanner lids may not be secure or not be able to be opened. Also, when the scanner platform 103 is in the folded-up position, the scanner 120 takes up approximately the same amount of space as a sheetfeed scanner. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the universal space saving flatbed scanner stand 100 being used on the left hand side of the desktop 134 with a CPU box 128 and a monitor 126 as the counterweight on the counterweight platform section 102 of the scanner stand 100. In Figure 3, the universal space saving flatbed scanner stand 100 is in the fully extended position with the scanner 120 on the scanner platform section 103 of the scanner stand 100 and the power and computer connection cables 124 of the scanner 120 threaded through the cabling hole 125 of cabling section 123 of the scanner stand 100. The scanner platform section 103 is connected to the counterweight platform section 102 by a hinge 104 that enables the two platform sections of the scanner stand 100 to be at either a 180 degree angle or a 90 degree angle with respect to each other. Figure 3 shows the scanner platform 103 at approximately a 180 degree angle to the counterweight platform 102 with the scanner lid 121 capable of being opened and the scanner 120 in a position that enables it to be used. Figure 4 illustrates the universal space saving flatbed scanner stand 100 being used on the left hand side of the desktop 134 with a CPU box 128 and a monitor 126 as the counterweight on the counterweight platform section 102. The flatbed scanner 120 and the flatbed scanner platform section 103 are in the folded-up position at approximately a 90 degree angle to the counterweight platform section 102. It will be appreciated in Figure 4 that when the scanner platform 103 is in the folded-up position, some scanners 120 may not be able to be used and some scanner lids 121 may not be able to be opened or may not be secure. Also, when the scanner platform 103 is in the folded-up position, the scanner 120 takes up approximately the same amount of space as a sheetfeed scanner. Figure 5 illustrates the universal space saving flatbed scanner stand 100 with counterweight platform section 102, cabling section 123 with cabling hole 125, hinge 104, and scanner platform section 103. The scanner stand may also include a ridge 106 on the counterweight platform 102 for the counterweight object to abut against. There may also be a ridge (not shown) on the scanner platform 103 for the scanner 120 to abut against. The universal space saving flatbed scanner stand 100 may be made of any sufficiently strong material to support the weight of a flatbed scanner 120, such as wood, metal, or strong plastic. For cost purposes, the scanner stand 100 may preferably be made of a strong plastic material. The hinge 104 should be strong enough to support the weight of a flatbed scanner 120 when the scanner platform 103 is in the fully extended position. The hinge should also move between the fully extended (180 degree) position and the folded-up (90 degree) position and may click into either or both of these positions. It may be desirable to have a means for securing or attaching a scanner 120 to the scanner platform section 103 of the scanner stand 100 so that the scanner 120 does not slip off of the scanner stand 100. This may be accomplished in several different ways, such as a hook and loop lastener system, such as Velcro® on the bottom of the scanner 120 and on the scanner platform 103, Velcro® straps attaching the scanner 120 to the scanner platform 103, screws, adhesive, snaps, clamps, etc. Figure 6 illustrates one possibility, which is to have a ledge 140 that runs around the perimeter of the scanner platform 103 to secure the scanner 120 against sliding off of the scanner platform 103. The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. For example, the scanner stand 100 may be made out of a different material than those disclosed herein, so long as the material is sufficiently strong to support the weight of a flatbed scanner. Also, the counterweight object may be any sufficiently heavy object that will counter the weight of a flatbed scanner. Also, no counterweight may be used and the scanner stand 100 may be attached to the desktop or side of the desk, although this would limit the versatility of the scanner stand 100. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims: A universal space saving flatbed scanner stand (100) comprising: a scanner platform section (103); a counterweight platform section (102); a ledge (140) running around a perimeter of said scanner platform section (103) such that said ledge (140) secures a flatbed scanner (120) from sliding off of said scanner platform section (103) when a flatbed scanner (120) is on said universal space saving flatbed scanner stand (100); and a hinge (104) between the scanner platform section (103) and the counterweight section (102). A universal space saving flatbed scanner stand (100), comprising: a counterweight platform section; a scanner platform section panel (103) pivotally mounted to said counterweight platform section so that said scanner platform section panel (103) may be rotated with respect to said counterweight platform section between an upright position and an extended position, said scanner platform section panel (103) being sized to receive a flatbed scanner apparatus (120) so that the flatbed scanner apparatus (120) is in a stowed position when said scanner platform section panel (103) is in an upright position and so that the flatbed scanner apparatus (120) is in an operating position when said scanner platform section panel (103) is in the extended position; and a cabling section panel (123) mounted between a counterweight platform section panel (102) and said scanner platform section panel (103) so that said cabling section panel (123) is fixed with respect to said counterweight platform section panel (102) and so that said scanner platform section panel (103) is pivotally mounted to said cabling section panel (123), said cabling section panel (123) providing a horizontal spacing between said counterweight platform section panel (102) and said scanner platform section panel (103). The flatbed scanner stand (100) of claim 2, wherein said cabling section panel (123) comprises an integral portion of said counterweight platform section panel (102). The flatbed scanner stand (100) of claim 2, wherein said cabling section panel (123) includes a cabling aperture (125) therein for receiving a cable (124) from the flatbed scanner apparatus (120). The flatbed scanner stand (100) of claim 2, further comprising a transverse ridge (106) located at about a juncture between said counterweight platform section panel (102) and said cabling section panel (123). The flatbed scanner stand (100) of claim 2, further comprising a ledge (140) located at about a perimeter region of said scanner platform section panel (103), said ledge (140) retaining the flatbed scanner apparatus (120) within said scanner platform section panel (103). The flatbed scanner stand (100) of claim 2, further comprising a mounting system for securing the flatbed scanner apparatus (120) to said scanner platform section panel (103). The flatbed scanner stand (100) of claim 7, wherein said mounting system comprises a fabric hook and loop fastening system. The flatbed scanner stand (100) of claim 8, wherein said mounting system comprises an adhesive positioned between said scanner platform section panel (103) and the flatbed scanner apparatus (120). The flatbed scanner stand (100) of claim 2, wherein said scanner platform section panel (103) is substantially perpendicular to said counterweight platform section panel (102) when said scanner platform section panel (103) is located in the upright position. The flatbed scanner stand (100) of claim 2, wherein said scanner platform section panel (103) is substantially aligned with said counterweight platform section panel (102) when said scanner platform section panel (103) is located in the extended position.

Inventors: CHAVEZ MARTHA A, CHAVEZ, MARTHA A.
Applicants: HEWLETT PACKARD CO, HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A47B17
IPC codes: A47B17, A47B21