Abstract:
A lap stand for supporting a craft frame or hoop upon a user&#39;s lap such that the hoop may be swiveled upon a universal joint in a variety of orientations to allow improved user access to the work piece held by the hoop.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to improvements to a craft stand, and particularly to a craft stand provided with a bracket to secure the stand in a position proximate to the user&#39;s lap while the user is in a sitting position. More particularly, the present invention relates to a craft stand mounted on a swivel base attachable to various bracket configurations for supporting the craft stand upon a user&#39;s lap. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a craft stand having a base plate or platen mounted upon a universal joint and with means for engaging legs depending from a craft hoop. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Craft hoop assemblies generally include two concentric hoops or rings (an inner hoop and an outer hoop) for holding material such as fabric in a taut position over a center opening so that craft work, such as stitching with needle and thread, may readily be performed. Typically, the inner hoop has a fixed diameter and the outer hoop has an adjustable diameter. Material upon which work is to be performed is placed across the inner hoop. The outer hoop is then placed over the material and around the inner hoop. The diameter of the outer hoop is then reduced, typically by tightening a clamping mechanism associated with the outer hoop, such that the outer hoop fits snugly against the material and inner hoop so as to hold the material between the two hoops. 
   A variety of stands have previously been developed for supporting work pieces or craft frames, such as stretcher frames, embroidery hoops and the like, in predetermined positions. These stands generally allow a user to support the work piece or craft frame on the stand so that the user has both hands available to perform the desired craft. In addition, it is often preferable for the user to work in a sitting position with the work piece upon or proximate the user&#39;s lap. 
   The means used for supporting various work pieces and craft frames on a craft stand should be versatile enough to support, hold or secure various types and sizes of work pieces and frames. The means for supporting these work pieces and frames should also allow the work piece or frame to be supported in the user&#39;s lap and in a wide range of orientations. In addition, the means for supporting the work pieces and frames must function to securely hold the work piece or frame while in use and in a variety of positions without damaging the materials of the work piece and of the craft, and without causing fatigue to the user. 
   While performing craft work on material secured between the rings of a craft hoop, it is often necessary for the user to access the space below, as well as the space above, the material held between the rings for manipulation of a needle relative thereto, e.g. as with cross stitching or needlepoint. Having to constantly maneuver the craft hoop while performing the craft work to gain the appropriate access can be tiresome. Therefore, a craft stand should be provided with open sides to allow access to the space below the craft hoop. Many previous stands were limited in the ability to position the work piece proximate to a user&#39;s lap and were further limited in the ability to position the work piece in a wide range of orientations. 
   Various craft hoops are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,158,153; 5,722,191; 5,555,653 and 5,287,640; and a craft stand is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,143. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The purpose of this invention is to provide a lap stand for supporting a wide range of craft materials and sizes of frames upon or proximate a user&#39;s lap and in a wide range of orientations. The improved lap stand includes a craft hoop and base plate joined to one another with rods or legs to form an opened-sided craft stand subassembly. The base plate can be a flat, relatively solid plate, or can include relatively large cut outs or apertures to reduce the weight of the base plate. Both the craft hoop and the base plate are typically provided with receiving holes or bores for receiving the ends of the legs that join the craft hoop to the base plate, unless other means for attaching the legs are employed. 
   Bores of various distances from the center of the base plate may be provided so that legs depending from craft hoops of various diameters can be attached to the base plate. The bores may be round but alternatively may be square, triangular or otherwise polygonal, particularly if the legs are provided with matching polygonal ends that are inserted into the holes directly. By providing a multi-sided receiving hole for each similarly multi-sided leg to engage, the legs are prevented from turning within the holes when the craft hoop is turned, thereby maintaining the spatial relationship of the craft hoop to the base plate. Alternatively, screws may thread through smaller holes in the base plate and craft hoop and then into the ends of each support leg. 
   To allow the craft stand to be supported in a wide range of orientations, the lower surface of the base plate may be attached to a universal joint, such as a ball and socket, that further attaches to a lap stand bracket. A swivel device such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,143 may be attached to the base plate to allow for tilt and rotation of the craft stand when the lap stand is sitting on the user&#39;s lap. Various embodiments of a lap bracket may be connected to the swivel device to allow the lap stand to either straddle the user&#39;s legs, be secured between the user&#39;s legs, or provide means for the user to sit upon a portion of the bracket, thereby applying leg pressure to the bracket to secure and stabilize the lap stand. 
   Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example an embodiment of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a craft stand subassembly. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a base plate. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a lap stand with the craft stand subassembly shown in an upright position in solid lines and tilted leftward in phantom lines. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a lap stand showing an alternative embodiment of a lap bracket. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a lap stand showing a further alternative embodiment of a lap bracket. 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged, partial, cross sectional view of an upper portion of a leg inserted into a craft hoop boss taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram showing the legs of a user straddling the lap bracket of the lap stand of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged cross sectional diagram of a universal joint. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. In the drawings, similar numerical references indicate corresponding parts. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the reference numeral  1  generally designates a lap stand for securing a work piece thereto. The lap stand includes a craft stand subassembly  5 , a universal joint or swivel  10 , and a lap bracket  15 . The craft stand subassembly  5  (see  FIG. 1 ) includes a craft hoop  20  comprising an inner ring or hoop  25  and a split outer ring or hoop  30 . In the preferred embodiment, the rings  25  and  30  are formed from plastic but is foreseeable that the rings  25  and  30  may be formed from a wide variety of materials including wood, metal or other relatively rigid materials. The outer ring  30  of the craft hoop  20  includes clamping means such a clamp  35  for adjusting the diameter of the outer ring  30 . The clamp  35  as shown comprises a pair of opposed ears  40  and  45 , one ear mounted on one end of the split outer ring  30 , and the other ear mounted on the other end of the split outer ring  30 . The clamp  35  also includes a bolt  50  extending through coaxial apertures (not shown) in each ear  40  and  45  for threaded engagement with a nut  55 . The outer ring  30  is sized such that the outer ring  30  may be positioned in encircling or circumscribing alignment with the inner ring  25 . Tightening of the nut  55  on the bolt  50  urges the ears  40  and  45  and the ends of the outer ring  30  together so as to reduce the diameter of the outer ring  30  and to generally constrict the outer ring  30  around the inner ring  25 . 
   Three protuberances or bosses  60   a ,  60   b  and  60   c  (referred to collectively by the numeral  60 ) are formed on, and extend inwardly from, the inner surface of the inner ring  25  of the craft hoop  20  in equally spaced apart relationship. A first leg-receiving bore  65  (first bore) is formed in and extends at least partially into each of the bosses  60  on the inner ring  25  of the craft hoop  20 . The first bores  65  may be referred to individually as first bores  65   a ,  65   b  and  65   c , with first bore  65   a  being formed in boss  60   a , first bore  65   b  being formed in boss  60   b  and first bore  65   c  being formed in boss  60   c . The first bores  65  extend into the bosses  60  from a lower surface  61  of the bosses  60  toward an upper surface  62  thereof. The first bores  65  may extend all the way through the bosses  60  to open at the upper surfaces  62  of the bosses  60  or may terminate prior to opening through the upper surfaces  62  (see  FIGS. 3 and 6 ). 
   A base plate  70  is disposed below the craft hoop  20 . The base plate  70  includes second leg receiving bores (second bores)  75   a ,  75   b  and  75   c  (referred to collectively by the numeral  75 ) formed therein, typically of a number equal to that of the first bores  65  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). In addition, the second bores  75  of the base plate  70  are in general radial alignment with, and generally disposed below, the first bores  65  of the craft hoop  20 . 
   Three rods or legs  80   a ,  80   b  and  80   c  (referred to collectively by the numeral  80 ), each having first (upper)  85  and second (lower)  90  ends, are adapted for use in securing the craft hoop  20  and base plate  70  together. Each of the first ends  85  of the legs  80  are sized for insertion into one of the first leg receiving bores  65  for frictional engagement therein. Each of the second ends  90  of the legs  80  are sized for insertion into one of the second leg receiving bores  75  for frictional engagement therein. 
   The craft stand subassembly  5  is formed, therefore, by attaching the craft hoop  20  to the base plate  70  by securing the upper ends  85  of the legs  80  in first bores  65  and the lower ends  90  in radially aligned, underlying, second bores  75 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the base plate  70  may include multiple sets of holes  75 . In the illustrated embodiment, each set comprises three holes  75   a ,  75   b  and  75   c  equidistant from one another and from the center of the base plate  70 . Further sets of holes are disposed inward from the first set  75   a ,  75   b  and  75   c  and may be in radial alignment with other sets, as shown, or may deviate from radial alignment.  FIG. 1  illustrates legs  80  extending downward from the craft hoop  20  to engage the outermost set of holes  75   a ,  75   b  and  75   c  in the base plate  70 . It should be appreciated that a craft hoop  20  of reduced diameter could be attached to the base plate  70  by attaching the lower portion  90  of the legs  80  thereof to an inward set of holes  75 . 
   The legs  80  may be more securely attached to either the craft hoop  20  or the base plate  70  using set screws threaded through holes  95  in the side of the craft hoop  20  or base plate  70 , or through holes  97  in the top surfaces  62  of the bosses  60  or the bottom surface  72  of the base plate  70  proximate to the second bores  75  (see  FIG. 6 ). For example, with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the bosses  60  are provided with leg receiving bores  65  that protrude upward from the lower surface  61  of the boss  60  stopping short of emergence through the top surface  62  of the boss  60 . A smaller hole  97  may then be provided through that top surface  62  in axial alignment with the center of the associated bore  65 , for receiving screws (not shown) that may then be threaded through these smaller holes  97  in each boss  60  and into the upper ends  85  of the legs  80  within the bores  65 . Alternatively, a small hole  95  may be provided in the side of the boss  60  for receiving a set screw (not shown). 
   Similarly, the base plate  70  may be provided with leg receiving bores  75  that protrude downward from the top surface  74  of the base plate  70  stopping short of emergence through the bottom surface  72  of the base plate  70 . A smaller hole (not shown) may then be provided through that bottom surface  72 , typically in axial alignment with the center of the associated bore  75 , for receiving screws (not shown) that are then be threaded through these smaller holes and into the lower ends  90  of the legs  80  within the bores  75 . 
   The lap stand  1  is stabilized for use through employment of a lap bracket  15  that is connected to the base plate  70  by the universal joint  10 , which will be described in greater detail below. The lap bracket  15  includes an elongated, generally horizontal arm  100  for attachment to, and to support, the universal joint or swivel mechanism  10 . In certain embodiments, the arm  100  may substantially comprise the bracket  15 . For example,  FIGS. 3 and 7  illustrate a lap stand  1  that is designed to be held in place through placement of the user&#39;s legs  110  over the horizontal arm  100 , one leg  110  on either side of the swivel  10 , to straddle the lap stand  1  and hold it firmly in position during craft work and manipulation of the craft stand subassembly  5  about the universal joint  10 . The various embodiments of the lap bracket  15  disclosed herein, or their equivalents, may be formed of any sufficiently rigid material such as metal or, preferably, plastic. 
   In an alternative embodiment of the lap bracket  15 , shown in  FIG. 4  and designated as lap bracket  120 , one end of the upper horizontal arm  125  bends downward to form a vertical support  127  that extends downward for a distance that approximates the width of a user&#39;s leg  110  and then bends and extends laterally to underlie the upper arm  125  and form a lower horizontal arm  130 . In use, a user in a sitting position upon a bench or chair may grasp the lap stand  115 , with the craft stand subassembly  5  directed upward, and slide the upper arm  125  over one or both of the user&#39;s legs  110  while the lower arm  130  is slid underneath one or both of the user&#39;s legs  110 . The lap stand  115  is then held in place by either the downward pressure of the user&#39;s leg  110  against the lower arm  130 , pressing the lower arm  130  between the user&#39;s leg  110  and the bench or chair, or by slight compression or gripping of the user&#39;s leg  110  between the upper  125  and lower  130  arms, or by a combined effect of both means for stabilizing the lap stand  1 . 
   A further alternative embodiment of the lap bracket  15 , shown in  FIG. 5  and designated as lap bracket  135 , includes an upper arm  140  that extends laterally, approximately the width of a user&#39;s lap, and then bends downward at either end a distance approximating the vertical thickness of a user&#39;s leg  110  in order to provide vertical supports  145   a  and  145   b  that support the lap stand  150  against an underlying surface such as a bench or chair seat (not shown). In this embodiment, the upper arm  140  extends over the user&#39;s legs and may be supported by either the supports  145 , the top surfaces of the user&#39;s legs  110 , or both. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a foot  155   a ,  155   b  extends laterally outward from the lower portion of each support  145   a ,  145   b  to enhance the stability of the lap stand  150  upon the bench or seat. 
   The universal joint typically includes a ball or knob and cooperatively engaged socket such that the knob may turn within the socket. An appropriate universal joint assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,143, and also, more generally, in the disclosure herein. The universal joint assembly  10  shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , and more particularly  FIG. 8 , includes a socket casing  160  with an upper end  165  and a lower end  170 . A casing bore  175  extends through the casing  160  between its upper end  165  and lower end  170 . A lip  180  restricts the diameter of the casing bore  175  adjacent to the casing upper end  165 . The universal joint assembly  10  further comprises a knob or ball head  185  and an attached or integral shank  190  extending generally upward from the ball head  185 . The ball head  185  is rotatably received within the casing bore  175  and restrained upwardly by the lip  180 . The ball head  185  rotatably engages the inner margins of the lip  180  as well as an abutting lower surface such as a cup washer  195  pressed against the ball head  185  by a compression spring  200  held within the lower portion of the casing  160 . The cup washer  195  has an upwardly open, generally semispherical depression  205  for receiving the ball head  185 . The ball head  185  rotatably engages the cup washer  195  within this depression  205 . 
   The lower portion of the bore  175  may include threads  210  for receiving a threaded plug  215 . The lower portion of the plug  215  may be welded, screwed or otherwise attached to the arm  100  of the lap bracket  15 . In use, the casing  160  is turned about the plug  215  to advance the plug  215  either upward or downward within the bore  175  of the casing  160  to increase or decrease compression of the spring  200  and concomitant pressure against the ball head  185 . When the casing  160  is threadingly advanced downward relative to the plug  215 , the upper end of the plug  215  urges the spring  200  and cup washer  195  upward so as to compress the ball head  185  between the cup washer  195  and the lip  180  thereby increasing resistance to rotation of the ball head  185  within the casing  160  and lock the ball head  185  in place in a selected position. Advancing the casing  160  upward reduces compression of the cup washer  195  against the ball head  185  and allows the ball head  185  to rotate in the casing  160 . 
   The shank  190  extends above the lip  180  of the casing  160  and can rotate or pivot freely from vertical alignment to approximately 40 degrees from vertical. The upper end of the casing  165  may include a cut out portion or notch  220  (see  FIG. 5 ) into which the shank  190  may be advanced so as to place the craft stand subassembly  5  in a generally horizontal position. 
   The upper portion of the shank  190  is attached to the base plate  70  through any effective means such as welding, integral molding with the base plate  70 , or mechanical attachment such as screws or bolts. As shown in the cutaway in  FIG. 4 , a screw or bolt  225  may be advanced downward through a central aperture in the base plate  70  to further engage a threaded bore in the top portion of the shank  190 . 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.