Abstract:
A portable, foldable work table for a laptop or tablet comprising a base, a holder for holding a laptop or tablet, said holder movable between an extended position and an unextended position, at least one articulating arm having first and second ends, said articulating arm operably coupling said base and said holder, at least first and second fasteners, said first fastener coupling the first end of said articulating arm to said base and said second fastener coupling the second end of said articulating arm to said holder, said first and second fasteners structured to fasten and unfasten said at least one articulating arm; wherein when said first and second fasteners are unfastened said holder is structured to move between the extended position and unextended position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a portable, foldable work table. More particularly, the work table can be folded and stored substantially flat in a briefcase, luggage or other carrying equipment and is particularly well-suited for a tablet or laptop computer. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Due to the popularity of computers almost every family owns a computer. Computers have been quickly replaced by laptops because of their portability. Recently, tablets are replacing laptops as the preferred means of computing as their features compete with features that only computers used to have. 
         [0003]    A tablet computer, or simply a “tablet,” is a mobile computer with display, circuitry and battery in a single unit. Tablets are equipped with numerous features such as cameras, microphones, accelerometer and touchscreens, with finger or stylus gestures replacing computer mouse and keyboard. Tablets may include physical buttons, e.g., to control basic features such as speaker volume and power and ports for network communications and to charge the battery. An on-screen, popup virtual keyboard is usually used for typing. Tablets are typically larger than smart phones or personal digital assistants at 7 inches (18 cm) or larger, measured diagonally. 
         [0004]    Hybrid tablets that include detachable keyboards have been sold since the mid-1990s. Convertible touchscreen notebook computers have an integrated keyboard that can be hidden by a swivel or slide joint. Booklet tablets have dual-touchscreens and can be used as a notebook by displaying a virtual keyboard on one of the displays. 
         [0005]    Conceptualized in the mid-20th century and prototyped and developed in the last two decades of that century, the devices became popular in 2010. As of March 2012, 31% of U.S. Internet users were reported to own some type of tablet. Among tablets available in 2012, the top-selling line of devices was Apple&#39;s iPad with 100 million sold by mid October 2012 since its release on Apr. 3, 2010, followed by Amazon&#39;s Kindle Fire with 7 million, and Barnes &amp; Noble&#39;s Nook with 5 million. 
         [0006]    Today&#39;s tablets use capacitive touchscreens with multi-touch, unlike earlier stylus-driven resistive touchscreen devices. After 2010, multi-touch and other natural user interface features, as well as flash memory solid state storage and “instant on” warm-booting; external USB and Bluetooth keyboards defined tablets. Some have 3G mobile telephone applications. 
         [0007]    Apple is often credited for defining this new class of consumer device and has shaped the commercial market for tablets. iPads and competing devices have been tested by the US military. The most successful tablet is the Apple iPad, using the iOS operating system. Its debut in 2010 pushed tablets into the mainstream and revolutionized the form of communication for most people. Samsung&#39;s Galaxy Tab and others followed, continuing the trends towards the features listed above. 
         [0008]    Tablets can be used in beds, cars, on the floor, in chairs while watching television and in an airplane while traveling. Nevertheless, there are not any appropriate portable tables to support the tablet, especially when it is used for typing messages or working on a document with an external keyboard. In addition, when an external source of battery power (such as a Mophie device) is used it can become cumbersome for the user to balance all of the devices when a stationary desk or other table is not available. Moreover, when traveling on an airline it is simply not possible to use a tablet (with or without an external keyboard) in the amount of room provided, especially when the table attached to the seat is occupied with food or drink. 
         [0009]    Therefore, what is needed is a work table that is foldable, easily stored, portable and can be used in a variety of places and with a variety of devices such as tablets and laptop computers. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The foregoing needs are addressed by the work table in accordance with the invention. 
         [0011]    In one aspect of the invention a work table that can be used on an individual&#39;s lap and that can accommodate a tablet or laptop computer is provided. 
         [0012]    In another aspect of the invention, a work table that is small, foldable, portable and easily stored in a suitcase, briefcase or other similar device is provided. 
         [0013]    In another aspect of the invention, a work table that can secure a tablet and/or laptop computer and prevent it from falling off an individual&#39;s lap is provided. 
         [0014]    In another aspect of the invention a work table that includes a tray having compartments for external batteries, cell phones and the like is also provided. 
         [0015]    While multiple embodiments, objects, features and advantages are disclosed, still other embodiments of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying figures, the foregoing being illustrative and not restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective front view of a work table in accordance with an aspect invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective side view of a work table in accordance with an aspect of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective back view of a work table in accordance with an aspect of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a work table showing the desk in a collapsed and folded configuration. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a front side of a work table in accordance with a further aspect of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a back side of a work table in accordance with another aspect of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a work table showing the table in a collapsed and folded configuration. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another aspect of the work table of  FIG. 5  shown attached to a locking valise that may be utilized to store a lap top computer and/or tablet. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4  a work table in accordance with various aspects of the invention will be described. The work table  10  broadly includes base  12 , upright tablet holder  14  and a pair of articulating arms  15  operably coupling base  12  and upright table holder  14 . Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited to work table for tablets alone but can accommodate other devices such as laptop computers. For ease of reference, however, “tablet” will be used herein generically to mean all types of small computing devices. Base  12  is shown as being of solid construction to accommodate keyboards, mouses and the like, for example, but base  12  also may comprise parallel slats or laid out in a grid configuration in close proximity to one another and such other types of construction so long as accessories cannot fall through the base. Base  12  is also shown as including optional tray  16 . Optional tray  16  may be integrally molded with base  12  or may be added on as a separate component. Optional tray  16  includes four sides that form a contained area. The contained area may be sub-divided and comprise any number of compartments that are sized to fit a plurality of items such as a mouse, an external battery pack, a cellular telephone and the like. 
         [0026]    The underside of base  12  may include a slip-resistant surface that creates a friction hold between the base  12  and a user&#39;s lap to prevent the base  12  from slipping or being misplaced from the lap. Such a slip-resistant surface may include chemical surface treatment or mechanical etching of the base  12  itself. Alternatively, a slip-resistant material may be operably coupled to the underside of the base, the slip-resistant material including natural and synthetic rubbers, silicone and the like. The slip-resistant material may also include a texture, grooves or other pattern or may simply be applied in strips across the underside of the base. 
         [0027]    Pair of articulating arms  15  operably and foldably couple base  12  to tablet holder  14 . Articulating arms  15  may comprise wood, plastic, metals and combinations of the foregoing. Each articulating arm  15  is coupled at a first end  18  to base  12  or alternatively to optional tray  16  and at a second end  20  to tablet holder  14 . Each articulating arm  15  is coupled by a graspable fastener  22  at the first  18  and second  20  ends. As shown, each fastener includes a finger operable arm portion  23  that allows the user to operably tighten and loosen the fastener to position the tablet holder  14  relative to base  12 . Those of skill in the art will appreciate that fastener  22  is depicted as a two arm clamping knob but any type of knob that is capable of tightening and loosening the articulating arms  15  may be provided such as a bar clamping knob, a three, four, five and six arm clamping knobs, fluted clamping knob, lobed clamping knob, leo clamping know, octagonal clamping knob, trigon clamping knob and the like. 
         [0028]    Tablet holder  14  includes a ledge  24  that operates to support a tablet (as shown) or laptop computer. Ledge  24  may also optionally include a bounding or restraining bar (not shown) that extends in front of the tablet or laptop to further secure the tablet from falling. Crossbar  26  extends from the first articulating arm to the second articulating arm and is operably coupled thereto. Crossbar  26  conveniently serves to hold the tablet&#39;s cover  28  out of the way and further serves to maintain tablet  25  in position on ledge  24 . Those of skill in the art will appreciate that crossbar  26  also is a convenience to a user because the user does not need to remover the tablet&#39;s cover  28  prior to positioning in on the lap top desk. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , when fasteners  22  are loosened, articulating arms  15  fold down or articulate to a position adjacent base  12 . Tablet holder  14  lies substantially flat over a portion of base  12 . Fasteners may then be tightened to hold pair of articulating arms  15  fixed against base  12  so that lap top desk may be easily stored in a briefcase, in luggage, at the side of a chair and such. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5-7  another aspect of the invention is depicted.  FIGS. 5-7  depict an arm chair desktop  500  for holding tablets. Like elements are labeled with like numbers. Arm chair desktop  500  may be fastened to the arm of a chair, a table top, or may be fastened to, for example, the tray table provided with airplane seating or the arm of the seat. 
         [0031]    Arm chair desktop  500  broadly includes base  12 , tablet holder  14  having ledge  24 , pair of articulating arms  15  and fasteners  22 . 
         [0032]    Base  12  is coupled to clamp  13  which removably couples base  12  to the arm of a chair (as shown) or to a tray table on an airplane. Pair of articulating arms  15  includes first ends  18  that are operably coupled to base  12  and second ends  20  that are operably coupled to base  12  thereby foldably connecting tablet holder  14  to base. As best seen in  FIG. 6  articulating arms  15  may be indirectly coupled to base and tablet holder by supports  30 ,  30 ′. Those of skill in the art will appreciate, however, that supports  30 ,  30 ′ may be eliminated and articulating arms  15  may be coupled directly to table holder  14  and base  12 . Those of skill in the art will appreciate that although a pair of articulating arms  15  are depicted, a single articulating arm may be used and still fall within the scope of the invention. 
         [0033]    Each articulating arm  15  is coupled by a fastener  22  at the first  18  and second  20  ends. Each fastener includes a finger operable wing portion  23  that allows the user to operably tighten and loosen the fastener to position the tablet holder  14  relative to base  12 . Those of skill in the art will appreciate that fastener  22  is depicted as a bolt with a wing nut but any type of fastener that is capable of tightening and loosening the articulating arms  15  may be utilized as previously noted. In addition, any number of fasteners may be used to secure articulating arms  15  to tablet holder  14  and base  12 . 
         [0034]    Tablet holder  14  includes ledge  24  that operates to support a tablet (as shown) or laptop computer. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that although not shown a crossbar may extend horizontally from the first articulating arm to the second articulating arm and is operably coupled thereto. A crossbar may conveniently serve to hold a tablet&#39;s cover out of the way and further serves to maintain the tablet in position on ledge without displacing. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the addition of a crossbar to the arm chair desk top would also be a convenience to a user because the user does not need to remover the tablet&#39;s cover prior to positioning in on the arm chair. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , when fasteners  22  are loosened, articulating arms  15  fold down or articulate to a position such that tablet holder  14  and base lie substantially flat over the articulating arms  15 . Fasteners may then be tightened to hold pair of articulating arms  15  fixed in position so that lap top desk may be easily stored in a briefcase, in luggage, at the side of a chair and such. 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another aspect of the work table of  FIG. 5  shown attached to a valise  800  that may be utilized to store a lap top computer and/or tablet. Valise  800  is substituted for base  12  in alternate embodiments and may lock or not lock. As can be seen in  FIG. 8  clamp  13  may be operably coupled directly or indirectly to a portion of valise  800 . Alternatively, a support similar to supports  13 ,  13 ′ may be used. Work table  500  in this aspect of the invention may be fixedly or removably coupled to valise  800 . Operationally, the work table of  FIG. 8  operates substantially similar to the work table of  FIG. 5 . When upper and lower fasteners  22  are loosened, articulating arms  15  fold down or articulate to a position such that tablet holder  14  lies substantially flat over valise  800 . Fasteners  22  may then be tightened to hold articulating arms  15  fixed in position so that work table may be easily stored along with valise  800 . 
         [0037]    While the invention has been described with reference to various aspects it is to be understood that modifications or other variations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.