Abstract:
A multi-purpose assembly capable of being used for many activities. In a first embodiment, a portable podium is formed from two lightweight frame boxes which quickly disconnect and disassemble completely. The first embodiment secures a flat screen video display unit to a front side of the podium to allow a presenter to present a video and audio presentation while standing behind the podium. In a second embodiment, a presentation is provided when the podium device is viewed from a back side and doors on that side are opened and secured to vertical right and left side walls. Multiple, removable support containers are arranged on the exposed interior of the presentation case and upon the exposed inside surfaces of the doors. Lights and sound can accompany presentation of goods or entertainment acts.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to portable podiums, particularly those which are capable of complete disassembly and reassembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional podiums are not generally transportable or storable because of their cumbersome size and weight. While the need for a readily transportable and storable podium has been recognized for many years, attempts to provide such a podium have generally resulted in a podium which is exceedingly difficult to assemble/disassemble, structurally defective and/or excessively heavy. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,595 discloses a podium which is capable of disassembly, being formed of multiple curved and vertical sections joined together at horizontal plates. The disassembled podium still requires substantial storage space for the curved sections. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,700 discloses a storage and transport case formed in a single piece capable of being used as a podium. It cannot be disassembled into smaller units. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,087 discloses a podium formed from a top and bottom plate with a set of four hinged vertical sections separating them. This device can be disassembled and stored compactly but has no function outside of providing a small presentation platform. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,566 discloses a set of four cubes stacked together to form a presentation platform. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,382 discloses a child&#39;s play desk with drawers and sections of a top surface which slide to form right and left side support surfaces. 
     A need still exists for a lightweight, structurally stable, readily transportable and storable podium which is simple to assemble and disassemble and which is capable of being completely disassembled. In addition, a podium is a single use device incapable of alternate functions while not used for public presentations. It generally comprises a top surface supported above one or more cavities facing the presenter. There is a need for an alternate function for the prior art podium. Further, when not in use, the structure and rigid enclosure of the cavities of the typical podium are generally unavailable as storage space because of the need to instantly move a podium from a storage location to a presentation location. There is a need for means by which such storage space within the typical podium can be effectively used when the podium is not in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a multi-purpose assembly capable of being used for many activities. In a first embodiment, the present invention is a portable podium formed from two lightweight frame boxes which quickly disconnect and disassemble completely. The first embodiment comprises means for securing a flat screen video display unit to a front side of the podium to allow a presenter to present a video and audio presentation while standing behind the podium. In a second embodiment, the present invention is a presentation case when the podium device is viewed from a back side and doors on that side are opened and secured to vertical right and left side walls. Multiple, removable support containers are arranged on the exposed interior of the presentation case and upon the exposed inside surfaces of the doors. Lights and sound can accompany presentation of goods or entertainment acts. 
     In the first embodiment, the invention further comprises means for securing a main cavity within the two frame boxes, whereby a user can easily pick up said boxes by way of top side handles and transport materials within the boxes weighing up to 75 pounds or more. In the first embodiment, the portable podium can separated into two storage boxes which a user can easily carry. If a user wishes, a fabric covering of the frames of the boxes can be quickly removed by disconnecting opposing hook and loop strips, whereafter said frames slide easily apart. Upon disassembly, a user must primarily only store a set of straight frame pieces, folded fabric covering, and floor plates. 
     A fabric covering for the boxes of the first embodiment is preferred. Rigid and lightweight plastic, carbon fiber or metal plates can alternately be fixed upon the top, bottom and side walls of the lightweight frames to form a rigid walled box and rear side doors according to the invention. Fabric covering is preferred for its lightweight and for its ease in being secured with substantial tension over the frame by way of opposing hook and loop strips located on fabric extensions from main side wall pieces. However, other securing means are within the objects of the invention, such as snaps, latches, zippers, and the like. 
     Another form of the first and second embodiments is to provide horizontal sliding panels that extend in right and left directions from a top surface of the podium or presentation case to provide additional support surface for a presenter. In that way, a presenter can choose to locate on those sliding panels such things as folders, a laptop computer, a digital projector and the like. The cavities provided by the two boxes forming the podium or presentation case are sufficient for securing a power source such as a battery for powering devices such as lights, laptop computers, and digital projectors, as well as a flat screen video display screen optionally located at the front side of the podium. The sliding means for the sliding panels are formed of a stationary piece fixed to a top side of the box frame and a movable piece. The movable piece comprises a hook and loop strip which matches to a hook and loop strip on the underside of the sliding panel so that the sliding panel can be easily removed for disassembly. 
     Consistent with complete disassembly of the two box construction of the podium, each box comprises a floor plate, formed from a single piece or two or more pieces, which is removable from secure connection with the frame of the box. Hook and loop strips on the top side of the lower rectangle of the frame of the sliding panel match to opposing hook and loop strips on underside edges of a floor plate so that the floor plate can be easily disengaged from the frame of the box. 
     A further embodiment of the invention is to provide portable storage for a user with a podium or presentation case. A lower one of two boxes is provided with casters or small wheels, whereby a user simply tilts the entire podium in any direction, grasps one of the topside handles or hand grips, and pulls the device as a user would a wheeled piece of luggage. 
     One object of the invention is to provide a dual box structure for a portable podium, whereby a top box is capable of being secured and easily disengaged from a lower box. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a podium and a multi-level presentation box in the same device, where a front view of the device appears to a viewer to be a podium and a rear view of the device appears to a viewer to be a multi-level presentation box. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a portable podium comprising two stackable frame boxes which are capable of being disassembled. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are respectively front and side views of the multi-purpose invention device. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the device of  FIG. 1  with a top carrying cover rolled forward and secured in place by opposing hook and loop strips, top and bottom boxes separated for individual carrying, and a flat screen video display panel removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are respectively top and bottom views of the pre-sewing fabric of a top carrying cover as in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective and exploded view of one embodiment of a frame for top and bottom boxes of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a top side of a floor plate adapted to be secured to a lower rectangle of the frame of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12  are respectively front, side, rear and top views of the frame of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 13  is a rear side view of the device of  FIG. 3  with one rear door open and secured to a left side of the box, two rear doors partly opened, and one rear door in a closed position. 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of a prior art slide means as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,968, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         FIG. 15  is a magnified section of a left, upper side of the device of  FIG. 3  showing sliding means, removable connection means and a slidable section to extend the top surface of the portable podium of the invention. 
         FIG. 16  is an underside of the slidable section of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is an inside view of the pre-sewing fabric of a fabric cover for the top box of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 18  is an inside view of the pre-sewing fabric of a fabric cover for the lower box of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 19  is an inside view of the pre-sewing fabric of a fabric skirt cover for the lower box of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is now discussed with reference to the figures. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are respectively front and side views of the invention multi-purpose device  100 .  FIG. 1  shows a top carrying cover  101  is releasably joined to a top box  114  by way of latches  110   a/b ,  112   a/b ,  113   a/b , and  111   a/b . The top box  114  is releasably joined to lower box  121  by way of latches  119   a/b  and  120   a/b . At a bottom  125  of lower box  121  are fixed four casters or wheels  126  so that the entire device can be easily rolled across a floor or tilted and pulled in any direction using handles  106 ,  107  and  108  on top carrying cover  101 . Top carrying cover  101  comprises a top  102  upon which are fixed handles  106 - 108 . Descending from top  102  are sides  103 ,  104 ,  105  and  147  (shown in  FIG. 4  at the rear of the device). Referring again to  FIG. 1 , top carrying cover  101  is preferably formed of a heavy dernier fabric such as nylon or cotton to withstand handling typical of portable podiums and storage cases. Cover  101  defines a downward concavity covering a presentation surface upon which a user can rest documents or other materials used in a presentation. Cover  101  is intended to be easily removable but capable of supporting from the hand of a user the entire weight of top box  114  with up to or over 75 pounds of materials inside by way of the handles  106 - 108 . 
     Top carrying cover  101  is capable of heavy lifting and yet is easily removed and stored on the body of device  100 . Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  for steps for removing top carrying cover  101 , it is preferred that six latches  110   a/b ,  110   c/d  (not shown),  112   a/b ,  113   a/b ,  111   a/b  and  111   c/d  be released. Further, in  FIG. 2 , an edge  127  of cover  101  is lifted up to expose opposing strips of hook and loop material  128  and  129  which run circumferentially around the top outside edge of top box  114  and on the inside surfaces of sides  103 ,  104 ,  105  and  147  to engage cover  101  to top box  114 . These hook and loop material engagements are pulled apart by a user. Then, the top carrying cover  101  is rolled up starting with side  147 , rolling up top  102  in a front direction and finally engaging hook and loop material from side  147  with hook and loop material  109  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  shows top carrying cover  101  secured to the front  115  of top box  114  in a bunting style enhancing the podium look of device  100 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , top box  114  comprises a front  115 , a right side  116 , a left side  117 , and a bottom  118 , whereby a fabric covered frame provides structural support for the box and a video display panel  119  located at about one half the height of front  115 . Panel  119  is adapted to receive analog or digital input and provide information and entertainment displays to assist a presenter using device  100 . The user would stand to the rear of device  100  while video and optionally audio played for an audience appreciation. Panel  119  can be located higher or lower than the position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Bracket  130  fixes panel  119  to an internal frame of top box  114  by way of screws, bolts, clamps or other means allowing a user to locate bracket  130  at a position higher or lower than that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , carrier and loop sets  132   a  and  137   a  are situated about one half the elevation of the top and lower boxes so that when they are disconnected a user may easily lift each box by grasping the handles or loops on the sides of said box. These are not shown in the other drawing figures but are optionally included in the invention boxes. 
       FIG. 3  shows that top box  114  and lower box  121  respectively comprise openings  139   a / 139   b  and  139   c / 139   d  in their front fabric coverings. A vertical frame member  179  accessible through openings  139   a  and  139   c . Section  179  extends up and down from openings  139   a  and  139   c  so that the video display panel can thereby be located at a higher or lower position, necessitating that openings  139   a  and  139   c  thereby be relocated to accommodate that change. Openings  139   b  and  139   d  are provided for passage of data or signal transmission and/or power cables from within said boxes to an externally viewable monitor mounted from section  179 . Lower box  121  comprises an internal frame similar to that of top box  114  and further comprises a top  118   a , a right side  123 , a front  122 , a left side  124  and a bottom  125 . Repeating, top box  114  is releasably joined with lower box  121  by latches  119   a/b ,  119   c/d  (not shown),  120   a/b , and  120   c/d.    
       FIG. 3  shows that top box  114  can be lifted entirely free from lower box  121 . Handle  138  is fixed to top  118   a  so that a user is capable of supporting from the hand of a user the entire weight of lower box  121  with up to or over 75 pounds of materials inside. Access to the interior of boxes  114  and  121  is by way of hinged doors at a rear side of device  100 .  FIG. 3  shows an important aspect of the invention in that sliding panels  144  are capable of being moved from a position within the downward cavity of cover  101  (as in  FIG. 13 ) right and left to positions shown in  FIG. 3 . Two outer slide rails  10  are fixed to spacers  146  to elevate rails  10  above a front top frame member of top box  114  that is covered with front  115  materials. Similarly, another two outer slide rails  10  are fixed a rear top frame member of top box  114 . The four outer slide rails allow their engaged inner slide rails  14  to slide into and out of the bodies of their outer slide rails. Fixed to an upper surface of the inner slide rails  14  are strips of hook and loop material  143  adapted to engage an opposing strip of hook and loop  143  material on an underside of sliding panels  144 , thereby making sliding panels  144  movable in directions  145  and also easily removable by disengaging them from their hook and loop connection to the sliding means. 
       FIG. 4  shows a rear side of the invention device. Four hinged doors  133 ,  134 ,  148  and  149  provide access to interior storage and/or presentation space within boxes  114  and  121 . Doors  133 ,  134 ,  148  and  149  are attached by sewn, flexible hinging attachment to rear edges of sides  115 ,  124 ,  116  and  123  respectively, thereby forming closed door interface edges  154  and  155 . Said doors  133  and  148  are held closed by latches  150   a/b  and  151   a/b  and secure the contents of top box  114 . Doors  134  and  149  and held closed by latches  152   a/b  and  153   a/b . Handles  135  and  136  are grasped by a user to open said doors when the latches are released. 
       FIGS. 2 and 4  show a critical feature of the presentation device embodiment of the invention. Hook and loop strips V 1  and V 3  in  FIG. 4  respectively engage hook and loop strips  132  and  137  in  FIG. 2  when doors  133  and  134  are opened and pressed against sides  117  and  124 . Similarly, hook and loop strips V 2  and V 4  engage opposing hook and loop strips located on sides  116  and  123  when doors  148  and  149  are opened and pressed to those sides. The inside surfaces of boxes  114  and  121  are adapted to support hook, shelves, pouches or similar means for presentation of items for use or viewing by a user or his audience. The fully opened doors  133 ,  134 ,  148  or  149  provide for a ready made vertical presentation surface all up and down sides  116 ,  117 ,  123  and  124 , as will be described in  FIG. 13 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are respectively top and bottom views of the pre-sewing fabric of a top carrying cover  101 , comprising the features described above. Edges  157  through  160  are sewn together to form the cover  101  as seen in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  shows hook and loop strips  128  and  161  through  163  which are adapted to engage opposing such strips about a top outside surface of top box  114 . Frame outline  156  shows in broken lines the outer edges of a top part of a support frame for top box  114 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective and exploded view of one embodiment of a frame  164  for top and bottom boxes of the invention. A top horizontal and rectangular portion comprises sections  165  through  169 . A bottom horizontal and rectangular portion comprises sections  170  through  176 . Vertical support is provided by sections  177  through  181 . The frame sections are joined with eight three way junctions  182 , two three way T-junctions  183 , one four way junction  184 , and one two way junction (for section  169 ) by way of smaller tube sections, defined as connectors ( 1800 ), which may be secured within one frame section or its junction. It is preferred that all frame sections will easily slide and disengage from their junctions shown so that the entire frame  164  can be disassembled and assembled with ease. Said smaller tube sections are preferably fixed at one end within their appropriate junction pieces as shown oriented in  FIG. 7  to reduce the number of pieces to keep track of during storage, assembly and disassembly. The embodiment of  FIG. 7  illustrates a section, shown comprising two shorter sections ( 169 ) joined by the two-way junction ( 1690 ), providing for a most compact disassembled volume of the invention boxes but said section could less preferably comprise a single long section. In addition, it is within the scope of the invention that frame  164  be formed of a top rectangle of sections  165  through  169  permanently fixed together, a bottom rectangle of sections  170  through  175 , and vertical sections removably joining the top and bottom rectangles. It is further within the scope of the invention that frame  164  be formed of all the sections permanently fixed together. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a top side of a floor plate  185  adapted to be placed upon and secured to some or all of frame sections  170  through  176  of  FIG. 7 . It is preferred that top surfaces of frame sections  170  through  176  bear hook and loop strips which will engage appropriately located hook and loop strips on an underside of floor plate  185  of  FIG. 8 . Floor plate  185  preferably comprises cutouts  187  to accommodate vertical frame members. Top surface  186  is adapted to support materials placed within the invention boxes, while fabric walls prevent they emission from said boxes. A preferred set of dimensions for the invention frame is width of about 28 inches, depth of about 15 inches, and height of about 17 inches. Floor plate  185  is presented with broken line  186   a  indicating that it can be formed in two (or more) pieces for more compact storage on disassembly while providing identical structural support for items to be located upon surface  186 . As used herein, floor plate may refer to one or more pieces located upon a floor level of a top or lower box frame of the invention, whereupon a user then applies one of the fabric covers to the frame as shown and described below. 
       FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12  are respectively front, side, rear and top views of the frame of  FIG. 7  and repeat the frame section numbers described above. 
       FIG. 13  is a rear side view of the device  100  of  FIG. 3  with one rear door  134  open and secured to a left side of a lower box  121 , two rear doors  133  and  148  partly opened, and one rear door  149  in a closed position. Sliding panels  144  are shown in their non-extended positions so that a user can place materials on to top surfaces of panels  144  for use in presentations. Frame sections for top box  114  are shown with the same numbers used in  FIG. 8  while frame sections for lower box  121  are shown with the same numbers followed by the letter “a”. Frame members  169 ,  169   a ,  174 / 175  and  174   a / 175   a  respectively bear hook and loop strips  190 ,  193 ,  197  and  196  on rear facing surfaces. Hook and loop strip  190  engages hook and loop strips  192  and  191  and hook and loop strip  193  engages hook and loop strips  194  and  195  when doors  133  and  148  are in the closed position. Hook and loop strips  193  and  196  perform similarly for doors  134  and  149  in the closed positions. Floor plates  185  and  185   a  are shown in positions fixed respectively to frame members  174 / 175  and  174   a / 175   a  by opposing hook and loop strips. Sewn hinges  200  are shown for doors  133 ,  134  and  148 . Doors  133  and  148  show hook and loop strips  198  for supporting therefrom baskets  199  for presentation of goods from vertical sides of the invention device, as for door  134 . Other hook and loop strips are located about the interior fabric surfaces of boxes  114  and  121  for similar support of presentation materials. Power supply  203  is shown supported from floor plate  185  for powering such devices as the video display panel, a light  204  or a laptop computer  202 , which is shown with a screen display identical to that shown in  FIG. 1 , whereby video and/or audio signals may be delivered to an audience by operation of such playback devices. A rear view of the invention device discloses a display case. A front view of the invention device discloses a podium. 
       FIG. 14  is a top view of a prior art slide means as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,968, which is incorporated herein by reference.  FIG. 15  is a magnified section of a left, upper side of the device of  FIG. 3  showing sliding means, removable connection means  143  and other features as described above. A removable presentation plate  205  may be placed over an opening left by movement of the sliding panels  144  so that a continuous top surface is available to a presenter.  FIG. 16  is an underside of the sliding panels  144  showing placement of hook and loop strips  143  as described above. 
       FIG. 17  is an inside view of the pre-sewing fabric of a fabric cover  206  for the top box  114  of  FIG. 3 . Broken line outlines of sides of the frame in  FIGS. 9 through 11 . Frame  207  represents the frame view of  FIG. 12 . Frame  208  represents the frame view of  FIG. 11 . Frame  209  represents the frame view of  FIG. 10 . Sides  214  and  215  are intended to be sewn together. The panel numbers in  FIG. 17  represent the fabric sides of the top box of the invention. Extension  211  is made from side  117  with hook and loop strips  212  and  213  in appropriate positions so that extension  211  can be wrapped around frame section  168 . A similar extension with hook and loop strips is made for side  116 . A similar extension  208  with hook and loop strips  210  is made for front  115  so that the extension can be wrapped around frame section  167 . A cutout is provided so that the material fits through opening  140  of  FIG. 15 . Fabric cover  206  thereby is releasably secured to a frame for use as a top box of the invention. 
       FIG. 18  is an inside view of the pre-sewing fabric of a fabric cover  216  for the lower box  121  of  FIG. 3 . Broken line outlines of sides of the frame in  FIGS. 9 through 11 . Frame  207  represents the frame view of  FIG. 12 . Frame  208  represents the frame view of  FIG. 11 . Frame  209  represents the frame view of  FIG. 10 . Frame  217  represents the frame view of  FIG. 12 . Sides  221  and  222  are intended to be sewn together. The panel numbers in  FIG. 18  represent the fabric sides of the lower box of the invention. Cover  216  is identical to that of cover  206  of  FIG. 17  except that it is extended by top  118   a  and extension  218  to have hook and loop strips  219  and  220  in appropriate positions so that extension  219  can be wrapped around frame section  169 . 
       FIG. 19  is an inside view of the pre-sewing fabric of a fabric skirt cover  223  for the lower box of  FIG. 3 . A bottom  224  is sewn to side panels  227  at edges  229  and  230 , which extend from a central front panel  226 . Hook and loop strips  228  are adapted to be applied to opposing strips on front  122  and sides  123  and  124  as in  FIG. 3  to prevent abrasive wear of those fabric surfaces. 
     The above design options will sometimes present the skilled designer with considerable and wide ranges from which to choose appropriate apparatus and method modifications for the above examples. However, the objects of the present invention will still be obtained by that skilled designer applying such design options in an appropriate manner.