Abstract:
This invention provides to a full size convenient folding portable podium which folds together as a single unit and thus requires no assembly or disassembly.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application asserts priority from provisional application 61/310,735, filed on Mar. 5, 2010 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a convenient folding portable podium which folds together so that the podium, when folded together serves as its own flat rectangular case. The podium is simply unfolded for use. Since the podium folds as a single unit it requires no assembly or disassembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,787 relates to a combination voting booth/speaker&#39;s lectern which is assembled from several pieces. When disassembled the pieces of the podium would require a separate case. U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,119 relates to a portable desk top podium having a removable shelf and a front and sides, which fold together. U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,885 relates to a portable podium, which may be disassembled into several pieces. US Patent publication 2009/0284963 relates to a collapsible portable stand in which has support legs and a mast that collapse into a small equipment enclosure or case. US Patent publication 20100006735 relates to a multipurpose platform suitable for use as a desk and an easel. U.S. design patent D320319 relates to a portable lectern. U.S. design patent D210670 relates to a portable lectern and a carrying case. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a full size convenient folding portable podium which folds together as a single unit and thus requires no assembly or disassembly. The podium provides a front panel, side panels, a shelf, a bottom panel, and a top surface which may be slanted. The components of the podium are connected together with hinges so that they may be folded together without disassembly. The podium, when folded together serves as its own flat rectangular case. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a view of the unfolded podium from the side and behind the podium. 
         FIG. 2  shows a view of the unfolded podium from the side and the front the podium. 
         FIG. 3  shows a view of the folded podium with the front panel down. 
         FIG. 4  shows a view of the first step in unfolding the podium. 
         FIG. 5  shows a view of the second step in unfolding the podium. 
         FIG. 6  shows a view of the third step in unfolding the podium. 
         FIG. 7  shows a view of the fourth step in unfolding the podium. 
         FIG. 8  shows a view of the last step in unfolding the podium. 
         FIG. 9  shows a view of an alternative embodiment of the podium 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a view of the unfolded podium from the side and behind the podium. At the top of the podium is a desk top  1  on which the speaker may place papers, display control devices, and the like. At the bottom of the podium is a base panel  6 . In the middle of the podium is a middle shelf  2 . A lip  29  on the middle shelf is shown (front side closest to the speaker). The front panel  17  of the podium has side lips  12 , a base lip  20 , and a top lip  16 . The desk top  1  attaches to the top lip  16  of the front panel  17  of the podium with a hinge  10 . The base panel  6  attaches to the base lip  20  of the front panel  17  of the podium with a hinge  11 . The middle shelf attaches to the inside of the front panel  17  with a hinge  8 . The left side panel of the podium (from the speaker&#39;s point of view)  3  is shown. The left side panel has a lip  14 . The right side panel of the podium (from the speaker&#39;s point of view)  4  is shown. The right side panel has a lip  15 . The side panels  3  and  4  are attached to the front panel  17  by hinges  9  and  7 . When folded down for use, the middle shelf  2  is retained in a horizontal position by contact of the lip  29  of middle shelf  2  with the lips  14  and  15  of the podium side panels  3  and  4 . An optional support  5  is shown. The optional support is attached to the lip  29  on the middle shelf  2  with a hinge  13 . Side lip  21  of the desk top  1  and side lip  22  of the base panel  6  are shown. An optional front lip (side closest to the speaker)  23  on the desk top  1  is shown. An optional slot  24  on the side panel  4  is shown. These slots can serve as handles when the podium is folded. 
       FIG. 2  shows a view of the unfolded podium from the side and the front the podium. The desk top  1 , front panel  17 , base panel  6 , left side panel  3 , side lip  12  of the front panel  17 , side lip  21  of the desk top  1 , side lip  22  of the base panel  6 , front lip  23  on the desk top  1 , and slot  24  on the side panel  3  is shown. 
       FIG. 3  shows a view of the folded podium with the front panel  17  down and not shown. The desk top  1 , base panel  6 , side panels  3  and  4 , hinges  9  and  7 , side lip  12  of the front panel  17 , side lip  21  of the desk top  1 , side lip  22  of the base panel  6 , and slots  24  on the side panels  3  and  4  are shown. 
       FIG. 4  shows a view of the first step in unfolding the podium. The front panel  17  is down and not shown. The desk top  1 , base panel  6 , side panels  3  and  4 , hinges  9  and  7 , side lip  12  of the front panel  17 , side lip  21  of the desk top  1 , side lip  22  of the base panel  6 , and slots  24  on the side panels  3  and  4  are shown. Fastening means  18  such as Velcro® hook and loop fasteners are shown. Optionally the tops  19  of the side panels  3  and  4  may be slanted allowing the desk top  1  to be slanted downward rather than being horizontal. 
       FIG. 5  shows a view of the second step in unfolding the podium. The front panel  17  is down and the front surface is not shown. The desk top  1 , base panel  6 , side panels  3  and  4 , hinges  9  and  7 , a fastening means  18 , slanted tops  19  of the side panels  3  and  4 , middle shelf  2 , support  5 , top lip  16  of front panel  17 , bottom lip  20  of front panel  17 , side lip  21  of the desk top  1 , and side lip  22  of the base panel  6  are shown. 
       FIG. 6  shows a view of the third step in unfolding the podium. The front panel  17  is down and the front surface is not shown. The desk top  1 , base panel  6 , side pane  3  and  4 , hinges  9  and  7 , a fastening means  18 , slanted tops  19  of the side panels  3  and  4 , lip  29  of middle shelf  2 , support  5 , hinge  15 , side lip  21  of the desk top  1 , and side lip  22  of the base panel  6  are shown. 
       FIG. 7  shows a view of the fourth step in unfolding the podium. The front panel  17  is down and the front surface is not shown. The desktop  1 , base panel  6 , side panels  3  and  4 , hinges  9  and  7 , a fastening means  18 , slanted tops  19  of the side panels  3  and  4 , lip  29  of middle shelf  2 , support  5 , hinge  13 , side lip  12  of the front panel  17 , side lip  21  of the desktop  1 , and side lip  22  of the base panel  6  are shown. 
       FIG. 8  shows a view of the last step in unfolding the podium. The front panel  17  is down and the front surface is not shown. The desk top  1 , base panel  6 , side panels  3  and  4 , hinges  9  and  7 , slanted tops  19  of the side panels  3  and  4 , lip  29  of middle shelf  2 , support  5 , hinge  13 , side lip  12  of the front panel  17 , side lip  21  of the desk top  1 , side lip  22  of the base panel  6 , slots  24  on the side panels  3  and  4  are shown. 
       FIG. 9  shows a view of an alternative embodiment of the podium from the side and behind the podium. At the top of the podium is a desk top  1  on which the speaker may place papers, display control devices, and the like. At the bottom of the podium is a base panel  6 . In the middle of the podium is a middle shelf  2 . The front panel  17  of the podium has side lips  12 , and a top lip  16 . The desk top  1  attaches to the top lip  16  of the front panel  17  of the podium with a hinge  10 . The middle shelf attaches to the inside of the front panel  17  with a hinge  8 . The left side panel of the podium (from the speaker&#39;s point of view)  3  is shown. The left side panel has a lip  14 . The right side panel of the podium (from the speaker&#39;s point of view)  4  is shown. The right side panel has a lip  15 . The side panels  3  and  4  are attached to the front panel  17  by hinges  9  and  7 . Side lip  21  of the desk top  1  and side lip  22  of the base panel  6  are shown. An optional front lip  23  on the desk top  1  is shown. An optional slot  24  on the side panel  4  is shown. Optional supports  25  and  26  are shown. Support  25  is attached to side lip  14  of side panel  3  by hinge  28 , and support  26  is attached to side lip  15  of side panel  4  by hinge  27 . Fasteners  30  and  31  to hold the supports  25  and  26  to the middle shelf lip are shown. The lip  29  of middle shelf  2  is behind supports  25  and  26  and not seen in this view. 
       FIG. 10  shows a view of another embodiment of the invention. The front panel  17  is down and not shown. The desk top  1 , base panel  6 , side panels  3  and  4 , hinges  9  and  7 , a fastening means  18 , slanted tops  19  of the side panels  3  and  4 , middle shelf  2 , two supports  5 , two hinges  13 , side lip  21  of the desk top  1 , and side lip  22  of the base panel  6  are shown. 
     The podium may be made from a wide variety of materials including wood, wood products, plastics, and metals. The podium may be made from a variety of woods including the common woods such as pine, oak, maple and cherry or decorative woods such as walnut, hickory, teak and mahogany. Wood products suitable for the construction of the podium include plywood, chipboard and fiberboard. Plastics suitable for construction of the podium include polycarbonate, acrylic, Plexiglas® (a trademark of Rohm and Haas for a poly-methylmethacrylate plastic), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fiberglass, polystyrene, and extruded plastics. Suitable metals for construction of the podium include copper, titanium, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and aluminum magnesium alloys. If the podium is made from wood or a wood product the lips may be prepared as separate pieces of wood, wood product, or metal which are fastened to the panels by a fastening means such as nails, screws or glue. If the podium is made from a plastic material, the lips would also be separate pieces of material which could be glued to the panels. If the front and side panels are made from an extruded plastic, the hinges may be extruded as an integral part of the panel. In this case the front panel and the side panel would each have half a hinge. The hinge halves are brought together and inserting a hinge pin completes the hinge. If the podium is made from metal, the metal panels may simply be stamped to achieve the desired shape. 
     It is possible to build the podium from a mixture of materials. One could, for example build a wooden front panel  17  and desk top  1  while making the middle shelf, the side panels and the base panel  6  out of metal. If the appearance of wooden front panel  17  is desired, it is possible to fashion metal “L” shaped piece, which could be attached to sides of the wooden front panel  17  servings as lips. The hinges could be attached to the metal lips and the rest of the podium could be made from metal. Colored plastics could be used to change the appearance of the podium. Aluminum is the preferred material for construction of the podium because it is light weight and strong. It is easy to coat or anodize aluminum to obtain a variety of appearances. 
     The podium may be decorated in a wide variety of ways. If the podium is made totally, or partially of wood, the wood portions may be stained and coated with a varnish such as polyurethane. The wood surface may be painted. If the podium is made from mild steel, the surfaces may be coated with clear lacquer or a wide variety of colored lacquers. Automotive finishes would be appropriate. In addition steel may be covered with wet coat paint. Stainless steel may be lacquered, painted, brushed, or polished. Aluminum may be anodized, painted, lacquered, brushed, or polished. Decorative labels or plaques may be applied to the surfaces of the podium. Laser designs can be cut in the surfaces. By these means the podium can personalized to reflect the taste of the user. 
     In a preferred embodiment the podium is constructed from several pieces of aluminum held together by hinges. The hinges may be welded, glued, or taped to the aluminum pieces. Welding methods such as metal inert gas welding, tungsten inert gas (TIG), and spot welding are suitable for attaching the hinges. The hinges may be screwed to the aluminum pieces. The hinges may be taped to the aluminum pieces using a tape suitable for metal attachment such as 3M® VHB® acrylic foam tape. The hinges may also be glued to the aluminum pieces using epoxy or cyanoacrylate glues. 
     The hinges which connect the various components of the podium may be piano or continuous hinges, pivot hinges, spring hinges, door hinges, butt hinges, cabinet hinges, friction hinges, and strap hinges. Piano hinges are preferred, but a piano hinge may be replaced by one or more pivot hinges, spring hinges, door hinges, butt hinges, cabinet hinges, friction hinges, and strap hinges. If a single pivot hinge, spring hinge, door hinge, butt hinge, cabinet hinge, friction hinge, or strap hinge is used instead of a piano hinge, it should be placed close to the center of the movable component of the podium. It is preferred to use two or more pivot hinges, spring hinges, door hinges, butt hinges, cabinet hinges, friction hinges, or strap hinges, or a single piano hinge for making a connection. 
     The portable podium has a front panel  17  to which are attached a desk top  1 , a base panel  6 , two side panels  3  and  4 , and a middle shelf  2 . Optionally, a support  5  may be attached to the middle shelf. The front panel  17  has a lip on all sides to which the desk top  1 , base panel  6  and side panels are attached. Specifically, the desk top  1  is attached to the top lip  16 . The base panel  6  is attached to the bottom lip  20 . The side panels are attached to the side lips  12 . 
     The lips on the front panel  17  serve two purposes. First they provide a point of attachment for the hinges which connect the desk top  1 , base panel  6 , and side panels  3  and  4  to the front panel  17 . Each attachment can be made with a piano hinge or one or more pivot hinges, spring hinges, door hinges, butt hinges, cabinet hinges, friction hinges, or strap hinges. The second purpose of the lips on the front panel  17  is to create a space into which the parts of the podium may be folded when the podium is fully folded for storage or transportation. 
     The middle shelf  2  is attached to the inside of the front panel  17  with a hinge  8  at a proper height for a shelf. The middle shelf  2  has a lip  29  at the front closest to the speaker. The height of the shelf may vary depending upon the use to be made of the podium. Ordinarily the middle shelf  2  would be about 12 to 18 inches below the desk top  1 . If it is envisioned that the podium will be used with bulky items to be stored on the shelf, the middle shelf  2  might be two feet below the desk top  1 . The hinge  8  allows the middle shelf  2  to fold flat against the back of the front panel  17  when the podium is folded for storage or transportation. If the podium is equipped with an optional support  5  for the middle shelf  2 , a hinge  13  allows the support  5  to fold back to cover the middle shelf  2 . The side panels  3  and  4  of the podium fold toward the center to cover the middle shelf  2 , and the optional support  5 . The desk top  1  has two side lips  21 , and the base panel  6  has two side lips  22 . The desk top  1  and the base panel  6  are wider than the front panel  17  so that the side lips  21  and  22  cover the side lips  12  of the front panel  17 . When the podium is folded, as described above, it becomes a rectangular object which may be readily stored or transported to another location. Optionally, a fastening means  18  such as a Velcro® hook and loop fastener may be provided to fasten the desk top  1  and the base panel  6  to the side panels  3  and  4  when the podium is folded. Other fasteners such a magnets clips, fastener snaps, spring pins, and twist-locks could be used. This fastening means prevents the podium from unfolding during transportation. Hinges  8  and  13  can be single piano hinges, or one or more pivot hinges, spring hinges, door hinges, butt hinges, cabinet hinges, friction hinges, and strap hinges. 
     When the podium is to be used, the unit is simply unfolded. The desk top  1  and the base panel  6  are opened. The side panels  3  and  4  are unfolded and the middle shelf  2  is moved into position. The side panels  3  and  4  are brought into position, and the desk top  1  and base panel  6  are put into position. Because the desk top  1  and base panel  6  are wider than the front panel  17 , the side lips  21  and  22  of the desk top  1  and base panel  6  cover the side panels  3  and  4 . The side panels  3  and  4  are held rigidly because they are prevented from moving inward by the middle shelf  2  and are prevented from moving outward by the side lips  21  and  22  of the desk top  1 . 
     If an optional support is present the top of the support is  5  attached to the lip  29  of the middle shelf  2  by a hinge  13 . When the podium is unfolded for use, the support is placed so that so that bottom part of the rests on the bottom lip of the front panel  17 . Although the podium does not require a support, the support does add extra stiffness to the podium. The support may be made of any material from the podium may be constructed. Aluminum is a preferred material. The support may be constructed from a solid piece of metal. However, this increases the weight of the support. It is possible to have a support in the form of a metal sheet with cut outs. This lowers the weight of the support without appreciably reducing its strength. Another embodiment which can reduce the weight of the support assembly is shown in  FIG. 10 . In this embodiment there are two smaller supports  5  instead of one single support. Each support is attached to the lip  29  of the middle shelf  2  by one or more hinges  13 . The individual supports may be narrower than half the size of a full single support. Thus, the two supports could weigh less than a full size single solid support without cutouts. These two supports could either be solid or have cutouts. Hinge  13  can be single piano hinge, or one or more pivot hinges, spring hinges, door hinges, butt hinges, cabinet hinges, friction hinges, or strap hinges. Since each support is independently hinged, there are two or more hinges for the supports 
     Optionally the side panels may have a slanted top  19 . This allows the desk top  1  to slant downward rather than being horizontal. Most podiums have a downward slope on the desk top  1 , and this is a preferred embodiment for the present invention. If the side panels are sloped, and the desk top  1  slants downward, it is convenient for the desk top  1  to have an optional front lip  23 . This keeps papers from sliding off the downward slanted podium desk top  1 . 
     Optionally, slots  24  may be cut in the side panels  3  and  4 . These slots can serve as handles for carrying the folded podium. The slots should have a size such that a person can conveniently place their hand in the slot. Although the placement of the slots is not critical, it is preferred that the slots be close to a balancing point so that when a person is carrying the folded podium using the slots as handles, the podium is neither front heavy nor rear heavy. 
     An alternative embodiment of the podium is shown if  FIG. 9 . In this embodiment, there are two supports  25  and  26  which are attached to the lips  14  and  15  of the side panels  3  and  4  by hinges  27  and  28 . Hinges  27  and  28  can be single piano hinges, or one or more pivot hinges, spring hinges, door hinges, butt hinges, cabinet hinges, friction hinges, or strap hinges. 
     When the podium is folded, the supports  25  and  26  fold inside the side panels  3  and  4 . When the podium is unfolded for use, the supports fold out and are secured to the front lip of the middle shelf. The supports  25  and  26  are secured to the lip of the middle shelf  29  by a fastening means such as magnetic cabinet latches, or captive fasteners. This fastening means is not a hinge but is instead a fully openable fastener. Thus, when the podium is to be folded, the two supports  25  and  26  remain attached to the lips  14  and  15  of the side panels  3  and  4  by two or more hinges  27  and  28 . The fully openable fastener attaching the supports  25  and  26  to the lip  29  of the middle shelf  2  is opened and the supports  25  and  26  are no longer attached to the lip  29  of the middle shelf  2 . Captive fasteners are a preferred openable fastener for attaching the supports to the lip  29  of the middle shelf  2  of the podium. Captive fasteners have a screw attached to the supports  25  and  29  and a captive nut attached to the middle shelf lip  29 . The screw is part of an assembly which is pressed into a hole in a sheet metal panel, in this case, the supports  27  and  28 . The assembly is held firmly in the panel, and the screw can be turned to engage the nut. The screw portion of the captive fastener has a ferrule at the end so that the screw may be easily turned by hand. The nut is similarly part of an assembly pressed into a hole in the lip of the middle shelf  29 . The nut is positioned so that it can engage the threads of the captive fastener screw. Captive fasteners can be closed or opened quickly without tools. In this embodiment, the supports  27  and  28  create a cabinet under the middle shelf  2  of the podium. The ferrule of the captive fastener acts as a cabinet door handle. The cabinet under the middle shelf may be used to store objects which may be needed while the podium is being used. For example, if a speaker had a box of brochures to be handed out after the speech, the box could be stored in the cabinet under the center shelf, rather than being placed next to the podium. 
     EXAMPLE I 
     A podium was constructed from 0.06 inch thick aluminum metal sheets. The metal was cut and stamped to form a front panel, a desk top, two side panels, a middle shelf, a support, and a base panel. The desk top, side panels, middle shelf, and base panel were attached to the front panel by hinges. A brace  5 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , was made from a metal sheet with cutouts to reduce weight. It was attached to the middle shelf by a hinge. All hinges were attached using 3M® VHB® acrylic foam tape. The podium had slanting side panels and the desk top slanting downward. The desk top had a front lip to prevent papers from sliding off the desk top. Holes approximately 4.5 inches long and 1.25 inches wide, serving as handles, were cut in the side panels. When folded the podium was 42 inches long, 20 inches across, and 2 inches thick including the front lip on the podium desk top. When unfolded for use the front panel was 42 inches long, the podium was 12 inches deep and the desk top measured 20% inches across by 12 inches deep. The complete podium weighed 17.5 pounds.