Abstract:
This invention is directed to a portable table which is formed in two half sections movable between a folded position where they form a brief case and an unfolded position in which the half sections abut one another to define a planar table top capable of supporting a laptop computer, notebook and the like. The table top has a pair of legs which are adjustable both in the vertical and lateral directions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a portable table for a laptop computer or notebook, and, more particularly, to an apparatus consisting of two half sections movable between a closed position forming a brief case and an open position forming a planar table top which is supported by a pair of legs each capable of both vertical and lateral adjustment.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In recent years, the trend toward miniaturization of electrical components has been especially apparent in the computer field. Large, bulky desk top computers continue to be replaced by laptop computers and notebooks which can match the performance and speed of desk tops but in a much smaller package. Laptop computers and notebooks have become increasingly thinner and lighter over the years, and are readily portable allowing users to take them on the road for work or recreation and remain in contact with the office or home via connections to the internet.  
         [0003]     While laptop computers and notebooks are convenient from the standpoint of portability, they are not particularly easy to use especially when one is in transit. Use of the term “laptop” to identify these types of computers apparently came about by observing how one had to balance the machine on his or her lap when using it. Not all people are built the same, and it is difficult for some to easily rest the computer on the lap and still type or view the screen. Working on the computer for longer periods of time while supporting the computer on one&#39;s lap can be difficult for anyone. Although there are a number of cases for transporting laptop computers and notebooks, none provide a convenient and adjustable means of supporting the machine while it is in use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     This invention is directed to a portable table for a laptop computer which is formed in two half sections movable between a folded position where they form a brief case and an unfolded position in which the half sections abut one another to define a planar table top capable of supporting a laptop computer, notebook and the like. The two half sections of the brief case which form the tabletop are connected by a central hinge, and are supported by a pair of legs movable between a retracted position and an extended position.  
         [0005]     One aspect of this invention is the provision of adjustment structure for the legs allowing them to be moved laterally, e.g. toward and away from one another. Each leg is mounted by a hinge to a leg support plate which is laterally movable along a slotted rail carried by each of the half sections. To obtain adjustment of the legs toward and away from one another, one or both of the legs is tilted from the upright, extended position and then moved with the leg support plate along the slotted rail. When in the desired lateral position, one or both of the legs is folded upright so that a spring-biased pin on the edge of the leg extends into an adjustment hole formed in the outer wall of a respective half section. Engagement between the spring-biased locking pin and a hole in the outer wall releasably locks each leg in place. The legs are each supported in the upright, extended position by a leg brace which is pivotal from a collapsed position against the leg to an extended position. In the extended position, rods at the outermost edge of each leg brace engage leg brace mounts fixed to the mounting plate.  
         [0006]     In addition to lateral adjustment of the legs toward and away from one another, both legs are vertically adjustable, e.g. their overall length can be varied. Each leg has an upper panel which is connected by the hinge to the leg support plate, and a lower panel which telescopes with respect to the upper panel. The lower panel is formed with spaced notches along one edge, and a foot at the base. A spring-loaded pin mounted to the upper panel of the leg is positioned to engage each of the notches. The pin may be retracted, the telescoping lower panel moved vertically within the upper panel of the leg to either shorten or lengthen its overall length dimension and then the pin may be inserted into another notch to secure the two panels together.  
         [0007]     The lateral and vertical adjustments of the legs provided by the present invention allow a user to place his or her laptop computer on the table top and sit on the floor or in a chair with the table top comfortably adjusted according to the size of the person and where he/she is sitting. Larger people may adjust the legs farther apart, and the tabletop higher, than smaller people, as desired. Further, the size of a chair may dictate how far apart the legs should be spaced from one another in order to rest comfortably on the chair, and the lateral adjustment feature herein accommodates chairs of all sizes. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The structure, operation and advantages of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the portable table of this invention in the open position;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the portable table with the legs in the collapsed position, and the half sections of the table partially closed;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is side view in partial cross section of one half section of the portable table with the leg in an upright positions and the leg brace collapsed;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3A  is an enlarged, cross sectional view of the encircled portion of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  except with the leg brace in the extended position;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is plan view of one of the half sections with the leg and leg brace each in the extended position and the leg support plate in one lateral position;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  except with the leg support plate in a different lateral position;;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a side view of one of the half sections depicting the leg construction and its vertical adjustment feature, with the leg in a fully retracted position;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is view similar to  FIG. 7  except with the leg partially extended; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the portable table in a closed position forming a brief case. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 9 , the portable table  10  of this invention includes a first half section  12  and a second half section  14  which are pivotally connected by a hinge  16  and movable between an open position shown in  FIG. 1  to form a table top  18 , and a closed position depicted in  FIG. 9  to form a brief case  20 . The brief case  20  has a handle  21  formed in two parts  22  and  23 . Each part  22  and  23  is mounted by a pair of straps  24  to respective half sections  12  and  14 . The handle parts  22 ,  23  are connected together for transport of the brief case  20 , and can be disconnected when the brief case  20  is opened to form essentially two “half handles,” one for each of the half section  12  and  14 , which the user may grasp to aid in moving the table  10  when in the open position. See  FIG. 2 . A latch  25  retains the half sections  12 ,  14  of the brief case  20  in the closed position.  
         [0020]     With further reference to  FIG. 2 , the first half section  12  is formed with opposed side walls  26  and  28 , opposed end walls  30  and  32 , and, an outer wall  34  which are interconnected to form an enclosure with an open interior  36 . Similarly, the second half section  14  has opposed side walls  38  and  40 , opposed end walls  42  and  44 , and, an outer wall  46  connected together to form an enclosure with an open interior  48 . The hinge  16  is connected to the end walls  32  and  44  of respective half sections  12  and  14 . With the portable table  10  in the open position, the end walls  32 ,  44  abut one another, and the outer walls  34 ,  46  of the two half section  12 ,  14  form the generally planar table top  18 . Each outer wall  34  and  46  may also mount a stop  49  positioned to engage and retain the laptop computer or notebook on the table top  18  when it is in use.  
         [0021]     An important aspect of this invention is the adjustable manner in which the table top  18  is supported with the portable table  10  in the open position. Each of the half sections  12 ,  14  mount a leg assembly  50 , best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . For purposes of the present discussion, each “leg assembly”  50  is considered to include a leg  52 , a leg brace  54 , a leg support plate  56 , leg brace mounts  58  and  60 , slotted rails  62  and  64 , and, leg locking structure  66 . The leg assembly  50  of each half section  12  and  14  is structurally and functionally the same, and therefore only the leg assembly  50  associated with the half section  14  is described in detail, it being understood that the same explanation applies to the leg assembly  50  of the half section  12 .  
         [0022]     Referring initially to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the leg  52  of each leg assembly consists of an upper panel  68  formed with a cavity  70  which receives a lower panel  72 . The lower panel  72  is movable in a telescoping fashion within the cavity  70 , and mounts a foot  74  at its free end. In the presently preferred embodiment, the lower panel  72  is formed with a number of spaced notches  76  which selectively align with a pin  78  carried by the upper panel  68 . The pin  78  is biased into engagement with a notch  76  by a spring  80 . In order to adjust the length of the leg  52 , and therefore the height of the table top  18 , the pin  78  is retracted from one notch  76  allowing the lower section to be moved within the cavity  70  of upper panel  68  to the desired position, at which time the pin  78  is released into engagement with another notch  76 . The leg  52  is shown in the fully retracted position in  FIG. 7 , and in a partially extended position in  FIG. 8 . It is noted that the base of the upper and lower panels  68  and  72  is angled, and, hence, the foot  74 , so that the table top  18  is also oriented at an angle relative to horizontal. This facilitates typing on the keyboard, and viewing of the screen, when a laptop computer or notebook is placed on the table top  18 .  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-6 , the remaining structure of the leg assembly  50  is shown which permits lateral adjustment of the leg  52  of each half section  12 ,  14 . The term “lateral” as used herein refers to a direction of movement of the legs  52  of respective half sections  12 ,  14  toward and away from one another. The side walls  38  and  40  of half section  14  mount the slotted rails  62  and  64 , respectively, which face on another within the hollow interior  48 . The slot  82  within each slotted rail  62 ,  64 , one of which is shown in  FIG. 2 , receive the side edges of the leg support plate  56 . As described below, the leg support plate  56  is laterally movable along the slotted rails  62 ,  64  within the slots  82 .  
         [0024]     The upper panel  68  of leg  52  is pivotally connected by a hinge  84  to the leg support plate  56 . The upper edge of the upper panel  68  is formed with a recess which receives a spring  86  connected at one end to a locking pin  88 . As discussed in more detail below in connection with a description of the lateral adjustment of leg  52 , the locking pin  88  is inserted into one of a number of spaced holes  90  formed in the outer wall  46  of half section  14  to lock the leg assembly  50  in place.  
         [0025]     The leg  52  is pivotal on hinge  84  between an upright, extended position substantially perpendicular to the leg support plate  56  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ), and a collapsed position against the leg support plate  56  ( FIG. 2 ). In order to provide additional support to the leg  52  in its upright position, and rigidity to the table top  18  when in use, the leg brace  54  is provided. One end of the leg brace  54  is mounted by a hinge  92  to the upper panel  68  of the leg  52 , and its opposite end has a pair of spaced arms  94  each formed with a slot  96  spanned by a rod  98 . The leg brace  54  is movable between a retracted position where it rests against the leg  52  as seen in  FIG. 3 , and an extended position shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . In the extended position, the rod  98  of each arm  94  of leg brace  54  is received within the spring-biased catch  100  of a leg brace mount  102  carried on the leg support plate  56 . Each catch  100  retains a rod  98  in place, but then releases to allow the rods  98 , and hence the leg brace  54 , to disengage from the leg support mounts  54 .  
         [0026]     Lateral adjustment of the leg assembly  50  and leg  52  is obtained as follows. With the leg assembly  50  in a position such as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  with the leg  52  in the upright, extended position and the leg brace  54  also extended, it can be observed that the locking pin  88  at the upper end of the leg  52  engages one of the holes  90  in the outer wall  46 . Initially, the leg brace  54  is moved to its collapsed position against the leg  52  by lifting the rods  98  out of the spring-biased catch  100  of each leg brace mount  102 . This allows the leg  52  to be tilted or pivoted on hinge  84  relative to the outer wall  46  causing the locking pin  88  to disengage the hole  90  in which it had resided. It should be noted that the leg brace  54  need not be placed in its fully collapsed position, but it must disengage the leg brace mounts  102  so that the leg  52  can be pivoted.  
         [0027]     With the leg  52  in a pivoted position, the leg support plate  56 , leg  52  and leg brace  54  may be moved as a unit in a lateral direction, e.g. toward or away from the leg  52  of the other half section  12 . As noted above, the side edges of the leg support plate  56  slide within the slot  82  formed in respective rails  62  and  64  during lateral adjustment. When the leg  52  is in the desired position, it is pivoted to an upright, extended position and may have to be moved laterally one way or the other slightly until its locking pin  88  aligns with one of the holes  90  in the outer wall  46 . The spring  86  forces the locking pin  88  into such hole  90 , thus locking the leg  52  in that location so long as the leg  52  remains in the upright position. The leg brace  54  is then returned to its extended position, such that the rods  98  engage the catches  100  of the leg brace mounts  102 , to secure the leg  52  in its upright position. Two different lateral positions of the leg  52  are shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
         [0028]     As best seen in  FIG. 2 , in order to close the portable table  10  into a brief case  24 , the leg  52  carried by each half section  12  and  14  is placed in the fully retracted position against the leg support plate  56 . In the presently preferred embodiment, sufficient space is left within the interior  36  and/or  48  of the half sections  12 ,  14  to receive and mount a laptop computer or notebook and charger (not shown) when the half sections  12 ,  14  are fully closed. One or more foam strips  104  are mounted within each half section  12 ,  14  to support the computer or notebook.  
         [0029]     As discussed above, the legs  52  of each half section  12  and  14  are adjustable in a lateral direction, toward and away from one another, to accommodate the size of the chair or other support where the one is seated when using the portable table  10 . Depending upon the depth of the chair or support, the foot  74  at the base of each leg  52  may not rest entirely on the chair or support. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 9 , a shoulder strap  106  is provided to transport the brief case  20  on one&#39;s shoulder instead or using the handle  21 . Opposite ends of the shoulder strap  106  are mounted to the case  20  by clips  108 , one of which is shown in  FIG. 9 . The shoulder strap  106  may be disconnected from the clips  108  and used to help secure the portable table  10  on a chair or other support. With reference to  FIG. 1 , each end of the shoulder strap  106  may be connected by a clip  108  to approximately the center of the side walls  30  and  42  of respective half sections  12  and  14 . In this position, the shoulder strap  106  may be extended around the torso of the user, such that the strap  106  is pinned between the back of the user and the back rest of the chair, thus stabilizing the portable table  10  on the chair when in use.  
         [0030]     While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.