Patent Publication Number: US-6705235-B1

Title: Attachable platform for an open container and method of use

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention pertains generally to cases and containers for transporting various products such as electronics, and more particularly to a platform which may be attached to the top of an open container in order to provide a convenient horizontal workspace. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Containers and cases for transporting products are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,609,072 shows a folding table or the like. The folding table includes two slidable extension panels. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,086 illustrates a portable desk-work bench with carrying case. The device has a top unit defining an upper work surface and having front, rear, and opposite side marginal portions. A downwardly opening cover also having front, rear, and opposite side marginal portions is provided and the rear marginal portion of the cover is pivotally supported from the rear marginal portion of the top unit for swinging about an axis generally paralleling the rear marginal portions between a closed position closely telescopingly engaged over the top unit from above and an open position extending upwardly from the rear marginal portion of the top unit. Also, the cover is supported for shifting of the cover, after it has been swung to the open position, relative to the axis of rotation of the cover relative to the top unit, along a path extending between the front and, rear marginal portions of the cover to a position with the axis closely adjacent the front marginal portion of the cover and the cover disposed at generally right angles relative to the top unit, having its front marginal portion disposed to the rear of the top unit rear marginal portion and the rear marginal portion of the top unit lowermost. Short and long front and rear leg assemblies are stored within downwardly opening center and opposite side compartments defined by the top unit and the latter includes a bottom panel hingedly supported from the lower rear marginal portion thereof for swinging between a depending open position and a closed position closing the compartments from below. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,627 discloses a work bench and table system. The system includes a combination briefcase and table arrangement having a set of telescoping legs mounted at the underside of a briefcase body, so that the legs support the briefcase a certain height above a floor surface when the legs are extended. The legs are stored in recessed compartments that open at the underside of the briefcase body. A set of shelves are supported in a cover portion of the briefcase, for sliding movement between a withdrawn position at which the shelves are concealed inside the cover portion, and a working position at which the shelves project from the cover portion in a plane parallel with a top surface of the cover portion. The projecting shelves and the cover portion together define a flat table surface on which papers, tools, instruments and the like carried in the briefcase, can be placed at a work site. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,119 comprises a tool pack apparatus having a shape retaining shell enclosing a tool protective compartment. The shell includes first and second door members and a lid member which can pivot from a closed position, backward, to an open position. When the door and lid members are in the open position, the door members can be attached to the lid member to form a rigid structure. When in the open position and attached, the base of the door members prevents the pack from tipping backward and an inside surface of the lid member provides a stable work surface. The tool pack includes a removable shelf member and a small shelf pouch which can be attached to the shelf member. The shelf member may be installed in the tool protective compartment in a first position to form an open-ended cell for confinement of objects stored beneath the shelf or installed in a second position in which the space beneath the shelf is readily accessible. 
     The shelf pouch has a base panel with a dimension larger than a dimension of the shelf member and means for releasably attaching edges of the base panel adjacent edges of a shelf surface so that objects can be stored beneath the base of the shelf pouch when it is attached to the shelf member. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,395 consists of a combined suitcase and portable ironing board comprising a pair of suitcase sections each including a closed end surrounded by side walls and an open end. The suitcase sections are pivotably connected to one another along a side wall of each section so that the sections can be pivoted away from each other to an open position with the closed ends in the same plane forming an elongated, contiguous, substantially flat ironing board surface. A panel extends outwardly from the side wall of one suitcase section opposite the side wall which is pivotably connected to the other suitcase section and has a substantially flat surface lying in substantially the same plane as the closed ends forming an extension of the ironing board surface. Means are provided for supporting the panel in its outwardly extending position and for retracting the pane, through an opening in the side wall when the panel is not in use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,367 describes a carrying case for electronic components such as a lap top computer, printer, CD ROM, and the like. The case has a first shell half and a second shell half-connected along a hinged edge. The first shell half has two shelves foldable from a stowed position lying parallel to the plane of the first shell to a use position perpendicular to the shell. The shelves are lockable in the use position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,258 depicts a compact portable workstation designed for the tradesman and the home person. In the closed position, the workstation is small enough to transport by car. In the open position, the workstation provides a large work space. The workstation totes like an upright dolly and features two independent work surfaces each which hinge atop the workstation and have folding legs. A middle leaf of the extended work surface doubles as a collapsible stool. Three storage drawers are accessable from both sides. On top is an open bin. The stool is stored in the upper bin and functions as the middle leaf. When the legs are folded, they are hidden except the ends which function as handles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a platform which attaches to the wall of an open container or case, and a method for attaching same. The platform hangs off of the container wall and provides a useful horizontal workspace. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is utilized with electronic equipment cases, however the principles of the present invention may be applied to other types of cases as well. A preferred name for the present invention is a “wing”. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a platform selectively attaches to the upstanding wall of an open container or a closed container *having slots at the top of an upstanding wall such as an electronic equipment case. A hanger is located on the perimeter of the platform, and is shaped to receive and engage the top rim of the upstanding wall. A bracket is pivotally attached to the platform, and locks in a perpendicular position. With the bracket in the perpendicular position, the hanger is placed over the top rim of the upstanding wall with the bracket in abutting relationship with the outside surface of the upstanding wall. When so positioned, the platform extends horizontally outward to form a useful work or storage surface. 
     In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the platform has an underside having a longitudinal member which has a notch. A spring-loaded brace is pivotally connected to the bracket, so that the brace may be selectively locked into position between the bracket and the notch, thereby locking the bracket perpendicular to the platform. 
     In accordance with an important feature of the invention, both the bracket and the brace are pivotable into a storage position where they reside parallel to the underside of the platform. 
     In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, a cushioning material is disposed on one side of the bracket, so that when the platform is installed on the upstanding wall, the cushioning material is located between the bracket and the, outside surface of the wall. 
     In accordance with another important feature of the invention, a cushioning material is also disposed on the inside of the hanger. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an attachable platform for an open container in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the platform; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the platform; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the platform; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the platform with a bracket pivoted to a position perpendicular to the platform; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view of the bracket in a storage position; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view along the line  7 — 7  of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevation view of the bracket being pivoted from the storage position toward a perpendicular position; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged side elevation view of the bracket in the perpendicular position; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view along the line  10 — 10  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross sectional view along the line  11 — 11  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross sectional view along the line  12 — 12  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevation view showing the bracket in the perpendicular position, and the platform installed on an upstanding wall of an open container; 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged side elevation view showing the bracket in the perpendicular position, and the platform installed on the upstanding wall of the open container; and, 
     FIG. 15 is a reduced perspective view of the platform installed on an open container. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring initially to FIGS. 1-4 and  15 , there are illustrated top plan, end elevation, side elevation, bottom plan, and perspective views, respectively, of an attachable platform for an open container in accordance with the present invention, generally designated as  20 . Open container or case  500  has an upstanding wall  502  having a top rim  504  and an outer surface  506 . Platform  20  includes a substantially planar body  22 , having a perimeter  24 . At least one hanger  26  (two in the shown preferred embodiment) is disposed along perimeter  24 . Hanger  26  is shaped and dimensioned to be placed over and receive top rim  504  of upstanding wall  502  of open container  500 . In a preferred embodiment, a cushioning material  27  is disposed on the inside of hanger  26 , so that hanger  26  will not abrade top rim  504 . 
     It will be appreciated that attachable platform  20  may also be used on a closed container having slots at the top of an upstanding wall spaced to receive the hangers  26 . 
     At least one pivotable bracket  28  (two in the shown preferred embodiment) is connected to body  22 , wherein bracket  28  pivots between a position parallel to body  22  (refer to FIGS.  2  and  6 ), to a locked position perpendicular to body  22  (refer to FIGS. 5,  9 ,  13 , and  14 ). As used herein, locked means that bracket  28  is prevented from pivoting toward its stored position (refer to FIG.  6 ). Bracket  28  is pivotally attached to body  22  at  30 . A cushioning material  32  is disposed on one side of bracket  28 , so that when platform  20  is installed on upstanding wall  502 , cushioning material  32  (such as foam rubber) is disposed between bracket  28  and outside surface  506  of upstanding wall  502  (refer also to FIGS.  13  and  14 ). Cushioning material  32  thereby prevents abrasions to outside surface  506 . 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of platform  20  with bracket  28  pivoted to a locked position perpendicular to platform  20 . When bracket  28  is in the locked position perpendicular to body  22 , hanger  26  may be placed over top rim  502  of upstanding wall  502  (refer also to FIGS. 13 and 14) so that bracket  28  abuts outside surface  506  of upstanding wall  502 , and platform  20  resides in a substantially horizontal orientation. Body  22  has an underside having a longitudinal member  34  having a notch  36  (also refer to FIG.  8 ). A spring-loaded brace  38  is pivotally connected to bracket  28  at  40 . Brace  38  may be selectively locked into position between bracket  28  and notch  36  so that bracket  28  is locked perpendicular to body  22  of platform  20 . 
     It will be appreciated that a brace such as brace  38  may be held in position by a means other than spring  35  such as a hydraulic cylinder. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view of bracket  28  in a storage position. Bracket  28  and brace  38  have been pivoted into a storage position parallel to body  22 . A retainer  42  is attached to longitudinal member  34 . Retainer  42  holds brace  38  in the storage position. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view along the line  7 — 7  of FIG.  6 . It may be seen that in the storage position, longitudinal member  34 , brace  38 , and bracket  28  comprise a nested group of channel shaped members. 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevation view of bracket  28  being pivoted in direction  44  from the storage position of FIG. 6 toward a perpendicular position of FIG.  9 . Spring  35 , connected between brace  38  and bracket  28  serves in an “over the center” fashion to bias brace  38  to either the flat storage position of FIG. 6 or the perpendicular position of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged side elevation view of bracket  28  in the perpendicular ready for use position. 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view along the line  10 — 10  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross sectional view along the line  11 — 11  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross sectional view along the line  12 — 12  of FIG. 9 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevation view showing bracket  28  in the perpendicular position, and the platform installed on an upstanding wall of an open container. 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged side elevation view showing bracket  28  in the perpendicular position, and platform  500  installed on upstanding wall  502  of open container  500 . 
     FIG. 15 is a reduced perspective view of platform  20  installed on open container  500 . An object  508  has been placed on platform  20 . 
     In terms of use, a method for providing a horizontal workspace, includes: 
     (a) providing an open container  500  having an upstanding wall  502  having a top rim  504  and an outside surface  506 ; 
     (b) providing an attachable platform  20  for the open container  500 , the platform  20  including: 
     a substantially planar body  22  having a perimeter  24 ; 
     at least one hanger  26  disposed along perimeter  24 , hanger  26  shaped and dimensioned to receive top rim  504  of upstanding wall  502 ; and, 
     at least one pivotable bracket  28  connected to body  22 , wherein the bracket  28  pivots between a storage position parallel to body  22 , to a locked ready for use position perpendicular to body  22 ; 
     (c) locking bracket  28  into the position perpendicular to body  22 ; and, 
     (d) placing hanger  26  over top rim  504  of upstanding wall  502  so that bracket  28  abuts outside surface  506  of upstanding wall  502 , and platform  20  resides in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
     The method further including: 
     in step (b) platform  20  further including: 
     body  22  having an underside; 
     a longitudinal member  34  disposed on the underside, longitudinal member  34  having a notch  36 ; and, 
     a spring-loaded brace  38  pivotally connected to bracket  28 ; and, in step (c), the locking operation including causing brace  38  to be locked into a position between bracket  28  and notch  36  of longitudinal member  34 . 
     The method further including: 
     removing platform  20  from open container  500  and pivoting bracket  28  and brace  38  into a storage position parallel to body  22 . 
     The method further including: 
     in step (b), a cushioning material  32  disposed on one side of bracket  28  so that in step (d) cushioning material  32  is disposed between bracket  28  and outside surface  506 . 
     The method further including: 
     in step (b), a cushioning material  27  disposed on the inside of hanger  26 . 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, dimensional variations, and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve an equivalent result, all of which are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims.