Patent Publication Number: US-6712008-B1

Title: Portable computer work station assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a portable computer work station and more particularly pertains to a new portable computer work station assembly for enabling a user to use one&#39;s computer in a comfortable position such as from a lounge chair or a bed. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of a portable computer work station is known in the prior art. More specifically, a portable computer work station heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,270; U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,293; U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,912; U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,934; U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,922; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 329,150. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new portable computer work station assembly. The inventive device includes a base assembly including an elongate base member and leg members being securely attached to the elongate base member; and also includes an upright housing tower being securely mounted upon the base assembly and extending vertically; and further includes a height adjustment assembly being attached to the upright housing tower; and also includes a keyboard support assembly being adjustably attached to the height adjustment assembly; and further includes a central processing unit support member being attached to the housing tower; and also includes a monitor support assembly being adjustably attached to the height adjustment assembly. 
     In these respects, the portable computer work station assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of enabling a user to use one&#39;s computer in a comfortable position such as from a lounge chair or a bed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of portable computer work station now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new portable computer work station assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for enabling a user to use one&#39;s computer in a comfortable position such as from a lounge chair or a bed. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new portable computer work station assembly which has many of the advantages of the portable computer work station mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new portable computer work station assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art portable computer work station, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a base assembly including an elongate base member and leg members being securely attached to the elongate base member; and also includes an upright housing tower being securely mounted upon the base assembly and extending vertically; and further includes a height adjustment assembly being attached to the upright housing tower; and also includes a keyboard support assembly being adjustably attached to the height adjustment assembly; and further includes a central processing unit support member being attached to the housing tower; and also includes a monitor support assembly being adjustably attached to the height adjustment assembly. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new portable computer work station assembly which has many of the advantages of the portable computer work station mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new portable computer work station assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art portable computer work station, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new portable computer work station assembly which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new portable computer work station assembly which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new portable computer work station assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such portable computer work station assembly economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable computer work station assembly which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable computer work station assembly for enabling a user to use one&#39;s computer in a comfortable position such as from a lounge chair or a bed. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable computer work station assembly which includes a base assembly including an elongate base member and leg members being securely attached to the elongate base member; and also includes an upright housing tower being securely mounted upon the base assembly and extending vertically; and further includes a height adjustment assembly being attached to the upright housing tower; and also includes a keyboard support assembly being adjustably attached to the height adjustment assembly; and further includes a central processing unit support member being attached to the housing tower; and also includes a monitor support assembly being adjustably attached to the height adjustment assembly. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable computer work station assembly that is easy and convenient to move about and use. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable computer work station assembly that eliminates bulking and cumbersome computer furniture. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a new portable computer work station assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is another front perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the height adjustable assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new portable computer work station assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the portable computer work station assembly  10  generally comprises a base assembly including an elongate base member  11  and leg members  12 , 13  being securely and conventionally attached to the elongate base member  11 . The base assembly also includes a plurality of leveling members  14  being adjustably attached to bottom walls of the elongate base member  11  and the leg members  12 , 13 . Each of the leveling members  14  includes a threaded shaft  15  which is threaded into the bottom walls of the elongate base member  11  and the leg members  12 , 13 , and further includes a disc-shaped foot member  16  being securely and conventionally attached to an end of the threaded shaft  15  and being adapted to rest upon a ground, and also optionally includes caster wheels (not shown). The elongate base member  11  has a first end  17  and a second end  18 . The leg members  12 , 13  include a first leg member  12  having an end securely and conventionally attached to a side wall  19  of the elongate base member  11  near the first end  17  thereof and extending generally perpendicular to the elongate base member  11 , and also include a second leg member  13  having an end securely and conventionally attached to the side wall  19  of the elongate base member  11  near the second end  18  thereof and extending generally perpendicular to the elongate base member  11 . An upright housing tower  21  is securely and conventionally mounted upon the base assembly and extend vertically. The housing tower  21  includes top and side walls  22 , 23 , and also includes a longitudinal slot  24  being disposed in the side wall  23  thereof. 
     A height adjustment assembly is conventionally mounted to the upright housing tower  21 . The height adjustment assembly includes a plurality of pillow block bearings  25  being securely and conventionally attached in the housing tower  21  and having inner races with extended collars, and also includes a threaded shaft member  26  being threaded through the pillow block bearings  25  and having a top end  27 , and further includes a crank  28  being conventionally attached to the top end  27  of the threaded shaft member  26 , and also includes a bracket assembly being movably mounted to the threaded shaft member  26 , and further includes an elongate support member  29  being securely and conventionally attached to the bracket assembly. The threaded shaft member  26  extends through the top wall  22  of the housing tower  21 . The bracket assembly includes a first plate member  30  being movably disposed in the housing tower  21 , and also includes a second plate member  31  being disposed outside of the housing tower  21 , and further includes a connector  32  conventionally interconnecting the first and second plate members  30 , 31  and being received in the longitudinal slot  24  of the housing tower  21 . The elongate support member  29  is disposed perpendicular to the second plate member  31  and has an end which is securely attached to the second plate member  31 . A central processing unit support member  50  is securely and width-adjustably mounted to the housing tower  21  and includes a bottom plate and a side plate extending upwardly along a longitudinal edge of the bottom plate with the bottom plate being conventionally mounted to the housing tower  21 . 
     A keyboard support assembly is adjustably and conventionally attached to the height adjustment assembly. The keyboard support assembly includes a first bracket  33  being securely and conventionally attached to the elongate support member  29 , and also includes a plurality of linkages  34  being pivotally connected end-to-end and being conventionally attached to the first bracket  33 , and further including a second bracket  35  being conventionally connected to one of the linkages  35 , and also includes a keyboard tray  36  having a bottom side  37  which is conventionally attached to the second bracket  35 . 
     A monitor support assembly is adjustably and conventionally attached to the height adjustment assembly. The monitor support assembly includes a mounting bracket  38  being rotationally adjustable and conventionally attached to the elongate support member  29  but is limited to 90 degrees total rotation, and also includes a first boom  39  being pivotally and conventionally attached to the mounting bracket  38 , and further includes a second boom  40  being pivotally and conventionally attached to the first boom  39 , and also includes a shelf assembly being adjustably attached to the second boom  39  and being adapted to support a monitor  47 . The shelf assembly includes a bracket member  41  being conventionally attached to the second boom  40 , and also includes a support arm  42  being adjustably attached to the bracket member  41 , and further includes a fastener  43  being threaded into the bracket member  41  and being engagable to the support arm  42 , and also includes a support plate  44  having a bottom side  45  which securely and conventionally attached to the support arm  42 . The monitor  47  is securely fastened to the support plate  45  with adjustable nylon fastener straps (not shown) which are conventionally attached to the bottom side  45  of the support plate  44  to prevent the monitor from falling off the shelf assembly during movement thereof 
     In use, the user can set up the computer work station assembly  10  almost anywhere it is needed. For example, a lounge chair  46  can be used for the user to comfortably sit in front of a computer. The user would place the lounge chair  46  across the leg members  12 , 13  and would raise and lower the elongate support member  29  by using the crank  28  for one&#39;s comfort. The user would also adjust the keyboard tray  36  and the support plate  44  for the monitor  47  as desired. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.