Patent Publication Number: US-8534779-B2

Title: Portable station

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to stations, such as display stations or workstations, and, in particular, in one or more embodiments, the present disclosure relates to portable stations. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Portable chests are sometimes used to transport items from one location to another. For example, a portable chest, such as a portable tool chest, may be used to transport tools to a jobsite. However, the tools can be hard to locate within some portable tool chests and can become disorganized at the jobsite. 
     Sometimes portable chests are used to transport items to a location for display, e.g., on tables. However, items can be difficult to organize on tables and can be difficult to view on tables, e.g., especially when there is a large number of items and/or when there are different types of items. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment herein provides a portable station with an open enclosure and a chest having first and second cases pivotally coupled to each other. When the portable station is in a first configuration, the chest is closed and is selectively fastened at a first location within the enclosure. When the portable station is in a second configuration, the chest is open and selectively fastened at a second location within the enclosure. When the chest is open, the first and second cases have been pivoted apart. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 , illustrates a portable station in a portable, closed configuration, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a portable station at a stage of being converted from one configuration to another, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a portable station at another stage of being converted from one configuration to another, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a portable station in an open configuration, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 5 , illustrates containers in a case of a portable station, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cut-away view of a portion of a case of a portable station, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a transfer system of a portable station, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-section viewed along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 , according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an inverter of a transfer system of a portable station, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a light boom of a portable station, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective right side view of the portable station in  FIG. 2  with a portion of a sidewall removed, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a stabilizer assembly with the stabilizers retracted, according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a stabilizer assembly with the stabilizers extended, according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural and/or electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a portable station  100 , such as a portable workstation or a portable display station, according to an embodiment.  FIGS. 1-4  sequentially show portable station  100  at various stages of being converted (e.g., opening), such as by unfolding, from a portable, closed configuration in  FIG. 1  to an open configuration (e.g., that may be called a station configuration) in  FIG. 4 . Conversely,  FIGS. 4-1  sequentially show portable station  100  at various stages of being converted (e.g., closing), such as by folding, from the open configuration in  FIG. 4  to the closed, portable configuration in  FIG. 1 . 
     Portable station  100  may include an open enclosure (e.g., housing)  102  having an opening  104  in its top. A closed chest  105  may be located at an elevation within enclosure  102  when portable station  100  is in the portable configuration, as shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, a portion of closed chest  105  may be contained within enclosure  102 , while another portion may extend though opening  104  above the top of enclosure  102 . Enclosure  102  may act a support base, e.g., that acts to prevent portable station  100  from falling over or being easily knocked over when portable station  100  is in the open configuration of  FIG. 4 . For some embodiments, enclosure  102  and the exterior of chest  105  may be formed from a hard, non-compliant material, such as metal, e.g., aluminum, steel, etc., hard plastic, wood, or the like. 
       FIG. 2  shows closed chest  105  after it has been moved (e.g., by pulling), e.g., using a handle  110  attached to chest  105 , to another elevation within enclosure  102  that enables chest  105  to be opened (e.g., expanded). Handle  110  may also be used to lift portable station  100  for transporting portable station  100  when portable station  100  in the portable configuration in  FIG. 1 . 
     A handle  112  (e.g., a tab of flexible material, such as fabric, nylon web, leather, etc.) may be attached to chest  105 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , for opening chest  105 . Making handle  112  out of a flexible material enables handle  112  to be folded substantially flat against chest  105  when chest  105  is located at the elevation within enclosure  102  corresponding to the portable configuration of station  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, a handle, e.g., similar to handle  110 , may be recessed below the exterior surface of chest  105 , e.g., at substantially the location as shown for handle  112  in  FIG. 2 , so as not to obstruct the movement of chest  105  relative to enclosure  102 . 
     Pulling on handle  112  acts to separate a case  106   1 , e.g., an open case, of chest  105  from a case  106   2 , e.g., an open case, of chest  105 , thereby opening chest  105 . For example, for some embodiments, case  106   1  may be pivotally attached case  106   2 , e.g., by a hinge  114  ( FIG. 4 ), and pulling on handle  112  causes case  106   1  to pivot (e.g., about a pivot axis  115  ( FIG. 4 )) relative to case  106   2  in a direction so that a front of case  106   1  moves away from a front of case  106   2 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Continued pivoting of case  106   1  relative to case  106   2  causes a surface  116   1  of case  106   1  that was upward facing when chest  105  was closed, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to become inverted ( FIG. 3 ). Surface  116   1  of case  106   1  faces downward toward an upward-facing surface  116   2  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) of case  106   2  and may contact upward-facing surface  116   2  when station  100  is in the open configuration of  FIG. 4 . That is, when surface  116   1  of case  106   1  contacts upward-facing surface  116   2  upward-facing surface  116   2  prevents case  106   1  from being pivoted further in the direction that moves the front of case  106   1  moves away from the front of case  106   2 . Note that upward-facing surfaces  116   1  and  116   2  form portions of an upper surface of the closed chest  105 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Case  106   2  may include a compartment  120  that is exposed when station  100  is in the open configuration, as shown in  FIG. 4 . For example, compartment  120  is open compartment when station  100  is in the open configuration. Compartment  120  may be configured to contain tools or items for display. In some embodiments, a pegboard  122  may be located within compartment  120  for receiving hooks or the like that can be used to hang the tools or items for display therefrom. 
     A pair of cases  124   1  and  124   2  may be pivotally attached to case  106   1 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , so that they can respectively pivot about substantially parallel pivot axes  405   1  and  405   2  that may be inclined from vertical. For example, cases  124   1  and  124   2  may be respectively pivotally attached to opposing sidewalls of case  106   1 . Exterior surfaces of cases  124   1  and  124   2  are exposed when case  106   1  is pivoted relative to case  106   2 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Cases  124   1  and  124   2  may be respectively pivoted relative to case  106   1 , as indicated by arrows  126   1  and  126   2 . 
     Pivoting cases  124   1  and  124   2  in directions that cause the fronts of cases  124   1  and  124   2  to move away from a front of case  106   1  exposes interiors of cases  124   1  and  124   2  and an interior of a compartment  130  within case  106   1 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Compartment  130  is an open compartment when cases  124   1  and  124   2  are pivoted away from the front of case  106   1 . Compartment  130  may include one or more shelves  132 . 
     When  105  is open and station  100  is in its open configuration, case  106   1 , and thus compartment  130 , is stacked substantially vertically (e.g., vertically) above case  106   2  and thus compartment  120 . 
     The exterior surfaces of compartments  124   1  and  124   2  close a portion of compartment  130  when compartments  124   1  and  124   2  are located in front of that portion of compartment  130 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Shelves  132  may be covered by cases  124   1  and  124   2  when cases  124   1  and  124   2  are located in front of compartment  130 . Cases  124   1  and  124   2  may be removably coupled to a shelf  132  when compartments  124   1  and  124   2  cover shelves  132 , e.g., by a latch. 
     For some embodiments, a pocket assembly  125  may cover at least a portion of the front of compartment  130 , and pocket assembly  125  may in turn be covered by cases  124   1  and  124   2  when cases  124   1  and  124   2  are located in front of compartment  130 , i.e., when cases  124   1  and  124   2  are positioned as shown in  FIG. 3 . Stated another way, when cases  124   1  and  124   2  are located in front of compartment  130 , pocket assembly  125  may be interposed between cases  124   1  and  124   2  and the front edges of shelves  132  of compartment  130 . 
     Pocket assembly  125  may be pivotally coupled to interior surfaces of the opposing sidewalls of case  106   1 . Pivoting compartments  124   1  and  124   2  open to expose their interiors exposes pocket assembly  125 . Pocket assembly  125  may be pivoted relative to case  106   1  in the direction of arrows  415 . 
     Pocket assembly may include a frame  127  and a sheet  128  of compliant material, such as vinyl, attached to frame  127 . It is the frame  127  that may be pivotally coupled to the interior surfaces of the opposing sidewalls of case  106   1  so that frame  127  can pivot about a pivot axis  410 , e.g., that may be substantially parallel with the pivot axis  115  about which case  106   1  pivots. Sheet  128  may include a plurality of pockets  129 . A resilient material  131 , such as elastic fabric, may be located adjacent to the openings to pockets  129 . Resilient material  131  may act to keep the openings to the pockets closed. 
     Case  124   2  may include containers  136  that may be pivotally coupled to the interior of opposing sidewalls of case  124   2  so that containers  136  can pivot out of case  124   2 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Covers  138  may be pivotally coupled to the interior of opposing sidewalls of case  124   2 . For some embodiments, when containers  136  are pivoted into case  124   2 , a cover  138  may be pivoted to overlap a portion of each container  136 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . For other embodiments, case  124   1  may be configured substantially the same (e.g., the same) as case  124   2 , and thus may include containers  136  that may be pivotally coupled to the interior of opposing sidewalls of case  124   1  so that containers can pivot out of case  124   1 , and may include a cover  138  that can be pivoted to overlap a portion of each container  136 . 
     A sheet of material, such as a panel, e.g., a table  140 , that may be metal, e.g., aluminum, steel, etc., hard plastic, wood, or the like, may be pivotally coupled to interior surfaces of opposing sidewalls  141  of case  106   2 , and thus of compartment  120 , e.g., using pins (not shown). Table  140  may pivot about a pivot axis  420  that may be substantially parallel to the pivot axis  115  about which case  106   1  pivots. Supports  142  may connect table  140 , e.g., at its sides, to the interior of opposing sidewalls of case  106   1  within a portion  146  of compartment  130 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . For some embodiments, portion  146  of compartment  130  is not covered by cases  124   1  and  124   2 . 
     For some embodiments, supports  142  may be cables, as shown in  FIG. 4 . For other embodiments, at least one of supports  142  may be a slotted, substantially rigid bar, e.g., of metal, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , where  FIG. 6  is a cut-away view of case  106   1  showing the interior of portion  146  of compartment  130 . The slotted bar may be pivotally coupled to table  140  and case  106   1 , e.g., by a fasteners, such as screws (e.g., screw  144  in  FIG. 6 ) or bolts so that the fasteners can rotate within the slot of the slotted bar. 
     Supports  142  maintain table  140  in a first position so that the upper surface of table  140  and a bottom surface  147  of case  102 , e.g., the base surface of portable station  100 , respectively lie in substantially parallel planes and table  140  extends outward from the interior of chest  105  when chest  105  is open. That is, table  140  extends outward from compartment  120  when portable station  100  is in the open configuration of  FIG. 4 . For example, table  140  may be maintained substantially horizontal when the bottom surface  147  of case  102  is substantially horizontal, as in  FIG. 4 , and when portable station  100  is in the open configuration. When table  140  is in its first position, table  140  may function as a workbench, for example. 
     When chest  105  is closed, such as when portable station  100  is in the closed, portable configuration of  FIG. 1  or the configuration of  FIG. 2 , table  140  is enclosed within chest  105  in a second position. When table  140  is in the second position, its upper surface is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface  147  of case  102 . That is, the upper surface of table  140  is substantially vertical when enclosed within chest  105 , when the bottom surface  147  of case  102  is substantially horizontal. 
     Pivoting case  106   1  relative to case  106   2  so that the front of case  106   1  separates from and moves away from the front of case  106   2 , causes table  140  to pivot from its second position to its first position. For example, as the front of case  106   1  separates from and moves away from the front of case  106   2 , case  106   1  exerts a force on supports  142 , which in turn exert a force (e.g., a pulling force) on table  140  that causes table  140  to pivot from its second position to its first position. In other words, table  140  pivots from its second position to its first position substantially concurrently (e.g., concurrently) with case  106   1  as chest  105  is being opened. For example, table  140  may pivot from its second position to its first position in response to opening chest  105 . 
     Pivoting case  106   1  relative to case  106   2  so that the front of case  106   1  moves from its position in  FIG. 4  toward front of case  106   2 , causes table  140  to pivot from its first position to its second position. For example, pivoting case  106   1  in this way acts to substantially remove a force exerted by supports  142  that acts to maintain table  140  in its first position, allowing gravitational force to cause table  140  to pivot from its first position to its second position. In other words, table  140  pivots from its first position to its second position in response to closing chest  105 . 
     Alternatively, for embodiments where one or both of supports  142  are slotted bars, as shown in  FIG. 6  for one slotted bar, the slotted bar may pivot with case  106   1  and may exert a force on table  140  may act to assist or mitigate the effect of gravitational force on table  140 . For example, mitigating the effect of gravitational force on table  140  may act to prevent table  140  from essentially “free falling” when pivoting case  106   1  causes table  140  to pivot from its first position to its second position. As such, table  140  may pivot substantially concurrently (e.g., concurrently) with case  106   1  as chest  105  is being closed. 
     For some embodiments, one or more electrical outlets, such as electrical outlets  148 , may be located on an interior surface of compartment  130  ( FIG. 6 ) on the exterior of enclosure  102 , and/or on an interior surface of compartment  120 . The electrical outlets may be coupled to an AC electrical source, e.g., using an electrical cord  150  that may be hung on a hook  152  that may be attached to an outer surface of case  106   2 , such as an outer surface of a sidewall of case  106   2 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     For some embodiments, a pair of plates  160  having openings  162  therethrough (e.g., that may be called striker plates) may be attached to case  106   2 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  6 . For example, plates  160  may be respectively attached to outer surfaces of the opposing sidewalls  141  of case  106   2  adjacent to the upper surface of case  106   2  so that there is one plate attached to each of opposing sidewalls  141 . 
     A pair of pins  170  is located within the portion  146  of compartment  130 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . Each pin  170  is receivable through the opening  162  in a corresponding plate  160 . Each pin  170  may be biased in a normally extended position by a biasing device  172 , such as a rubber band, spring, etc., interposed between and coupled to the respective pin  170  and the interior of case  106   1 , e.g., the interior surface of a sidewall  143  of case  106   1 . Each pin  170  may be biased to extend from the interior of case  106   1  through an opening  174  in a corresponding sidewall  143  of case  106   1  ( FIG. 6 ) and protrudes from an outer surface of the corresponding sidewall  143  ( FIGS. 1-3 ). 
     Pins  170  are respectively coupled to actuators  176 , such as slides, of a release mechanism  180  by linkages  178 , such as cables, as shown in  FIG. 6 . As such, pins  170  are selectively actuatable by actuators  176 . Release mechanism  180  may be located within the portion  146  of compartment  130 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . Actuators  176  may be slidably coupled to a housing  182  of release mechanism  180 . The biasing forces exerted by biasing devices  172  on the respective pins  170  may exert pulling forces on the respective actuators  176  to bias them in the positions shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As case  106   1  is pivoted into its position in  FIG. 4 , pins  170  respectively engage plates  160 . The engagement between a pin  170  and a corresponding plate  160  deflects the pin  170  inward from its normally extended position against the biasing force of biasing device  172  and maintains pin  170  in its deflected position until the pin  170  aligns with the opening  162  in the corresponding plate  160 . When the pin  170  aligns with the opening  162  in the corresponding plate  160 , the biasing force forces the pin  170  through the opening  162  into its normally extended position, as shown in  FIG. 6 , thereby selectively latching case  106   1  to case  106   2 . Latching case  106   1  to case  106   2  acts to prevent case  106   1  from being pivoted toward case  106   2 . 
     To release (e.g., unlatch) case  106   1  from case  106   2 , a user may slide (e.g., squeeze) actuators  176  toward each other in the direction of arrows  184 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Sliding an actuator  176  in the direction of an arrow  184  (e.g., in a direction away from the corresponding pin  170 ) causes the respective actuator  176  to exert a force (e.g., a pulling force) on the corresponding linkage  178 , which in turn exerts a force (e.g., a pulling force) on the corresponding pin  170  that acts against the biasing force and moves (e.g., pulls) the corresponding pin  170  from the opening in a corresponding plate  160 , thereby unlatching case  106   1  from case  106   2 , allowing case  106   1  to be pivoted toward case  106   2 , as a shown in  FIG. 3 , for closing chest  105 . After case  106   1  is unlatched from case  106   2  and the user releases actuators  176 , the respective biasing forces return pins to their normally extended position, with the respective pins  170  extending through their corresponding openings  174  and protruding from the respective sidewalls  143  of case  106   1 . The respective biasing forces may also return the respective actuators  176  to their normal positions. 
       FIG. 7  is a view illustrating open compartment  120 , e.g., with pegboard  122  removed, of case  106   2  after the front of case  106   1  has been pivoted away from the front of case  106   2  and after table  140  has pivoted to its first position and extends outward from compartment  120 .  FIG. 8  is a cross-section viewed along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 , with cross-hatching and portions of the entire cross-section omitted for clarity. 
     A transfer system  700  may be located within compartment  120  of case  106   2 . Transfer system  700  is configured to transfer the motion and/or force imparted to an actuator  710 , such as a button or a lever, to a pin  720  extending from each of housings  725   1  and  725   2  of two pairs of housings  725   1  and  725   2 , as shown in  FIG. 8  for a housing  725   1 , where one pair of housings  725   1  and  725   2  is located adjacent to a back-wall  195  of compartment  120  and the other pair of housings  725   1  and  725   2  is located adjacent to a front-wall  196  of enclosure  102  that has been cut away in  FIG. 7  to show that pair of housings  725   1  and  725   2 . For some embodiments, a portion of actuator  710  may be integrated within handle  110 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     A plurality of openings  820  (e.g., square or round holes) may be formed in each of opposing sidewalls  190  of open enclosure  102 , e.g., terminating within the respective sidewall  190 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Two substantially vertical sets of openings  820  may be formed in each sidewall  190 . Each set of openings  820  may include a series of openings  820 . 
     Two sets of openings  820  may be respectively located in opposing sidewalls  190  adjacent a back-wall of enclosure  102  respectively opposite the housings  725   1  and  725   2  of the pair of housings  725   1  and  725   2  located adjacent to back-wall  195  of compartment  120  for receiving a pin  720  from the respective housings  725   1  and  725   2 , as shown in  FIG. 8  for the housing  725   1  of that pair of housings. Two sets of openings  820  may be respectively located in opposing sidewalls  190  adjacent to the front-wall  196  of open enclosure  102  respectively opposite the housings  725   1  and  725   2  of the pair of housings  725   1  and  725   2  located adjacent to front-wall  196 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , for receiving a pin  720  from the respective housings  725   1  and  725   2 . 
     Each pin  720  may be biased to normally extend from its respective housing  725 , by a biasing device (e.g., located in a respective housing  725 ), such as a spring  730 , e.g., a coil spring, into one of openings  820  at a time of a respective set of openings  820 . For example, when a pin  720  is biased in its normally extended position and is aligned with one of openings  820 , that pin  720  extends from its respective housing  725 , passes through an opening in a respective sidewall  141  of case  106   2 , and thus of compartment  120 , and into the one of openings  820 . 
     Pins  720  respectively extending from the housings  725   1  and  725   2  located adjacent to front-wall  196  of open enclosure  102  may extend into respective ones of the openings  820  of the sets of openings  820  shown adjacent to front-wall  196  in  FIG. 7 . Pins  720  respectively extending from the housings  725   1  and  725   2  located adjacent to the back-wall  195  of compartment  120  may extend into respective ones of the openings  820  of the sets of openings  820  adjacent to the back-wall of enclosure  102 . By extending into respective openings  820 , pins  720  selectively fasten case  106   2  to enclosure  102 . 
     Transfer system  700  may include cables  735   1  ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ) and cables  735   2  ( FIG. 9 ) that are respectively contained within cable housings  736   1  and  736   2 . Cables  735   1  may be respectively coupled to pins  720  extending from housings  725   1 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . In a similar manner, cables  735   2  may be respectively coupled to pins  720  extending from housings  725   2 . 
     For some embodiments, a resilient device  740 , such as a spring (e.g., a coil spring) a rubber band, elastic fabric, or the like, may be interposed between and connected to a pin  720  and a cable  735 , such as a cable  735   1  in  FIG. 8 . Alternatively, for other embodiments, resilient device  740  may be omitted, and a cable  735  may be coupled directly to a pin  720 . Note that there may be one resilient device  740  located in each of the housings  725  and coupled to the pin  720  within the respective housing  725 , meaning that there may be a plurality of resilient devices  740 , where the resilient devices of the plurality of resilient devices  740  are coupled to pins  720  on a one-to-one basis. 
     A cable  755 , contained within a cable housing  756 , may be coupled to actuator  710 . Cable  755  is coupled to cables  757  ( FIG. 9  for one of the cables  757 ) within the cable housings  758  at a cable splitter  759 . 
     A cable  757  is coupled to the cables  735   1  and  735   2  that are respectively coupled to the pins  720  extending from the pair of housings  725   1  and  725   2  located adjacent to the back-wall  195  of compartment  120  and thus couples actuator  710  to those cables  735   1  and  735   2 . For example, that cable  757  may be coupled to the respective cables  735   1  and  735   2  within an inverter  760 , such as a tension inverter, of transfer system  700 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Another cable  757  is coupled to the cables  735   1  and  735   2  that are respectively coupled to the pins  720  extending from the pair of housings  725   1  and  725   2  located adjacent to the front-wall  196  of open enclosure  102  and thus couples actuator  710  to the those cables  735   1  and  735   2 . For example, that cable  757  may be coupled to the respective cables  735   1  and  735   2  within another tension inverter  760  of transfer system  700 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     A cable  757  may be coupled directly to a cable  735   1  to form a single cable  761 . Alternatively, single cable  761  may be a single continuous cable having a cable  735   1  and a cable  757  as portions thereof, as shown in  FIG. 9 . Cable  735   2  may be coupled to cable  761  by a strip  765  of material, such as a fabric web, leather, etc. Strip  765  may wrap around a pulley  770  of inverter  760  located between cable  761  and cable  735   2 . 
     When a user imparts motion and/or force to actuator  710  in the direction of arrow  775 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , actuator  710  imparts a motion and/or force to cable  755 , causing cable  755  to move (e.g., actuator  710  pulls on cable  755 ) in the direction of arrow  776 , placing cable  755  in tension. The cable  755  imparts a motion and/or force to each of cables  757  substantially concurrently (e.g. concurrently) at cable splitter  759 . The cables  757  respectively impart a motion and/or force to cables  735   1 , causing those cables  735   1  to move in the direction of arrow  778 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The cables  735   1  respectively impart motion and/or force to pins  720  respectively extending from housings  725   1  substantially concurrently (e.g., concurrently), causing them to move substantially concurrently (e.g., concurrently), in the direction of arrow  778 , against the biasing force exerted by the respective biasing devices  730 , so that the tips of the respective pins  720  are retracted to at least being substantially flush with the outer surface of the corresponding sidewall  141  of case  106   2 , as indicated by dashed line  830  in  FIG. 8 , thereby releasing the respective pins  720  from open enclosure  102 . 
     For embodiments where a resilient device  740  is coupled between a cable  735   1  and a corresponding pin  720 , when cable  735   1  moves in the direction of arrow  778 , the motion of cable  735   1  causes cable  735   1  to exert a force on the resilient device  740  that stretches resilient device  740 , causing the resilient device  740  to exert a force on the corresponding pin  720 . The force exerted by resilient device  740  acts to retract the corresponding pin  720 . If a pin  720  happens to stick, for example, resilient device  740  can maintain the force on the stuck pin  720 , while a user keeps actuator  710  in its actuated position, while the user moves chest  105  to reduce friction on the stuck pin  720 , and when the friction is sufficiently reduced, the force exerted by resilient device  740  acts to retract the pin  720 . 
     Cable  755  imparts motion and/or force to the respective strips  765  (one in each inverter  760 ) and to respective cables  735   1  substantially concurrently (e.g., concurrently), causing the respective strips  765  to move in the direction of arrow  790 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , around the respective pulleys  770 . Note that the direction of the motion of the portion of a strip  765  on one side (e.g., the input side) of pulley  770 , as indicated by arrow  790 , is different than (e.g., substantially opposite to) the direction of the motion of the portion of that strip  765  on the other side (e.g., the output side) of pulley  770 , as indicated by arrow  791 . The motion (e.g., the reversed motion) of the portions of the respective strips  765  on the output side of the respective pulleys  770  is in turn imparted to the respective cables  735   2  substantially concurrently (e.g., concurrently), causing the respective cables  735   2  to move in the direction of arrow  791 , as shown in  FIG. 9  for one of the respective cables  735   2 . This causes the respective pins  720 , extending from the respective housings  725   2 , to move against the biasing force exerted by the respective biasing devices  730 , so that the tips of the respective pins  720  are retracted to at least being substantially flush with the outer surface of the corresponding sidewall  141  of case  106   2 , thereby releasing the respective pins  720  from open enclosure  102 . That is, the pins  720  respectively extending from housings  725   1  and  725   2  may selectively retract substantially concurrently (e.g., concurrently) in response to the motion imparted to actuator  710 , thereby releasing (e.g., unfastening) chest  105 , whether opened or closed, from enclosure  102 . 
     Note that the presence of pulley  770  in an inverter  760  acts to change (e.g., substantially reverse) the direction of motion of cable  757  input to that tension inverter  760  for an output to a housing  725   2 . Therefore, an inverter  760  receives an input motion from actuator  710  via a cable  757  in the direction of arrow  790 , outputs a motion in the direction of arrow  790  to a housing  725   1  via a cable  735   1 , changes (e.g. reverses) the input motion from actuator  710  to a motion in the direction of arrow  791 , and outputs a motion in the direction of arrow  791  to a housing  725   2  via a cable  735   2 . Note that the motion received at a housing  725   2  may be in a direction that is substantially the reverse of the motion received at a housing  725   1  because housings  725   1  and  725   2  face in substantially opposite directions, and their respective pins  720  extend in substantially opposite directions into opposing sidewalls  190  of open enclosure  102 . 
     Stated another way, a tension inverter  760  receives an input force from actuator  710  via a cable  757  in the direction of arrow  790 , outputs the received input force without changing the direction of the received input force to a pin  720  extending from a housing  725   1  via a cable  735   1  and outputs the received input force with a changed direction, e.g., the direction of arrow  791 , to a pin  720  extending from a housing  725   2  via a cable  735   2 . 
     For embodiments where a resilient device  740  is coupled between a cable  735   2  and a corresponding pin  720 , when cable  735   2  moves in the direction of arrow  791 , the motion of cable  735   2  causes cable  735   2  to exert a force on the resilient device  740  that stretches resilient device  740 , causing the resilient device  740  to exert a force on the corresponding pin  720  that retracts the corresponding pin  720 . 
     Note that in the event that a pin  720  sticks, the motion of actuator  710  is not necessarily imparted to all of the pins  720  substantially concurrently. Instead, a force that is imparted to the actuator  710  may be imparted to all of the pins  720  substantially concurrently. Where resilient devices  740  are respectively coupled between cables  735  and corresponding pins  720 , the motion imparted to actuator  710  is substantially concurrently (e.g., concurrently) imparted to resilient devices  740 , causing the resilient devices  740  to be stretched substantially concurrently (e.g., concurrently) so that the resilient devices  740  substantially concurrently (e.g., concurrently) exert forces on the respective pins  720 . 
     When station  100  is in its closed, portable configuration of  FIG. 1 , with closed chest  105  positioned within enclosure  102 , pins  720  may respectively extend into the lowermost openings  820 , thereby selectively fastening closed chest  105  to enclosure  102  and preventing closed chest  105  from being pulled out of open enclosure  102 . This enables station  100  to be lifted and transported by handle  110 . When station  100  is in its open configuration of  FIG. 4 , with chest  105  being open, pins  720  may respectively extend into the uppermost openings  820  or any of the openings  820  between the lowermost and uppermost openings  180 , for example, thereby selectively fastening open cases  106   1  and  106   2  to enclosure  102 , that is acting as a base for station  100  in the open configuration of station  100 . 
     A distance H (e.g., vertical distance) between the bottom surface  850  chest  105  and the bottom interior surface  854  of open enclosure  102  may be changed by using actuator  710  to selectively retract pins  720  from their respective openings  820  and then moving chest  105 , while keeping the pins  720  retracted by maintaining a force on actuator  710  (e.g., keeping actuator  710  depressed), until pins  720  align with another set of openings  820 , corresponding to a different distance H, and releasing actuator  710  so that the biasing forces of the respective biasing devices  730  cause the respective pins  720  to move into that set of openings  820 . In this way, the distance H, and thus the elevation of chest  105  within open enclosure  102 , is selectively adjustable. Note that the distance H establishes the height of station  100 , e.g., the distance of table  140  above the bottom surface  147  of enclosure  102 , when station  100  is in the open configuration of  FIG. 4 . 
     To move chest  105  from the position, e.g., the elevation within enclosure  102 , it is at when station is in the closed, portable configuration of  FIG. 1  to the open configuration of  FIG. 4 , chest  105 , while closed, is first moved to the position, e.g., elevation within enclosure  102 , shown  FIG. 2 , from the position in  FIG. 1 . In an example, to move closed chest  105  from the position of  FIG. 1  to the position in  FIG. 2 , actuator  710  is used to selectively retract pins  720  from the lowermost set openings  820 ; chest  105  is then moved, while keeping the pins  720  retracted by maintaining a force on actuator  710  (e.g., keeping actuator  710  depressed), until pins  720  align with any set of openings  820  above the lowermost set, depending on the desired height of the opened station  100 ; and actuator  710  is released so that the biasing forces of the respective biasing devices  730  cause the respective pins  720  to move into that set of openings  820 . Once chest  105  is located as shown in  FIG. 2 , chest  105  can be subsequently opened (e.g., unfolded), as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . 
     Similarly, to position station  100  in the closed, portable configuration in  FIG. 1  from the open configuration of  FIG. 4 , chest  105  is closed, as shown in  FIGS. 4-2 . Then, in an example, with chest  105  positioned as shown in  FIG. 2 , actuator  710  is used to selectively retract pins  720  from the present set of openings  820 ; chest  105  is then moved, while keeping the pins  720  retracted by maintaining a force on actuator  710  (e.g., keeping actuator  710  depressed), until pins  720  align with the lowermost set openings  820 ; and actuator  710  is released so that the biasing forces of the respective biasing devices  730  cause the respective pins  720  to move into the lowermost set of openings  820 . 
     Note that chest  105  is selectively fastened to open enclosure  102  by pins  720 , in that pins  720  can be selectively retracted to selectively unfasten chest  105  from open enclosure  102 . 
     For other embodiments, pins  720  may be coupled to electrically activated actuators, such as solenoids, that retract pins  720  in response to selectively receiving electrical signals. For such embodiments, actuator  710  may close a normally open switch to selectively electrically couple a power source to each of the solenoids for sending the electrical signals to each of the solenoids. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a light boom  1010 . For some embodiments, light boom  1010  may be pivotally coupled to a frame by hinges  1020  so that light boom  1010  may pivot about a pivot axis  1012  that may be substantially parallel to the pivot axis  115  about which case  106   1  pivots. For some embodiments, the frame may be the frame  127  of the pocket assembly  125  ( FIG. 4 ), as shown in  FIG. 10  without the sheet  128  of compliant material and the pockets  129  of pocket assembly  125 . Light boom  1010  may be removably coupled to frame  127  in a non-extended position by magnets  1025  attached to frame  127 . For example, light boom  1010  may be located in its non-extended position when frame  127  is pivoted into compartment  130 , such as when pocket assembly  125  is covered by cases  124   1  and  124   2 , when cases  124   1  and  124   2  are located in front of compartment  130  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     Light boom  1010  may be pivoted from contact with magnets  1025  to the extended position shown in  FIG. 10  and into to contact with magnets  1030  that removably couple light boom  1010 , in its extended position, to bars  1035  that are pivotally coupled to frame  127  and that may respectively pivot about pivot axes that may be substantially parallel to the pivot axis  1012  about which light boom  1010  pivots. Note that bars  1035  pivotally couple their respective magnets to frame  127 . 
     Flexible supports  1040 , such as strips of fabric, e.g., nylon web, leather, etc., respectively couple bars  1035 , e.g., at their distal ends, to the frame  127 . Flexible supports  1040  allow bars  1035  to pivot against frame  127  when frame  127  is pivoted into compartment  130 . 
     For some embodiments, light boom  1010  may be fabricated from a ferrous magnetic material, such as steel, for removably coupling to magnets  1025  and  1030 . Alternatively, for other embodiments, light boom  1010  may be fabricated from a non-magnetic material, such as aluminum, in which case patches  1045  of ferrous magnetic material, such as steel, may be attached to light boom  1010  for respectively contacting magnets  1030 , and patches  1050  of ferrous magnetic material, such as steel, may be attached to light boom  1010  for respectively contacting magnets  1025 . 
     Light boom  1010  includes one or more light sources  1060 , such as LEDs, coupled to light boom  1010  distally from frame  127 . Light sources  1060  may be electrically coupled to a DC power source, e.g., located on board station  100  (not shown). Light sources  1060  may be electrically coupled to the DC power source through a switch that can selectively turn light sources  1060  on and off. For some embodiments, the switch may be a pulse-code-modulated dimmer that can selectively adjust the intensity (e.g., brightness) of light sources  1060 . 
       FIG. 10  further illustrates that frame  127 , and thus pocket assembly  125  ( FIG. 4 ), may be pivotally coupled to the interior surfaces of the opposing sidewalls of case  106   1  by pins  1070 . 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective right side view of the portable station  100  in  FIG. 2  with a portion of sidewall  190  of open enclosure  102  removed. A stabilizer assembly  1110  may be located in a space  852  ( FIGS. 8 and 12 ) within enclosure  102  between the bottom interior surface  854  of enclosure  102  and the bottom surface  850  of chest  105 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . For some embodiments, there may be a pair of stabilizer assemblies  1110 , where the stabilizer assemblies  1110  are located adjacent to the opposing sidewalls  190  of enclosure  102 . 
     Each stabilizer assembly  1110  may include a drive  1120  coupled to a stabilizer  1125   1  that may be selectively extendable from the front  1135  ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  11 ) of enclosure  102  and a stabilizer  1125   2  that may be selectively extendable from the back  1137  ( FIG. 11 ) of enclosure  102 . Note that the two stabilizers  1125   1  shown in  FIGS. 2-4  may be respectively of the stabilizer assemblies  1110  of the pair of stabilizer assemblies  1110 . 
     The drive  1120  of each stabilizer assembly may be coupled to chest  105  by a linkage  1130 , e.g., a connecting rod, and is thus responsive to the movement of chest  105 . Moving chest  105  from the position ( FIG. 1 ), e.g., the elevation within enclosure  102 , it is at when station is in the closed, portable configuration to the position, e.g., elevation within enclosure  102 , shown  FIG. 2  causes the respective drives  1120  to extend the stabilizers  1125   1  from the front  1135  and stabilizers  1125   2  from the back  1137  of enclosure  102 . For some embodiments, stabilizers  1125   1  and stabilizers  1125   2  may angle downward from vertical to engage the surface on which portable station  100  is positioned. 
     Moving chest  105  from the position of  FIG. 2  to the position of  FIG. 1  causes the respective drives  1120  to retract the stabilizers  1125   1  into enclosure  102  through the front  1135  and stabilizers  1125   2  into enclosure  102  through the back  1137  of enclosure  102 . Note that for other embodiments, a single stabilizer assembly  1110  may be used, and a single drive  1120  may be configured to drive both of stabilizers  1125   1  and both of stabilizers  1125   2 . 
     As such, the stabilizers  1125  are responsive to moving chest  105  relative to enclosure  102 . Stated in a different way, stabilizers  1125  are configured to extend from enclosure  102  in response to moving chest  105  from the elevation within enclosure  102  it is at when station is in the closed, portable configuration in  FIG. 1  to the elevation within enclosure  102  it is at when station is in open configuration in  FIG. 4 , and stabilizers  1125  are configured to retract into enclosure  102  in response to moving chest  105  from the elevation within enclosure  102  it is at when station is in the open configuration to the elevation within enclosure  102  it is at when station is in closed, portable configuration. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate the details of a stabilizer assembly  1110 , for an embodiment.  FIGS. 12 and 13  respectively illustrate stabilizer assembly  1110  with the stabilizers  1125   1  and stabilizers  1125   2  retracted and with the stabilizers  1125   1  and stabilizers  1125   2  extended. Stabilizer assembly  1110  may include an output drive assembly  1140  and an input drive assembly  1142  coupled to output drive assembly  1140 , where the input drive assembly  1142  is configured to drive output drive assembly  1140  in response to the movement of chest  105  within open enclosure  102  and where output drive assembly  1140  is configured to extend or retract stabilizers  1125  in response to being driven by input drive assembly  1142 . 
     Output drive assembly  1140  may include a belt (or a chain)  1150   1  wrapped around a pulley (or a sprocket)  1152   1  and a first pulley  1154 . Belt  1150   1  is coupled to a stabilizer  1125   1  at a connection point  1164   1  on belt  1150   1 , e.g., by a pin, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . Output drive assembly  1140  may include a belt (or a chain)  1150   2  wrapped around a pulley (or a sprocket)  1152   2  and a second pulley  1154  (not shown) that is coupled to the first pulley  1154  by a shaft  1156  and that is obscured from view by the first pulley  1154 . Belt  1150   2  is coupled to a stabilizer  1125   2  at a connection point  1164   2  on belt  1150   2 , e.g., by a pin, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
     Input drive assembly  1142  may include a belt (or a chain)  1160  wrapped around a pulley (or a sprocket)  1162  and a pulley (or a sprocket) (not shown) that is coupled to first and second pulleys  1154  by shaft  1156  and that is obscured from view by the first pulley  1154 . Belt  1160  may be coupled to linkage  1130  at a connection point  1165  on belt  1160 , e.g., by a pin, as shown in  FIGS. 11-13 . For embodiments where there is a single stabilizer assembly  1110  and a single drive  1120 , the drive  1120  may include two output assemblies  1140 , one coupled to the stabilizers  1125   1  and  1125   2  adjacent to one of the sidewalls  190  of enclosure  102  and the other coupled to the stabilizers  1125   1  and  1125   2  adjacent to other of the sidewalls  190 , and where the pulleys  1154  of the respective output assemblies  1140  are coupled to the shaft  1156  so that both output assemblies  1140  are coupled to input drive assembly  1142 . 
     Moving chest  105 , e.g., lifting chest  105 , from the position of  FIG. 1  to the position of  FIG. 2  causes linkage  1130  to move belt  1160  in the direction of arrow  1170 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , e.g., connection point  1165  is moved upward in the direction of arrow  1170  from the location in  FIG. 12  to the location in  FIG. 13 . Moving belt in the direction of arrow  1170  causes shaft  1156 , and thus the first and second pulleys  1154 , to rotate in the direction of arrow  1172 . The motion of first pulley  1154  in turn causes belt  1150   1  to move attachment point  1164   1  and stabilizer  1125   1  in the direction of arrow  1174   1  so that stabilizer  1125   1  extends from the front  1135  of enclosure  102 . The motion of second pulley  1154  in turn causes belt  1150   2  to move attachment point  1164   2  and stabilizer  1125   2  in the direction of arrow  1174   2  so that stabilizer  1125   2  extends from the back  1137  of enclosure  102 . 
     For embodiments where there is a single stabilizer assembly  1110  and a single drive  1120  coupled to two output assemblies  1140 , drive  1120  causes each of the two output assemblies  1140  to extend the respective stabilizers  1125   1  and  1125   2  respectively from the front  1135  and the back  1137  of enclosure  102  in response to lifting case  105  from the position of  FIG. 1  to the position of  FIG. 2  in the manner just described. For embodiments where there are two stabilizer assemblies  1110 , lifting case  105  from the position of  FIG. 1  to the position of  FIG. 2  causes the respective stabilizer assemblies  1110  extend their respective stabilizers  1125   1  and  1125   2  respectively from the front  1135  and the back  1137  in the manner just described. 
     Moving chest  105 , e.g., lowering chest  105 , from the position of  FIG. 2  to the position of  FIG. 1  causes linkage  1130  to move belt  1160  in the direction of arrow  1180 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , e.g., connection point  1165  is moved downward in the direction of arrow  1180  from the location in  FIG. 13  to the location in  FIG. 12 . Moving belt in the direction of arrow  1180  causes shaft  1156 , and thus the first and second pulleys  1154 , to rotate in the direction of arrow  1182 . The motion of first pulley  1154  in turn causes belt  1150   1  to move attachment point  1164   1  and stabilizer  1125   1  in the direction of arrow  1184   1  so that stabilizer  1125   1  retracts into enclosure  102 . The motion of second pulley  1154  in turn causes belt  1150   2  to move attachment point  1164   2  and stabilizer  1125   2  in the direction of arrow  1184   2  so that stabilizer  1125   2  retracts into enclosure  102 . 
     For embodiments, where there is a single stabilizer assembly  1110  and a single drive  1120  coupled to two output assemblies  1140 , drive  1120  causes each of the two output assemblies  1140  to retract the respective stabilizers  1125   1  and  1125   2  in response to lowering case  105  from the position of  FIG. 2  to the position of  FIG. 1  in the manner just described. For embodiments where there are two stabilizer assemblies  1110 , lowering case  105  from the position of  FIG. 2  to the position of  FIG. 1  causes the respective stabilizer assemblies  1110  retract their respective stabilizers  1125   1  and  1125   2  in the manner just described. 
     In some embodiments, an example method of operating a portable station, such as portable station  100 , includes retracting a plurality of pins, such as pins  720 , from an open enclosure, such as open enclosure  102 , into a closed chest, such as chest  105 , in response to receiving a force at the plurality of pins from an actuator, such as actuator  710 , to release the chest from the open enclosure so that the chest can be moved from a first elevation within the open enclosure to a second elevation within the open enclosure. The method may also include extending the plurality of pins from the chest into open enclosure when the chest is at the second elevation. 
     The method may further include pivoting a table, such as table  140 , from a first position when the chest is closed to a second position when the chest is open in response to opening the chest when the chest is at the second elevation. The method may further include changing a direction of the force from the actuator at an inverter, such as inverter  760 , before receiving the force at some of the plurality of pins. 
     The chest may include a first case, such as case  106   1 , and a second case, such as case  106   2 , and the method may further include latching the first case to the second case upon receiving the first case atop the second case ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) in response to the first case pivoting relative to the second case as the chest is being opened at the second elevation. 
     The plurality of pins may be a plurality of first pins and latching the first case to the second case may include deflecting a second pin, such as a pin  170 , into the first case using a plate, such as a plate  160 , connected to the second case in response to the first case pivoting relative to the second case, and directing the second pin through an opening, such as an opening  162 , in the plate when the pin aligns with the opening. 
     When the case is open at the second elevation and the first case is latched to the second case, the method may further include retracting the second pin into the first case from the opening in the plate connected to the second case in response to receiving a force at the second pin from a second actuator, such as an actuator  176 , where retracting the second pin from the opening in the plate unlatches the first case from the second case, allowing the first case to pivot relative to the second case to close the chest. 
     Receiving the force at the plurality of pins, such as pins  720 , from the actuator, such as actuator  710 , may include stretching each of a plurality of resilient devices, such as resilient devices  740 , in response to receiving the force at each resilient device from the actuator, and receiving the force at each of the plurality of pins from respective ones of the plurality of stretched resilient devices. 
     The method may further include moving the chest from the first elevation within the open enclosure to the second elevation within the open enclosure after retracting a plurality of pins from the open enclosure into the closed chest and extending a plurality of stabilizers, such as stabilizers  1125 , from the open enclosure or retracting the plurality of stabilizers into the open enclosure in response to moving the chest from the first elevation within the open enclosure to the second elevation within the open enclosure. 
     CONCLUSION 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it is manifestly intended that these embodiments not be taken in a limiting sense.