Patent Publication Number: US-11044991-B1

Title: Portable collapsible support for electronic equipment

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/824,552, filed on Mar. 27, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to supports, and more particularly, to a portable, collapsible support for holding electronic equipment including programmable logic controllers (PLC), human machine interfaces (HMI), instruments, switches, Din rail mounting devices, when testing, demonstrating or repairing such equipment that is easily transportable from one location to another. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are a variety of electronic equipment including controllers and interfaces that are used today to control operational systems and devices associated with manufacturing processes, HVAC systems, traffic lighting systems, robotic applications, or security monitoring systems, to name a few. Examples of controllers and interfaces generally include programmable logic controllers (PLC), human-machine interfaces (HMI), graphic user interface (GUI) modules, and other electronic equipment. Such electrical equipment is often housed in ventilated enclosures, or supported or mounted on vertical and horizontal surfaces, such as on walls, vertical posts, or directly onto the machines themselves. Advancements in technology have helped to reduce the size of components used, have developed faster processors, and have improved memory, to provide controllers and interfaces that are faster, capable of storing and processing larger amounts of data, and are smaller in physical size requiring less storage or housing space. Engineering advancements in controls and interfaces have provided functional features that were simply not available with older generation devices. For example, some new features include self-diagnostics, machine-learning capabilities, the ability to control a greater number of devices, or are compatible for use in more, diverse applications. Both old and new generation controllers and interfaces are typically prone to necessary repairs, maintenance, or testing to maintain their operative state. 
     There remains an on-going need to service controls and other electronic equipment employed in various applications such as in hospitals, manufacturing facilities, schools, office buildings, and industry in general. It is incumbent on service man or programmers to troubleshoot, repair, program, or run diagnostic tests on electronic equipment such as programmable logic controllers PLCs, human-machine interfaces HMIs, graphical user interfaces GUIs, and other equipment. In doing so, the electronic equipment is often removed from a housing or wall, or dismounted from an attachment support, to provide unrestricted access to the equipment. Many service man are simply not equipped to properly handle and support such electronic equipment when servicing the equipment on site, or when testing or repairing the equipment in designated labs. It is common practice for service man or programmers to place PLCs or HMI equipment on their knees, on cardboard or wooden boxes, on a foam or padding support, on a bench, desk, or stand, or simply rest the equipment on the floor of the visiting facility. In some situations, service man resort to holding the electronic equipment in hand while attempting to test, repair or program the equipment making it difficult, cumbersome, and at times impractical. 
     The need for adequately supporting electronic devices such as PLCs or HMIs is also sought in other areas as well. For example, in an effort to promote sales and marketing of controllers and other electronic equipment involving new generation PLCs, or HMIs, many manufactures, vendors, or distributors attend trade shows, conventions, or visit industrial sites or technical schools, to demonstrate and train employees about the newly developed functionalities associated with the modern electronic equipment for use in industry. In doing so, the electronic equipment is often supported on tables, benches, or are at times, attached to temporary supports, stands or racks to demonstrate operative controls, to indicate or illustrate location of features on the equipment, illustrate visual status indicators, or to teach particular programming techniques or features. The electronic equipment is often supported in awkward positions that make it difficult for individuals to view the peripheral layout of the equipment. Thus, the need for demonstrating the functional capabilities and physical layout of the equipment is hindered by inadequately supporting the equipment during demonstrative sessions making it difficult for students, employees and other individuals to fully grasp and ascertain the functional attributes of the electronic equipment. 
     Conventional supports have been developed to assist individuals in testing, repairing, programming, or demonstrating electronic equipment comprising PLCs, or HMIs. Many supports generally comprise a base, a vertical member extending upwards from the base, and a holding bracket or hooks to support the electronic equipment. These prior art supports are generally fixed or permanently installed in place and not amendable for carrying and transporting from one location to another. Other supports include benches or tables with wheels to roll the wheeled support along the floor, but provides limited use when transporting electronic equipment to different geographical areas, as such supports are heavy, bulky, and cumbersome to load in transport or service vehicles. Other electronic equipment supports are often designed and engineered for use with a particular type of PLC or HMI, or for use in a particular application, or are attached permanently to a vertical surface, or in a service rack. 
     Accordingly, there is an established need to solve at least one of the aforementioned problems and provide a portable, collapsible support configured to hold a variety of different electronic devices including PLCs and HMIs, that is easily carried and transported from one location to another, and is amendable for use in various settings and applications when testing, programming, repairing, or demonstrating PLCs, HMIs and other industrial devices and equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a portable, collapsible support for holding a variety of electronic equipment including programmable logic controllers (PLC), human machine interfaces (HMI), instruments, switches, Din rail mounting devices, and other equipment when testing, demonstrating, programming, or repairing such electronic equipment at various places including remote job sites, test labs, manufacturing or processing facilities, at trade shows, training centers, and other places. The portable, collapsible support comprises a base including a holding bar in parallel with a back bar, cover including an inner surface, a Din rail, and mounting pegs for holding electronic equipment, and a pair of locking arms for releasably, pivotably locking the cover in an open position to hold the electronic equipment, or in a closed position to carry and transport the support from one location to another. 
     A first embodiment of the invention provides a portable, collapsible support for holding electronic equipment, the portable, collapsible support comprising: a base including opposite side edges, a planar upper surface opposite a bottom surface, a holding bar attached to, and traversing the planar upper surface, a back bar extending along a back end of the planar upper surface, where the holding bar, and back bar are disposed in parallel with each other on the planar upper surface in a spaced apart relation defining a recess for holding electronic equipment; a cover including opposite side edges, and a planar inner surface opposite an outer surface, a pair of locking arms, each locking arm having one end attached to opposite side edges of the base, and another end attached to opposite side edges of the cover, and wherein the pair of locking arms articulate to pivot the cover in a releasably locked, open position away from the planar upper surface, and in a closed position. 
     In one aspect, each of the pair of locking arms includes a first link having a first end and a second end, and a second link having another first end and another second end, where the first end is attached to the opposite side edges of the cover, and the another first end is attached to opposite side edges of the base, with the second end and the another second end rotatably attached together to pivot the cover in an open and closed position. 
     In one aspect, the portable, collapsible support further comprises at least one hinge having a first member rotatably attached to a second member, where the first member is attached to the cover, and the second member is attached to said back end of the base. 
     In another aspect, the at least one hinge includes another hinge having another first member rotatably attached to another second member, where the another first member is attached to the cover, and the another second member is attached to the back end of the base. 
     In one aspect, the portable, collapsible support further includes a Din rail mounted to the planar inner surface of the cover. In one embodiment, the Din rail is mounted to the planar inner surface along a horizontal axis. Din rail is disposed on the planar inner surface and includes opposite rail ends that are equally spaced from the opposite side edges of the cover. 
     In one aspect, the portable, collapsible support further includes mounting pegs disposed on the planar inner surface of the cover, above the Din rail. The mounting pegs are spaced apart from each other along a horizontal axis, and adjacent a top edge of the cover. The mounting pegs extend outwards from said planar inner surface of said cover beyond said Din rail. 
     In yet another aspect, the holding bar includes a planar top integral with a first and a second vertical side, where the first vertical side readily engages a peripheral edge of the electronic equipment when disposed within the recess. 
     In one aspect, the back bar includes a planar top integral with a vertical bar side in parallel with the first vertical side. Portions of the planar inner surface of the cover rest on the planar top of the holding bar, and planar top of the back bar when the cover is pivoted in the closed position. 
     In one aspect, the Din rail is mounted to the inner surface of the cover such that when the cover is in the closed position, the Din rail is situated in parallel with the second vertical side of the holding bar and above the planar upper surface of the base, and the mounting pegs are mounted to the inner surface of the cover such that when the cover is in the closed position, the mounting pegs are situated above the planar upper surface of the base a predetermined distance. 
     In yet another aspect, the holding recess, mounting pegs, and Din rail are configured for removably holding electronic equipment including a programmable logic controller, a tablet, or human machine interface. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents a top, perspective view of a portable, collapsible support for repairing, testing, programming, or demonstrating electronic equipment such as programmable logic controllers (PLC), human machine interfaces (HMI), instruments, switches, DIN rail mounting devices, or other industrial equipment or devices, showing a cover pivoted in a closed position on a support base, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  presents a front, perspective view of the portable, collapsible support of  FIG. 1 , showing the cover pivoted in a releasably, locked, open position, via locking arms, and including a Din rail, and a pair of mounting pegs attached to the inner surface of the cover, and a holding bar in parallel with a back bar provided on the support base; 
         FIG. 3  presents a back, perspective view of the portable, collapsible support of  FIG. 2 , showing the support base having a planar bottom surface, a pair of hinges attached to the cover and support base to provide pivoting motion between the cover and base, with the cover shown in the releasably, locked, open position; 
         FIG. 4  presents a front, perspective view of the portable, collapsible support, showing the cover pivoted in the releasably, locked, open position, and a programmable logic control (PLC) removably attached to the pair of mounting pegs provided on the inner surface of the cover; 
         FIG. 5  presents a front, perspective view of the portable, collapsible support, showing the cover pivoted in the releasably, locked, open position, and a human-machine interface (HMI) disposed in a recess while engaging the holding bar to retain the HMI in a generally, upright position for viewing a display screen of the HMI; and 
         FIG. 6  presents a side-cross sectional view of the portable, collapsible support, showing the cover in a closed position on the support base and resting on planar tops of the holding bar and the back bar for easily carrying and transporting the collapsible support from one location to another. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed to a portable, collapsible support adapted for holding a variety of electronic equipment including programmable logic controllers (PLC), human machine interfaces (HMI), instruments, switches, Din rail mounting devices, when testing, demonstrating, programming, or repairing the electronic equipment at various locations. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein like elements are represented by like numerals throughout, there are shown perspective views of a portable, collapsible support  100  for holding electronic equipment when testing, programming, repairing, or demonstrating the electronic equipment in various settings, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The portable, collapsible support  100  generally comprises a cover  102  that is pivotably, or foldably attached to a support base  104  via, articulating connections comprising a pair of locking arms  106 ,  108 , and a pair of hinges  152 ,  154 , as better illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In one exemplary embodiment, both the cover  102 , and support base  104  comprises a square geometric shape, and each include planar surfaces  110 ,  112 ,  114 , and  116 . As illustrated in the  FIGS. 1 and 2 , planar surface  114  may be depicted as an inner surface, and planar surface  116  depicted as an inner surface, or an upper surface. The geometric and dimensional shape of cover  102  and base  104  may comprise any variety of different sizes, lengths, widths, heights, and shapes. The structural dimension of the cover  102  and base  104  is selected to physically support and hold electronic equipment having different weight bearing loads. As such, the cover  102 , and support base  104  may be constructed from any of metal, a durable plastic or nylon material, or natural, synthetic or non-synthetic materials including wood. The material selected to construct the portable, collapsible support  100  should take into consideration the possibilities that the support  100  will be used in harsh, or wet environments, thus water resistant, or rust proof, or corrosion resistant materials can be employed. As such, the cover  102 , and base  104  may be constructed from a galvanized steel, aluminum, or stainless steel material. Alternatively, the cover  102 , and/or base  104  may be coated with a clear plastic protective film or polymer, a rubber coating, or a rust resistance paint. 
     In referring to  FIG. 2 , support  100  includes at least one Din rail  118  that is attached to the inner surface  114  of the cover  102 , and adapted to removably hold electronic equipment having Din rail mountable brackets. For example, electronic equipment, such as PLCs. often include Din rail mountable brackets situated on the back wall of the PLC to removably mount the PLC to Din rails. As such, Din rail  118  accommodates removeable attachment of PLC&#39;s equipped with Din rail mountable brackets. It is understood that the collapsible support  100  may include any number of Din rails  118  each having the same or different lengths. In exemplary embodiment, Din rail  118  is attached to the inner surface  114  of the cover  102  along a horizontal axis but may be oriented vertically or diagonally if preferred. Din rail  118  may comprise a durable plastic, aluminum, or steel material able to withstand the loaded bearing weight of electronic equipment when supported on the Din rail  118 . One or more Din rails  118  are attached to the inner surface  114  of the cover  102  using fasteners including for example, screws, a strong adhesive, clips, clamps, nuts and bolts, rivets, or other fasteners. 
     A pair of mounting pegs  120 ,  122  are provided on the inner surface  114  of the cover  102  and configured to hold electronic equipment with holding brackets  124 ,  126 , as better illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Each mounting peg  120 ,  122  generally extends outwards a certain distance from the inner surface  114  of the cover  102 , beyond the Din rail  118  to securely hold electronic equipment having holding brackets  124 ,  126  in proper horizontal orientation, as explained further below with  FIG. 4 . Each mounting peg  120 ,  122  may include a plastic, wood, or metal member having a threaded shank that is threaded within the inner surface  114  of the cover  102 . Alternatively, a plurality of holes can be pre-drilled anywhere within the inner surface  114  of the cover  102  to accommodate removable insertion of the mounting pegs  120  and  122 . The plurality of holes allow positional adjustment of the mounting pegs  120 ,  122  giving users or service man the ability to use the support  100  for holding electronic equipment that may have different holding brackets, or apertures. Alternatively, mounting pegs  120 ,  122  may be arranged on the inner surface  114  of the cover  102  in a predetermined configuration to accommodate holding particular PLCs having holding brackets  124 ,  126  or holding apertures of known sizes, dimensions, or measurements. For example, if a particular electronic equipment such as a PLC has known dimensional spacing of holding brackets or holding apertures, then in one embodiment, the mounting pegs  120 ,  122  may be adjustably or fixedly positioned to the inner surface  114  of the cover  102  in the requisite spaced relation to accommodate that known dimension. 
     The cover  102  is pivotably attached to support base  104 , via, a pair of locking arms  106 ,  108  disposed on opposite sides of the cover  102  and base  104  to pivotably lock the cover  102  in an open position, as denoted by the directional arrow in  FIG. 2 . Each locking arm  106 ,  108  comprises a pair of links where each link includes a first end and a second end. Each second end is attached together by an articulated connection  128 , and  130 , and a first end of one link is attached to the side edge of the cover  102 , and a first end of another link is attached to the side edge of the base  104 . In one example, each articulated connection  128 ,  130  generally comprises a pin that extends through aligned holes provided in the second ends of the links where the pin is compressed in place to couple the links together to provide articulated motion. The links pivots about the articulated connection  128 ,  130  to align along a general straight axis with each other, locking the cover  102  in an open position. A user can apply a slight pressure at the articulated point to unlock the locking arms  106 ,  108  allowing the pair of links to fold and the cover  102  to pivot downwards. The locking arms  106 ,  108  may comprise any of durable plastic, metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, or any well-known locking arms currently available on the market. It is understood that other well-known articulating mechanism can be used to replace the locking arms  106 , and  108 . 
     With continued reference made to  FIG. 2 , a holding bar  132  is provided on the upper surface  116  of the support base  104  to functionally hold electronic equipment in place to prevent the equipment from sliding outwards, as shown with a human-machine interface HMI in  FIG. 5 . In one embodiment, a generally rectangular body having a planar top  134 , and two vertical sides  136 ,  138  extending upwards from the upper surface  116  where each vertical side  136 ,  138  includes a predetermined height, defines the holding bar  132 . In one embodiment, the holding bar  132  extends across, or traverses, the planar upper surface  116  of the support base  104  such that a vertical side  136  of the holding bar  132  is aligned parallel with the front edge  140  of support base  104 . In one embodiment, holding bar  132  is integrally formed with support base  104 , or alternatively, the holding bar  132  is attached separately to the upper surface  116  of the base  104  via, fasteners, dowels, pegs, clips, clamps, or detents. For example, pegs or dowels may be employed on the bottom surface of the holding bar  132 , and a plurality of holes (not shown) formed sequentially, along opposite edges of the upper surface  116  to accommodate removable insertion of the pegs or dowels of the holding bar  132  to allow users to adjust the position of the holding bar  132  on the upper surface  116  support base  104 . In yet another embodiment, the support base  104  may include magnetic components including two magnets each provided on both the upper surface  116  and the holding bar  132 , or use of a magnet and metal combination, for attachably positioning the holding bar  132  to the upper surface  116  of the support base  104  via, magnetic force. 
     Support base  104  includes a back bar  142  having a planar top  144 , a front vertical side  146 , and a back wall defining the back  148  of support base  104 . The back bar  142  extends across, or traverses, the upper surface  116  of the support base  104 , along the back portion of the support base  104  so that the front vertical bar side  146  is parallel to the vertical side  138  of the holding bar  132 , defining a holding recess generally denoted at  150  for resting the peripheral edge of an electronic equipment  300 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The back bar  142  is configured to support a portion of the cover  102  when folded in a closed position. As such both planar tops  132 ,  144  of the holding bar  132 , and back bar  142  help to support the downward load-bearing weight of the cover  102 , and any article placed on the outer, top surface of the cover  102  during use. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a bottom, perspective view, of the portable, collapsible support  100 , in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. The cover  102  is pivotably attached to the support base  104 , via a pair of hinges denoted at  152 ,  154  to further stabilize the positional layout of the cover  102  during use. Each hinge  152 ,  154  has one end attached to a side edge of the cover  102 , and another end attached to the back end  148  of the base  104 . The hinges  152 ,  154  may comprise any well-known hinge available on the market including for example, a barrel hinge, butterfly hinge, flush hinge, pivot hinge or spring hinge. The hinges  152 ,  154  may comprise a plastic or metal material. The articulated combination of both the locking arms  128 ,  130 , and the hinges  152 ,  154  provide for steady and structurally sound articulation of the cover  102  about the base  104 . 
     With reference made to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a front, perspective view of the portable, collapsible support  100 , shown in use holding and supporting electronic equipment including a programmable logic computer PLC  200  that is removably attached to the inner surface  114  of the cover  102 . The portable, collapsible support  100  accommodates holding and supporting electronic equipment  200  when repairing, testing, programming, or demonstrating such equipment  200  at various geographical locations, or in different rooms or buildings. In doing so, the bottom planar surface  112  of the support base  104  is disposed on a horizontal surface, and the cover  102  is pivoted open about the hinges  152 ,  154 , and locking arms  106  and  108 . Each pair of links operate to lock the locking arms  106 ,  108  in place to retain the cover  102  open when supporting the load bearing weight of equipment  200 . With the cover  102  placed in an open, locked position, users are free to removably attach electronic equipment such as a PLC  200 , to the inner surface  114  of the cover  102 . A pair of holding brackets  124 ,  126 , associated with the PLC  200 , are mounted onto designated mounting pegs  120 ,  122 , as also shown in  FIG. 2 . Each mounting peg  120 ,  122  extends outwards from the inner surface  114  of the cover  102 , a certain distance, allowing the back end  156  of the PLC  200  to rest against any Din rail  118  that is mounted to the planar inner surface  114  of the cover  102  thus better aligning the top of the PLC  200  along a horizontal axis, and the back  156  of the PLC  200  situated along a vertical axis. It will be noted that the mounting pegs  120 ,  122  can be configured to allow users to adjust the outwardly extending distance of each peg  120 ,  122  from the inner surface  114  to accommodate holding electronic equipment on the cover  102  in proper alignment or orientation including away from one or more mounted Din rails. In one embodiment, the PLC  200  may be equipped with a Din rail bracket that can be removably attached to Din rail  118  provided below mounting pegs  120 ,  122 . As such Din rail  118 , and mounting pegs  120 ,  122  provide alternate mechanisms to attach electronic equipment such as a PLC  200  to the inner surface  114  of the cover  102  when testing, repairing, programming, or demonstrating the PLC  200 . It is noted that the front region  158  of the base support  104  can be used to hold tools, testing equipment, or other objects thereon. In one embodiment, the front region  158  may be used to support a notepad, or an operative or testing instruction sheet allowing users to take notes, or read particular testing instructions, or other operational criteria associated with the PLC  200 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a front, perspective view of the portable, collapsible support  100  for holding and supporting electronic equipment, such as a human-machine interface HMI  300 . HMI  300  devices generally include a viewing screen having a peripheral edge similar to the configuration of an electronic tablet. The need to view the screen is vital to ascertain the content displayed from the HMI  300  when testing, making repairs, programming, or simply demonstrating the HMI  300  to potential end users. The portable, collapsible support  100  is designed to support and hold HMIs  300  in proper position for easy accessibility. In practice, an HMI  300  is disposed within the holding recess  150 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2  so that the peripheral edge  160  of the HMI  300  butts against the outer surface of vertical sidewall  138  of the holding bar  132  while resting on the upper surface  116 , and the top back portion of the HMI  300  rests against the inner surface  114  of the cover  102  securely holding the HMI  300  in place in a generally vertical position providing viewable access to the display screen of the HMI  300 . It will be appreciated that adjusting the position of the holding bar  132  further towards the back  148  of the support base  104  directly affects the vertical alignment of the HMI  300 . Thus, in one embodiment, the portable, collapsible holding support  100  may include an adjustable holding bar  132  that allows users to move the holding bar  132  towards the front edge  140  or back end  148  of the base  104  to adjust vertical positioning of the HMI  300 . 
     It is noted that feet may be provided on the planar bottom surface  112  of the support base  104  to prevent the base  104  from sliding along a horizontal support surface during use, and to absorb vibrations that may emanate from, or be associated with the horizontal support. For example, such feet may include rubber, plastic or metal pads or posts affixed to the bottom corners of the bottom surface  112  of base  104 . Also, one or more holes can be formed anywhere through the body of the cover  102 , and/or support base  104  to allow passage of one or more cables including a power cable for connecting an electrical power plug to electronic equipment  200 ,  300  stored and supported on the portable, collapsible support  100 . For example, a PLC  200  or HMI  300  may include a power port that is located on the back of the device where the predrilled hole in the cover  102  or base  104  is used to make it easier for users to pass the an electrical power plug or connector of a power cable through to power the equipment  200 ,  300  when held on the portable, collapsible support  100 , if needed. 
     The portable, collapsible support  100  is easily transported for use in various locations including for example, manufacturers or processing plants, vendors, trade shows, test labs, training seminars, schools, conventions, hospitals, warehouses, or at other facilities. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in preparation of transport, slight pressure is applied to each articulating joint  128 ,  130  of locking arms  106 ,  108  to articulate the links of each arm  106 ,  108  to pivot together, allowing the cover  102  to pivot and fold downwards, via hinges  152 , and  154 . A latch, magnetic mechanism, string, tether, friction connector, or other mechanism may be employed to maintain the cover  102  closed, if desired. For example, in one example, a magnetic arrangement may be implemented to releasably maintain the cover  102  in a closed position on the support base  104  when not in use. It is noted that portions of the inner surface  114  of cover  102  rest securely on the planar tops  134 ,  144  of the holding bar  132 , and back bar  142 , respectively, shown in  FIG. 2 , to support a load bearing weight that may be provided on the outer surface  110  of the cover  102 . For instance, there are times when the support  100  may be stored in a service van, and other tools, or articles are unintentionally placed on top cover  102  be inadvertent action on the part of a service person. 
     It will be understood that the portable, collapsible support  100  is constructed or fabricated using any durable, rigid material, including but not limited to, synthetic or non-synthetic wood, plastic, or nylon. If a metal material is used to construct the support  100 , then appropriate grounding connections can be provided to prevent hazard potentials on the conductive metal surfaces of support  100 . Further, the portable, collapsible support  100  may include protection covers that are permanently or removably attached to, the four corners of the cover  102  and support base  104 , or alternatively, such corners can be rounded to prevent injury or to protect the support  100  upon falls. One or more handles may be provided anywhere on the cover  102 , or base support  104  for easily carrying the portable support  100  by hand. In one example, the handle may comprise a strap, a metal or plastic u-shaped member, or an elongate hole that is formed in either or both of the cover  102  and support base  104 . 
     Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it is understood that any of the features presented in the embodiments may be integrated into any of the other embodiments unless explicitly stated otherwise. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.