Patent ID: 8726814

Claim:
A convertible work station, operable to convert between an operating configuration and a storage configuration, comprising: right and left base shoulder elements; right and left horizontal base members for supporting the work station on a surface, pivotally connected to the shoulder elements and constrained to pivot along a horizontal plane and lockable in position relative to the shoulder elements; right and left first support members spaced apart from each other and having first and second ends, the support members being pivotally connected to the respective right and left shoulder elements at their first ends and constrained to pivot in one direction, the support members lockable in position relative to the shoulder elements; and a work station component pivotally connected to the second ends of the right and left support members; wherein the work station converts between the operating and storage configuration via the pivotable connections between the shoulder elements and the support members and base members, each support member comprising two identical ends, each end comprising a first circular perimeter having a symmetrical pattern with mirror image symmetry configured for engaging another identical support member's end, the first circular perimeter defining a plane that faces perpendicular to a long dimension of the support member; a second circular perimeter having a symmetrical pattern with mirror image symmetry configured for engaging another identical support member's end, the second circular perimeter defining a plane that faces perpendicular to a long dimension of the support member; a hollow interior allowing passage between the first and second circular perimeters; and a curved shaft connected between the ends and having a channel that is open to the outside of the shaft and defining a trench, the trench continuous with the identical ends and each of the identical ends of the support member having a gap that is open to the outside of the support member where the trench meets each of the ends.