Patent Document

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY AND CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/626,963, filed on Oct. 6, 2011, and the priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/626,346 filed on Sep. 26, 2011. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to portable and foldable workstations. The workstation is optionally useful as a chair or seating device, useful for outdoor activities. The present invention is in the technical field of furniture. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of workstations, foldable workstations, and all weather workstations. The workstation can optionally be reduced to a portable seating device by omitting a work-holding surface such as a table or tray portion. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    At the pace of technological change, there is a great demand for portable workstations and workstation devices. In particular, there is a need for portable workstations which can be folded so as to be readily portable, having a seat portion and a table portion for holding a book, electronic device, and papers, among other things. A number of workstation devices are known in the furniture and arts. 
         [0005]    Examples of prior art patents relating to portable devices having a seat can be found in U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 338,345 issued to inventor Camp for a collapsible seat; U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 474,041 issued to inventors Howard et al. for a portable folding chair; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,388 issued to inventor Enrique for a portable chair and cane with umbrella. 
         [0006]    It is a problem in the prior art to make workstation devices that would be portable and foldable, and easy to set up. Additionally, such workstation devices should be easy to collapse or fold, and should be easy to stow. Further, such workstation devices should have a work support tray, and should be stable in use, as well as lightweight. 
         [0007]    Outdoor folding chairs are also well known, particularly those with flexible fabric seats which are cot-like in operation. However, such outdoor folding chairs are not adapted to serve as portable workstations. 
         [0008]    None of the prior art devices are adapted to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies of the prior art. There is, therefore, a need in the prior art to provide a convenient, lightweight, portable workstation for outdoor use, having a support such as a shelf or table portion. Further, there is a need in the prior art to provide such a portable workstation which can be used outdoors and which therefore additionally includes a sheltering device or sheltering portion for providing shelter for the user from the elements found outdoors, including sun, snow, and rain. 
         [0009]    In view of the aforementioned deficiencies and needs in the prior art, and in addition to the foregoing, it is also a problem in the prior art to provide a lightweight, foldable, and easy to use workstation having an umbrella mounted on a movable support, to provide shelter from the elements while outdoors. 
         [0010]    It is a further problem in the art to provide a novel and useful construction of a foldable workstation device which overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art, including an improved construction, including improved pivot elements and ratchet joints for adjustable positioning of a sheltering device such as an umbrella. 
         [0011]    Further, it is a problem in the art to provide a convenient, lightweight, portable workstation which can be reduced to a chair by omission of a tray or table portion, while also having a sheltering device or portion for providing shelter for the user from the elements found outdoors, including sun, snow, and rain. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    From the foregoing, it is seen that it is a problem in the art to provide a device meeting the above requirements. According to the present invention, a device and process are provided which meets the aforementioned requirements and needs in the prior art. Specifically, the device according to the present invention provides a portable workstation having a seat and table or tray portion. 
         [0013]    The present invention relates to workstations, and particularly portable and foldable workstations. In addition, the workstation of the present invention is optionally useful as a cane, and has a cane head. 
         [0014]    Further, the workstation of the present invention can optionally be reduced to a portable seating device, specifically by omitting a work-holding surface such as a table or tray portion. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment, the workstation includes a foldable seat and a foldable tray. 
         [0016]    The workstation of the present invention also includes an adjustable umbrella. The umbrella can be mounted to the cane head by a ratcheting mount so that it can be set at a number of different angles, so as to provide protection from the sun or rain. The umbrella can be folded easily when not in use. 
         [0017]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the weather integrated cane workstation having a table, this view showing the left side of the weather integrated cane workstation in an operational position, according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the weather integrated cane workstation of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the weather integrated cane workstation showing the left side of the weather integrated cane workstation in a folded condition, according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the weather integrated cane workstation of  FIG. 3 , showing the weather integrated cane workstation in the folded condition. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the seating portion of the weather integrated cane workstation of  FIG. 3 , wherein the seating portion is in a folded position and is shown by itself for the sake of clarity. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the seating portion of the weather integrated cane workstation of  FIG. 5 , wherein the seating portion is in a folded position and is shown by itself for the sake of clarity. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the table portion of the weather integrated cane workstation of  FIG. 3 , wherein the table portion is in a folded position and is shown by itself for the sake of clarity. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the table portion of the weather integrated cane workstation of  FIG. 7 , wherein the table portion is in a folded position and is shown by itself for the sake of clarity. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a side view in perspective showing a rotatable umbrella support portion of the cane handle portion of the device shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a side perspective view of a non-rotating portion of the cane handle portion of the device shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , and which supports and houses the rotatable umbrella support portion of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of the integrated cane handle when the rotatable umbrella support portion of  FIG. 9  is pushed all the way into the non-rotating portion of the cane handle portion shown in  FIG. 10 , when the rotatable umbrella support portion is being rotated and therefore is not yet set in a fixed position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of the integrated cane handle as shown in  FIG. 11 , when the rotatable umbrella support portion of  FIG. 9  is pushed into the non-rotating portion of the cane handle portion shown in  FIG. 10 , wherein the rotatable umbrella support portion is set in a fixed position by a spring-loaded movable push button which in its extend position serves as a locking pin. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of the weather integrated cane chair similar to that shown in  FIG. 1  hereinabove but without a table, this view showing the left side of the weather integrated cane chair in an operational position, according to the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of the weather integrated cane chair of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of the weather integrated cane chair showing the left side of the weather integrated cane chair in a folded condition, according to the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is a front elevational view of the weather integrated cane chair of  FIG. 15 , showing the weather integrated cane chair in the folded condition. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    The present invention has three aspects, as follows. A first aspect of the present invention is as a portable workstation as shown in  FIGS. 1-13 , for use with electronics equipment such as tablet computers, intelligent phones, notebook computers and netbook computers, by way of example. Here, a table portion or tray portion provides support for the electronic device. The materials used for the workstation are very lightweight to render the workstation readily portable and stowable, and yet because of the inventive design the workstation of the present invention is sufficiently strong to provide durability. 
         [0035]    A further feature of the inventive workstation is an adjustably positionable umbrella, which when used outdoors provides protection from the sun so that screen glare does not prevent use of the electronic devices. When used indoors, the umbrella portion can be positioned out of the way, or it can be entirely omitted or removed. The workstation of the present invention thus has the advantage of being usable both indoors and outdoors. 
         [0036]    A second aspect of the present invention is as a portable chair with a built-in option of protection from the elements. The construction is similar to that of the above-described workstation, with the table portion omitted, and is shown in  FIGS. 13-16 . This type of portable chair is useful for attendance at spectator events held outdoors such as sporting events, political and religious events held outdoors, and family functions held outdoors. It is also useful for hikers and tourists, who may need a break from their exertions as well as protection from sun or rain. The materials used for the workstation are very lightweight to render the workstation readily portable and stowable, and yet because of the inventive design the workstation of the present invention is sufficiently strong to provide durability. 
         [0037]    A third aspect of the present invention is that it serves as a cane with a handle as shown clearly in  FIGS. 4 and 16 . This may be used by any individual. An individual carrying this cane may also need to be able to sit and rest during an outing or while taking a long walk, and so the cane of the present invention can be transformed into a seat as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 13 . While outside, the individual may need protection from the elements, such as from the sun, rain, sleet, or even snow. Thus, the cane of the present invention will be useful for attendance at spectator events held outdoors such as sporting events, political and religious events held outdoors, and family functions held outdoors. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a weather integrated cane workstation having a table portion  40 , this view showing the side of the weather integrated cane workstation in an operational position. The operational position is the unfolded position, where a seat  20  is provided, and an umbrella  10  is available. A main leg  16  extends from the bottom to well beyond the seat  20  so as to provide a support for a lowermost tray support adjacent an umbrella tying portion  14 ; specifically, the table support is formed by a connecting device  38  and a triangular steel bar  36 . The two ends of a steel wire or bar  36  are joined together to form the tip of the triangle. The ends then fan out after the joint and form a semicircular collar. When the tip end of device  36  rests on top of the push button  33 , the collar will rest on the main leg  16  and will not allow sideways movement of table  40 . 
         [0039]    The joint tip sits on top of button  33  to support the table and the semicircular collar will hold on to the main leg  16  to prevent sideways wobble or shift of the table. A table part bar  32  is telescopically received in the main leg  16  and secured by a push button  33  which is a spring biased pin connecting the main leg  16  and the table part bar  32 . A pair of legs  28 ,  28  are pivotably connected to the main leg  16  at a pivot member  26 . 
         [0040]    The pair of legs  28 ,  28  are connected to the seat  20  by pivot members  22 , and thereby supports a distal end of the seat  20 . A proximal end of the seat  20  is connected to the main leg  16  by an attachment element  18  which is slidably mounted on the main leg  16 . 
         [0041]    In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the umbrella  10  is mounted on a cane handle  12 . A spring-biased push button  11  extends through a hole  21  (seen in  FIG. 3 ) on the umbrella handle, to lock the umbrella when pushing the umbrella handle onto the rotational part of the cane handle  131 . This secures the umbrella mount in a manner shown in  FIGS. 9-12  and as discussed further hereunder. Other methods of attaching the umbrella  10  to the cane handle  12  are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention, and would be understood by anyone having skill in the fastener arts or the mechanical assembly arts. All such variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0042]    The details of the parts of the cane handle  12  and their relative locking by a push button  15  are described in  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11  and  12 . An umbrella tying device  14  is shown in its released state in  FIG. 1 . The umbrella tying device  14  has two flexible arms, including a button on one arm and several holes on the other arm that allows for tightness adjustment. An alternative fastener arrangement could use a snap fastener of known type, or a hook-and-loop by of fastener material. All such variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0043]    In use when moving or traveling with the weather integrated cane workstation or the weather integrated cane chair of the present invention, the tip of the umbrella  10  is secured by the umbrella holding device  30  and the umbrella handle is secured by the umbrella tying device  14  so that it is stably connected to the main leg  16 . The umbrella holding device  30  is fixed on the main leg  16 . The seating platform  20  is connected to the main leg  16  by a connector  18  and connected to the other two legs  28  by the pivot members  22 . When folding the chair, the attachment element  18  will slide up on the main cane bar  16 . 
         [0044]    An axle member  26 , which can be a bolt or other connector allowing pivoting motion, holds the main leg  16  and the pair of legs  28 ,  28  together at a pivoting joint and allows them to rotate against each other to fold or open the chair. A firm, yet flexible, seating-platform-securement device  24  is affixed to the seating platform  20 . The securement device  24  is used to securely attach the seating platform  20  to the main cane bar  16  when the chair is in the folded or collapsed position. The securement device  24  can be a band with two arms, similar to that described hereinabove with reference to the umbrella holding device  30 , including a button on one arm and several holes on the other arm that allows for tightness adjustment. An alternative fastener arrangement could use a snap fastener of known type, or a hook-and-loop by of fastener material. All such variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0045]    The main leg  16  has two holes  31  (shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 , and  6 ) and  39  (shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6 ) for snap-locking operation with a push button  33  inside the table part bar  32  to lock the table part bar  32  in the pushed in or pulled out position when moving the table part bar  32  against the main leg  16 . The table part bar  32  has guiding grooves  35  on both sides to guide the table part bar  32  during movements inside the main leg  16 . The cane handle  12  is attached to the top of the table part bar  32  (shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 ) of the cane workstation or on the top of the main leg bar  16  of the cane chair (shown in  FIGS. 13 ,  14 ,  15 , and  16 ). 
         [0046]    The table portion  40  is shown in its open horizontal position in  FIG. 1  being supported by the table part bar  32  through a connecting device  38  and a triangular steel bar  36 . The connecting device  38  does not move relative to the table part bar  32 , but allows the table portion  40  to rotate toward or away from table part bar  32 . A connecting device  37  is disposed beneath the table portion  40  at a distal end of the table portion  40  from the connecting device  38 . The connecting device  37  is generally cylindrical and has a hollow interior, and holds one side of the triangular steel bar  36  to allow the steel triangle to rotate toward or away from the table  40 . Other types of connecting devices could be used for the connecting device  37 , such as a flat plate deformed to have a half-cylindrical depression, as well as other shapes which can retain the triangular steel bar  36  while permitting pivoting movement. 
         [0047]    The two ends of a steel wire or bar  36  are joined together to form the tip of the triangle. The ends then fan out after the joint and form a semicircular collar. When the tip end of device  36  rests on top of the push button  33 , the collar will rest on the main leg  16  and will not allow sideways movement of table  40 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the weather integrated cane workstation of  FIG. 1 , and the parts shown therein are as described hereinabove. 
         [0049]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the weather integrated cane workstation showing the side of the weather integrated cane workstation in a folded condition. The parts shown therein are as described hereinabove. Here, the umbrella  10  is shown secured in its closed position with the tip down and secured at that tip by the umbrella holding device  30 , and secured at the other end by the umbrella tying device  14 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the weather integrated cane workstation of  FIG. 3 , showing the weather integrated cane workstation in the folded condition. The parts shown therein are as described hereinabove. 
         [0051]    In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the workstation is shown in its folded form. The umbrella  10  is collapsed and, as noted above, is attached to the main cane bar  16  by the umbrella hold device  30  and the umbrella-tie device  14 . The rotation part of the cane handle  12  is shown locked in a downward position for easy cane movement, i.e. for use as a cane. The hole  21  shown on the umbrella handle in  FIG. 3  is the opening for the push button  11  when mounting the umbrella. The push button  33  is in the locked position through the opening or hole  31 . The table portion  40  is collapsed on top of the seat  20  with the steel wire  36  being disposed between the table  40  and the seat  20 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the seating portion of the weather integrated cane workstation of  FIG. 3 , wherein the seating portion is in a folded position and is shown by itself for the sake of clarity. The parts shown therein are as described hereinabove. 
         [0053]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the seating portion of the weather integrated cane workstation of  FIG. 5 , wherein the seating portion is in a folded position and is shown by itself for the sake of clarity. The parts shown therein are as described hereinabove. 
         [0054]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the table portion of the weather integrated cane workstation of  FIG. 3 , wherein the table portion is in a folded position and is shown by itself for the sake of clarity. The parts shown therein are as described hereinabove. 
         [0055]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the table portion of the weather integrated cane workstation of  FIG. 7 , wherein the table portion is in a folded position and is shown by itself for the sake of clarity. The parts shown therein are as described hereinabove. 
         [0056]      FIG. 9  is a side view in perspective showing a rotatable umbrella support portion of the cane handle portion of the device shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the rotating part  121  of the cane handle  12  is shown by itself. The non-rotating part  122  of the cane handle  12  is shown by itself in  FIG. 10 . The push button  11  is shown as a darkened circle because it is pointing out of the paper. The push button  15  is shown in its relaxed (extended) position. It is positioned 90 degrees relative to the push button  11 . 
         [0057]    The part  121  has a plurality of tines or arms terminating at distal ends  123 . The distal ends  123  respectively bend at the end of the rotating part  121  of the cane handle  12  so as to lock the rotating and non-rotating parts of the handle together. A plurality of cut openings  126  are disposed between the arms and so define them. These cut openings  126  provide for flexibility when pushing the rotating part  121  into the non-rotating part  122  of the cane handle  12 . The cuts will allow it to squeeze through a lock-ring  13  that is fixed inside the non-rotating part  122  of the handle. 
         [0058]      FIG. 10  is a side perspective view of a non-rotating portion  122  of the cane handle portion of the device shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , and which supports the rotatable umbrella support portion of  FIG. 9 . As seen in this view, the portion  122  has a plurality of hole openings  124  therein, any of which can receive the push button or pin  15 . This enables the relative rotational position to be changed between the portion  121  of  FIG. 9  and the portion  122  of  FIG. 10 . 
         [0059]    In  FIG. 10 , the lock-ring  13  is fixed inside the non-rotating part  122  of the cane handle. The lock-ring  13  has a slope on one side to allow for the rotating part  121  of the cane handle  12  to enter and squeeze through when integrating the two parts  121  and  122 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of the integrated cane handle when the rotatable umbrella support portion  121  of  FIG. 9  is pushed all the way into the non-rotating portion  122  of the cane handle portion shown in  FIG. 10 , wherein the pin  15  remains retracted when the rotatable umbrella support portion is being rotated and therefore is not yet set in a fixed position. 
         [0061]      FIG. 11  shows that there is enough room for the handle rotating part  121  to push in against the handle non-rotating part  122  with the push button  15  in a compressed state. The user can then rotate to select an angle and pull the rotating part  121  of handle  12  out to allow the push button  15  to lock into the selected opening hole  124 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of the integrated cane handle as shown in  FIG. 11 , when the rotatable umbrella support portion  121  of  FIG. 9  is pushed almost all the way into the non-rotating portion  122  of the cane handle portion shown in  FIG. 10 , wherein the rotatable umbrella support portion is set in a fixed position by the spring-loaded movable push button  15  which in its extend position serves as a locking pin. 
         [0063]      FIG. 12  shows the bent edge  123  of the rotating part  121  against the vertical edge of the lock-ring  13 , which will not allow the rotating part of the handle  121  to be pulled out from the non-rotating part  122  of the handle  12 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of the weather integrated cane chair similar to that shown in  FIG. 1  hereinabove but without a table, this view showing the left side of the weather integrated cane chair in an operational position. The parts shown are similar to those described hereinabove with reference to  FIGS. 1-12 . The cane handle  12  is attached to the top of the main bar  16 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 14  is a front elevational view of the weather integrated cane chair of  FIG. 13 . The parts shown are similar to those described hereinabove with reference to  FIGS. 1-12 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of the weather integrated cane chair showing the left side of the weather integrated cane chair in a folded condition. The parts shown are similar to those described hereinabove with reference to  FIGS. 1-12 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 16  is a front elevational view of the weather integrated cane chair of  FIG. 15 , showing the weather integrated cane chair in the folded condition. The parts shown are similar to those described hereinabove with reference to  FIGS. 1-12 . 
         [0068]    The relative dimensions shown in the drawings and/or set forth above are by way of example only, and these dimensions can vary without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0069]    The invention being thus described, it will be evident that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

Technology Category: 1