PESTANA DE ALMEIDA CAMPOS DIOGO (PT)
REIS ELIAS FREDERICO (PT)
| US6496360B1 | 2002-12-17 | |||
| EP1947983A2 | 2008-07-30 | |||
| US3698328A | 1972-10-17 | |||
| US6116165A | 2000-09-12 | |||
| US20020078862A1 | 2002-06-27 | |||
| US4969698A | 1990-11-13 | |||
| US8746156B2 | 2014-06-10 |
| Claims We claim: 1. A portable office working support device 1 , collapsible and foldable, featuring at least three flat surfaces interconnected with a L shape connection that make a table- top (2.3,4), two connecting structures (9,9') essentially tubular inset support structures (10,10') also mainly tubular and aligned with the user's hips, two ball-joints (6,6') and wherein the stability and rigidity of the said device 1 is guaranteed by the user's counterweight when seated on the flexible surface base 11 and for the rods (5,5')which sustain both tensile and compression efforts depending on the applied strengths, whether on the table-top (2,3,4) or on the flexible surface base 11. 2. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the rods (5,5') to rotate along an axis teeth(7 , 7 ') -ball-joints (6 , 6 ' ) being the pivot point of the said axis the said ball-joints (6.6') . 3. A portable office working support device 1. collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, capable of being height adjustable with at least two discreet positions, through the movement of the support elements (10,10') essentially in the interior of the connecting structures (9,9') . 4. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, featuring a the table-top (2,3,4) adjustable in at least two positions as regards to the angular pitch compared with the flexible surface base 11. 5. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, in accordance with previous claims, capable for being divisible in two sets, superior set 1A and inferior set IB, through the lift of the table-top (2,3,4) and subsequent undocking of the spring clips essentially in places within the support elements (10,10'). 6. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, characterised for the inferior set IB to be made by the flexible surface base 11 and the support elements (10,10') and the superior set 1A by the remaining components of the portable office working support device 1. 7. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, shoving support elements (10,10') adequatelly distanced so that the device can be placed in most of the chairs commercially available. 8. A portable office working support device 1 , collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, characterised by, when in the working position, the space between the table-top (2,3,4) and the flexible surface base 11 be clear for user mobility. 9. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, proving that, when in the transport mode, its volume is essentially equal to the volume of an A4 folder, wherein the inferior set IB is locked to the interior of the table- top (2.3,4). 10. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, characterised by, when in the working position the working area is the sum of the three surfaces of the table-top (2,3,4), essentially the same or bigger than the B3 size (353x500mm) , in which the central surface (3) is of smaller dimension. |
| AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureauon 16 June 2017 (16.06.2017) 1. A portable office working support device 1 , collapsible and foldable. comprising at least three flat surfaces interconnected with a L shape connection that make a table- top (2.3,4), which table-top (2,3,4) is supported laterally by two systems of teeth (7,7') which are part of the working surfaces (2,4) and part of two connecting structures (9,9') essentially tubular which embody two support structures (10,10') also mainly tubular and aligned with the user's hips, two ball-joints (6,6') connected under the table-top (2,3,4), and wherein between the two connecting structures (9,9') and the two ball- joints (6,6') are two rods (5,5'), and a flexible surface base 11 that connects the two support elements (10,10'), and wherein the stability and rigidity of the said device 1 is guaranteed by the user's weight on the flexible surface base 11. 2. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the rods (5,5') to rotate along an axis that is aligned with the ball-joints (6,6') and the teeth (7,7') under the table-top (2,3,4), being the pivot point of the said -eneie rotation the said ball-joints (6,6'). 3. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, capable of being height adjustable with at least two discreet positions, through the movement of the support elements (10,10') essentially in the interior of the connecting structures (9,9') . 4. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, featuring an adjustable table-top (2,3,4) in at least two positions as regards to the angular pitch with the flexible surface base 11. 5. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, in accordance with previous claims, capable for being divisible in two sets, superior set 1A and inferior set IB, through the lift of the table-top (2,3,4) and subsequent undocking of the spring clips essentially in places within the support elements (10,10'). 6. A portable office working support device 1 , collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, characterised for the inferior set IB to be made by the flexible surface base 11 and the support elements (10,10') and the superior set 1A by the remaining components of the portable office working support device 1. 7. A portable office working support device 1. collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, showing support elements (10,10') adequatelly distanced so that the device can be placed in most of the chairs commercially available. 8. A portable office working support device 1 , collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, characterised by, when in the working position, the space between the table-top (2,3,4) and the flexible surface base 11 be clear for user mobility. 9. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, proving that, when in the transport mode, its volume is essentially equal to the volume of an A4 folder, wherein the inferior set IB is locked to the interior of the table- top (2,3.4). 10. A portable office working support device 1, collapsible and foldable, in accordance to any of the previous claims, characterised by, when in the working position the working area is the sum of the three surfaces of the table-top (2,3,4), essentially the same or bigger than the B3 size (353x500mm) , in which the central surface 3 is of smaller dimension. |
Portable office working support device
Inventive technical domain
The present invention is assigned to the office equipment area, particularly to the area of support structures that can be easily carried.
State of Art
The state of art shows different devices designed as working surfaces or as electronic equipment support, that are herein described for a better understanding of the present invention. However, the existing devices feature limitations in the ease of transport, ergonomics, or the required size for a satisfying use as a working surface.
The patent US2002/0078862 , describes a portable working desk that shows some ergonomics' concerns, since it allows the user to adjust in both height and pitch the working surface. Additionally, the described desk has a hard and rigid base that allows the desk to be well positioned in regards with the user, and at the same time offers a stable working surface (since it is secured by the user) .
The patent US 4 969 698, describes a foldable portable desk that, despite offering a proper working surface for most situations, it is not ergonomically conscious, since for the user to comfortably use the desk, it is necessary to be seated in a perfectly aligned and flat surface. Nonetheless, the user won't have where to hold the desk. On the other hand, after seated with the table, the user won't be able to freely move the legs which, after some time, may become somewhat uncomfortable. The patent US 8 746 156 B2 , describee a working desk with some concerns regarding how it's carried. However, for a working surface of reasonable size, ex. B3 , such desk have a B3 size; that is, although the described desk is collapsible, when in its transportation mode, its volume is reduced, but not the area, which in many cases is not a satisfying solution.
The aforesaid invention aims at solving the working device's technical problem of transport of large dimensions in a practical way, maintaining the device's robustness and ergonomics when assembled (or at use) .
Summary of the invention
The invention herein presented concerns a portable, robust and ergonomic working device, that can be easily and quickly folded by any user without the need of additional tools, and that in its transport position presents a volume and area both substantially smaller than in the working position. The device also has the possibility to adjust the working surface in height and pitch viss-a-vis the user.
Brief Description of Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective overview of the portable office working support device (1) and the reference numbers refer to: (1) - portable office working support device;
(2,3,4) - table-top; (5) and (5') - rods ;
(6) and (6') - ball joints;
(7) and (7') - teeth ;
(8) and (8') - springs ;
(9) and (9') - connecting structures;
(10) and (10') - support elements
(11) - flexible surface base.
Fig. 2 is a front view of the portable office working support device (1) with the above mentioned components.
Fig. 3 is a top view of the portable office working support device (1) highlighting the configuration of the table-top (2,3,4) and the alignment of the flexible surface base (11).
Fig. 4 is a side view of the portable office working support device (1) in one of its working positions.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the portable office working support device (1) with the user on the flexible surface base (11) and this in contact with a rigid surface.
Fig. 6 is a perspective overview of the portable office working support device (1) in the carrying mode, and its visible table-top surfaces (2) , (4) folded along with the support elements (10,10') and lastly the flexible surface base (11) inserted in the table-top (2,3,4) structure.
Fig. 7 is a side view showing the several settings the table-top (2,3,4) that the portable office working support device 1 can have in height and pitch. Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 show the assembly sequence of the portable office working support device 1, where one can see a top set 1A and a bottom set IB. the movement the connecting structures (9,9') and what the table-top (2, 3, ) can do in the carrying and working positions. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the portable office working support device 1 and the movement of the rods (5,5') in dashed line.
Detailed description of the invention
The present invention comprises a portable office working support device 1 encompassing at least 3 flat surfaces, table-top (2,3,4), two rods (5.5'), two ball joints (6,6'). two connecting structures (9,9') essentially tubular and which embody two essential tubular elements designated by support elements (10,10'), and a flexible surface base 11 that connects the two support elements (10,10').
The stability and rigidity of the portable office working support device 1 is essentially guaranteed by the user's weight, when is seated in the flexible surface base 11.
The rods (5,5') have the particularity of a rotation movement to be supported around an axis teeth (7,7') -ball joints (6,6') being the rotation point of said ball joints (6,6'), which enables the assembly and disassembly of the portable office working support device 1 without the need of additional tools nor disjoint the portable office working support device 1.
The flexible surface base 11 is available in a synthetic or natural flexible material, provided that it is stiff enough to support the tension superimposed by the support elements (10,10' ) of the portable office working support device 1 when in working position. The flexible surface base 11 should preferably be of reduced thickness for the user to seat on top of it without feeling any discomfort. However, the flexible surface base can incorporate other elements - i.e pillows - to adapt more adequately for frequent users. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, when in the work position, the portable office working support device 1 can be adjusted in height through the movement of the support elements (10,10') in the interior of the connecting structures (9,9'), as well as the inclination of the table- top (2,3,4), compared to the flexible surface base.
The possibility to adjust the pitch angle of the table-top (2,3,4), as well as the height of the portable office working support device 1 allows the user to adjust the position of the portable office working support device 1 to its size, thus enabling the user to place the portable office working support device in a ergonomically correct position.
Additionally, the portable office working support device 1 can be divided in two set in a simple and practical way, be it to carry the portable office working support device l,or to facilitate the exit of the user when one intends to stop using it. On these cases, the inferior set IB comprises the flexible surface base 11 and the support elements (10,10') while the top set 1A is comprised by the remaining components of the portable office working support device 1. In the carrying mode, the portable office working support device 1 volume is substantially the same as an A4 folder and the inferior set IB is attached to the interior of the table-top (2,3,4).
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the portable office working support device has a discreet regulation of 5 different positions, through the movement of the support elements (10,10') in the interior of the connecting structures (9,9ยท) .
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the portable office working support device 1 has a discreet regulation of 36 different positions of inclinations, through a system of springs (8,8') and teeth (7,7') existing in the connecting structures (9,9') and the working surfaces (2,4). If necessary, the portable office working support device 1 can have more or less positions based on user's requirements.
One of the essential characteristics of the invention is the possibility of the portable office working support device 1 can be used practically anywhere a user wants it, be it on a garden bench, a beach, or in any support surface, even when this is not perfectly flat. For example, if we compare with the device described in the document US 2002/0078862, the present invention allows the user to sit comfortably on a surface with some irregularities, it can be used in cushioned surfaces or soft surfaces without affecting the comfort of that surface, while the described device in US 2002/0078862 can only be comfortably used in a flat surface due to the rigidity of its base.
Another of the portable office working support device's 1 innovative characteristics is the fact that its working surface is composed by 3 flat surfaces (2,3,4), in which the central flat surface (3) is of smaller dimension, enabling a reduced size of the portable office working support device 1 in the carrying position and, at the same time, gives more rigidity to the structure when it is in the working position.
The set's rigidity significantly contribute to the way the flat surfaces (2,3,4) interconnect, having, the central flat surface 3, a section that in a cut view preferably is stepped or in a L shape, since this design increases the contact surface between the flat surfaces 2 and 3 and between the flat surfaces 3 and 4.
The flat surfaces 2 and 4, on the other hand, have a section that in a cut view is symmetrical to the section of the central flat surface 3. This way. in a simple and practical way, the portable office working support device 1 can be quickly assembled by the user so that the 3 flat surfaces (2,3,4) form a single flat table-top (2,3,4).
Additionally, the connecting structures (9,9') and the support structures (10,10'), contribute to the support and structure of the portable office working support device 1 without, however, sacrifice the user's space and comfort, and the geometry of the support structures (10,10') and its positioning in regards with the user's hip enables the user to freely move his legs without constraints, unlike the patent US 4969698. Moreover, the height in between the seating surface and the table-top (2, 3, 4) does not obstruct the user's mobility, unlike the patent US 8746156B2.
In summary, when in working position, the portable office working support device 1 has an useful area essentially the same or bigger than the B3 size (353 x 500 mm) which is the same of the sum of the 3 flat surfaces (2,3,4). and when in the transportation mode, its volume is substantially the same of an A4 folder, giving great carrying convenience without affecting comfort still allowing for an extended available flat surface, in the work position.