Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for storing a notebook computer at a working surface, such as a writing table. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for storing a notebook computer at a working surface according to the characterized portion of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a system comprising such a device for storing a notebook computer.

Background of the Invention

Notebook computers, so called laptops or notebooks, are common both at working places and at home. The advantages with notebook computers are obvious since they are easy to transport, easy to handle, and in other ways suitable for a moveable and modern lifestyle in which "the office" is carried along. Additionally, the computer power and memory capacity of notebook computers have improved substantially, and therefore they can fully replace stationary computers since the capacity for notebook computers is comparable to the capacity for stationary computers when using the most common software programs, such as word processing, email, multimedia, etc.

However, notebook computers are seldom ergonomically adapted as they often have small screens, simple keyboards often without numerical keyboard, etc. For this reason in many offices it is possible to dock notebook computers into docking stations connected to external screens, external keyboards and external mice, which makes the work at the notebook computer more in line with the requirements on ergonomics which nowadays are required at working places.

Furthermore, the docking station may be arranged in a storage system adapted to be placed on a writing table or on another working table. In prior art storing systems for docking stations are described, which are arranged on the underside of a writing table and therefore save space on the upper side of the writing table. Document WO2006/123266 Al shows a holding system for storing a notebook computer at a working table. The holding system comprises, among other things, an extendable support system which is fixed on the underside of the writing table by means of a frame system. Furthermore, the holding system comprises a holder for holding the notebook computer, wherein the holder can be pivoted from a vertical position to a horizontal position, and vice versa.

Summary of the Invention

One object of the present invention is to provide an alternative solution to the problem of storing a notebook computer at a working surface, such as a writing table or working table. Another object of the invention is to solve the problem of making possible vertical or horizontal docking of a notebook computer in a docking station, and also the possibility of vertical or horizontal storage of the notebook computer at the working surface. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a flexible solution to the problem of storing a notebook computer at a working surface.

The objects are achieved with a device for storing a notebook computer at a horizontal working surface with an underside, such as a writing table or working table. The device has at least one storing surface arranged to hold the notebook computer. The device further comprises a rotatable and pivotable device on which the storing surface is arranged, the rotatable and pivotable device being arranged to be mounted on the underside of the working surface by means of at least one fastening means. The storing surface is horizontally rotatable by means of the rotatable and pivotable device around a vertical axis of rotation V so that the storing surface can be rotated in under the underside of the working surface; and the storing surface is further vertically pivotable by means of the rotatable and pivotable device around a horizontal axis of rotation H so that the storing surface can take a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position, and wherein the vertical axis of rotation V and the horizontal axis of rotation H intersect.

Embodiments of a device for storing a notebook computer described above are disclosed in the dependent claims 2-21. The objects are also achieved with a system comprising a device for storing a notebook computer described above and at least one rail in which the rotatable and pivoted device may be slidably arranged, the rail being arranged to be mounted on the underside of the working surface.

A device for storing a notebook computer at a working surface according to the invention provides numerous advantages. The position of the storing surface, and therefore also the position of the notebook computer, can be adjusted in two degrees of freedom, namely by horizontal rotation and vertical pivoting, and hence the user can store the notebook computer at the working surface as desired since the adjusting possibilities are almost infinite. Further, since the storing surface can be rotated around a vertical axis of rotation which is placed under the underside of the working surface, the storing surface can be rotated in under the working surface, and space is made free around the working surface.

Another advantage with the device is that the storing surface can be vertically pivoted in order to take a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position so that the notebook computer can be placed from a vertical position on the storing surface (alternatively be vertically docked into a docking station) when it takes the horizontal position, but can thereafter be stored in the vertical position. The distinctive character of the device with great flexibility therefore provides the user with optimal space saving when storing a notebook computer at a working surface.

Furthermore, the device according to one embodiment comprises at least one engagement element by which at least one container is arranged at the device so that the container takes a substantially vertical position irrespective of which position the storing surface takes.

Therefore, the space at the device for storing a notebook computer described above is used in an effective and new way, which means that the office floor can be used for other purposes than for placing wastepaper baskets or other types of dust bins. According to one embodiment, the container is pivotably arranged at the device. Further, the visual impact of the dust bin on the office landscape is reduced since they can be arranged under the working surface, and an aesthetically attractive solution is provided with the above mentioned embodiments. The invention further relates to a system comprising one or more containers so arranged that each of the containers in the system forms a module in a module system which can be adapted according to the needs and preferences of the user as an optional number of containers with different sizes can be a part of the system.

Embodiments of the system comprising one or more containers are defined in dependent claims 24-27.

Other advantages and applications of a device and a system according to the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

Short description of figures

In the following detailed description embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the appended figures in which:

- Fig. 1 shows, in side view, an embodiment of the present invention when the storing surface takes a substantially horizontal position;

- Fig. 2 shows, in perspective view, the embodiment in Fig. 1 when the storing surface takes a substantially vertical position; - Fig. 3 shows the embodiment in Fig. 1 seen from above when the storing surface takes the substantially horizontal position;

- Fig. 4 shows, in side view, the embodiment in Fig. 1 mounted on a rail when the storing surface takes a substantially vertical position;

- Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the invention comprising a strap; - Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention when the storing surface takes a substantially horizontal position;

- Fig. 7 shows the embodiment in Fig. 6 when the storing surface takes a substantially vertical position;

- Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of the invention comprising four containers of which three of the containers are hooked on a pivotably arranged container forming a module system;

- Fig. 9 shows a detailed view of a first engagement element and a second engagement element complementary to the first engagement element; and

- Fig. 10 shows, in perspective view, a device according to the invention.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention Figure 1 shows, in side view, an embodiment of a device 1 for storing a notebook computer at a working surface 2 according to the present invention.

The device 1 comprises at least one storing element having one storing surface 4, and a rotatable and pivotable device 5. The storing surface 4 is fastened to the rotatable and pivotable device 5 and is arranged to hold a notebook computer (such as a laptop or notebook) which can be placed directly on the storing surface 4, or by docking it into a docking station which is held/supported by the storing surface 4.

The rotatable and pivotable device 5 comprises at least one fastening means to be mounted on the underside 3 of the working surface 2, which fastening means for example can be fastened with one or more screws for direct static mounting of the rotatable and pivotable device 5 on the underside 3 of the working surface 2, but can also be one or more sliding means to be mounted in one or more rails 7 or in one or more brackets (not shown in the figures) fastened on the underside 3, and therefore the device 1 can slide in the rail/rails 7 or the bracket/brackets. The sliding means may also according to one embodiment comprise one or more fastening means so that it instead can be statically fastened at the working surface if so desired, which means that the device can be statically or slidably fastened at the working surface with one and the same fastening means. Other ways of mounting the device 1 at the working surface is for example by means of a fastening means in the form of a spring clamp or a throughgoing attachment for a table top, or any other suitable fastening means.

One thought with a device 1 according to the invention is that it is so arranged that the storing surface 4 can be rotated by means of the rotatable and pivotable device 5 around a vertical axis of rotation V so that the storing surface 4 can be rotated in under the working surface 2. Further, the storing surface 4 is vertically pivotable by means of the rotatable and pivotable device 5 around a horizontal axis of rotation H, hence the storing surface 4 can take a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position. Figures 1 and 3, respectively, show when the storing surface 4 takes the horizontal position, where figure 1 shows the device 1 from the side, and figure 3 shows it from above. Figures 2 and 4, respectively, show when the storing surface 4 takes the vertical position, where figure 2 shows the device 1 in perspective view from the side, and figure 4 shows it from the side.

In the embodiments of the device shown 1 in figures 1-4 the vertical axis of rotation V and the horizontal axis of rotation H are arranged to intersect under the underside 3 of the working surface to provide a compact and space saving embodiment of the rotatable and pivotable device 5. It should also be noted that in this embodiment the vertical V and the horizontal H axes are wholly arranged under the working surface 3 and can therefore not take any position outside the underside 3 of the working surface. In the embodiments shown in the figures the storing surface 4 consists of a substantially rectangular plate arranged to receive and support a notebook computer. It is however realized that the storing surface 4 can have another design and for example contain a framework, circular framework, or a rebated framework with or without supporting points; a cartridge or a holster for putting down a notebook computer; or a specially adapted holder for a notebook computer.

In the above mentioned embodiments the rotation and pivoting of the plate can be performed in that the rotatable and pivotable device 5 comprises a pivot journalled in the fastening means for horizontal rotation (360°) of the plate and a yoke arranged at the pivot having a horizontal axis H arranged therein on which the storing surface (4) is vertically pivotably arranged.

It is however realised that it is not necessary that said vertical axis of rotation V and said horizontal axis of rotation H intersect each other, such as in the embodiments above, but the rotatable and pivotable device 5 can for example comprise one or more link arms and one or more pivots so arranged that a horizontal rotation and vertical pivoting of the plate can be provided without the axes of rotation intersect and the location of one or both axes V and H can be changed.

To further increase the number of positions the plate can take and thereby increasing the adjustment possibilities of the same, the device 1 can moreover comprise locking means 6 in relation to the function for vertical pivoting of the rotatable and pivotable device 5. For example, by arranging a pin (for example having spring action), which in this case act as locking means in relation to a yoke, and by arranging a plurality of through bores in the annular element which is pivoted in the yoke a number of discrete pivoting positions may be provided if so desired by letting the pin having spring action be guided into any of the through bores in the annular element and thereby lock the plate in a number of discrete vertical pivoting positions.

In this embodiment the annular element also forms an end on a support arm 8 whose other end is fastened to the plate, hence the rotatable and pivotable device 5 is located at one side of the plate, and therefore the plate 4 and the rotatable and pivotable device 5 have substantially different centre of mass when the plate takes the horizontal position, but substantially the same centre of mass when the plate takes the vertical position. However, the plate can be directly fastened on the rotatable and pivotable device 5, or by means of a support arm without one supporting support element under the plate.

It is also realised that the locking of the plate in continuous pivoting positions is possible in that the device 1 comprises for example an eccentric axis of rotation which in one of its positions has a clearance in the annular element and when being pivoted blocks the possibility for the annular element to pivot. Locking of the annular element can also be performed by means of a tension force which is applied axially and thereby prevents the rotation of the pivoting element.

Figure 3 shows the device 1 seen from above when the plate takes the horizontal position. The plate has in this embodiment a substantially rectangular form, but it is realised that it can have a square or other suitable form. It is however important that the plate have such a design so that a notebook computer, with or without a docking station, can be placed and fixed at the plate. Therefore, the plate comprises in figure 3 first 22 and second 23 through openings, which are placed on opposite third 12 and fourth 13 sides, respectively. The openings 22, 23 have such dimensions that a strap or the like can be threaded through these openings 22, 23 for fixing the notebook computer (with or without the docking station) at the plate. Figure 5 schematically shows how a strip comprising Velcro tape (not shown in figure 4) is threaded through the openings 22, 23. Further, a Velcro tape can be fastened on the plate, wherein the portable computer or docking station has corresponding Velcro tape arranged thereon intended for fixing against the Velcro tape fastened on the plate.

Moreover, according to one embodiment the plate may comprise one or more slits 20 arranged on the edge of a first side 10 of the plate. The purpose of the slits 20 is to receive cables for the notebook computer or docking station. As the cables can be caught by the slits 20 for example tangle of the cables can be avoided since the slits 20 act as cable collectors. Therefore, the slits 20 can for example be replaced with smaller straps or eventually with loops placed at the first side 10 with a corresponding function for cable collection. Regarding the mentioned cables, they may for example be intended for power, monitor screen, mouse, docking station, etc.

On the second side 11 opposite to the first side 10 one or more protrusions 21 can be arranged on the plate for example by a part of the edge 11 of the second side being bent up. In one embodiment the protrusions 21 are in the form of bended lips, which extend substantially in a vertical direction when the plate takes the horizontal position, which is shown in the appended figures. The purpose of the lips is to function as support and stop means for the notebook computer (and/or the docking station) preventing it from sliding off the plate, for example when the plate takes the substantially vertical position. Furthermore, the plate according to this embodiment is provided with a plurality of through ventilation holes 24 as the notebook computer and/or the docking station generates heat in operation and therefore needs to be ventilated effectively to function correctly.

The device 1 according to the present invention may be made of aluminium, iron or steel, or of any suitable plastic or composite material, or a combination of said materials.

In an exemplified use of the device 1, the plate takes the horizontal position as shown in figure 1. The user places the notebook computer on the plate and locks the same by means of a strap which is arranged through the first and the second openings 22, 23 and is fastened around the notebook computer. Thereafter, the user can pivot the plate horizontally 180° so that the whole plate is located under the underside 3 of the working surface. The user can also, instead of rotating the plate, pull out the locking means in the form of a pin having spring action and pivot the plate vertically so that the plate takes the vertical position as shown in figure 4, whereupon the plate is locked in this position by inserting the pin in the opening in the pivot element. If desired, the plate may thereafter be pivoted horizontally 90° to save space. In case the device 1 is not mounted on a rail 7, it may be advantageous if the fastening points on the underside 3 of the device 1 are located further in under the working surface 2 so that the plate can be fully rotated in under the underside 3 of the working surface. If however the device 1 is mounted on a rail the whole device 1 can also be slided in under the working surface 2.

Furthermore, in offices a substantial amount of office waste is produced in the daily work in the form of paper, packages, bottles, leftovers, etc. For collecting such waste, wastepaper baskets standing on the office floor is commonly used, eventually complemented with special containers for paper or for other types of waste.

The demands of sorting office waste into different fractions have increased and are nowadays a step in the environment work at many working places, which also has resulted in that the number of waste containers has increased substantially in many offices. It is also common that a number of different types of waste containers are used at each individual work place which further increases the number of containers that are used on working places/offices. Recycling containers and/or wastepaper baskets take up a large amount of the useful office space, and moreover they form less aesthetically attractive elements in offices.

With reference to the above, a further object of the present invention is to provide an alternative solution for handling/storing waste on an office/working place. Furthermore, the invention also relates to providing one or more waste containers which can be arranged at a device 1 for storing a notebook computer at a work surface, such as writing table or work table, which device 1 has a storing surface which can take a substantially horizontal and vertical position, i.e. a device 1 described above. Further, it is also an object of the invention is also to provide a space saving waste container and/or a waste container with less visual impact, i.e. a container with more discrete and/or limited visual impression. From the above mentioned reasons and objects the present invention relates to a device 1 for storing a notebook computer according to any of the embodiments above, wherein the device 1 further is adapted to receive at least one container 3 Ia for waste by comprising at least one engagement element for this purpose, for example a hitch, ring, yoke, rod, pin, loop, hook or any other suitable element.

The container 31a comprises a base, a wall 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d and an opening arranged on the upper part of the container 31a. Further, the container 31a is so arranged at the device 1 that the container 31a takes a substantially vertical position irrespective of which position the storing surface 4 takes; i.e. irrespective if the storing surface 4 takes the vertical position, the horizontal position or an intermediate position between said vertical and horizontal positions.

Thereby, a space saving solution is provided which can also be used around the space at the device 1 for storing a notebook computer in an effective and attracting way. Furthermore, the visual impact of the waste containers on the office landscape is reduced since they may be arranged under the working surface, and hence an aesthetic appealing solution is provided.

Figures 6 and 7, respectively, show an embodiment in which the storing surface 4 takes a horizontal position (figure 6) and a vertical position (figure 7), respectively. In the figures it is also shown how the container 31a takes a substantial vertical position irrespective of which position the storing surface 4 takes since the container is arranged pivoted at the device 1. However, in figure 6 the container 31 a is partly obliquely oriented, but in this patent application a partly oblique position is considered to be contained in the expression a "substantially vertical position" regarding the orientation of the container 31a. The reason that the container 3 Ia is partially oblique in figure 6 is that the container in this embodiment is suspended at one side of the container, and hence the container 31a is obliquely oriented due to the gravitational force acting on the same.

The container 31a can however be balanced by a suitable disposition of its mass for compensating for the one sided suspension in this shown embodiment. Regardless of balancing or not of the container 31a, the opening of the container has such orientation that the waste in the container 3 Ia is not emptied on the floor irrespective of which position the storing surface 4 takes.

As shown in figure 10, the container 31a has a base, a wall and an opening arranged on the upper part of the container 3 Ia for putting in and emptying of waste. In the embodiment in figure 10 the container 31a also comprises two first engagement elements 32 in the form of two hook parts arranged on one side of the upper part of the container 31a. The second engagement elements 33 complementary to the first engagement elements 32 can be found on the device 1 so that the container 31a can be hooked on the device 1 which makes the container 31a pivotably arranged at the device 1.

Figure 9 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the second engagement element 33 is a rod upon which the hook parts shown in figure 10 can be hooked on. However, a design solution where the first engagement element 32 is a rod and the second engagement element 33 is a hook part function as well.

Furthermore, the person skilled in the art realises that other design solutions for the first 32 and second 33 engagement elements may be used as long as the function is that the container 31a is preferably pivotably arranged at the device 1 by means of complementary engagement elements on the device 1 and the container 3 Ia. It should also be noted that the container/containers 3 Ia, 3 Ib may also be provided with one or more lids for closing the opening for preventing spreading of odour, etc.

As shown in figure 10, the container 31a may also comprise a recess 35 arranged from the base to the opening of the container, having the form and dimensions for containing a supporting support arm 8 in the case that the storing surface 4 is supported by such a support arm in an embodiment of the device 1. With this embodiment of the invention a more compact and space saving design of the invention is provided when the storing surface 4 takes the vertical position, which is clearly shown in figures 6-9.

Furthermore, the container 31a comprises one or more grooves 34 on which one or more further containers 31b may be hooked on. In figure 8 such an embodiment is shown, wherein three further smaller containers 31b are hooked on a larger first container 3 Ia by means of bended hooks, wherein the bigger container 3 Ia in turn is pivotably hooked at the device 1. However, grooves 34 are not needed on the larger first container 3 Ia to make it possible for further containers 3 Ib to be hooked/fastened at the larger first container 31a since they could be directly hooked onto the upper part of the larger container 3 Ia by means of one or more bended hooks.

The present invention also relates to a system for receiving/storing office waste. Such system comprises one or more containers 31a, 31b of which at least one container 31a is arranged at any of the embodiments of the device 1 for storing of a notebook computer described above, by means of at least one engagement element so that the container 31a takes a substantially vertical position irrespective of which position the storing surface 4 takes.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment comprising four containers 31a, 31b, wherein the largest of these containers 3 Ia is pivotably arranged at the support arm 8 of the device 1. The number of containers 31a, 31b and the design of the containers 31a, 31b can be adapted to individual needs, for example regarding size, form, comprising lids or not, etc. Thereby, the invention can provide a complete solution to the need of waste storing in an office in the form of a module system. The skilled person also realises that one or more of the above mentioned containers 3 Ia, 3 Ib can also be used for storing things, which makes the field of use of the invention even larger due to all possible combinations of waste containers and storing containers the module system can provide.

The invention also relates to a system comprising a device 1 for storing a notebook computer according to any of the embodiments above, and at least one rail 7 arranged to be mounted on the underside 3 of the working surface 2. The fastening means can in this case be a slidable means fastened in the rail 7 so that the device 1 thereby is slidably arranged in the rail 7. With such a system, the device 1 can be slided in and out from the region under the underside 3 of the working surface 2, all according to the need of the user.

It should also be noted that according to one embodiment of the system comprising at least one container 31a, the system can also be defined by the following, namely: the system comprises one or more containers 31a; 31b, which container 31a; 31b comprise a base, a wall 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d and an opening arranged at an upper part of the container 31a; 31b; the system further comprising a device 1 for storing a notebook computer at a horizontal working surface 2 having an underside 3, such as a writing table or working table, which device 1 has at least one storing surface 4 arranged to hold the notebook computer, the device 1 further comprising a rotatable and pivotable device 5 on which the storing surface 4 is arranged, the rotatable and pivotable device 5 being arranged to be mounted on the underside 3 of the working surface by means of at least one fastening means; characterised in that at least one container 31a is arranged at the device 1 by means of at least one engagement element, wherein:

- the storing surface 4 is horizontally rotatable by means of the rotatable and pivotable device 5 around a vertical axis of rotation V so that the storing surface 4 can be rotated in under the underside 3 of the working surface;

- the storing surface 4 is vertically pivotable by means of the rotatable and pivotable device 5 around a horizontal axis of rotation H so that the storing surface 4 can take a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position; and

- the container 31a takes a substantially vertical position irrespective of which position the storing surface 4 takes.

According to this embodiment of the system the vertical V and horizontal H axes do not intersect when the device 1 comprises at least one engagement element arranged for supporting at least one container 31a.

Finally, it is realised that the present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments, but relates to and incorporates all embodiments within the scope of the appended independent claims.