Support device

Abstract

A portable, light-weight, foldable, support device for papers, portable computers, bingo cards and the like, the device formed from lightweight, plastic, planar, spaced upper and lower parallel sheets separated by integrally-formed, spaced, parallel ribs laterally extending between said sheets from one side edge of the said sheets to an opposite side edge, the upper sheet having a plurality of linear cuts, each cut running through the upper sheet from the one side edge of the said upper sheet to the opposite, each cut being between a different adjacent pair of the said ribs to permit the folding of the device about a corresponding fold line in the lower sheet formed between those same ribs, the cuts and corresponding fold lines being of a number and spaced so as to form, in the device, in sequence, a working surface panel, an elevation panel, a support panel, and a lip panel, these panels foldable, about the fold lines in the lower sheet, in one direction out of the plane of the sheets, into an operative configuration of the device so that said working surface panel is upwardly and rearwardly inclined with respect to a horizontal working surface on which the device may rest, and the said working surface panel is supported at a lower front edge of the said working surface panel on said horizontal support surface, and at its upper rear edge by the other panels, said panels provided with securing means for reasonably holding the said panels in the operative configuration.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a support device, usable for holding papers, portable computers, and activity sheets such as Bingo cards and the like, which device can be conveniently folded after use for storage and for transport.

[0002] Games such as Bingo are usually played with cards or sheets lying flat on horizontal support surfaces—i.e., tables—which in turn requires players to hunch over the table in an effort to view and to mark their playing cards. Such a configuration is both uncomfortable and tiring, especially for the elderly. Indeed, the same may be said of support surfaces for portable computers and for sheet-like materials of any kind. What is more, the viewing of reference materials that lie horizontal is exceptionally difficult for the visually impaired due to the distance of the materials from the viewer, to paper glare, and to the angle at which users of bifocal lenses must crane their necks to view the materials through the bifocal lense channel.

[0003] Collapsible devices providing portable, angled working surfaces made of foldable sheet material are known. It is generally found, however, that these devices are wanting in terms of convenience, sturdiness, and economy given their construction and the materials required therefor. Examples of such devices include Aquino U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,817 issued Aug. 26, 1986, which discloses a collapsible podium, but lacks adequate support for its working surface, making the use of activity sheets on the podium difficult; Mardak U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,895 issued Dec. 1, 1987 which teaches a portable viewing stand which exhibits a common problem found in the securing means for holding devices of this nature in their operable positions—the securing means being in the form of cumbersome stop elements that add to the expense of the invention and tend to discourage mobility of the device in its operable position; Writ et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,658 issued Mar. 5, 1985 which discloses a collapsible retainer for Bingo sheets, and Marker, which retainer manifests still another common problem as it folds in a manner that results in a bulky or awkward collapsed device which, in turn, taxes transport.

[0004] Also of background interest is Guenther U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,284 issued Feb. 26, 1974 and Wyatt Canadian Industrial Design 55400, registered Dec. 17, 1985.

[0005] It is therefore evident that a need is present for a portable, foldable support device that has universal utility; provides a solid and sturdy working surface when in use; is light-weight and inexpensive; is easily foldable into an operative configuration; and is easily foldable into a compact, convenient carrying and storage orientation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is a primary object of this invention to provide a portable, foldable support device for activity sheets and the like that manifests stability and accessability while in an operative configuration, but folds simply and easily for transport and for storage.

[0007] These and other objects of the invention will become apparent throughout the specification.

[0008] The present invention relates to a portable, foldable, support device comprising planar, parallel, upper and lower sheets separated by integrally-formed, spaced, parallel ribs laterally extending between the sheets from one side edge of the sheets to an opposite side edge. The upper sheet has a plurality of linear cuts running through it from the one side edge to the opposite one, each cut being between a different adjacent pair of the ribs to permit the folding of the device about a corresponding fold line in the lower sheet formed between those same ribs. The cuts and corresponding fold lines are of a number and spaced so as to form, in sequence, a working surface panel, an elevation panel, a support panel, and a lip panel. The panels are foldable about the fold lines in the lower sheet, in one direction out of the plane of the sheets, into an operative configuration so that the working surface panel is upwardly and rearwardly inclined with respect to a horizontal support surface, with the working surface panel being supported at a lower front edge of the working surface panel on a horizontal support surface and at its upper rear edge by the other panels. The panels are held in an operable configuration by releasable securing means.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the upper sheet of the working surface panel is further provided near its rear edge with clip means for reasonably securing activity sheets in position on the working surface panel. the releasable securing means are located on confronting surfaces of the upper sheet of the lip panel and the lower sheet of the working surface panel. The connection between the lip and support panel lends further support to the integrity of the working surface panel by absorbing pressure and shock at approximately the midpoint of the working surface panel and transferring much of the force through the support panel to the point where the support panel meets the horizontal working surface.

[0010] This device is preferably constructed so that the panels are foldable into a flat, storable and carrying orientation by folding the elevation panel, the support panel, and the lip panel, in one plane, about the fold line separating the working surface panel and the elevation panel. The lower sheet of the support panel then confronts the lower sheet of the working surface panel, and releasable securing means positioned at the confronting positions indicated releasably hold the support panel and the working surface panel together, thereby configuring the device in a storage and carrying orientation.

[0011] Friction means may also be affixed to portions of the lower sheet of the working surface panel near the lower front edge of the same and to supporting surfaces of the other panels to encourage immobility of the device when resting on a horizontal support surface.

[0012] The device herein described in its operable position provides elevated support for all manner of reference materials, books, portable computers, activity sheets and the like, while further affording stable and firm positioning for such material objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the support device in its operable configuration;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 in operable orientation;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper sheet device in an unfolded position;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower sheet of the device in an unfolded position;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a side view of the device in the storable and carrying orientation.

[0019] While the invention will be described in conjunction with illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] In the drawings, similar features have been given similar reference numerals.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a portable, foldable support device 10 according to the present invention set up in the operable position. The device is formed from two, spaced, parallel, generally rectangular sheets of thin plastic-like material, an upper sheet 11 and a lower sheet 12. Each sheet is circumscribed by longitudinal side edges 13, a front edge 14 and a back edge 15.

[0022] The upper sheet 11 and the lower sheet 12 are separated by parallel spaced, linear ribs 16 laterally extending between opposite side edges 13. As can be seen in FIG. 3, cuts 17, 18, and 19 extend through the upper sheet 11 between the side edges 13 and between an adjacent pairs of ribs 16 to permit folding of the device respectively about fold lines 20, 21, and 22 in the lower sheet 12 to permit the folding of the device 10 into operable position.

[0023] These cuts and fold lines form a working surface panel 23, an elevation panel 24, a support panel 25, and a lip panel 26. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device is folded into its operable position by folding the device about the fold lines 20, 21, 22 in one direction, so that the working surface panel 23 is upwardly and rearwardly inclined with respect to a horizontal support surface 27. In this position, the device 10 is elevated by the elevation panel 24 and supported by support panel 25. Support panel 25 is angled with respect to the support surface 27 and abuts lip panel 26 which is folded so its upper sheet 11 confronts and is releasably secured to the lower sheet 12 of the working surface panel 23 at approximately the latter's midpoint, from one side edge 13 of the working surface panel 23 to the other side edge 13 of the same. This construction lends support to the integrity of the working surface panel 23 by absorbing physical pressure and shock at approximately the midpoint of the said working surface panel 23 and transferring much of the generated energy through the support panel 25 to the point where the said support panel 25 meets a horizontal support surface 27, as can be seen in FIG. 2. To encourage immobility of the device when it rests on a horizontal support surface 27, friction pads 28 are affixed to rear portions of the upper sheet 11 of the support panel 25, and to portions of the lower sheet 12 of the working surface panel 23 near the front edge 14.

[0024] Releasable securing means, such as hook and pile fasteners 29, are positioned on confronting portions of the lower sheet 12 of the working surface panel 23, at approximately the midpoint, and of the upper sheet 11 of the lip panel 26 to secure, releasably, the device 10 in its operable position.

[0025] A plurality of clips 30 are affixed as illustrated to the upper sheet 11 of the working surface panel 23 near the back edge 15 for holding activity sheets 32 such as bingo playing cards in position on the working surface panel 23. The clips 30 may be of any construction appropriate for releasably gripping the activity sheet 32, and in the illustrated embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, each has an upper jaw 33 with a plurality of teeth-like rows which interact with corresponding teeth-like rows jutting from the bottom jaw 34 to hold in position a Bingo card or the like when the clips are closed. The upper jaw 33 is movable in a hinge-like manner so as to close and to lock, releasably, with the bottom jaw 34 so as to hold the activity sheets 32 in position on the upper surface 11 of working surface panel 23.

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates the support device 10 secured in the storage and carrying orientation. To achieve this orientation, lip panel 26, elevation panel 24, and support panel 25 are folded, in one plane, about the fold line 20 separating the working surface panel 23 and the elevation panel 24 so that the lower sheets 12 of lip panel 26, elevation panel 24, and support panel 25 confront the lower sheet 12 of the working surface panel 23. Releasable securing means, such as hook and pile fasteners 29 are correspondingly positioned on the lower sheet 12 of the support panel 25 and on the lower sheet 12 of the working surface panel 23 matably to secure to each other to hold the support device 10 in the storage and carrying orientation as shown in FIG. 5.

[0027] Materials employed in constructing the support device 10 should be of sufficient structural rigidity so as to permit the use of activity cards 32 such as bingo cards atop the working surface panel 23 and insofar as lower sheet 12 is concerned, of sufficient flexibility to enable its folding along the fold lines 20, 21, 22 without splitting. Sheets 11 and 12, and ribs 16 may preferably be integrally formed from a suitable plastic.

[0028] From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that there has been disclosed a portable and foldable device that provides an elevated working surface able to hold a wide variety of items such as reference materials, books, portable computers, newspapers, drawing or sketching tablets, textiles, activity sheets and the like, the device is light-weight and easy to carry and to store, promotes enhanced vision and stability of objects on it, and is inexpensive. It can be used in a variety of environments for a variety of applications including: as a laptop desk which conveniently folds flat; as a Bingo Card holder (various sizes are possible to hold, for example, from 6 to 24 cards); for reading newspapers (may be sized for newspapers); for writing or reading; for secretarial use (holds papers that may be pulled off one-at-a-time); teachers' aid (may be used as a desktop podium); for artists (may be used as a drawing board and portable sketching table); for knitters/crochet (patten holder); for truck drivers (may be used for holding trip logs, maps, manifests); for accountants (may be used for holding data holders); and for the vision-impaired who may use this device as a visionary aid.

[0029] In addition, the versatility of the device is enhanced by the fact that, in its operable position, the device may be placed to rest on its elevation panel and used as a typing or viewing stand with the working surface panel facing the user and the clips then at the bottom of the panel, the clips then allowing paper and like material to be held in place for greater ease of reference.

[0030] While the above description describes a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this description is meant to be illustrative and not limiting, and that the scope of the invention is defined by the claims as follows.

Claims

1. A portable, light-weight, foldable, support device for papers, portable computers, bingo cards and the like, the device formed from lightweight, plastic, planar, spaced upper and lower parallel sheets separated by integrally-formed, spaced, parallel ribs laterally extending between said sheets from one side edge of the said sheets to an opposite side edge, the upper sheet having a plurality of linear cuts, each cut running through the upper sheet from the one side edge of the said upper sheet to the opposite, each cut being between a different adjacent pair of the said ribs to permit the folding of the device about a corresponding fold line in the lower sheet formed between those same ribs, the cuts and corresponding fold lines being of a number and spaced so as to form, in the device, in sequence, a working surface panel, an elevation panel, a support panel, and a lip panel, these panels foldable, about the fold lines in the lower sheet, in one direction out of the plane of the sheets, into an operative configuration of the device so that said working surface panel is upwardly and rearwardly inclined with respect to a horizontal working surface on which the device may rest, and the said working surface panel is supported at a lower front edge of the said working surface panel on said horizontal support surface, and at its upper rear edge by the other panels, said panels provided with securing means for reasonably holding the said panels in the operative configuration.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the upper sheet of the working surface panel is provided near its rear edge with clip means for releasably securing the activity sheets in position on said working surface panel.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is constructed so as to be supported on a horizontal support surface at a lower front edge of the working surface panel, and along the edge of the support panel near the juncture of the elevation panel and said support panel.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the lip panel, the elevation panel, and the support panel are constructed so as to be foldable, in one plane, about the fold line separating the working surface panel and said elevation panel into a flat, storable and carrying orientation.

5. A device according to claim 1, when, in the operative configuration, the panels are constructed so as to be folded, in a triangular fashion, so that a portion of the upper sheet of the lip panel confronts and is releasably secured to a mid portion of the lower sheet of the working surface panel so as to lend support to the integrity of the working surface panel.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein releasable securing means are positioned on one or both of the confronting surfaces of the lip panel and working surface panel to secure, releasably, the lip and working surface panels in the operable configuration.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said securing means comprise hook and pile fasteners located at confronting locations on the confronting surfaces of the working surface panel and of the lip panel.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the panels are of rectangular shape and of the same size along one side and along the other side of the panels; the support panel is of a smaller size that the working surface panel; the elevation panel is of a smaller size than the said support panel; and the lip panel is of the smallest size.

9. A device according to claim 3, wherein friction means are affixed to portions of the lower sheet of the working surface panel near the lower front edge of the same, and to supporting surfaces of the other panels of the device to encourage immobility of the device when resting on a support surface.

10. A device according to claim 2, wherein the clip means comprise one or more pairs of jaws, each having an upper jaw movable in a hinge-like manner so as to close and to interconnect, releasably, with a bottom jaw affixed to the working surface panel to hold activity sheets.

11. A device according to claim 4, wherein the lower sheet of the support panel, when in the carrying orientation, confronts the lower sheet of the working surface panel.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein releasable securing means are positioned on the lower sheet of the support panel so as to confront releasable securing means positioned on the lower sheet of the working surface panel, said releasable securing means holding said support panel and said working surface panel together when in flat, storable and carrying orientation.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the securing means comprise hook and pile fasteners.

14. A device according to claim 6, wherein the releasable securing means positioned on the lower sheet of the working surface panel are disposed so as to meet the releasable securing means positioned on upper sheet of the lip panel when in operable position, and to meet the releasable securing means positioned on the lower sheet of the support panel when in the carrying orientation.

15. A device according to claim 12, wherein the releasable securing means positioned on the lower sheet of the working surface panel are disposed so as to meet the releasable securing means positioned on upper sheet of the lip panel when in operable position, and to meet the releasable securing means positioned on the lower sheet of the support panel when in the carrying orientation.