Portable lap-supported work station

Abstract

A portable lap-supported work station for bead stringing and bead weaving is provided. In one embodiment, the work station includes a tray configured as a design board having a lower surface to which a pillow is directly attached. In another embodiment, the work station includes a rectangular base and two flocked trays (or boards) which nestably and preferably snap-fit into the base. One tray is configured as a design board that is adapted for bead stringing. The second tray is configured for bead weaving. In the lower portion of the base beneath the trays, a storage compartment is provided. Preferably, the bottom exterior surface portions of the base are provided with a pillow adapted to rest upon the lap of the user. A handle along a longitudinal exterior side of the base permits the combination of pillow, base and boards to be transported or stored.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/781,255 filed Feb. 17, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a portable lap-supported work station, or lap desk, which can be used for craft and hobby activities including bead stringing or bead weaving.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although the arts of bead stringing and bead weaving are believed to have been known for hundreds of years, they each require a defined work area where both the raw materials and the necessary tools can be used, maintained and stored. In the past, such a work area would have been typically situated at a fixed location that was relatively isolated from other activities; and the individual would probably be positioned at a table or work bench to work on a bead stringing or weaving project.

In contemporary times, for various reasons, it is often inconvenient for an individual to be positioned at such a fixed location for what can be a considerable amount of time to complete a project. It is desirable to provide a portable work surface which enables the individual to transport and store the necessary supplies and work on a project from a remote location.

Thus, there is a need for a portable platform suitable for positioning on the lap of an individual for use as a work station wherever the opportunity is presented for working on a craft or beading project. However, more than a small, flattened surface or board is needed. The portable platform needs to be able to hold or be associated with all the necessary materials and tools in an accessible and usable manner. The portable platform must also be compact, durable, practical and suitable for storage, transport and practical use yet adapted for quick start-up or shut-down in a wide variety of environments. For example, the individual can be seated as a passenger in a vehicle, outside in a yard or in a family room. In addition, the portable platform should preferably have a significant storage capacity, be lightweight even when loaded with raw materials, tools and work in progress, be easily used and have a generally acceptable appearance.

The present invention provides a new and very useful portable work station for craft and hobby activities including bead stringing or weaving with a combination of desirable properties as indicated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

More particularly, this invention is directed to a new and very useful portable platform or work station suitable for use on the lap of an individual involved in either bead stringing or bead weaving. In one embodiment, the work station includes a board having a lower surface and an upper surface, the upper surface being configured as a design board for bead stringing. The upper surface can be covered with flocking and can include one or more grooves and associated indicia marks suitable for aligning beads along with one or more cup-like areas suitable for holding beads or other supplies. A pillow or cushion can be associated with the lower surface of the board for resting the work station on the lap of a user.

In another embodiment, the work station includes a preferably rectangular base having a generally flattened bottom wall and a continuously extending upturned peripheral side edge region. The work station further includes one or two rectangular boards which can include flocking and which, if two boards are used, are adapted to be nestably situated in upper surface regions of the base in a stacked, adjacent relationship relative to each other. One board is adapted for bead stringing; and, if two boards are included, the second is adapted for bead weaving. Each board has its own upper surface configuration. The first board is preferably the outermost or uppermost board and features surface portions that are configured as a design board for bead stringing. The second board, if included, is preferably beneath and generally interior relative to the first board, and features surface portions that are convenient for bead weaving.

The perimeter edge region of the first board is adapted to be nestably received within an upturned peripheral edge region of the second board preferably in a detachable, snap-fit relationship. The perimeter edge region of the second board is upturned and adapted to be nestably received within the upper peripheral edge portion of a relatively shallow tray-like container preferably also in a detachable, snap-fit relationship. The second board preferably has a central region that is flattened and adapted for use in bead weaving. Between the second board and the bottom interior of the tray-like container, a storage compartment is located. The first board and the second board each preferably have upper surface portions that are covered with flocking, although those surface portions need not be flocked.

A pad or pillow-like structure can be mounted over the entire bottom exterior face of the tray-like container. The pillow-like structure preferably has a generally flattened exterior bottom surface configuration when not distorted, and the pillow-like structure preferably has a somewhat particulate, low-density fill, thereby to optimize the ability of the pillow to rest comfortably on the lap of an individual using the work station.

In a medial exterior position along a longitudinal side portion of the tray-like container is mounted a handle member that enables the combined assembly of pillow, tray-like container, and second and first boards, together with any items stored by the user in the portable work station, to be transported or stored in a convenient, compact manner.

So far as is known, the subject matter of the present invention is not suggested in the prior art. The invention provides a new and very useful structure for beading.

Other and further arrangements, embodiments, features, applications, objects, purposes, advantages and the like will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the present specification taken with the associated drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the inventive portable lap-supportable platform or work station for bead stringing and bead weaving, the work station being known in an assembled configuration suitable for storage, transport or the like;

FIG. 2 is an environmental fragmentary view illustrating the manner in which the assembled work station of FIG. 1 may be transported and carried by holding its associated handle;

FIG. 3 is an environmental fragmentary view illustrating one manner in which the work station may be utilized by an individual for bead stringing;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the FIG. 1 work station with flocking omitted and the handle joined to the base in an alternative configuration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base or tray-like container of the FIG. 4 work station, the base being oriented in an inverted configuration compared to its orientation in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second board of the FIG. 1 work station, flocking omitted, this board being configured for bead weaving;

FIG. 7 is longitudinal, vertical, diagrammatic sectional view taken medially and perpendicularly along the line VII-VII shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, detail, top plan view of the first board as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, this board being configured for bead stringing, this view including the flocking layer on the board upper surface and indicia for determining beadwork size characteristics;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, detail end elevational view of the FIG. 1 assembled work station including the flocking layer on the first board;

FIG. 10 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view taken along the line X-X of FIG. 1, with the flocking omitted;

FIG. 11 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view taken along the line of XI-XI of FIG. 1, with the flocking omitted;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, detail, fragmentary review of the region of VIII of FIG. 10, with the flocking omitted; and

FIG. 13 illustrates one manner in which the work station of FIG. 1 could be provided with an exterior cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the Figures, there is seen an embodiment 100 of the inventive portable lap-supported work station, or lap desk, for bead stringing and bead weaving. In this embodiment, the work station 100 includes a base or tray-like container 116, a first board (or tray) 28 adapted for use in bead stringing, and a second board (or tray) 300 adapted for use in bead weaving.

The base 116, the board 28 and the board 300 are each generally rectangular and are conveniently and preferably comprised of vacuum-formed, relatively stiff and shape-retaining plastic sheet material. If desired, alternative construction materials could be utilized, such as sheet metal, polymer impregnated and rigidified paper or the like. In addition, the base and the boards can be other than rectangular, for example, square, round or oval-shaped. The boards 28 and 300 are situated in upper surface regions of the base 116 in a stacked, adjacent relationship relative to each other.

Board 28 is adapted for bead stringing, and board 300 is configured for bead weaving. Each board 28 and 300 has its own upper surface configuration. Board 28 is preferably the outermost or uppermost board in the assembled work surface 100 and board 28 has upper surface portions that are configured for use as a design board for convenient bead stringing.

Board 300 is preferably beneath and generally interior relative to the first board and the base 116; and board 300 has upper surface portions that are configured for use in bead weaving. In an alternative embodiment, the second board 300 can be omitted to form a base/design board combination.

In the portable work station 100, the perimeter edge region 40 of the first board 28 is adapted to be nestably received within an upturned, continuously extending peripheral edge region of the second board 300. Preferably, the first board 28 detachably engages the second board in a snap-fit type of relationship. In an alternative embodiment where the second board 300 is omitted, the first board 28 can detachably engage a raised peripheral edge portion of the base 116, preferably in a snap-fit type of relationship. In a further embodiment, the first board can be secured to the base by hook and loop fasteners or double-sided tape, for example.

The perimeter edge region 386 of the second board 300 is upturned or raised and continuously extends. The perimeter edge region 386 is adapted to be nestably received within the upper portion of the upturned peripheral edge portion 162 of the relatively shallow tray-like container or base 116. Preferably, the second board 300 detachably engages the base 116 in a snap-fit type relationship. Between the second board 300 and the bottom interior of the tray-like container 116, a storage compartment 124 is located.

The first board 28 and the second board 300 each preferably have upper surface portions which are covered with flocking. The flocking reduces the tendency of beads to roll compared to a hard, smooth surface and also aids in positioning tools and the work in progress. Thus, all or portions of the first board 28 and the second board 300 can be flocked. In the alternative, one or neither board can include flocking.

If desired, and preferably, a pad or pillow structure 44 is mounted over the entire exterior surface of the bottom surface 164 of the base or tray-like container 116. The upper surface of the pillow structure 44 can be bonded to the exterior lower surface of the bottom 164 by means of an adhesive (suggested by lines 48 on surface 164 in FIG. 5), or the like. In an alternative embodiment, hook and loop fasteners or double-sided tape can be used, for example.

The pillow structure 44 preferably has a generally flattened exterior bottom surface configuration when not distorted, yet such bottom surface configuration preferably conforms to the lap of an individual during use with the associated components of the work station 100 thereover. Thus, the work station 100 can rest upon the lap of an individual and the bottom surface of the pillow structure 44 may conform and stabilize the portable work station 100. Preferably, the pillow structure 44 has a conventional, somewhat particulate, low-density fill 46 (see FIG. 11), thereby to optimize the ability of the pillow structure 44 to avoid unnecessary weight and still lap-conform and rest comfortably and conveniently upon the lap of an individual using the inventive portable work station 100.

In another embodiment, the pad or pillow structure 44 can be mounted over the lower surface of the board 28, for example, by means of an adhesive, hook and loop fasteners or double-sided tape (as described above with regard to work station 100). This embodiment would not include a board 300 or a base 116.

With regard to the work station 100, in a medial exterior position along a longitudinal side portion of the base or tray-like container 116 is mounted a handle member 60 that enables the work station 100, including the combination of pillow structure 44, base or tray-like container 116, and second and first boards 300 and 28, together with any items stored by the user in the portable work station 100, to be transported or stored in a convenient, compact manner. For example, in a FIG. 1, the handle member 60 has its opposite ends mounted between the base 116 and the pillow 44. Alternatively, in, for example, FIGS. 4 and 5, the handle member 60 is mounted conventionally on a side portion of the base 116 by adhesive, rivets or the like.

The base 116 incorporates internally along the perimeter 162 thereof a plurality of perimetrically spaced-apart shoulders 132 which serve to maintain the tray or board 300 at a predetermined level above the bottom 164 of the base 116 and thereby provide a storage compartment 124 between the bottom 164 of the base 116 and the bottom 382 of the board 300. The board 300 is sized and configured to rest upon the shoulders 132 when the board 300 is removably received within the base 116, yet the board 300 is removable to allow for user access to the storage compartment 124.

The upper surface portions of the board 28 (see, for example, FIGS. 1 and 8) are provided with a plurality of various grooves 170 that are each suitable for engaging and positioning or aligning beads in a straight line or progressive linear-type relationship relative to one another, such as is desirable for use in making bracelets, necklaces, anklets, etc.

The upper surface of the board 28 optionally but preferably also includes associated indicia marks 174, such as illustrated in FIG. 8, for determining a length of a beadwork project being undertaken or the like.

The upper surface of the board 28 is also provided with a plurality of indented, cup-like areas 180 that are suitable for holding beads being used for a beadwork project. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various surface configurations for the board 28 can be provided, and that the illustrated arrangement of the surface of the board 28 is not construed as limiting.

The board 300 illustratively and preferably has a planar upper surface 382 which is covered with flocking 384 (see FIG. 7) as is also the generally upstanding peripheral wall 386 of the board 300 that surrounds the flocked weaving surface 384/382. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various surface configurations for the board 300 can be provided, and that the illustrated arrangement of the surface of the board 300 should not be construed as limiting. For example, the flat surface portions of the board 300 may include shallow depressions suitable for holding various tools, if desired. Moreover, the peripheral wall 386 shown in the Figures is only illustrative. The wall 386 can, of course, be configured differently; for example, to define a raised portion which provides for engagement with the board 28.

The peripheral wall 386 of the board 300 further incorporates, in a preferred embodiment, a small magnet 388 that is provided and adapted to hold a needle or the like (not shown) within easy reach of a user. The peripheral wall 386 further incorporates in the interior of the board 300 a plurality of perimetrically spaced-apart shoulders 332 as well as latch members 342 for accepting and detachably associating with a board 28.

Thus, the configuration of the board 300 cooperates with the configuration of the board 28 so that both boards 28 and 300 can be incorporated into base 116 of the inventive portable lap-supported work station 100 for bead stringing and bead weaving. The base 116 can be employed to associate separately with either board 28 or board 300, if desired. It will also be understood that either board 28 or board 300 may be used, if desired, independently of the base 116. Thus, the inventive portable lap-supported work station 100 is suitable for bead stringing and bead weaving and is extremely versatile.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, if desired, the base 116 may be associated with, and overcovered by, a cover 14; the cover 14 and the base 116 being detachably engaged with one another by means of inter-engaging hinge type latches 56 and 58. The cover includes a plurality of compartments 18 within which bead containers 20 are received. A further compartment 22 is included within the cover 14 for holding scissors or other beading tools (not shown).

Other and further configurations, modifications and embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the present teachings and disclosures. The present invention is not limited to the present illustrative embodiments. Changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A portable work station for bead stringing comprising:

(a) a board having a lower surface and an upper surface, the upper surface being configured as a design board for bead stringing; and

(b) a pillow associated with the lower surface of the board for resting the work station on the lap of a user.

2. The work station of claim 1 wherein the upper surface is flocked.

3. The work station of claim 1 wherein the pillow includes particulate, low-density fill.

4. The work station of claim 1 wherein the board has defined in the upper surface thereof a plurality of grooves that are suitable for engaging and positioning beads in a linear-type relationship relative to one another.

5. The work station of claim 1 wherein the board has defined in the upper surface thereof a plurality of indented, cup-like recesses for holding beads.

6. The work station of claim 1 wherein the board has defined therein indicia for determining a length of a beadwork project.

7. A portable lap-supported work station for bead stringing comprising in combination:

(a) a base having an upper surface and a generally flat bottom wall;

(b) a board having an upper surface configured as a design board for bead stringing and a lower surface adapted to engage said base; and

(c) a pillow associated with exterior surface portions of said bottom wall for resting said work station upon the lap of a user.

8. The work station of claim 7 wherein the upper surface of said board is flocked.

9. The work station of claim 7 including a handle located along and associated with an exterior longitudinal side of said base for enabling manual transport of said work station.

10. A portable lap-supported work station for bead stringing and bead weaving comprising in combination:

(a) a base having a generally flat bottom wall and an upturned peripheral side region;

(b) a first board having an upper surface configured as a design board for bead stringing; and

(c) a second board having an upper surface configured for bead weaving and having an upturned perimeter edge portion;

said first board and said second board each having perimeter portions that are adapted to nest and snap-fit within said base; and said base including shoulder means adjacent said peripheral side region for supporting said boards in an upwardly spaced relationship relative to said bottom wall whereby a storage compartment is defined therebetween.

11. The work station of claim 10 including a handle located along and associated with an exterior longitudinal side of said base for enabling manual transport of said work station.

12. The work station of claim 10 wherein exterior surface portions of said bottom wall are associated with a pillow for supporting said work station upon the lap of a user.

13. A portable lap-supported work station for bead stringing and bead weaving comprising in combination:

(a) a base having a generally flat bottom wall and a continuously extending, upturned peripheral side region;

(b) a first board having a central portion whose upper surface portion is configured as a design board for bead stringing; and

(c) a second board having a central portion whose upper surface portion is configured for bead weaving and having a continuously extending, upturned perimeter edge portion;

said first board having perimeter portions adapted to snap-fit within and adjacent to said perimeter edge portions; and said perimeter edge portions being adapted to snap-fit within and adjacent to upper portions of said peripheral edge region and said peripheral edge region including shoulder means supporting said second board in upwardly spaced relationship relative to said bottom wall whereby a storage compartment is defined therebetween.

14. The work station of claim 13 including a handle located along and associated with an exterior longitudinal side of said base for transporting said work station.

15. The work station of claim 13 wherein exterior surface portions of said bottom wall are associated with a pillow for resting said work station upon the lap of a user.

16. The work station of claim 15 wherein said pillow has a particulate, low-density fill.

17. The work station of claim 10 wherein said first board has defined in said central portion thereof a plurality of grooves that are each suitable for engaging and positioning beads in a linear-type of relationship relative to one another.

18. The work station of claim 10 wherein said first board has defined in said central portion thereof a plurality of indented, cup-like recesses for holding beads.

19. The work station of claim 10 wherein said first board has defined therein indicia for determining a length of a beadwork project.

20. The work station of claim 10 wherein said second board has defined in said central portion thereof a generally flat area for bead weaving.

21. A portable lap-supported work station for bead stringing and bead weaving comprising in combination:

(a) a base having a generally flat bottom wall and a continuously extending, upturned peripheral side region;

(b) a first board having a central portion whose upper surface portion is flocked and configured as a design board for bead stringing;

(c) a second board having a central portion whose upper surface portion is flocked and configured for bead weaving and having a continuously extending, upturned perimeter edge portion;

said first board having perimeter portions adapted to snap-fit within and adjacent to said perimeter edge portions; and said perimeter edge portions being adapted to snap-fit within and adjacent to upper portions of said peripheral edge region and said peripheral edge region including shoulder means supporting said second board in upwardly spaced relationship relative to said bottom wall whereby a storage compartment is defined therebetween; and

(d) a pillow associated with exterior surface portions of said bottom wall for resting said work station upon the lap of a user.

22. The work station of claim 21 including a handle located along and associated with an exterior longitudinal side of said base for transporting said work station.

23. The work station of claim 21 wherein said pillow has a particulate, low-density fill.

24. The work station of claim 21 wherein said first board has defined in said central portion thereof a plurality of grooves that are each suitable for engaging and positioning beads in a linear-type of relationship relative to one another.

25. The work station of claim 21 wherein said first board has defined in said central portion thereof a plurality of indented, cup-like recesses for holding beads.

26. The work station of claim 21 wherein said first board has defined therein indicia for determining a length of a beadwork project.

27. The work station of claim 21 wherein said second board has defined in said central portion thereof a generally flat area for bead weaving.

28. The work station of claim 21 wherein said perimeter edge portion is associated with a small magnet that is adapted to hold a needle or the like.