Portable desk for vehicles
A portable office device is adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle to form a desk and includes positionable support members or legs that may be folded or pivoted into either an extended or a retracted orientation. The positionable legs enable the portable desk to be selectively positioned within a vehicle at an elevated height for use within the vehicle with the legs in the extended orientation, and with the legs in the retracted orientation, enables the portable desk to be readily transported by hand. The portable desk may further include a pivoting work surface member, various storage compartments, and a slot for receiving a seat belt to secure the portable desk to the vehicle seat.
The present invention is directed to portable work surfaces, and in particular to a collapsible portable desk or office device for use in vehicles as both a storage medium and a portable laptop computer or typing support, and/or writing surface.
People regularly conduct business away from fixed locations such as offices or homes. In such cases, individuals such as salespersons, contractors, and truckers frequently travel using motor vehicles to reach their contacts or destinations.
Along with reaching remote locations, traveling by motor vehicle enables these individuals to transport many of the items they may need to conduct their business, such as cellular phones, personal data assistants (PDA's), documents, files, laptop computers, pens, paperclips, and the like. By having such items in their vehicle, business people are better equipped to efficiently and effectively conduct a broad scope of business without having to make multiple trips between the location of their business contacts and fixed office environments.
However, the glove boxes, center consoles, and door pockets of most motor vehicles are ill equipped to contain the wide array of business and office equipment needed by individuals conducting business “on the road.” As such, the motor vehicles of these individuals can become cluttered, making it hard to find needed items or even resulting in lost items, thereby reducing the efficiency of business people conducting mobile business. Such equipment is also likely to move about the vehicle passenger compartment when the vehicle is driven, making it even more difficult to find specific items, and searching for items while driving is an unsafe practice that may lead to accidents. Furthermore, in the event of an accident, loose items in the passenger compartment of a vehicle can become dangerous projectiles that may injure the occupants.
Another difficulty with conducting business from a vehicle is that there are inadequate surfaces upon which to write or type. Center consoles are generally narrow and awkwardly positioned and vehicle seats are low and sloped, forcing the individual to lean over and twist him or herself. Furthermore, as laptop computers and the ability to remotely send and receive data have become more commonplace and enabled a greater scope of business to be conducted on the road, the use of such computers and the amount of typing thereon has greatly increased.
Therefore, what is needed is a device to contain and organize business and office items used by individuals transacting business from motor vehicles. Additionally, adequate writing or typing surfaces are needed in the passenger compartment of such vehicles to enable typing and writing to be conducted more efficiently and effectively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle for containing and organizing business and office items. The portable desk includes positionable support members or legs that may be selectively positioned into an extended orientation when the portable desk is installed to a vehicle seat such that a top portion or a work surface member of the portable desk is positioned in an elevated orientation. The support members or legs may also be placed in a retracted position such that the portable desk may be readily transported apart from a vehicle.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle comprises a main body including a top portion and at least one positionable support member. The at least one positionable support member is adapted to being selectively positioned to the main body in an extended orientation and a retracted orientation. The portable desk is adapted to being installed on a seat in a vehicle with the at least one movable support member contacting the seat such that the top portion is able to support and/or contain business and office items.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle comprises a main body including a top portion and first and second legs. The first and second legs are pivotally mounted to the main body and are adapted to being selectively positioned in an extended and a retracted orientation. The legs are generally perpendicular to the top portion when in the extended orientation and are generally parallel to the top portion when in the retracted orientation. The portable desk is adapted for installation on a seat in a vehicle with the first and second legs contacting the seat such that the top portion is able to support and/or contain business and office items.
The collapsible and portable desk of the present invention provides a convenient apparatus for both working on and storing work related items in a vehicle for individuals conducting work from their vehicles. The ability of the support members or legs to be selectively positioned in-an extended orientation enables the portable desk to be positioned within a vehicle at an elevated height for use within the vehicle. In addition, the ability of the support members or legs to be collapsed or folded into a retracted position enables the portable desk to be readily transported by way of either an integrated handle or a carrying strap connected to integrated carrying strap receiving elements. The pivoting work surface member may be extended into an open position for ready use by an individual sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle. In the closed position, the work surface member may be held securely shut by a locking device such that office or work related type items may be stored within the portable desk, including when transporting the portable desk apart from a vehicle. Further, the inclusion of a shorter front profile height relative to the back profile height of the portable desk enables the top portion and/or work surface member to be positioned substantially horizontally when installed to a typical, rearwardly tipped or tilted vehicle seat when the legs are in either an extended or retracted orientation.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein the numbered elements in the following written description correspond to like numbered elements in the figures. A collapsible portable desk 40 is shown in
As described in more detail below, portable desk 40 includes movable or collapsible or foldable support members or legs 50, 52 (see
Legs 50, 52 of portable desk 40 are affixed to main body 54, with main body 54 including a tray compartment 60 and a vertical compartment 62 for receiving hanging file folders 48. Work surface member 58 is also secured to main body 54 of portable desk 40 and when needed for typing or writing, provides a convenient area upon which to support a laptop computer, writing pad, documents, or the like.
In the illustrated embodiment of
In the extended orientation, as shown in
Front leg 50, in the illustrated embodiment shown in
Front and back legs 50, 52 each include a rounded seat contacting end 84, 86, respectively, that, when front and back legs 50, 52 are in the extended orientation, are adapted to contact a vehicle seat bottom 59 when portable desk 40 is installed on a vehicle seat 42. As shown in
As shown in
Portable desk 40 also includes left and right brace members 92, 94 that are pivotally joined to main body 54 and used to maintain front and back legs 50, 52 in the extended orientation. Left and right brace members 92, 94, in the illustrated embodiment, are constructed of tubular metal, but may alternatively be constructed of plastic, a polymeric material, or the like. Left brace member 92 is pivotally connected to left side 96 of main body 54 of portable desk 40 and right brace member 94 is pivotally connected to right side 98 of main body 54 with the pivot axes of left and right brace members 92, 94 being generally parallel to the left and right sides 96, 98, respectively, of portable desk 40. When pivoted to retain front and back legs 50, 52 in the extended orientation, left and right brace members 92, 94 include generally vertically downward front elements (not shown) and back elements 102 that are joined by a connecting element 104.
Although not shown on front leg 50, front and back legs 50, 52 each include two brace retainer elements 106 for receiving and securing left and right brace members 92, 94 when extended to retain front and back legs 50, 52 in the extended orientation. (
Although portable desk 40 is shown to include front and back legs 50, 52 in the illustrated embodiment, it should be appreciated that alternative legs or support members may be employed with a portable desk in accordance with the present invention and still function as intended. For example, a portable desk may include right and left side legs that are pivotally or otherwise mounted to the left and right sides of the main body of the portable desk. In such case, the portable desk may include front and back brace members pivotally connected to the front and back sides of the main body of the portable desk. Further, such left and right legs may include angled contacting ends to enable the top portion of the portable desk to be maintained in a generally horizontal orientation when the portable desk is installed to a vehicle seat. Still further, a portable desk could be constructed to include a single support member or leg or more than two support members or legs, or may utilize telescopic or removable support members or legs.
The portable desk may also employ alternative braces, brace retainer elements, and/or leg locking apparatuses and still function as intended within the scope of the present invention. For example, braces could be constructed to pivot from the same direction as legs or braces may be incorporated into legs. Still further, an alternative portable desk may be constructed without braces.
Referring again to
Work surface member 58 is pivotally connected to main body 54 via hinges 142, 144 such that work surface member 58 may be selectively placed in an open position, as shown in
In the open position of work surface member 58, when portable desk 40 is installed to a vehicle 44 as shown in
In the open position, work surface member 58 is retained in a substantially co-planar orientation relative to top portion 56 of main body 54 by being supported on a ledge 150 of main body 54 located adjacent hinges 142, 144 of work surface member 58 (
In the closed position, work surface member 58 is adapted to cover or close tray compartment 60. Tray compartment 60 includes a corner ledge 152 (see
Although work surface member 58 is disclosed as a pivoting work surface member in the illustrated embodiment, it should be appreciated that alternative work surface members may be employed within the scope of the present invention. Such alternatives may include, for example, a work surface member that is adapted to slide out of or from a main body, or a detachable work surface member.
Extension tab 156 of work surface member 58 includes a lock device 160 having a retractable lock element 162 (
As illustrated in
Referring now to
In addition, as shown in
The collapsible and portable desk of the present invention provides a convenient apparatus for people conducting work from their vehicles for both working on and storing work related items in a vehicle. The ability of the support members or legs to be positioned in an extended orientation enables the portable desk to be selectively positioned within a vehicle at an elevated height for use within the vehicle. In addition, the ability of the support members or legs to be collapsed or folded into a retracted position enables the portable desk to be readily transported by way of either the integrated handle or a carrying strap connected to integrated carrying strap receiving elements. The pivoting work surface member may be extended into an open position for ready use by an individual sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle. In the closed position, the work surface member may be held securely shut by way of a locking device such that office or work related type items may be stored within the portable desk, including when transporting the portable desk apart from a vehicle. Further, the inclusion of a shorter front profile height relative to the back profile height of the portable desk enables the top portion and/or work surface member to be positioned substantially horizontally when installed to a vehicle seat.
The above is a description of the preferred embodiments. One skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosed invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the claims which follow and the breadth of interpretation that the law allows.
Claims
1. A collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle, said portable desk comprising:
- a main body, said main body including a top portion; and
- at least one positionable support member, said at least one positionable support member adapted to being selectively positioned to said main body in an extended orientation and a retracted orientation;
- said portable desk adapted to being installed on a seat in a vehicle with said at least one movable support member contacting the seat such that said top portion is able to support and/or contain business and office items.
2. The portable desk of claim 1, wherein said at least one positionable support member comprises at least one movable support member movably affixed to said main body.
3. The portable desk of claim 2, wherein said at least one movable support member comprises two legs.
4. The portable desk of claim 3, wherein said legs are pivotally mounted to said main body.
5. The portable desk of claim 3, wherein said portable desk includes a front side, a right side, a left side, and a back side, and wherein said legs comprise a front leg and a back leg, said front leg being pivotally mounted to said main body adjacent said front side and said back leg being pivotally mounted to said main body adjacent said back side,
6. The portable desk of claim 3, wherein said portable desk includes a front side and a back side and said legs comprise a front leg and a back leg, and wherein said top portion and said front leg define a front profile height in both said extended and retracted orientations of said front leg, and said top portion and said rear leg define a rear profile height in both said extended and retracted orientations of said rear leg, said rear profile height being greater than said front profile height when said front and rear legs are in at least one of said extended orientations and said retracted orientations.
7. The portable desk of claim 2, further including a lock apparatus, said lock apparatus adapted to retain said at least one movable support member in said retracted orientation.
8. The portable desk of claim 1, wherein said portable desk includes at least one brace member, said at least one brace member adapted to retain said at least one positionable support member in said extended orientation.
9. The portable desk of claim 1, further including a handle, said handle adapted to being grasped by a user for transporting said portable desk.
10. The portable desk of claim 9, wherein said handle is located on said main body.
11. The portable desk of claim 1, further including at least one strap attachment element, said at least one strap attachment element adapted for receiving a carrying strap to be held and/or worn by a user for transporting said portable desk.
12. The portable desk of claim 11, wherein said at least one strap attachment element comprises two strap attachment elements, said strap attachment elements being located on said main body.
13. The portable desk of claim 1, wherein said main body includes a slot adapted to receive a vehicle seat belt.
14. The portable desk of claim 1, further including a work surface member, said work surface member being movably mounted to said top portion of said main body.
15. The portable desk of claim 1, wherein said main body includes at least one compartment.
16. The portable desk of claim 15, wherein said at least one compartment is at least one chosen from a vertical compartment and a tray compartment.
17. A collapsible portable desk adapted for use with a seat in a vehicle, said portable desk comprising:
- a main body, said main body including a top portion; and
- first and second legs, said first and second legs being pivotally mounted to said main body and adapted to being selectively positioned in an extended and a retracted orientation, each said leg being generally perpendicular to said top portion when in said extended orientation and being generally parallel to said top portion when in said retracted orientation;
- said portable desk adapted to being installed on a seat in a vehicle with said first and second legs contacting the seat such that said top portion is able to support and/or contain business and office items.
18. The portable desk of claim 17, further including a work surface member pivotally mounted to said top portion of said main body such that said work surface member is selectively positionable between an open and a closed position.
19. The portable desk of claim 18, wherein said main body includes a tray compartment, said tray compartment of said main body adapted to being covered by said work surface member when said work surface member is in said closed position.
20. The portable desk of claim 17, further including first and second brace members, said first and second brace members being adapted to retain said first and second leg members in said extended orientation.
21. The portable desk of claim 17, further including a leg lock apparatus, said leg lock apparatus adapted to retain said first and second legs in said retracted orientations.
22. The portable desk of claim 17, wherein said first and second legs comprise front and back legs, and wherein said front and back legs each include a seat contacting end, said seat contacting end of said back leg extending further from said top portion relative to said seat contacting end of said front leg when said front and back legs are in said extended orientations.
23. The portable desk of claim 17, wherein said main body includes a vertical compartment, said vertical compartment adapted to retain hanging folders when said first and second legs are in said extended orientation.
24. The portable desk of claim 17, wherein said main body includes a slot adapted to receive a vehicle seat belt.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 4, 2006
Publication Date: Apr 10, 2008
Inventors: Charles E. Lippert (Grand Rapids, MI), Kevin J. Bart (Grand Rapids, MI), David T. Lippert (Grand Rapids, MI), Michael S. Joss (Chicago, IL), Mark A. Zavada (Evanston, IL), Peter J. Zerillo (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 11/542,899