Weather integrated cane workstation
A portable workstation can be folded so as to be readily portable, and has a seat portion and a table portion for holding a book, electronic device, and papers, among other things. The tray portion is adapted for use with electronics equipment, wherein the tray portion provides a support for the electronic device. The workstation has a main leg pivotably connected to a pair of legs. An umbrella can be connected to the workstation in the folded condition of the workstation, and can be opened and adjustably positioned in the unfolded condition of the workstation. In another embodiment, similar in structure to that of the workstation, a seat is provided, but omitting a table portion. A cane handle can be provided at the upper end of the workstation.
This application claims the priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/626,963, filed on Oct. 6, 2011, and the priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/626,346 filed on Sep. 26, 2011.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to portable and foldable workstations. The workstation is optionally useful as a chair or seating device, useful for outdoor activities. The present invention is in the technical field of furniture. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of workstations, foldable workstations, and all weather workstations. The workstation can optionally be reduced to a portable seating device by omitting a work-holding surface such as a table or tray portion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAt the pace of technological change, there is a great demand for portable workstations and workstation devices. In particular, there is a need for portable workstations which can be folded so as to be readily portable, having a seat portion and a table portion for holding a book, electronic device, and papers, among other things. A number of workstation devices are known in the furniture and arts.
Examples of prior art patents relating to portable devices having a seat can be found in U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 338,345 issued to inventor Camp for a collapsible seat; U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 474,041 issued to inventors Howard et al. for a portable folding chair; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,388 issued to inventor Enrique for a portable chair and cane with umbrella.
It is a problem in the prior art to make workstation devices that would be portable and foldable, and easy to set up. Additionally, such workstation devices should be easy to collapse or fold, and should be easy to stow. Further, such workstation devices should have a work support tray, and should be stable in use, as well as lightweight.
Outdoor folding chairs are also well known, particularly those with flexible fabric seats which are cot-like in operation. However, such outdoor folding chairs are not adapted to serve as portable workstations.
None of the prior art devices are adapted to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies of the prior art. There is, therefore, a need in the prior art to provide a convenient, lightweight, portable workstation for outdoor use, having a support such as a shelf or table portion. Further, there is a need in the prior art to provide such a portable workstation which can be used outdoors and which therefore additionally includes a sheltering device or sheltering portion for providing shelter for the user from the elements found outdoors, including sun, snow, and rain.
In view of the aforementioned deficiencies and needs in the prior art, and in addition to the foregoing, it is also a problem in the prior art to provide a lightweight, foldable, and easy to use workstation having an umbrella mounted on a movable support, to provide shelter from the elements while outdoors.
It is a further problem in the art to provide a novel and useful construction of a foldable workstation device which overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art, including an improved construction, including improved pivot elements and ratchet joints for adjustable positioning of a sheltering device such as an umbrella.
Further, it is a problem in the art to provide a convenient, lightweight, portable workstation which can be reduced to a chair by omission of a tray or table portion, while also having a sheltering device or portion for providing shelter for the user from the elements found outdoors, including sun, snow, and rain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONFrom the foregoing, it is seen that it is a problem in the art to provide a device meeting the above requirements. According to the present invention, a device and process are provided which meets the aforementioned requirements and needs in the prior art. Specifically, the device according to the present invention provides a portable workstation having a seat and table or tray portion.
The present invention relates to workstations, and particularly portable and foldable workstations. In addition, the workstation of the present invention is optionally useful as a cane, and has a cane head.
Further, the workstation of the present invention can optionally be reduced to a portable seating device, specifically by omitting a work-holding surface such as a table or tray portion.
In a preferred embodiment, the workstation includes a foldable seat and a foldable tray.
The workstation of the present invention also includes an adjustable umbrella. The umbrella can be mounted to the cane head by a ratcheting mount so that it can be set at a number of different angles, so as to provide protection from the sun or rain. The umbrella can be folded easily when not in use.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention has three aspects, as follows. A first aspect of the present invention is as a portable workstation as shown in
A further feature of the inventive workstation is an adjustably positionable umbrella, which when used outdoors provides protection from the sun so that screen glare does not prevent use of the electronic devices. When used indoors, the umbrella portion can be positioned out of the way, or it can be entirely omitted or removed. The workstation of the present invention thus has the advantage of being usable both indoors and outdoors.
A second aspect of the present invention is as a portable chair with a built-in option of protection from the elements. The construction is similar to that of the above-described workstation, with the table portion omitted, and is shown in
A third aspect of the present invention is that it serves as a cane with a handle as shown clearly in
The joint tip sits on top of button 33 to support the table and the semicircular collar will hold on to the main leg 16 to prevent sideways wobble or shift of the table. A table part bar 32 is telescopically received in the main leg 16 and secured by a push button 33 which is a spring biased pin connecting the main leg 16 and the table part bar 32. A pair of legs 28, 28 are pivotably connected to the main leg 16 at a pivot member 26.
The pair of legs 28, 28 are connected to the seat 20 by pivot members 22, and thereby supports a distal end of the seat 20. A proximal end of the seat 20 is connected to the main leg 16 by an attachment element 18 which is slidably mounted on the main leg 16.
In
The details of the parts of the cane handle 12 and their relative locking by a push button 15 are described in
In use when moving or traveling with the weather integrated cane workstation or the weather integrated cane chair of the present invention, the tip of the umbrella 10 is secured by the umbrella holding device 30 and the umbrella handle is secured by the umbrella tying device 14 so that it is stably connected to the main leg 16. The umbrella holding device 30 is fixed on the main leg 16. The seating platform 20 is connected to the main leg 16 by a connector 18 and connected to the other two legs 28 by the pivot members 22. When folding the chair, the attachment element 18 will slide up on the main cane bar 16.
An axle member 26, which can be a bolt or other connector allowing pivoting motion, holds the main leg 16 and the pair of legs 28, 28 together at a pivoting joint and allows them to rotate against each other to fold or open the chair. A firm, yet flexible, seating-platform-securement device 24 is affixed to the seating platform 20. The securement device 24 is used to securely attach the seating platform 20 to the main cane bar 16 when the chair is in the folded or collapsed position. The securement device 24 can be a band with two arms, similar to that described hereinabove with reference to the umbrella holding device 30, including a button on one arm and several holes on the other arm that allows for tightness adjustment. An alternative fastener arrangement could use a snap fastener of known type, or a hook-and-loop by of fastener material. All such variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention.
The main leg 16 has two holes 31 (shown in
The table portion 40 is shown in its open horizontal position in
The two ends of a steel wire or bar 36 are joined together to form the tip of the triangle. The ends then fan out after the joint and form a semicircular collar. When the tip end of device 36 rests on top of the push button 33, the collar will rest on the main leg 16 and will not allow sideways movement of table 40.
In
The part 121 has a plurality of tines or arms terminating at distal ends 123. The distal ends 123 respectively bend at the end of the rotating part 121 of the cane handle 12 so as to lock the rotating and non-rotating parts of the handle together. A plurality of cut openings 126 are disposed between the arms and so define them. These cut openings 126 provide for flexibility when pushing the rotating part 121 into the non-rotating part 122 of the cane handle 12. The cuts will allow it to squeeze through a lock-ring 13 that is fixed inside the non-rotating part 122 of the handle.
In
The relative dimensions shown in the drawings and/or set forth above are by way of example only, and these dimensions can vary without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The invention being thus described, it will be evident that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A foldable workstation having a seat and table, which has a folded condition and an unfolded condition, and which can serve as a workstation having a seat and table in the unfolded condition, comprising:
- a main leg;
- a pair of legs pivotably connected to said main leg;
- a foldable seat portion;
- a foldable table portion;
- a bar connected to said main leg; and
- a cane handle supported by said bar;
- whereby the workstation has a folded position which renders it portable and easy to stow, and an unfolded condition wherein the workstation includes a seat and table.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said bar is telescopically received in said main leg.
3. The device of claim 1, further comprising an umbrella and an adjustable support, wherein the umbrella is supported by the adjustable support so as to be adjustably positionable, and wherein the umbrella is mounted at an upper end of the workstation.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the umbrella has a folded position and an unfolded position, and wherein in the folded position, the umbrella is oriented downwardly and is secured by at least one connector to the main leg.
5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cane handle mounted at an upper end of the workstation.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the cane handle is comprised of a first part and a second part, the first part having a plurality of arms terminating at distal ends, wherein the distal ends respectively bend outwardly; and said first part having a push button having an extended position and a retracted position; and said second part having a ring receiving the distal ends of the plurality of arms such that the distal ends lock the ring in place against relative axial movement between said first part and said second part due to the outward bending of the distal arms; and said second part having a plurality of holes to receive the push button in its extended position to secure said first part and said second part against relative rotation.
7. A chair, comprising:
- a main leg;
- a pair of legs pivotably connected to said main leg;
- a foldable seat portion;
- a bar connected to said main leg; and
- a cane handle connected to said bar;
- whereby the chair has a folded position suitable for use as a cane, and an unfolded condition wherein the cane can serve as a portable seat.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the cane handle is comprised of a first part and a second part, the first part having a plurality of arms terminating at distal ends, wherein the distal ends respectively bend outwardly; and said first part having a push button having an extended position and a retracted position; and said second part having a ring receiving the distal ends of the plurality of arms such that the distal ends lock the ring in place against relative axial movement between said first part and said second part due to the outward bending of the distal arms; and said second part having a plurality of holes to receive the push button in its extended position to secure said first part and said second part against relative rotation.
9. The device of claim 7, further comprising an umbrella mounted on one side of the cane handle, wherein the umbrella has a folded secured condition and a released unfolded condition.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein in the folded secured position, the umbrella is oriented downwardly and is secured by at least one connector to the main leg.
11. A foldable seat which has a folded condition and an unfolded condition, and which can serve as a cane in the folded condition and can serve as a seat in the unfolded condition, comprising:
- a main leg;
- a pair of legs pivotably connected to said main leg;
- a foldable seat portion which in the unfolded condition is supported by said main leg and said pair of legs which are pivotably connected to said main leg;
- whereby the foldable seat has a folded position suitable for use as a cane, and an unfolded condition wherein the cane can serve as a portable seat.
12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a cane handle mounted at an upper end of the foldable seat.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein said cane handle has an umbrella supporting portion which is rotatable relative to said cane handle and serves as rotatable support which can be rotated into any one of a fixed number of rotational positions to adjust the position of the umbrella.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein in the folded position, the umbrella is oriented downwardly and is secured by at least one connector to the main leg.
15. The device of claim 12, wherein the cane handle is comprised of a first part and a second part, the first part having a plurality of arms terminating at distal ends, wherein the distal ends respectively bend outwardly; and said first part having a push button having an extended position and a retracted position; and said second part having a ring receiving the distal ends of the plurality of arms such that the distal ends lock the ring in place against relative axial movement between said first part and said second part due to the outward bending of the distal arms; and said second part having a plurality of holes to receive the push button in its extended position to secure said first part and said second part against relative rotation.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 31, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 28, 2013
Inventor: Nelson Anshy Li (North Potomac, MD)
Application Number: 13/317,878
International Classification: A47B 37/00 (20060101); A47C 13/00 (20060101);