COLLAPSIBLE PLATFORM FOR STANDING DESK CONVERSION
A collapsible platform system is provided for converting an underlying support surface to a standing desk. The collapsible platform system converts the underlying support surface to a standing desk with a large work surface suitable for performing a variety of tasks, including handwriting-type and/or sketching-type tasks. A collapsible platform of the system includes a work panel with an upper surface that defines a work surface. The work surface may support a deskwork article being used at the standing desk. A support arrangement can collapse with respect to the work panel to change the collapsible platform from an assembled state an unassembled or collapsed state. The support arrangement has multiple panels, at least one of which is segmented. A connection joint is defined between the segments of the segmented panel(s) for facilitating assembling and disassembling of the collapsible platform while changing the collapsible platform between the assembled and collapsed states.
This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. Nos. 62/560,872 filed 20 Sep. 2017 and 62/482,383 flied. 6 Apr. 2017.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to desks, and more specifically, to a collapsible platform for converting and underlying support surface to a standing desk.
There are numerous health benefits to working at stand-up work station. Standing desks are increasing in popularity to allow people to receive these benefits. However, standing desks are expensive and require replacement of existing desks. Efforts have been made to provide conversion kits that allow existing desks to be converted to standing desks while using, for example, the same or similar material to the existing desks. However, these conversion kits are also expensive and can be complex to assemble and attached to the existing desks. Other efforts include portable standing desk conversions as supporting stands made out of lightweight materials, such as cardboard, that can be set up quickly. These portable supporting stands have multiple tiers of support at different heights. This makes portable supporting stands well-suited for, for example, supporting the monitor and keyboard on professional workstations or other computer desks. However, the overall small size of each support tiers do not lend themselves to other uses, such as school desks or other desks at which users may need to perform handwriting-type or sketching-type tasks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA collapsible platform system is provided for converting an underlying support surface to a standing desk. A collapsible platform of the system converts the underlying support surface to a standing desk with a larger work surface suitable for performing a variety of tasks, including handwriting-type and/or sketching-type tasks.
According to one aspect of the invention, the collapsible platform includes a work panel with an upper surface that defines a work surface. The work surface mat support a deskwork article being used at the standing desk. A support arrangement can collapse with respect to the work panel to change the collapsible platform from an assembled state to an unassembled state or collapsed state. The support arrangement has multiple panels, at least one which is segmented. A connection joint is defined between the segments of the segmented panel(s) for facilitating assembling and disassembling of the collapsible platform while changing the collapsible platform between the assembled and collapsed states.
According to another aspect of the invention, the work panel has a front edge arranged at a front of the collapsible platform that faces a user during use. A back edge of the work panel is arranged at a back of the collapsible platform that faces away from the user during use. A pair of side edges of the work panel is arranged at a pair of opposite sides of the collapsible platform that extends between the front and back edges. The support arrangement may include a front panel arranged at the front of the collapsible platform and extends downwardly from the front edge of the work panel. A back panel of the support arrangement is arranged at the back of the collapsible platform and extends downwardly from the back edge of the work panel. A pair of side panels of the support arrangement is arranged at a pair of opposite sides of the collapsible platform, extending between the front and back panels. Each of the side panels may include a front side panel segment that extends angularly in a generally forward direction from the back panel. A connection joint may be arranged between the front and back side panel segments. The connection joint may releasably attach the front and back side panel segments to each other. When the collapsible platform is in the assemble state, the front and back side panel segments are connected to each other. When the collapsible platform is in its unassembled state, the front and back side panel segments are disconnected from each other.
According to another aspect of the invention, at each of the side panels, the front side panel segment may define a front side panel segment attached end that is attached to the front panel. A front side panel segment free end is opposite the attached end. The back side panel segment defines a back side panel attached end that is attached to the back panel. A back side panel free end is opposite to the attached end. The connection joint may be defined by an interlocking engagement of the front and back side panel segments at the front and back side panel segment free ends.
According to another aspect of the invention, a front side panel segment tab may be arranged at the front side panel segment free end. A back side panel segment tab may be arranged at the back side panel segment free end. The front and back side panel segment tabs slidingly engage each other when the collapsible platform changes from the unassembled state to the assembled state. The front and back side panel segment tabs may define interlocking engagement of the front and back side panel segments.
According to another aspect of the present invention, when the collapsible platform is in the assembled state, each of the front and back side panels segment tabs is spaced from and extends angularly with respect to the respective one of the front and back side panel segments. In this way, the connection joints defined generally X-shaped profiles when viewed from below the collapsible platform.
According to another aspect of the invention, at each of the front and back side panel segment free ends, a tapered slot may be defined between each of the front and back side panel segment tabs and its respective front or back side panels segment free end.
According to another aspect of the invention, at each of the front and back side panel segment free ends, a tapered slot may be defined between each of the front and back side panels segment tabs and its respective front or back side panel segment free end.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the collapsible platform system includes a storage tray that may be removably supported by one of the panels, such as one of the front and back panels. The storage tray may itself be collapsible and include a container body for storing articles, which may be relatively small articles, such as writing or drawing utensils, craft tools or supplied, or the like. A support flange may extend from the container body. A pair of support hooks may extend perpendicularly form the support flange, away from the rest of the storage tray.
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
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Container body 250 includes bottom wall 255, a pair of side walls 260, front wall 270 and back wall 280. Support flange 290 extends from the container body 250, shown here extending continuously from back wall 280. A pair of support hooks 310 extend perpendicularly from opposite sides of the support flange 300, away from the rest of the storage tray 40.
As appreciated by the above description, the collapsible platform 35 of the present invention provides a simple, efficient process for converting a standard desk or working surface to a standing desk.
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The assembled platform 335 is shown in
As noted above, the surface 365 could be designed of a single panel, e.g. bottom panel 369, as opposed to two panels. Such a design is shown in
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A collapsible platform system for converting an underlying support surface to a standing desk, the collapsible platform system comprising:
- a collapsible platform, including:
- a work panel with an upper surface that defines a work surface configured to support a deskwork article being used at the standing desk;
- a support arrangement configured to collapse with respect to the work panel to change the collapsible platform from a first state that defines an assembled state of the collapsible platform to a second state that defines an unassembled state of the collapsible platform, the support arrangement including,
- multiple panels that extend downwardly from the underlying support surface, wherein
- at least one of the multiple panels has first and second segments, and a connection joint is defined between and releasably attaches the
- first and second segments of the at least one of the multiple panels to each other so that the connection joint defines a connected state that corresponds to the assembled state of the collapsible platform and a disconnected state that corresponds to the disassembled state of the collapsible platform.
2. A collapsible platform system for converting an underlying support surface to a standing desk, the collapsible platform system comprising:
- a collapsible platform, including;
- a work panel with an upper surface that defines a work surface configured to support a deskwork article being used at the standing desk, the work panel including,
- a front edge angled at a front of the collapsible platform that faces a user during use;
- a back edge arranged at a back of the collapsible platform that faces away from the user during use;
- a pair of side edges angled at a pair of opposite sides of the collapsible platform that extend between the front and back edges of the work panel;
- a support arrangement configured to collapse with respect to the work panel to change the collapsible platform from a first state that defines an assembled state of the collapsible platform to a second state that defines an unassembled state of the collapsible platform, the support arrangement including,
- a front panel angled at the front of then collapsible platform that extends downwardly from the front edge of the work panel;
- a back panel angled at the back of the collapsible platform that extends downwardly from the back edge of the work panel;
- a pair of side panels angled at a pair of opposite sides of the collapsible platform that extend between the front and back panels; wherein each of the side panels includes,
- a front side panel segment that extends angularly in a generally rearward direction from the front panel;
- a back side panel segment that extends angularly in a generally forward direction from the back panel;
- a connection joint between the front and back side panel segments that releasably attaches the front and back side panel
- segments to each other so that when the collapsible platform is in the assembled state, the front and back side panel segments are connected to each other and when the collapsible platform is in the unassembled state, the front and back side panel segments are disconnected from each other.
3. The collapsible platform system of claim 2, wherein at each of the side panels,
- the front side panel segment defines a front side panel segment attached end that is attached to the front panel and a front side panel segment free end that is opposite the attached end;
- the back side panel segment defines a back side panel segment attached end that is attached to the back panel and a back side panel segment free end that is opposite the attached end; and wherein,
- the connection joint is defined by an interlocking engagement of the front and back side panel segments at the front and back side panel segment free ends.
4. The collapsible platform system of claim 3, further comprising:
- a front side panel segment tab arranged at the front side panel segment free end; a back side panel segment tab arranged at the back side panel segment free end;
- wherein the front and back side panel segment tabs slidingly engage each other when the collapsible platform changes from the unassembled state to the assembled state and wherein the front and back side panel segment tabs define the interlocking engagement of the front and back side panel segments.
5. The collapsible platform system of claim 4, wherein, when the collapsible platform is in the assembled state, each of the front and back side panel segment tabs is spaced from and extends angularly with respect to the respective one of the front and back side panel segments so that each of the connection joints defines a generally X-shaped profile when viewed from below the collapsible platform.
6. The collapsible platform system of claim 4, wherein, at each of the front and back side panel segment free ends, a tapered slot is defined between each of the front and back side panel segment tabs and the remainder of the respective one of the front and back side panel segment free ends.
7. The collapsible platform system of claim 2, further comprising a storage tray removably supported by one of the front and back panels.
8. The collapsible platform system of claim 7, wherein the storage tray is collapsible and comprises:
- a container body for storing articles;
- a support flange extending from the container body; and
- a pair of support hooks extending perpendicularly from the support flange, away from a remainder of the storage tray.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 29, 2018
Publication Date: Oct 11, 2018
Applicant: Upright Kids LLC (Oak Creek, WI)
Inventors: DYLAN PARKS (Oak Creek, WI), Roman Kreminskyi (Zhydachiv), Cormac Berkeley (Naas)
Application Number: 15/939,510