Collapsible Workstation

Abstract

A collapsible work station is adapted to fold into a collapsed state for transport and storage purposes, and may be easily configured into an expanded working state to include a foldable flat work surface member on a top portion thereof, folding support members for supporting the flat work surface member, a file pouch, and various optional features such as one or more lights, drink holders, a coffee warmer, a battery to powder charging stations for various electronic components, a flexible and adjustable mobile device holder, a pivoting handle member, a folding keyboard shelf, a carrying strap, and adjustable extending and retracting legs.

Claims

1. A collapsible workstation comprising: a main body member comprising a folding work surface on a top portion thereof, said folding work surface having a hinge member extending through a central portion thereof, a front vertical support panel pivotally attached to a first edge of said folding work surface, a rear vertical support panel support panel pivotally attached to a second, opposed edge of said folding work surface, and a pair of folding vertical sides, each folding vertical sides having a hinge member extending through a central portion thereof, wherein each folding vertical side is pivotally attached to an edge of said front vertical support panel and an edge of said rear vertical support panel; wherein said main body member may be folded into a collapsed configuration by folding said folding work surface upwardly and said folding vertical sides inwardly; and wherein said main body member may be unfolded into a working configuration by unfolding and flattening said folding work surface into a horizontal plane and simultaneously unfolding each of said folding vertical sides, so that each folding vertical side forms a vertical plane.

2. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 1, further including a battery recharging system attached to said main body member, said battery recharging system comprising a rechargeable battery that is operationally connected to at least one USB receptacle.

3. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 2, further including a power cord that is operatively connected to said battery, and which may be plugged into a standard electrical outlet.

4. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 3, wherein said power cord is extendable and retractable from a housing attached to said main body member.

5. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 2, further including at least one retracting electrical charging cord operatively connected to said battery.

6. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 1, further including a drink holder positioned on said main body member.

7. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 1, further including a pivoting handle member attached to said folding work surface.

8. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 1, further including an expandable file folder attached to said main body member.

9. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 1, further including a light having a flexible gooseneck stem, said gooseneck stem being attached to said main body member.

10. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 1, further including a coffee warmer disposed on said folding work surface.

11. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 1, further including a flexible and adjustable mobile device holder attached to said main body member.

12. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 1, further including a keyboard shelf pivotally attached to said main body member.

13. (canceled)

14. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 1, further including a plurality of adjustable legs that may be extended or retracted, said adjustable legs being attached to said main body member.

15. The collapsible workstation set forth in claim 1, further including a strap member attached to said main body member for transport purposes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the collapsible work station, wherein the collapsible work station has a foldable flat work surface member on a top portion, a pair of folding sides, a file folder, extended foldable keyboard shelf, carrying strap, retractable legs, and various optional features;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the collapsible work station, wherein legs of the collapsible work station are extended outwardly;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a front view of one embodiment of the collapsible work station, wherein the collapsible work station includes a file folder attached to the front vertical support panel and wherein a wireless mobile phone charger and a LED light are attached to the collapsible work station via flexible gooseneck arms.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Overview

[0028] The present invention includes, in a first embodiment, a collapsible work station 10 that folds into a collapsed state for transport and storage purposes, and which may be easily set up to accommodate various accoutrements for work, including a foldable flat work surface member 12 on a top portion thereof, a pair of folding sides 14 for supporting the flat work surface member 12, a file folder 16, and various optional features such as one or more lights 18, drink holders 20, a coffee warmer 22, a battery 24 to power charging stations 26 for various electronic components, a flexible and adjustable mobile device holder 28, a pivoting handle member 30, a folding keyboard shelf 32, a carrying strap 34, and adjustable extending and retracting legs 36.

Main Body Member

[0029] a first embodiment of a collapsible workstation 10 includes a folding main body member 38, which may be folded into a generally flat configuration for storage and transport purposes, and which may be easily expanded and configured to a working state so that a user may place a laptop computer and keyboard on it for work purposes.

[0030] The main body member 38 includes a flat work surface member 12 on an upper portion thereof that is oriented in a generally horizontal plane when the work station 10 is in its uncollapsed, working state, and preferably includes a hinge member 40 along a center line thereof, so that the work surface member 12 may be folded in half when not in use. A pivoting handle 30 is preferably disposed adjacent the hinge member 40 on the work surface 12, which may include an indentation to receive the handle 30 in order to provide a flat plane for the work surface 12 while the workstation 10 is in use. The front and rear vertical support panels 42 are pivotally connected to the front and rear edges of the work surface member 12. The workstation 10 also includes a pair of folding sides 14, which are pivotally connected to the vertical support panels 42, and each folding side 14 includes a hinge member 40 that is oriented vertically along a center line thereof, when the workstation 10 is in its uncollapsed, working state. In order to collapse the workstation 10, the folding sides 14 are folded inwardly towards each other, and the work surface member 12 folds upwardly to provide access to the handle 30. Conversely, the workstation 10 may be transformed from its collapsed state into an uncollapsed, working state by placing the bottom portion of the main body member 38 on a flat surface and pushing downwardly on the centrally disposed handle member 30 (or pushing downwardly on the upwardly folded flat surface member 12), which causes the surface member 12 to flatten out into a horizontal plane, and also causes the two folding sides to expand and form generally flat vertical sides in the working state.

Battery Recharging System

[0031] A battery recharging system may be incorporated into the collapsible workstation 10, and includes, in one embodiment, a battery 24, a power cord that may be plugged into a wall outlet or a USB port to recharge the battery 24, and a series of USB ports 26 connected to the battery 24 for recharging electronic devices. The power cord may be plugged in to recharge the battery 24 while the collapsible work station 10 is either in the collapsed state or the uncollapsed state, and the battery 24 may also be used to power other optional features, including one or more lights 18, a coffee warmer 22, a wireless mobile phone charger 44, or the like. The power cord 46 may also be detachable from the battery 24, or may be extendable and retractable, as is well known in the art

[0032] In one embodiment, a series of retractable cords may be operationally connected to the battery 24, so that the cords may be extended for use while recharging electrical items, and may be retracted into a housing when not in use. Retractable cord assemblies are well known in the art and may be easily incorporated into the battery recharging system of the present invention.

Other Optional Features

[0033] The collapsible workstation 10 may also include other additional features. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a wireless mobile phone charger 44 may be positioned on the flat work surface member 12. Similarly, a coffee warmer 22 may be positioned on the flat work surface member 12, as well. One or more lights 18 may be attached in any desired manner to the collapsible workstation 10. In one embodiment, an LED light 18 having a flexible gooseneck arm is attached to the main body member 38, as shown in FIG. 1. It should be understood that these electrical components may be powered by the above-referenced battery 24, an internal battery devoted solely to individual electrical appliance or component, or may be plugged into a separate battery, power source or wall outlet.

[0034] In one preferred embodiment, a folding keyboard shelf 32 may be attached to the the front vertical panel 42, so that the keyboard shelf 32 may be folded downwardly to maintain a low profile for transport and/or storage, and may be folded upwardly to a generally horizontal configuration when a keyboard is in use by a user. Preferably, the keyboard shelf 32 includes a suitable temporary locking mechanism for maintaining the keyboard shelf 32 in the generally horizontal position, and such locking mechanisms for folding shelves are well known in the art

[0035] An expandable file folder 16 may also be attached, preferably to either the front vertical panel 42 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) or the rear vertical panel 42 for storing and transporting files, documents, papers and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the file folder 16 is made of a durable plastic material, and includes a folding flap with a securing mechanism (such as a snap-fit latch, or the like) for temporarily securing the flap in a closed position over the opening in the file folder, in order to maintain files and other items within the file folder.

[0036] Additionally, one or more drink holders 20 may be included with the collapsible work station 10. In one embodiment, the drink holder 20 may simply be an appropriately sized hole defined by the flat work surface 12, as shown in FIG. 1, to receive standard sized cups, glasses and the like.

[0037] Another option that may be included with the collapsible work station 10 is a flexible, adjustable mobile device holder 28, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In a preferred embodiment, the mobile device holder 28 includes a flexible gooseneck stem that is attached to the main body member 38 in any desired location, and includes an adjustable mechanism to extend or retract the width thereof, in order to accommodate phones or other electronic devices of various sizes.

[0038] Additional pouches and/or compartments may be attached to the main body member 38 for transporting and storing miscellaneous items, such as writing implements, paper clips, calculators, or any other desired items. Further, adjustable legs 36 may be attached to the main body member38 , preferably at or adjacent the four corners thereof where the front and rear vertical panels 42 are pivotally connected to the two folding sides 14. These legs 36 may be extended downwardly while the workstation 10 is in use, in order to provide additional height of the main body member 38, and the legs 36 may be retracted when the work station 10 is not in use, or during storage and/or transportation.

[0039] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.