LAP DESK WITH SECONDARY MONITOR ARM

Abstract

A lap desk and methods of use, where the lap desk includes a support member having a top surface; a mounting region; a monitor arm, the monitor arm including a mounting bar and a mobile section; and a monitor mount. The mounting bar is coupled to the support member at the mounting region, and the mobile section is coupled to the mounting bar. The monitor mount is coupled to the mobile section of the monitor arm and the monitor mount securely attaches a monitor.

Claims

1. A lap desk comprising: a support member having a top surface; a mounting region; a monitor arm, the monitor arm including a mounting bar and a mobile section, wherein the mounting bar is coupled to the support member at the mounting region, and the mobile section is coupled to the mounting bar; and a monitor mount, wherein the monitor mount is coupled to the mobile section of the monitor arm and the monitor mount securely attaches a monitor.

2. The lap desk of claim 1, wherein the support member includes a plurality of auxiliary mounting regions for placement of the monitor arm.

3. The lap desk of claim 2, further including an auxiliary monitor arm coupled to one of the auxiliary mounting regions, wherein the auxiliary monitor arm is coupled to an auxiliary monitor mount.

4. The lap desk of claim 1, further comprising supporting legs, wherein the supporting legs are coupled to an underside of the support member.

5. The lap desk of claim 1, wherein the mobile section is extendable in an outward direction.

6. The lap desk of claim 1, wherein the mobile section is capable of changing angular position from that of the mounting bar and the mobile section is coupled to the mounting bar with a ball-and-socket joint.

7. The lap desk of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the support member includes heat-tolerant material.

8. The lap desk of claim 7, wherein the heat-tolerant material includes at least one of thermoplastic rubber, silicone, aluminum, ceramic, neoprene, refractory material, heat-resistant foam, heat-resistant fabric, titanium, stainless steel, polyethrimide, polyether ether ketone, polytetrafluroethylene, polybenzimidazole, polydicylcopentadiene, and polyvinyl chloride.

9. The lap desk of claim 1, wherein the support member includes a cooling fan.

10. The lap desk of claim 1, further including an adjustable dial located on the mobile section of the monitor arm, wherein the adjustable dial tightens to prevent movement of the mobile section.

11. A method of using the lap desk of claim 1, including: attaching the monitor arm to the mounting region on the top surface of the support member, securely attaching the monitor to the monitor mount coupled to the mobile section of the monitor arm, and placing the support member on a lap of an individual.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of securely attaching includes securely attaching the monitor to the monitor mount via an attaching mechanism including at least one of screws, a clamp, a magnet, straps, fasteners, clips, adhesive, and hook-and-loop strips.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitor arm is attached to the mounting region of the support member through an attachment mechanism including at least one of a recess capable of receiving the monitor arm, a protrusion capable of fitting inside the monitor arm, screws, clamps, fasteners, or magnets.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein an auxiliary monitor arm is attached to one of a plurality of auxiliary mounting regions on the support member.

15. The method of claim 11, further including turning on a cooling fan coupled to the support member and dispersing heat imposed on the top surface of the support member by a laptop.

16. The method of claim 11, further including extending a mobile section of the monitor arm outward to position the monitor closer to the individual.

17. The method of claim 11, further including coupling a mobile section of the monitor arm to a mounting bar of the monitor arm with a ball-and-socket joint, wherein the ball-and-socket joint enables the user to adjust a directional angle of the monitor.

18. The method of claim 11 further including tightening an adjustable dial on a mobile section of the monitor arm, wherein tightening the adjustable dial prevents movement of the mobile section.

19. A lap desk, comprising: a support member having a top surface, the top surface comprising heat tolerant material; a monitor arm, the monitor arm including a mounting bar and a mobile section, wherein the mounting bar is coupled to the support member, and the mobile section is coupled to the mounting bar; an auxiliary monitor arm, the auxiliary monitor arm including a mounting bar and a mobile section, wherein the mounting bar is coupled to the support member, and the mobile section is coupled to the mounting bar; a monitor mount, wherein the monitor mount is coupled to the mobile section of the monitor arm and the monitor mount securely attaches a monitor, an auxiliary monitor mount, wherein the auxiliary monitor mount is coupled to the mobile section of the auxiliary monitor arm and the auxiliary monitor mount securely attaches a monitor.

20. The lap desk of claim 19, wherein the mobile section of the monitor arm is extendable in an outward direction and capable of changing angular position from that of the mounting bar, the mobile section of the monitor arm further includes an adjustable dial capable of tightening to prevent movement of the mobile section, the mobile section of the auxiliary monitor arm is extendable in an outward direction and capable of changing angular position from that of the mounting bar, and the mobile section of the auxiliary monitor arm further includes an adjustable dial capable of tightening to prevent movement of the mobile section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed apparatuses, mechanisms and methods will be described, in detail, with reference to the following drawings, in which like referenced numerals designate similar or identical elements, and:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lap desk in accordance with examples.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the lap desk shown in FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a monitor mount in accordance with examples.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a back-perspective view of the exemplary lap desk shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lap desk in accordance with examples.

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a monitor mount in accordance with examples.

[0029] FIG. 7 shows a front view of a ball-and-socket joint in accordance with examples.

[0030] FIG. 8 shows a ball protrusion in accordance with examples.

[0031] FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of an exemplary method of use of a lap desk in accordance with examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Illustrative examples of the devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein are provided below. An embodiment of the devices, systems, and methods may include any one or more, and any combination of, the examples described below. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth below. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the apparatuses, mechanisms and methods as described herein.

[0033] We initially point out that description of well-known starting materials, processing techniques, components, equipment and other well-known details may merely be summarized or are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the details of the present disclosure. Thus, where details are otherwise well known, we leave it to the application of the present disclosure to suggest or dictate choices relating to those details. The drawings depict various examples related to embodiments of illustrative methods, apparatus, and systems for inking from an inking member to the reimageable surface.

[0034] Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, the terms “plurality” and “a plurality” as used herein may include, for example, “multiple” or “two or more”. The terms “plurality” or “a plurality” may be used throughout the specification to describe two or more components, devices, elements, units, parameters, or the like. For example, “a plurality of mounting regions” may include two or more mounting regions.

[0035] The lap desk in accordance with examples may include a support member having a top surface, a mounting region, a monitor arm, and a monitor mount. The monitor arm may include a mounting bar and a mobile section. The mounting bar may be coupled to the support member at the mounting region. The mobile section is coupled to the mounting bar; and a monitor mount. The monitor mount is coupled to the mobile section of the monitor arm and the monitor mount securely attaches a monitor.

[0036] The support member of the lap desk is configured to fit on the lap of an individual and is of a weight to counter-balance the weight of the monitor arm, monitor mount, and a monitor when mounted to the monitor mount without causing the lap desk to become unstable or fall over. The support member may rest directly on the lap of an individual, or the support member may include legs coupled underneath the support member to raise the lap desk slightly above the lap of an individual. The support member is capable of receiving a laptop on its top surface, wherein a user may place a laptop on the top surface and use the laptop without the laptop moving from the top surface. In certain embodiments, the top surface of the support member may include heat-protective material, including but not limited to at least one of thermoplastic rubber, silicone, aluminum, ceramic, neoprene, refractory material, heat-resistant foam, heat-resistant fabric, titanium, stainless steel, polyethrimide, polyether ether ketone, polytetrafluroethylene, polybenzimidazole, polydicylcopentadiene, and polyvinyl chloride. In additional embodiments, the support member may also include a cooling fan to disperse heat generated by a laptop when placed on the top surface of the support member.

[0037] The support member also includes a mounting region, wherein the mounting region serves as an attachment point for a monitor arm and may include a recess capable of receiving the monitor arm, a protrusion capable of fitting inside the monitor arm, screws, clamps, fasteners, or magnets to securely attach the monitor arm to the support member. In certain examples, the support member may have auxiliary mounting regions, each mounting region capable of receiving a monitor arm.

[0038] Exemplary monitor arms may include a mounting bar and a mobile section. The mounting bar of the monitor arm serves as the portion of the monitor arm which securely attaches to the support member at the mounting region. In certain examples, the lap desk may include auxiliary monitor arms that may attach at auxiliary mounting regions, enabling the lap desk user to use a plurality of auxiliary monitors in addition to a laptop screen. The mobile section is coupled to the monitor arm, and the monitor mount is coupled to the mobile section. The mobile section permits a user to adjust the angle, distance, or height of a monitor in proximity to a user. The mobile section may be coupled to the mounting bar via exemplary attaching means including but not limited to a ball-and-socket joint, hinge, rotation point (FIGS. 1-4), or an extendable track permitting the mobile section to extend and emerge from the mounting bar. In certain embodiments, the monitor arm may include an adjustable dial, wherein tightening of the adjustable dial prevents movement of the mobile section.

[0039] The monitor mount of the lap desk is coupled to the mobile section of the monitor arm. The monitor mount is configured to securely attach a monitor to the monitor mount. In certain exemplary embodiments, the monitor mount may securely attach a monitor via an attaching mechanism including at least one of screws, a clamp, a magnet, straps, fasteners, clips, adhesive, and hook-and-loop strips.

[0040] Referring to the Figures, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a lap desk 2 in accordance with examples. The exemplary embodiment of the lap desk 2 includes a support member 4 having a top surface 6, a mounting region 8, a monitor arm 10, and a monitor mount 12. The support member 4 is capable of sitting on the lap of an individual and serving as an attachment point for the monitor arm 10. The support member 4 includes a top surface 6, where the top surface provides a location for an individual to place a laptop. The top surface 6 may be a planar surface permitting a laptop to sit on the top surface without moving during use. The support member 4 also has a bottom surface that may be conformable to even more securely sit on uneven surfaces, such as a person's lap. In examples, the sides of the support member 4 are of a thickness (e.g., greater than 0.1 mm, less than 20 CM, less than 5 CM) capable of housing the mounting region 8 for a monitor arm 10. The mounting region 8 may include at least one of a recess capable of receiving the monitor arm 10, a protrusion capable of fitting inside the monitor arm, screws, clamps, fasteners, or magnets to attach the monitor arm to the side of the support member 4.

[0041] The monitor arm 10 includes both a mounting bar 14 and a mobile section 16 (FIG. 2). The mounting bar 14 serves as a rigid portion of the monitor arm 10 and couples to the support member 4 at the mounting region 8. The mobile section 16 is coupled to the monitor mount 12 and permits a user to adjust the angle of the monitor mount. The mobile section 16 may be coupled to the mounting bar 14 through a ball-and-socket joint 54 (FIG. 7), a rotation point, or similar approach enabling a user to turn the monitor mount 12 to a preferred angle of viewing. The monitor mount 12 may include a clamp 18 to securely attach a monitor to the monitor mount. In certain examples, the monitor mount 12 may securely attach a monitor via an attaching mechanism including at least one of screws, a clamp 18, a magnet, straps, fasteners, clips, adhesive, and hook-and-loop strips.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of an example of the lap desk 2, where the lap desk's side profile is visible. In examples, the lap desk 2 includes a support member 4 having a top surface 6. The top surface 6 may be a planar surface, a slightly convex or concave surface, or may have at least one ridge 20 to keep a laptop securely on the top surface when a user is working. The support member 4 is capable of being placed on the lap of an individual when using the lap desk 2 and has a side 22 of a thickness capable of mounting a monitor arm 10 at a mounting region 8 as described in FIG. 1. The support member's 4 side 22 may be a rectangular, wedge, or rounded -edged shape to accommodate the desired working surface or comfort level for the user. The monitor arm 10 couples to the support member 4 at the mounting region 8, and the monitor arm may include a mounting bar 14 and a mobile section 16. The mounting bar 14 serves as a rigid and stabilizing attachment portion of the monitor arm 10, and the mobile section 16 may be configured to permit a user to turn the horizontal angle of the monitor mount 12, move the monitor mount closer or further away from the individual, or change the vertical angle of the monitor mount. The monitor mount 12 may have clamps 18 or other fasteners to securely attach a monitor to the monitor mount. However, in examples, the monitor mount 12 may securely attach a monitor via an attaching mechanism including at least one of screws, a clamp 18, a magnet, straps, fasteners, clips, adhesive, and hook-and-loop strips. While not being limited to a particular theory, the weight of the support member 4 should be high enough to counterbalance the weight of the monitor arm 10, monitor mount 12, and further to counterbalance a desired sized monitor securely attached to the monitor mount. Thus, the weight of the support member 4 may vary depending on the size of the monitor securely attached.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the monitor mount 12. The monitor mount 12 is coupled to the mobile section 16 of the monitor arm 10. The monitor mount 12 may include at least one of screws, a clamp 18, a magnet, straps, fasteners, clips, adhesive, and hook-and-loop strips to securely attach a monitor to the monitor mount. For embodiments using the clamp 18 method of securely attaching a monitor, each clamp may include an adjustable portion 24 enabling a user to enlarge the space between each clamp 18 when placing a monitor on the monitor mount 12 and move the clamps closer together once a monitor is in place so that each clamp rests firmly against the outer perimeter of a monitor and securely holds the monitor in place. The monitor mount 12 may also include a back-support portion 26, wherein the back support portion permits a monitor to rest against the back support portion when the clamps 18 are in place so that a monitor is secured on its outer perimeter and the back of the monitor. Additionally, the monitor mount 12 may include a bottom support portion 28, providing a surface on which a monitor may rest while being attached to the monitor mount.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a back-perspective view of an exemplary lap desk 2. The lap desk 2 may include a support member 4 having the top surface 6, where the top surface is an inclined planar surface. The support member 4 may also serve as an attachment point for a monitor arm 10 that couples to the support member at the mounting region 8. The monitor arm 10 may include both a mounting bar 14 and a mobile section 16, with the mounting bar serving as a stabilizing attachment portion of the monitor arm to couple the monitor arm to the support member 4. The support member 4 may include auxiliary mounting regions 30, wherein each auxiliary mounting region is capable of receiving the mounting bar 14 of a monitor arm 10, permitting the monitor arm to be coupled to the support member at different locations.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lap desk 2 in accordance with examples. The lap desk 2 may include a support member 4 having a top surface 6. The top surface 6 may be a planar surface, a slightly convex or concave surface, or may have at least one ridge 20 (FIG. 2) to keep a laptop securely on the top surface when a user is working. In certain embodiments, the top surface 6 of the support member 4 may include heat-protective material, including but not limited to at least one of thermoplastic rubber, silicone, aluminum, ceramic, neoprene, refractory material, heat-resistant foam, heat-resistant fabric, titanium, stainless steel, polyethrimide, polyether ether ketone, polytetrafluroethylene, polybenzimidazole, polydicylcopentadiene, and polyvinyl chloride. In additional embodiments, the support member 4 may also include a cooling fan to disperse heat generated by a laptop when placed on the top surface of the support member. The support member 4 may also serve as an attachment point for a monitor arm 10 that couples to the support member at the mounting region 8. The support member 4 may also include auxiliary mounting regions 30 to serve as an alternative attachment point for the monitor arm 10 or serve as an attachment point for an additional monitor arm. When an auxiliary mounting region 30 is not in use, it may be covered by a cap 32.

[0046] The monitor arm 10 may include a mounting bar 14 and a mobile section 16, with the mounting bar serving as a stabilizing attachment portion of the monitor arm to couple the monitor arm to the support member 4. In certain examples, the mounting bar 14 may have a top mounting bar portion 34 and a bottom mounting bar portion 36 which are removably attachable at a mounting bar juncture 38. In certain examples, a user may adjust the position of the monitor arm 10 by rotating the top mounting bar portion 34 in relation to the bottom mounting bar portion 36 at the mounting bar junction 38, where the bottom mounting bar portion remains stationary and securely attached to the support member 4 at the mounting region 8. The mounting bar juncture 38 may include but is not limited to resting teeth 40 permitting a user to removably attach and adjust the top mounting bar portion 34, an adjustable dial 44 (FIG. 6) permitting a user to rotate the top mounting bar portion without removal from the bottom mounting bar portion 36, and a peg-and-hole formation. In examples using a resting teeth 40 formation of the mounting bar juncture 38, the top mounting bar portion 34 may include a tightening mechanism 46, which may include but is not limited to a button, dial, latch, or knob and prevents the top mounting bar portion from separating from the bottom mounting bar portion 36.

[0047] The mobile section 16 is coupled to the mounting bar 14 and the monitor mount 12 is coupled to the mobile section. FIG. 5 shows a detached view of the monitor mount 12. In certain embodiments, the mobile section 16 may extend or telescope outward permitting a user to move a monitor outward from the mobile section. The mobile section 16 may also include an adjustable dial 44 (FIG. 6), wherein tightening of the adjustable dial prevents movement of the mobile section 16. The monitor mount 12 includes a back support portion 26, wherein the back support portion permits a monitor to rest against the back support portion. In certain embodiments, the back support portion may include a mounting plate which may be securely attached to a monitor with screws. The monitor mount 12 may also include clamps 18 and an adjustable portion 24, where the clamps securely the outer perimeter of a monitor and the adjustable portion enables a user to open and close the clamps to the desired length or width of the monitor.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a monitor mount 12 in accordance with examples. The monitor mount 12 may include a back support portion 26 permitting a monitor to rest against the back support portion for stability. The monitor mount 12 may also include clamps 18 and an adjustable portion 24 permitting a user to adjust the clamps to the desired fit to the perimeter of the monitor. The monitor mount 12 may further include an adjustable dial 44 preventing further movement of the adjustable portion 24. The monitor mount 12 may further include a socket receiver 48, which permits the monitor mount to receive a ball protrusion 52 (FIG. 8) coupled to the mobile section 16 (FIG. 5) of the monitor arm 10 (FIG. 5). The user may then adjust the positioning of a monitor in relation to the ball protrusion 52 to turn or tilt the monitor mount 12 holding the monitor. The monitor mount 12 may also include a latch 50 which may slide into the socket receiver 48 and prevent further movement of the monitor mount in relation to the ball protrusion 52.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a front view of an exemplary ball-and-socket joint 54 including a latch 50 and socket receiver 48. The socket receiver 48 may be coupled to the monitor mount 12 (FIG. 5) and is capable of receiving a ball protrusion 52 which may be coupled to the mobile section 16 (FIG. 5) of a monitor arm 10 (FIG. 5). Once the socket receiver 48 receives the ball protrusion 52 and a user has adjusted a monitor to the desired angle or tilt, a user may slide the latch 50 closed so that the latch 50 is firmly pressed against the ball protrusion 52 and prevents further movement of the monitor mount 12.

[0050] FIG. 8 shows a ball protrusion 52 in accordance with examples. The ball protrusion 52 comprises a spherical mass coupled to a mobile section 16 of a monitor arm 10 (FIG. 5) . The ball protrusion 52 may be made of a material including but not limited to metals or plastics. The ball protrusion 52 is capable of fitting into a socket receiver 48 (FIG. 7) and forms an adjustable ball-and-socket joint 54 (FIG. 7) with the socket receiver to permit the user to adjust the tilt or angle of the monitor mount 12 (FIG. 5). The latch 50 (FIG. 7) may then be closed to press firmly against the ball protrusion 52 to prevent further movement of the monitor mount 12.

[0051] FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of an exemplary method of use of a lap desk in accordance with examples. The method includes first attaching a monitor arm 10 (FIG. 2) to a mounting region 8 (FIG. 2) on a top surface 6 (FIG. 2) of a support member 4 (FIG. 2). In certain examples, the monitor arm 10 may be attached to the mounting region 8 in ways including but not limited to the monitor arm 10 over a protrusion on the support member 4 or using screws, clamps, fasteners, or magnets to securely attach the monitor arm to the support member. The method may further include securely attaching a monitor to a monitor mount 12 (FIG. 2) coupled to a mobile section 16 (FIG. 2, FIG. 5) of the monitor arm 10. The step of securely attaching may include securely attaching the monitor to the monitor mount via an attaching mechanism including at least one of screws, a clamp 18 (FIG. 2), a magnet, straps, fasteners, clips, adhesive, and hook-and-loop strips. The method may further include placing the lap desk 2 (FIG. 2, FIG. 5) on a lap of an individual. In certain examples, the method may further include extending a mobile section 16 of the monitor arm 10 outward to position the monitor closer to the individual. In certain additional examples, the method may further include turning on a cooling fan to disperse heat transferred from a laptop to a top surface 6 of the support member 4. In certain examples, the method may further include coupling a ball protrusion 52 (FIG. 8) to the mobile section 16 of the monitor arm 10, coupling a socket receiver 48 (FIG. 7) to the monitor mount 12, and forming a ball-and-socket joint 54 (FIG. 7) coupling the mobile section to the monitor mount, wherein the ball-and-socket joint enables the user to adjust a directional angle of the monitor.

[0052] The exemplary depicted sequence of executable method steps represents one example of a corresponding sequence of acts for implementing the functions described in the steps. The exemplary depicted steps may be executed in any reasonable order to carry into effect the objectives of the disclosed embodiments. No particular order to the disclosed steps of the method is necessarily implied by the depiction in FIG. 9, and the accompanying description, except where any particular method step is reasonably considered to be a necessary precondition to execution of any other method step. Individual method steps may be carried out in sequence or in parallel in simultaneous or near simultaneous timing. Additionally, not all of the depicted and described method steps need to be included in any particular scheme according to disclosure.

[0053] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter may be practiced with many types of laptop computers and monitors in many different configurations. For example, although structural support for an additional monitor is shown in the discussed embodiments, the examples may apply to any number of monitors of the same and different sizes. It should be understood that these are non-limiting examples of the variations that may be undertaken according to the disclosed schemes. In other words, no particular limiting configuration is to be implied from the above description and the accompanying drawings.

[0054] It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art.