BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The 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 INVENTION
A 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a collapsible platform system for converting an underlying support surface to a standing desk according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view from in front and above the collapsible system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the collapsible platform of FIG. 1 in an unassembled state.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the storage tray of FIG. 1 in an unassembled state.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a further arrangement of a collapsible platform system according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is perspective view of the collapsible platform system shown in FIG. 5 in an assembled state.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the collapsible platform of FIG. 6, having a different arrangement of the work panel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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.
Referring now to FIG. 1, a standing desk 20 is shown as defined by the underlying surface 25 such as a table or a seated desk with collapsible platform system 30 sitting on the underlying support surface 25.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, collapsible platform system 30 is shown here including collapsible platform 35, discussed in greater detail elsewhere. Collapsible platform 35 is preferably made from a single die-cut piece of material, such as cardboard, that is folded and/or unfolded by the user to assemble or disassemble. It is understood that collapsible platform 35 may be left assembled after initial assembly even though it is capable of being disassembled or collapsed. Collapsible platform 35 has a front 45 that faces toward the user, a back 50 that faces away from the user, and a pair of opposite sides shown as left and right sides 35, 60. Work panel 65 is arranged at the top of the collapsible platform 35. Work panel 65 is substantially planar and shown here with a square perimeter shape, defined by front, back, and a pair of side edges 70, 75, 80, 85. Upper surface 90 of work panel 65 defines work surface 95 that may support a deskwork article 100 (FIG. 2), schematically shown here as paper, being used at a standing desk 20.
Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, collapsible platform 35 includes support arrangement 110 that can collapse with respect to the work panel 65 to change the collapsible platform 35 from a first assembled state (FIGS. 1 and 2) to a second unassembled or collapsed state (FIG. 3). Support arrangement 110 has multiple panels 115, at least one of which is segmented. The panels 115 of support arrangement 110 are shown here as front panel 120 at the collapsible front 45, extending downwardly from the panel front edge 70. Back panel 125 (hidden in these views) is at the collapsible platform back 50, extending downwardly from the work panel back edge 75. A pair of side panels 130 of support arrangement 110 is arranged at the collapsible platform opposite sides 55, 60, extending between the front and back panels 120, 125.
Referring again to FIG. 1, only one side panel 130 is visible in this view, but the one on the opposite side is substantially identical. Side panel 130 is shown here as the segmented panel 115, with a front side panel segment 135 that extends angularly in a generally rearward direction from the front panel 120, Back side panel segment 140 extends angularly in a generally forward direction from back panel 125. A connect on joint 150 is defined between the segments of the segmented panel(s) such as front and back side panel segments 135, 140 for facilitating assembling and disassembling of the collapsible platform 35 while changing between its assembled and collapsed stated. Connection joint 150 releasable attaches the front and back side paned segments 135, 140 to each other. When the collapsible platform 35 is in the assembled state (FIG. 1 and), the front and back side panel segments 135, 140 are connected to each other. When the collapsible platform 35 is in its unassembled state, the front and back side panel segments are disconnected from each other.
Referring now to FIG. 3, according to another aspect of the invention, at each of the side panels 130, the front side panel segment 135 may define a front side panel segment attached end 150 that is attached to the front panel. A front side panel segment free end 155 is opposite the attached end 150. The back side panel segment 140 defines a back side panel segment attached end 160 that is attached to the back panel 125. A back side panel segment free end 165 is opposite the attached end 160.
Still referring to FIG. 3, the connection joint 150 (FIG. 1) may be defined by an interlocking engagement of the front and back side panel segments 135, 140 at the front and back side panels segment free ends 155, 165. A front side paned segment tab 170 is shown arranged at each front side panel segment free end 155. A back side panel segment tab 180 is shown arranged at each back side panel segment free end 165. The front and back side panel segment tabs 170, 180 slidingly engage each other when the collapsible platform 35 changes from the unassembled state to the assembled state. The front and back side panel segment tabs 170, 180 may define the interlocking engagement of the front and back side panel segments 135, 140. Slots, shown here as tapered slots 190, are defined between each of the front and back side panels segment tabs 170, 180 and its respective front or back side panel segment free end 155, 165. A cut 200 may connect inner ends of slots 190 to openings 210 shown here having generally circular perimeter shapes. Openings 210 of the front and back side panel segments 135, 140 may cooperate to fit into each other so that edge-to-edge engagement may occur at an abutment of bottom edges of the respective openings 210.
Referring again to FIG. 1, when the collapsible platform 35 is in the assembled state, each of the tabs 170 (FIG. 3) is spaced from and extends angularly with respect to the respective front or back side panel segment 135, 140 that overlies it. In this way, connection joints 150 define generally X-shaped profiles by the intersections of the front and back side panel segments 135, 140 and corresponding tab 170 when viewed form below the collapsible platform 35.
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, storage tray 40 is removably supported by one of the panels 115, such as one of the front and back panels 120, 125. The storage tray 40 may itself be a collapsible component, preferably made from a single die-cut piece of material, such as cardboard that is folded and/or unfolded by the user to assemble or disassemble or left assembled after initial assembly. Storage tray 40 includes container body 250 for storing articles, which may be relatively small articles such as writing or drawing utensils, craft or tools supplied, or the like.
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. FIGS. 5 and 6 further demonstrate the present invention, by showing another arrangement of a collapsible platform 335 according to the present invention. The collapsible platform 335 provides an assembled platform as assembled platform 35 (FIG. 1) but provides a different arrangement for the disassembled platform 333.
Referring to FIG. 5, the disassembled platform 335 has a support surface 365, having similar dimensions as support surface 65 (FIG. 1). It will be appreciated that the rectangular shape of the surface 365 (as well as 65) could be modified to other shapes if necessary. As shown, the support surface comprises a top panel 367 and a bottom panel 369 that are connected by border 373, with the top panel 367 and the bottom panel preferable being the same shape. The border 373 further supports a tab 379 that protrudes downwardly from the surface 65 when in an assembled arrangement (see FIG. 6). Alternatively, the platform could be designed with a single panel, e.g. bottom panel 369, depending on the materials used and the determined or desired thickness or support capability of the surface 365.
Referring further to FIG. 5, the surface, 365 is connected to a back panel 325, which in turn is connected to a pair of side panels 330, with each of the side panels having a front side panel segment 335 and a back side panel segment 340, which are connected by way of a connection joint 350, similarly as described with the arrangement of platform 35. Each of the side panels 330 has an edge 332, from which a flap 322 and/or a front panel 320 are respectively connected, and it is understood that they could be attached on the opposite side panel 330 as shown. The flap 322 is designed to interact a slot 374 located on the front panel 320 when assembled. Alternatively, the flap 322 may be arranged to be attached to the outside edge of the front panel 320, whereby the flap 372 would interact with a slot located on the opposing side panel. 330.
The assembled platform 335 is shown in FIG. 6, with the final assembly being completed by inserting the tab 379 into the slot 376 located on the front panel 376. The resultant structure provides a structure as previously discussed, wherein it can turn a regular desk or work space into a standing desk. It should be understood that a storage tray 40 as shown in FIG. 4 could be incorporated into the structure as shown in FIG. 6.
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 FIG. 7. The platform 335 will be assembled and disassembled as previously described with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6.
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.
Patent Application
20180289147
