Patent Application
20220053926
The disclosure relates to lap desks for use with a laptop. In particular, the disclosure relates to lap desks capable of having secondary and/or auxiliary monitor arms for the attachment of a monitor.
In 2018, the United States Census Bureau concluded ninety-two percent of American households possessed a desktop or laptop computer. By mid-2020, forty-two percent of the United States labor force worked remotely from the office. Many of these workers use laptops. As a large portion of members of the workforce use multiple monitors in the office setting, and an increasing number of people are working remotely, there is an increased need for providing a comfortable approach of using multiple monitors in conjunction with a laptop computer for an enhanced viewing experience.
Previous developments in technology have permitted the usage of secondary monitors with laptops. Secondary monitors, which sit on a desk or table and connect to a desktop or laptop computer, are well-known in the art. However, current monitor setups force a user to sit at a desk or table, and do not provide a working option when a user desires to move to a more comfortable location, such as a sofa, bed, or lounge chair. Further, these monitor setups do not enable users to change working locations throughout the day.
Current secondary monitor setups that may be connected to a laptop rely on a mounting a track to the back of an existing laptop and having a second screen slide out for use from that mount. The track is attached to the back of a user's laptop via adhesive magnets and require the track to be supported from the bottom while in use. Companies manufacturing such products include MOBILE PIXELS and SIDETRAK. However, these products reduce the mobility of the user and necessitate that the monitor setup be used in a location where the track may be supported from the bottom during use.
Portable computer monitors are a developing market, as they permit a user to wire their existing laptop to a second monitor and increase work efficiency at a relatively low cost. As monitor setups existing in the prior art require support for both a monitor and laptop, such setups confine users to a table or desk setting and preclude use in a more causal work environment.
Thus, as an increasing number of workers are working from home, there is a growing need to make multi-monitor workstations mobile and comfortable to use.
The present invention is a lap desk including at least one monitor arm and monitor mount on which a monitor may be securely attached, enabling a user to have a multiple screen work setup in a mobile, more versatile fashion.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of one or more embodiments or examples of the present teachings. This summary is not an extensive overview, nor is it intended to identify key or critical elements of the present teachings, nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure. Rather, its primary purpose is merely to present one or more concepts in simplified form as a prelude to the detailed description presented later. Additional goals and advantages will become more evident in the description of the figures, the detailed description of the disclosure, and the claims.
The invention generally relates to a lap desk including 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.
In certain embodiments, the support member includes a plurality of auxiliary mounting regions for placement of the monitor arm.
In certain embodiments, the lap desk further includes an auxiliary monitor arm coupled to one of the auxiliary mounting regions, wherein the auxiliary monitor arm is coupled to an auxiliary monitor mount.
In certain embodiments, the mobile section is extendable in an outward direction.
In certain embodiments, 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.
In certain embodiments, the support member includes a cooling fan.
The invention also includes a method of using the lap desk of the invention, 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.
The method of the invention may additionally include attaching an auxiliary monitor arm to one of a plurality of auxiliary mounting regions on the support member.
The method of the invention may additionally include extending a mobile section of the monitor arm outward to position the monitor closer to the individual.
The method of the invention may additionally include 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.
The invention may also relate to a lap desk including 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.
In certain embodiments, 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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 (
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.
Referring to the Figures,
The monitor arm 10 includes both a mounting bar 14 and a mobile section 16 (
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 (
The mobile section 16 is coupled to the mounting bar 14 and the monitor mount 12 is coupled to the mobile section.
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
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.
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.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of Application Ser. No. 63/069,132 filed on Aug. 23, 2020 entitled SECONDARY LAPTOP MOUNT LAP DESK and whose entire disclosure is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63069132 | Aug 2020 | US |
