Patent Application
20120050959
The invention relates to a display device, more particularly to a display device with a foldable panel.
The kitchen is a hub of most homes because it may be the one place where the entire family meets for meals. Furthermore, due to the preparation time of these meals, the meal preparer spends a great deal of time in the kitchen. The younger family members may congregate in the kitchen because the meal preparer may be found there. In any household, there is a need to communicate information to other household members or simply to jot down notes in order that these notes may be preserved for use at a later time.
Typically, the wall surface of the kitchen is fairly well covered with kitchen cabinets which may store various food items and china that will be used in the food preparation process and the presentation of the food to the various family members. Having sufficient work surfaces at approximately waist level is also an important feature for the modern kitchen. The need for the work surface is tends to divide the kitchen cabinets into upper kitchen cabinets which may be positioned above the work surface, and lower kitchen cabinets having a upper surface which may support the work surface. The work surface is generally in a spaced relationship with the upper kitchen cabinets to define a space sufficient to allow the meal preparer sufficient space to work with various kitchen utensils such as mixers, toasters and the like.
A display device to display information may include a first panel adapted to be detachably connected to a bottom surface of a kitchen cabinet and a second panel being pivotably connected to the first panel.
The second panel may be detachably connected to the first panel.
A display device to display information may include a first panel adapted to be detachably connected to a bottom surface of a kitchen cabinet and a third panel being pivotably connected to the first panel;
The third panel may be detachably connected to the first panel, and the third panel may include a slot having an opening to access the slot.
The first panel may include a first detachable fastening device and the second panel may include a second detachable fastening device.
The first detachable fastening device may include a magnet, and the second detachable fastening device may include a magnet.
The first panel may be pivotably connected to the second panel with a hinge, and the hinge may be a piano hinge.
The third panel may include a portion having a cork surface, and the third panel may include a portion having a metal surface.
The third panel may include a portion having a whiteboard surface, and the third panel may include a portion having a transparent surface.
The third panel may include a portion with a mirror surface, and the third panel may include a portion having a magnifying surface, and the third panel may include a portion having a magnifying surface.
The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
a illustrates a bottom view of the third panel of the present invention;
The present invention advantageously uses the space defined by the lower surface of the upper kitchen cabinets and the work surface. The present invention provides a foldable display 100 which may be used for a multitude of purposes and may fold between a first position where a display surface is visible and extends from the bottom surface of the upper kitchen cabinets. The display surface extends a modest distance from the work surface in order to avoid interference with objects placed on the work surface. The foldable display may rotate to a second position where the display surface may be substantially flush with the bottom surface of the upper kitchen cabinets in order in order to provide a virtually invisible appearance when not being used by the users of the kitchen. The foldable display may be used in bathrooms or other rooms where there is a need for such a foldable display. The purpose of the foldable display is to keep needed items within easy reach yet allow for the storage of the foldable display under the bottom surface of the upper kitchen cabinet. The foldable display may retain such items such as calendars, schedules, receipts, lists, photos, emergency numbers, frequent contacts, temporary notes, and other such messages. The foldable display may include a first panel or first plate and a second panel or second plate which may be hinged together for example with a piano type hinge. The first panel 101 may be detachably connected to the bottom surface 103 of the kitchen cabinet by a first detachable fastening device 113 Velcro, double-sided tape, permanent or releasable glue, bolts, or screws or other such devices which may be positioned on the bottom surface 103 of the kitchen cabinet. The first detachable fastening device 113 which may be Velcro, double sided tape, permanent or releasable glue, bolts or screws or other such devices which may be positioned on the top surface 117 of the first panel 101 and may cooperate with a second detachable fastening device 115 to detachably connect to the bottom surface 103 of the kitchen cabinet. The leading edge of the bottom surface 105 of the second panel 107 may include a hinge device 119 which may be a piano type hinge to pivotably connect to the leading edge of the top surface 139 of the second panel 107. The first panel 101 may be detachably connected to the second panel 107 by a third fastening device 131 which may be Velcro, cooperating magnets or other such fastening devices so that the first panel 101 may be stowed adjacent to the second panel in a substantially parallel position in the second position and may be rotated substantially 90° where the second panel 101 is generally visible and usable by the user in the first position.
The third panel 151 is illustrated in
The third panel 151 may be formed from a front wall 171 which may be opposed to a back wall 173 which may be connected to a pair of sidewalls 175 which may be connected to a bottom wall 177. The front wall 171 may be formed from plastic and may be transparent with no coloring (clear) or may be tinted with colors, maybe formed from cork in order to cooperate with push-pin attachment items, may be formed from metal to cooperate with magnets to attach items, may include a mirrored surface to cooperate with tape or post it attach items or may be a whiteboard (blackboard) in order to accommodate writing. The back wall 173 may be formed from plastic and may be transparent with no coloring or may be tinted with colors, may be opaque, may be plastic over wood, may be plastic over metal, may be metal for magnets.
a illustrates a bottom view of the third panel 151 and illustrates the bottom wall 177, the front wall 171 the back wall 173 and the side wall 175 and the slot 163.
a describe a panel that has a slot for an item to be inserted. In my design, third panel 151 is one continuous piece that has been bent, so that 153 and 155 lay against each other providing a compression fit to hold in papers.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.
