GB2273866A - "Portable worktop device" - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable device for use e.g. by a person lying on a bed or sofa has a worktop which has niches 30 and 10 for accommodating the users stomach and for allowing on knee of the user to be raised respectively, two collapsible legs 40 which can be secured on either of the flat surfaces depending on whether the writer is left or right-handed. A spring device which makes the legs collapsible and remain firmly in position and by which means the worktop can be slanted to suit a desired posture is provided. A book or paper holder 5 is provided to keep the worktop less congested, and a paper storage lip 15 is provided. When the device is not being used the legs and the book holder can be folded flat on the worktop and stored away in a small space or suitcase. <IMAGE>

Description

PANEL A WROPOD TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a Portable Desk designed for use on upholstered surfaces like beds and sofas.

BACKGROUND Desks are well known offices and household furniture used for handling paperwork. They comprise a worktop supported above the floor by legs.

A space is provided underneath the worktop to accomodate a person's legs while seated on a chair placed in front of it.

Desks are large and heavy wooden and/or metalic structures which occupy large area of a room and therefore not easily movable from room to room or house to house.

Desks are equiped with drawers or lockers for storage but the essential features of a desk remains the legs and worktop.

The reasons for this invention is to make writing/reading easy and comfortable in a situation where ordinary desk is either not available or not applicable.

The WROPOD is more suitable for individuals who have to make notes or do some writing on a daily basis, for example professional writers, media reporters, researchers, to name but a few.

There are professional men and women who carry some of their office work to do from home. After long bussy hours at their office desks, they need to relax when they get back home. In that case the WROPOD can help in that it provides a suitable worktop for writing or using a lap top computer while lying on bed or sitting on a sofa.

The WROPOD is also suitable for people who can not sit up for long on a chair due to back pain or who are confined to bed and would want to write. The WROPOD is designed to be handy, light and free-standing with the worktop being held just a few centimetre above the user's body, the legs being adapted to remain stable on the upholstery.

PANEL A ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL FEATURES According to this invention the desk is not meant for handling as much paperwork as the ordinary study or office desk, but more specifically for writing by hand or using lap-top computer.

The worktop is small enough to accomodate A4 sized paper on one half of the worktop. The other half of the worktop being narrower is meant for resting the lower arm from elbow to wrist making the tip of the writer's pen to travel centrally on the paper on the larger half.

As well as for copying notes, the WROPOD can be used to aid reading. It is fitted with a book holder which is secured on the worktop on the far edge of the wider half. The book holder is designed to be foldable when not in use.

The worktop also comprises two niches of different dimentions curved on opposite widths, a lip underneath for storing about thirty size A4 papers, two legs which run continously along the sides of the worktop holding it a few centimetre above the body of a person lying on bed or seated on a sofa, the legs being designed so that contact is made with bed or sofa in four positions.

A spring machanism is provided to secure each leg beneath the worktop thereof which provides a means to make the legs foldable for parking convenience as well as for controling the angle of the worktop in the direction of the user as required to suit a particular writing posture.

EXAMPLES Figure 1 shows in perspective the WROPOD set in a position ready to be used where niche 10 faces the leg direction of the user and niche 30 faces the head direction and the book holder 5 stands at right angle at the opposite edge on the worktop.

Figure 2 shows the approximate size of the WROPOD with niche 30 accomodating a declivitous stomach of the user and niche 10 allowing for one knee to be raised in relaxiation while lying on bed.

Figure 3 illustrates how the legs can be folded beneath worktop with the paper storage lip 15 shown on the wider half of the worktop with a dot line underneath.

PANEL A Figure 4 illustrates how the worktop can be made to slant towards the head direction by pulling upward the opposite edge of the worktop.

Figure 5 shows the desk being used while seated on a sofa.

Figure 6 shows how the WROPOD can be parked in a suitcase or briefcase.

PANEL B Referring to the drawings, the WROPOD comprises a worktop 20 on which niches 30 and 10 are curved. The book and paper holder 5 fitted on the far edge of the wider half of the worktop. Two legs 40 are secured beneath the worktop with a spring machanism which makes the legs 40 to fold inwards and outwards beneath the worktop as illustrated in Figure 3, and by the same means, the worktop can be adjusted to slant at an angle in the head direction of the user as shown in Figure 4.

In order to use it the WROPOD is placed across the body of a lying person or while seated on a sofa with niche 30 corresponding the stomach area niche 10 facing the direction of the user's legs.

The legs 40 holds the worktop 20 just a few centimetre above the user's body, both legs 40 running parallel to the sides of the user's body from around the upper thighs to lower torsso.

As seen in Figure 1, niche 10 is curved on the right half of the worktop 20 from the user's point of view. The right half is therefore narrower than the left half in which case this particular arrangement is suitable for a right-handed writer. The user will have to rest his/her right lower arm from elbow to wrist on the narrower half (see Figure 2) of the worktop leaving the tip of his/her pen to travel centrally on the wider left half.

For a left-handed user, the niche can be reversed by fitting the legs and paper storage on top or bottom of the worktop so that both right and left handed writers may use the product.

The creation of niche 10 clears an obstacle which would prevent the knee of one leg of the user from being raised higher than if the niche didnt exist.

When the user raises one knee, the upper thigh comes to an angle and rests fittingly in its cavity without upseting the worktop.

As shown in Figure 1, the legs are designed such that they have only two points of contact with the upholstery surface. The legs 40 makes contact with the upholstery surface only at points 50 and 70. Point 60 is uplifted a few inches above surface of contact to keep the WROPOD stable during writing and prevents the desk from rolling over. Also because of niche 10, one of the legs must be shorter than the other but with the same hight.

Figure 5 shows the desk being used on a sofa where in the user's stomach fits in the cavity of niche 30.

PANEL B Figure 6 illustrates how the WROPOD can be conveniently parked in a briefcase.

Figure 7 shows how the shape of the legs adapts well on upholstery surfaces.

Claims (9)

1. The WROPOD comprising a rectangular worktop on which two niches of different dimensions are curved on two of the longer sides, two legs each having two points of contact with the upholstery surface and both running disjoindedly throughout their lengths, each leg can be secured on the underside of the worktop at a limited point on the front half so that the rear half is clear of an obstacle which would prevent one of the legs from being inserted between the user's thighs if he want to vary his writing position, one leg being shorter than the other in length tue to the position of one of the niches. The legs can be assembled on either sides of the worktop so that both left or right-handed writers may use the product.A spring device is provided for secureng the legs on the worktop thereof which makes the legs collapsible inword or outword and remains in the collapsed position, and by the same means the device can be adapted to slant the worktop to a desired angle. A collapsible paper or book holder is provided, a demountable paper storage lip also provided which can be fixed on either surfaces of the worktop.

2. The WROPOD as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a niche is curved on worktop for accommodating the stomach area of the user and to help in preventing the point of contact of the longer leg from sliding at the edge of a bed or sofa.

3. The WROPOD as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a niche is curved on worktop for accommodating one upper thigh of the user if he raises one corresponding knee to prop his posture while in lying position.

4. The WROPOD as claimed in Claim 1 wherein two legs (stands) both runs disjoindedly throughout their lengths each secureable at one limited point and each adapted to make two points of contact with upholstery surface to vary the writer's posture.

5. The WROPOD as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 4 wherein a spring device is provided for securing legs on worktop thereof which controls the angles of slant of the worktop and for making the legs foldable for packing or storing convenience.

6. The WROPOD as claimed in claim 1 or Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein each leg runs disjointedly throughout their length with one point raised above surface of contact with upholstery surface to keep the product stable during writing.

7. The WROPOD as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a demountable paper storage lip is provided which can be fixed on either side of the worktop.

8. The WROPOD as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a paper or book holder is provided to keep the worktop less congested when making or copying notes.

9. The WROPOD substantially as described herein with referance to Figures 1-7 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows The wropod comprising a rectangular worktop on which two niches of different dimensions are curved, two legs each having two points of contact with the upholstery surface and both running unconnected throughout their lengths, each leg can be secured on the worktop at a limited section along the front half of the worktop so that the rear half is free from any obstacle which would prevent one of the legs from being inserted between the user's thighs if he so desire to vary his sitting position, one leg being shorter than the other due to the position of the thigh niche. The legs can be assembled on either surfaces of the worktop so that both right-handed and left-handed writers may use the product during writing by hand with equal ease.A spring device is provided for securing the legs against the underside of the worktop thereof which makes the legs collapsible inward and outward and remain in the position, and by the same means, the device can be adapted to slant the worktop to a desired angle. A collapsible paper holder also provided and a demountable paper storage lip which can be fixed on either surfaces of the worktop.

2 The wropod as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a niche is curved on the worktop for accommodating the stomach area of the user which togather with the extra length of the longer leg at the front point of contact with the upholstery helps in preventing the legs of the product from sliding down at the edge of the sofa or bed.

3 The wropod as claimed in Claim one wherein a niche is curved on the worktop for accommodating one upper thigh of the user if the user decides to raise the corresponding knee to prop his posture when in a lying position.

4 The wropod as claimed in Claim 1 wherein two legs which runs jointedly throughout their lengths, each securable at one limited section along the underside of the worktop and each leg adapted to make two points of contact with the upholstery to allow the user to vary his posture.

5 The wropod as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 4 wherein a spring device is provided for securing the legs on the worktop thereof which controls the ange of slant of the worktop and for making the legs foldable for parking convenience.

6 The wropod as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein each leg runs unconnected throughout its length with one point arched above surface of contact with the upholstery to keep the products stable during use.

7 The wropod as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a demountable paper storage lip is provided which can be fixed on either surfaces of the worktop.

8 The wropod as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a paper and book holder is provided to keep the worktop less congested when copying note.

9 The wropod substantially as described herein with reference to the Figures 1-7 of the accompanying drawings.