GB2385023A

GB2385023A - Portable desk or lecturn

Info

Publication number: GB2385023A
Application number: GB0229603A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shimon Betito
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-12-21
Filing date: 2002-12-19
Publication date: 2003-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-19
Also published as: WO2003055355A1; AU2002353223A1; GB0229603D0; GB2385023B; CN1615095A; CN1279860C; GB0130786D0

Abstract

A portable desk or lectern is provided in the form of a clamshell case having steel strips (3) formed in the side margins of a lid (8) and cursors (4) supported in cantilever fashion on these steel strips. The cursors can be easily moved up and down to align with selected lines of text of a book or pad (not shown) supported against the lid (8) and can be lifted off to allow the pages to be turned easily. Furthermore the cursors are flexible to conform to the surface of each open page. A slidable tray (12) provides a writing surface and a cylindrical cavity (11) accommodates the bottom of the book or the forward edge of the tray.

Description

PORTABLE DESK OR LECTERN

The present invention relates to portable lecterns or desks such as writing desks for example. Writing desks are traditional items of furniture 5 once useful for letter writing but now used almost only as ornaments.

While capable of being moved, traditional writing desks are not suitable as items for carrying about one's person. Traditional writing desks do not provide a rest for books to be read at the same time as the user is writing and are thus unsuitable for children and students dUng their homework.

to Traditional writing desks have no appeal to young people and are too fragile for use in and out of school and college. Traditional writing desks provide no means for helping people with reading difficulties. Traditional writing desks are not designed with dimensions appropriate to holding textbooks and accommodating other currently-used school and college-work items. A 15 traditional writing desk provides no means of screening the user from others and therefore does not especially encourage the user to concentrate on the work. There is a need to provide a portable tidy work space for children and students to do their homework both at home and away from home, to provide do a device that is both a reading and a writing aid by arranging for it to hold a school textbook securely while at the same time providing a writing surface. It would also be desirable to provide a level of screening, to reduce the temptation for the user to become distracted.

US 3,041,774 discloses a portable writing desk having a lectern portion 25 for supporting an open book and a horizontal rubber band which in use is fitted around the lectern portion and the book. The vertical position of the band on the open pages can be adjusted but it makes it difficult to turn the pages. An object of the present invention is to overcome or alleviate at least so some of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Accordingly the invention provides a portable lectern or desk comprising a base hinged to a raisable lid, the lid being arranged in use in its raised position to support an open book, pad or papers and having at least one inwardly-extending arm cantilevered from its margin, the arm extending in 5 use over an opened page of the book or pad and being slidable along said margin. Preferably said arm is detachable from said margin on being lifted from said opened page.

Preferably said arm is magnetically attached to said margin.

lo Other preferred features are defined in the dependent claims.

Preferred embodiments include not only the features of a traditional writing desk, i.e. a device dedicated to writing and capable of accommodating writing materials, but also additional features that are especially useful to school children and students.

15 In a preferred embodiment a pair of sliding arms or cursors may be used not only to hold a book securely open but also to align with lines of text of pages in the book. Each cursor is arranged to provide a window through which a single (or a restricted number of) line(s) appear: this arrangement is understood to assist children who have difficulty reading because it directs 20 their attention to the line(s) that is (are) being scanned while reading.

Preferably each of the two arms or cursors is connected to the reading lid portion of the writing desk by magnetic attraction. The geometry is arranged to provide each amm with a spring-like action that restrains the pages of the book for a variety of book thicknesses. Each arm may be moved 25 out-of-horizontal alignment so that the reading window aligns with the lines of text on the page. Further, because the arms are connected to the reading lid portion of the writing desk only by magnetic attraction, they may be readily lifted away from the lid for the purpose of turning pages or replacing the book.

An important feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention is a : o sliding writing surface. This is suitably provided by a thin sheet of rigid material optionally covered with a compliant writing surface that slopes down

to make contact or near contact with the table or other supporting surface upon which the desk is used. This surface is used to support the writing paper and is positioned, as a result of its sliding action, at a comfortable reading distance away from the reading lid portion. When the sliding writing s surface is deployed in the writing position, the base section of the desk is longer than the apparent size of the desk when it is folded away. As a result of the sloping writing surface extending into near contact with the supporting surface upon which the writing desk is used, oversize writing papers beyond the capacity of the extended writing surface may be used.

lo A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable writing desk in accordance with the invention in its open configuration with the writing surface retracted; 15 Figure 2 is a similar perspective view, but showing the writing surface extended; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the writing desk of Figures 1 and 2 in the closed configuration; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the and or cursor arrangement of the do writing desk, showing the marginal supporting track in transverse cross-

section; Figure 5 is a perspective view from above the arm or cursor of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a perspective view from below of the arm or cursor of 25 Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1, the writing desk shown in the form of a clamshell comprising a base 13 and a lid 8 which are hinged to define a hinge axis 10 (Figure 2) to form a case which can be folded shut as shown in Figure 3. As best seen in Figures 1 and 3, apertures 1 and 2 formed in the base 13 and lid so 8 respectively register when the case is folded shut (Figure 3) to form a convenient carrying candle.

A latch mechanism (not shown) holds the lid 8 and base 13 shut and both the lid and the base are in the form of complimentary hollow shells which provide storage space for stationery and text books. In particular, the base 13 is suitably provided with one or more recesses or compartments 14 for s storing pens, pencils, a calculator or the like.

The lid 8 and base 13 are suitably formed of a moulded polypropylene, polyethylene or other suitable plastics material. Diagonal strengthening ribs are formed in the interior of lid 8. The exposed edges of these ribs lie substantially in a common plane and provide a support for the cover of a book to or the rear of a pad (not shown) which can be held at a suitable reading angle by the lid and whose lower edge can be accommodated in a tubular cavity 11 formed by concentric cylindrical edge portions of the lid and base which are centered on the hinge axis 10 (Figure 3). Eccentrically pivoted discs 9 (Figure 1 and 2) can be rotated rearwardly to extend the rearward points of 15 contact of the base beyond the hinge axis 10 and thereby prevent toppling of the portable desk.

Steel strips 3 of flat-topped section are secured to the left and right side margins of the lid 8 and inwardly extending arms or cursors 4 are magnetically attached at their outer ends to the strips in cantilever fashion as 20 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. These may be formed of plastics or metal and, as best seen in Figures 2, 5 and 6 incorporate an elongate aperture or slot 5 which can be aligned with a line of text of the book or pad against which the cursors 4 lie. Optionally, a lens and/or coloured filter (not shown) can be accommodated within the slot or aperture 5 in order to emphasise a line of 25 text and furthermore a length of each cursor, particularly at the edge of the aperture 5, may be engraved for measuring if preferred. As best seen in Figures 5 and 6, the cursors 4 are pre-curved (and are flexible) to ensure that they can conform to the contour of an open page of a book supported by the lid 8.

so As shown in Figure 2, tray 12 is slidable on base 13 and provides a writing surface. When the tray 12 is pushed forward as shown in Figure 1, its

s forward edge extends into cavity 11 and ensures that its opposite edge does not obscure the aperture 1. The case can then be closed for carrying as shown in Figure 3. In the extended position shown in Figure 2, the front edge (i.e. the edge shown at the bottom left of the drawing) of tray 12 makes 5 contact or near contact with the horizontal supporting surface (not shown) on which the base 13 rests. In this manner, a firmly supported flat writing surface is provided.

As shown in Figure 4, the metal strip 3 is provided by a length of steel section embedded in the side margin of lid 8. This section includes a facing to wall 17 of which constitutes a parking keeper strip for the cursor in a stowed condition (indicated at 4i) when the case is shut as shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the supporting portion of each cursor 4 has two permanent magnets 15 inserted through apertures formed therein which provide a secure frictional engagement with strip 3 or wall 16 (Figure 15 4). To enable the cursors 4 to be moved along the strips 3 and to adjust their angle with respect to these strips, upstanding portions 16 (Figures 5 and 6) are formed in the outer portions and can easily be grasped between the user's thumb and forefinger.

The desk described above assists the user with schoolwork, college go work and homework by providing a convenient holder for a textbook while at the same time providing the user with a writing surface.

Associated benefits are that the user is screened from distractions by the raised lid. The portable desk becomes the immediate working environment for the user and the folding-away portable nature of the device 25 ensures that clutter cannot accumulate.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A portable desk or lectern comprising a base hinged to a raisable lid, the lid being arranged in use in its raised position to support an open book, 5 pad or papers and having at least one inwardly-extending arm cantilevered from its margin, the arm extending in use over an opened page of the book or pad and being slidable along said margin.

2. A portable desk or lectern according to claim 1 wherein said arm is to detachable from said margin on being lifted from said opened page.

3. A portable desk or lectern according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said arm is magnetically attached to said margin.

as

4 A portable desk or lectern according to claim 3 wherein said arm is magnetically mounted on a track extending along said margin, and is tillable thereon in the plane of said lid.

5. A portable desk or lectern according to any preceding claim wherein ho said arm is composed of flexible resilient material and is arranged in use to conform at least partially to said opened page.

6. A portable desk or lectern according to claim 5 wherein said arm curves towards said lid so that in use at least its free end portion bears 25 against said opened page.

7. A portable desk or lectern according to any preceding claim wherein said arm is cantilevered from a side margin of the lid and has a longitudinally-

extending elongate window portion which in use can be aligned with one or so more lines of text of said book, pad or panes.

8. A portable desk or lectern according to any preceding claim wherein said hinged lid and base constitute a clamshell case.

9. A portable desk or lectern according to any preceding claim comprising s two such arms cantilevered to opposite side margins of the lid.

10. A portable desk according to any preceding claim, further comprising a generally flat writing surface associated with said base.

to

1 1. A portable desk according to claim 10 wherein a tray member separate from but storable within the base and extendable from the base provides said writing surface.

12. A portable desk according to claim 11 wherein a cavity or recess is 15 formed in the hinge region and is arranged to accommodate the bottom edge of an opened book, pad or papers or a forward edge of said tray member according to whether said tray member is extended from or retracted into said base. no

13. A portable desk according to any preceding claim wherein registering apertures in said lid and base define a carrying handle.

14. A portable writing desk substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.