GB2580678A - Height adjustable ironing board - Google Patents

Abstract

The height-adjustable ironing board 100 includes a board member 102 having top 108 and bottom (110, Figure 2) surfaces and front 104 and rear 106 ends. A first leg 112 includes a top end 117 slidably engaged to the bottom surface of the board member towards a rear end of the board. A second, articulating leg 120 includes upper 122 and lower 124 portions which are rotatably connected about a primary rotation axis 126. The upper portion 122 of the second leg is rotatably connected to the board member about a secondary rotation axis 132. The first leg 112 is rotatably connected to the lower portion 124 of the second leg about a tertiary rotation axis 134. The board may be switchable between a standing position and a stowed position (Figure 9).

Description

Height Adjustable Ironing Board Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to height adjustable ironing boards, and methods of adjusting the height thereof

Background to the Invention

Ironing boards with height adjustment are known, wherein a front leg is retained underneath the board and the end of the leg can be moved and fixed into a number of different notches on the underside of the board depending on the required height of board. However, such prior art boards have a large profile in the stowed (i.e. folded up) position as the legs typically extend a significant distance past the ends of the board itself Prior art boards generally therefore take up a lot of space when stored, as well as being cumbersome to store and handle in the stowed position.

Attempts to mitigate the problem of large profiles and legs extending past the ends of the board tend to include complicated mechanisms and/or result in boards which lack stability when in use. In some cases, the boards may not be fully horizontal at each height position, which may be detrimental to their use.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a height adjustable ironing board which has a smaller profile in the stowed position compared to prior art height adjustable ironing boards for a given maximum (stable) board height.

It would also be advantageous to provide an ironing board in which the legs do not protrude significantly, or at all, from the ends of the board, in the stowed position, but which mitigates loss of stability of the board in the in use position.

It would furthermore be advantageous to provide a height adjustable ironing board in which the board remains horizontal at all heights, in use, whilst allowing, but minimising a change in front leg to front of board distance, as the height is adjusted, retaining stability.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to overcome or mitigate at least one problem of the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a height adjustable ironing board, comprising; a board member comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end and a rear end; a first leg comprising a top end slidably engaged to the bottom surface of the board member towards the rear end of the board; and a second, articulating, leg comprising upper and lower portions rotatably connected about a primary rotation axis, the upper portion comprising a top end rotatably connected to the bottom surface of the board member towards the front end of the board about a secondary rotation axis; wherein the first leg is rotatably connected to the lower portion of the second leg about a tertiary rotation axis.

The board member and/or the first and/or second legs may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials, such as wood, metal, alloy, or polymeric material, for example.

The height adjustable board may be switchable between a standing position and a stowed position.

The standing position is generally the "in use" position of the board and is the position in which the legs are folded out and the first leg is in a locked engagement with the bottom surface of the board member, such that the height adjustable board is freestanding, and is sufficiently tall and stable in order to be used for the intended or desired purpose, for example ironing on the ironing board.

The stowed position is the position in which the board will typically be stored, the legs being folded or tucked in towards the bottom surface of the board member such that the overall size of the height adjustable board is reduced relative to the standing position.

The first and second leg may together form substantially an "X" shape in the standing position.

In preferred embodiments, the board member is substantially level in the standing position at all heights.

In some embodiments, the first leg may be a non-articulating leg, i.e. comprising a single non-articulating portion.

In some embodiments, the board is configured such that the upper and lower portions of the second leg lock about the primary rotation axis in the standing position.

By "lock", it is meant that, upon being moved from the stowed to the standing position, the point at which the upper and lower portions will rotate substantially no further relative to each other about the primary rotation axis and/or will lock into position relative to each other. This allows the articulating leg and therefore the board to remain stable in use in the standing position. In preferred embodiments, the upper and lower portions lock about the primary rotation axis such that they together form a substantially straight line (i.e. the angle between them is substantially 180°).

In some embodiments the primary rotation axis comprises a locking mechanism, such as a rotatable locking mechanism, which may automatically lock when the second leg is moved into the standing position. In other embodiments the locking mechanism may be manually locked, and may comprise, for example, a locking wheel, lever or the like, arranged to enable and prevent rotation of the primary rotation axis.

The primary rotation axis may comprise a spring, preferably a torsion spring, biased towards the standing position of the board. Thus, the spring is at its greatest tension in the stowed position, and so facilitates rotation of the upper and lower portions of the second leg about the primary rotation axis from the stowed position to the standing position of the board. Such a spring may also help to hold the primary rotation axis in the locked position as described above, and so to increase the stability of the second leg and therefore of the board in the standing position.

Alternatively or additionally to the upper and lower portions of the second leg locking about the primary rotation axis, in some embodiments the first and second legs may lock about the tertiary rotation axis in the standing position and/or the upper portion of the second leg and the board member may lock about the secondary rotation axis in the standing position. The secondary and/or tertiary rotation axes may comprise a locking mechanism, which may be as described above in relation to the locking mechanism of the primary rotation axis.

In relation to the first leg, by "slidably engaged", it is meant that the top end of the first leg is able to be moved along the length of the board member, but does not limit to the top end being fixedly retained to the board, and in some embodiments the top end of the first leg may be detached or detachable from the board member.

In some embodiments, the bottom surface of the board member may comprise a series of height adjustment notches or hooks and the top end of the first leg may comprise an engaging height adjustment portion (such as a horizontal bar) arranged in use to engage with and be retained by the or each notch or hook, depending on the desired height of the board, and to be slidable between and/or along them. Each notch or hook may correspond to a different height of the board when engaged by the height adjustment portion of the first leg, in use. In some embodiments, each notch or hook may instead be formed along an adjustment bar hingedly connected to the board member and arranged to be removed from and replaced onto the top end of the first leg by means of a lever -such arrangements are known in the art, for example in conventional height adjustable ironing boards, and so the skilled person is aware of ways in which to form and utilise this arrangement.

In alternative embodiments, the height adjustment portion of the first leg may comprise at least one hook and the board member may comprise a series of rungs arranged to be engaged by the or each hook, depending on the desired height of the board. In other words, each Ring corresponds to a different height of the board when engaged by the or each hook of the first leg, in use. This arrangement may be configured so as to mimic the heights at which the top end of the first leg would be at equivalent board height if a slot or track was instead used, however the slot or track offers advantages such as ease of handling.

In preferred embodiments, the top end of the first leg (e.g. the height adjustment portion, such as a horizontal bar) is slidably retained in a height adjustment track or slot, along which it slides during height adjustment. In such embodiments, the first leg may be configured to enable locking engagement with one or more notches or hooks on the bottom surface of the board at a number of discrete positions along the length of the track or slot (for example by means of an adjustment bar as described above).

In some embodiments the track or slot may be substantially parallel with the board member along its length.

In embodiments wherein the height adjustment portion comprises a horizontal bar, the horizontal bar may extend between two or more leg members of the first leg.

The horizontal bar may be substantially parallel with the board member, straight and/or level along its entire length. In other embodiments, the horizontal bar may be substantially non-parallel with the board member, curved, angled and/or non-level along at least a portion of its length -this may help to ensure that the height adjustment portion is able to be moved along the bottom surface of the board (such as slid along a height adjustment slot or track) without colliding with other components of the board.

The lateral distance (along the board) between the top end of the first leg at maximum board height and the top end of the first leg at minimum board height may be no more than 100 mm, 110 mm, 120 mm, 130 mm, 140 mm, 150 mm, 160 mm, 170 mm, 180 mm, 190 mm 200 mm, 210 mm, 220 mm, 230 mm, 240 mm, 250 mm or no more than 300 mm, such as between 100 mm to 300 mm, 150 mm to 250 mm, or between 150 mm to 200 mm.

The board may adjustable between a plurality of discrete height configurations wherein the top end of the first leg is in a locked engagement with the board member at different discrete positions along the board member in each configuration, such as by utilising a notch or hook arrangement as described above.

In other embodiments, the board may be continuously adjustable (i.e. indiscrete adjustment) between a maximum and minimum height, for example by the top end of the first leg being slidably engaged within a height adjustment slot or track, and configured to be locked at any position along the slot or track, such as by a friction engagement mechanism.

The board of the first aspect of the invention may be adjusted according to the method of the second aspect of the invention, and thus is able to maintain stability at the nose at maximum height due to the first leg sliding forward as the height is increased, as discussed therein.

The lateral distance between the position of the distal end of the first leg in the minimum height configuration and the position of the distal end of the first leg in the maximum height configuration may be no more than 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9% or no more than 10% of the length of the board member, (preferably no more than 5%), such as between 1% to 10%, preferably between 1% to 5%. For example, the distance between the position of the distal end of the first leg in the minimum height configuration and the position of the distal end of the first leg in the maximum height configuration may be no more than 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm, 70 mm, 80 mm, 90 mm or 100 mm (preferably no more than 50 mm), such as between 10 mm to 100 mm, or between 10 mm to 50 mm. Lower distances mean that the distal end of the first leg moves backwards away from the front end of the board member by a smaller amount, thus maintaining stability at the front end of the board member as the height of the board is increased.

In preferred embodiments, the primary rotation axis locks in the standing position as described hereinabove, and the height of the board can be adjusted without any substantial relative rotation of the upper and lower portions of the second leg about the primary rotation axis.

In the stowed position, the first and second legs are folded such that their distal 25 ends point towards the same end of the board member.

In preferred embodiments, the first leg comprises a curved portion at its top end, such that the first leg curves towards the board member at its top end. This allows the first leg to be folded down more closely to the second leg and/or the board member in the stowed position, and in preferred embodiments, allows the first and second legs to be substantially flush in the stowed position (at least one way of achieving which is described hereinbelow).

In especially preferred embodiments, the board is configured such that the lower portion of the second leg lies on top of the upper portion in the stowed position, and the two portions are preferably parallel. In such embodiments, the distance between the tertiary rotation axis and the secondary rotation axis may be greater than the distance between the tertiary rotation axis and the pivot point of the board member with the first leg. The extra length associated with the second leg allows the upper and lower portions of the second leg to rotate about the primary rotation axis such that the lower portion comes to lie on top of the upper portion in the stowed position. This is an aesthetically pleasing arrangement as the second leg appears as substantially a single member to a consumer in the stowed position, for example as a single tube where both portions comprise a single member. In such embodiments, the height adjustment mechanism may comprise an angled slot or track such that the distance between the track or slot and the board member increases in the direction from the rear end of the board member to the front end of the board member. Thus, the board is configured such that, as the height is increased, the top end of the first leg slides along and down relative to the board member. This allows the board member to remain substantially level at all heights, as it compensates for any angling of the board member which would otherwise occur due to the legs having different leg/leg pivot point to leg/board member pivot point distances (as described above). The track or slot may form an angle with the board member of no more than 35°, 30°, 25°, 20°, 15°, 10°, 5°, 4°, 3°, 2° or 1°, such as between 1° to 20°, 1° to 15 °, 1° to 10°, or 1° to 5°. In some embodiments, the slot may form an angle with the board member of between 2° to 5°, such as between 3° to 5°. In other embodiments, the height adjustment slot or track may be angled away from the board similarly to as is described above but is substantially curved such that its distance from the board member increases more quickly in the direction from the rear end of the board member to the front end of the board member.

Similarly, in embodiments which do not utilise a track or slot but instead use hooks or notches attached to the board member, the series of hooks or notches (i.e. the path followed between the first notch or hook to the last notch or hook) may mn parallel with the board member along its length, or may form an angle with the board member of no more than 35°, 30°, 25°, 20°, 15°, 10° 5°, 4°, 3°, 2° or 1°, such as between 1° to 20°, 1° to 15 °, 1° to 10°, or 1° to 5°.

In other embodiments, the upper and lower portions of the second leg need not be laid one on top of the other, but may instead lie side-by-side in the stowed position.

This may not be as aesthetically pleasing of an arrangement, but avoids the need for the difference between leg/leg pivot point to leg/board member pivot point distance for each leg as described above, and therefore avoids the need for the slot or track (or notch or hook path) to be angled.

In preferred embodiments, the height adjustable board is configured such that, in the stowed position, the overall length of the height adjustable board is no more than 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 6 cm, 7 cm, 8 cm, 9 cm or no more than 10 cm more than the length of the board member. This means that there is no more than 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm etc. extra overall length added to the board by the folded legs, allowing for a smaller stowed configuration than a prior art board of equivalent board member size and leg(s) length, while still offering the same height adjustability and stability offered by such boards.

In other embodiments, the overall length of the board in the stowed position is no more than the length of the board member -i.e. there is no extra overall length added to the board by the folded legs in the stowed configuration, as the legs are fully contained within the length of the board member.

This embodiment thus provides for a much smaller stowed configuration than prior art boards (especially ironing boards) of equivalent board member size and leg(s) length, while maintaining the same height adjustability and stability.

In preferred embodiments, the first or second leg protrudes from either end of the other of the first or second leg no more than 10 cm, 9 cm, 8 cm, 7 cm, 6 cm, 5 cm, 4 cm, 3 cm, 2 cm or no more than 1 cm. In some embodiments, the first or second leg substantially does not protrude from either end of the other of the first or second leg.

The first and/or second leg (which may be the upper and/or lower portions of the second leg) may comprise a single leg member or a plurality of legs members, such as two leg members, the plurality of leg members being spaced apart and connected such that they move at substantially the same time upon movement or rotation of the leg. In preferred embodiments, any leg comprising a single leg member branches at its distal end into two or more feet and/or the leg members of a leg comprising a plurality of leg members define outwardly tapering (relative to the respective leg) feet at their distal ends, so as to make the respective leg(s) wider at the base, which imparts extra stability to such boards.

In embodiments comprising one or more legs comprising a plurality of leg members, the leg members of the or each leg are preferably substantially parallel along their length, but need not be substantially parallel in other embodiments.

The first and/or second leg (or one or more leg members thereof) may be arranged to travel through the gap formed between two leg members of the other of the first and/or second leg.

In preferred embodiments, the first or second leg comprises two spaced apart, connected, leg members which preferably extend into oppositely outward tapering feet at their distal ends, and the other of the first or second leg comprises a single leg member arranged in and to travel through the gap between the two leg members of the other leg, and preferably itself branches into two outwardly tapering feet. In such embodiments, the leg comprising a single leg member is preferably positioned in the space between the pair of parall el leg members of the other leg in the stowed position -this may include at least a portion or all of any associated feet. This serves to further reduce the overall size of the board in the stowed configuration. If this is combined with a curved first leg top end, in some embodiments the first and second legs are able to lie substantially flush in the stowed configuration with the single leg member leg positioned in the space between the leg members of the other leg, which provides for a very small stowed profile.

In embodiments wherein at least one leg comprises at least one foot connected to at least one leg member, the or each leg member may be contained within the area of the board member in the stowed position. In such embodiments, the foot or feet may also be contained within the area of the board member, or may protrude outside of the board member. The foot or feet thus may protrude out of the sides of the board member while not significantly increasing the overall length of the board, or not increasing it at all, which allows the board to have a stable base formed by the foot or feet while having a reduced length in the stowed position.

The board may be adjustable to a minimum stable height of 80 cm, 90 cm, 100 cm, 110 cm or 120 cm, for example.

The height adjustable board may further comprise at least one fold-out portion hingedly connected to the board member and/or one or more slide-out portions slidably connected to the board member. The or each fold-out portion may be folded beneath or above the board member in the stowed configuration in order to allow for a larger amount of useful area of the board in the standing position while still allowing for a reduced size stowed position. The or each fold-out portion is preferably contained within the area of the board member in the stowed position. Such fold-out portions may be useful for example as an iron holder for an ironing board. The same applies to any slide-out portion, except that it will slide in and out rather than swing in and out on a hinge or pivot.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of height adjustment of a height adjustable ironing board of the first aspect of the invention from a first height configuration to a second height configuration, comprising the steps of a) releasing the engagement between the first leg and the board member in the first height configuration; b) repositioning the top end of the first leg along the length of the bottom surface of the board member; and c) placing the board into a second height configuration by forming an engagement between the repositioned first leg and the board member.

When the board is adjusted from a lower first height configuration to a higher second height configuration, the top end of the first leg is repositioned closer to the front end of the board member. This in turn shifts the position of the tertiary rotation axis forward, and ensures that the lateral distance between the distal end of the first leg and the front end of the board member is only reduced by a relatively small amount as I1 the height is increased, thus maintaining stability at the nose (front end of the board member) at maximum board height. The lateral distance between the position of the distal end of the first leg in the minimum height configuration and the position of the distal end of the first leg in the maximum height configuration may be as described in the first aspect of the invention, and the method may comprise moving the distal end of the first leg towards or away from the front end of the board member by such a distance, or by a distance within such a range of distance.

The method may comprise detaching the first leg from the board member in step a) such that it comes free from direct attachment to the board member, but in preferred embodiments where the first leg is slidably retained onto the board member by a slot or track, the first leg remains slidably engaged with the board member such that step b) comprises sliding the first leg along the slot or track.

In some embodiments wherein the board comprises a height adjustment slot or track, steps b) and c) may comprise repositioning the top end of the first leg to, and placing it in locked engagement at, substantially any point along the slot or track (i.e. continuous/indiscrete height adjustment), for example by applying a friction engagement/friction fit mechanism.

In embodiments wherein the board member comprises a series of notches or hooks along its bottom surface and the first leg comprises a height adjustment portion (such as a horizontal bar) at its top end configured to engage with said notches or hooks, step a) may comprise separating the height adjustment portion from a first notch or hook with which it is in locked engagement, such as by moving the first notch or hook away, for example by using a lever. In such embodiments, steps b) and c) comprise inserting the height adjustment portion into a second notch or hook and forming a locked engagement between the height adjustment portion and the second notch or hook, the second notch or hook being located at a different position along the length of the board member to the first notch or hook.

In embodiments wherein the primary rotation axis locks in the standing position, the method may comprise height adjustment without any substantial relative rotation of the upper and lower portions of the second leg about the primary rotation axis.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a height adjustable board of the first aspect of the invention, the board being in a first height configuration.

Figure 2 is a side view of the board of Figure 1, in the first height configuration.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the board of Figure 1, the board being in a second height configuration.

Figure 4 is a side view of the board of Figure 1, in the second height configuration.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the board of Figure 1 as it is being folded into the stowed position by an embodiment of the method of the third aspect of the invention.

Figure 6 is a side view of the board of Figure 1 as it is being folded into the stowed position.

Figure 7 is a top-down view of the board of Figure 1 in the stowed position.

Figure 8 is a bottom-up view of the board of Figure 1 in the stowed position.

Figure 9 is a side view of the board of Figure 1 in the stowed position.

Figure 10 illustrates a cross-section through the board of Figure 1. with a close-up view of the portion showing the height adjustment slot located therein.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate, respectively, perspective and side views of an embodiment of a height adjustable board 100 of the first aspect of the invention in a first (lower) height configuration. The board 100 comprises: a board member 102 comprising a front end 104, a rear end 106, a top surface 108 and a bottom surface 110; a first leg 112 (comprising two leg members 114, 116) slidably retained at its top end 117 to a height adjustment slot 118 (see Figure 10) on the bottom surface 110 of the board member 102 towards the rear end 106; a second, articulating leg 120 comprising upper and lower portions (122 and U4 respectively) rotatably connected about a primary rotation axis 126 by means of a rotatable locking mechanism 128. The first leg 112 curves inwardly towards the board member 102 at its top end 117. The upper portion 122 of the second leg 120 is rotatably connected to the bottom surface 110 of the board 102 about a secondary rotation axis 132 towards the front end 104, and the first leg 112 is rotatably connected to the lower portion 124 of the second leg 120 about a tertiary rotation axis 134. The distance between the tertiary rotation axis 134 and the leg/board member pivot is longer for the second leg 120. The leg members 114, 116 of the first leg 112 together define two outwardly tapering feet 136, 136', and the second leg 120 branches at its distal end into two feet 138, 138'. The board 100 further comprises a fold-out portion 140 hingedly connected to the rear end 106 of the board member 102 which is configured to be folded into the board member 102 when not in use.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate, respectively, perspective and side views of the board of Figure 1 in a second (higher) height configuration. The board 100 is switched between the first height configuration of Figures 1 and 2, and the second height configuration of Figures 3 and 4 in the following way, according to an embodiment of the method of the second aspect of the invention. First, the engagement between the first leg 112 and the board member 102 is released -this may be achieved by means known in the art, such as an adjustment bar comprising a series of notches (arranged to engage with the top end 117 of the first leg 112) being moved away by means of a lever.

The top end 117 of the first leg 112 is then repositioned along the height adjustment slot 118 (shown in Figure 10), which causes the tertiary rotation axis 134 to move forward towards the front end 104, which ensures that the front foot 136 of the first leg 112 does not move away from the front end 104 too far, thus maintaining stability at the front end 104 in the second height configuration. As the first leg 112 slides along the angled slot 118 (see Figure 10), it also moves down relative to the board member 102 (i.e. further away from the board member 102) -this compensates for the fact that the leg/board member pivot to tertiary rotation axis 134 distance is shorter for the first leg 112, and ensures that the board member 102 remains substantially level in the second height configuration. The repositioned first leg 112 is then placed into engagement with the board member 102.

As can be seen from Figures 5 and 6, the board 100 is folded down from the standing position to the stowed position (illustrated in Figures 7-9) in the following way. First, if necessary, the engagement between the first leg 112 and the board member 102 is released in the same way as for height adjustment and the first leg 112 is slid along the height adjustment slot 118 to the rearmost end of the board 106. The first and second legs 112, 120 and the board member 102 are then rotated relative to each other about the primary, secondary and tertiary rotation axes 126, 132, 134 such that the upper portion 122 of the second leg 120 is brought closer to the board member 102, and the front end 104 of the board member 102 is brought closer to the feet 136, 136', 138, 138' of the first and second legs 112, 120 such that the first and second legs 112, 120 are folded down towards the bottom surface 110 of the board member 102. The upper and lower portions 122, 124 of the second leg 120 thus fold together about the primary rotation axis 126 and towards the board member 102, such that the lower portion 124 is laid down on top of the upper portion 122 (facilitated by the rotatable locking mechanism 128). The first leg 112 also folds down towards the board member 102 such that it sits flush with the second leg 120 against the board member 102. Instead of comprising separate steps, the sliding of the first leg 112 along the slot 118 and the folding of the legs 112, 120 could be performed substantially simultaneously, if sliding is required at all.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show various views of the board 100 in the final stowed configuration. As can be seen from these Figures, the first and second legs 112, 120 fold down such that they lie relatively flat against the board member 102 and their feet 136, 136', 138, 138' point towards the front end 104 thereof As can also be seen, the second leg 120 slots into the space between the two leg members 114, 116 of the first leg 112 and the first and second legs 112, 120 only protrude a very small distance beyond the board member 102, which greatly reduces the size of the board 100 in the I5 stowed position. In other embodiments, the board 100 could be configured such that the legs 112, 120 substantially do not protrude outside of the area defined by the board member 102. The legs 112, 120 also lie flush, which is facilitated by the curved top end 117 of the first leg 112, the second leg 120 slotting into the first leg 112, and the increased distance between the leg/board member pivot and tertiary rotation axis 134 in the second leg 120 (which allows the lower portion 124 to be laid down on top of the upper portion 122). The board 100 therefore has a much smaller profile in the stowed position than prior art boards.

In order to open the board 100 up from the stowed position to the standing position, the reverse process is followed, namely that the first and second legs 112, 120 are folded out away from the board member 102, and the upper and lower portions 122, 124 of the second leg 120 rotate about the primary rotation axis 126 until they form a substantially 180° angle, wherein the rotatable locking mechanism 128 locks them into that position. Then, if not already in engagement with the board member 102, the top end 117 of the first leg 112 is placed into engagement with the board member 102.

Figure 10 illustrates a cross-section through the board of Figure 1, and a close up view of the portion showing the height adjustment slot 118 located therein. As can be seen in Figure 10, the height adjustment slot 118 is angled and slidably retains the top end 117 of the first leg 112, such that it may slide therealong during height adjustment and during folding up or out into the stowed or standing position. In use, as the height of the board 100 is increased, the first leg 112 slides along the slot 117 (right to left in Figure 10), which ensures that the board member 102 remains substantially level at each height (which is required due to the leg/board member pivot to tertiary rotation axis 134 distance being larger for the second leg 120). The curved top end 117 of the first leg 112 allows the legs 112, 120 to fold down more closely to the board member 102 in the stowed position.

The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.