SE1630149A1 - Portable standing desk - Google Patents

Abstract

11 Abstract A portable standing desk comprising a base and an upper member suitablefor forming a desk surface when supported on the base, wherein the basecomprises two lower members permanentlyjoined by a hinge means, saidhinge means being configured to allow the lower members to be foldedtogether substantially parallel for storage and to be folded out at an anglefrom each other to provide support for the upper member. To be published with Fig. 1.

Description

PORTABLE STANDING DESKTechnical field The invention relates to portable standing desks. More specifically, theinvention relates to a portable standing desk for use on top of a standard-height desk or similar piece of furniture to enable support of a laptop highenough to enable a standing work position.

Background Many people spend their days sitting in front of a computer at work or forleisure. Sitting down working with a computer for long periods of time oftenbrings various body pains and to mitigate such pains some people try tovary their working position using electronically height-adjustable desks orfixed standing desks.

Height-adjustable desks are expensive and typically only used in officeenvironments. However, many people use their laptops at home or on thego, in cafes, bars, trains, etc. and thus need a portable solution. A fewcurrently available products addresses the need of a portable solution.

A first known product is a product marketed under the name StandStand -see their website http://www.standstand.com for more information.StandStand comprises two separate lower members arrangeablesubstantially perpendicularly to form a base, and an upper memberattachable to the base for forming a desk surface. The upper and lowermembers are made of plywood. The lower members are attachable bymeans of tabs provided with a respective hook and corresponding matingportions on the opposite lower member onto which the hooks engage tointerlock the parts. The members are stored flat on top of each other. Whento be used, the lower members are interlocked by sliding the hooks of thetabs onto the mating portions of the other lower member so that theyinterlock. Thereafter, the upper member is placed on top of the base toprovide a support surface useful for supporting a laptop at an elevatedposition. Tabs provided at upper portions of the base engagecorresponding recesses provided in the upper member. The engagementbetween the tabs and recesses of the base and upper memberrespectively, prevents relative movement between the lower members andthus improves overall stability of the desk and reduces the risk of applyingmomentum between the lower members, which would risk breaking theirinterlocking means and reduce the stability.

There is a risk that the interlocking means are damaged during assembly ofthe product due to applied momentum when the upper member is not in 2 place. Further, the base has only one configuration and thus may not beable to be supported on narrow desks or desks with small or narrowsupport surface. Also, the assembly process may be complicated fordisabled people since multiple parts have to be aligned.

Another product is the ZestDesk. See http://www.zestdesk.com for moreinformation. The ZestDesk provides more bells and whistles than someother products but is also a more expensive, larger and heavier product.The ZestDesk weighs in at 5.5 kg and may thus by some people beconsidered too heavy for carrying around. lt is rather big with a fixed uppermember forming its primary support surface measuring about 64x58 cm.The desk has two support surface members - a first lower one for mouseand keyboard, and a second upper one for supporting a laptop or screenhigher up. Four telescopic legs are foldably attached to the lower supportsurface member such that the legs are foldable between a vertical positionfor supporting the first support surface member at an elevated height, and afolded position in which the legs are folded inwards under the lower supportsurface member for storage. Since the legs are telescopic, the height of thedesk may be varied. The upper supports surface member is supportedabove the lower support surface member by means of a length-adjustablestem. The overall product is complicated and expensive to manufacture.

Yet another product is the Levit8. See http://levit8.co. Levit8 is made of fourcardboard-like thin rectangular base members joined along their side edgesby textile bands to form hinges in-between. The base members form aclosed loop with enough slack in the hinges to allow for the base membersto be laid flat and then folded in double with all four base members stackedon top of each other for storage. When to be used, the closed loop isunfolded to form a rectangular hollow support structure with pairs ofopposite base members arranged substantially perpendicularly to eachother. Each base member is provided with a diagonal crease so as to allowthe hollow support structure to fold at said creases and fall inwards until thebase members meet and stabilize each other. The product requires noassembly of different members but it has some inherent drawbacks. Forexample, it provides no desk surface, which is somewhat limiting for astanding desk. lt only functions to provide elevated edges onto which alaptop may be balanced for work at an elevated height.

Tabletote is yet a portable standing desk. lt comprises a planar uppermember providing a desk surface. The lower side of the upper member isprovided with for sockets for receiving upper ends of four removabletelescopic legs. The bottom side of the upper member is further providedwith means for storing the four legs when not in use, and for storing further 3 accessories such as a cup holder. A drawback of the Tabletote is that it isbulky and has many parts.

A specific object is thus to provide an alternative portable standing deskwhich is small when collapsed, which is lightweight, which is easy toassemble, which provides a desk surface, and which can be adjusted formultiple working heights.

Summary This and other objects are achieved by a portable standing desk accordingto a first aspect comprising a base and an upper member suitable forforming a desk surface when supported on the base. The base comprisestwo lower members permanently joined by a hinge means. Said hingemeans being configured to allow the lower members to be folded togethersubstantially parallel for storage and to be folded out at an angle from eachother to provide support for the upper member. The provision of a hingebetween the lower members of the base enables the base to be adjusted todifferent footprints for support on other objects of varying size. A base withonly one mounted configuration has a specific footprint and thus may notbe suitable for use standing on a small or narrow object such as a small bardesk, hand rail or brick wall. ln an embodiment, the base is divided to comprise vertical sections.Dividing the base in sections allows for addition or removal of sections inorder to thereby provide a convenient means of adjusting the height of thebase and thus the height of the portable standing desk. ln an embodiment, the base is divided to comprise three such verticalsections, all of different height. The provision of three sections allows per-se three different height settings of the desk and to also make the sectionsdifferent height enables new combinations of sections giving additionalheight settings so that a total of four different height settings is available.Typically, the upper section is the highest one, and the two lower sectionsare lower and of different height. ln an embodiment, the sections are provided with interlocking meansconfigured to prevent at least relative horizontal movement between thesections. The interlocking means stabilize the base such that it will notaccidently fall over when two or more sections are used. ln an embodiment, the interlocking means comprise recesses providedcentrally along lower edge portions of the sections and correspondingprotrusions provided centrally along upper edge portions of at least two of 4 the sections. The edge portions provided with recesses centrally along theirlength are less sensitive to impact and wear than a corresponding centralridge or protrusion is. Thus, the provision of such recesses centrally alonglower edge portions makes the lower edge portions suitable for beingsupported directly on an underlying surface, which may thus be uneven,rough and hard without damaging the lower edge portion. The upper edgeportions do not need to be as robust since they will not stand directly onsuch rough surfaces but merely interact with a respective upper section ofthe standing desk. ln an embodiment, the largest section is provided with one or more firstrecesses configured to receive the other sections for storage level with themembers of the largest section. The recesses provide room for storing theother sections of the portable standing desk level with the largest sectionwhen folded and thus enables a very compact format suitable for superportable storage and handling. Here, the permanent attachment of thelower members using the hinge means helps keeping the largest sectionclosed. ln an embodiment, the height of the largest section is greater than the widthof base in its folded state. The larger height allows the other sections to fitin a recess provided within the bounds of the largest section. Thecircumferential material of the larger section around the recesses providesa robust design as compared to if material would only be present partlyaround the recess. ln an embodiment, the portable standing desk is further provided with across-member configured to be engaged between the lower members ofthe base to keep them at a controlled angle when unfolded. The cross-barprovides additional stability to the base. ln an embodiment, the largest section is further provided with a secondrecess configured to receive the cross-member for storage level with thelargest section. The second recess provides room for storing the cross-member of the portable standing desk level with the largest section whenfolded and thus enables a very compact format suitable for super portablestorage and handling. ln an embodiment, the second and/or first recess are at least partiallychamfered wherein left and right side portions of the respective cross-member and/or other sections are correspondingly chamfered. Thechamfers enables the larger section to trap the cross-member and/or othersections when the larger section is folded closed. Thus the cross-member 5 and/or other sections are safely locked in place during handling andstorage of the standing desk. ln an embodiment, the lower members are substantially planar. The planarnature of the members provides for compact stacking of members andenables use of planar materials, such as plywood or metal or plasticsheets. ln an embodiment, the hinge means is a piano hinge or flexible materialhinge. These types of hinges are attached to multiple portions of the lowermembers such that stress is distributed over a large portion of the lowermembers. This in turn enables use of less rigid thinner materials which aretypically lower-cost, lower-weight and easier to carry around. ln an embodiment, the upper member on its lower side is provided withthird recesses extending at an angle to each other, said third recessesbeing configured to receive corresponding protrusions provided at upperportions of the largest section. When the protrusions of the lower membersengage the recess of the upper member, relative movement between thelower members is mitigated, thereby enhancing stability of the portablestanding desk. ln an embodiment, the largest section and the upper member are providedwith mutually cooperating releasable attachment means for releasablyholding the upper member to the larger section for storage and transport,wherein said attachment means comprise pairs of magnets, hook-and-loopfasteners or snap-fit fasteners. The releasable attachment means providesa means for temporarily joining the base and the upper member for storageand transport. ln an embodiment, the releasable attachment means are provided on theinside of one of the lower members of the larger section and are configuredto engage the upper member through holes in the opposite lower memberof the upper section. The attachment means thus keeps the larger sectionclosed by trapping one of the lower members of the larger section betweenthe upper member and the other lower member of the larger section.Hence, the collapsed portable desk can be handled as a unit without fallingapart. Further, the attachment means engages the holes and thusmechanically prevents lateral relative movement between upper memberand base.

Brief description of drawings Figs. 1-12 show assembly of the portable standing desk, step-by-step. 6 Fig. 1 shows the collapsed desk ready for storage and transport.

Fig. 2 shows the first step of assembly being to separate the upper memberfrom the rest of the desk by releasing the releasable fastening means.

Fig. 3 shows the second step of assembly being to unfold the largestsection of the base.

Fig. 4 shows the base member laid out flat with the mid-size section,smallest section and cross-member exposed and ready to be lifted out ofthe first and second recesses respectively.

Fig. 5 shows the mid-size and smallest section lifted off the first and secondrecesses of the largest section.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the members of the portable standupdesk laid out flat.

Fig. 7 shows the upper section of the first and second lower membersfolded out at an angle to each other ready to receive the cross-member.

Fig. 8 shows the assembled base in its lowest-height configuration beforethe upper member is positioned on the base.

Figs. 9, 11, 12 and 13 show the portable standing desk in assembledconfiguration at four different heights offered by the three vertical sectionsof the base.

Fig. 10 shows adding of the mid-size and smallest sections of the base tothe largest section of the base in order to arrive at the highest-heightconfiguration also shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 shows a top view of the members of the portable standup desk laidoutflat portable standing deskbaseupper member first lower member second lower member hinge means largest sectionmid-size section KDOOQCDUI-ÄUJIQIJ smallest section |-\O interlocking means - recessesinterlocking means - protrusions IJIJ IJN) first recesses IJUJ cross-mem ber i-\J> second recess chamfered left side portionchamfered right side portionthird recesses IJU'| IJ IJ\I IJ00 releasable attachment means19 holes 20 protrusions provided for engaging upper memberTab/e 1 - Tab/e of reference numera/s Detailed description An embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described with referenceto the appended drawings.

As shown in Fig. 1, the portable standing desk 1 according to the inventionis normally stored as a flat package with its flat pieces laid on top of eachother. Such a package measures about 360x250x12 mm and weighs about1.3 kg. ln order to assemble the desk 1, the upper member 3 defining thedesk working surface is separated from the other components of the desk 1by pulling the upper member 3 away from the members 4, 5 of the foldedbase 2 so that the releasable attachment means normally keeping theupper member 3 attached to the base 2 is released.

The releasable attachment means comprises two pairs of neodymiummagnets 18 provided along the dotted lines of Fig. 2. Each pair of magnets18 comprise a magnet 3 mm thick with a radius of 10mm and anothermagnet 2 mm thick with 10 mm radius. The magnets 18 protrudes from theupper member 3 and the second lower member into the holes 19 when thebase 3 is collapsed, such that the magnets 18 touch.

The upper member 3, base 2 and cross-member 13 are made of 4 mmthick standard compact laminate, such as a laminate marketed under theFormica brand. The upper surface of the upper member 3 may be coveredby a sheet of injection molded thermoplastic TPE (not shown).

Once the upper member 3 is detached, the first and second members 4, 5of the base 2 are unfolded about the hinge 6 of the base 2 as shown inFigs 3 and 4.

Before unfolding the collapsed/folded base 2, two different-size lower-height sections 8, 9 of the base 2 are stored in a folded state in a firstrecess 12 of the base 2 as shown in Figs. 1-4. ln order to provide room themid-size section 8, smallest-size section 9 and for the cross-member 13whilst at the same time prevent the sections 8, 9 and cross-member 13from falling out of the first 12 and second 14 recesses when stored andhandled, edges of the first and second recesses are chamfered to define alarger inner space. Hence, the respective inner circumferences of eachrecess 12, 14 is larger than their respective outer circumference.

The second 14 and first 12 recesses are chamfered around at least someof their edges to increase the inner space defined by the first 12 andsecond 14 recesses wherein left 15 and right 16 side portions of therespective cross-member 13 and/or other sections 8, 9 are correspondinglychamfered.

The sections 7, 8, 9 are provided with interlocking means 10, 11 configuredto prevent relative horizontal movement between the sections 7, 8, 9. Theinterlocking means 10, 11 stabilize the base 2 such that it will not accidentlyfall over when two or more sections 7, 8, 9 are used. The interlockingmeans 10, 11 comprise recesses 10 provided centrally along lower edgeportions of the sections 7, 8, 9 and corresponding protrusions 11 providedcentrally along upper edge portions of at least two of the sections 8, 9. Theinterlocking means are configured to have the same design such that themid-size and smaller-size sections are interchangeable and can beattached to the largest section 7 singly or in any combination.

As shown in Fig. 7 the cross-member is attachable to the first 4 and second5 lower members by means of four hooks provided on the cross-member13 and four corresponding recesses provided in the first 4 and second 5lower members. ln order to attach the cross member to the first and secondlower members, the hooks are inserted into the corresponding wherein thecross-member 13 is subsequently vertically moved so that the hooksengage the first 4 and second 5 lower members. Once attached, thestability of the base 2 is enhanced. After the cross-member 13 has beenattached, the upper member 5 is attached to the base 2 by guiding upperprotrusions 20 of the base into third recesses 17 provided through theupper member 3, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Claims (15)

1. A portable standing desk (1) comprising a base (2) and an uppermember (3) suitable for forming a desk surface when supported on thebase (2), wherein the base (2) comprises two lower members (4, 5)permanentlyjoined by a hinge means (6), said hinge means beingconfigured to allow the lower members (4, 5) to be folded togethersubstantially parallel for storage and to be folded out at an angle from eachother to provide support for the upper member (3).

2. A portable standing desk (1) according to claim 1, wherein the base (2)is divided to comprise vertical sections (7, 8, 9).

3. A portable standing desk (1) according to claim 2, wherein the base (2)is divided to comprise three such vertical sections (7, 8, 9), all of differentheight.

4. A portable standing desk (1) according to claim 3, wherein the sections(7, 8, 9) are provided with interlocking means (10, 11) configured to preventat least relative horizontal movement between the sections (7, 8, 9).

5. A portable standing desk (1) according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein the interlocking means (10, 11) comprise recesses (10)provided centrally along lower edge portions of the sections (7, 8, 9) andcorresponding protrusions (11) provided centrally along upper edgeportions of at least two of the sections (8, 9).

6. A portable standing desk (1) according to claim 5, wherein the largestsection (7) is provided with one or more first recesses (12) configured toreceive the other sections for storage level with the members of the largestsecüon.

7. A portable standing desk (1) according to claim 6, wherein the height ofthe largest section is greater than the width of base in its folded state (3).

8. A portable standing desk (1) according to any one of claims 1-7, furtherprovided with a cross-member (13) configured to be engaged between thelower members (4, 5) of the base (3) to keep them at a controlled anglewhen unfolded.

9. A portable standing desk (1) according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein the largest section (7) is further provided with a secondrecess (14) configured to receive the cross-member (13) for storage levelwith the largest section (7).

10. A Portable standing desk (1) according to any one of claims 7-9,wherein the second (14) and/or first (12) recesses are at least partiallychamfered wherein left (15) and right (16) side portions of the respectivecross-member (13) and/or other sections (8, 9) are correspondinglychamfered.

11. A portable standing desk (1) according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein the lower members (4, 5) are substantially planar.

12. A portable standing desk (1) according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein the hinge means (6) is a piano hinge or flexible materialhinge.

13. A portable standing desk (1) according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein the upper member (6) on its lower side is provided withthird recesses (17) extending at an angle to each other, said third recesses(17) being configured to receive corresponding protrusions (20) provided atupper portions of the largest section (7).

14. A portable standing desk (1) according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein the largest section (7) and the upper member (3) areprovided with mutually cooperating releasable attachment means (18) forreleasably holding the upper member (3) to the larger section for storageand transport, wherein said attachment means (18) comprise pairs ofmagnets, hook-and-loop fasteners or snap-fit fasteners.

15. A portable standing desk (1) according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein the releasable attachment means (18) are provided on theinside of one of the lower members (4, 5) of the larger section and areconfigured to engage the upper member (3) through holes (19) in theopposite lower member (5, 4) of the upper section.