US20020023811A1

US20020023811A1 - Briefcase and work table combination

Info

Publication number: US20020023811A1
Application number: US09/941,431
Authority: US
Inventors: Renato Silvano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-08-28
Filing date: 2001-08-28
Publication date: 2002-02-28

Abstract

A new and improved apparatus is disclosed that will allow a briefcase to be propped up in a table-like fashion with four adjustable legs, enabling the briefcase to become an adjustable desk that is height-adjustable. The four adjustable legs would be pulled out individually from one side of the briefcase, which would eventually become the bottom of the table surface. Each of the four legs would be height-adjustable up until a length of thirty inches, which would allow the present invention to be used with a wide variety of heights, depending on a table height of an associated conference table, restaurant table, or lounge facitilies. Each of the legs would have at least three sections, with the sections being telescoping within each other for compact storage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns that of a new and improved apparatus that will allow a briefcase to be propped up in a table-like fashion with adjustable legs, enabling the briefcase to become an adjustable desk that is height-adjustable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,683, issued to Novak, discloses a carrying case convertible into a table which includes a lid portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,627, issued to Polatov, discloses a combination briefcase and table arrangement which includes a set of telescoping legs mounted at the underside of a briefcase body so that the legs support the briefcase a certain height above a floor surface when the legs are extended.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,604, issued to Bell et al., discloses a combination luggage case, stand, and table with an extension that can be used as an ironing board or a display table.

U.S. Pat. No. 873,855, issued to Goldin, discloses a dressing case for use while traveling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns that of a new and improved apparatus that will allow a briefcase to be propped up in a table-like fashion with four adjustable legs, enabling the briefcase to become an adjustable desk that is height-adjustable. The four adjustable legs would be pulled out individually from one side of the briefcase, which would eventually become the bottom of the table surface. Each of the four legs would be height-adjustable up until a length of thirty inches, which would allow the present invention to be used with a wide variety of heights, depending on a table height of an associated conference table, restaurant table, or lounge facitilies. Each of the legs would have at least three sections, with the sections being telescoping within each other for compact storage.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of a briefcase apparatus in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the briefcase apparatus that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the briefcase apparatus in detail, it is to be understood that the briefcase apparatus is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The briefcase apparatus is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present briefcase apparatus. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regard as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a briefcase apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a briefcase apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a briefcase apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a briefcase apparatus which is economically affordable and available to the buying public.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a briefcase apparatus which provides additional benefits not present in the prior art.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention as it would appear when the four legs are extended and the briefcase is open. [0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention as it would appear when the four legs are extended and the briefcase is open. The present invention concerns that of a new and improved apparatus that would allow a [0017] briefcase 2 to be propped up in a table-like fashion with adjustable legs 4, 6, 8, and 10, enabling the briefcase 2 to become an adjustable desk that is height-adjustable. Briefcase 2 would be comprised of two halves, a first half and a second half, which would be pivotally mounted to one another. Briefcase 2 could come in a wide variety of shapes but preferably would be approximately thirty inches in length, about twelve and one-half inches in width, and about five inches in depth. Each half of the briefcase would have a top panel, rear panel, and two side panels, a left side panel and a right side panel, with the first half and the second half of the briefcase each having an outer face.
The briefcase would have a pair of lock clasps located on the top panel of the first half of the briefcase and would also have a pair of locking mechanisms located on the top panel of the second half of the briefcase. When a user would want to temporarily lock the briefcase up, the user would place the first half of the briefcase flush against the second half of the briefcase, connect the first lock clasp to the first locking mechanism, and connect the second lock clasp to the second locking mechanism. [0018]
The [0019] adjustable legs 4, 6, 8, and 10 would be pulled out individually from one side of the briefcase 2, which would eventually become the bottom of the table surface. Legs 4 and 6 would be stored within compartments 12 and 13, respectively, while legs 8 and 10 would be stored within compartments 14 and 15, respectively. Each of the legs would be pivotally attached to the briefcase 2 within the appropriate compartment. All the compartments would be located within the briefcase 2 but would be accessible through the outer facing side of the second half of briefcase 2.
Each of the four legs would be height-adjustable up until a length of thirty inches, which would allow the present invention to be used with a wide variety of heights, depending on a table height of an associated conference table, restaurant table, or lounge facilities. Each of the legs would have at least three sections, with the sections being telescoping within each other for compact storage. [0020]
When the legs would not be in use and the briefcase would be used just as a normal briefcase, the legs would be folded into the compartments that would be located on the side of the briefcase. These compartments would allow the legs to not stick out when not being used and would ensure that the briefcase of the present invention would not damage a table surface of other surface while being used as only a briefcase. Each of the adjustable legs would preferably be fabricated from three telescoping sections, which would all telescope within one another to a length to allow each leg to be stored within a compartment when not in use. [0021]

Claims

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A combination briefcase and work table comprising:

(a) a briefcase having two halves, a first half and a second half, the first half and second half each having a top panel, rear panel, and two side panels, a left side panel and a right side panel, the first half and the second half of the briefcase each having an outer face, the rear panel of the first half of the briefcase being attached to the rear panel of the second half of the briefcase,

(b) a pair of compartments attached to the second half of the briefcase, the pair of compartments comprising a left compartment and a right compartment, the left compartment being located near the left side panel of the second half of the briefcase, the left compartment being accessible through the outer face of the second half of the briefcase, the right compartment being located near the right side panel of the second half of the briefcase, the right compartment being accessible through the outer face of the second half of the briefcase,

(c) a quartet of adjustable legs, a first leg, a second leg, a third leg, and a fourth leg, each of the legs having two ends, a first end and a second end, the first end of the first leg being pivotally attached to the inside of the left compartment within the briefcase near the top panel of the briefcase, the first end of the second leg being pivotally attached to the inside of the left compartment within the briefcase near the bottom panel of the briefcase, the first end of the third leg being pivotally attached to the inside of the right compartment within the briefcase near the top panel of the briefcase, the first end of the fourth leg being pivotally attached to the inside of the right compartment within the briefcase near the bottom panel of the briefcase, and

(d) a means for removably fastening the front panel of the first half of the briefcase to the front panel of the second half of the briefcase.

2. A combination briefcase and work table according to claim 1 wherein the combination briefcase and work table would be approximately eighteen inches in length, approximately twelve and one-half inches in width, and approximately five inches in thickness.

3. A combination briefcase and work table according to claim 1 wherein each of the adjustable legs would comprise three adjustable sections, each of the adjustable sections being telescoping within each other for each particular adjustable leg.

4. A combination briefcase and work table according to claim 1 wherein the means for removably fastening the front panel of the first half of the briefcase to the front panel of the second half of the briefcase further comprises:

(a) a pair of lock clasps located on the top panel of the first half of the briefcase, the pair of lock clasps comprising a first half and a second half,

(b) a pair of locking mechanisms located on the top panel of the second half of the briefcase, the pair of locking mechanisms comprising a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism,

(c) whereby a user would place the first half of the briefcase flush against the second half of the briefcase, connect the first lock clasp to the first locking mechanism, and connect the second lock clasp to the second locking mechanism.