US3090330A

US3090330A - Portable desk

Info

Publication number: US3090330A
Application number: US185414A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence A Best
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-04-05
Filing date: 1962-04-05
Publication date: 1963-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 1980-05-21

Description

May 21, 1963 c. A. BEST 3,090,330 PORTABLE DESK Filed April 5, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l /-7g. 4 7 23\ l 7 T 29 33 22 2/ 32 -41 llll 34 E 23. 22 4 5 4 Clarence A. Best 1 N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,090,330 PORTABLE DESK Clarence A. Best, P.O. Box 341, New Albany, Ind. Filed Apr. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 185,414 3 Claims. (Cl. 108-43) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in portable desks and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted -to be carried on the body in a position for convenient use at all times.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a portable desk of the aforementioned character which may be expeditiously and compactly folded in a novel manner when it is not being used.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved portable, folding desk of the character described which is adapted to carry for the convenience of the user a pencil, pen, notebook and perhaps various other articles of stationery.

Other objects of the invention are .to provide a portable, folding desk of the character set forth which is comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, showing a portable desk embodying the present invention unfolded and ready for use;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, showing the desk in folded position on the body of the user;

FIGURE 3 is a view in front elevation, showing the desk after the first step in the opening operation has been completed;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view in front elevation of the device, showing same in open or unfolded position with a portion broken away; and

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially rectangular vertical plate 7 of suitable material, preferably Wood. The plate 7, which may also be of any desired dimensions, is adapted to be suspended in front of the body of the user, as indicated at 8. Toward this end, one end of an inelastic neck strap 9 is secured to the upper end of the body plate 7 adjacent one of the vertical edges thereof, as indicated at 10. The other end portion of the neck strap 9 is adapted to be adjustably connected to the upper end of the plate 7 adjacent the other vertical edge thereof through the medium of a suitable buckle 11 on said plate. An elastic body-encircling strap 12 has one end connected at 13 to one of the vertical edges of the body plate 7 adjacent the lower end thereof. The other or free end of the elastic strap 12 is provided with a snap hook .14 which is engageable with a loop 15 on the other vertical edge of the plate 7.

Secured at 16 for rotation on the lower front portion of the body plate 7 is a turntable or disk '17 of wood or other suitable material. The marginal or peripheral portion of the disk 17 is operable in guides in the form of

cleats

18 and 19 which are secured at right angles to each 3,090,330 Patented May 21, 1963 other on the lower end portion and one of the marginal side portions of the plate 7. The faces of the

cleats

18 and 19 which abut the plate 7 are rabbeted as indicated at 20 to accommodate the peripheral portion of the disk 17.

Fixedly mounted tangentially on the periphery of the disk 17 is a bar 21 which also is of wood or other suitable material. Hingedly secured as at 22 on the bar 21 is a rectangular top or panel 23 providing a writing surface or support. The

members

7 and 23 are of substantially the same dimensions. Mounted on the free end of the top or writing panel 23 is a headed pin 24. An elastic tab 25 is provided on the marginal portion of the plate 7 which carries the cleat 19, said tab being engageable with the pin 24 for securing the desk in folded or closed position as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing. Hingedly secured at 26 on the underside of the top or writing panel 23, is a wire prop, brace or leg 27. The free end portion of the foldable leg 27 is engageable in a notch 28 provided therefor in the upper edge of the cleat 18 for retaining said leg in open or operative position.

Also mounted on the underside of the top or writing panel 23 is a transversely extending cleat or the like 29 having openings 30 therein which accommodate writing instruments 32 which are removably mounted in an elastic holder or strap 32 on said top or writing panel 23. The cleat 29 is also provided with a notch or recess 33 which accommodates the leg 27 when said leg is folded. Also affixed to the top or writing panel 23 is a cleat or bar 34 which is flush with the free longitudinal edge of said top 23. The

members

29 and 34 are adapted to abut the plate 7 and function as spacers for the upper portions of said plate and the member 23 when the device is folded as in FIGURE 2 of the drawing.

It is thought that the use of the desk will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the device closed as in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, the elastic tab 25 is disengaged from the pin 24 and the panel 23 is swung laterally to open position as seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawing. The panel 23 is then swung clockwise with the disk 17 until the bar 21 comes to rest on the upper end of the cleat 19 as shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawing. Then, the panel 23. is swung downwardly to a substantially horizontal position (FIGURE 6) and the leg 27 is engaged in the notch 28 for supporting said panel in said horizontal position on the cleat 18. When the device is in closed or folded position the

members

7 and 23, in addition to writing instruments as indicated at 3 1, are adapted to receive and retain therebetween a notebook and other articles. When the panel 23 is in the positions of FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawing, counterclockwise turning of said panel is prevented by the engagement of one end portion of the now vertical bar 21 with the opposed end of the lower cleat 18, said bar 21 being recessed as indicated at 35 to receive said cleat.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, the plate 7 may, if desired, be of metal of sufiicient thickness to serve as a protector or shield against bullets. A bullet will penetrate the panel 23 before being stopped by the plate 7. Then, by measuring the diameter of the hole left in the panel 23 the caliber of the bullet may be determined.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable desk comprising a substantially vertical body plate, means for securing said plate on the body of a user, a vertical diskrotatably mounted on said plate in parallelism therewith, a writing panel hingedly mounted on the disk for swinging movement to a substantially horizontal operative position, means torsupporting said panel in said operative position, andmear s for limiting rotation of the disk and the panel thereon in opposite directions, the last-named means including cleats mounted on the plate at rightangles to each other with one end in the path of the panel for engagement thereby.

2. The combination of claim 1, said cleats having rabbets therein rotatably receiving the peripheral portion of the disk. I

3. The combination of claim 2, the first-named means comprising a leg hingedly mounted on the panel and engageable with the plate and one of the cleats;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bell May 23, 1882 Abbott .2 June 7, 1887 Keck May 8, 1906 Morde June 16, 1925 Conrad Aug. 30, 1927 Folmer June 14, 1932 Kruse Feb. 21, 1950 Herman Dec. 24, 1957 Wadsworth Dec. 2, 1958 Noland Nov. 21, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS France June 28, 1961

Claims

1. A PORTABLE DESK COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL BODY PLATE, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID PLATE ON THE BODY OF A USER, A VERTICAL DISK ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID PLATE IN PARALLELISM THEREWITH, A WRITING PANEL HINGEDLY MOUNTED ON THE DISK FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT TO A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL OPERATIVE POSITION, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID PANEL IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION, AND MEANS FOR LIMITING ROTATION OF THE DISK AND THE PANEL THEREON IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, THE LAST-NAMED MEANS INCLUDING CLEATS MOUNTED ON THE PLATE AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER WITH ONE END IN THE PATH OF THE PANEL FOR ENGAGEMENT THEREBY.