US20070158156A1

US20070158156A1 - Travel case with desk top

Info

Publication number: US20070158156A1
Application number: US11/327,767
Authority: US
Inventors: Bo-Cheng Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-06
Filing date: 2006-01-06
Publication date: 2007-07-12

Abstract

A travel case includes a desk top connected on a top thereof and the desk top is composed of a plurality of boards which are pivotably connected with each other by connection members located therebetween. The desk top can be folded to a compact size which is not larger than a top of the travel case. The boards can be pivoted outward to form a large area of the desk top which evenly extend from two sides of the travel case.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a travel case with a desk top which is foldable and pivotably connected to a top of the travel case.
2. The Prior Arts
A conventional travel case generally includes a collapsible handle, which is connected to a back of the travel case, and rollers connected to a bottom of the travel case. The user can pull the handle out and move the travel case by the rollers conveniently. Travelers, especially for those business travelers usually spend a lot of time on waiting for flights or buses so that most travelers will look for a café shop or restaurant having a table or desk to check schedules or even finish some paper works during period of waiting. However, there is limited space available for the travelers in airports or bus stations, some manufacturers invent a combination of handle and desk top on the travel cases. The handle is an elongate board and can be pivoted relative to the travel case to extend horizontally so that the board can be used as a desk top. Nevertheless, the desk top is cantilevered to the travel case so that it cannot support a heavy load or the travel case falls.
The present invention provides a travel case with a desk top, wherein the two ends of the desk top extend from two sides of the travel case so that the loads can be arranged to balance the travel case.
The present invention provides a travel case with a desk top, wherein a connection device is connected between the travel case and the desk top so as to position the desk top at a desired orientation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a travel case with a desk top which comprises a plurality of boards pivotably connected with each other by connection members. A connection device is connected between the travel case and one of the boards so that the desk top can be extended to form a desk top with large area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a travel case with a desk top on a top thereof in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows that the desk top is pivoted 90 degrees;
FIG. 3 shows that the boards of the desk top are pivoted outward;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view to show the desk top of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view to show the boards are overlapped with each other;
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view to show the connection of the connection device and the boards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, a travel case 1 in accordance with the present invention includes a flat top and wheels are connected to an underside of the travel case 1. A collapsible handle is connected to a back of the travel case 1. A desk top 2 is connected to the top of the travel case 1 by a connection device 3 and the desk top 2 is composed of a plurality of boards, a first board 21, a second board 22 and a third board 23 in this embodiment. The boards 21, 22, 23 are pivotably connected with each other by connection members 24, 25 located therebetween. The connection device 3 is connected between the travel case 1 and the first board 21.
The first board 21 has a first recess 212 and a second recess 213 defined in two sides thereof. Two opposite insides of each of the first recess 212 and the second recess 213 has a hole 214 defined therein. The second board 22 has a third recess 221 defined in one side thereof and a hole 222 is defined in each of two opposite insides of the third recess 221. The third board 23 has a fourth recess 231 defined in one side thereof and a hole (not shown) is defined in each of two opposite insides of the fourth recess 231. A first connection member 24 is pivotably engaged with the first recess 212 and the third recess 221 by inserting pins 27 into the holes 214 of the first recess 212, the holes 222 in the third recess 221 and holes 241 in two ends of the first connection member 24. A second connection member 25 is pivotably engaged with the second recess 213 and the fourth recess 231 by inserting pins 27 into holes 214 in the second recess 213, the holes in the fourth recess 231 and holes 251 in two ends of the second connection member 25.
Referring to FIG. 5, a depth of each of the first, second, third and fourth recesses 212, 213, 221, 231 is substantially the same as a thickness of each of the first, second and third boards 21, 22, 23. A width of the first connection member 24 is substantially the same as a sum of the thickness of the first and second boards 21, 22. A thickness of the second connection member 25 is substantially the same as the thickness of each of the first, second and third boards 21, 22, 23. A width of the second connection member 25 is substantially the same as a sum of the thickness of the first, second and third boards 21, 22, 23. By the specific arrangement, the second board 22 can be pivoted about the first connection member 24 and overlaps on the first board 21, and the third board 23 can be pivoted about the second connection member 25 and overlaps on the second board 22 to form a compact size of the desk top 2.
The connection device 3 includes a disk having a central hole 32 and an annular tooth 31 is located around the central hole 32. The disk is fixed on the top of the travel case 1 and a bearing 33 is engaged with the central hole 32. The first board 21 has a through hole and a bolt 26 extends through the through hole and is connected to the bearing 33. The desk top 2 can be pivoted relative to the disk as desired as shown in FIG. 2. The first board 21 includes a plurality of ridges 211 which are engaged with the annular tooth 31 so that when rotating the desk top 2, the ridges 211 are engaged with the annular tooth 31 to position the desk top 2.
Two securing members 11 are pivotably connected to two sides of the travel case 1 so as to secure the desk top 2. Each of the two securing members 11 is composed of two L-shaped bars and two rollers 111 are connected to the two securing members 11 respectively. The third board 23 includes two flanges 232 extending from two ends thereof and when the third board 23 is pivoted to overlap on the second board 22, the two flanges 232 face upward. The rollers 111 are engaged with the two flanges 232 to secure the desk top 2 as shown in FIG. 5.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, when using the desk top 2, the two securing members 11 are pivoted outward to let the rollers 111 move over the flanges 232. The third board 23 and the second board 22 are then respectively pivoted outward to form a desk top with large area. It is noted that the second and third boards 22, 23 are evenly extended from two sides of the travel case 1 so that it is easily to maintain the balance of the travel case 1 when using the desk top 2. When the desk top 2 is folded, the area of the folded desk top 2 is not larger than the top of the travel case 1.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A travel case with a desk top, comprising

a travel case;

a desk top composed of a plurality of boards which are pivotably connected with each other by connection members; and

a connection device connected between the travel case and one of the boards.

2. The travel case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection device includes a disk having an annular tooth and the board is connected to the connection device and includes a plurality of ridges which are engaged with the annular tooth.

3. The travel case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the desk top includes a first board, a second board and a third board, the first board has a first recess and a second recess defined in two sides thereof, the second board has a third recess defined in one side thereof and the third board has a fourth recess defined in one side thereof, a first connection member is pivotably engaged with the first recess and the third recess, a second connection member is pivotably engaged with the second recess and the fourth recess, a depth of each of the first, second, third and fourth recesses is substantially the same as a thickness of each of the first, second and third boards, a width of the first connection member is substantially the same as a sum of the thickness of the first and second boards, a thickness of the second connection member is substantially the same as the thickness of each of the first, second and third boards, a width of the second connection member is substantially the same as a sum of the thickness of the first, second and third boards.

4. The travel case as claimed in claim 1, wherein two ends of the first connection member are pivotably connected to two respective insides of the first and third recesses, and two ends of the second connection member are pivotably connected to two respective insides of the second and fourth recesses.

5. The travel case as claimed in claim 1, wherein two securing members are pivotably connected to two sides of the travel case so as to secure the desk top.

6. The travel case as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the two securing members is composed of two L-shaped bars and two rollers are connected to the two securing members respectively.

7. The travel case as claimed in claim 6, wherein the third board includes two flanges extending from two ends thereof and the rollers are engaged with the two flanges.