US20100236884A1

US20100236884A1 - Luggage Table

Info

Publication number: US20100236884A1
Application number: US12/729,011
Authority: US
Inventors: Trina D. Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-20
Filing date: 2010-03-22
Publication date: 2010-09-23

Abstract

A luggage table that is configured to be securely and seamlessly attached to the handle of typical luggage in such a manner that the user can cater the table to the user's needs via adjustments and positioning. The table is such that it can be seamlessly stored in an outer luggage pocket and also removed from this pocket. The table also contains a reinforcement piece to maintain balance and account for weight issues. A locking mechanism is adjustable so that the table can be tilted to virtually any degree to accommodate a traveler regardless of the external constraints, conditions or limitations.

Description

This is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional patent application No. 61/161,945 filed on Mar. 20, 2009, and priority is claimed thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a table that is configured to be securely and seamlessly attached to the handle of a typical piece of luggage in such a manner that the user can cater the table to the user's needs via adjustments and positioning.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Traveling involves one of the most unpredictable endeavors a person can undertake, and typically involves a good deal of waiting. People often find themselves waiting for a flight. Or waiting for a bus. Or waiting for a train. People also find themselves waiting in a hotel lobby or at some other unforeseen location. Sometimes there are long lines at the taxi stands or the person tasked with picking up a traveler is running late. These scenarios also don't include other such issues as being in a standing room only waiting area. Or being forced to sit in a typical waiting area composed of banks of chairs. Of course, children also may be involved as well. In all of this, there are perhaps two primary constants. First, some sort of luggage is typically involved. And second, travelers often find themselves trying to eat and drink while waiting.
Because of those factors, there is a need for a table that can be easily availed and also easily stowed. The table needs to be sturdy and steady so that comfortable eating and drinking can occur. In addition, the need relates to the fact that the table must be compact but large enough so that meals such as sandwiches can be prepared. Moreover, events happen quickly while traveling. This means that such an invention would need to be very easy to attach and remove, to include seamless storage without adding significant extra burden. The present invention satisfies each of these needs. The table of the present invention consists of a conventional sturdy material such as metal, hard heavy-duty plastic or PLEXIGLAS™. The table is formed with a reinforcement piece that corresponds with the latch mechanism of the present invention. These elements assist in permitting the user to tighten and adapt the table to varying types of luggage handles. And when the table needs to be stowed, it can quickly be removed from the luggage handle and slipped into a flat pocket of the luggage. In this manner, the present invention solves the need for quick and easy ability to stow and use the table for such activities as eating, drinking, working on a laptop, or even writing or coloring. In addition, the present invention offers the ability for the user to rest his or her head in a more comfortable and adaptable manner than merely trying to sleep without a place to rest the head.
There are a number of items that seek to include a table or workstation with a carrying case type product. However, these items differ from the present invention because the present invention makes the process of actuating the table element seamless and quick, which is much more conducive to the unpredictability associated with travel and waiting. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,258 issued to Hawley on Oct. 30, 1990, is a combination luggage, table and vanity. Unlike the present invention, Hawley requires a relatively complex set of hinges, mounts, and pivots to make the relevant transformation. The present invention, in contrast, does not require that a user purchase such specially produced luggage, as is the case with Hawley. In addition, the present invention is not bulky and as involved as Hawley in terms of transformation into such a table.
Other carrying items relate more to U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,355, a portable workstation issued to Thorp on May 30, 2000. Items such as Thorp are portable and involve a table, but do not solve the unique goals of the present invention in terms of traveling. Items such as Thorp also are mutually exclusive, meaning that the user must purchase the workstation instead of merely adapting the table to a preferred existing luggage or carrying case.
There remains a need for a sturdy table that can be easily attached and removed in the most constricted of travel situations. Currently, travelers find themselves in many of the situations described above. Moreover, people also are in the unenviable position of using adjacent seats as tables, which of course causes many problems in terms of convenience and even height. The present invention solves these needs through the use of its latch mechanism and reinforcement piece that permit an adaptable and stable eating, resting and work environment.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is a table that is formed to secure to an existing luggage handle. In addition, the table is sturdy and also formed to slide seamlessly into an external pouch. A latch mechanism is attached to the table via a reinforcement piece located at the center of the table. The user places the table at a designated point and designated angle on the luggage handle. The user secures the table to the luggage handle via the latch mechanism until the table is immovable. The table itself is structured to hold food and other items in a steady fashion. An additional embodiment of the present invention forms the table with a slight cup holder grate with depth of about ¾ of an inch.
Upon removal of the table from the luggage handle, the user releases the latch mechanism from the luggage handle. The latch mechanism is formed to be foldable so that the user can fold the latch mechanism relatively flat against the bottom end of the table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the bottom end of the table of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the table secured to a luggage handle.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the table secured to a luggage handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a table (10) that is configured to be securely and seamlessly attached to the handle of a typical luggage in such a manner that the user can cater the table (10) to the user's needs via adjustments and positioning. FIG. 1 provides a view of the table (10) of the present invention. The table (10) is preferably formed to be planar. The conventional material of the table (10) is formed of a sturdy hard plastic or Plexiglas TM in the preferred embodiment, although other relatively hard material such as metal also will suffice. The bottom end of the table (10) is formed with a reinforcement piece (20) that is attached to the bottom end of the table (10). The reinforcement piece (20) is a housing for a means of attaching table (10) to a surface. The reinforcement piece (20) is compact and of conventionally strong material. The reinforcement piece (20) also extends, in terms of thickness, away from the bottom end of the table (10) only so much as is necessary to serve as a centering weight. For example, should something be placed atop table (10), table (10) might be inclined to shift so that it tilts into a different plane than desired. Reinforcement piece (20), because it adds weight toward the center of table (10), helps to balance table (10) so that something placed atop table (10) will not have as much—or any—displacing effect to alter the plane of table (10). This is because extra weight toward the center of table (10), caused by reinforcement piece (20), will cause a greater amount of weight to be needed to cause the plane of table (10) to shift. The greater the weight of reinforcement piece (20), the less likely a cup or similar item placed atop table (10) will cause the plane of table (10) to shift. In terms of length, the reinforcement piece (20) serves as a centering weight that encompasses the middle of the bottom end of the table (10). Should the user determine that more or less weight is desired to prevent displacement of the plane of table (10), the user can, via any conventional means, attach more or less weight to reinforcement piece (20)—for example, via hook-and-loop type fasteners, the user could provide attach weights to reinforcement piece (20).
As FIG. 1 demonstrates, one means for attaching the table (10) to a surface is via a latch mechanism (30) secured to and emanating from the reinforcement piece (20). The latch mechanism (30) is a conventional lock or latch that can be tightened or loosened by a user. The preferred embodiment envisions a flexible cuff for the latch mechanism (30) so that the user can cater the latch mechanism (30) to both a round and a square luggage handle (40). The latch mechanism (30) also is configured to tighten at any location via conventional locking means. From this, the latch mechanism (30) makes it possible to position the table (10) at any angle the user wishes. For example, if the user wanted the table (10) to be positioned at a 45-degree angle, the latch mechanism (30) will still be at the middle of the table (10) and capable of fitting around the luggage handle (40). The luggage handle (40) also can be adjusted by the user to extend higher or lower as is the case for most typical luggage, which makes it possible to achieve various angles of the table (10).
The table (10) itself is formed to be thin. In an alternative embodiment, a relatively small—in regards to thickness—outward extension of the reinforcement piece (20) also has curved or otherwise smooth edges for easier slideablity. The table (10) is formed to be of slightly less width and length than standard luggage. This is so that the table (10) can slide into and out of a pocket of a luggage.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are front and side views respectively of the present invention where a table (10) is secured to a luggage handle (40). As mentioned above, the table (10) can be angled at virtually any angle based on the locking properties of the latch mechanism (30). It also should be noted that the latch mechanism (30) is adaptable in that it can be unlocked and locked again to work with the user's changing needs in a travel environment. For example, the latch mechanism (30) in one embodiment is similar to a flex cuff where the latch mechanism (30) has notches that click in and out of grooves located within the latch mechanism (30) as an extension is pulled tighter. In this embodiment, the user can then conventionally lock the extension in place once the desired notch is placed within its requisite groove. The adjustable properties of the latch mechanism (30) also assist in compensating for the tilt (angle relative to flat ground) of the luggage. This is particularly important since the traveler cannot always control where he or she may be waiting, and controlling the plane of the table (10) might be desired to create a flat surface when not on flat ground.
It also should be noted that an embodiment of the present invention relates to adding depth to various points of the table (10). This would serve as a cup holder. For example, the preferred embodiment of the present invention lowers the depth of the table (10) so that it has at least one depression at a circle of the circumference of a standard fountain drink cup to about ¾ inches below the surface of the table (10) top. In another embodiment, a slight ridge may extend subtly upward from the edges of the table (10) top so that items are prevented from rolling off the table (10).
An additional embodiment of the present invention relates to the table (10). The construction of the table (10) is envisioned to be a light but sturdy material. However, an embodiment with a first table layer and a second table layer relates to much of the same use and construction as described above. In this embodiment, the first table layer would be placed on top of a second table layer. Both the first table layer and the second table layer are of the same construction and symmetry. Sandwiching between the first table layer and the second table layer is a design. The design is an image, fabric, object or other flat material placed in between the first table layer and the second table layer.
It also should be noted that the table (10) of the present invention is hard and sturdy, but also thin. By thinness, the preferred embodiment envisions just enough width and depth to hold a typical meal or laptop without significant bending. In other words, the present invention features a table (10) that is at minimal thickness in proportion to the weight being placed upon the table (10). In the embodiment of the first table layer and the second table layer, the first table layer and the second table layer may each be half the minimal thickness so that when placed together, they achieve full minimal thickness in relation to the weight being placed. The reason for the minimal thickness of the table (10) is that the table (10) is supported under its center by the reinforcement piece (20) and then locked into place via the latch mechanism (30) and the luggage handle (40) as described above.

Claims

1. A luggage table, comprising:

a piece of luggage;

a handle, disposed from said luggage; and

a table, disposed atop said handle.

2. The luggage table of claim 1, wherein said table has a planar surface.

3. The luggage table of claim 1, wherein said table has a width and a length smaller than the length and width of said luggage.

4. The luggage table of claim 1, wherein said table has at least one depression.

5. The luggage table of claim 1, wherein said table has a ridge that extends upward from edges of said table.

6. The luggage table of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcement piece disposed under said table.

7. The luggage table of claim 1, further comprising a latch mechanism disposed under said table.

8. The luggage table of claim 6, further comprising a latch mechanism disposed under said table.

9. The luggage table of claim 6, wherein said reinforcement piece is configured as a centering weight.

10. A luggage table, comprising:

a piece of luggage;

a handle, disposed from said luggage;

a table, disposed atop said handle;

wherein said table has a planar surface;

wherein said table has a width and a length smaller than the length and width of said luggage;

wherein said table has at least one depression;

wherein said table has a ridge that extends upward from edges of said table;

a reinforcement piece disposed under said table;

a latch mechanism disposed under said table; and

wherein said reinforcement piece is configured as a centering weight.