US 5,882,098 AGranted

Preassembled foldable printer stand

AssigneeDecolam, Inc.

InventorsCharles R. Brown, Marion O. Fogle, Thomas F. Salley

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Abstract

A preassembled, foldable utility stand for a computer printer and the like is disclosed having a folded and erect configuration wherein a vertical back panel pivotly carries a plurality of vertical shelf panels. The shelf panels fold upwardly to a generally vertically position disposed near the front surface of the back panel while a top shelf panel folds upwardly to overlay the rear surface of the back panel. A pair of side panels are pivotly carried by the back panel. Panel hinges with displaced pivots secure the top panel and the side panels to the back panel so that the top panel lies flush against the back panel and the side panels fold generally flat over the shelf panels when the stand is folded for a compact folded configuration.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A preassembled, foldable ready to use utility stand having a folded and unfolded configuration comprising:

a back panel having a front surface and a rear surface;
a top panel pivotly carried by said back panel;
at least one top panel hinge having a displaced pivot axis displaced a distance from said rear surface of said back panel;
said top panel having a generally vertical position disposed near said rear surface of said back panel when said stand is in said folded configuration, and said top panel having a generally horizontal position near a top of said back panel when said stand is in said unfolded configuration;
at least one lower shelf panel pivotly carried by said back panel, and said shelf panel having a generally vertical position near the front surface of said back panel when said stand is in said folded configuration and a generally horizontal position when said stand is in said unfolded configuration;
a first side panel carried by said back panel;
at least a first side panel hinge pivotly connecting said first side panel to said back panel, said side panel hinge having a displaced pivot axis displaced a distance from the front surface of said back panel so that said first side panel folds inwardly about said shelf panel when said stand is being moved to said folded configuration;
a second side panel pivotly carried by said back panel;
at least a second side panel hinge pivotly connecting said second side panel to said back panel;
said second side panel hinge having a displaced pivot axis displaced a distance from the front surface of said back panel so that said second side panel folds inwardly about said shelf panel when said stand is being moved to said folded configuration;
and
said lower shelf panel includes opposing side edges having predetermined edge cutouts which receive respective ones of said side panel hinges when said shelf panel is in said vertical position and said stand is in said folded configuration.

9 more elements

A preassembled, foldable ready to use utility stand having a folded and unfolded, erect configuration comprising:

a planar vertical back panel having a planar front surface and a rear surface;
a plurality of vertically spaced shelf panels pivotly carried by said planar back panel;
a plurality of panel hinges securing said shelf panels to said planar front surface of said back panel in a manner that said shelf panels fold upwards to a generally vertical position disposed near the front surface of said back panel when said stand is folded;
one of said shelf panels constituting a bottom shelf panel for said stand when erect;
a first side panel carried by said back panel;
at least a first side panel hinge pivotly connecting said first side panel to said back panel, said side panel hinge having a first hinge leg affixed to said front surface of said planar back panel and a second leg affixed to said side panel, and said side panel hinge having a displaced pivot axis disposed between said first and second hinge legs and displaced a distance from the front surface of said back panel so that said first side panel folds flatly about said shelf panels;
a second side panel pivotly carried by said back panel;
at least a second side panel hinge pivotly connecting said second side panel to said planar front surface of said back panel, said second side panel hinge having a first hinge leg affixed to said front surface of said planar back panel and a second leg affixed to said second side panel;
and
said second side panel hinge having a displaced pivot axis disposed between said first and second hinge legs of said second panel hinge and displaced a horizontal distance from the front surface of said back panel so that said second side panel folds flatly about said shelf panels when folded.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.