US20050045569A1 - Foldable desk top file or tray device - Google Patents

Abstract

A tray device includes a base plate having two side panels each of which has two spring latches, and two boards each having a lower portion pivotally secured to the base plate with a pivot shaft, and to be rotated between an upward working and a downward folding positions. The spring latches of the side panels may be engaged with the boards to latch and retain the end boards at the upward working position relative to the base plate. The base plate includes a fence to engage with one of the boards, and to retain the board at the upward working position. One of the pivot shafts may be disposed higher than the other pivot shaft to support one of the boards higher than the other board.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates to a desk top file or tray device, and more particularly to a desk top file or tray device having a foldable structure.
• 2. Description of the Prior Art
• Typical desk top file or tray devices comprise a number of wall plates to be assembled together to form the desk top file or tray or organizer apparatuses.
• For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,283 to Liu, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,724 to Pielechowski et al. disclose two of the typical desk top file or tray devices each having a number of wall plates or boards to be assembled together by hooks, latches or the like.
• However, normally, the hooks and the latches may not solidly secure and retain the wall plates or boards together in the spatial structure, and the wall plates or boards may have a good chance to be collapsed or disengaged from each other.
• The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional desk top file or tray devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a desk top file or tray device including a foldable structure for allowing the tray device to be folded to a compact folding or storing position, and to be stably retained in an open or working position.
• In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a tray device comprising a base plate including two side panels extended upwardly therefrom and including two end portions, each of the side panels including two ends each having a spring latch extended therefrom respectively, and two boards each including a lower portion pivotally secured to the end portions of the base plate with a pivot shaft respectively, to allow the boards to be rotated relative to the base plate between an upward working position and a downward folding position. The spring latches of the side panels of the base plate may be engaged with the lower portions of the boards respectively when the end boards are rotated relative to the base plate to the upward working position, to latch and retain the end boards at the upward working position relative to the base plate, and the end boards being rotatable relative to the base plate to the downward folding position when the spring latches are depressed relative to the side panels and disengaged from the lower portions of the boards respectively, and thus to allow the end boards to be rotated toward and to engage with the base plate.
• The base plate includes a fence extended upwardly from a first end portion of the two end portions thereof, to engage with the lower portion of a first board of the two boards, and to retain the first board at the upward working position relative to the base plate.
• A first pivot shaft of the pivot shafts is attached to a first end portion of the two end portions of the base plate, to pivotally secure a first board of the two boards to the base plate, and a second pivot shaft of the pivot shafts is attached to a second end portion of the two end portions of the base plate, to pivotally secure a second board of the two boards to the base plate.
• The first pivot is disposed higher than the second pivot shaft, to allow the second board to be engaged onto the first board after the first board is rotated toward and to engage with the base plate.
• Each of the end portions of the base plate includes at least one first duct attached thereto, each of the boards includes at least one second duct attached to the lower portion thereof and aligned with the first duct of the base plate, to receive the pivot shaft respectively, and to rotatably secure the end boards to the base plate. The first duct of the base plate may be secured to the fence of the base plate to elevate the first board relative to the base plate.
• Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a desk top file or tray device in accordance with the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the desk top file or tray device which is in an open or working position;
• FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the desk top file or tray device, taken along lines3-3 ofFIG. 2;
• FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the desk top file or tray device; and
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the desk top file or tray device, similar toFIG. 2, illustrating the folding operation of the desk top file or tray device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Referring to the drawings, and initially toFIGS. 1-4, a desk top file or tray device in accordance with the present invention comprises abase plate10 including twoside panels11 extended upwardly from the two side portions thereof, for forming a substantially U-shaped configuration. Each of theside panels11 includes twospring latches12,13 extended from the ends thereof respectively.
• Thespring latches12,13 are preferably formed integral with theside panels11 respectively, and may be formed by such as punching or cutting from theside panels11 respectively. Thebase plate10 includes afence14 extended upwardly from one of two end portions thereof, and includes one ormore ducts15,16 attached to each of the end portions thereof. Theducts16 may be secured to thefence14 and/or thebase plate10. Thebase plate10 may include one ormore orifices17 formed therein for weight-reducing purposes or for decorative purposes.
• Twoend boards20,30 each may include alower portion22,32 rotatably or pivotally secured to the end portions of thebase plate10 with apivot shaft21,31 respectively. For example, each of theboards20,30 includes one ormore ducts23,33 attached to the lower portion and engaged beside or aligned with theducts15,16 for receiving thepivot shaft21,31 respectively, and for stably and rotatably securing theend boards20,30 to thebase plate10.
• As best shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, when theend boards20,30 are rotated upwardly relative to thebase plate10 to the upward opening or working position, thespring latches12,13 of theside panels11 of thebase plate10 may engage with thelower portions22,32 of theboards20,30 respectively, to latch and retain theend boards20,30 at the upward opening or working position relative to thebase plate10.
• Thelower portions22,32 of theboards20,30 are shown to be engaged between theside panels11 of thebase plate10, and thespring latches12,13 are shown to be extended inwardly relative to theside panels11 of thebase plate10 to engage with thelower portions22,32 of theboards20,30. However, thespring latches12,13 may also be extended outwardly relative to the side panels11 (not shown) to engage with thelower portions22,32 of theboards20,30 when thelower portions22,32 of theboards20,30 are engaged onto the outer portions of theside panels11 respectively.
• As shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and5, thepivot shaft21 is disposed or arranged higher than theother pivot shaft31, and thefence14 of thebase plate10 will be engage with thelower portion22 of the board20 (FIGS. 1, 2), to retain theend board20 at the upward opening or working position relative to thebase plate10.
• When it is required to fold theend boards20,30 downwardly relative to theside panels11 of thebase plate10, thespring latches12,13 are forced or depressed relative to theside panels11 of thebase plate10 to disengage thespring latches12,13 from thelower portions22,32 of theboards20,30, and thus to allow theboards20,30 to be folded or rotated downwardly toward thebase plate10, as shown inFIG. 5.
• As also shown inFIG. 5, due to the elevation of thepivot shaft21 relative to theother pivot shaft31, and theboard30 may be folded or rotated downwardly toward and to engage with or to contact with thebase plate10, and theother board20 may be folded or rotated downwardly toward thebase plate10, but to engage with or to contact with theboard30, such that theboards20,30 may be suitably or compactly received between theside panels11 of thebase plate10.
• Accordingly, the desk top file or tray device in accordance with the present invention includes a foldable structure for allowing the tray device to be folded to a compact folding or storing position, and to be stably retained in an open or working position.
• Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims (6)

1. A tray device comprising:

a base plate including two side panels extended upwardly therefrom and including two end portions, each of said side panels including two ends each having a spring latch extended therefrom respectively, and

two boards each including a lower portion pivotally secured to said end portions of said base plate with a pivot shaft respectively, to allow said boards to be rotated relative to said base plate between an upward working position and a downward folding position,

said spring latches of said side panels of said base plate being engaged with said lower portions of said boards respectively when said end boards are rotated relative to said base plate to said upward working position, to latch and retain said end boards at said upward working position relative to said base plate, and said end boards being rotatable relative to said base plate to said downward folding position when said spring latches are depressed relative to said side panels and disengaged from said lower portions of said boards respectively.

2. The tray device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said base plate includes a fence extended upwardly from a first end portion of said two end portions thereof, to engage with said lower portion of a first board of said two boards, and to retain said first board at said upward working position relative to said base plate.

3. The tray device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a first pivot shaft of said pivot shafts is attached to a first end portion of said two end portions of said base plate, to pivotally secure a first board of said two boards to said base plate, and a second pivot shaft of said pivot shafts is attached to a second end portion of said two end portions of said base plate, to pivotally secure a second board of said two boards to said base plate.

4. The tray device as claimed inclaim 3, wherein said first pivot is disposed higher than said second pivot shaft, to allow said second board to be engaged onto said first board after said first board is rotated toward and to engage with said base plate.

5. The tray device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein each of said end portions of said base plate includes at least one first duct attached thereto, each of said boards includes at least one second duct attached to said lower portion thereof and aligned with said at least one first duct of said base plate, to receive said pivot shaft respectively, and to rotatably secure said end boards to said base plate.

6. The tray device as claimed inclaim 5, wherein said base plate includes a fence extended upwardly from a first end portion of said two end portions thereof, to engage with said lower portion of a first board of said two boards, and said at least one first duct of said base plate is secured to said fence of said base plate.

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