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US4044980A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Collapsible desktop stand for portable electronic calculator

Assignee: Cummins Enterprise LLC
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Filing: 1976-04-26
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Granted: 1977-08-30
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Expires: 1996-04-26
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Abstract

Abstract A one-piece collapsible stand, formed of a flexible plastic material, such as polypropylene, for holding a portable electronic calculator or the like in any of a plurality of selectable inclined positions on a desktop, comprising a rectangular base platform having a backrest adapted to hold the calculator, the backrest being joined to one end of the base by a thin integral web and a brace plate for supporting the backrest in inclined position, the brace plate being joined to the opposite end of the base by a like integral web. The backrest and the brace plate swing about the opposite ends of the base platform between an assembled state in which they releasably engage each other above the base platform and a collapsed state in which the backrest, the base platform and the brace plate are held substantially flat against one another for packing and storage.

Inventors

  • 👤 Victor Cummins

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 00:20
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B23/00; A47B23/04; A47B23/042; A47B23/043

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 375 words
A collapsible one-piece stand for supporting a portable electronic calculator or the like on a work surface in inclined relation thereto, comprising: a base portion formed by a thin rectangular plate having an upper and a lower surface extending in longitudinal and transverse directions, said upper surface having relatively short upstanding walls integrally formed along opposite end and side edges thereof for structural rigidity, said lower surface adapted to rest on said work surface and having means for resisting sliding movement therebetween; a backrest portion comprising a thin rectangular plate adapted to hold said calculator thereon, said plate having a face surface and a rear surface extending in longitudinal and transverse directions, said face surface having a forwardly projecting, integrally formed flange extending transversely along a first end thereof to provide support underneath said calculator, and said rear surface having short rearwardly projecting, integrally formed side walls extending longitudinally along opposite side edges thereof, said side walls having at least one pair of rearwardly extending slots in register with each other near the end opposite said first end; a brace portion comprising a thin rectangular plate extending in longitudinal and transverse directions having a first end and a second end, said second end of said brace portion having transversely projecting tabs extending beyond the side edges thereof; said base portion, said backrest portion and said brace portion integrally formed as a single unit of a flexible plastic material, said first end of said backrest portion hingedly connected to one end of said base portion by a transversely extending thin integral web, and said first end of said brace portion hingedly connected to the opposite end of said base portion by a like integral web, said backrest portion and said brace portion swingable about the opposite ends of said base portion between at least one assembled state in which said brace portion engages said backrest portion for support thereof in an inclined position with said face surface facing outwardly and at least one collapsed state in which said backrest portion and said brace portion lie substantially flat with said base portion; and said tabs receivable within said slots with a snug fit for releasably fixing said brace portion to said backrest portion in an assembled state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 375 words
A collapsible one-piece stand for supporting a portable electronic calculator or the like on a work surface in inclined relation thereto, comprising: a base portion formed by a thin rectangular plate having an upper and a lower surface extending in longitudinal and transverse directions, said upper surface having relatively short upstanding walls integrally formed along opposite end and side edges thereof for structural rigidity, said lower surface adapted to rest on said work surface and having means for resisting sliding movement therebetween; a backrest portion comprising a thin rectangular plate adapted to hold said calculator thereon, said plate having a face surface and a rear surface extending in longitudinal and transverse directions, said face surface having a forwardly projecting, integrally formed flange extending transversely along a first end thereof to provide support underneath said calculator, and said rear surface having short rearwardly projecting, integrally formed side walls extending longitudinally along opposite side edges thereof, said side walls having at least one pair of rearwardly extending slots in register with each other near the end opposite said first end; a brace portion comprising a thin rectangular plate extending in longitudinal and transverse directions having a first end and a second end, said second end of said brace portion having transversely projecting tabs extending beyond the side edges thereof; said base portion, said backrest portion and said brace portion integrally formed as a single unit of a flexible plastic material, said first end of said backrest portion hingedly connected to one end of said base portion by a transversely extending thin integral web, and said first end of said brace portion hingedly connected to the opposite end of said base portion by a like integral web, said backrest portion and said brace portion swingable about the opposite ends of said base portion between at least one assembled state in which said brace portion engages said backrest portion for support thereof in an inclined position with said face surface facing outwardly and at least one collapsed state in which said backrest portion and said brace portion lie substantially flat with said base portion; and said tabs receivable within said slots with a snug fit for releasably fixing said brace portion to said backrest portion in an assembled state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
A collapsible one-piece stand as defined in claim 1, wherein said flexible plastic material is polypropylene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
A collapsible one-piece stand as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for resisting sliding movement between said base portion and said work surface comprises at least one strip of frictional material fixed to said lower surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 48 words
A collapsible one-piece stand as defined in claim 2, wherein said backrest portion side walls are transversely spaced to receive said base portion side walls with a snug holding fit in a collapsed state to hold said backrest portion and said base portion substantially flat against one another.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US669009A Cited
US1869278A Cited
US2014176A Cited
US2662333A Cited
US3121884A Cited
US3885762A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-08-29 1981-02-28 1981-08-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-08-29 1985-02-28 1985-08-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-08-29 1989-02-28 1989-08-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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