Portable combination writing and drawing table apparatus and method therefor

Abstract

A combination writing and drawing table apparatus and method therefore capable of providing a flat writing and drawing surface at an appropriate height for children as well as secure compartments for various writing implements.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A portable combination writing and drawing table apparatus comprising, in combination: 
 a platform having a substantially flat top surface and a bottom surface and a front side and a back side;    a cover having substantially the same size as said platform and having a top surface and a bottom surface and a front side and a back side, a lower portion of said cover is rotatably coupled proximate said back side of said platform;    at least one exterior compartment coupled proximate said top surface of said cover;    at least one interior compartment coupled proximate said bottom surface of said cover;    a first retractable support member rotatably coupled proximate said bottom surface of said platform; and    a second retractable support member rotatably coupled proximate said bottom surface of said platform, said first retractable support member and said second retractable support member are dimensioned to support said platform in a raised position when said first retractable support member and said second retractable support member are fully extended away from said platform.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said lower portion of said cover is hingedly coupled proximate said back side of said platform.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said cover comprises a first hinge and a second hinge, said first hinge is hingedly coupled proximate a first end of said cover proximate said back side of said platform and said second hinge is hingedly coupled proximate a second end of said cover proximate said back side of said platform.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a rod and groove assembly dimensioned to support said cover in an open position relative to said platform, said substantially flat top surface of said platform defines a groove proximate said back side of said platform dimensioned to receive a rod pivotably coupled proximate said bottom surface of said cover proximate said back side of said cover.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a handle coupled proximate said front side of said cover.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a locking pivot arm assembly comprising: 
 a knob coupled proximate said front side of said platform; and  
 a pivot arm coupled proximate said front side of said cover and dimensioned to communicate with said knob to lock said cover in a closed position relative to said platform.  
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one interior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said at least one interior compartment.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said lid further comprises a shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end of said shaft is rotatably coupled proximate a first end of said lid by a first washer and bolt assembly and said second end of said shaft is rotatably coupled proximate a second end of said lid by a second washer and bolt assembly.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one exterior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said at least one exterior compartment.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said lid further comprises a shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end of said shaft is rotatably coupled proximate a first end of said lid by a first washer and bolt assembly and said second end of said shaft is rotatably coupled proximate a second end of said lid by a second washer and bolt assembly.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first exterior compartment coupled proximate said top surface of said cover and dimensioned to receive drawing paper; and  
 a second exterior compartment smaller in size than said first exterior compartment and coupled proximate said top surface of said cover and dimensioned to receive drawing paper of a smaller size than said first exterior compartment.  
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first interior compartment coupled proximate said bottom surface of said cover and dimensioned to receive crayons;  
 a second interior compartment coupled proximate said bottom surface of said cover and dimensioned to receive drawing markers; and  
 a third interior compartment coupled proximate said bottom surface of said cover and dimensioned to receive pens and pencils.  
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said first interior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said first interior compartment.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said second interior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said second interior compartment.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said third interior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said third interior compartment.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of claims  13  and  14  and  15  wherein said lid further comprises a shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end of said shaft is rotatably coupled proximate a first end of said lid by a first washer and bolt assembly and said second end of said shaft is rotatably coupled proximate a second end of said lid by a second washer and bolt assembly.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said first exterior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said first exterior compartment.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said second exterior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said second exterior compartment.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of claims  17  and  18  wherein said lid further comprises a shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end of said shaft is rotatably coupled proximate a first end of said lid by a first washer and bolt assembly and said second end of said shaft is rotatably coupled proximate a second end of said lid by a second washer and bolt assembly.  
     
     
         20 . A method for providing a portable combination writing and drawing table apparatus comprising, in combination: 
 providing a platform having a substantially flat top surface and a bottom surface and a front side and a back side;    providing a cover having substantially the same size as said platform and having a top surface and a bottom surface and a front side and a back side,    rotatably coupling a lower portion of said cover proximate said back side of said platform;    coupling at least one exterior compartment proximate said top surface of said cover;    coupling at least one interior compartment proximate said bottom surface of said cover;    rotatably coupling a first retractable support member proximate said bottom surface of said platform; and    rotatably coupling a second retractable support member proximate said bottom surface of said platform, said first retractable support member and said second retractable support member are dimensioned to support said platform in a raised position when said first retractable support member and said second retractable support member are fully extended away from said platform.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of hingedly coupling said lower portion of said cover proximate said back side of said platform.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first hinge and a second hinge;  
 coupling said first hinge proximate a first end of said cover proximate said back side of said cover;  
 coupling said second hinge proximate a second end of said cover proximate said back side of said cover;  
 hingedly coupling said first hinge proximate a first end of said cover proximate said back side of said platform; and  
 hingedly coupling said second hinge proximate a second end of said cover proximate said back side of said platform.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising a rod and groove assembly dimensioned to support said cover in an open position relative to said platform, said substantially flat top surface of said platform defines a groove proximate said back side of said platform dimensioned to receive a rod pivotably coupled proximate said bottom surface of said cover proximate said back side of said cover.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a handle; and  
 coupling said handle proximate said front side of said cover.  
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising a locking pivot arm assembly comprising the steps of: 
 providing a knob;  
 coupling said knob proximate said front side of said platform;  
 providing a pivot arm dimensioned to communicate with said knob to lock said cover in a closed position relative to said platform; and  
 coupling said pivot arm proximate said front side of said cover.  
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said at least one interior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said at least one interior compartment.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a shaft having a first end and a second end;  
 rotatably coupling said first end of said shaft proximate a first end of said lid by a first washer and bolt assembly; and  
 rotatably coupling said second end of said shaft proximate a second end of said lid by a second washer and bolt assembly.  
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said at least one exterior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said at least one exterior compartment.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a shaft having a first end and a second end;  
 rotatably coupling said first end of said shaft proximate a first end of said lid by a first washer and bolt assembly; and  
 rotatably coupling said second end of said shaft proximate a second end of said lid by a second washer and bolt assembly.  
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first exterior compartment dimensioned to receive drawing paper;  
 coupling said first exterior compartment proximate said top surface of said cover;  
 providing a second exterior compartment smaller in size than said first exterior compartment and dimensioned to receive drawing paper of a smaller size than said first exterior compartment; and  
 coupling said second exterior compartment proximate said top surface of said cover.  
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first interior compartment dimensioned to receive crayons;  
 coupling said first interior compartment proximate said bottom surface of said cover;  
 providing a second interior compartment dimensioned to receive drawing markers;  
 coupling said second interior compartment proximate said bottom surface of said cover;  
 providing a third interior compartment dimensioned to receive pens and pencils; and  
 coupling said third interior compartment proximate said bottom surface of said cover.  
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said first interior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said first interior compartment.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said second interior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said second interior compartment.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said third interior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said third interior compartment.  
     
     
         35 . The method of claims  32  and  33  and  34  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a shaft having a first end and a second end, rotatably coupling said first end of said shaft proximate a first end of said lid by a first washer and bolt assembly; and  
 rotatably coupling said second end of said shaft proximate a second end of said lid by a second washer and bolt assembly.  
 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said first exterior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said first exterior compartment.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said second exterior compartment comprises a lid dimensioned to be coupled proximate an upper portion of said second exterior compartment.  
     
     
         38 . The method of claims  36  and  37  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a shaft having a first end and a second end,  
 rotatably coupling said first end of said shaft proximate a first end of said lid by a first washer and bolt assembly; and  
 rotatably coupling said second end of said shaft proximate a second end of said lid by a second washer and bolt assembly.