WorknStand

Abstract

A WorknStand is an apparatus which quickly unfolds and sits on an existing desk structure. It permits the user to stand while working. It folds perfectly flat, allowing easy transportation and shipping. Its hinge structure is designed in such a way that it will resist folding when open and can be leaned on with a sturdy feel. It also securely locks in both the folded and unfolded positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprised partly of a rectangular platform which may include blocking rails oriented front to back along the platform's underside and located near the left and right edges, where the platform is connected with a horizontally oriented hinge along its rear edge to a horizontal extension of a back portion and the back portion in turn is connected on each side edge to two side portions by hinges oriented vertically along their rear edges, which folds and in so doing causes its side portions to fold inwards and to the rear and the platform to fold down and to the rear so that when closed the apparatus's platform, sides and back exist in parallel planes and in this closed condition the apparatus may or may not have a latching mechanism that connects the front undersurface of the platform to the lower aspects of a side portion or the back portion or both and in so doing, prevents the apparatus from opening. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 ) where upon being opened the side portions and platform are connected to each other via a mechanism that secures the sides to the undersurface of the platform or the platform's blocking rails or both. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as in  claim 2 ) where the securing mechanism is comprised of a cam type lock that, when activated, pulls the platform securely against the top of the sides preventing rising of the platform or accidental folding of the sides or both. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as in  claim 3 ) where if the CAM lock projects from the outside aspect of the side portion, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus' platform's undersurface or backward facing aspect of the opposite folded side portion or both permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as in  claim 3 ) where if the CAM lock projects from the inside aspect of the side portion, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within a corresponding recess in the forward facing aspect of the back portion or forward facing aspect of the opposite folded side portion or both, permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as in  claim 3 ) where if the CAM lock projects from the platform's rail, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as in  claim 3 ) where if the CAM lock projects from the undersurface of the platform, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as in  claim 2 ) where the securing mechanism is a widening non-cam male projection from either the platform's underside or platform's rail or side portions and which articulates with the corresponding rail, undersurface of platform or side portion via a female keep whose diameter is smaller than the male projection's diameter. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as in  claim 8 ) where if the male projection locks into a keep in the platform's rails, when folded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus' platform's undersurface or backward facing aspect of the opposite folded side portion or both permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as in  claim 8 ) where if the male projection projects from the rail and locks into a keep on the outside of the side portion, when folded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as in  claim 8 ) where if the male projection locks into a keep in the undersurface of the platform, when folded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus' platform's undersurface or back portion's horizontal projection's undersurface or both permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as in  claim 8 ) where if the male projection projects from the undersurface of the platform into a keep on the top of the side portion, when folded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as in  claim 2 ) where the securing mechanism is comprised of magnets where one polarity is a component of the undersurface of the platform or platform's rail or both and the opposite polarity is attached to the top of the side or inside or outside of the side or both depending on its opposing position to its mate. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus, designed to have a smaller platform in a left to right orientation than that described in  claim 1  and which therefore necessitates overlapping sides when closed and which is therefore comprised of a rectangular platform which may include blocking rails oriented front to back along the platform's underside and located near the left and right edges, where the platform is connected with a horizontally oriented hinge along its rear edge to a horizontal extension of a back portion and the back portion in turn is connected on one side immediately to a side portion via hinges oriented vertically along their joining edge and on the other side of the back piece there is an extension of the back piece projecting to the front which is then connected to a side portion via vertically oriented hinges, which folds and in so doing causes the side portion which is connected directly to the back portion to fold first and the opposite side to fold second so that they overlap on each other, and the platform folds down and to the rear so that when closed the apparatus's platform, sides and back exist in parallel planes and in this closed condition the apparatus may or may not have a latching mechanism that connects the front undersurface of the platform to the lower aspects of a side portion or the back portion or both and in so doing, prevents the apparatus from opening. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as in  claim 14 ) where upon being opened the side portions and platform are connected to each other via a mechanism that secures the sides to the undersurface of the platform or the platform's blocking rails or both. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 ) where the securing mechanism is comprised of a cam type lock that, when activated, pulls the platform securely against the top of the sides preventing rising of the platform or accidental folding of the sides or both. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as in  claim 16 ) where if the CAM lock projects from the outside aspect of the side portion, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus' platform's undersurface or backward facing aspect of the opposite folded side portion or both permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as in  claim 16 ) where if the CAM lock projects from the inside aspect of the side portion, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within a corresponding recess in the forward facing aspect of the back portion or forward facing aspect of the opposite folded side portion or both, permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as in  claim 16 ) where if the CAM lock projects from the platform's rail, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as in  claim 16 ) where if the CAM lock projects from the undersurface of the platform, when folded, the CAM lock is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 ) where the securing mechanism is a widening non-cam male projection from either the platform's underside or platform's rail or side portions and which articulates with the corresponding rail, undersurface of platform or side portion via a female keep whose diameter is smaller than the male projection's diameter. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as in  claim 21 ) where if the male projection locks into a keep in the platform's rails, when folded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus' platform's undersurface or backward facing aspect of the opposite folded side portion or both permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus as in  claim 21 ) where if the male projection projects from the rail and locks into a keep on the outside of the side portion, when folded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as in  claim 21 ) where if the male projection locks into a keep in the undersurface of the platform, when folded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus' platform's undersurface or back portion's horizontal projection's undersurface or both permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus as in  claim 21 ) where if the male projection projects from the undersurface of the platform into a keep on the top of the side portion, when folded, the male projection is recessed within a corresponding recess in the folded apparatus's side portion's external rear edge, permitting flat folding. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 ) where the securing mechanism is comprised of magnets where one polarity is a component of the undersurface of the platform or platform's rail or both and the opposite polarity is attached to the top of the side or inside or outside of the side or both depending on its opposing position to its mate.