Side Supported Foldable Panel Arrangement

Abstract

A side supported foldable panel arrangement for mounting on a workpiece, including at least a panel frame and at least a foldable support frame. The panel frame is pivotally and rotatably mounted to the workpiece. The foldable support frame is arranged for folding the panel frame between a stowed state in which the panel frame is folded to overlap with the foldable support frame and a deployed state in which the panel frame is unfolded to be sideward supported by the workplace and also supported by the foldable support frame which is supported by an environment supporting surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A side supported foldable panel arrangement for mounting on a workpiece, comprising:
 at least a panel frame pivotally and rotatably mounted to the workpiece, and   at least a foldable support frame arranged for folding said panel frame between a stowed state in which said panel frame is folded to overlap with said foldable support frame and a deployed state in which said panel frame is unfolded to be sideward supported by the workpiece and also supported by said foldable support frame which is supported by an environment supporting surface.   
     
     
         2 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said foldable support frame comprises a plurality of support members pivotally and rotatably connected to said panel frame, wherein said plurality of support members are unfolded to support said panel frame in said deployed state. 
     
     
         3 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said panel frame comprises a single panel. 
     
     
         4 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said panel frame comprises two or more panels which are respectively connected to said foldable support frame. 
     
     
         5 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said panel frame comprises a first panel and a second panel rotatably connected to said first panel. 
     
     
         6 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said foldable support frame further comprises a slide arrangement, wherein first ends of said support members are rotatably and pivotally connected to said first panel and said second panel respectively, and second ends thereof are connected to said slide arrangement, wherein when said foldable panel arrangement moves from said stowed state to said deployed state, said slide arrangement slides away from the workpiece on the environment supporting surface, wherein when said foldable panel arrangement moves from said deployed state to said stowed state, said slide arrangement slides toward the workpiece on the environment supporting surface. 
     
     
         7 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said foldable panel arrangement is mounted on the workpiece at a first height, one of said support members which is at a distal side away from the workpiece has a substantial same first height, wherein when said foldable panel arrangement is in said deployed state, said panel frame is straightly extended from the workpiece and said first panel and said second panel are in a same horizontal level. 
     
     
         8 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said first panel has a second length and said second panel has a third length is which is larger than said second length, wherein said third length is equal to a sum of said second length of said first panel and said first height of said support member which is at a distal side away from the workpiece. 
     
     
         9 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said first panel and said second panel are pivotally and rotatably connected with each other at a pivot hinge, wherein said plurality of support member comprises a first support member pivotally and rotatably connected to said pivot hinge, a second support member pivotally and rotatably connected to said second panel and spacedly aligned with said first support member, a third support member having a first end pivotally and rotatably connected to said first panel and a second end connected to said second support member for preventing further pivot movement of said second support member in said deployed state, and a control lever pivotally and rotatably connected between said first support member and said second support member to further enhance a stability of a support of said panel frame via said first support member and said second support member. 
     
     
         10 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said foldable support frame further comprises a slide arrangement, wherein said second end of said third support member is connected to said second support member via said slide arrangement. 
     
     
         11 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein a lower end of said first support member is rotatably connected to a lower portion of said second support member, wherein said foldable support frame further comprises a slide arrangement which is directly connected to a lower end of said second support member. 
     
     
         12 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said second support member comprises two support legs spacedly and parallelly aligned with each other, wherein said lower end of said first support member is rotatably connected between said two support legs. 
     
     
         13 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said foldable support frame further comprises a slide arrangement having a wheel arm and two wheels connected to two ends of said wheel arm, wherein lower ends of said second support member are respectively connected to said wheel arm. 
     
     
         14 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said foldable support frame comprises a first support member having a first end pivotally and rotatably connected to said panel and a second end pivotally and rotatably connected to the workpiece, a second support member pivotally and rotatably connected to said panel, and a control lever rotatably extended between said first support member and said second support member. 
     
     
         15 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said first support member comprises two first support legs spacedly and parallelly aligned with each other, wherein said second support member comprises two second support legs spacedly and parallelly aligned with each other, wherein two ends of said control lever are respectively connected between said two first support legs and two second support legs. 
     
     
         16 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said foldable support frame comprises a first support member having a first end pivotally and rotatably connected to said panel, a second support member having a first end pivotally and rotatably connected to said panel, a third support member having a first end rotatably connected to a body portion of said second support member and a second end arranged for standing on the environment supporting surface in said deployed state, and a slide arrangement connected to said third support member, wherein a second end of to said first support member is connected to a body portion of said third support member, wherein said third support member is vertically standing on the environment supporting surface while said second support member is substantially extended parallelly to said panel when said foldable panel arrangement is in said deployed state. 
     
     
         17 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said second support member comprises two second support legs spacedly and parallelly aligned with each other, wherein said third support member comprises two third support legs spacedly and parallelly aligned with each other, wherein the second end of the first support member is connected between said two third support legs. 
     
     
         18 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a retaining frame, wherein said retaining frame comprises a retaining arm connected to the workpiece, and a connecting arm vertically and rotatably extended from said retaining arm, wherein said panel frame is pivotally and rotatably connected to said connecting arm. 
     
     
         19 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said first panel is pivotally and rotatably connected to said connecting arm, wherein said retaining frame further comprises a control arm having a first end pivotally and rotatably connected to a body portion of said retaining arm and a second end connected to a body portion of said connecting arm to enhance said stability of said retaining frame. 
     
     
         20 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said foldable panel arrangement is provided at a corner. 
     
     
         21 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece is a wall. 
     
     
         22 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece is a pole. 
     
     
         23 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 4 , to wherein two panel frames are respectively provided at two sides of the workpiece, and two corresponding foldable support frames are respectively connected to said two panel frames, wherein said two panel frames are respectively sideward supported by the same workpiece. 
     
     
         24 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said panel arrangement further comprises a detachable retaining arrangement for retaining said two panels in position in the stowed state. 
     
     
         25 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 24 , wherein said two panels comprise a first retaining member and a corresponding second retaining member respectively, wherein said first retaining member is coupled with said second retaining member in a manner selected from a group consisting of a tongue-groove manner, key lock manner, numeric lock manner, and magnetic attracting manner. 
     
     
         26 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said two or more panels is spacedly apart from each other and said panel frame further comprises a stopper provided between said two adjacent panels, wherein said stopper comprises two mounting members spacedly and respectively mounted on said two panels of said panel frame, two hinge members hinged with each other at a first hinge point and are respectively connected to said two mounting members, and two hinge arm, which are hinged at a second hinge point, rotatably connected to said two hinge members respectively, wherein when said foldable panel arrangement is moved from said deployed state to said stowed state, said two mounting members are guided by said two hinge members, and said two hinge arms to be folded to overlap with each other. 
     
     
         27 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said stopper further comprises a holding clip locking said mounting members and thus stability of said foldable panel arrangement in said stowed state and said to deployed state is ensured. 
     
     
         28 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 26 , wherein said stopper further comprises a hinge control having a sliding channel, and a control member, wherein said two hinge arms are hinged by said control member which is capable of fastening and releasing a hinge movement between said two hinge arms, wherein said hinge control also has an end connected to said first hinge point of said two mounting members, wherein when said control member slides in said sliding channel and is fixed to a predetermined location along said siding channel, a corresponding retaining angle between 0 and 180° for said two panels is provided. 
     
     
         29 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a hinge support member pivotally connected to a hinge connection between said two panels of said panel frame, wherein a lever is provided between said first support member and said hinge support member arranged for locking said foldable panel arrangement in position when in said deployed state. 
     
     
         30 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said hinge support member comprises a motorized threaded rod attached to one of said support members which is adjacent to the workpiece. 
     
     
         31 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a brace for retaining said foldable panel arrangement in said two states and at any angle between them, wherein said brace comprises a first brace member rotatably connected to one of said slide arrangement and said support member, and a second brace, which is hinged with said first brace member at a brace hinge point, rotatably connected to a distal portion/edge of said panel frame. 
     
     
         32 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a retaining mechanism comprising a first fixing member and a second fixing member respectively provided on said two panels of said panel frame, wherein said first fixing member and said second fixing member are detachably coupled with each other in said deployed state. 
     
     
         33 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said foldable panel arrangement is selected from a group consisting of a foldable bed, a foldable table, a foldable desk, a foldable chair, a solar panel, a wind barrier, a temporary bridge, and a display panel. 
     
     
         34 . A side supported foldable panel arrangement for mounting on a workpiece, comprising:
 at least a panel frame pivotally and rotatably mounted to the workpiece, and   at least a foldable support frame arranged for folding said panel frame between a stowed state in which said panel frame is folded to overlap with said foldable support frame and a deployed state in which is supported by said foldable support frame which is supported by an environment supporting surface.   
     
     
         35 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 34 , wherein said foldable support frame comprises a plurality of support members pivotally and rotatably connected to said panel frame, wherein said plurality of support members are unfolded to support said panel frame in said deployed state. 
     
     
         36 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 35 , wherein said panel frame comprises two panels, which are a first panel and a second panel rotatably connected to said first panel, respectively connected to said foldable support frame. 
     
     
         37 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 36 , wherein said supported member comprises a first support member, pivotally and rotatably connected to said first panel, a second support member, pivotally and rotatably connected to said second panel and spacedly aligned with said first support member, a third support member having a first end pivotally and rotatably connected to said first panel and a to second end connected to said second support member via a first slide arrangement, and a fourth support member having a first end pivotally and rotatably connected to said first panel and a second end connected to said second support member via a second slide arrangement. 
     
     
         38 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 36 , wherein a docking station is mounted on the workpiece at a height that is equal to the height of said first support member and the height of said second support member, such that the upper end of said first support member is selectively attached on said docking station for fixedly attaching said foldable panel arrangement on the workpiece. 
     
     
         39 . The side supported foldable panel arrangement, as recited in  claim 36 , wherein a docking station is detachably mounted on said foldable panel arrangement, such that more and more foldable panel arrangements are stacked up together by said docking station.