Modular workstation
View Patent ↗A workstation has a main body with at least two support structures pivotally displaced about a vertical axis, and a platform removably affixed to the support structures. The support structures may alternate between an opened position and a closed position, where the structures may be spaced apart in the opened position and may abut one another in the closed position. The support structures are rotatably connected to a central post. The platform is configured to also connect with the central post when the support structures are in a closed position. Additionally, the platform has a plurality of recesses that connect with various inserts, and allow multiple platforms to be joined together.
1. A workstation, comprising:
a main body including at least two support structures rotatably connected to a central post at an upper connection joint and a lower connection joint of the central post, the central post defining a vertical axis of the main body, the support structures alternate between an opened position and a closed position by rotating about the vertical axis, the support structures having free ends defining a top surface and a bottom surface, at least one of the support structures having a projection extending outwardly from the top surface, and a plurality of feet disposed on the bottom surface; and
a platform having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface having elongated ridges that receive the top surface of the support structures when in the opened position, the platform further having an aperture formed therethrough from the lower surface to the upper surface to receive the projection on at least one of the support structures when in the opened position, the projection and the aperture each configured to ensure a correct orientation and placement of the platform on the main body,
wherein the platform is stowed within a storage area defined by the support structures when the support structures are in the closed position, the platform having at least one clamp on the lower surface that is configured to interlock with the central post.
2. The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the platform has a sidewall disposed around a periphery of the platform.
3. The workstation of claim 2 , wherein the sidewall has an inner surface with a bead that is configured to contact an interference bump located on an outer surface at least one of the support structures adjacent to the free end of the at least one of the support structures.
4. The workstation of claim 2 , wherein the upper surface and the sidewall of the platform has a recess formed therein for receiving at least one insert connector to secure the platform to another platform.
5. The workstation of claim 4 , wherein the recess is T-shaped.
6. The workstation of claim 5 , wherein the insert connector is H-shaped and a T-shaped portion of the insert connector is configured to be received by the T-shaped recess of the platform.
7. The workstation of claim 4 , wherein the lower surface of the platform has an insert holder configured to store the insert connector when not being used to secure the platform to the another platform.
8. The workstation of claim 7 , wherein an insert portion of the insert holder has at least two raised portions configured to receive the insert connector.
9. The workstation of claim 8 , wherein the insert holder further has a clip configured to secure a center portion of the insert connector within the holder.
10. The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of feet includes at least one foot with an adjuster configured to selectively alter a height or level of the platform.
11. The workstation of claim 10 , wherein the support structures are hollow, and the foot with the adjuster is provided by a first modular insert.
12. The workstation of claim 11 , wherein the first modular insert is received by one of the free ends at the bottom surface of one of the support structures.
13. The workstation of claim 12 , wherein the first modular insert has a plurality of windows that are defined by a plurality of angled walls, wherein the walls are configured to receive a helical thread on a shaft of the adjuster and to advance the shaft through the modular insert as the adjuster is selectively rotated.
14. The workstation of claim 1 , wherein the support structures are hollow, and the projection is provided by a second modular insert.
15. The workstation of claim 14 , wherein the second modular insert is received by one of the free ends at the top surface of one of the support structures.
16. The workstation of claim 1 , wherein each of the projection of the support structures and the aperture of the platform is hexagonal in shape.
17. A kit for a workstation, comprising:
a main body including at least two support structures rotatably connected to a central post at an upper connection joint and a lower connection joint of the central post, the central post defining a vertical axis of the main body, the support structures configured to alternate between an opened position and a closed position by rotating about the vertical axis, the support structures having free ends defining a top surface and a bottom surface, at least one of the support structures having a projection extending outwardly from the top surface, and a plurality of feet disposed on the bottom surface; and
a platform having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface having elongated ridges that are configured to receive the top surface of the support structures when in the opened position, the platform further having an aperture formed therethrough from the lower surface to the upper surface and configured to receive the projection on at least one of the support structures when in the opened position, the projection and the aperture each configured to ensure a correct orientation and placement of the platform on the main body,
wherein the platform is also configured to be stowed within a storage area defined by the support structures when the support structures are in the closed position, the platform having at least one clamp on the lower surface that is configured to interlock with the central post.
18. The kit of claim 17 , further comprising a first modular insert defining a foot with an adjuster, and configured to be received by one of the free ends at the bottom surface of one of the support structures.
19. The kit of claim 17 , further comprising a second modular insert defining the projection, and configured to be s received by one of the free ends at the top surface of one of the support structures.
20. A method of interlocking multiple workstations comprising:
providing two workstations, each workstation having a main body including at least two support structures rotatably connected to a central post at an upper connection joint and a lower connection joint of the central post, the central post defining a vertical axis of the main body, the support structures alternate between an opened position and a closed position by rotating about the vertical axis, the support structures having free ends defining a top surface and a bottom surface, at least one of the support structures having a projection extending outwardly from the top surface, and a plurality of feet disposed on the bottom surface, and a platform having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface having elongated ridges that receive the top surface of the support structures when in the opened position, the platform further having an aperture formed therethrough from the lower surface to the upper surface to receive the projection on at least one of the support structures when in the opened position, the projection and the aperture each configured to ensure a correct orientation and placement of the platform on the main body, wherein the platform is stowed within a storage area defined by the support structures when the support structures are in the closed position, the platform having at least one clamp on the lower surface that is configured to interlock with the central post,
wherein the platform has a sidewall disposed around a periphery of the platform, and wherein the upper surface and the sidewall of the platform has a recess formed therein for receiving at least one insert connector to secure the platform to another platform;
placing the two workstations adjacent to each other, wherein the recess of one of the workstations is adjacent to the recess of an other of the workstations; and
inserting the insert connector into each of the recesses, whereby the two workstations are secured to each other and together form an enlarged work surface.