Configurable coaster for holding a mobile device
View Patent ↗A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for making and using a configurable coaster to support a drink cup on a table and also to use as a stand for a smartphone. In various embodiments, a sheet material, such as cardboard, plastic, laminates, and the like is used to create a flat plate having partially perforated or grooved lines in a pattern that defines various flaps configured to allow transformation of the flat plate into a smartphone stand by bending the flaps to create a three-dimensional stand. Before transformation, the flat plate may be used as a coaster for placing under cups and glasses. After transformation, the flat plate may be used as a stand for cellphones, books, small electronic devices, pictures, or any other object or device that may stand for display, presentation, or operation.
1. An article of manufacture configured to be used as a coaster and a Smart-Phone stand, the article of manufacture comprising:
one continuous sheet of material configured to be used as a coaster having a base plate, a support surface, and a head area on one side of the support surface;
a flap pattern engraved into the sheet to be folded to create a three-Dimensional (“3-D”) stand, wherein the created stand does not include any other part in addition to the sheet;
a stop tab bendably attached to the support surface via partially perforated grooves, wherein the stop tab is located on another side of the support surface opposite the head area;
two side flaps bendably attached to the support surface via partially perforated grooves to support weight placed on the support surface, and forming the outer edges of the support surface when bent downward relative to the support, wherein the head area becomes narrower, when the two side flaps are bent downward, than the another side of the support surface where the stop tab is located; and
two lock flaps bendably attached to the support surface via partially perforated grooves substantially perpendicular to the partially perforated grooves of the two side flaps in a plane of the support surface, and unattached to the side flaps, configured to lock the two side flaps in bent position, wherein no part of the sheet of material is folded over another part to make a multi-layer surface.
2. The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the sheet is made from at least one of cardboard, plastic, and laminate material.
3. The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the flap pattern is coplanar with the base plate.
4. The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the flap pattern includes partial grooves and cut-through grooves deployed into the sheet.
5. The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the flap pattern is configured to create a foldable flap.
6. The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the flap pattern is configured to create a plurality of foldable flaps, each foldable flap having a distinct function.
7. The article of manufacture of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of foldable flaps includes a support flap, a lock flap, and a stop tab.
8. The article of manufacture of claim 7 , wherein the foldable flaps are configured to create a 3-D stand having a support surface sloping from one end of the sheet to a second end of the sheet.
9. The article of manufacture of claim 7 , wherein the foldable flaps are configured to create a 3-D stand having a support surface sloping from one end of the coaster to a second end of the coaster.