Non-swiveling pneumatic lectern

[0001] The present continuation in part application claims priority to Pending patent application Ser. No. 09/815,424 titled “NON-SWIVELING HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE PODIUM” filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Mar. 22, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,720.

[0002] The present invention relates to a lightweight lectern and speaker stand.

[0003] In general, lecterns are used by speakers, teachers, trainers, and the like to hold notes and other similar materials during a speech. The prior art lecterns are generally fashioned from wood or wood products as a solid piece of furniture capable of standing without additional support. Such structures are by their nature large and bulky. The bulk and size makes the pieces difficult to store and their rigid construction makes disassembly impossible. If the lectern is height adjustable, the large bulk and size makes it difficult for users to change the height to their individual needs

[0004] Lecterns serve a variety of functions for a speaker. Beyond holding notes, lecterns provide a leaning surface for the speaker and provide a security barrier between the speaker and his audience. Lecterns are used in a variety of speaking settings from business to entertainment to religious ceremonies, being known in the latter as pulpits.

[0005] In an attempt to overcome the difficulties of a rigid structure, folding or collapsible lecterns of cardboard and similar materials have been produced. These devices while providing a portable structure also lack the strength and rigidity necessary to hold heavy objects or books.

[0006] While speakers come in all different sizes, a given lectern is typically limited to a fixed height. Height incompatibility between the speaker and lectern can make it difficult and uncomfortable for the speaker to read from the lectern or to lean on the lectern. For example, a speaker who is too tall for the lectern will have to hunch over to use the lectern, while a speaker who is too short will have to strain upwards and may even be substantially eclipsed by a high lectern. This problem is exacerbated in the case of children who may be completely precluded from using a lectern without auxiliary height adjusters, such as stairs or boxes.

[0007] Lecterns or podiums have been developed that contain built-in height adjustment features. One example is Richardson U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,109 that teaches a portable podium having a pedestal consisting of a plurality of threaded pipe sections interconnected by threaded couplings. By varying the number of pipe sections employed, the pedestal links and hence the height of the podium, may be adjusted to an extent. Also known in the art are powered adjustable height podiums that typically use an electric motor to provide the motive force for raising and lowering, and thereby adjusting the height of the podium to suit the speaker. Motor control circuitry comprising up and down relays is typically utilized to send current through the motor windings as appropriate for raising or lowering the podium.

[0008] None of the references handle the non-swiveling aspects for lecterns and speaker stands specifically, without adding weight to the structure, through additional swivel dampening mechanisms.

[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic, adjustable height lectern.

[0010] In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight lectern that has the strength and rigidity of a permanent lectern and the portability of the cardboard lecterns.

[0011] The present invention relates to a non-swiveling pneumatic lectern. The lectern is made of a base, a hollow column secured to the plate, a sleeve secured to the interior of the column, and an adjustable tube having an upper end and a bottom end, wherein the first end slides inside the sleeve secured to the column. The lectern also has a pneumatic cylinder disposed within the column for vertically moving the support, an actuation device for engaging and disengaging the pneumatic cylinder, and a locking knob for locking the tube at a designated height by pressing the sleeve against the tube. The top section of the lectern is four panels in the shape of a box with a pivotable shelf.

[0012] The present invention also relates to non-swiveling pneumatic speaker stand with a pivotable shelf.

[0020] Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments herein and it can be practiced or carried out in various ways.

[0021] The invention relates to a non-swiveling pneumatic lectern and non-swiveling pneumatic speaker stand. The present invention is not limited to an adult lectern or stand, but can incorporate a child size version as well.

[0022] Now and with reference to the Figures, FIG. 1 shows back perspective view of the pneumatic lectern.

[0023] The non-swiveling pneumatic lectern has a base (10). A base plate (12) is secured to the base (10) and a hollow column (14) is secured to the base plate. The base plate (12) and the hollow column (14) are both secured with conventional fasteners, such as threaded screws or similar attaching means. It is within the scope of the invention that the hollow column (14) could be rectangular or triangular or cylindrical of any angular shape that would enable control of round “tube” in “tube” swiveling, which occurs in conventional podiums.

[0024] The lectern has a sleeve (15) secured to the interior of the hollow column. An adjustable tube (18) with an upper end (16) and a lower end (17) slide into the sleeve (15) and is secured to the hollow column (14). As seen in FIG. 2, the lower end (17) of the adjustable tube (18) slides inside the sleeve. The sleeve can be made from plastic, a coated metal, or a fabric.

[0025] FIG. 2 also shows the pneumatic cylinder (24) is located within the hollow column. The pneumatic cylinder (24) is used to vertically move the support. The pneumatic cylinder (24) provides between 50 psi and 75 psi.

[0026] The lectern also has an actuation device (26) for engaging and disengaging the pneumatic cylinder. A locking knob (28) is present for locking the adjustable tube at a designated height (29) by pressing the sleeve against the adjustable tube. FIG. 2 shows both the location of both the actuation device (26) and the locking knob (28).

[0027] The lectern has a support (22) adapted for use as a podium, wherein the lectern holds a speaker's notes, provides a leaning surface for the speaker, and provides a security barrier between the speaker and his audience. As shown in FIG. 3, a front panel (30) is attached to the support. As shown in FIG. 5, a right side panel (32) and a left side panel (34) are secured to the front panel (30) and the support (22).

[0028] Returning to FIG. 1, a pivotable shelf (36) is located between the right side panel (32) and the left side panel (34). The pivotable shelf (36) has a shelf top (38), a shelf bottom (40), a shelf front (42), and a shelf back (44). The shelf front (42) is connected to the front panel (30) and the pivotable shelf (36) fits within the right side panel (32) and left side panel (34).

[0029] The invention is also a non-swiveling pneumatic speaker stand, as shown in FIG. 6. The support (22) has a support top, a support bottom (92), a support front (94), and support back (96). The support (22) is fixed on a wedge (100) that has an angle from the support plate (20).

[0030] Returning to FIG. 1, the invention contemplates that the speaker stand and lectern have a first base support (64) secured to the base (10) and a second base support (66) secured to the base on the end opposite and parallel to first base support (64). The first base support (64) and the second base support (66) can also have casters (68, 70, 72, and 74) to allow the stand or lectern to move easily from place to place. The casters (68, 70, 72, and 74) can have locks (76, 78) to prevent the lectern or stand from rolling.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment, the lectern and stand have overall height in the collapsed position of 41 inches and an overall height in the extended position of 51 inches. The width ranges between 18 inches and 30 inches. The overall weight does not exceed 50 pounds.

[0032] The invention contemplates that the all components other than the pneumatic cylinder are plastic.

[0033] As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lectern can have a first rubber bumper (80) secured to the right panel and a second rubber bumper (82) secured to the left panel for stopping the pivoting shelf (36).

[0034] Although the preferred embodiment has a base, which has the hollow column (14) passing through the base to attach to the base plate, it is possible that the column is simply secured to the base if the base was constructed of a solid material.

[0035] The invention also contemplates that the upper end of the hollow column (14) attaches to the support plate (20) though a square hole. The square shape is critical because the angular shape prevents any swivel movement of the lectern without the need for any additional swivel dampening mechanism.

[0036] The base of the lectern can take any number of forms. The preferred embodiment is an “H” shape, wherein the base comprises, as shown in FIG. 1, a first base support (64) in parallel with a second base support (66). Other orientations such as a star or “X” shape are also contemplated by this invention.

[0037] It is contemplated that this invention could be made partially of metal for the base, column, tube, and plate and wood for the front panels and sides. It is with the scope of the invention that this could be an all-metal podium or an all-plastic podium, except for the pneumatic piston, which generally is metal.

[0038] While this invention has been described with emphasis on the preferred embodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention might be practiced other than as specifically described herein.