Portable lap-supported work station

Abstract

A portable lap-supported work station for bead stringing and bead weaving is provided. In one embodiment, the work station includes a tray configured as a design board having a lower surface to which a pillow is directly attached. In another embodiment, the work station includes a rectangular base and two flocked trays (or boards) which nestably and preferably snap-fit into the base. One tray is configured as a design board that is adapted for bead stringing. The second tray is configured for bead weaving. In the lower portion of the base beneath the trays, a storage compartment is provided. Preferably, the bottom exterior surface portions of the base are provided with a pillow adapted to rest upon the lap of the user. A handle along a longitudinal exterior side of the base permits the combination of pillow, base and boards to be transported or stored.

1 . A portable work station for bead stringing comprising: 
 (a) a board having a lower surface and an upper surface, the upper surface being configured as a design board for bead stringing; and    (b) a pillow associated with the lower surface of the board for resting the work station on the lap of a user.    
   
   
       2 . The work station of  claim 1  wherein the upper surface is flocked.  
   
   
       3 . The work station of  claim 1  wherein the pillow includes particulate, low-density fill.  
   
   
       4 . The work station of  claim 1  wherein the board has defined in the upper surface thereof a plurality of grooves that are suitable for engaging and positioning beads in a linear-type relationship relative to one another.  
   
   
       5 . The work station of  claim 1  wherein the board has defined in the upper surface thereof a plurality of indented, cup-like recesses for holding beads.  
   
   
       6 . The work station of  claim 1  wherein the board has defined therein indicia for determining a length of a beadwork project.  
   
   
       7 . A portable lap-supported work station for bead stringing comprising in combination: 
 (a) a base having an upper surface and a generally flat bottom wall;    (b) a board having an upper surface configured as a design board for bead stringing and a lower surface adapted to engage said base; and    (c) a pillow associated with exterior surface portions of said bottom wall for resting said work station upon the lap of a user.    
   
   
       8 . The work station of  claim 7  wherein the upper surface of said board is flocked.  
   
   
       9 . The work station of  claim 7  including a handle located along and associated with an exterior longitudinal side of said base for enabling manual transport of said work station.  
   
   
       10 . A portable lap-supported work station for bead stringing and bead weaving comprising in combination: 
 (a) a base having a generally flat bottom wall and an upturned peripheral side region;    (b) a first board having an upper surface configured as a design board for bead stringing; and    (c) a second board having an upper surface configured for bead weaving and having an upturned perimeter edge portion;    said first board and said second board each having perimeter portions that are adapted to nest and snap-fit within said base; and said base including shoulder means adjacent said peripheral side region for supporting said boards in an upwardly spaced relationship relative to said bottom wall whereby a storage compartment is defined therebetween.    
   
   
       11 . The work station of  claim 10  including a handle located along and associated with an exterior longitudinal side of said base for enabling manual transport of said work station.  
   
   
       12 . The work station of  claim 10  wherein exterior surface portions of said bottom wall are associated with a pillow for supporting said work station upon the lap of a user.  
   
   
       13 . A portable lap-supported work station for bead stringing and bead weaving comprising in combination: 
 (a) a base having a generally flat bottom wall and a continuously extending, upturned peripheral side region;    (b) a first board having a central portion whose upper surface portion is configured as a design board for bead stringing; and    (c) a second board having a central portion whose upper surface portion is configured for bead weaving and having a continuously extending, upturned perimeter edge portion;    said first board having perimeter portions adapted to snap-fit within and adjacent to said perimeter edge portions; and said perimeter edge portions being adapted to snap-fit within and adjacent to upper portions of said peripheral edge region and said peripheral edge region including shoulder means supporting said second board in upwardly spaced relationship relative to said bottom wall whereby a storage compartment is defined therebetween.    
   
   
       14 . The work station of  claim 13  including a handle located along and associated with an exterior longitudinal side of said base for transporting said work station.  
   
   
       15 . The work station of  claim 13  wherein exterior surface portions of said bottom wall are associated with a pillow for resting said work station upon the lap of a user.  
   
   
       16 . The work station of  claim 15  wherein said pillow has a particulate, low-density fill.  
   
   
       17 . The work station of  claim 10  wherein said first board has defined in said central portion thereof a plurality of grooves that are each suitable for engaging and positioning beads in a linear-type of relationship relative to one another.  
   
   
       18 . The work station of  claim 10  wherein said first board has defined in said central portion thereof a plurality of indented, cup-like recesses for holding beads.  
   
   
       19 . The work station of  claim 10  wherein said first board has defined therein indicia for determining a length of a beadwork project.  
   
   
       20 . The work station of  claim 10  wherein said second board has defined in said central portion thereof a generally flat area for bead weaving.  
   
   
       21 . A portable lap-supported work station for bead stringing and bead weaving comprising in combination: 
 (a) a base having a generally flat bottom wall and a continuously extending, upturned peripheral side region;    (b) a first board having a central portion whose upper surface portion is flocked and configured as a design board for bead stringing;    (c) a second board having a central portion whose upper surface portion is flocked and configured for bead weaving and having a continuously extending, upturned perimeter edge portion;    said first board having perimeter portions adapted to snap-fit within and adjacent to said perimeter edge portions; and said perimeter edge portions being adapted to snap-fit within and adjacent to upper portions of said peripheral edge region and said peripheral edge region including shoulder means supporting said second board in upwardly spaced relationship relative to said bottom wall whereby a storage compartment is defined therebetween; and    (d) a pillow associated with exterior surface portions of said bottom wall for resting said work station upon the lap of a user.    
   
   
       22 . The work station of  claim 21  including a handle located along and associated with an exterior longitudinal side of said base for transporting said work station.  
   
   
       23 . The work station of  claim 21  wherein said pillow has a particulate, low-density fill.  
   
   
       24 . The work station of  claim 21  wherein said first board has defined in said central portion thereof a plurality of grooves that are each suitable for engaging and positioning beads in a linear-type of relationship relative to one another.  
   
   
       25 . The work station of  claim 21  wherein said first board has defined in said central portion thereof a plurality of indented, cup-like recesses for holding beads.  
   
   
       26 . The work station of  claim 21  wherein said first board has defined therein indicia for determining a length of a beadwork project.  
   
   
       27 . The work station of  claim 21  wherein said second board has defined in said central portion thereof a generally flat area for bead weaving.  
   
   
       28 . The work station of  claim 21  wherein said perimeter edge portion is associated with a small magnet that is adapted to hold a needle or the like.