GB2091636A

GB2091636A - Support surfaces

Info

Publication number: GB2091636A
Application number: GB8102036A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-01-23
Filing date: 1981-01-23
Publication date: 1982-08-04
Also published as: GB2091636B

Abstract

A support board for documents has an upper, rear hook structure for holding the board securely in position on a motor vehicle steering wheel. In one embodiment, the board is a one- piece rectangular plastics moulding having its two top corners (1,2) folded back to define the hook structure and having its lower edge (4) turned up at the front to define a document-retaining rim. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support surfaces This invention relates to a support surface for use in the support of documents or the like for example for reading or writing purposes.

Where a driver of a motor vehicle wishes to read or write while sitting in the driving seat of such vehicle when stationary, as is frequently the case with travelling sales personnel or the like, difficulty may be encountered with regard to the provision of an adequate support surface to receive documents or the like thereon.

An object of the present invention is to overcome or at least appreciably reduce this difficulty.

According to one aspect of the present invention therefore there is provided a method of supporting documents or the like in a motor vehicle having a steering wheel, characterised in that a device is mounted detachably on said wheel to provide a surface over same for the support of said documents or the like.

With this arrangement an adequate support surface can be readily and conveniently provided as and when required for use by the driver.

The said device may take any suitable form and may be adapted for detachable mounting on the steering wheel in any suitable manner. Preferably however, and in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the device for use in the method of the first aspect of the present invention comprises a board providing said support surface at a front side thereof, and a hook structure at a top part of said board directed rearwardly thereof, said hook structure being adapted to hook over the upper periphery of a steering wheel thereby to locate the board relative thereto. This arrangement is particularly simple and convenient to use and manufacture.

The board may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials of rigid or semi-stiff form. Thus, for example, the board may be formed from cardboard either alone or covered with plastics material, a rigid or semi-rigid moulded plastics sheet, sheet metal or the like.

The hook structure may be formed in one piece with the board or alternatively may be a separate structure which is secured to the board. In one embodiment the board is of moulded plastics form and the hook structure is defined by one or more turned-over upper peripheral parts thereof.

The hook structure may comprise one or more appropriately shaped lips or flanges, or rods or wires. Alternatively the hook structure may be defined by one or more appropriately formed clips or clamps or the like. The hook structure may be specially formed to fit securely on a steering wheel rim of a particular kind or range of kinds.

Alternatively and preferably however, the structure is such as to fit all or most kinds of steering wheels.

The said device may be provided with auxillary structures as desired such as: an upturned lower rim or the like to retain documents on the support surface; one or more spring clips or the like in the upper and/or side regions of the support surface also for retaining documents in position; one or more side holders or the like for writing implements.

It will be appreciated that the said device can also be used to provide a support surface other than in a motor vehicle, in which case the said hook structure may be of use for example to retain the device in position on a desk or table or to elevate the top of the board when placed on a table or desk in the manner of a lectern.

Alternatively, the hook structure may be detachable or collapsible to permit use of the device in like manner to a conventional clipboard.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of one form of a device according to the invention when mounted on a car steering wheel; and Fig. 2 is an edge view of the device of Fig. 1.

The device shown in the drawings is formed in one piece from a rigid rectangular sheet of a suitable plastics material, such as an acrylic plastics material.

The two top corners 1, 2 of the sheet are turned rearwardly so as to extend at an angle (slightly less than 900) to the main central part 3 of the sheet.

The bottom edge of the sheet is turned forwardly to define a retaining lip 4.

In use, the device can be mounted on a steering wheel 5 of a motor car or other vehicle by hooking the rearwardly turned corners 1, 2 over the top rim of the wheel. The device is thereby held securely in position with the main centrai part 3 of the device resting on and overlying the wheel and presenting an inclined front support surface 6 to a person sitting behind the wheel in the driving seat.

Such support surface 6 can be used to support documents for reading or writing purposes and the upturned lip 4 acts to retain such documents in position on such surface 6.

After use, it will be appreciated that the device can be quickly and easily unhooked from the steering wheel and can then be conveniently stored or carried as required. The turned corners 1, 2 and lip 4 are arranged to permit convenient stacking or multiple such devices.

The device can also be used as a hand-held clipboard or the like or as a document stand. In the latter case it will be understood that the corners 1, 2 will act to support the device in a disposition slightly inclined to the horizontal in the manner of a lectern when the device is placed on a desk or table top with the surface 6 uppermost.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

1. A method of supporting documents or the like in a motor vehicle having a steering wheel,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Support surfaces This invention relates to a support surface for use in the support of documents or the like for example for reading or writing purposes. Where a driver of a motor vehicle wishes to read or write while sitting in the driving seat of such vehicle when stationary, as is frequently the case with travelling sales personnel or the like, difficulty may be encountered with regard to the provision of an adequate support surface to receive documents or the like thereon. An object of the present invention is to overcome or at least appreciably reduce this difficulty. According to one aspect of the present invention therefore there is provided a method of supporting documents or the like in a motor vehicle having a steering wheel, characterised in that a device is mounted detachably on said wheel to provide a surface over same for the support of said documents or the like. With this arrangement an adequate support surface can be readily and conveniently provided as and when required for use by the driver. The said device may take any suitable form and may be adapted for detachable mounting on the steering wheel in any suitable manner. Preferably however, and in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the device for use in the method of the first aspect of the present invention comprises a board providing said support surface at a front side thereof, and a hook structure at a top part of said board directed rearwardly thereof, said hook structure being adapted to hook over the upper periphery of a steering wheel thereby to locate the board relative thereto. This arrangement is particularly simple and convenient to use and manufacture. The board may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials of rigid or semi-stiff form. Thus, for example, the board may be formed from cardboard either alone or covered with plastics material, a rigid or semi-rigid moulded plastics sheet, sheet metal or the like. The hook structure may be formed in one piece with the board or alternatively may be a separate structure which is secured to the board. In one embodiment the board is of moulded plastics form and the hook structure is defined by one or more turned-over upper peripheral parts thereof. The hook structure may comprise one or more appropriately shaped lips or flanges, or rods or wires. Alternatively the hook structure may be defined by one or more appropriately formed clips or clamps or the like. The hook structure may be specially formed to fit securely on a steering wheel rim of a particular kind or range of kinds. Alternatively and preferably however, the structure is such as to fit all or most kinds of steering wheels. The said device may be provided with auxillary structures as desired such as: an upturned lower rim or the like to retain documents on the support surface; one or more spring clips or the like in the upper and/or side regions of the support surface also for retaining documents in position; one or more side holders or the like for writing implements. It will be appreciated that the said device can also be used to provide a support surface other than in a motor vehicle, in which case the said hook structure may be of use for example to retain the device in position on a desk or table or to elevate the top of the board when placed on a table or desk in the manner of a lectern. Alternatively, the hook structure may be detachable or collapsible to permit use of the device in like manner to a conventional clipboard. The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of one form of a device according to the invention when mounted on a car steering wheel; and Fig. 2 is an edge view of the device of Fig. 1. The device shown in the drawings is formed in one piece from a rigid rectangular sheet of a suitable plastics material, such as an acrylic plastics material. The two top corners 1, 2 of the sheet are turned rearwardly so as to extend at an angle (slightly less than 900) to the main central part 3 of the sheet. The bottom edge of the sheet is turned forwardly to define a retaining lip 4. In use, the device can be mounted on a steering wheel 5 of a motor car or other vehicle by hooking the rearwardly turned corners 1, 2 over the top rim of the wheel. The device is thereby held securely in position with the main centrai part 3 of the device resting on and overlying the wheel and presenting an inclined front support surface 6 to a person sitting behind the wheel in the driving seat. Such support surface 6 can be used to support documents for reading or writing purposes and the upturned lip 4 acts to retain such documents in position on such surface 6. After use, it will be appreciated that the device can be quickly and easily unhooked from the steering wheel and can then be conveniently stored or carried as required. The turned corners 1, 2 and lip 4 are arranged to permit convenient stacking or multiple such devices. The device can also be used as a hand-held clipboard or the like or as a document stand. In the latter case it will be understood that the corners 1, 2 will act to support the device in a disposition slightly inclined to the horizontal in the manner of a lectern when the device is placed on a desk or table top with the surface 6 uppermost. It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only. CLAIMS

1. A method of supporting documents or the like in a motor vehicle having a steering wheel, characterised in that a device is mounted detachably on said wheel to provide a surface over same for the support of said documents or the like.

2. A device for use in the method of claim 1 comprising a board providing said support surface at a front side thereof, and a hook structure at a top part of said board directed rearwardly thereof, said hook structure being adapted to hook over the upper periphery of a steering wheel thereby to locate the board relative thereto.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said board comprises a moulded plastics sheet.

4. A device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said hook structure is formed in one piece with the board.

5. A device according to claim 4, when dependent on claim 3, wherein said hook structure is defined by one or more turned-over upper peripheral parts thereof.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said board is of rectangular form and said turned-over parts are the two top corners thereof.

7. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the board has an upturned lower rim thereto.

8. A device according to claim 2, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. The method of claim 1 when performed using the device of any one of claims 2 to 8.