GB2121723A

GB2121723A - An aid for reading or writing in a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2121723A
Application number: GB08217586A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Alfred Forbes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-06-17
Filing date: 1982-06-17
Publication date: 1984-01-04

Abstract

A metal sheet or wooden or plastics board (20) provides a substantially rigid and generally flat writing and/or reading support surface for location on a vehicle steering wheel (23). A pair of spaced blocks (21,22) are secured to the upper edge of the rear surface of the board (20) and are shaped to receive the steering wheel therebetween to mount the board on the steering wheel. Alternatively, the upper edge of the board may be formed of channel section, with a central aperture in the channel receiving the upper portion of the steering wheel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATiON An aid for reading or writing in a vehicle This invention relates to means for facilitating reading or writing for use in a vehicle.

There are many occasions when a vehicle driver needs to be able to write or read when seated at the wheel of the vehicle, when stationary. Sales representatives often need to make a written record of their activities. Similarly drivers of commercial vehicles often have to compiete record sheets to conform with Government regulations. Private motorists often want to chart their journeys and refer to maps. The invention seeks to provide a relatively simple, convenient and portable means for facilitating these operations.

The invention provides a device for facilitating writing and/or reading in a vehicle, comprising means which can be positioned on a vehicle steering wheel to provide a substantially rigid and generally flat writing and/or reading support surface, and mounting means engagable with a steering wheel to locate said writing and/or reading support surface thereon.

Embodiments of the invention may comprise a generally rigid sheet, e.g. a metal sheet, or a board, made for example of wood or plastics material, which is supported by a vehicle steering wheel and is located thereon by said mounting means to provide a convenient writing and/or reading support surface of the required stability and size.

Preferably said mounting means is integral with said means providing the writing and/or reading surface thereby providing a compact unit. Said mounting means is preferably adapted so that it can be engaged with steering wheels having different diameters and rake angles so that the device can be used in a wide variety of vehicles of differing model and make.

In some constructions where the flat writing/ reading surface is provided by a metal sheet, said mounting means may be provided by an edge portion of the sheet which extends rearwardly thereof generally perpendicular to the writing/reading surface to provide a joining section and then.

turns downwardly to form a strip extending generally parallel to and spaced from the rear surface of the writing/reading surface at a distance sufficient to receive therebetween a vehicle steering wheel of the size likely to be used for supporting the device.

Preferably said joining section of said mounting means has a central aperture formed therein of sufficient size to receive upper portions of steering wheels of different sizes which can thereby protrude through the aperture to locate and stabilize the writing/reading surface in relation to the steering wheel upon which it rests in use.

In some constructions, there may be provided means projecting from the rear surface of the writing/reading surface to engage a lower portion of a supporting steering wheel to raise the bottom portion of the writing/reading surface further from the wheel than its upper portion thereby providing in some applications a more convenient disposition of the writing/reading surface for use, for example, or more upright steering wheels. For example an elongate member, such as a bar or a channel-section member, may be fixed to extend across the rear surface of the writing/reading surface at a position spaced from the upper edge thereof.

In other embodiments, said mounting means may comprise a pair of blocks mounted on the rear surface of the writing/reading surface at or adjacent the upper edge thereof, the blocks being spaced apart and shaped to receive therebetween an upper portion of a steering wheel, which may protrude above the upper edge of the writing/reading surface, so as to provide the required location of the device on the steering wheel giving a firm and stable support for the writing/reading surface.

The blocks may be made of wood, plastics material, or metal, e.g. metal channel sections. The writing/reading surface may be made of wood or plastics material instead of a metal sheet.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective representation of a first embodiment; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective representation of a second embodiment.

Referring to Figure 1 a writing board 10 according to the invention is made of sheet metal. The upper edge of the metal sheet is turned rearwardly at right angles and then downwardly at right angles to form a channel section 11 of sufficient width to receive an upper portion of a vehicle steering wheel 12. A central aperture 13 is formed in the base portion of the channel 11 through which an upper portion of the steering wheel 12 protrudes to provide a stable mounting of the board on the steering wheel. In this way the board provides a flat wiring surface 14 which is firmly and stably supported by the vehicle steering wheel 12.

In some applications, a separate channel section 15 may be fixed to the rear surface of the board towards the lower edge thereof in order to provide the required disposition of the flat writing surface in relation to the plane containing the steering wheel.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the writing surface is provided by a board 20, e.g. made of wood or plastics material, having a pair of wooden locating blocks 21,22 fixed in a spaced relationship at its upper edge. The opposed end surfaces of the blocks 21,22 are shaped to converge in the upward direction so as to locate on an upper portion of a steering wheel 23 which then protrudes above.the upper edge of the board 20. The board can be mounted in this way on steering wheels of different sizes.

Modifications of the above described embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example a ledge could be provided along the bottom edge of the writing surface of the board to locate papers placed on the board.

Claims

CLAIMS (Filed on 13.6.83)

1. A device for facilitating writing and/or reading in a vehicle, comprising means which can be positioned on a vehicle steering wheel to provide a substantially rigid and generally flat writing and/or reading support surface, and mounting means engageable with a steering wheel to locate said writing and/or reading support surface thereon.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a generally rigid sheet or board which, in use, is supported by a vehicle steering wheel and is located thereon by said mounting means to provide a convenient writing and/or reading support surface of the required stability and size.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said rigid sheet is a metal sheet.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said board is made of wood or a plastics material.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said mounting means is integral with said means providing the writing and/or reading surface.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein said mounting means is adapted so that it can be engaged with steering wheels having different diameters.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 3, or either Claim 5 or Claim 6 when dependent on Claim 3, wherein said mounting means is provided by an edge portion of the sheet which extends rearwardly thereof generally perpendicular to the writing/reading surface to provide a joining section and then turns downwardly to form a strip extending generally parallel to and spaced from the rear surface of the writing/reading surface at a distance sufficient to receive therebetween a vehicle steering wheel of the size likely to be used for supporting the device.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said joining section of said mounting means has central aperture formed therein of sufficient size to receive upper portions of steering wheels of different sizes which can thereby proturde through the aperture to locate and stabiiize the writing/reading surface in relation to the steering wheel upon which it rests in use.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is provided means projecting from the rear surface of the writing/reading surface to engage a lower portion of a supporting steering wheel to raise the bottom portion of the writing/reading surface further from the wheel than its upper portion thereby providing in some applications a more convenient disposition of the writing/reading surface for use, for example, or more upright steering wheels.

10. A device is claimed in Claim 9 wherein an elongate member is fixed to extend across the rear surface of the writing/reading surface at a position spaced from the upper edge thereof.

11. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6,9 and 10, wherein said mounting means comprise a pair of blocks mounted on the rear surface of the writing/reading surface at or adjacent the upper edge thereof, the blocks being spaced apart and shaped to receive therebetween an upper portion of a steering wheel, which may protrude above the upper edge of the writing/reading surface, so as to provide the required location of the device on the steering wheel giving a firm and stable support for the writing/reading surface.

12. A device as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the blocks are made of wood, plastics material, or metal.

13. A device for facilitating writing and/or reading in a vehicle, the device being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.