Steering wheel tray apparatus

• US 5,060,581 A
• Filed: 02/07/1991
• Issued: 10/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carole S. Malinski
• Original Assignee: Carole S. Malinski
• Inventors: Malinski, Carole S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ASCHENBRENNER, PETER
• Application Number:
  US07/653,082
• Time in Patent Office: 264 Days
• Field of Search: 108/44, 108/47, 211/88, 229/276, 248/489, 248/447, 248/460, 248/441.1, 248/444
• US Class Current: 108/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/005 mounted on the steering wheel

Abstract

A foldable stowable portable steering wheel mounted tray apparatus of inexpensive construction permits the automobile driver to comfortably dine while seated behind the steering wheel. The tray apparatus provides a tray surface on which to dispose food and to prop reading material in an upright position. Adjustments are provided for accommodating the tray to the angular orientation between the steering wheel column and the horizontal, the tilt angle, as differs between various models of automobiles, to maintain the tray level. The tray is pivotally mounted along a longitudinal edge to a back panel that in turn is supported on the steering wheel. Straps extending from the back panel to the tray suspend the opposed end of the tray maintaining same to a level position. Angular adjustment is achieved by changing the length of restraining straps. A brass brad is inserted through slits in the strap to bunch together a portion of the strap'"'"'s end thereby adjusting the length of the remainder of the strap.

Claims

1. Tray apparatus for mounting to a circular shaped automobile steering wheel of predetermined diameter comprising:

a first panel, with said panel comprising a generally rectangular shape and having a front and rear surface and left and right sides;

a second panel, with said second panel comprising a generally rectangular shape for receiving articles on a surface thereof;

hinge means connecting said first and second panels along an edge thereof for permitting relative pivotal movement between said first and second panels to permit said panels to be moved between a folded position and an open position;

restraining means connected to said first and second panels for limiting pivotal movement of said second panel relative to said first panel in one direction to thereby hold said second panel in a suspended open level position, whereby articles may be placed on a surface thereof;

said restraining means comprising first strap means located on a left side and second strap means located on a right side of said panels;

said first and second strap means being of a relatively nonstretchable characteristic in an axial direction and of a limp characteristic in direction orthogonal to said axial direction;

a first pair of slots in said first panel and a second pair of slots in said second panel with said slots being spaced from said hinge means;

said first strap means having a first end extending through a first one of said slots in said first panel and a second end extending through said corresponding slot in said second panel;

said second end of said first strap means including a bunched end portion with said end portion defining a cross sectional area of material greater than the area of said slot associated therewith to prevent withdrawal of said end through said associated panel slot;

said first end of said first strap means including a bunched section located at the rear side of said first panel;

said bunched section including;

a plurality of spaced slits extending through said strap means with at least a portion of said slits being aligned to form a singular passage;

brad means, said brad means containing a brad head and two legs attached at one end to said head;

said brad means having a portion of said legs extending through said singular passage formed by said aligned slits with said brad head being on one side of said bunched end section and the leg portions spread apart on the other side of said bunched section;

wherein said brad legs prevent withdrawal of said bunched section through said associated slot in said first panel and unbunching of said end section;

coupling means for coupling said first panel onto said automobile steering wheel;

said coupling means comprising;

third strap means, with said third strap means having one end connected to said first panel proximate the upper left side thereof, and an opposed end connected to said first panel proximate the upper right side thereof and defining a loop about the rear surface of said first panel;

said defined loop being of a maximum extent less than the outer diameter of said steering wheel;

said third strap means and said first panel defining therebetween a yoke in which to receive and pass there through a portion, less than half, of the steering wheel rim to thereby suspend said tray apparatus from said steering wheel;

said rear surface of said first panel having at least on surface portion for abutting at least on portion of said steering wheel.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 further comprising a ledge of short height;

said ledge being connected to and protruding upwardly from the upper surface of said second panel and in a position on said upper surface spaced from said hinge means for bracing reading material in an upright position on said second panel and against said first panel

3. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein said first panel contains a vertically oriented slot spaced from a first lateral side edge of said first panel;

a notch in said first panel extending from said first lateral side edge;

said notch being rectangular in shape and being located in axial alignment with said slot;

and wherein said third strap means includes an end extending through said slot from said first side to said rear side of said first panel;

said end of said third strap means being fixedly bunched together on the rear side of said panel to define a surface area greater than the cross sectional area of said slot to prevent withdrawal of said strap end through said slot.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second panels and said hinge means are formed of an integral one-piece molded assembly of plastic material with said hinge means comprising a weakened portion of said plastic material.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said hinge means comprises further:

a narrow rectangular strip defining a third panel;

first hinge means joining said third panel to said first panel for permitting pivotal movement there between; and

second hinge means joining said third panel to said first panel for permitting pivotal movement there between.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said strap means comprises a web of woven nylon material.

7. Tray apparatus for mounting to a automobile steering wheel having a circular rim of predetermined outer diameter, a central hub and radially extending spokes connecting said rim to said hub, comprising:

a first panel;

said panel comprising a relatively flat surface of generally rectangular shape and of a predetermined width;

a second panel;

said second panel comprising a generally rectangular shape defining a tray for receiving articles on a surface thereof;

first means connecting said first and second panels along an edge thereof for permitting relative pivotal movement between said first and second panels to permit said first and second panels to be pivoted between a folded position and an open position;

second means for limiting pivotal movement of said second panel relative to said first panel in one direction to a predetermined extent to thereby hold said second panel in a suspended open level position, whereby articles may be placed on a surface thereof;

coupling means for coupling said first panel onto said automobile steering wheel;

said coupling means comprising;

strap means having one end connected to a first predetermined position thereon said first panel at second position thereon spaced from said first position, and an opposed end connected to said first panel and defining a loop about the rear side of said first panel;

said defined loop being of a maximum extent less than the diameter of said steering wheel and said strap means being relatively non-stretchable in an axial direction and of limp characteristic in direction orthogonal to said axial direction;

said strap means and said first panel defining therebetween a yoke in which to receive and pass there through a minor portion, less than half, of the steering wheel rim to thereby suspend said tray apparatus from said steering wheel.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7, wherein said defined loop further comprises a maximum extent greater than the length of said first panel and wherein said rear surface of said first panel having surface portions abutting spoke and/or hub portions of said steering wheel.

9. The invention, as defined in claim 7, wherein said first panel contains a slot of predetermined cross section area, said slot being spaced from a lateral side edge of said first panel;

a notch in said first panel extending from a first side edge of said first panel;

said notch being rectangular in shape and being located in axial alignment with said slot;

and wherein said strap means includes a first end extending through said slot from a front side to a rear side of said first panel;

said first end of said strap means being fixedly bunched together on said rear side of said panel to define a surface area greater than the cross section area of said slot to prevent withdrawal of said first end of said strap through said slot.

10. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said strap means includes a first end with said first end including a bunched section at the rear side of said first panel;

said bunched section including;

a plurality of spaced slits extending through said strap means with at least a portion of said slits being aligned to form a singular passage;

brad means, said brad means containing a brad head and two legs attached at one end to said head;

said brad means having a portion of said legs extending through said singular passage formed by said aligned slits with said brad head being on one side of said bunched end section and the leg portions spread apart on the other side of said bunched section;

said brad legs preventing withdrawal of said bunched section through said associated slot in said first panel and preventing unbunching of said end section to said strap means.

11. The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein said first and second panels and said first means are formed of an integral one-piece molded assembly of plastic material with said first means comprising a weakened portion of said plastic material.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein said strap means comprises a web of woven nylon material.

13. The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein said second means comprises:

second strap means located on a left side and third strap means located on a right side of said first and second panels;

said second and third strap means being relatively nonstretchable and of limp characteristic;

each of said second and third strap means having a width and a thickness with said width being substantially larger than said thickness;

said first panel including a first pair of slots and said second panel including a second pair of slots with said slots being spaced from said first means;

said second strap means including a first end extending through a first one of said slots in said first panel and a second end extending through said corresponding slot in said second panel;

said second end of said second strap means including a bunched end portion with said bunched end portion defining a cross sectional area of material greater than the area of said slot associated therewith to prevent withdrawal of said end through said associated slot in said second panel;

said first end of said second strap means including a bunched section at the rear side of said first panel;

said bunched section of said second end including;

a plurality of spaced slits extending through said strap means with at least a portion of said slits being aligned to form a singular passage;

brad means, said brad means containing a brad head and two legs attached at one end to said head;

said brad means having a portion of said legs extending through said singular passage formed by said aligned slits with said brad head being on one side of said bunched end section and the leg portions spread apart on the other side of said bunched section;

said brad legs preventing withdrawal of said bunched section through said associated slot in said first panel and unbunching of said end section.

14. Tray apparatus for mounting to a automobile steering wheel having a circular rim of predetermined outer diameter, a central hub and radially extending spokes connecting said rim to said hub, comprising:

a first panel;

said panel comprising a relatively flat surface of generally rectangular shape and of a predetermined width;

a second panel;

said second panel comprising a generally rectangular shape defining a tray for receiving articles on a surface thereof;

first means connecting said first and second panels along an edge thereof for permitting relative pivotal movement between said first and second panels to permit said first and second panels to be pivoted between a folded position and an open position;

second means, spaced from said first means, connected to said first and second panels at positions of said panels spaced from said first means, for providing additional support to said second panel and for restraining pivotal movement of said second panel relative to said first panel in one direction to thereby hold said second panel in a suspended open level position, whereby articles may be placed on a surface thereof;

coupling means for coupling said first panel onto said automobile steering wheel;

said coupling means comprising;

strap means having one end connected to the left upper side of said first panel, and an opposed end connected to the upper right side of said first panel and defining a loop about the rear side of said first panel;

said loop being of a maximum extent greater than the width of said first panel and less than the diameter of said steering wheel and said strap means being relatively non-stretchable in an axial direction and of limp characteristic in direction orthogonal to said axial direction;

said strap means and said first panel defining therebetween a yoke in which to receive and pass there through a portion, less than half, of the steering wheel rim to thereby suspend said tray apparatus from said steering wheel;

said rear surface of said first panel having surface portions abutting spoke and/or hub portions of said steering wheel.