Vehicular desk or information display

• US 5,222,690 A
• Filed: 08/15/1991
• Issued: 06/29/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lloyd M. Jeffords
• Original Assignee: Lloyd M. Jeffords
• Inventors: Jeffords, Lloyd M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BIDWELL, ANNE
• Application Number:
  US07/745,475
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 244/1 R, 224/42.45 R, 224/276, 224/277, 108/44, 248/229, 248/230, 248/231.6, 248/442.2, 248/447.2, 248/917
• US Class Current: 244/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/005 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0075 Adaptations for use of electronic flight bags in aircraft; Supports therefor in the cockpit
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

An apparatus for attaching to a steering column, column or instrument panel, e.g., an aircraft yoke column, having a two-part clamp to so attach, an arm movably connected to the clamp, and an information display movably connected to the arm. In a presently preferred embodiment, any circular column of 3/4" to 7/8" diameter can be attached to. The movement of both the arm and information display is upwardly or downwardly such that the overall effect is that the display can be moved inwardly or outwardly. The connections of the arm to the clamp and/or of the arm to the information display can be a joint or a hinge. The information display can be a video display, e.g., a moving map computer or a display screen for such a computer, or, a clipboard or ring binder; the video display and clipboard are presently preferred.

Claims

1. An apparatus for attachment to a substantially circular or ovular column for displaying information, comprising:

means to attach to the column;

an arm movably connected to the attaching means such that the arm can move upwardly or downwardly with respect to the attaching means;

means to movably connect the arm to the attaching means;

an information display movably connected to the arm such that the display can move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the arm, said information display having a front side and a back side; and

,

means to movably connect the display to the arm;

said attaching means comprising means to grip the column, said gripping means and connecting means of the arm to the attaching means comprising

one of a male member and a bifurcated member protruding from the gripping means toward the arm,

one of a male member and a bifurcated member protruding from the arm, such that when the gripping means and the arm are joined they are matingly positioned with respect to each other; and

means to connect one of the male member and bifurcated member to one of the male member and bifurcated member;

wherein the effect of the connecting means of the arm to the attaching means and of the connecting means of the display to the arm is that the display can move inwardly and outwardly with respect to the column.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gripping means and connecting means of the arm to the attaching means comprises

a bifurcated member protruding from the gripping means comprising a pair of extensions protruding from the gripping means toward the arm,

a male member protruding from the arm comprising a flange extension, said flange extension matingly positioned between the extensions of the pair of extensions protruding from the gripping means, and

the means to connect the bifurcated member of the gripping means with the male member of the arm comprises means defining a bore through each of the flange extension and each extension of the pair of extensions such that when the flange extension is matingly positioned between the extensions of the pair of extensions, said bore is substantially concentric;

and, a pin running through the bore.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the column comprises an aircraft yoke column.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the information display comprises a board having means to hold paper or a video display, and the gripping means includes a two C-clamp and the pair of extensions protrudes from the C-clamp closes the arm.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the column comprises a boat steering wheel column.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the column comprises an automobile steering wheel column.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means to movably connect the information display to the arm comprises:

a pair of extensions protruding from the back side of the information display,

a flange extension protruding from the arm and matingly positioned between the extension of the pair of extensions protruding from the back side of the information display,

means defining a bore through each of the flange extension and each extension of the pair of extensions, such that when the flange extension is matingly positioned between the extensions of the pair of extensions, said bore is substantially concentric, and,

a pin running through the bore.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the information display comprises a video display.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the information display comprises a clipboard with the clip on the front side.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the information display further comprises a display board, said display board having a front side and a rear side;

and a support member from which the extensions protrude and to which the arm is movably connected;

said support member being attached to the display board and, substantially abutting the back side of the display board.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the information display comprises a video display.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the information display comprises a board with means to hold paper comprising a clipboard, with the clip on the front side.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the information display comprises the clipboard, the pin running through the bore of the flange extension and pair of extensions protruding from the C-clamp comprises a rolled steel pin, screw or a bolt, the pin running through the bore of the flange extension and pair of extensions protruding from the information display comprises a rolled steel pin, screw or a bolt, the support is attached to the display by rivets, and, a pulling force towards each other between the two C-clamps is generated by said clamps being connected by a pair of sufficiently threaded rods positioned on either side of the column, each of said rods being attached at one end to a clamp by a pin connection, and, at the other end by a nut threaded on each of said rods.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one nut is a wing nut so that the apparatus can be easily removably attached to the column.

15. An apparatus for attachment to a column for displaying information comprising:

means to attach to the column, said means including a first pair of extensions, each extension having means defining a bore,

an arm, said arm having a first flange extension at one end and a second flange extension at the other end, said first flange extension having means defining a bore, said second flange extension having means defining a bore, and, said first flange extension being matingly positioned between the extensions of the first pair of extensions such that the bores therethrough are substantially concentric,

a first pin running through the bores of the first pair of extensions and the first flange extension so that the arm is movably connected to the attaching means such that the arm can move upwardly or downwardly with respect to the attaching means,

an information display having a front side and a back side, and a second pair of extensions protruding from the back side, each extension having means defining a bore, and, said second flange extension being matingly positioned between the extensions of the second pair of extensions such that the bores therethrough are substantially concentric, and,

a second pin running through the bores of the second pair of extensions and the second flange extension so that the information display is movably connected to the arm such that the display can move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the arm, and, the overall effect of the first pin and second pin connections is that the display can move inwardly and outwardly with respect to the column.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein it is for attachment to a column comprising an aircraft yoke column, and the attaching means comprises a clamp.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

the clamp comprises two C-clamps, a pulling force between each C-clamp of the two C-clamps is generated by said clamps being connected by a pair of sufficiently threaded rods positioned on either side of the column, each of said rods being attached at one end to a clamp by a pin connection, and, at the other end by a nut threaded on each of said rods;

the information display comprises a display board comprising either a video display or a board with means to hold paper, said display board having a front side and a back side, and a support member from which the second extensions protrude and to which the arm is movably connected by the second pin, said support member being attached to the display board and abutting the back side of the display board.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the display board comprises a board with means to hold paper comprising a clipboard with the clip on the front side.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein at least one nut is a wing nut so that the apparatus can be easily removably attached to the column.

20. An apparatus for attachment to a vehicle instrument panel for displaying information comprising:

means to attach to the instrument panel;

an arm movably connected to the attaching means such that the arm can move upwardly or downwardly with respect to the attaching means;

means to movably connect the arm to the attaching means;

an information display movably connected to the arm such that the display can move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the arm, said information display having a front side and a back side; and

,

means to movably connect the display to the arm;

said attaching means comprising means to mount to the panel, said mounting means comprising

a pair of extensions protruding from the mounting means toward the arm,

a flange extension protruding from the arm and matingly positioned between the extensions of the pair of extensions protruding from the mounting means,

means defining a bore through each of the flange and each extension of the pair of extensions, such that when the flange extension is matingly positioned between the extensions of the pair of extensions, said bore is substantially concentric, and,

a pin running through the bore,

wherein the effect of the connecting means of the arm to the attaching means and of the connecting means of the display to the arm is that the display can move inwardly and outwardly with respect to the instrument panel.