Map display and storage device

• US 5,392,549 A
• Filed: 12/13/1993
• Issued: 02/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jose L. Castro
• Original Assignee: Jose L. Castro
• Inventors: Castro, Jose L.
• Primary Examiner(s): GREEN, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US08/165,171
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 40/117, 40/471, 40/518, 40/520, 40/593, 40/597, 40/904, 296/97.4, 296/97.6, 296/97.7, 296/97.8, 160/85, 160/86, 160/120, 160/122, 160/241, 160/370.2 A
• US Class Current: 40/518
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/21 the elements being flexible sheets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 40/904 Map or chart holder

Abstract

A device in combination with a driving station of a vehicle for displaying and storing a flexible web containing information wound in two cylinder members that provide sufficient slag in the web to form a loop that holds a weighting member. The weighting member is pulled away from the first two cylinders either by gravity or spring action and the web is exposed by turning at least one of the two cylinder members. The two cylinder members an be manually or electrically actuated. A user thereby views a specific area of the map or information contained in the web. An electric bulb is provided to illuminate the web from inside the loop.

Claims

1. A combination of a vehicle comprising a structure within hand-reach of a person sitting in said vehicle and a document display apparatus attached to the structure, said document display apparatus including:

a web adapted to carry information applied thereon, said web having first and second ends;

first cylinder means, having a first rotation axis, and holding said web wound thereon from said first end;

second cylinder means, having a second rotation axis, and holding said web wound thereon from said second end;

third cylinder means, having a third rotation axis, suspended by said web and so arranged and constructed that said web forms a loop that cooperatively receives said third cylinder means and said third cylinder means urges said loop downwardly when at least one of said first and second cylinder means is unwound, said first, second and third axes being parallel to one another, and said first and second axes being sufficiently horizontally spaced apart to cause said loop to form two planar sections laying in converging oblique planes.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said web is wound on said first and second cylinder means from opposite sides of said cylinder means.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said first and second cylinder means include means for turning said first and second cylinder means.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said apparatus further comprises a housing covering said first and second cylinder means, said first and second cylinder means are rotatably supported on said housing and wherein said housing includes an opening for allowing said third cylinder means to pass through said opening.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said means for turning said first and second cylinder means includes a knob member that protrudes outwardly from said housing.

6. The combination of claim 1 further including means for holding said apparatus to said structure.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said means for holding said apparatus includes suction cup members.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said means for holding said apparatus include a magnetic means.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises means for illuminating said web positioned inside said loop, said means for illuminating said web includes a light bulb member and battery means connected thereto and further including switch means for interrupting the connection of said battery means to said light bulb member.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein said web is made out of a translucent material.