Desk structure for vehicles

• US 5,542,589 A
• Filed: 09/09/1994
• Issued: 08/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carl B. Mckee
• Original Assignee: Carl B. Mckee
• Inventors: McKee, Carl B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US08/303,951
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 224/275, 224/929, 224/273, 224/277, 455/89, 455/90, 455/344, 455/345, 455/346, 455/351, 296/37.1, 296/37.8, 296/37.15, 379/58, 379/428, 379/437, 379/440
• US Class Current: 224/275
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/001 of tables or trays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0012 Seats or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/005 Connection with the vehicle part
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0091 the article being mounted on a flexible shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

A readily transportable desk structure is provided for positioning upon a vehicular seat of the bench type. The desk structure preferably takes the form of an tub-like body having a compartment housing transceiver means and a plate-like top covering the compartment with a cover providing access to the compartment. Various means are disclosed for preventing excessive verticle and horizontal movement of the desk stucture during vehicular travel utilizing the vehicle seat belt, the center armrest, the seat cushion and the seat back. A power outlet is provided for utilizing electrically powered accessories with the desk stucture.

Claims

1. A desk structure for use inside and outside a vehicle and adapted to be removably positioned upon a vehicle seat for use inside the vehicle, said desk structure comprising:

a generally hollow tub-like body having an exterior surface, an open upper side, a front wall having an aperture formed therein, a generally planar bottom wall adapted to rest on a generally horizontal surface of a vehicle seat and an interior compartment for housing a telephone transceiver means;

a generally plate-like top attached to said body and covering said open side, said top having an exterior surface and means for providing access to said interior compartment for installing and removing the telephone transceiver means;

a means for mounting a telephone handset cradle on said exterior surface of one of said body and said top for releasably retaining a telephone handset;

an electrical conduit means mounted in said body for connecting the telephone transceiver means housed in said compartment to a source of electrical power remote from said body, said electrical conduit means having one end extending through said aperture and being connected to a plug for detachably connecting said electrical conduit means to a source of power external to said body and an opposite end for connection to the telephone transceiver means; and

a restraint means attached to said body and adapted to releasably engage at least one of a portion of the vehicle seat and a vehicle seat belt to limit horizontal and vertical movement of said desk structure when said desk structure is positioned upon the generally horizontal surface of the vehicle seat.

2. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said means for providing access includes a cover attached to one of said body and said top.

3. The desk structure according to claim 2 wherein said cover is attached to said body by hinge means.

4. The desk structure according to claim 2 wherein said top has an aperture formed therein and said cover is attached to said top by fastener means to cover said aperture.

5. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said top includes a pair of cover members attached to said body by hinge means, one of said covers having a surface for supporting a removable writing tablet and another of said covers having a cushion means mounted thereon.

6. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said top includes a raised portion having a surface for supporting a removable writing tablet.

7. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said top includes an elongated cavity formed in an upper surface thereof for retaining a writing implement.

8. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said top includes an aperture formed in an upper surface thereof for retaining a beverage container.

9. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said top includes a generally circular cavity formed in an upper surface thereof for retaining a beverage container.

10. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said top includes a generally rectangular cavity formed in an upper surface thereof for retaining loose items.

11. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said restraint means is attached to and extends from said body and is adapted to releasably engage the vehicle seat belt.

12. The desk structure according to claim 11 wherein said restraint means includes slotted latch means attached to and extending from an exterior surface of said body and adapted to releasably engage the vehicle seat belt.

13. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said restraint means includes at least one pair of slotted openings formed in one of the front wall and a rear wall of said body, a belt means extending through said slotted openings and a hook means attached to said belt means and adapted to releasably engage the vehicle seat.

14. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said restraint means includes a brace means attached to said body and adapted to releasably engage a back portion of the vehicle seat, said brace means including at least one relatively rigid elongated band having one end attached to said body and a hook formed at an opposite end for engaging an upper portion of the seat back.

15. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said body includes an inwardly directed, transversely extending cavity formed in said bottom wall dividing said interior compartment from another compartment and said top includes a pair of cover members connected to said body by hinge means, each of said cover members covering an associated one of said compartments.

16. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said restraint means includes a generally downwardly extending U-shaped wail attached to said bottom wall of said body, said U-shaped wall being adapted to engage an armrest portion of the vehicle seat.

17. The desk structure according to claim 1 wherein said top is attached to said body by fastener means.

18. A desk structure for use inside and outside a vehicle and adapted to be removably positioned upon a vehicle seat;

said desk structure comprising;

a generally hollow tub-like body portion having a top opening formed therein, a front wall with an aperture formed therein and a bottom wall for engaging a vehicle seat;

a plate-like top portion mounted on said body portion for closing said top opening and having a cover for providing selective access to an interior of said body portion;

a means for supporting a telephone handset attached to one of said top portion and said body portion;

a support surface formed on said top portion for retaining a writing pad;

a cushion means mounted on said top portion;

an electrical conduit means mounted in said body portion and adapted to be electrically connected between an electrical power source external to said desk structure and a telephone transceiver means in one of said compartments, said conduit means extending through said aperture in said front wall of said body portion; and

a restraint means attached to said body portion and adapted to releasably engage at least one of the vehicle seat and a vehicle seat belt to limit horizontal and vertical movement of said desk structure when said desk structure is positioned upon the vehicle seat.

19. The desk structure according to claim 18 including a least one electrical outlet mounted on said top portion and electrically connected to said electrical conduit, said electrical outlet adapted to retain an electrical plug connected to an electrically powered device.

20. A desk structure with a telephone for use inside and outside a vehicle and adapted to be removably positioned upon a vehicle seat, said desk structure comprising:

a generally hollow tub-like body having an external surface and a compartment formed inside said body for housing a telephone transceiver means;

a plate-like top having an external surface and being attached to said body for covering said compartment;

a restraint means attached to said body and adapted to releasably engage at least one of a vehicle seat and a vehicle seat belt to limit horizontal and vertical movement of said desk structure when said desk structure is positioned upon the vehicle seat;

a telephone handset mounted on one of said external surface of said body and said external surface of said top;

a telephone transceiver means mounted in said compartment and electrically connected to said handset; and

an electrical conduit means connected to said telephone transceiver means and having a plug for detachably connecting said telephone transceiver means to a source of electrical power external to said body.