Steering wheel tray

• US 5,662,047 A
• Filed: 09/23/1996
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rock-Tenn Converting Company Incorporated (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: Athena Industries, Inc. (WestRock Company)
• Inventors: Metcalf, Derek N. G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/717,714
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 108/44, 108/45, 108/43, 108/46, 108/47, 108/134, 108/135, 224/273, 224/276
• US Class Current: 108/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/005 mounted on the steering wheel

Abstract

A portable fold-up, tray attachable to the steering wheel of a motorized vehicle made up of two rigid, U-shaped frames of different size so that the smaller thereof is nestable within the larger frame corresponding arms of the two frames are pivotally interconnected to afford folding movement of the smaller frame relative to the larger frame. Stops are provided for limiting such folding movement and a pair of rigid links are pivotally joined to the arms of the larger frame to move outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite to the movement of the smaller frame; such links carrying parallel, elongated members for embracing the front and back sides of a peripheral portion of the vehicle steering wheel whereby to removeably support the tray in working position.

Claims

1. A portable tray assembly attachable to a motor vehicle steering wheel for supporting articles thereon, such as a personal computer, comprising:

a pair of rigid, U-shaped frames, each comprising a pair of parallel linear arms interjoined at one end by a co-planar transverse cross bar, said frames being of unequal size whereby the smaller of said frames is nestable in co-planar relation with the larger of said frame;

coaxial pivot means interjoining said frames adjacent corresponding free ends of said arms thereof,

limit means restricting pivotal movement of said smaller frame toward and away from a front side, of said larger frame; and

suspension means pivotally connected to the arms of said larger frame for removeably coupling the tray assembly to the vehicle steering wheel;

said suspension means comprising a pair of rigid, linear links pivotally joined to said arms of the larger frame for pivotal movement toward and away from an operationally backside of said larger frame, and plural parallel spaced, rigid rods extending between said links and across said backside for receiving an upper peripheral portion of said steering wheel in a selected space between adjacent said rods.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said smaller frame has a plurality of rigid members extending transversely between and across said arms thereof for undersupporting articles;

a portion of at least of one of said rigid members extending laterally outwardly of at least one of said arms of said smaller frame to form said limit means;

said at least one portion being interferingly engageable with at least one of said arms of said larger frame when said smaller frame is at desired limits of its pivotal movement.