US 5,060,581 A · Steering wheel tray apparatus

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.

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.

18 more elements

Steering wheel tray apparatus

Life of this patent

Steering wheel tray apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14