US 6,634,532 B1Granted

Car map holder

OwnerMartha E. Maguireinventor

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Abstract

A foldable map stand apparatus for automotive vehicles is set forth comprising a means for fastening the apparatus onto an automobile interior surface, a pivotally attached telescoping arm for adjusting the angle of display, and a holding means for receiving and displaying a portion of a map. The foldable map stand apparatus can be folded into a more collapsed form so that it may be stored in a more convenient location within the automobile when the map holder is not in use.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A foldable map stand comprising:

a base having a fastening means for temporarily attaching said base to an interior surface of an automobile;
a telescoping arm having a distal and a proximate end, wherein said distal end of said telescoping arm is pivotally connected to said base;
and
a map holder pivotally attached to said proximate end of said telescoping arm support, wherein said map holder comprises:
a first and a second back panel, each having a top edge, a bottom edge, a rear surface, a right side, a left side, and a substantially planar front surface, wherein said left side of said first back panel is hingedly connected to said right side of said second back panel,
wherein said first back panel is movable to an operational position where said first back panel front surface is substantially coplanar with said second back panel front surface, and
wherein said second back panel is movable to a folded position where said front surface of said second back panel is substantially parallel to said front surface of said first back panel,
a first and a second transparent window, each having a top edge, a bottom edge, a left side, a right side, and a substantially planar back surface, wherein said first and second transparent windows are individually attached to said first and second back panels, respectively, so that said back surfaces of said first and second transparent windows are substantially parallel to said front surfaces of said first and second back panels, respectively,
wherein said attachment of said first and second transparent windows to said first and second back panels, respectively, creates a means for mounting a map therebetween said back surfaces of said first and second transparent windows and said front surface of said first and second back panels, respectively, when said first back panel front surface is in said operational position by being substantially coplanar with said back panel front surface, so that, a portion of said map can be viewed through said first and second transparent windows in said operational position, and
wherein said attachment of said first and second transparent windows to said first and second back panels, respectively, creates a means for removing said map mounted therebetween said back surfaces of said first and second transparent windows and said front surface of said first and second back panels, respectively, wherein said left back panel can then be moved to said folded position where said front surface of said second back panel is substantially parallel to said front surface of said first back panel, so that said foldable map stand is compactly stored in said folded position.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A foldable map stand comprising:

a base having a fastening means for temporarily attaching said base to an interior surface of an automobile;
a telescoping arm having a distal and a proximate end, wherein said distal end of said telescoping arm is pivotally connected to said base;
and
a map holder pivotally attached to said proximate end of said telescoping arm support, wherein said map holder comprises:
a first and a second back panel, each having a top edge, a bottom edge, a rear surface, a right side, a left side, and a substantially planar front surface, wherein said left side of said first back panel is hingedly connected to said right side of said second back panel,
wherein said first back panel is movable to an operational position where said first back panel front surface is substantially coplanar with said second back panel front surface, and
wherein said second back panel is movable to a folded position where said front surface of said second back panel is substantially parallel to said front surface of said first back panel,
a first and a second transparent window, each having a top edge, a bottom edge, a left side, a right side, and a substantially planar back surface, wherein said first and second transparent windows are individually attached to said first and second back panels, respectively, so that said back surfaces of said first and second transparent windows are substantially parallel to said front surfaces of said first and second back panels, respectively,
wherein said attachment of said first and second transparent windows to said first and second back panels, respectively, creates a means for mounting a map therebetween said back surfaces of said first and second transparent windows and said front surface of said first and second back panels, respectively, when said first back panel front surface is in said operational position by being substantially coplanar with said back panel front surface, so that, a portion of said map can be viewed through said first and second transparent windows in said operational position, and
wherein said attachment of said first and second transparent windows to said first and second back panels, respectively, creates a means for removing said map mounted therebetween said back surfaces of said first and second transparent windows and said front surface of said first and second back panels, respectively, wherein said left back panel can then be moved to said folded position where said front surface of said second back panel is substantially parallel to said front surface of said first back panel, so that said foldable map stand is compactly stored in said folded position.

7 more elements