Portable desk for use in vehicles

Abstract

A portable desk for use in the front passenger seat of a vehicle. The desk comprises of a desktop, leveling support, and securing strap. The desktop and leveling support are both generally rectangular in shape and made of a rigid, durable and lightweight material. The topside of the desktop is covered with a non-skid, heat-dissipating work surface. The top end of the leveling support is rotatively coupled perpendicularly to the underside of the desktop. The securing strap, comprising of two straps and a locking mechanism, has one end of each strap attached to each one of the two opposing sides of the leveling support. The locking mechanism releasable connects the other ends of these straps and secures the desk to the lower potion of a vehicle's front passenger seatback

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to portable desks and, more particularly, to a portable desk for use in vehicles that provides a flat, non-skid, heat-dissipating surface and secures soundly to the front passenger seat of a vehicle.

2. Description of Related Art

Travelers and especially business travelers often find that a need arises to write, use a computer, or perform other office-type functions while in route to or from a destination. This need in particularly acute for those who spend a significant amount of time working in and out of their cars.

To facilitate these activities, portable desks have been created for use in vehicles. Many different types of portable desks exists-varying in size, material and method of securing the desk into the vehicle. While some of these desks are “universal,” i.e., designed for use in a variety of vehicles, others are designed for use in specific vehicle makes and models.

Of these “universal” desks, some units are located in the front passenger seat to provide the driver with easy access to items on the desk. These portable desks are designed to rest in the front passenger seat or be secured to the seat itself. Examples of desks such as these are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,092,507; 5,322,021; 5,542,589; 5,551,616; 5,560,676; and U.S. Design Pat. No. 329,444.

All these patents disclose portable desks that have flat working surfaces. Some desks are designed to store files and hold cups and writing instruments. Other units use a number of straps, or the seatbelt itself, to secure the desk to the front passenger seat.

Of the portable desks in the prior art, none of them address the need for a simple unit with a non-skid, heat-dissipating surface large enough to hold a laptop computer and a portable printer comfortably, the ability to removably secure the desk to the front passenger seat simply, and the ability to quickly and easily reduce the size of the desk so it can be stored under a vehicle seat or in a briefcase. What is needed is a portable desk that addresses all of these needs.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention comprises a desktop, a leveling support, and a securing strap. The desktop comprises a base large enough to accommodate a laptop computer and a portable printer wherein the base is covered by a non-skid, heat-dissipating work surface. Both the base of the desktop and the leveling support are made of a lightweight rigid durable material. The top end of the leveling support is perpendicularly attached to the underside of the base of the desktop using a hinging means.

The securing strap comprises a first strap, a second strap and a locking means. The securing strap is used to secure the desk to the lower portion of a vehicle's front passenger seat. The first and second straps are made of flexible durable strips of material. The locking means, located near one end of the second strap, releasably connects the second strap to the first strap. The other end of the second strap and one end of the first strap are attached to the opposing sides of the leveling support.

In another embodiment, the desktop comprises a plurality of planar leaves. These planar leaves are foldably attached to one another allowing the desktop to be collapsed for storage underneath a vehicle's seat or in a briefcase. In order to create a stable, sturdy surface when the desktop is extended, bracketing means are used to support the inner facing edges of the leaves by traversing these edges.

The primary advantage of this invention is that it provides the business traveler with a simple portable desk that contains a large, non-skid, heat-dissipating work surface, an easy method of securing the desk to a vehicle's front passenger seat, and the option of a collapsible desktop that facilitates storage or movement of the desk.

BRIEF DESRCIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the main invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a portable desk for use in vehicles in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the underside of the desk shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the desk shown in FIG. 1 secured to the front passenger seat of a vehicle;

FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c are perspective views of another embodiment of a portable desk for use in vehicles in accordance with the present invention where the desktop comprises of two foldable, planar leaves wherein FIG. 4a is a perspective view of the top side, FIG. 4b I a perspective view of the underside, and FIG. 4c is perspective view of the top side showing folding of the leaves:

FIG. 5 is another embodiment of a portable desk for use in vehicles in accordance with the present invention where the desktop comprises of four foldable, planar leaves;

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of a portable desk for use of vehicles in accordance with the present invention where the height of the leveling support is adjustable; and

FIGS. 7 is a plan view of the present invention being carried by a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized. It is also to be understood that structural, procedural and system changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. For clarity of exposition, like features shown in the accompanying drawings are indicated with like reference numerals and similar features as shown in alternate embodiments in the drawings are indicated with similar reference numerals.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, shown is portable desk 10 comprising desktop 12, leveling support 14, securing strap 16, buckle 26, work surface 18, base 20, and a hinging means 22 for rotatively coupling.

Desktop 12 comprises work surface 18 and base 20 and has a top side 27, bottom side 28, front portion 36, and rear portion 38. Work surface 18 is preferably a rubberized, skid-resistant material with heat-dissipating properties but may be comprised of any similar skid-resistant material with heat-dissipating properties material including but not limited to plastic or cloth. Work surface 18 is fixedly attached to and substantially covers top side 27 of base 20.

Leveling support 14 is perpendicularly attached to bottom side 28 of base 20 proximate to rear portion 38 using hinging means 22. Hinging means 22 may be any hinged means known in the art that releasably locks in a fully open position of about 90 degrees from bottom side 28 of base 20 to a closed position of about 0 degrees from bottom side 28 of base 20. Examples include but are not limited to a locking angle bracket or door hinge.

Hinging means 22 allows leveling support 14 to be folded relatively flat against bottom side 28 of base 20 to facilitate storage of desk 10 or allow desk 10 to be easily moved from one vehicle to another. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, at least two hinging means 22 are used.

Both base 20 of desktop 12 and leveling support 14 are preferably made of a rigid, lightweight durable material such as a wood, metal, plastic or composite. Preferably, the edges of desktop 12 and leveling support 14 are rounded to eliminate any sharp edges and facilitate fitting desk 10 into the contours of a vehicle's front passenger seat. Both desktop 12 and leveling support 14 are preferably rectangular in shape.

Securing strap 16 is fixedly attached to and extends from leveling support 14 and contains locking means 26. Locking 26 means is any locking means know in the art that allows securing strap 16 to be releasable attached to itself. Examples of such locking means include but are not limited to mating mechanical fasteners similar to the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, hook and loop fastener such as VELCRO, or a buckle. Securing strap 16 is made of flexible, durable strips of material such as nylon or leather. As shown in FIG. 3, the combined length of securing strap 16 is sufficiently long enough to encircle front passenger seat 24. Front passenger seat 24 is a typical front passenger seat and can be found in a variety of vehicles such as sedans, coupes, sport utility vehicles, and trucks.

In alternative embodiments, shown in FIGS. 4a and 5, desktop 12 comprises at least two planar leaves. The leaves are rotatively attached to each other using hinging means 30. Hinging means 30 is attached approximately at the center of the bottom side of two leaves. Preferably hinging means 30 is similar to a door hinge and the motion of hinging means 30 is limited to about 0 degrees to about 180 degrees relative to the leaves. If there are two leaves, as shown in FIG. 4a, then one hinge may be used to connect the two leaves. If four leaves are used, as shown in FIG. 5, then two hinges may be used. Alternatively, the leaves may not contain any hinges and may be pieces that are slid into place. One leaf may have a channel while the other leaf may have a mating ridge to mate with the channel and provide some support.

To ensure the leaves create a study, stable surface when desktop 12 is extended, in one embodiment, bracketing means 32 are attached to the bottom side of the leaves as shown in FIG. 4b. Bracketing means 32 may be any mechanism known in the art that could be used to stabilize and secure the leaves. For example, a bracketing means similar to the one shown in FIG. 4b may be located on the outside edge of two connecting leaves. In addition, bracketing means 32 may be a rod that is secured to the bottom side of the leaves and spans at least a portion of each leaf, or the rod may span the at least a portion of the outside edge of the leaves. Use of a bracketing means ensures that the leaves create a sturdy, stable surface when desktop 12 is extended.

Bracketing means 32 generally comprises of a channel that accepts a sliding rod or pin 40. Preferably, bracketing means 32 are configured in such a manner that, when the sliding rod or pin is retracted, the leaves can be easily folded one atop another, as shown in FIG. 4c, to allow desk 10 to be stored underneath a vehicle's seat, in a briefcase, or carried relatively easy as shown in FIG. 7.

Preferably, the size of desktop 12 is about 20 inches wide and about 25 inches long; and, the size of leveling support 14 is about 10 inches wide, about ½ to about ⅜ inches thick, and about 2 to about 5 inches high. In another embodiment of desk 10, leveling support 14 can adjust in height from about 2 to about 5 inches using a telescoping mechanism 34. Telescoping mechanism 34 allows leveling support 14 to extend about 2 to about inches from base 20 of desktop 12 and may be any device allowing for such an extension such as a cotter pin, as shown in FIG. 6.

To use desk 10 shown in FIG. 1, the user first unfolds leveling support 14 from desktop 12 to its fully open and locked position. Then, desk 10 is placed into the vehicle's front passenger seat in a manner wherein rear portion 28 of desktop 12 and leveling support 14 fit snugly against the back and bottom, respectively, of the seat. Finally, securing strap 16 is secured about the lower portion of the vehicle's seat back so desktop 12 forms a stable, relatively level surface. FIG. 3 shows desk 10 secured to a vehicle's front passenger seat 24.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A portable desk for use in vehicles, comprising:

a desktop,

a leveling support,

a means for rotatively coupling one end of the leveling support perpendicularly to the underside of the desktop such that the leveling support is be able to support the desktop horizontally,

a securing strap attached to the portable desk wherein the securing strap can be secured to the front passenger seat of a vehicle so as to be able to secure the desk to the vehicle seat.

2. The desk in claim 1 wherein the desktop comprises a work surface and a base.

3. The desk in claim 2 wherein the work surface comprises rubberized material.

4. The desk in claim 3 wherein the rubberized material is skid-resistant and has heat-dissipating properties.

5. The desk in claim 1 wherein the desktop is generally rectangular in shape.

6. The desk in claim 1 wherein the leveling support is generally rectangular in shape.

7. The desk in claim 2 wherein the base of the desktop and the leveling support comprise of a rigid, lightweight and durable material.

8. The desk in claim 1 wherein the means for rotatively coupling the leveling support to the desktop comprises a mechanism with a range of motion from about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees.

9. The desk in claim 8 wherein the mechanism releasably locks at its fully open position of about 90 degrees and at its fully closed position of about 0 degrees.

10. The desk in claim 1 wherein the securing strap is comprised of a flexible and durable material.

11. The desk in claim 10 wherein the securing strap comprises a locking means.

12. The desk in claim 11 wherein the locking means is a mechanical locking means.

13. A portable desk for use in vehicles, comprising:

a desktop comprising a plurality of planar leaves,

a means for foldably connecting one end of leaf of the desktop to one end of another leaf so as to allow the desktop to be collapsed for storage underneath a vehicle's front seat or in a briefcase by folding the leaves one atop another,

a leveling support,

a means for rotatively coupling one end the leveling support perpendicularly to the underside of at least one leaf so as to be able to support the desktop horizontally,

a securing strap having two ends attached to the portable desk, and

a means for attaching the two ends of the strap so as to be able to secure the desk to a vehicle seat.

14. The desk in claim 13 wherein the work surface comprises rubberized material.

17. The desk in claim 13 wherein the rubberized material is skid-resistant and has heat-dissipating properties.

18. The desk in claim 13 wherein the desktop and the leveling support is generally rectangular in shape.

19. The desk in claim 13 wherein the base of the desktop and the leveling support are comprised of a rigid, lightweight and durable material.

20. The desk in claim 13 wherein the leaves of the desktop are supported by bracketing means when the desktop is extended for use.