Patent Application
20210323341
The present invention relates to portable workstations for conducting office work and, more particularly, to portable workstations for use by truck drivers while they are actively conducting business in their cabs.
Most individuals do their office work on a desk, table, or other flat, stationary surface, whether for personal business like paying bills, writing letters, and calculating expenses, or while in the office reviewing documents, writing memos, reviewing billing, etc. Truck drivers who actively operate large rigs are similarly responsible for reviewing documents, making notes, calculating expenses, recording information, etc. while at work. Much of this office-type business activity must be done in the operator's cab of the tractor, where there is no desk or table on which to work. As a result, the trucker must somehow find a flat surface in the cab or just be content with leaning on the vehicle's console or on the vehicle's steering wheel. In addition, if important items are needed to prepare necessary documents, e.g. a calculator, diary, even pens or pencils, the trucker is required to leave his seat and search the area for the items he or she seeks.
There is currently no portable workstation specifically designed for a working truck driver which addresses these difficulties and inconveniences.
It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a portable workstation, particularly for truck drivers and truck operators, which can be utilized directly in the cab of a tractor and which provides ready and easy access to needed office supplies and important documents.
These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, a trucker's portable workstation having an elongated box member with lower and upper sections. Both the upper and lower sections have interior compartments for storing important documents and office supplies. Each of the lower and upper section compartments also have a rotatably hinged cover. The exterior of one cover provides a writing surface and a calculator and a writing pad are located on the exterior of the second cover. The bottom of the box member has non-skid surface material.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its design, construction, and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Trucker's portable workstation 1 comprises elongated box member 2 having lower section 4 and upper section 14 which is shorter than the lower section.
Lower section 4 comprises main interior compartment 6 and cover 8. Cover 8 is connected by permanent hinge 10 along the side of lower section 4 to allow the cover to rotate between a closed first lower cover position in which the cover overlays the lower section (see
Upper section 14 comprises second interior compartment 16 and smaller interior compartments 18 and 20. Main interior compartment 6 is larger than interior compartments 16, 18, and 20 combined. Cover 22 is connected by permanent hinge 24 along the top of upper section 14 to allow the cover to rotate between a closed first upper cover position in which the cover overlays interior compartments 16, 18, and 20 (see
Bottom 3 of elongated box member 2 consists of a non-skid material 5 which extends the full length and width of the box member (see
In its most common use, portable work station 1 is placed on steering wheel 100 located on vehicle console 102 (see
When covers 8 and 22 are in their open positions, the trucker has access to e.g. elongated warehouse documentation 42 in compartment 6, trucker's diary 44, in compartment 16, extra writing implements 30 in compartment 18, and paper clips and other stationary items 46.
Since workstation 1 is portable, it can be used within the cab of a truck on a steering wheel as support, as well as being transported to any desired location for office work type activity.
Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
