GB2472393A

GB2472393A - A lectern mountable on a gear stick of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2472393A
Application number: GB0913540A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Michael Stratton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-04
Filing date: 2009-08-04
Publication date: 2011-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-04
Also published as: GB2472393B; GB0913540D0

Abstract

The lectern (1) comprises a support surface (10) with lip (15) for retaining a book or display device placed upon it, and a block (25) which has an aperture (55) which allows it to be removably attached to a gear stick (60). The block may be formed from a resilient material, such as an open or closed cell foam, for preference polyurethane foam. The support surface may be formed of a rigid plastic material.

Description

LECTERN

[001] This invention relates to a lectern.

[002] The use of lecterns is well known, for example in lecture theatres and in churches. Such lecterns are generally fixed to a support.

[003] When a driving instructor gives a driving lesson to a pupil, for example in a car, the driving instructor and the pupil normally sit next to each other in the front seats of the vehicle. It is common for the car to be parked during such a lesson so that the instructor can discuss aspects of driving theory with the pupil. This is often done by reference to a book, usually a display presentation book of diagrams; especially Blueprint 19 of the Blueprint range.

[004] It is difficult for the instructor or pupil to hold a book in a position in which both of them can easily view the book. In addition, during longer driving lessons, or in the situation where an instructor gives several driving lessons in succession, repeated reference to a book in this way can result in discomfort (for example, eye strain, neck strain or some form of RSI) for both the instructor and the pupil.

[005] A way of ameliorating these problems has been sought.

[0061 According to the present invention there is provided a lectern which is removably mountable on and/or removably attachable to a support.

[007] In some embodiments the lectern comprises an aperture for receiving the support. Alternatively, the lecturn may be removably mountable on/attachable to the support using a clamp or collar.

[008] In some embodiments the aperture is formed in a resiliently deformable material. This allows the lectern to be mounted on/attached to supports having a range of shapes. In some embodiments the resiliently deformable material is a solid foam. In some embodiments, the solid foam is an open cell foam or a closed cell foam.

[009] In some embodiments the lectern comprises a stand for holding a book or other display material or a display device. In some embodiments the stand comprises a lip for supporting a book or other display material or a display device. The lip can help to prevent a book or other display material or a display device placed on the stand from falling off. In some embodiments the stand is formed from a rigid material. This can provide better support to the book or other display material or a display device.

In some embodiments the rigid material is a plastic.

[0010] In some embodiments the aperture is formed in a block on which the stand is mounted. In some embodiments the aperture is formed in an opposite face of the block to a face on which the stand is mounted. In some embodiments the block tapers from the face on which the stand is mounted towards the face in which the aperture is formed. When the lectern is mounted on a gear stick or lever of a motor vehicle, this can assist in preventing the lectern from abutting other parts of the interior of the vehicle. In some embodiments the block tapers at an angle of 45 degrees to the face on which the stand is mounted.

[0011] In some embodiments the aperture is for receiving a gear stick or lever of a motor vehicle.

[0012] The present invention will be further described in greater detail by reference to the following Figures of the accompanying drawings which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed, in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of a lectern according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a rear view of the lectern of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the lectern of Figure 1 when mounted on a gear stick or lever of a motor vehicle.

Figure 4 shows a further perspective view of the lectern of Figure 1 when mounted on a gear stick or lever of a motor vehicle.

[00131 Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 depict front, rear and perspective views of a lectern 1 according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, lectern 1 comprises a stand 5 for holding a book or other written reference material. The stand could also be suitable for holding a mobile phone or other display device such as a digital photo frame, netbook computer, E-book, Nintento DS� games console, DVD player or similar.

[0015] The stand 5 comprises a support surface 10. Support surface 10 is formed from a rigid plastic, eg Perspex or acrylic. A suitable plastic is 3mm thick Perspex. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, Support surface 10 is rectangular in shape and is substantially planar. However, other shapes can be used provided that they would be suitable for holding a book or display device etc. [00161 At a lower edge 20 of rigid support surface 10 is lip 15. Lip 15 extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the plane of support surface 10. Lip 15 is normally, but not exclusively, formed from the same material as support surface 10. The distance that the lip 15 extends from the plane of support surface 10 can be selected depending upon the size and shape of the book, display material or display device which is to be held on the support surface 10. A distance of 30mm is suitable for most applications.

[00171 As shown in Figure 2, 3 and 4, stand 5 is mounted on block 25.

A front face (not shown) of block 25 on which stand 5 is mounted is substantially planar and substantially the same shape as support surface 10.

[0018] Block 25 is normally, but not exclusively, formed from a solid foam, such as an open or closed cell foam. An example of a suitable foam is a polyurethane foam.

[0019] Sides 30, 35, 40 and 45 of block 25 taper at an angle of approximately 45° (to the front face of block 25) from the front face of block 25 towards a rear face 50 of block 25. The area of rear face 50 of block 25 is approximately a quarter of that of the front face. Rear face is substantially rectangular.

[0020] An aperture 55 is formed in rear face 50 of block 25. The aperture 55 is substantially cylindrical in shape and extends approximately halfway towards front face of block 25.

[0021] Block 25 also has cutouts 31,41,46 formed in sides 30,40,45 of block 25. This is to allow the user to grip easily the sides of the lectern when mounting it, and also to allow for the placement of lights and/or retaining clips on the lectern. The size and shape of the cutouts 31,41,46 can be altered depending on their intended use.

[0022] In use, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 the lectern 1 is mounted on a support in the form of gear stick/lever 60. The aperture 55 is aligned with the head 65 of gear stick/lever 60 and head 65 is then inserted into the aperture 55. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lectern can then be rotated to an angle that provides comfortable viewing of the eg book or display device etc to the user.

[0023] Since the aperture 55 is formed in a resiliently deformable material, the lectern 1 can fit onto a variety of different supports, for example gear sticks/levers of many different motor vehicles.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A lectern which is removably mountable on and/or removably attachable to a support.
2. A lectern as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lectern comprises an aperture for receiving the support.
3. A lectern as claimed in claim 2, wherein the aperture is formed in a resiliently deformable material.
4. A lectern as claimed in claim 3, wherein the resiliently deformable material is a solid foam.
5. A lectern as claimed in claim 4, wherein the solid foam is an open cell foam or a closed cell foam.
6. A lectern as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lectern comprises a stand for holding a book or other display material or a display device.
7. A lectern as claimed in claim 6, wherein the stand comprises a lip for supporting a book or other display material or a display device.
8. A lectern as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the stand is formed from a rigid material.
9. A lectern as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rigid material is a plastic.
10. A lectern as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the lectern comprises a stand as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9 and the aperture is formed in a block on which the stand is mounted.
11. A lectern as claimed in claim 10, wherein the aperture is formed in an opposite face of the block to a face on which the stand is mounted.
12. A lectern as claimed in claim 11, wherein the block tapers from the face on which the stand is mounted towards the face in which the aperture is formed.
13. A lectern as claimed in claim 12, wherein the block tapers at an angle of 45 degrees to the face on which the stand is mounted.
14. A lectern as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lectern is removably mountable on and/or removably attachable to a gear stick or lever of a motor vehicle.
15. A lectern substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.