Abstract:
An inspection and registration holder having a transparent envelope with a cylindrical bottom, a base having a cavity for receiving the cylindrical bottom and an adjustment screw for fixing the envelope in one of a plurality of predetermined positions when the envelope is rotated about the cylindrical bottom.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for securing automobile documents to the dashboard of an automotive vehicle so that the documents are visible through the windshield of the vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Prior Aat 
     Inspection and Registration documents for automotive vehicles are required by all states. Holders for inspection and registration cards allow the documents to be seen through the windshield of the vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 2,887,804 discloses a dashboard mounted picture frame having two panels for holding a picture between the plates. U.S. Pat. No .3,237,327 discloses an automobile certificate holder having an envelope structure affixed to the vehicle by a plurality of magnets stapled to the envelope. U.S. Pat. No .3,313,053 discloses a rectangular flat plate with a card receiving pocket secured to the vehicle by magnets or to the mirror support. U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,276 discloses a holder having slot to receive the automobile registration document and a flexible material coated with pressure sensitive adhesive for affixing the holder to the windshield of the automobile. 
     What is needed beyond the prior art is a holder that is adaptable to mounting on the dashboard of a vehicle, that can hold both the registration and inspection cards and that can be adjusted to the align with the angle of the windshield of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs identified above by providing an apparatus having a transparent envelope with a cylindrical bottom, a base having a cavity for receiving the cylindrical bottom and an adjustment screw for fixing the envelope in one of a plurality of predetermined positions when the envelope is rotated about the cylindrical bottom. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers represent like parts of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a left rear perspective view of the holder; 
     FIG. 2 depicts the holder affixed to the dashboard of a vehicle; 
     FIG. 3 is a view along cut line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a view along cut line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a left bottom perspective view of the holder with velcro fasteners; and 
     FIG. 6 is a right bottom perspective view of the holder with screw fasteners. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1, depicts holder  10  having envelope  20  rotatably affixed to base  30 . Envelope  20  has envelope front side  22 , envelope rear side  24 , envelope first end  26 , envelope second end  25  and envelope center post  27 . Envelope center post  27  divides envelope  20  into a first compartment between center post  27  and envelope first end  26  and a second compartment between envelope second end  25  and envelope center post  27 . In the preferred embodiment, the first compartment is 4 inches long, the second compartment is approximately 4 and ¾ inches long and the overall length of envelope  20  is approximately 9 inches. The height of envelope  20  above base  30  at envelope second end  25  is approximately 3 inches. Envelope rear side  24  has first aperture  55  having first aperture first curve section  56 , first aperture first vertical section  57 , first aperture bottom curve section  58 , first aperture second vertical section  59  and first aperture second curve section  60 . Envelope rear side  24  has second aperture  50  having second aperture first curve section  51 , second aperture first vertical section  52 , second aperture bottom curve section  53 , second aperture second vertical section  54  and second aperture second curve section  55 . First aperture  55  and second aperture  50  allow a user to grasp a card inserted into the first compartment or the second compartment of envelope  20 . Base  30  has base first end  36 , base second end  38 , base front  34  and base rear  32 . Base  30  has adjustment screw  40 . Base  30  has base top surface  35  and base bottom  31 . Base second end  38  is higher than base first end  36  so that base top surface  35  is at a greater distance from base bottom  31  where base top surface meets base second end  38  than where base top surface meets base first end  36 . The difference in height between base first end  36  and base second end  38  allows base top surface  35  to be level when base  30  is mounted onto the dashboard of a motor vehicle. In the preferred embodiment base first end  36  is approximately ½ inch in height and base second end  38  is approximately ⅞ inch in height. Also in the preferred embodiment, the distance from the outermost edge of base first end  36  to the outermost edge of base second end  38  is approximately 10 and ¼ inches. Envelope  20  is rotatably and fixedly engaged in base  30 . In the preferred embodiment, envelope  20  is made from clear and transparent plastic. 
     FIG. 2 depicts motor vehicle  100  having dashboard  102  and steering wheel  104 . Base  30  is mounted on dashboard  102 . Envelope  20  is angled to parallel the windshield of automotive vehicle  100 . Base  30  is positioned so that documents in the first compartment and second compartment of envelope  20  will be visible through the left bottom comer of the windshield. Documents in the first compartment and second compartment of envelope  20  can be easily removed by reaching over steering wheel  104  and grasping the documents through first aperture  55  and second aperture  50  (see FIG.  1 ). 
     FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of holder  10  along cut line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . Envelope first end  26  has first cylindrical projection  23  fixedly engaged to envelope first end  26 . Envelope second end  25  has second cylindrical projection fixedly engaged to envelope second end  25 . Base first end  36  has a cylindrical aperture for receiving first cylindrical projection  23 . Base second end  38  has an aperture for receiving second cylindrical projection  23 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a view along cut line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . Base  30  has cavity  46  for receiving envelope  20 . Cavity  46  has front slope  44 , rear slope  42  and cylindrical aperture  35 . Envelope  20  has cylindrical bottom  23 . Envelope  20  is capable of rotating about cylindrical bottom  23  in cylindrical aperture  35  until envelope front side  22  contacts front slope  44  or envelope rear side  24  contacts rear slope  42 . Cylindrical bottom  23  has a plurality of screw apertures  41  for receiving adjustment screw  40 . In the preferred embodiment there are three screw apertures to provide three different angles for envelope  20  in relationship to base  30  and dashboard  102  of vehicle  100  (see FIG.  2 ). 
     FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of base  30 . In the preferred embodiment, base  30  is affixed to dashboard  102  by velcro fasteners  70 . FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment in which base  30  is affixed to dashboard  102  by stud attachments  64 . In order to adapt dashboard  102  for receiving stud attachments  64  holes must be drilled in dashboard  102  and an optional template (not shown) may be provided with holder  10  for properly positioning holes for receiving stud attachments  64 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.