Street Atlas Holder and Reader: U.S. Patent # 5,458,492  

The Street Atlas Holder and Reader is a portable case with a recessed compartment that holds a complete street atlas book securely in place, enabling users to easily and safely stay on track to where they're going.

Most people know only too well the frustration of trying to read a map or street atlas while driving. The extremely small lettering and symbols make maps hard enough to read while standing still! In addition, the difficulty of keeping the paperback atlas open makes losing one's page inevitable.

Thus when attempting to find one's way on the road, it is not uncommon for a driver to become so distracted that he/she unconsciously veers off into another lane, potentially causing an accident. Designed with the driver's safety in mind, the Street Atlas Holder and Reader features the following benefits:

• The cover includes a magnifying lens which enlarges an entire page, making the street names and symbols easy to read.
• The design allows simultaneous viewing of more than a single page of a map book, without folding or bending the map.
• It’s easy to zero in on a specific address via knobs that move a vertical and horizontal grid line to mark where you're going. For example, when the location of a specific street on a map is identified as "M6", the grid lines can be easily moved to find "M6" on the map.
• The case has large handles on each side for easy holding when in use, and can also hold magazines or other papers in its compartment.
• The Street Atlas Holder and Reader is made out of light, durable plastic and is a re-usable product that will last for many years.
• A light for night vision is planned as an add-on accessory in the future.
• Makes a great gift with a projected retail price of between $15 to $30.

The size of the holder can be adapted and manufactured to accommodate various sizes of popular map books. The product can also be customized to hold magazines, newspapers and books for alternate markets like the handicapped, and individuals with poor eye-sight.

Target market:

1.    The general driving population, especially on pleasure or business trips.

2.    Commercial uses include drivers or professionals who go to different addresses as part of their jobs, i.e. outside sales representatives, truck drivers, delivery services, limo drivers, police officers.

3.    Excellent for senior citizens

Results from a market research survey conducted at the Invention Convention trade show indicate an extremely favorable public response and demand for the product. 

Inventor:  Ernest Holguin, 24094 Atwood Ave., Moreno Valley, CA 92553; (909) 653-9416