Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Including fastener for attaching to external surface
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-19
2004-11-23
Thomas, Alexander S. (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Including fastener for attaching to external surface
C383S004000, C383S014000, C383S020000, C383S025000, C224S486000, C190S001000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06821600
ABSTRACT:
COPYRIGHT NOTIFICATION
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its attachments contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle cargo or trunk area storage system, and in particular, to a vehicle cargo or trunk area storage system that is portable. Embodiments of the present invention are advantageous for providing containment of items in an easily accessible fabric structure useful for both storing and manually transporting items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many vehicles today incorporate a wide array of convenience nets, storage trays, and other convenience compartments for storing personal items. Conventional vehicle storage nets have a number of disadvantages. For example, conventional vehicle storage nets often have an open portion that allows items contained within the net to become dislodged during vehicular movement. To address this problem, other storage devices include a closure mechanism, such as a drawstring, for closing the top of a container after items have been placed inside. While this approach solves one problem, it is disadvantageous in that successfully closing the opening of such storage devices often requires two hands to simultaneously manipulate the storage container and closure mechanism together.
Still other conventional vehicle storage compartments and nets are permanently attached to the frame or other structure within the cargo or trunk area of a vehicle. As a result, such storage devices are not removable. Instead, in order to transport the contents of a vehicle storage device to another location, the storage device must be opened and the items removed and either individually transported or loaded into another container for transportation.
Thus, there is a need for a vehicle storage system that securely stores items contained in the system during vehicular movement and that is portable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a portable containment system useful for storing items in a vehicle cargo or trunk area and for manually transporting the contained items.
In one aspect of the present invention, a portable containment system is adapted to securely contain items for storage and/or transport in a vehicle cargo or trunk area. A portable containment system of the present invention includes a rectangular-shaped, solid fabric backing overlaid with two sections of mesh-type netting. The two sections of netting have a length such that the edges of the netting are spaced apart in the center of the containment system. The portable containment system has two sides and two ends in the rectangular shape. Each of the ends of the containment system has a length of end webbing covering the edge of each end. Each side of the containment system has a length of side webbing covering the edge of the side.
The side webbing includes a portion extending beyond the edge of each side to form a lengthwise tubular channel, or cord sheath. A stretchable cord, such as an elastic cord, extends the length of each side inside the cord sheath and beyond each end of the cord sheath on each side. At each terminus of the stretchable cord at the end of the cord sheath, the cord forms a continuous cord loop. An attachment clip is attached to each cord loop at each end of the stretchable cord on both sides of the containment system. Each clip includes a biased closure mechanism for removably attaching the portable containment system to an attachment surface in a vehicle cargo or trunk area
Along the center of the portable containment system, a center support structure extends the width of the containment system between the sides. The center support structure is securely attached to the fabric backing by stitches sewn through a center webbing material around the center support structure and through the fabric backing. A handle is attached the center support structure in the center of the containment system. The longitudinal axis of center support structure forms a fold axis for the portable containment system. At the edge of each section of netting near the center support structure, an elastic cord is extended through the netting and is attached to each side to form an expandable opening of each section for placing and removing items to be contained in the containment system. One section of the netting, attached on each side with side webbing and on the end with end webbing and having the elastic cord interwoven through the edge of the netting near the center support structure, comprises a first component of the portable containment system. The other section of the netting, attached on each side with side webbing and on the end with end webbing and having the elastic cord interwoven through the edge of the netting near the center support structure, comprises a second component of the portable containment system. The first component and the second component are separate and allow items to be stored and/or transported while separated from other items. The portable containment system provides a fully enclosed system for containing desired items.
The portable containment system further includes an attachment means that allows the system to be removably attached to a vehicle cargo or trunk area. In embodiments, the attachment means includes a clip attached to the cord loop at each of the four corners of the containment system. The clips have a biased closure mechanism. The clips are pressed open and engaged around an attachment surface, such as a bring that is often found as standard equipment in vehicle cargo areas and trunks. When the closure mechanism is released the closure mechanism is automatically biased closed around the D-clip.
In another aspect of the present invention, a portable containment system, and the contents contained therein, is easily manually transportable. The portable containment system includes a means for manually transporting the containment system and the contents within the containment system. The portable containment system includes a center support structure extending between the cords on opposite sides along the middle of the containment system. The center support structure further includes a handle attached to the center support structure for grasping the portable containment system to facilitate its removal from a vehicle cargo or trunk area. Removing the portable containment system from a vehicle cargo or trunk area involves disengaging the attachment means, such as a biased-closed clip at each corner, from the attachment surfaces in the cargo or trunk area. When the handle and attached center support structure are lifted, the two ends of the containment system are folded together and depend downwardly from the center support structure. In this manner, the portable containment system can be readily transported to a desired location.
In embodiments of the present invention, the handle is formed as an integral part of the center support structure of the portable containment system, rather than as a separate structure. As such, there is no separate protrusion of the handle from the portable containment system. As such, the portable containment system is maintained in a low profile position against the vehicle cargo or trunk area surfaces. The handle location in the center of the center support structure allows both compartments to be easily accessible while manually transporting the containment system. In addition, with the handle in the center of the center support structure, the containment system can be held with one hand, and items can be easily removed or added with the other hand. The location of the handle and the center fold allow the portable containment system to depend freely from the center support structure when in folded position This allows a user to transport the containment system in
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
McMurray Fabrics, Inc.
Thomas Alexander S.
LandOfFree
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