Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Auxiliary article compartments
Patent
1989-01-30
1990-05-22
Song, Robert R.
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Auxiliary article compartments
296 3715, 224271, 297188, B60R 704
Patent
active
049272004
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a storage container and fastener assembly for car interiors.
Car interiors are normally provided with such means of storage as lidded glove lockers in the fascia panel, parcel shelves below the fascia panel, and trays or pockets in doors. Horizontal recessed areas may also be incorporated in the top of the fascia panel, or as part of the transmission tunnel cover.
Nevertheless, these means frequently provide inadequate storage for all the items which the occupants wish to carry inside the car. Other receptacles, such as small cases, shopping bags and handbags, may therefore be used as well, but these are generally of inconvenient shape, often obstruct the occupants' normal posture, and may cause discomfort. Furthermore, they are not secured to the car, and thus are prone to movement as the car corners, accelerates and brakes. Such movement may interfere with the driver's proper control of the car.
The present invention provides a storage container and a fastener assembly for detachably fixing the container to a vehicle seat, the fastener assembly being attachable to, or integral with, the vehicle seat, the container having a first wall adapted to engage with the floor of the vehicle in front of said seat, and the container having a second wall adapted to lie adjacent to the front of said seat, wherein the fastener assembly is provided with a pair of spring-biassed clips engageable with grooves in the side walls of the container for detachably holding the container.
Such a specially-shaped container rests on the floor of the car, against the front edge of the seat and below the occupant's legs. The container is releasably secured to the seat by the fastener assembly, which may be incorporated into the seat structure or be fixed to an existing seat. The fastener assembly secures the container firmly, yet allows its quick removal both for access to the seat adjustment mechanism, and to allow the container to be used outside the car as a piece of luggage.
In a preferred embodiment, the clips are mounted at opposite ends of a transverse bar which can be fixed to the frame of said seat, the transverse bar extending at least as far as the side walls of the container. Preferably, each of the clips is pivotally mounted in a respective housing, and each clip is engageable with a respective wedge-shaped groove formed in the associated side wall of the container adjacent to the rear wall. Advantageously, the wedge-shaped grooves are vertical grooves. This permits the clips to engage with the grooves over a wide range of height positions. Conveniently, the clips and their housings are positioned at the opposite ends of the bar.
The container may be made of a rigid material, such as ABS or polypropylene. In this case, the container is formed with a top opening which is closable by means of a lid, the lid being slidably mounted on the container for movement to and fro across the top opening.
Alternatively, the second wall of the container is a rigid back plate or frame which supports a flexible bag-like member. In this case, the flexible bag-like member may be provided with a zipped-in flap.
Preferably, the bar can be fixed to the seat frame by means of brackets, formed metal strips, nuts and bolts.
The container may be provided with a carrying handle.
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first form of container and a seat attachment assembly, the container being shown with its lid in the closed position;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container of FIG. 1 secured in position;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the container of FIG. 1 after release;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a fastening clip forming part of the attachment assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a schematic, partial cross-section of the container of FIG. 1 showing how its lid is connected;
FIG. 6 shows means for fixing the attachment assembly of FIG. 1 to a vehicle seat;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the first form o
REFERENCES:
patent: 3014759 (1961-12-01), Bing
patent: 3120404 (1964-02-01), Bramming
patent: 3526314 (1970-09-01), Trammell, Jr.
patent: 3598232 (1971-08-01), Trammell, Jr.
patent: 3913810 (1975-10-01), Shaw
patent: 4180299 (1979-12-01), Tolerson
Dodd Thomas J.
Song Robert R.
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