Patent Application
20060027517
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates in general to the fields of space organizers and holders for stored objects and in particular, for organizing and holding objects steady and safe from jarring or damaging vibration.
2. Background
Loose objects such as pens, pencils, notepapers, etc, tend to slide about when being transported in a vehicle not to mention the clutter that can collect in a vehicle if things are not organized. In addition, the consumer goods industry has given us calculators, PDAs, cell phones, MP3 players, camcorders, and many other small electronic devices. Leaving these lying free in a vehicle can lead to damage to the object during sudden stops, starts or worse, collisions. These can also lead to dangerous situations wherein these projectiles flying about the interior of the vehicle can injure the occupants. Moreover, the movement of these objects may distract the driver in attempts to retrieve the objects while driving, if his or her attention must be averted from the roadway, potentially causing an accident.
Attempts have been made to hold objects on vehicle glove boxes, dashboards or between seats. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,619,586; 4,577,788; 4,846,382; 5,419,265; 3,104,895; and 5,025,919 each describe an after-market box or tray-like structure that is designed to be mounted on a vehicle dashboard and provide a writing surface and/or storage for other items. These generally suffer from being large and unwieldy, and can partially obscure the drivers field of vision or are generally occupied by other facilities and not available. More over, they may provide rigid support which is not conducive to sudden movements transferring the load directly to sensitive electronic devices or otherwise too unforgiving to be suitable as a holder. Also, available space may be complex curving structure, with dips, slopes and compound curves. Thus, organizers and holders must be self-positioning and not overly rigid in their support of objects. Vehicles traveling over rough terrain, bad roads or construction zones are particularly prone to losing items.
Accordingly, there is a need for a multipurpose accessory, which can be secured in an available space to hold a variety of objects and prevent items stored from flying about. Such an accessory would not only provide convenience to the driver, but would be a safety feature because it would allow the driver to maintain concentration on the task at hand, driving and peace of mind that sudden positional changes will not damage his expensive devices.
Automobile glove compartments usually contain a single un-compartmentalized space of limited dimensions wherein a number of items may be stored. These items within a typical glove compartment, however, are usually difficult to find because the typical glove compartment does not have separate compartments and the items become bundled. It is desirable, however, to provide a space organizer to be installed in the glove compartment to divide the space in the glove compartment into several holding volumes for storage of various articles which may be conveniently found and selected when needed and also safely stored such that road jarring or sudden hits will not sustain damage to any sensitive electronic components.
The conventional compartment organizers and holding apparatus have numerous drawbacks and limitations. Some solutions have compartmentalized but they have not provided a secure volume. The support surface of the conventional compartment organizers also has smooth surfaces so that items may slide on the support surface. In addition, the conventional compartment organizers do not fit snugly into an available space and there is a variety of different makes and models of automobiles to accommodate. Likewise, the dash and console areas have solutions which also have limitations in size, obstructing visibility, are cumbersome, not self-positioning or not spring adjustable against sudden movements generating forces which can damage sensitive objects and electronic devices such as MP3 players, cell phones, jump memory sticks, flash cards, PDAs, pocket PCs, garage door openers, eye glasses, maps wallets, small containers or bottles, etc. Thus, it is desirable to provide a space organizer that overcomes the problems and limitations described above and it is to this end that the present invention is directed.
The present invention provides an apparatus for organization and safe transportation of different items in accessory storage or available space volume. In the preferred embodiment, the self-positioning space organizer and object holder is provided with a conformable spring like body member having means for adjustably supporting an object within the apparatus rigidly held by pressure and having two or more extending leg elements. Each of the leg elements is bendable so that the length of the legs can be easily adjusted to support the body in a confined space. Affixed to the bottom side of each leg is a mounting foot having a mounting grip surface, for securing the leg members to the available compartment or surface surrounding available volume.
The self-positioning space organizer and object holder has a body element for holding and storing an object, and one or more bendable leg members with gripping feet for surface adhesion. The body enclosures or receptacles may be formed to store specific items and changed according to the needs of the user. Thus, disclosed is an apparatus that is adaptable for use in organizing and transporting items in the storage compartment or other available space of a vehicle.
The invention apparatus body and legs are contiguously connected to form one self-positioning space organizer and object holder. The holder leg member ends have the means to grip the walls of a compartment or space and to position a body within the available space of the storage compartment. The body enclosure provides the means for holding an object which then has limited movement and vibration insulation from vehicle motion. Other embodiments include various body and leg member materials and constructions that reduce apparatus size, weight, and material cost.
The following are the objects and advantages of the present invention:
1. The device provides a mechanism that allows the self-positioning space organizer and object holder to automatically adjust and fit securely in the available space.
2. The device provides and maintains a constant pressure against the sides of an enclosing volume that provides protection through isolation from forcing frequency vehicle vibration.
3. The device can fit in and available space in longitudinal, transverse, or diagonal directions, depending on the size and shape of the available space volume.
4. The device does not require any assembly and is easy to use.
5. The device can be easily placed or removed from the holding volume of a vehicle.
6. The dividers in the device are adjustable that allow the user to customize the space in the organizer.
7. The holder apparatus provides a shelf or box enclosure within any opening or space not designed to hold or position smaller objects.
8. The holder apparatus is self-positioning to and will hold objects firmly when placed in any desired space or enclosure.
9. The holder apparatus provides a cushioned environment for safely storing devices or objects within any enclosure.
10. The holder apparatus unique spring-like grip design acts to isolate from external forcing vibration or impact loads.
11. The modified design of the device can be used in vehicles with most any small space with gripping surfaces for attachment.
12. The apparatus is light, durable, economical in construction, and aesthetically pleasing.
13. The holder apparatus can be adapted to adjustably fit any electronic or non-electronic device or object by changing the size and shape of the holder or body element.
14. The interior of the holder apparatus body element can be lined with a rubber-gripping material to hold objects in a stable position.
15. The body element can also be adopted with a mesh or other material construction.
16. The holder apparatus can be a one-piece injection molded part the is contiguously supported by a plurality of leg members.
17. The holder apparatus body and let elements provide the unique adjustable spring stiffness which acts to insulate from external vibration and impact loads.
Additional objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following drawings and their description.
The present invention is a self-positioning space organizer and object holder apparatus for use in vehicles and also compartments or spaces requiring organized storage of items with or without isolation from certain jarring or vibration.
Shown in
The holder 110 body 116 portion is a semi-closed enclosure made of bendable construction so that the enclosure volume provided can be adjusted to wrap and grip hold an object enclosed. A preferred embodiment of the invention may have a body component insert lining 118 that adds a cushion securing character to the body 116 enclosure. The body 116 can be made from a variety of materials to be bendable and malleable yet of light material. This material may be a metal, metal alloy, plastic, composite, or another material combination. In another embodiment, the body element can also be adapted with a mesh or other material construction for vibration isolation, cost, weight or other desirable features.
In addition, the holder 110 or portion of the holder 110 may have a coating of material, providing a better gripping surface, cosmetic appeal, life to the holder, vibration absorption, and other properties. The coating material may include but is not limited to rubber, plastic, combinations of rubber and plastic. This coating may also have a surface conditioning providing a higher surface friction for gripping and vibration insulation.
Installation of this embodiment involves compressing the holder and inserting the holder into the desired space, compartment or opening. Upon releasing the holder in the desired location, the holder's residual stresses will compel the holder to spring back and lodge itself in place, pressing the feet against the adjacent surface. The holder body 216316 is bendable and can conform to any electronic or non-electronic device fitting smartly in its adjustable body 216316 enclosure.
The interior of the body 216316 may have an insert 218, not visible in
As best shown in the
The body member 510 shown here has two pair of parallel sides contiguously joined at the corners to define an adjustable enclosure volume. The two sides are joined by surface formed to hold the enclosed object. In this embodiment, the leg members 514 extend from each corner of the base providing one of the four legs 514. The leg members can extend from other body locations. Also, the number of legs can vary in another embodiment. The holder 510 is preferably formed of a molded material, such as fiberglass, composite, bendable or plastic. The body member may have an opening 518 to allow an object to be conformably wedged into the body 516. A rectangular opening 518 is shown but a round opening for a cup or cylindrical object or rectangular opening for a parallelepiped shaped object can be used.
As shown in
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The feet members of the holder preferred embodiment, provide additional grip friction to maintain the hold position and are sufficiently malleable so that they can be bent slightly to conform to the adhering surface or surface layers/extensions.
The holder body and legs construction provides the characteristics to securely maintain an objects position through sudden changes in volume movement. In addition, the space surrounding the body and in between the holder legs can provide additional organized space in other portions of the storage compartment.
While the invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, it is understood that variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is a Continuation to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. US60/590,532 filed on Jul. 23, 2004, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60590532 | Jul 2004 | US |
