Patent Application
20160122071
The present invention relates to interior accessories for a car, specifically to portable carriers and organizers.
Either for a long road trip or day-to-day outings, generally a trunk organizer is needed to keep the groceries or other valuable items from tipping over on the drive home. Additionally, another organizer is needed to be either in the back seat or the front seat to organize Kids' snacks, water bottles and the like, making every-day outings easy and better organized. However, there is no versatile organizer that can be placed in the car and converted into different sizes of containers or organizers and set up in different locations of the car to serve difference purposes.
Therefore there is a need to provide a versatile organizer, which can be used as either a trunk organizer or a front seat/back seat organizer. In addition, when it is not being used, it can be re-assembled into a smaller size for storage.
The instant invention provides a one-piece mat, which can be erected and folded into either a trunk organizer or a front seat organizer When said organizers are not needed, the trunk and front seat organizers can be converted back into the one-piece mat to serve as a floor mat to provide a non-slip surface. Alternatively, the one-piece mat can be further folded into a smaller size for storage.
For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain advantages of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a one-piece mat, which can be erected to form containers.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a one-piece flat mat, having a non-slip surface, wherein the surface can prevent items placed on top of it from slipping over.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a one-piece container to be used as a car accessory to hold general items on its surface for long road trips or day-to-day outings. The one-piece mat can be turned into a first container or a second container when it is being used, wherein the first container has a bottom smaller in size than the bottom of the second container, and the first container has a height greater than the second container.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a one-piece mat, which can be turned into a reduced size or a smaller dimension for storage.
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a one-piece mat adapted to be erected to form containers at different sizes, and when the one-piece mat is laid out flat, it provides a non-slip surface, and when the one-piece mat is not being used, it can be turned into a smaller size.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, disclosed herein, said one-piece mat can be of any geometry. In one embodiment of the present invention, said one-piece mat is in rectangularly shaped, having a length and width. In one example of the present invention, the length of the mat is about 94.5 cm. In another example, the width of the mat is about 73.5 cm.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, disclosed herein, said one-piece mat has a non-slip surface, comprising a first surface and a second surface. Both the first and second surfaces have multiple attachment elements.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, disclosed herein, said one-piece mat is adapted to be erected into either a first container or a second container, wherein the first container is a front seat organizer having a length, width and a height, and the second container is a trunk organizer, also having a length, width and height. In one example, the first container has a length of about 46.5 cm, a width of 26.5 cm and a height of 24.5 cm. In another example, the trunk organizer has a length of about 70 cm, a width of 48 cm and a height of 12.5 cm.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, disclosed herein, said one-piece mat is adapted to be turned into a reduced size for storage. In one example, the one-piece mat can be folded into an area having 1.5-30% of its original size.
It is further objective of the present invention to provide an organizer assembly, comprising the one-piece mat disclosed herein.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the organizer assembly further comprises a thermal carrier and a shopping cart bag. In one example, the thermal carrier has a length and width similar to the length and width of the first container. In another example, the shopping cart bag is collapsible and has a side zipper.
In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the one piece mat disclosed herein, comprises a bottom panel, a multiple bottom panel extension panel, surrounding the bottoms panel, and multiple side panel, surrounding the bottom panel extension panels, wherein the bottom panel, each of the bottom panel extension panels and each of the side panels is connected to another panel by a folding interface. The side panels further comprise a plurality of attachment elements; the attachment elements are in complimentary pairs to secure the container in place when the one-piece mat is erected to containers of different sizes.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:
For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain advantages of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment disclosed.
In accordance with aspects of the present invention, the one-piece mat disclosed herein, comprises a body, a trim and a pair of handles. The body comprises a bottom panel, a multiple bottom panel extension panel, surrounding the bottoms panel, and multiple side panel, surrounding the bottom panel extension panels, wherein the bottom panel, each of the bottom panel extension panels and each of the side panels is connected to another panel by a folding interface. The side panels further comprises a plurality of attachment elements; the attachment elements are in complimentary pairs to secure the container in place when the one-piece mat is erected to containers of different sizes.
Referring to
In accordance with the aspects of the present invention, the second surface is a non-slip surface. The second surface comprises a plurality of gripping elements. The gripping elements when exposed to the contacting surfaces will increase the friction between the second surface and contacting surface to effective prevent the mat from slipping on the surface underneath. Optionally, the first surface further comprises gripping elements. Preferably on the side panels, closer to the exterior edge of the side panels, to effectively stop the items from slipping away from the mat when items are placed on the mat. In the examples of the present invention, the gripping elements are Velcro attachment.
Various materials can be made into the mat, including PVC and polyester.
The one-piece mat can be made in various shapes. In one example, the mat is rectangular shaped. In another example, the mat is square shaped. In another example, the mat is round shaped.
Referring to
When the mat is folded into its storage mode, it can be folded into different sizes having different areas. The smallest size that the mat can be folded into is the size of the bottom panel. In other words, when the mat is in its storage mode, the one-piece mat is folded into a size and shape substantially the same as the size and shape of the bottom panel.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Within each group of attachment elements there are multiple mate pairs. Referring to
It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are many variations of the position and size and strength of the Velcro attachments. It is generally recognized by a person skilled in the art that the position, size/dimension and strength of the Velcro attachments, determine the load limit for the containers after the Velcro attachments are attached.
Referring to
Folding interfaces in one embodiment of the present invention are interfaces may have lengths and widths. The widths of the folding interfaces are the shortest distance between the two neighboring panels. In one example, as shown in
On the second surface of the one-piece mat, two handles are provided. Preferably, the handles are made of strong and steady materials. In one example, handles are located on side panels. Preferably, the handles are located closer to the width of the rectangular shaped one piece mat, so that when the one piece mat is erected into the first and second containers, the handles are located on the exterior of the container and closer to the width direction rather than the length direction. Preferably, the handle is in a different color contrast to the color of the body of the one-piece mat so that it can be identified easily.
Optionally, the one-piece mat further comprises a trim as shown in
The one-piece mat disclosed herein, comprises a body made of a bottom panel, bottom panel extension panels and side panels. Optionally, the one-piece mat further comprises a trim and a pair of handles. As shown in the figures disclosed herein, in one example, the one-piece mat has a body substantially in black, and the trim and handles are in grey. In another example, the one-piece mat has a body substantially in red and the trim and handles are in black. In still another example, the one-piece mat has a body in purple paisley and the trim and handles are in plain purple.
Referring to
The load limit for the front seat organizer is up to 25 KG in accordance with the aspect of the present invention. In one example, the front seat organizer formed can hold weight up to 15 KG, without causing the bottom of the front seat organizer sag or the opening of the Velcro attachments. In another example, front seat organizer formed can hold weight up to 20 KG, without causing the bottom to sag or the opening of the Velcro attachments. In still another example, front seat organizer formed can hold weight up to 25 KG, without causing the bottom to sag while having no or signs of opening of the Velcro attachments.
In another embodiment of the present invention, referring to
The load limit for the trunk organizer is up to 7 KG in the accordance with the aspects of the present invention. In one example, the trunk organizer formed can hold weight up to 3 KG, without causing an opening of the Velcro attachments. In another example, front seat organizer formed can hold weight up to 5 KG, without causing the opening of the Velcro attachments. In still another example, the trunk organizer formed can hold weight up to 7 KG, before any clear signs of opening of the Velcro attachments.
In yet another embodiment, referring to
Further as shown in
In another aspect of the present invention, the one-piece mat disclosed herein, is part of a car accessory or travel organizer assembly. The organizer assembly further comprises a thermal carrier. The thermal carrier has two handles, having the same size as the front seat organizer, with an approximate length of 46 cm, width of 25 cm and height of 25 cm. Various materials can be made into the thermal Carrier. For example, 420D polyester and PVC, filled with Polyethylene Foam.
The organizer assembly further comprises a shopping cart bag. The shopping cart bag is easy to carry and fits in shopping carts at different sizes. The shopping cart bag is made of substantially water-proof material, having a dimension and flexibility to be mounted on to a shopping cart when it is used, and be compressed or rolled up into a tube-like or roll-like bag for storage. Further, the shopping cart bag has a zipper pocket inside, which can be handy for bills, coins and keys. The shopping cart bag can be made of various materials. For example, the shopping cart bag can be made of 210D polyester. The shopping cart bag can be made into a variety of the shapes and dimensions without being deviating from its intended purpose. In one example, the shopping cart bag has an approximate length of 70.5 cm, weight of 37 cm and height of 37 cm.
Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with reference only to the exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other embodiments can be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined only by the claims set forth below.
Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, certain method procedures may have been delineated as separate procedures; however, these separately delineated procedures should not be construed as necessarily order dependent in their performance. That is, some procedures may be able to be performed in an alternative ordering, simultaneously, etc. In addition, exemplary diagrams illustrate various methods in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Such exemplary method embodiments are described herein using and can be applied to corresponding apparatus embodiments, however, the method embodiments are not intended to be limited thereby.
Although few embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting on the invention described herein. Scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein. Terms in the claims should be given their broadest interpretation consistent with the general inventive concept as set forth in this description. As another example, “having” and “including”, derivatives thereof and similar transitional terms or phrases are used synonymously with “comprising” (i.e., all are considered “open ended” terms)—only the phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” should be considered as “close ended”.
