Abstract:
A mobile tether apparatus for securing articles within the interior of a vehicle and the method of its use and construction are disclosed. The mobile tether apparatus includes a disk shaped member that is easily inserted and anchored between a vehicle&#39;s seat bottom and seat back cushions and has tether straps attached thereto for securing the article. A second embodiment is shown with a cylindrical member used as the anchor member. A third embodiment is shown with a pair of cylindrical members perpendicularly connected to an intermediate section, one serving as the anchor member and the other having tether straps attached thereto.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/304,231, filed Jul. 10, 2001. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to a mobile tether apparatus for use in a vehicle to secure articles in the vehicle. Securing the articles in the vehicle prevents the articles from being thrown about in the vehicle should the vehicle make a sudden evasive maneuver or make an emergency stop. In the case of the emergency stop, it is particularly critical that articles in the interior of the vehicle be secured or they can become projectiles striking the occupants and causing serious injury or death.  
           [0004]    Prior to the current invention, articles to be carried in the interior of a vehicle were either left lying unsecured, typically on the seat or floor of the vehicle, or attempts were made to secure the article with the passenger restraints or seat belts. Often these attempts to secure items were not very successful due to limited positioning possible with the seat belt or the seat belt lacked sufficient length to encircle the article. Additionally, depending on the number of passengers in the vehicle, passengers were left with the unacceptable choice of utilizing the seat belt for a passenger or using it to secure an article.  
           [0005]    Additionally, the “seat belts” of most modern vehicles are actually a combination of a seat belt and a shoulder belt that utilize a common latch. This three point connection provides an excellent passenger restraint but this same configuration does not make for a very useful or adaptable tether device. It would also be preferable if a mobile tether apparatus could be easily removed from the vehicle without requiring any reconfiguring of the interior of the vehicle. Therefore, there exists a need for a mobile tether apparatus that is economical, easy to install and does not require any reconfiguring of the interior of the vehicle. Additionally, such a mobile tether apparatus would be desirable if it were easily adaptable to virtually all vehicles thereby allowing the mobile tether apparatus to be easily moved between vehicles. It is the construction and method of use of such a mobile tether apparatus to which the present invention is directed.  
           [0006]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,504 to C. M. Cohen discloses a universal tether apparatus for releasably attaching juvenile articles, such as pacifiers or rattles, to the clothing of an infant.  
           [0008]    A releasable tether using a release clip with a slide bolt operated by either a cable attached to a remote release trigger or a thumb slide is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,410 to C. J. Wilson et al.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The mobile tether apparatus of the present invention is designed for use within the interior of a vehicle such as a car or sport utility vehicle with a typical arrangement of a front seat and a back seat extending the width of the interior. A first embodiment of the mobile tether apparatus uses a flat disk with a pair of tethers or straps attached thereto with adjustable buckles on the ends of the straps. The disk is sized to allow insertion between the seat back and seat bottom. The disk is then rotated to a position where its axis is perpendicular to the seat back and anchored against the juncture of the seat back and seat bottom and cannot be pulled therethrough. At this point the article to be secured can then be placed on the seat bottom and the straps fastened around the article and securely restrain the article, such as a purse, briefcase, shopping bag or the like, on the seat. When the user&#39;s destination is reached, the article can be easily released from the mobile tether apparatus and the apparatus can be easily removed from the seat by sliding it back between the seat bottom and seat back.  
           [0010]    A second embodiment is shown that is particularly suited for use when it is desired to tether the article, such as a briefcase, to the rear of the front seat. This embodiment uses a cylindrical base member constructed of a flexible material that is sized to be inserted between the seat back and seat bottom when inserted edgewise. The cylindrical base member is somewhat compressible along with the cushion of the seat back and seat bottom. An extension member is attached perpendicularly to the cylindrical member at its middle. A ring is attached to the outer end of the extension member to which the tethers are secured. As in the first embodiment, the cylindrical base member is inserted between the seat bottom and back, although usually from the rear of the seat. The diameter of the cylindrical base member is such that it prevents the mobile tether apparatus from being easily pulled between the seat bottom and back.  
           [0011]    A third embodiment is shown that is easily inserted and can also be used with the head restraint that are typically positioned on the top of the seat back. This embodiment uses two cylindrical members, an anchor member and tether member respectively, that is substantially the same as in the second embodiment that are mounted on an intermediate section of a wire frame that spaces the anchor and tether members apart and at right angles. The tether member has tethers or straps mounted thereon as in the previous embodiments. The apparatus is used by grasping the tether member and inserting the anchor member edgewise between the seat bottom and seat back. The tether member is then rotated 90 degrees where its axis is parallel to the gap between the seat back and seat bottom and the axis of the anchor member is parallel with the seat back. This prevents the anchor member from being pulled back through. If desired, a second mobile tether apparatus of this third embodiment can be positioned between the head restraint and seat back. This allows large boxes to be placed on the seat bottom and secured by tethers from above and below.  
           [0012]    One object of the present invention is to provide a mobile tether apparatus that is easily removable and that may be placed in many anchoring points in a vehicle.  
           [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to enable a person to temporarily secure articles in a public vehicle such as a taxicab, bus, train, or airplane in a convenient location and within reach.  
           [0014]    A further object of the present invention is to enable a person to secure and cover a number of objects in the space between the front and rear seats.  
           [0015]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention are pointed out in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this disclosure. A full and complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings and description of the preferred embodiments. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are set forth below and further made clear by reference to the drawings, wherein:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the mobile tether apparatus installed on a typical vehicle front seat.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the mobile tether apparatus showing details of its construction.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the mobile tether apparatus installed on a typical vehicle front seat securing a briefcase.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the mobile tether apparatus showing details of its construction.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is an elevation view of a vehicle seat showing the second embodiment of the mobile tether apparatus in its installed position.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a vehicle seat showing the second embodiment of the mobile tether apparatus in its initially inserted position.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a vehicle seat showing a pair of the second embodiment of the mobile tether apparatus in their installed position securing a box on a seat.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the mobile tether apparatus showing details of its construction.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is an elevation view of a vehicle seat showing the second embodiment of the mobile tether apparatus in its initially inserted position.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is an elevation view of a vehicle seat showing the second embodiment of the mobile tether apparatus in its installed position. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    With reference to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a typical vehicle, such as a car, seat is shown with the first embodiment of the mobile tether apparatus  10  installed. Car seat  12  is composed of seat bottom  14  and seat back  16  that include flexible cushions  18  and  20 , respectively, formed integrally therewith. Head restraint  22  is positioned on seat  16  and is vertically adjustable as is well known. Flexible cushions  18  and  20  are in substantially abutting relationship and support a person in a seated position. Although flexible cushions  18  and  20  of seat bottom  14  and seat back  16  are abutting one another, their construction is of a flexible material that allows a person to insert a hand (or similar object) therebetween and force a gap  24  therebetween. Car seat  12  is a fixed structure anchored to the floor of the vehicle (not shown).  
         [0028]    Mobile tether apparatus  10  includes releasable base member  26  in the form of a disk shape. A plurality of tether members or straps  28  are attached to releasable base member  26  by threading through slots  30  or other suitable attachment means. Although multiple straps  28  are shown, a single strap  28  could be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Straps  28  include base end  32  and connection end  34 . Coupling means in the form of adjustable snap connectors  36  are attached to connection ends  34  of straps  28 . It should be noted that tether members or straps  28  are preferably of a flexible material such as plastic although other materials as rope, cloth or leather could be used to form straps  28  without departing from the scope of the present invention. Similarly, different coupling means other than adjustable snap connectors  36  could be substituted.  
         [0029]    When it is desired to use mobile tether apparatus  10 , it is inserted edgewise between flexible cushions  18  and  20 . This requires a minimum of effort by the user as the thin edge of releasable base member  26  causes a minimum gap  24  to allow insertion between and through cushions  18  and  20 . After insertion, releasable base member  26  is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 1, with the axis of releasable base member  26  substantially perpendicular to seat back  16 . This ensures mobile tether apparatus  10  cannot be pulled through cushions  18  and  20 . The article to be secured can then be placed on seat bottom  14  and straps  28  used to secure it.  
         [0030]    A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Those items which are the same as in the first embodiment retain their numerical designations. Mobile tether apparatus  100  is shown in FIG. 3 inserted between cushions  18  and  20  and securing briefcase  102  to the rear of seat  12 . Mobile tether apparatus  100  includes releasable base member  104  in the form of a cylindrically shaped member. Releasable base member  104  is of a flexible material as rubber or foam that allows some compression of releasable base member  104 . Extension member  106  is affixed to releasable base member  104  at its middle and extends perpendicularly therefrom. Ring  108  is secured to the outer end of extension member  106  and tether member or strap  110  attaches thereto. Although only one strap  110  is shown, multiple straps  110  could be used without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0031]    When it is desired to use mobile tether apparatus  100 , it is inserted edgewise between flexible cushions  18  and  20  as in the first embodiment. However, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, mobile tether apparatus  100  due to its flexible construction may be inserted edgewise, i.e., with releasable base member  104  (FIG. 5) being inserted between cushions  18  and  20 . This is particularly useful if mobile tether apparatus  100  is being used with a rear seat of a vehicle and the rear of the seat is not easily accessible. Releasable base member  104  is sized to prevent its being pulled through gap  24 , a user may use extension member  106  to rotate releasable base member  104  to the position shown in FIG. 6 if additional holding power is needed with the axis of releasable base member  104  substantially parallel to seat back  16 . This provides additional security mobile tether apparatus  100  cannot be pulled through cushions  18  and  20 .  
         [0032]    An additional application of mobile tether apparatus  100  is shown in FIG. 7. In this application, a pair of mobile tether apparatuses  100  are employed to secure a large box  112  or similar article to seat  12 . A first mobile tether apparatus  100  is inserted and secured between cushions  18  and  20  of seat bottom  14  and seat back  16  as previously described. A second mobile tether apparatus  100  is inserted and secured between cushion  20  of seat back  16  and head restraint  22 . Tether straps  110  are then used to secure box  112  on seat  12 .  
         [0033]    A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.  8 - 10 . Those items which are the same as in the first two embodiments retain their numerical designations. Mobile tether apparatus  200  is shown in FIG. 8 and includes anchor member  202  and tether member  204 . Anchor member  202  and tether member  204  are in the form of a cylindrically shaped member and constructed of a flexible material as rubber or foam that allows some compression of anchor member  202  and tether member  204 . Anchor member  202  and tether member  204  are connected by intermediate section  206  constructed of metal wire or similarly rigid material. Intermediate section  206  maintains anchor member  202  and tether member  204  in a substantially perpendicular orientation and spaced apart as shown. Tether member  204  has tether members or straps  208  attached thereto with suitable coupling means as snap connectors  210  on their ends.  
         [0034]    When it is desired to use mobile tether apparatus  200 , anchor member  202  is inserted edgewise between flexible cushions  18  and  20  as shown in FIG. 9. After anchor member  202  is in the position shown in FIG. 9, tether member  204  is rotated 90 degrees until anchor member  202  and tether member  204  are in the position of FIG. 10. In this position, the axis of anchor member  202  is substantially parallel to seat back  16 . This provides additional security mobile tether apparatus  200  cannot be pulled through cushions  18  and  20 . This embodiment is also useful if mobile tether apparatus  200  is being used with a rear seat of a vehicle and the rear of the seat is not easily accessible. Also, tether member  204  can be left in this position and a person could sit on tether member  204  without discomfort if it is desired to leave mobile tether apparatus  200  in position.  
         [0035]    The novel method of use and construction of my mobile tether apparatus in its various embodiments will be readily understood from the foregoing description and it will be seen that I have provided a novel mobile tether apparatus with a multitude of uses. Furthermore, while the invention has been shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present invention includes all such equivalent alterations and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.