Abstract:
A container for securing objects in a moving vehicle comprises a bottom panel and a sidewall attached to and extending upwardly from the bottom panel to form a box-like structure forming a first container portion. The sidewall may be foldably attached to the bottom panel such that the container may be collapsed down so that it is more compact for easy storage. The sidewall may be comprised of a plurality of walls each attached to the bottom panel or alternatively, the sidewall may be formed by a single, integral structure attached to the bottom panel. The sidewall may be collapsible such that the sidewall may be folded or crumpled down relatively flat over the bottom panel. The container includes an adjustable divider disposed in the container which partitions the interior of the container. A variety of other accessories, such as drink holders, shelves, tables, and pockets may also be disposed in, or on, the container to conveniently hold objects in a moving vehicle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to containers and more particularly to a container for holding items in a vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Transporting objects in vehicles, such as a car, truck, bus or boat, can often be awkward and difficult. For example, transporting objects such as food containers, drinks or containers of fluids or small knick-knacks can be especially difficult. Moreover, the seats of most vehicles are designed to accommodate a seated person and are typically not flat or level. Similarly, the floor of such vehicles are also not flat or level. If not secured, the containers are unstable and tend to slide, tip, fall, or otherwise move about when the vehicle is in motion. The moving, tipping or falling of the objects can damage the objects or cause containers to spill their contents. This creates a driving hazard in addition to making a mess of the vehicle.  
         [0003]     Several containers for holding objects in a moving vehicle have been previously described. For example, a vehicle desk container is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,386, issued Oct. 28, 1986, to Richardson. The vehicle desk container comprises a rectangular box with a top lid attached to the box by hinges. The container has built-in desk accessories such as a clock, pencil sharpener and light. A plurality of fixed partitions may be inside the box to provide individual storage compartments. Finally, the container has one or more straps to secure the container to a seat or other part of the vehicle. A major drawback to this desk container is that it is too small to hold anything but small desk or office accessories like pens, pencils, calculators or erasers. In addition, the desk container does not have any device which is adjustable for securely holding objects of varying sizes. The partitions in this vehicle desk container are fixed in both size and location. Another problem with this vehicle desk container is that it cannot be folded or collapsed for storage when not in use.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, there is a need for a device which can secure objects in a moving vehicle. The device should be portable and easily adjustable to accommodate objects of varying sizes and shapes. The device should also have a convenient apparatus for securing the device to a part of the vehicle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The container of the present invention is well-suited for securely transporting objects of varying sizes and shapes in a moving vehicle. The container comprises a bottom panel and a sidewall attached to and extending upwardly from the bottom panel to form a box-like structure forming a first container portion. The sidewall may be foldably attached to the bottom panel such that the container may be collapsed down so that it is more compact for easy storage. The bottom panel may be of any suitable shape such as a circle, rectangle, square, other polygon, etc. The sidewall comprises an inside surface and an outside surface. The sidewall may be comprised of a plurality of walls each attached to the bottom panel or alternatively, the sidewall may be formed by a single, integral structure attached to the bottom panel.  
         [0006]     In the case where a plurality of walls is used, each wall forms a section of the sidewall. Each wall has an inside surface, an outside surface and an edge around its perimeter. Each wall also has a plurality of wall fasteners along at least a portion of the edge of the wall for removably coupling the edge of the wall to at least a portion of the edge of an adjoining wall. In the assembled, or uncollapsed, configuration of the container, the plurality of walls extend upwardly from the bottom panel and the side edges of the walls are attached to each other using the wall fasteners. In the collapsed configuration of the container, the side edges of the walls are unfastened and are folded down over the bottom panel.  
         [0007]     In the case of a single, integral sidewall, the sidewall comprises a plurality of bendable, foldable, or otherwise deformable supports which hold the sidewall in the extended position when the container is in the assembled, or uncollapsed, configuration. The sidewall is made of a flexible material, such as nylon. To collapse the container, the supports and the sidewall are folded or crumpled down over the bottom panel. A strap or fastener may be used to retain the sidewall in the collapsed position.  
         [0008]     An adjustable divider is disposed in the container which divides the first container portion into second and third container portions. The divider may be made of a flexible material such that it can form to the shape of an object being secured within the container. A plurality of divider fasteners are disposed on the inside surface of the sidewall for being removably attached to said divider. The divider fasteners are arranged on the inside surface of the sidewall such that the divider may be adjusted to a plurality of positions within the first container portion. In this way, the size and/or shape of the second and third container portions may be adjusted by moving the adjustable divider. Moreover, one or more additional adjustable dividers may be used in order to further partition the first container portion. The additional adjustable divider may be attachable to the sidewall, or to one of the other dividers or to both. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a container according to the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  with the top panel in the closed position.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the divider of the container of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a back view of the divider of the container of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a divider for use in a container according to the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a back view of the divider of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a drink holder accessory according to the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a hanging pocket according to the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of a container according to the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the container of  FIG. 9  in a disassembled and unfolded configuration.  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 9  in a fully assembled configuration.  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is a bottom perspective view of a container according to the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of the container of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 14  is a top perspective view of a container according to the present invention with a desk attachment inserted therein.  
         [0023]      FIG. 15  is top perspective view of the desk attachment shown inserted into the container of  FIG. 14 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 16  is a top view of a container according to the present invention in a disassembled configuration.  
         [0025]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 16  in a fully assembled configuration.  
         [0026]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention with the straps arranged for use as a handle for carrying the container.  
         [0027]      FIG. 19  is a front perspective view of a hanging board according to the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 20  is a rear perspective view of a removable pouch according to the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a container with a hanging board and removable pouch attached to the container according to the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a table accessory according to the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a container having the table accessory of  FIG. 22  assembled therein.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]     Turning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a container  10  according to the present invention is shown. The container  10  comprises a bottom panel  12  and a sidewall  14  attached to and extending upward from the bottom panel. The bottom panel  12  may be flat and is preferably semi-rigid, rigid, pliable or flexible. It may be made of two or more sheets of nylon material having a stiffening plate between the sheets of nylon. The plate may be made of most plastics, foam or other suitable material which provides the desired rigidity or pliability to the sidewall  14 . While the bottom panel  12  is shown as rectangular, other shapes and sizes may be utilized in order to provide the desired design. For example, the bottom panel  12  may be in the shape of a square, other polygon, circle or other random shape.  
         [0033]     The sidewall  14  has four walls including a right wall  16 , a front wall  18 , a left wall  20  and a back wall  22 . The sidewall  14  and the bottom panel  12  form a rectangular box. The sidewall  14  may be a single, integral structure, or alternatively, it may be formed of two or more separate panels. The inside surface  24  of the sidewall  14  has three strips of hook and loop fasteners  26  which may extend around all four walls  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22 . The four walls  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  may be of uniform height or differing heights such that the plane formed by the top surface of the walls is at an angle from the plane formed by the bottom panel  12 . As an example, in the container  10  of  FIG. 9 , the front wall  18  is shorter than the back wall  22 . In that case, the right wall  16  and the left wall  20  have a varying height from the back to the front. In other words, the top edge of the right wall  16  and left wall  20  slope from back to front so that they have the same height as the back wall  22  at the intersection with the back wall  22  and the same height as the front wall  18  at the intersection with the front wall  18 .  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the container  10  may have a top cover  28  which is foldably attached to the top edge of a portion of the sidewall  14 . The top cover  28  may cover a portion or all of the open top of the container  10  to provide an enclosed space within the container  10 . The top cover may have a plurality of fasteners  29  which attach to fasteners  31  on the sidewall  14 . The fasteners  29  and  30  may be snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners or other suitable fasteners. Two handles  30  are attached to the outside surface of two opposing walls  16  and  20  to facilitate carrying of the container  10 . A cellular phone holder  44  and a storage pocket  46  are also attached to the outside surface of the sidewall  14 .  
         [0035]     A pair of straps  48  are attached to the outside surface of the sidewall  14 . The straps are used to secure the container  10  to a vehicle seat or other vehicle part, like a seatbelt or console. The straps  14  have a releasable buckle or clasp  54  so that the straps  14  can be separated in order to loop the straps  14  around a seat or other vehicle part and then reconnect the buckles  54 . The length of the straps  14  is preferably adjustable. The buckles may be replaced by any other suitable fastener such as snaps, buttons or hook and loop fasteners. The straps  48  may also be arranged for use as a handle to carry the container as shown in  FIG. 18 .  
         [0036]     An adjustable divider  32  may be inserted into the container  10  to partition the interior space of the container  10 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the divider  32  comprises a flat panel  34  having a first side edge  36  and a second side edge  38 . The first and second side edges  36  and  38  each have a strip of hook and loop fasteners  40  which may be removably attached to the strips of hook and loop fasteners  26  on the inside surface of the sidewall  14 . The hook and loop fasteners  40  may be foldably attached to the first and second side edges  36  and  38  of the divider  32  so that they can be aligned to effectively attach to the hook and loop fasteners  26 . The foldability of the fasteners  40  may be accomplished by disposing the fasteners on a flexible flap of material which extends from the edge of the flat panel  34 . The divider  32  may have a length so that it extends from front wall  18  to back wall  22  (see  FIG. 9 ) or from right wall  16  to left wall  18  (see  FIG. 1 ) or between any two adjacent walls, such as between right wall  16  and back wall  22 . The divider  32  may be extendable so that its length can be adjusted so that the divider can be positioned and oriented to partition the interior of the container  10  to the desired shape and size. The divider  32  has several pockets  42  of varying sizes for holding objects. For example, one of the pockets  42  may be shaped and sized to hold a soft drink container, a calculator, a pen or pencil, or cellular phone.  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an alternative adjustable divider  50  is shown which is especially useful with a container  10  where one of the walls  16 ,  18 ,  20  or  22  is shorter than the opposing wall, as described above. The divider  50  is the same as the divider  32  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , except that the top edge  52  of the divider  50  is sloped, and like reference numerals refer to like elements. The divider  50  is used just like the divider  32 , described above.  
         [0038]     A table accessory  130  is shown in  FIGS. 22-23 . The table accessory comprises a table top  132  and two hanging panels  134  and  136  foldably attached to the table top  132 . The hanging panel  134  comprises a folded panel having three strips of hook and loop fasteners  138  on the back side. The hanging panel  136  has two strips of hook and loop fasteners  140  on the front side. Another strip of hook and loop fasteners  135  may be provided for attaching other accessories to the table accessory  130 , as described below. The table accessory  130  is installed in the container  10  by inserting the table accessory  130  into the container  10  and attaching the fasteners  138  and  140  to the fasteners  26 . A cup holder  142  having hook and loop fasteners may be attached to the fastener  135  for holding a drink on the table accessory. The table accessory  130  provides a storage surface that is nearer the top of the container  10  and is particularly handy for storing items that the user wants convenient access to while driving, such as food or drinks.  
         [0039]     A horizontal shelf divider, similar to the table accessory  130 , may also be used in the container  10  to divide the container  10  into multiple compartments with one above the other, similar to that shown in  FIG. 23 . The shelf divider comprises a flat panel and four edges. Two or more of the edges each have a strip of hook and loop fasteners which are removably attachable to the strips of hook and loop fasteners  26  on the inside surface of the sidewall  14 . The hook and loop fasteners  116  may be foldably attached to the side edges  114  so that they can be aligned to effectively attach to the hook and loop fasteners  26 . The foldability of the fasteners may be accomplished by disposing the fasteners on a flexible flap of material which extends from the edges. The shelf may have a length and width so that extends across the entire container  10  or the shelf may be extendable so that its length can be adjusted so that the shelf can cover just a portion of the container  10 . In use, an object can be placed onto the bottom panel  12  and then the shelf  110  can be inserted into the container  10  over the object. The shelf is then attached in place by fastening the fasteners to the fasteners. Then, objects can be placed onto the shelf. Dividers such as the dividers  32  and  50 , described above can also be used along with the shelf, so long as the dividers have shorter heights so that they extend from the height of the shelf  10  to the top of the sidewall  14 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 7  shows a cup holder  60  accessory that may be used with the container  10 . The cup holder  60  comprises a receptacle  62  which is sized and shaped to hold a drink container. The receptacle  62  may have a size and shape to hold any desired drink container, including but not limited to a typical twelve ounce soda can, a cup of coffee or a super-sized drink container. Two strips of hook and loop fasteners  64  are disposed on opposite sides of the receptacle  62 . The cup holder  60  may be attached to any of the hook and loop fasteners of the container  10 . For example, the cup holder  60  may be attached to the hook and loop fasteners  26  on the inside surface of the sidewall  14 , as shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0041]     Another accessory for the container  10  is shown in  FIG. 8 . The hanging pocket  70  comprises a first panel  72  and a second panel  74  which are foldably connected to each other along an edge of each panel. The first panel  72  has three strips of hook and loop fasteners  76  on the inside surface of the first panel  72 . The second panel  74  has a plurality of pockets  78  on the outside surface of the second panel  74 . The hanging pocket board  70  is used by hanging it over the edge of one of the walls  16 ,  18 ,  20  or  22  with the first panel  72  on the inside the container  10  and the second panel  74  on the outside of the container  10 . The hook and loop fasteners  76  are removably attached to the hook and loop fasteners  26  on the inside surface of the sidewall  14 . The pockets  78  are then accessible on the outside of container  10  so that items may be easily stored and retrieved.  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIGS. 19-21 , another accessory which is similar to the hanging pocket  70  is shown. The hanging board  90  comprises a first panel  92  and a second panel  94  which are foldably connected to each other along an edge of each panel. The first panel  92  has three strips of hook and loop fasteners  96  on the inside surface of the first panel  92 . The second panel  94  has at least on strip of hook and loop fasteners  98  on the outside surface of the second panel  94 . The hanger board  90  is used by hanging it over the edge of one of the walls  16 ,  18 ,  20  or  22  with the first panel  92  on the inside the container  10  and the second panel  94  on the outside of the container  10 . The hook and loop fasteners  96  are removably attached to the hook and loop fasteners  26  on the inside surface of the sidewall  14 . The hook and loop fasteners  98  are then accessible on the outside of container  10  where items having hook and loop fasteners, such as the drink holder  60  described above, may be removably attached. In addition, the removable pouch  100  shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21  may be attached to the hanger board  90 . The removable pouch  100  has a pocket portion  102  and a cover  104 . The front of the pocket portion  102  has a fastener  106 , preferably velcro™, and the cover  104  has a mating fastener, also preferably velcro™, to detachably hold the cover  104  in the closed position.  
         [0043]     In another particularly innovative aspect of the present invention, the container of the present invention may have foldable walls  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  so that the container  10  is collapsible. Turning to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the container  10  is similar to the container  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  except for the addition of several straps  84  which help hold the container  10  in its assembled configuration. Again, like reference numerals in  FIGS. 10 and 11  refer to like reference numerals used in the  FIGS. 1-8 .  FIG. 10  shows the container  10  in a disassembled configuration with the walls  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  detached from the respective adjoining walls, while  FIG. 11  shows the container  10  in an assembled configuration.  
         [0044]     Each of the foldable walls  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  has a strip of hook and loop fasteners  82  along both of the side edges of each wall. The fasteners  82  along the edge of one wall connect to the fasteners along the adjacent edge of the adjoining wall, the two adjacent edges forming a connecting pair of edges. In order to align the fasteners  82  in each connecting pair of edges, at least one edge of each pair may be foldably attached to the edge of the wall by disposing the fasteners on a flexible flap of material. Alternatively, one of the edges of each connecting pair of edges may be angled substantially perpendicular to the wall so that it aligns with the adjacent edge to which it attaches. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , walls  18  and  22  have flexible flaps with fasteners  82  along both side edges of each wall. Walls  16  and  20  have straps  84  attached at, or near, both side edges of each wall. The straps  84  may be fixedly attached to walls  16  and  20  using adhesive, thread or other suitable means, or they may be removably attached using snaps, velcro™, or buttons. The loose end of each strap  84  as shown in  FIG. 10  has a fastener  86  which removable attaches to a mating fastener on the respective adjoining wall. The fasteners  86  may be snaps, buttons, velcro™ or other suitable removable fastening system. The fasteners  86  may attach to a mating fastener  87  provided on the adjoining wall.  
         [0045]     Referring to  FIGS. 16-17 , another embodiment of the container with foldable walls is shown. This container  81  is the same as the container  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-10  except that there is a flexible flap  83  connecting the edge of two of the pairs of connecting pairs of edges. Like reference numerals in  FIGS. 16 and 17  refer to like reference numerals used in the  FIGS. 1-10 .  
         [0046]     The container  10  is easily assembled or disassembled as follows.  FIG. 11  shows the container  10  in the fully assembled configuration, with the top cover  28  in the closed position. To disassemble and collapse the container  10 , the top cover  28  is opened. Then, the fasteners  86  and the buckle  54  are all unfastened. The fasteners  82  between each of the respective adjoining walls are unfastened and the right wall  16  and left wall  20  are then folded inward and relatively flat onto the bottom panel  12 , as shown in  FIG. 13 . The front wall  18  is then folded onto the folded right and left walls  16  and  20 . Finally, the back wall  22  is folded onto the front wall  18  with the top cover  28  extended. The top cover  28  folds around the bottom panel  12  and the fastener  29  is attached to the fastener  31  to hold the container  10  in the folded configuration. The straps  54  may be placed inside the folded container  10  at any convenient point in the disassembly and folding procedure, for example, after the right wall  18  and left wall  20  are folded inward. The container  10  is unfolded and assembled by simply reversing the steps described above for disassembling and collapsing the container  10 .  
         [0047]     Turning to  FIGS. 12-13 , several additional features of the container of the present invention will be described. The container  10  may have a pair of wheels  102  and a handle  104  so that the container  10  can be pulled like a luggage cart. The wheels  102  and handle  104  may be retractable so that they are out of the way when the container  10  is placed in a vehicle.  
         [0048]     The use of the container  10  and container  10  is basically the same, and therefore, the use of the container will be described with reference to the container  10 . It should be understood that the use of the container  10  is essentially the same. The objects to be transported in the container  10  may be secured in the container before or after the container  10  is placed into the vehicle. The object is placed into the container  10  and is set onto the bottom panel  12  or on a removable shelf  110 , if a shelf is being utilized. In order to firmly secure the object, the object is preferably placed against the sidewall  14 . An adjustable divider, such as divider  32  or divider  50 , is placed into the container  10  on the side of the object opposite the portion of the sidewall  14  against which the object was placed. The divider  32  or  50  is then secured in placed by attaching the fasteners  40  to the fasteners  26 . By biasing the divider  32  or  50  against the object, the object can be very securely held in place within the container  10 .  
         [0049]     The container  10  is secured in the vehicle using the straps  48 . The container  10  is placed onto a vehicle seat. With the buckles  54  released, the straps are looped around the back of the seat, and then the buckles are fastened. The length of the straps  48  may be adjusted to tighten the straps  48  to firmly secure the container  60  to the seat. It should be understood that the straps  48  may be secured to other structure within the vehicle, such as the dash or door handles.  
         [0050]     The container  10  may also be used as a desk as shown in  FIG. 14 . The front wall  18  is unfastened from the adjoining walls  16  and  20  and the front wall  11  is folded outward. A desk attachment  120  is placed into the container  10  at any comfortable angle. As shown in  FIG. 15 , the desk attachment  120  has a flat panel  122  and a strip of hook and loop fasteners  124  are disposed on both side edges of the flat panel  122 . The fasteners  124  are removably attachable to the strips of hook and loop fasteners  26  on the inside surface of the sidewall  14 . The hook and loop fasteners  124  may be foldably attached to the side edges of the desk attachment  32  so that they can be aligned to effectively attach to the hook and loop fasteners  26 . The foldability of the fasteners  124  may be accomplished by disposing the fasteners on a flexible flap of material which extends from the edge of the flat panel  122 .  
         [0051]     Of course, in use of the container  10 , any of the other accessories and features such as the hanging pocket  70 , hanger board  90 , cup holder  60 , or removable shelf  110  may be utilized. It is to be understood that all of the accessories and optional features shown with respect to either container  10  or container  81  are equally applicable to the other container.  
         [0052]     While the present invention has been fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein. Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalents.