Abstract:
A special container is sized and adapted to store windows that are used in a soft top vehicle, such as a Jeep Wrangler® land vehicle. The container stores the windows in a safe and secure manner and can be placed in the vehicle so the removed windows will be accessible in the event they must be replaced. The container includes two openings that accommodate rear seat anchors, such as in a Jeep Wrangler®.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of special containers, and to the particular field of special containers for use with land vehicles. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Many land vehicles have soft tops. For example, the Jeep Wrangler has a soft top. These tops can be removed if the driver or the occupants of a vehicle desire an open top for the vehicle, such as when the weather is pleasant. The tops can be replaced when the weather becomes inclement. This versatility is much desired by the driving public. 
     Soft tops for vehicles such as the Jeep Wrangler® also include windows that can be opened even when the top is in place. These windows are often zippered in place. Often, when the weather is “in between,” a soft top is in place with the windows open. This provides still further versatility to the vehicle. 
     In some instances, the windows can be completely removed to provide still further versatility to the vehicle. 
     However, when the windows are removed, the removed windows must be stored somewhere. These windows are generally made of transparent material and may be scratched if not properly stored. Vehicle owners generally try to avoid scratching the windows of such vehicles. Therefore, some vehicle owners actually elect to leave the windows at home when they intend to drive with the top off, or with the windows open. This option works well if the weather does not change during the drive. On the other hand, if the windows are removed and stored in the vehicle in the event of a change in weather, the possibility of scratching the windows increases. Thus, some vehicle owners perform a balancing of the two options of leaving the windows at home or taking a chance of scratching the windows if the windows are kept in the vehicle. 
     Therefore there is a need for a means for permitting a vehicle owner to store windows associated with a soft top in the vehicle while protecting those stored windows from scratching during storage. 
     While many containers can be used to store items such as soft top windows, the inventor is not aware of any such special container that is specifically designed to store such items in the vehicle. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a container which will store windows associated with a soft top vehicle, such as a Jeep Wrangler®. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a means for permitting a vehicle owner to store windows associated with a soft top in the vehicle while protecting those stored windows from scratching during storage. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a container which will store windows associated with a soft top vehicle, such as a Jeep Wrangler®. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by a special container that is sized and shaped to accommodate the windows associated with a soft top vehicle, such as a Jeep Wrangler® land vehicle. The container has special cutouts that permit the container to be attached to rear seat anchors, as in a Jeep Wrangler®, and further includes a padded lining for further protecting the stored windows from scratching and felt panels that separate one stored window from another. 
     The windows are safely stored in the container and the container is securely fixed to the vehicle so the windows will not be scratched by other objects, such as by adjacent windows during storage. In this manner, a vehicle owner can take windows with him during a drive and can safely remove the windows when desired with the knowledge that the windows can be safely stored in the vehicle. The owner does not have to guess whether the windows will be needed or not. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a special container embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a partial rear perspective view of the special container embodying the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a special container  10  for storing land vehicle soft top windows, in particular for storing the windows for a Jeep Wrangler®. Container  10  comprises a top unit  12  which has a central body  14 . Central body  14  includes a first end edge  16 , a second end edge  18 , and a length dimension  20  extending between the first end edge  16  and the second end edge  18 . For a Jeep Wrangler®, the length dimension  20  is thirty-eight inches in order to accommodate the windows there. Central body  14  further includes a first side edge  22 , a second side edge  24 , and a width dimension  26  extending between the first side edge  22  and the second side edge  24 . The width dimension  26  for a Jeep Wrangler® is thirty-five inches in order to accommodate the windows thereof. The central body  14  of the top unit  12  further includes an inner surface  30 , an outer surface  32  and a padded lining  34  on the inner surface  30 . 
     A first end wall  36  of the top unit  12  has a proximal side edge  38  fixed to the first end edge  16  of the central body  14 , a distal side edge  40  spaced apart from the first end edge  16  of the central body  14 , a first end edge  42  and a second end edge  44 . The first end wall  36  of the top unit  12  has an interior surface  46  and an exterior surface  48 , and padding  50  is fixed to the interior surface  46  of the first end wall  36  of the top unit  12 . A second end wall  54  has a proximal side edge  56  fixed to the second end edge  18  of the central body  14 , a distal side edge  58  spaced apart from the second end edge  18  of the central body  14 , a first end edge  60  and a second end edge  62 . The second end wall  54  of the top unit  12  has an interior surface  64 , an exterior surface  66 , and padding  68  located on the interior surface  64  of the second end wall  54  of the top unit  12 . 
     A first side wall  70  has a proximal side edge  72  fixed to the first side edge  22  of the central body  14 , a distal side edge  74  spaced apart from the first side edge  22  of the central body  14 , a first end edge  76 , and a second end edge  78 . First end edge  76  of the first side wall  70  abuts first end edge  42  of the first end wall  36  and second end edge  78  of first side wall  70  abuts first end edge  60  of the second end wall  54 . First side wall  70  of top unit  12  has an interior surface  80 , an exterior surface  82 , and padding  84  located on the interior surface  80  of the first side wall  70  of the top unit  12 . 
     A second side wall  90  has a proximal side edge  92  fixed to the second side edge  24  of the central body  14 , a distal side edge  94  spaced apart from the second side edge  24  of the central body  14 , a first end edge  96  and a second end edge  98 . First end edge  96  of the second side wall  90  abuts second end edge  44  of the first end wall  36  and second end edge  98  of the second side wall  90  abuts second end edge  62  of the second end wall  54 . The second side wall  90  of the top unit  12  has an interior surface  100 , an exterior surface  102  and padding  104  located on the interior surface  100  of the second side wall  90  of the top unit  12 . 
     As can be understood from the figures, the distal end edges of the first side wall  70 , the second side wall  90 , the first end wall  36 , and the second end wall  54  of the top unit  12  are all coplanar with each other. 
     The top unit  12  further includes a first cutout area  110  and second cutout area  112  defined through the central body  14  adjacent to the second end edge  18  of the central body  14 . The first and second cutout areas  110 ,  112  are identical to each other. Each cutout area  110 ,  112  includes a first side edge  114  and a second side edge  116 , with the first and second side edges  114 ,  116  of the cutout areas  110 ,  112  being oriented parallel to each other and parallel to the first and second side edges  22 ,  24  of the central body  14  of the top unit  12 . The first side edge  114  of the first cutout area  110  is located adjacent to the first side edge  22  of the central body  14  of the top unit  12  and the second side edge  116  of the second cutout area  112  is located adjacent to the second side edge  24  of the central body  14  of the top unit  12 . Each cutout area  110 ,  112  further includes a first end edge  120  and a second end edge  122 . The first end edges  120  of the cutout areas  110 ,  112  are collinear with each other and parallel to the first and second end edges  16 ,  18  of the central body  14  of the top unit  12 , the second end edges  122  of the cutout areas  110 ,  112  are collinear with each other and parallel to the first and second end edges  16 ,  18  of the central body  14  of the top unit  12 . The first end edges  120  of the first and second cutouts  110 ,  112  are located adjacent to the second end edge  18  of the central body  14  of the top unit  12 . 
     Each cutout area  110 ,  112  has a width dimension  126  extending in the direction of the width dimension  26  of the central body  14  of the top unit  12  and extends between the first side edge  114  of each cutout area  110 ,  112  and the second side edge  116  of each cutout area  110 ,  112 . Each cutout area  110 ,  112  further has a length dimension  128  which extends in the direction of the length dimension  20  of the central body  14  of the top unit  12  and which extends between the first end edge  120  of each cutout area  110 ,  112  and the second end edge  122  of each cutout area  110 ,  112 . The cutout areas  110 ,  112  are spaced apart from each other so that the second side edge  116  of the first cutout area  110  is spaced apart from the first side edge  114  of the second cutout area  112  measured in the direction of the width dimension  26  of the central body  14  of the top unit  12  in order to accommodate the seat anchors which, for a Jeep Wrangler®, is a distance of twenty-two inches. For a Jeep Wrangler®, each cutout area  110 ,  112  has a length dimension  128  of two inches and a width dimension  126  of two inches in order to accommodate the seat anchors in the rear seat. 
     The container  10  further includes a bottom unit  150  which includes a central body  152 . Central body  152  includes a first end edge  154 , a second end edge  156 , a length dimension  158  which extends between the first end edge  154  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150  and the second end edge  156  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150 . The length dimension of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150  is equal to the length dimension  20  of the central body  14  of the top unit  12 . The central body  152  of the bottom unit  150  further includes a first side edge  160 , a second side edge  162 , and a width dimension  164  which extends between the first side edge  160  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150  and the second side edge  162  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150 . The width dimension of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150  is equal to the width dimension  26  of the central body  14  of the top unit  12 . 
     The central body  152  of the bottom unit  150  further includes an inner surface  170  and an outer surface  172 . A padded lining  174  is located on the inner surface  170  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150 . The bottom unit  150  further includes a first end wall  176  with a proximal side edge  178  fixed to the first end edge  154  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150  and a distal side edge  180  spaced apart from the first end edge  154  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150 . The first end wall  176  further includes a first end edge  182  and a second end edge  184 . First end wall  176  of the bottom unit  150  has an interior surface  186 , an exterior surface  188 , and padding  190  on the interior surface  186  of the first end wall  176  of the bottom unit  150 . 
     The bottom unit  150  further includes a second end wall  200 . The bottom unit  150  has a proximal side edge  202  fixed to the second end edge  156  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150 , a distal side edge  204  spaced apart from the second end edge  156  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150 , a first end edge  206  and a second end edge  208 . The second end wall  200  of the bottom unit  150  has an interior surface  210 , an exterior surface  212 , and padding  214  located on the interior surface  210  of the second end wall  200  of the bottom unit  150 . 
     The bottom unit  150  further includes a first side wall  220  that has a proximal side edge  222  fixed to the first side edge  160  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150  and a distal side edge  224  spaced apart from the first side edge  160  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150 . First side wall  220  has a first end edge  226  and a second end edge  228 . First end edge  226  of the first side wall  220  of the bottom unit  150  abuts first end edge  182  of the first end wall  176  of the bottom unit  150  and second end edge  228  of first side wall  220  of the bottom unit  150  abuts first end edge  206  of the second end wall  200  of the bottom unit  150 . The first side wall  220  of the bottom unit  150  has an interior surface  230 , an exterior surface  232 , and padding  234  located on the interior surface  230  of the first side wall  220  of the bottom unit  150 . 
     The bottom unit  150  further includes a second side wall  250  which has a proximal side edge  252  fixed to the second side edge  162  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150 , a distal side edge  254  spaced apart from the second side edge  162  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150 , a first end edge  256 , and a second end edge  258 . First end edge  256  of the second side wall  250  of the bottom unit  150  abuts second end edge  184  of the first end wall  176  of the bottom unit  150 , and second end edge  258  of the second side wall  250  abuts second end edge  208  of the second end wall  200  of the bottom unit  150 . The second side wall  250  of the bottom unit  150  has an interior surface  260 , an exterior surface  262 , and padding  264  located on the interior surface  260  of the second side wall  250  of the bottom unit  150 . 
     The distal end edges of the first side wall  220  of the bottom unit  150 , the second side wall  250  of the bottom unit  150 , the first end wall  176  of the bottom unit  150  and the second end wall  200  of the bottom unit  176  are all coplanar with each other. 
     Container  10  further includes a hinge unit  270  which includes three identical hinges  272  which connect the distal side edge  58  of the second end wall  54  of the top unit  12  to the distal side edge  204  of the second end wall  200  of the bottom unit  150 . The three hinges  272  are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the width dimension  26  of the top unit  12 . 
     Container  10  further includes a lock unit  280  which includes two identical locks  282  which connect the distal side edge  40  of the first end wall  36  of the top unit  12  to the distal side edge  180  of the first end wall  176  of the bottom unit  150  when the locks  282  are engaged. The top and bottom units  12 ,  150  can be moved away from each other to open the container  10 . 
     An interior volume  290  is defined by the interior surface  30  of the central body  14  of the top unit  12 , the interior surface  46  of the first end wall  36  of the top unit  12 , the interior surface  64  of the second end wall  54  of the top unit  12 , the interior surface  80  of the first side wall  70  of the top unit  12 , the interior surface  100  of the second side wall  90  of the top unit  12 , the interior surface  170  of the central body  152  of the bottom unit  150 , the interior surface  186  of the first end wall  176  of the bottom unit  150 , the interior surface  210  of the second end wall  200  of the bottom unit  150 , the interior surface  230  of the first side wall  220  of the bottom unit  150 , the interior surface  260  of the second side wall  250  of the bottom unit  150 , when the top unit  12  and the bottom unit  150  are in abutting contact with each other. The windows of the vehicle are stored in interior volume  290 . 
     A plurality of dividing panels, such as dividing panel  294  which is schematically shown in FIG. 2, are located in the interior volume  290 . Several dividing panels  294  can be used and each dividing panel  294  is placed between two adjacent windows to prevent the windows from scratching each other. Each of the dividing panels  294  has a width dimension essentially equal to the width dimension  26  of the top unit  12  and a length dimension essentially equal to the length dimension  20  of the top unit  12 . The panels  294  are formed of material that is similar to the padding and is of the type that will not scratch the windows when the windows are stored in the container  10 . The padding also protects the stored windows from being scratched by the container  10  and by other elements, including other windows, during storage. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.