Abstract:
A cargo restraint and storage device is provided for restraining and storing cargo items placed onto a front passenger seat of a vehicle, thereby restraining the cargo items from flying out of the passenger seat or shifting dangerously when a vehicle is in motion, particularly in a sudden stop or a sharp turn. In one embodiment, a cargo restraint and storage device includes a piece of flexible material having an opening for receiving at least a portion of a seat back section of a front passenger seat. The piece of flexible material has a plurality of pockets with different shapes and sizes for storing varying shapes and sizes of cargo items, thereby restraining the cargo items from flying out of the front passenger seat when a vehicle is in motion, and being accessible to a driver of the vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     The present utility patent application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/491,714, filed Aug. 1, 2003; subject matter of which is incorporated herewith by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention generally relates to a cargo restraint and storage device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cargo restraint and storage device which is configured and arranged to and removable from a support structure readily accessible to a driver of a moving vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     An empty passenger seat in a vehicle is often used as a place to temporarily place or store cargo for a driver which may be required in the course of travel. In the past, when a moving vehicle is required to make a sudden stop or turn sharply, the laws of momentum, gravity, and/or centrifugal force cause the cargo loosely placed or stored on the seat to shift suddenly, being thrown to the floor or side(s) of the seat. The driver of the moving vehicle usually reaches over, instinctively, to catch the shifting cargo as the usual means of restraining it, creating a dangerous traffic hazard.  
         [0004]     Passenger seat cargo restraints are known which offer restraint and storage of smaller items, but they usually do not offer adequate space for relatively larger cargo items, such as a woman&#39;s purse, an oversized water bottle, office files, etc., for example, “Vehicle Backseat Organizer” as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 419,520 by James Allen Bergh or U.S. Pat. No. 1,653,246, issued on Dec. 20, 1927. Other known seat cargo restraint and storage devices employ strap and buckle mechanisms which make it more complicated and inconvenient to remove the devices from a passenger seat when the devices are not needed, for example, “The Seat Caddy” device by Lewis N. Clark Model 8824. Also, many known cargo restraint and storage devices are made of a hard material which must be removed before a passenger can utilize the passenger seat for travel, for example, the “Spillmaster” device by Hopkins Manufacturer as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,032. In addition, some known cargo stowage devices require retaining buttons or fixed objects integral with a vehicle, for example, the devices as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,562 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,004 (Re. 36,345). No device is known which would safely restrain larger temporary cargo, such as a woman&#39;s purse, onto a passenger seat, particularly a freestanding, bucket-type passenger seat, in a moving vehicle by means of a soft, flexible material with tensile support at the top and bottom horizontal edges, would provide simple implementation and removal, or would adapt itself easily to a passenger utilizing the passenger seat without the device being removed, particularly when most cargos are emptied from the device.  
         [0005]     Therefore, there is a need for an improved cargo restraint and storage device which safely restrains cargo on a passenger seat.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides an improved cargo restraint and storage device which safely restrains and stores a cargo item placed onto a front passenger seat.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment, the present invention provides an improved device for use in safely restraining and storing larger cargo items placed onto a free-standing, bucket-type passenger seat, thereby restraining stored/restrained cargo items from flying out of the passenger seat or shifting dangerously when a vehicle is in motion, particularly a sudden stop or a sharp turn.  
         [0008]     In one embodiment, a cargo restraint and storage device, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, is configured and arranged to slide over and onto a free-standing, bucket-type passenger seat. The passenger seat has a seat section and a seat back section. The cargo restraint and storage device is configured and arranged to slide over and onto the seat back section of the passenger seat. A user can pull the bottom edge of the device down over the seat back section until the device is placed around the seat back section. The device is circumferentially in place onto the seat back section of a free-standing, bucket-type passenger seat.  
         [0009]     In one embodiment, a cargo restraint and storage device, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, is made of a flexible material in a simple and inexpensive construction. Accordingly, a passenger is able to sit or lean back on the seat back section comfortably, particularly when cargo items are emptied from the device. Also, the device can easily be put in place and removed from the seat back section.  
         [0010]     The term “flexible material” used in the present invention generally refers to as a soft textile material or equivalent or suitable materials thereof, for example, a fabric material. In one embodiment of the present invention, the flexible material is a soft, lightweight, fabric material, Other exemplary materials can be, but not limited to, plastic flat structures or netting. Such soft, flexible, lightweight material can also be transported easily. The term “lightweight” used in the present invention generally refers to as a type of material that is suitable for being easily transported, for example, 8.5 oz or less, etc.  
         [0011]     The present invention also provides a method of restraining and storing cargo items in a cargo restraint and storage device to prevent cargo items from flying out of a passenger seat or shifting dangerously when a vehicle is in motion, particularly in a sudden stop or a sharp turn.  
         [0012]     Thus, one of the advantages of the present invention is that the device provides strength and restraint of varying shapes and sizes of cargo items onto a support structure, such as a front passenger seat of a vehicle.  
         [0013]     Another advantage of the present invention is that the device allows safe, quick and easy access to a cargo item while driving.  
         [0014]     A further advantage of the present invention is that the device can be left in place when a passenger uses the front passenger seat.  
         [0015]     The foregoing features and/or advantages can be accomplished by providing a cargo restraint and storage device, in one embodiment, having a wall-shaped piece of fabric with an elasticized opening section at the top of the device which is stretchable horizontally, and an elasticized opening section at the bottom of the device which is also stretchable horizontally. The piece of fabric has a longitudinal opening extending from the top of the device to the bottom of the device. The device pulls over or wraps around and abuts a support structure, such as a back-rest or seat back section of a typical free-standing, bucket-type seat, and is held in place against the support structure with tensile stress.  
         [0016]     In one embodiment, a user pulls the device over the support structure by manually stretching a bottom edge of the device and pulling the device down onto the support structure along the longitudinal opening of the device. When the user releases the bottom edge of the device, the tensile stress helps tighten the device onto the support structure. The cargo items, such as a purse, files, water bottle, cell phones, PDA devices, note pads, pens/pencils, etc., can be stored in various pockets of the device. The cargo items within the pockets are thus restrained from flying out and/or shifting dangerously when a vehicle makes a sudden stop or sharp turn.  
         [0017]     In one embodiment, the various pockets can be in different sizes located on the outside body of the device. The locations of the pockets can be varied. In one embodiment, the pockets can be designed to be open on the same horizontal top side. The pockets can be constructed of textile, plastic, netting, or a cold/heat retaining material.  
         [0018]     Variations of the device include proportionately larger pieces of material to create a device which would accommodate various sized (circumferentially) seat-back of the support structure.  
         [0019]     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein it is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention, including best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cargo restraint and storage device in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cargo restraint and storage device having a wall-shaped piece of material forming a longitudinal opening for sliding over and onto a support structure, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3   a  is an elevation view of an interior side of a flattened wall-shaped piece of material of  FIG. 2  showing horizontally stretchable top and bottom edges, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3   b  is a partial view of a folded-over seam allowance at one corner of the material of  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0024]      FIG. 3   c  is a partial view of an elastic being sewn into the folded-over seam allowance at one corner of the material of  FIG. 3   b.    
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of an exterior side of a flattened wall-shaped piece of material showing fabric gathering lines of one embodiment of the cargo restraint and storage device, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view of an interior side of the wall-shaped piece of material showing a joining seam of one embodiment of the cargo restraint and storage device, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a cargo restraint and storage device  100  that can be slid over and onto a support structure, such as a seat back section  102  of a free-standing, bucket-type passenger seat  104  of a vehicle  106 . Cargo items  108  can be stored in various pockets  110  that are disposed on an outside wall  112  of the device  100 . The cargo items  108  are restrained in the pockets  110  and refrained from flying out of the passenger seat  104  or shifting dangerously when the vehicle  106  is in motion, particularly in a sudden stop or a sharp turn. The cargo items  108  may include, but not limited to, a purse, file, paper, bottle, cell phone, PDA device, note pad, pen/pencil, etc.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cargo restraint and storage device  100  is configured and arranged to slide over and onto the free-standing, bucket-type passenger seat  104 . The passenger seat  104  has a seat section  114  and the seat back section  102 . The seat section  114  and the seat back section  102  are pivotally attached to each other at a junction  116 . A user can pull the device  100  over the seat back section  102  until the device  100  is placed around the seat back section  102  proximate the seat section  114  at the junction  116 . Accordingly, the device  100  is circumferentially in place onto the seat back section  102  of the free-standing, bucket-type passenger seat  104 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of the cargo restraint and storage device  100  having a wall-shaped piece of material forming a longitudinal opening  118  for sliding over and onto a support structure, such as the seat back section  102  of the passenger seat  104  as shown in  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment, the cargo restraint and storage device  100  is made of a flexible material in a simple and inexpensive construction such that a passenger of the vehicle  106  is able to sit or lean back on the seat back section  102  comfortably, with or without the cargo items  108  being emptied from the device  100 . The device  100  can easily be put in place and removed from the seat back section  102  if desired.  
         [0030]     The flexible material of the device  100  may be made of a soft, flexible, lightweight textile, or any other suitable materials, such as plastic flat structures or netting. Such soft, flexible, lightweight material provides strength and restraint against the forward and sideways thrust of the cargo items contained therein, while offering the flexibility necessary to accommodate varying shapes and sizes of the cargo items. Further, the soft, flexible, lightweight material can be transported easily.  
         [0031]     In one embodiment, the device  100  is a wall-shaped piece of fabric with an elasticized opening section  120  at a top  122  of the device  100  which is stretchable horizontally, and an elasticized opening section  124  at a bottom  126  of the device  100  which is also stretchable horizontally. The fabric material is wrapped around and sewn along a joining seam  128  (see details below in  FIG. 5 ) which forms the longitudinal opening  118  extending from the top  122  of the device  100  to the bottom  126  of the device  100 . The device  100  can be wrapped around the passenger seat  104  and is held in place against the passenger seat  104  with tensile stress. Accordingly, a user pulls the device  100  over and onto the passenger seat  104  by manually stretching the bottom  126  of the device  100  and pulling the device  100  down onto the passenger seat  104  along the longitudinal opening  118  of the device  100 . When the user releases the bottom  126  of the device  100 , the tensile stress helps tighten the device  100  onto the passenger seat  104 .  
         [0032]     In  FIG. 2 , the various pockets  110  can be in different sizes located on the outside wall  112  of the device  100 . The locations of the pockets  110  can be varied. In one embodiment, the pockets  110  can be designed to be open on the same horizontal top side. The pockets  110  can be constructed of textile, plastic, netting, or a cold/heat retaining material.  
         [0033]     It will be appreciated that variations of the device  100  may include proportionately larger pieces of material to form the device which accommodates various sized (circumferentially) seat-back of a passenger seat.  
         [0034]     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device  100  is formed by a single length of fabric or netting (e.g. approximately 63″), as shown in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , and  3   c , with both top and bottom horizontal edges folded over (1.75″) and sewn in place using a ½″ seam allowance to form a housing  130  (of 1.25″) for a 1″ length of non-roll elastic  132  to be threaded therein. The elastic  132  is threaded into an opening of the housing  130  and completely through the housing  130  to match with edges of the fabric. Because the fabric length is greater than the length of the 1″ non-roll elastic  132  threaded therein, the result is that the fabric gathers along the length of the elastic  132  (see fabric gathering lines  136  in  FIG. 4 ). The fabric is then joined at the left and right vertical edges  150 , 152  and sewn from top to bottom forming a closed seam  128  and thus a tubular-shaped device  100 . The inside receiving/holding area, i.e. the longitudinal opening  118 , formed within the tubular device  100  by an interior wall  134 , can be adjusted by stretching the elastic  132  within the housing  130 . The tubular-shaped device  100  with an elasticized horizontal edge both at the top  122  and the bottom  126  is then slid over the seat back section  102  of the passenger seat  104  and positioned so that the bottom horizontal edge of the device  100  is touching the seat section  114  of the passenger seat  104  at the juncture  116  where the seat back section  102  connects to the seat section  114 . The holding area  118  can also be used to restrain and/or store a larger sized cargo item, such as a larger sized bottle, purse, etc.  
         [0035]     To implement the preferred embodiment of the device  100 , a fabric material is laid out with the reverse side of the material facing up, with the length, for example, approximately 63″, running horizontally as shown in  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0036]     Next, a top horizontal edge  138  and a bottom horizontal edge  140  are folded over, and the reverse side of the material touch reverse side of material approximately ½″. A bottom folded edge  142  forms a bottom edge of the housing  130 , and a top folded edge  144  forms a top edge of the housing  130 . The material is measured approximately 1½″ from the folded edges  142 ,  144  of the top and bottom horizontal edges  140 ,  138 , respectively, of the material and folded over reverse side to reverse side. The top housing  130  for the top elastic  132  is comprised of two folded horizontal edges  138 ,  144 . A bottom housing  130 ′ for a bottom elastic  132 ′ is comprised of two folded horizontal edges  140 ,  142 . A horizontal seam  146 ,  148  is sewn %″ from the edge  144 ,  142 , respectively, of the housing  130  permanently joining the material and creating the housing  130 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 3   c  shows a length of the elastic  132 , e.g. approximately 41″, threaded into the opening of the housing  130  and completely through the horizontal length of the housing  130  to match a vertical side of the elastic  132  with a vertical side of the housing  130  and temporarily secured in this position. The use of a length of the elastic  132  which is significantly shorter than the length of the housing  130  results in gathering lines  136  of material along the top and bottom horizontal edges  138 ,  140  of the device  100  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the vertical edge  150  of the material is then folded over to match with the vertical edge  152  of the material, and the seam  128  is sewn ½″ from the edge  138  at the top to the edge  140  at the bottom of the material securing the elastic  132  in the seam  128 .  
         [0038]     In  FIG. 5 , the device  100  is turned inside out to show a finished and joining seam  128  properly in place, thereby forming a single unit. The seam  128  forms the longitudinal opening  118  (in  FIG. 2 ) extending from the top  122  of the device  100  to the bottom  126  of the device  100 . The initial height (from the top horizontal edge to the bottom horizontal edge) of the device  100  is approximately 17″, and the finished height of the device  100  is approximately 13.5″. Accordingly, the device  100  can be wrapped around the passenger seat  104  and is held in place against the passenger seat  104  with tensile stress.  
         [0039]     From the above description and drawings, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the particular embodiments shown and described are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. References to details of particular embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.