Abstract:
A brightly colored semi-trapezoidal car trunk carrier tray made of plastic having a plurality of compartments some of which are adjustable in size by use of inclined insertable slats, some compartments having restraining modules for stabilizing the position of large or odd sized articles, spaced hangers on at least one side of the tray, a fastener and a recessed magnet on the bottom of the tray and sectionalizing the tray to make it smaller or larger.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a carrier tray for the trunk of a vehicle and is an improvement over applicant&#39;s Design Application No. 07/446716 filed on 12/6/89. 
     The tray is designed to store a variety of objects of different size and shape and the arrangement is such that the carrier tray is fastened to the floor of the trunk at any convenient location. 
     The prior art is replete with vehicular storage devices. For example a rigid compartmentalized cellular structure of metal for use in a truck is illustrated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,504,222. 3,473,680 teaches a tray fastened to the trunk cover of a car for clothes. U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,904 is illustrative of a tool and storage box located under the hood and affixed to the internal surface of a fender wheelcover. A similar design for an automobile is taught by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,660,880. 4,416,483 is another arrangement showing two triangular trays attached to an automobile cover for tools. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,303,367, and 4,540,213 are examples of containers fastened to vehicular floors designed for carrying shopping bags. U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,503 teaches an all purpose vehicle organizer which is attached to a vehicle seat using a hook and pile fastener. This organizer has a slidable upper tray and a lower tray, both having a plurality of fixed compartments for holding cans, drinking cups, coin, pens, cassettes, cigarettes, etc. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,747,959, and 2,985,333 are examples of compartmentalized trays having slats that are selectively insertable into grooves to adjust compartment spaces and U.S. Pat. No. 1,901,533 shows a receptacle having inclined partitions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a carrier tray to be fastened to the trunk floor of a vehicle which is designed to carry a variety of different type articles, none of which seem to have been contemplated by the prior art. For example, some of the articles are gallon jugs, a paper roll, cleaning fluids, oils, brake fluid, anti-freeze, spray paint, polish, as well as tools, a squeegee and an ice scraper. The arrangement is unique in that it has greater flexibility than car trays of the prior art. This is effectuated by providing inserts that can be selectively insertable at various positions to accommodate objects of different dimensions. There are also several fixed spaces for containing specific items such as gallon jugs. Such items are further secured by use of restraining modules that slide over fixed slats or rigid end walls at designated positions. To facilitate easy removal from the tray all items are arranged to fit into the tray in inclined position. Adjacent at least one side of the tray is arranged a pair of hangers to hold an ice scraper or squeegee or both. To facilitate portability on each end wall is an inclined extension that serves as a handle. The tray is of light weight, preferably of plastic material and of bright color or painted with a fluorescent dye or luminous paint so that in the event of car failure, particularly loss of electric power, the tray can be taken from the trunk and put on the roof of the car or the trunk door to serve as a beacon for oncoming vehicles. To this end a permanent magnet is placed in a recess at the bottom of the tray. The tray can be simply fastened to the fabric of the trunk floor by use of a strip of hook and loop pile fastener, glued to the bottom of the tray. In addition to using a strip of fastener, a plurality of adjustable bolts can be mounted in the front or rear of the tray, the same resting on the trunk floor. This addition is particularly useful in vehicles that have floors inclined from the back to the front or vice versa. While the tray is of compact design and takes up little space, in the event only a few items need be carried, the tray can be separated into sections to make it either narrower and/or shorter. By the sametoken the tray can be enlarged to make it wider and/or longer. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tray showing selectively insertable and fixed slats. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the tray showing its shape and having hangers mounted on the side wall. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tray showing the location of restrainer modules. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the modules and hangers. 
     FIG. 5 is a view showing sectioning of the tray both longitudinally and transversely. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The car carrier tray of this invention is a semi trapezoidal member 1 about 20 inches in length, 8 inches wide and 3 inches in depth. The tray comprises a inclined front wall 2 a vertical rear wall 3, vertical side walls 4 and a flat bottom 5. The material is preferably a plastic such as plexi-glass or any other thermosetting plastic and is tinted a bright color such as orange or coated with a luminous paint or fluorescent dye. A first divider 6 is arranged parallel to the side walls and extends from the inner side of the front wall to a second divider element 7 extending transversely between the side walls, being of greater thickness than the first divider and the respective walls and located some distance longitudinally of the rear wall. Fixed on the side walls and on each side of the first divider is a plurality of spaced inclined ribs 8 forming grooves 9 into which slats 10 can be selectively placed depending on the size of the item to be contained. The inclinations of the front wall and ribs are at the same angle. On one side of the first divider is a front pocket defined by an inclined fixed slat 11, a section of the inclined front wall and a section of one side wall. The inclined slat has a rectangular cutout made so as to produce a U with two straight legs 11a. The purpose of this cutout is to accommodate a fair size cylindrical item whose circumferential edge might extend beyond the fixed space of the defined pocket. In this region there are no spaced ribs on the divider. To the front wall section a restrainer module 12 can be removably attached. The module extends some height above the normal height of the tray and aids in securing and stabilizing large size cylindrical objects like a roll of paper. The module is a three sided cradle like piece having a reinforced front wall 13 and two side walls 14 inclined only at their lower ends from the front to rear. A rectangular plate 15 is attached inwardly to the lower end of the module front wall by a spacer strip 16 so that a slit is formed. The module can then slide down over the tray front wall wherein one of the side walls of the module rests on the tray side wall and the other rests on the divider. In the rear the transverse divider and the one side wall and a fixed slat 17 spaced laterally inwardly of the other side wall define a rear pocket. The floor of this pocket is reinforced by a inclined slat 18 extending parallel to the second divider between the one side wall and fixed slat 17. This slat is further braced by two slats 19 of the same height extending in parallel between the one side wall and fixed slat 17. These slats extend to the rear and intermediate their ends rise vertically upwardly and form an arc that joins the rear wall to which they are fastened. This pocket in conjunction with a restraining rear module 20 is designed to give support for large heavy gallon containers. Adjacent the rear pocket is a narrow compartment divided into sections by a fixed inclined slat 21. This slat is of greater height than the adjacent slat in the rear pocket and is parallel but not concurrent therewith. This sectioned compartment is designed for small objects like screws, nuts, bolts, spark plugs, feeler gauges, etc. The aforementioned restrainer module 20 is similar to the front restrainer module and is generally coincident therewith. However module 20 has side walls 21a longer than those of the front module and an inclined rear wall 22 with one side wall resting on the tray side wall and the other resting on the fixed slat 17. The inclined rear wall of this module has two paced rectangular plates 23 and 24 attached outwardly to the lower region of the inclined rear wall by a thickened spacer strip 25. Between the respective plates is a rectangular space so that when the module slides down over the second divider it can fit over the first divider without interference. Like in the front pocket there are no spaced ribs in this region. A third restrainer module 26 comprises a vertical wall 27 and outwardly angled side walls 28. As in the other modules to the rear of the vertical wall is attached a spacer strip 29 for mounting a plate 30 so that the module can selectively fit over one of the insertible slats on the side of the tray opposite the location of the other modules. This restrainer module is made to accommodate smaller cylindrical objects or odd sized containers. On one of the tray side walls 4 are positioned two spaced hangers 31. The hangers are channel-shaped having one angled leg 32 fitting on the inside of the sidewall and a longer and narrower leg 33 fitting on the exterior of the side wall. Attached to the lower edge of the longer leg is a an outwardly inclined plate 34 which forms a nook for carrying such items as squeegees or ice scrapers. To enable portability each end of the tray has a small downwardly inclined strip 35 that serves as a handle. In the tray bottom there is a small circular threaded recess 36 in which is placed a permanent magnet 37. Under normal traveling conditions this magnet is covered with a threaded disc 38 having a slight groove 39 that facilitates turning. In the event of car trouble while traveling at night and particularly with power failure, the tray can be lifted out of the trunk, the disc removed and the tray can be magnetically attached to the roof or the trunk door of the car. As mentioned earlier the bright color or the luminous paint can serve as a beacon for oncoming cars. Bonded also to the bottom of the tray is a strip of hook and pile material 40 for fastening the tray to the fabric of the trunk floor. Additionally 3 spaced holes might be drilled in the tray adjacent the front or rear wall to accommodate three bolts 41 whose ends could be fitted with skirts 42 so that the bolts could rest on the trunk floor. This option would be especially useful if as in some vehicles the trunk floor slopes from the rear to the front or vice versa. While the tray is of compact design and takes up little space, in the event that only a few items are to be carried, the tray can be sectioned both transversely and longitudinally. To make the tray narrower both front wall, rear wall and second divider can be sectioned on a line coincident with one set of ribs of the first divider. Each of the sectioned regions can be slotted and into one of the slots of each section an iron liner 43 can be inserted. In a corresponding aligned slot of the sectioned region a magnetic iron strip 44 can be inserted. To make the tray shorter the two side walls and the parallel fixed slat can be severed at the second divider. The same iron liner as above can be inserted into slots in respective severed ends of the side walls and corresponding magnets as above can be inserted into the other severed ends of the side walls. It is obvious that both longitudinally and transversely the sections will be magnetically held in place until an occasion might arise when a smaller tray would be desirable and accordingly the sections would be readily separated by breaking the magnetic bond at the point of juncture. Although not shown the tray could be enlarged both longitudinally and transversely by adding liners and magnetic strips at appropriate places. 
     In summary it is believed that a uniquely designed car carrier tray has been developed to accommodate a variety of articles not hitherto contemplated. Not only is there adjustability in the size of the compartments, but because of the inclination of the slats, there is ease of removal of a wanted item. The tray is of light weight and portable and also has use other than as a carrier, for example as a beacon. Finally the tray can be sectionalized so that only a few items need be carried or enlarged to increase the carrying capacity.