Storage of items

The method of temporarily storing items below a fixed position support by providing a container for the storage of items and strapping the container to the support below its lower surface with a strap that is narrower than the container and extends over the support from a connector on one side of the container to a connector on the opposite side of the container, with an upper surface of the container in contact with a lower surface of the support to permit the container with stored items to be held against a lower surface of the support and elevated above a ground or floor surface to avoid contact with dirt, debris or moisture that may be upon the floor or the ground; when the support is an occupied seat, a retractable cord extending from the occupant to the container can provide a reminder that items are in temporary storage below the seat, so that when the occupant decides to leave the vicinity of the seat, a pull is exerted by the cord against the occupant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to the storage of items and more particularly to the 
temporary storage of items below a seat or chair. 
The ordinary seat or chair does not have any provision for the storage of 
items. As a result, ordinary items that accompany a person must be placed 
either below the seat in a disarrayed condition or occupy a separate 
parcel package that often does not fit under the seat, particularly in 
congested locations such as a movie theater or stadium. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to facilitate the storage of 
miscellaneous items, particularly those that are not already enclosed in a 
container. A further object is to facilitate the storage items such as 
pocketbooks, glasses and the like which accompany the user to various 
social and athletic functions. 
Another object of the invention is to take advantage of the storage area 
that is provided below the seat of a user, but is not intended for 
permanent storage and has no regular provision for storage. 
Another object of the invention is to store items in such a way that they 
do not interfere with passageways, neighboring seats and the like. 
A still further object of the invention is to provide for the storage of 
miscellaneous items at social and athletic functions in a way that does 
not lead to contamination or confusion. At athletic and social functions 
beverages and food items are circulated among patrons and there can be 
inadvertent spillage upon items of personal property. 
In addition, in many stadiums and convention halls the regions below chairs 
or seats are occupied by debris, or may have an accumulation of dirt that 
could have an adverse effect on items in storage. 
Another problem that confronts the attendee at athletic and social events 
is that an item placed under or beside a seat can be forgotten after the 
event has concluded. 
Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to guard against the 
inadvertent failure to retrieve items that are temporarily placed under or 
beside the seat at an athletic or social event. 
While the concept of underneath storage is known, the known art has a 
number of disadvantages. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,527 830 which issued to 
Robert A. Meyers on Jul. 9, 1985 discloses a storage compartment of fixed 
size with a seat as an integral part of the storage unit. 
Such a unit is not adaptable to a general subseat storage because the 
storage compartment can be accomodated only by a sub-seat space having 
prescribed dimensions. In addition, the device duplicates the seat and 
thus does not have the flexibility that is needed. In particular, there is 
no way to adjust the storage unit to the space available below an ordinary 
seat or chair. In effect, there is no more than the combination of a 
suitcase-like device to which there is a hinged member that serves as a 
back. 
Accordingly, it is a further object of the invention to overcome the 
difficulties and the shortcomings that are associated with storage devices 
of the kind exemplified by the prior art. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects the invention provides a 
method of temporarily storing items below the lower surface of a support 
by providing a container for the storage of the items and strapping the 
container to the support below the lower surface. The container desireably 
has flexible walls to economize upon the storage and handling of the 
container before it is placed in use and further provide flexibility for 
the storage of a large number of items, with a capability for expansion of 
the container. The container advantageously is fabricated from a flexible 
and expandable material to provide a storage unit of relatively small 
scale and volume until items are intended to be stored, and thereafter 
permit the expansion of the container to accommodate a wide variety of 
items. 
In accordance with one aspect of the method the container is strapped to 
the support with the upper container surface in intimate contact with the 
lower surface of the support. This permits the storage container to be 
held against the lower surface of the support and above ground or floor to 
avoid contact of the container and thus guard against the attraction of 
dirt or debris from the floor and also guard against inadvertent contact 
with moisture that may be spilled upon the floor or ground. 
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention the container has a 
reclosable opening that is positioned against the lower surface of the 
support. This provides security against the unauthorized opening of the 
container while the owner is at an athletic or social event and the 
container is in storage position. 
In accordance with another aspect of the invention the strapping is 
adjustable and can be retractable. This facilitates the attachment of said 
container to the underside of said support and simultaneously provides a 
capability for the rapid release of the strapping to facilitate the 
removal of the container from below the support. 
In accordance with a further aspect of the method, a connector is provided 
between the user and the container positioned below the support. This 
serves to remind the user that the container is in storage position and 
guard against the inadvertent departure of the user from the stadium or 
social event without retrieving the container and the stored items. The 
connection can be formed by a retractable cord that is attached to the 
user at one end and to the container at the other end. 
In storing items below a support having upper and lower surfaces, the 
invention provides a container for items to be stored, and means for 
strapping the container to the support below its lower surface. The 
support can take the form of a retractable seat of the kind found in movie 
theaters and sport stadiums. The container is strapped to the seat, either 
in its up-right folded position or in its downward position. A suitable 
container is a flexible bag with retention rings at opposite ends of the 
surface that contacts the support. This provides a facility for strapping 
the container to the support and also provides a retention device by which 
the container can be carried on the shoulder or by hand. A removable strap 
for securing the container to the support extends from one edge of the 
container to an opposite edge. The strap can be retractable. 
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention the strap 
includes a snap-fit buckle. In addition, the container includes a 
reclosable opening on an upper surface below the strap by which the 
container is afixed to a support. The reclosable opening can be provided 
by a zipper that extends along the strap by which the container is 
temporarily fixed to the support. 
In accordance with apparatus for reminding a user that an object or other 
item has been placed temporarily in a storage position, a connector is 
provided that is capable of extending from the user to the item that is 
temporarily stored. The connector desireably is retractable either to the 
stored item or to the body of the user. The connector can be a retractable 
cord that is extendable from a housing, on either the stored unit or the 
user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
With reference to the drawings, a perspective view showing a typical seat S 
in a stadium, or public arena, is illustrated in FIG. 1. The seat S is may 
be pushed downwardly from its retracted rest position to afford a rest 
position for the user U. Typically this is accomplished by simply pressing 
down at the forward edge of the seat allowing the user U then to sit on 
the seat and hold it in its downward extended position. 
In addition, as shown in FIG. 1 the seat S has positioned on its underside, 
a flexible and temporary storage compartment C in accordance with the 
invention. The temporary storage compartment C is strapped to the seat S 
by an elongated adjustable strap, for example, of nylon. The ways in which 
the adjustments can be made in the strap are described in further detail 
below. In FIG. 1 the strap has been tightened so that the upper surface of 
the flexible and temporary storage compartment C is positioned against the 
lower surface of the seat S. 
Because of the contact of the upper part of the temporary storage 
compartment C with the lower portion of the seat S, the temporary storage 
compartment C is elevated above the floor associated with the seating 
structure. As a result, there is no contact of the temporary storage 
compartment C with dirt and debris or other refuse that might be on the 
floor in the vicinity of the user U. 
As seen in FIG. 1, an elastic or retractable cord K interconnects the user 
U with the temporary storage compartment C. 
When the user U rises from the seat S, as shown in FIG. 2, the elastic or 
retractable cord extends. When the limit of extension is reached, there is 
a gentle tug on the user U that serves as a reminder that a temporary 
storage compartment C is located beneath the seat S. 
A further view of the temporary storage container C is shown in FIG. 3A. As 
indicated, the temporary storage container C is made of flexible material 
so that it can be easily folded or compressed to occupy a limited amount 
of space until it is ready for usage. 
In addition, as shown in FIG. 3B, a set of feet F is provided at the lower 
corners of the compartment C to provide a separation between ground 
surface and the base of the compartment C before the compartment C has 
been strapped into position beneath a seat S. To accomodate those 
situations where it is desired to leave a space between the lower portion 
of the seat S and the storage container C, the strap P is adjusted 
accordingly. The slack or the space that is provided between the lower 
surface of the seat S and the upper surface of the storage container C can 
be used for other purposes. For example, this space can be occupied by 
periodicals or even by articles of clothing and other items that may be 
too large to fit into the storage container C. Because the strapping P is 
adjustable, once the space between the container C and the seat S is 
filled as desired, the strapping P can be tightened to securely position 
the retained items against the lower surface of the seat S. 
As seen in FIG. 3A, entry into the storage compartment C is by way of a 
reclosable member M. This reclosable member M is on the upper surface of 
the storage compartment C so that when the strap P is tightened, with the 
storage compartment C securely positioned against the lower surface of the 
seat S, unauthorized access to the interior of the storage compartment C 
is not possible. 
A convenient reclosable member M for sealing the compartment is a zipper. 
However, other forms of closure may be used as well, such as those 
provided by VELCRO tape. 
With respect to the strapping P itself, it can be made adjustable by being 
formed from a belt of nylon that is inserted into rings R at opposite 
edges of the storage compartment C with the parts that extend through the 
rings R, foldable upon each other and sealable, for example, by material 
such as VELCRO fastener (not shown). Alternatively, the adjustable strap P 
may be seat-belt-like in construction, with a buckle that is inserted into 
one of the rings. When a release mechanism on such a buckle is depressed, 
the tongue can retract towards a spring loaded housing which may be 
attached at the opposite end of the storage compartment C, in the vicinity 
of the ring R that ordinarily would be used to retain the strap P. The 
strap S is adjustable in conventional fashion using, for example an 
adjusting buckle. 
The temporary storage compartment may be fabricated from a fabric bag with 
a stiff insert. Other suitable components include an adjustable strap, a 
retractable cord, a rewinding spring mechanism and a zipper, springs and 
clips. 
The retraction feature and the spring-loaded housing are shown in FIG. 3B 
at the end of the cord K, and at the end of the strap P. The mechanism for 
the housing is detailed in the cited prior art of Wood U.S. Pat. No. 
3,982,613 (issued Sep. 28, 1976) "Retractable Pull Strap" and Tuttle U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,198,300 (issued Apr. 3, 1965) "Handle Having Retractable 
Strap". 
The invention includes the method of temporarily storing items below a 
support having an outwardly extending axis and a side or transverse axis, 
with a lower surface spaced from an upper surface. The steps include (a) 
providing a container for the storage of the items; and (b) strapping the 
container to the support below the lower surface by a strap that is 
narrower than either the length of the outwardly extending axis or the 
transverse axis of the support and extends over the upper surface at an 
angle with respect to the outwardly extending axis of the support. 
In accordance with one aspect of the method, the container has flexible 
walls, the support is a seat for supporting the weight of a user and the 
angle between the extension of the strap and the outwardly extending axis 
of the support exceeds zero degrees to economize upon the storage and the 
handling of the container before it is placed in use, and further to 
provide flexibility for the storage of a large number of items and provide 
a capability for expansion of the container. The container can be 
fabricated from a flexible and expandable material and the angle between 
the strap and the outwardly extending axis of the support is about ninety 
degrees. This provides a storage unit of relatively small scale and volume 
until items are intended to be stored and thereafter permits the expansion 
of the container to accomodate a wide variety of items. 
The method also provides that the container is strapped to the support by 
extending the strap over one side of the container, over the support and 
then to a connector on the opposite side of the container, with the upper 
surface of the container in intimate contact with the .lower surface of 
the support to permit the storage container to be held against the lower 
surface of the support and elevated above the ground surface to avoid 
contact of the container with the ground or floor and thus guard against 
the attraction of dirt or debris from the floor and also to guard against 
inadvertent contact with moisture that may be spilled upon the floor or 
the ground. 
In accordance with the method, the container can have a reclosable opening 
completely surrounded by an within a container wall that is completely 
positioned against the lower surface of the support to provide security 
against the unauthorized opening of the container while the user is 
occupied at an athletic or social event and the container is in storage 
position. The strapping can be adjustable and is retractable after being 
connected to the container to draw the container spontaneously against the 
support. This is to facilitate the attachment of the container to the 
underside of the support and simultaneously provide a capability for the 
rapid release of the strapping to facilitate the removal of the container 
from below the support. 
A connector can be provided between the wearing apparel of the user and the 
container positioned below the support, so that when the user moves away 
from the container the connector provides a tug on the user. This is to 
remind the user that the container is in storage position and guard 
against the inadvertent departure of the user from the stadium or social 
event without retrieving the container and the stored items. 
The connection can be formed by a retractable cord that extends from a 
housing attached to the user at one end and is temporarily attached to the 
container at the other end. 
In apparatus for storing items below a single support having upper and 
lower surfaces, a container for items to be stored is provided along with 
means for strapping the container below the lower surface of the support 
by a strap having a width narrower than that of the support and extending 
over the support. The support can be a retractable seat of the kind found 
in movie theaters and stadia, and the container is strapped to the seat by 
positioning the container against the seat and extending the strapping 
means from one side of the container over the seat and connecting said 
strapping means to the container, either when the seat is in its up-right 
folded position or in its downward position ready to receive the weight of 
the person who is to occupy the seat. 
The container can be a flexible bag with a linear reclosable opening. The 
container can have a surface with retention rings at opposite ends of the 
surface for contacting the support with the reclosable opening against the 
support to provide a facility for strapping the container to the support 
and also provide a retention device by which the container can be carried 
on the shoulder or by hand by the user. 
The strapping can be a narrow removable strap for securing the container to 
the support and extending from one edge of the container to an opposite 
edge of the container. The strapping can be retractable from one side of 
the container to an opposite side. The strapping can include a snap-fit 
buckle. 
The container also can include a reclosable opening on an upper surface of 
the container directly below the strapping by which the container is 
affixed to the support. The reclosable opening can be provided by a zipper 
that extends along and faces the strap by which the container is 
temporarily fixed to a support. 
In apparatus for reminding a user that an object or other item has been 
placed temporarily in a storage position, a connector is used that is 
capable of extending, from within a housing on the body of the user, to 
the item that is temporarily stored, and means are provided for retracting 
the connector to the the body of the user. The connector can be a 
spring-loaded retractable cord that can be extended from a housing on the 
user to the opposite item. 
The bag can be constructed from a variety of fabrics, including a blend of 
fibers. A suitable blend material is nylon which has high abrasion 
resistance, washes easily and holds its shape well and does not stretch or 
shrink. In addition, nylon possess excellent wet-strength, dries quickly 
and is not attacked by mildew. 
Another suitable material is the fabric that is sold under the tradename 
"ACRILAN", which is an acrylonitile copolymer. Acrylics have the formula 
R.dbd.C.sub.3 H.sub.4 O.sub.2 -- and are obtained by the oxidation of 
acrolein, a pungent liquid formed as a decomposition product of glycerol 
and glycerides, C.sub.3 H.sub.4 O. Nitriles are organic cyanides, RCN, 
where "R" is as stated above. Polyacrylonitriles have outstanding 
resistance to sunlight, are not affected by mildew and not harmed by 
bleaches. In addition, they have suitable abrasion resistance, low 
absorption and dry rapidly. It also is resistant to wrinkling. 
While less suitable cotton or a cotton-blend also can be used. Cotton shows 
little or no deterioration with proper care. In general, any material is 
suitable that wears well, withstands high temperatures and is easily 
cleaned. Where it is desired to have a firm base for the container C, an 
insert of plastic or fiberboard may be used. 
Suitable plastics include polypropylene which has good flexural strength 
and is resistant to chemicals. Also suitable are styrenes such as "ABS", 
which is a tough, high-impact plastic with good chemical resistance, 
toughness and impact strength. In general, styrene plastics are derived 
from a yellowish aromatic liquid C.sub.6 H5.sub.o CH--CH.sub.2. 
Polyethylene may also be employed. This is a thermoplastic resin (C.sub.2 
H.sub.4).sub.n made my polymerization of ethylene to produce a translucent 
and light-weight material. Although polyethylene is generally softer and 
more flexible than polypropylene it can be made hard and rigid. A further 
material is polyvinylchloride which is either rigid or flexible, with 
electrical resistance, outdoor stability and resistance to moisture. 
The base may be "fiberboard" which is a composite of wood fibers, sawdust 
and chips, together with vegetable matter and fillers. The composite is 
pressed into individual boards. A similar material is plywood which is 
fiberboard bounded by thin layers of wood. 
In addition to nylon, the strapping P may be of polyester which is a 
polymeric resin formed by condensing polyhydric alcohols with dibasic 
acids. Other plastic resins such as polypropylene may be used. Nylon, 
which is a hexamide containing the CO--NH.sub.2 radical, is a particularly 
strong having test strengths of 4,000 to 10,000 pounds. Nylon straps will 
not shrink or deteriorate and are impervious to oil, gasoline and other 
chemicals. Polypropylene strapping has strength, versatility and is 
impervious to moisture and common chemicals. 
In general, any seat may be used for the practice of the invention, whether 
the seat has fixed legs or is retractable as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 above. 
No matter what its type, the seat serves to provide a suitable space 
between a floor or ground surface for affixation of a temporary storage 
compartment in accordance with the invention.