Abstract:
An embodiment provides a article carrying device that includes an inner panel and a generally rigid outer panel. The outer panel is defined in part by an upper edge and a lower edge. The inner panel is hingedly coupled to the back panel proximal to the lower edge. The outer panel is rotatable between a closed position wherein the inner panel and the outer panel are substantially coplanar and an open position wherein the outer panel is angled with respect to the inner panel. The device includes a stay member interconnecting the inner panel and the outer panel. The stay member is operable to retain the outer panel in the open position. The device further includes a flexible liner member coupled to the inner panel and the outer panel. The flexible liner member defines an arcuate article carrying surface therebetween when the outer panel is in the open position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to storage devices, and more particularly to storage devices within an automobile.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     A number of portable article carrying devices have been disclosed in the art. These devices have been designed and constructed for support of a myriad of items and for a plurality of applications. The items include beverages, books, newspapers, purses, and small personal items. The devices generally restrict the motion of an item with the conveyance thereof. It is not uncommon for such devices to have designs adapted specifically for a primary article support application. For example, shopping basket support assemblies have included configured plate assemblies adapted for interengaging the orthogonal frame basket members in a fashion facilitating stability of the configured plate.  
         [0003]     More recent developments include storage compartments in various locations of a vehicle. However, these locations may not be readily accessible to a user, or may interfere with other uses of the vehicle if the item is stored in a location of frequently used space. Many soft, delicate, or fragile items may be stored on an unused seat of a vehicle if unused space is available. Items such as purses or briefcases with decorative and/or easily marred surfaces may not be desirably stored on a floor or a seat of an automobile, since the items may move and collide with other items within the vehicle during normal vehicle operation. It may be an encumbrance for the operator to also deal with loose articles such as purses, laptops, sweaters, sunglasses, or infant care articles while riding in a vehicle.  
         [0004]     Additionally, many storage locations for items, such as handbags and/or briefcases, may include relatively hard projections that may mar or dent the surface of the item. These projections may damage the outer surface of the item by directing an undesired concentrated force on the item during acceleration events (starting, stopping, turning) while the vehicle is traveling. Furthermore, many potential storage locations for delicate items may be capable of supporting additional items, thereby encouraging one to place heavy or sharp items on or in contact with the delicate item.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, a need exists for a storage device within a vehicle that will provide a dedicated location for items such as handbags and briefcases, and/or permit delicate items to be segregated from other items.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     An embodiment provides an article carrying device that includes an inner panel and a generally rigid outer panel. The outer panel is defined in part by an upper edge and a lower edge. The inner panel is hingedly coupled to the back panel proximal to the lower edge. The outer panel is rotatable between a closed position wherein the inner panel and the outer panel are substantially coplanar and an open position wherein the outer panel is angled with respect to the inner panel. The device includes a stay member interconnecting the inner panel and the outer panel. The stay member is operable to retain the outer panel in the open position. The device further includes a flexible liner member coupled to the inner panel and the outer panel. The flexible liner member defines an arcuate article carrying surface therebetween when the outer panel is in the open position.  
         [0007]     Another illustrative embodiment includes a storage device for a vehicle seat having a seat outer surface portion. The device includes a body portion having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first edge, and a second edge. The device also includes a flexible inlay portion having a support surface, a bottom surface, proximal edge, a distal edge, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge. The device extends between the body portion and the seat outer surface portion. The inlay portion is coupled to a portion of the body portion and to the seat outer surface portion. The body portion is moveable between a first position, where at least a portion of the body portion is generally parallel to the seat outer surface portion, and a second position, where at least a portion of the inlay portion is selectively deformed into an arcuate support surface between the proximal edge and the distal edge.  
         [0008]     A further exemplary embodiment provides a support device for storing an article adjacent a selected surface portion. The support device includes a body portion having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first edge, a second edge. The body portion is moveable between a first position, where at least a portion of the upper edge positioned a first distance from the selected surface portion, and a second position, where the at least a portion of the upper edge is selectively positioned a second distance from the selected surface portion. The support device also includes a hinge portion rotatably coupling the body portion to the selected surface portion. The body portion is rotatable generally about the hinge portion. The support device further includes an inlay portion extending between the body portion and the selected surface portion. The inlay portion is coupled to a portion of the body portion and to the selected surface portion. The inlay portion is defined, at least in part, by a gripping surface portion. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Referring now to the drawings, preferred illustrative embodiments are shown in detail. Although the drawings represent some embodiments, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated, removed, or partially sectioned to better illustrate and explain the present invention. Further, the embodiments set forth herein are not intended to be exhaustive or otherwise limit or restrict the claims to the precise forms and positions shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detailed description.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a storage system.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a storage device.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the storage device of  FIG. 2  in an operational, or open, position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the storage device of  FIG. 2  in a stowed, or closed, position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a portion of the storage device of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a storage system.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a storage system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates an article holder storage system  20 . System  20  includes a seat  22  connected to a vehicle (not shown) by a seat frame  24 . Seat  22  includes a seat base  30 , a bolster  32 , and a seat back  36 . Seat base  30  may include trim panels  40  having an outer surface portion  42  that at least partially cover the seat frame  24 . System  20  further includes a support device  50 .  
         [0018]     Support device  50 , as illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 2-5 , includes an outer panel, or body portion,  52 , a hinge portion  54 , a stay member  56 , an inlay portion, or liner member  58 , and a latching portion  60 . Body portion  52  includes an upper edge  70  and a lower edge  72 , generally defining a height H therebetween (as best seen in  FIG. 5 ); a first edge  74  and a second edge  76 , generally defining a length L therebetween (also as best seen in  FIG. 5 ); an inner surface  78 ; and an outer surface  80 .  
         [0019]     As best seen in at least one of  FIGS. 2-5 , hinge portion  54  includes at least one hinge  88  that each include a mounting portion  90  rotatably coupled to a tab portion  92 . In one embodiment, hinge portion  54  includes a pair of hinges  88 . Mounting portion  90  is attached to the seat base  30  and tab portion  92  is attached to the body portion  52 . Hinge portion  54  permits body portion  52  to rotate relative to the seat base  30 .  
         [0020]     Inlay portion  58  is attached to and extends between the inner surface  78  and the outer surface portion  42 . Inlay portion  58  includes a generally planar, flexible body  98  defined by a proximal edge  100 , a distal edge  102 , a first lateral edge  104 , a second lateral edge  106 , a top, or support, surface  108 , and a bottom surface  110 . In the operational position of  FIG. 3 , at least a portion of body  98  is defined by an arcuate article carrying, or support, portion  116 , where at least a portion of top surface  108  is defined by an arcuate article carrying, or support, surface  118 . At least a portion of top surface  108  includes a gripping surface portion  120 . Proximal edge  100  is attached to the outer surface portion  42 . Distal edge  102  is attached to inner surface  78 .  
         [0021]     Stay member  56  includes a first end  130 , a second end  132 , a first surface  134 , and a second surface  136 . First end  130  of stay member  56  is attached to the inner surface  78  and second end  132  of stay member  56  is attached to the seat base  30 . Accordingly, the stay member  56  extends between the body portion  52  and the seat  22 .  
         [0022]     When the body portion  52  is in the operational position, the weight of the body portion  52  will generally retain the body portion  52  in the operational position, thus exerting a slight tensile force on the stay member  56 . Stay member  56  restricts rotation of the body portion  52  relative to the seat  22 . Preferably, the stay member  56  retains the body portion  52  at an angle α of between about 30 and 40 degrees relative to the outer surface portion  42 , although angle α may be any suitable acute angle.  
         [0023]     Preferably, stay member  56  is a flexible strap that folds when the body portion  52  is in a stowed position, ( FIG. 4 ) and resists a tensile force to retain the body portion  52  in a desired position when the support device  50  is in an operational position, ( FIG. 3 ). In the embodiment illustrated, a portion of the first surface  134  contacts another portion of the first surface  134 , when the stay member  56  is folded, as seen in  FIG. 4 . Alternatively, a portion of the second surface  136  contacts another portion of the second surface  136 .  
         [0024]     Latching portion  60  includes a handle  150 , a magnet  152 , and a magnetic recess  154  formed in the inner surface  78 . The magnet  152  is attracted to the magnetic recess  154  by a magnetic force. When the body portion  52  is in the stowed position, the magnet  152  is interposed in the magnetic recess  154 . The magnet  152  of latching portion  60  restrains the body portion  52  in about the stowed position until a user desires to move the body portion  52  relative to other components of the system  20 .  
         [0025]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the system  20  supports a storage item  160 . The storage item  160  has an item surface  166  that contacts the gripping surface portion  120  and/or the support surface  108  to retain the storage item  160  within the system  20  and to resist generally horizontal forces imposed on the storage item  160  during vehicle movement. In the stowed position, the upper edge  70  is positioned a first distance D 1  from the outer surface portion  42 , as best seen in  FIG. 4 . In the operational position, the upper edge  70  is positioned a second distance D 2  from the outer surface portion  42 , as best seen in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0026]     When the body portion  52  is in about the stowed position of  FIG. 4 , inlay portion  58  is folded such that at least one of the proximal edge  100  and the distal edge  102  selectively contacts a portion support surface  108 . Also when the body portion is in about the stowed position, the inlay portion is selectively folded such that a portion of the support surface  108  contacts another portion of the support surface  108 .  
         [0027]     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , inlay portion  58  is neither fully folded ( FIG. 4 ) nor fully unfolded when the device  50  is in the operational position. That is, the gripping surface portion  120  of inlay portion  58  forms an arcuate article carrying surface, or arcuate support surface, when the device  50  is in the operational position. Additionally, as an item, such as the storage item  160 , is placed into contact with the inlay portion  58 , the weight of the item, represented by the arrow W in  FIG. 3 , exerts a force F on the inlay portion  58 . The force F, which is the weight W of the item when the vehicle is stationary, will tend to displace a portion of the inlay portion  58  in the direction of arrow F, thereby reducing the distance from the upper edge  70  of the body portion  52  to the outer surface portion  42  to less than distance D 2 . As the distance between the upper edge  70  and the outer surface portion  42  is reduced, the inlay portion  58  will deform to mate with the item surface  166  of storage item  160 , to increase the contact area between the inlay portion  58  and the storage item  160  while decreasing the surface pressure of any initial contact points between the inlay portion  58  and the item surface  166 . Accordingly, at least a portion of the inlay portion  58  deforms to an arcuate shape that cradles an item, such as storage item  160 , as a function of the weight W of the item.  
         [0028]     As the vehicle moves, the storage item  160  is permitted to move slightly within the device  50 . Specifically, as a component of the vehicle travel results in downward movement, generally in the direction of arrow F, the acceleration in the direction of the arrow F will result in the force F being less than the weight W. Accordingly, the storage item  160  may move slightly relative to the vehicle, in a direction generally opposite the arrow F. Unlike other storage support surfaces, at least portions of the support surface  108  will travel with the storage item  160 , as the item surface  166  remains in contact with the support surface  108  and/or the gripping surface portion  120 . In this manner, the frictional forces that retain the storage item  160  within the device  50  may not be reduced to a value below the required frictional forces that retain the storage item  160  within the device  50 .  
         [0029]     Furthermore, as the component of the vehicle travel that resulted in downward movement is reduced, or as a component of the vehicle travel results in upward movement, generally opposite the direction of arrow F, the acceleration component opposite the direction of the arrow F will result in the force F being more than the weight W. With conventional surfaces that support an item while not moving relative the vehicle, such as the floor of the vehicle, this additional force exerted on the storage item will result in a generally proportional increase in force on the items that may be stored within the storage item  160 . However, when an item is stored on the device  50 , when the force F increases to a value more than the weight W, the inlay portion  58  may further deform resulting in the body portion  52  rotating relative the seat  22 . As the inlay portion  58  further deforms as described, the storage item  160  moves slightly, generally in the direction F relative the vehicle, which may be generally opposite the travel of the vehicle. After the component of the vehicle travel generally opposite the direction of the arrow F decreases or reduces to zero, the force F becomes generally equal the weight W, and the storage item  160  will travel generally opposite the direction of the arrow F. Accordingly, as a component of the vehicle travel generally opposite the direction of the arrow F is experienced, such as when the vehicle travels over a non-horizontal road surface portion, the hinge portion  54  of the device  50  travels a distance component measured along the direction of arrow F in a period of time T 1 , while the storage item  160  will travel generally the same distance in a longer time, T 2 . Accordingly, the device  50  increases the time of horizontal travel of the storage item  160  relative to the vehicle as a result of operating the vehicle on non-horizontal road surfaces, thereby damping the accelerations that the storage item  160  will experience during vehicle travel. Additionally, when the device  50  is mounted to a portion of the vehicle with a spring support, such as a seat  22 , the damping effect that may exist in the springs of the seat  22  will further dampen the accelerations translated from the vehicle to the storage item  160 , while retaining the storage item  160  within the device  50 . As will be appreciated, the device  50  will similarly dampen the accelerations of the storage item  160  in directions normal to the arrow F due as a result of the flexibility of the inlay portion  58 .  
         [0030]     Preferably, gripping surface portion  120  has a higher coefficient of friction than a surface portion of the body portion  52 . The gripping surface portion  120  may be formed by an overlay material that is attached to the inlay portion  58 , or the gripping surface portion  120  may be a surface portion of the inlay portion  58  support surface  108  that contacts a desired item, such as the storage item  160 .  
         [0031]     One embodiment of utilizing the system  20  is as follows. With the device  50  in the stowed position of  FIG. 4 , a user may grasp the handle  150  and pull the magnet  152  away from the magnetic portion  154 . As the magnet  152  moves away from the magnetic portion  154 , the body portion  52  rotates about the hinge portion  54 . When the user releases the handle  150 , at least the weight of the body portion  52  will retain the device  50  in about the operational position. In the operational position, the device  50  may be used, as described herein. When the user no longer desires to use the device  50 , the body portion  52  may be rotated until magnet  152  contacts the magnetic portion  154 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the storage system  20  as storage system  220 . System  220  includes a seat  222  connected to a vehicle body (not shown) by a seat frame  224 . Seat  222  includes a seat base  230 , a bolster  232 , and a seat back  236 . Preferably, the bolster  232  has a fabric outer layer  248 , such as woven fibers, vinyl, leather, or the like. As illustrated, system  220  selectively supports and/or retains a support item  260 .  
         [0033]     System  220  further includes the support device  50  attached thereto with an alternative embodiment of the hinges  88  as a hinge  288 . The hinge  288  includes a plurality of stitches  290  that each interconnect the body portion  52  to the bolster  232 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the storage system  20  as storage system  320 . System  320  includes a seat  322  connected to a vehicle body (not shown) by a seat frame  324 . Seat  322  includes a seat base  330 , a bolster  332 , and a seat back  336  having a seat outer surface  338 . System  320  further includes a support device  50  having an inner panel  340 . Inner panel  340  is attached to the seat outer surface  338 . Inner panel  340  has an outer surface portion  342 . As illustrated, system  320  selectively supports and/or retains a support item  360 .  
         [0035]     The outer surface portion  342  of inner panel  340  is connected to the hinge  88 , the stay member  56 , and the magnet  152 . The magnet  150  may extend from, or be embedded such that the magnet is flush with, a surface, such as outer surface portion  342 . In the embodiments illustrated, support device  50  is defined by a generally planar outer surface  80  while the inner surface  78  contours to the seat outer surface  338  and outer surface portion  342 .  
         [0036]     While hinges  88 ,  288  are described as including multiple components, the hinge portions may be any connection between the body portions and a selected mounting surface that permits the body portion to move relative the selected surface. Non-limiting examples include a pantograph linkage and bendable portions of body portion  52 . Additionally, Systems  20 ,  220 ,  330  may not include a hinge, but may permit the stay member  56  to restrain the body portion  52  in a desired position, such as the operational position, when an item is stored on the inlay portion.  
         [0037]     Systems  20 ,  220 ,  330  may not include a stay member  56 , but may have a hinge portion, such as the hinge portion  54 , that restricts the rotation of the body portion to a desired position, such as the operational position of  FIG. 3 . While the device  50  is described herein as mounted to a seat of an automobile, the device  50  may be mounted to other components and/or surfaces.  
         [0038]     The inlay portion  58  may be a fabric with a rubbery finish, a sheet of TPV, TPE, rubbery foam, leather or suede. Also, the inlay portion  58  may be perforated or in the form of a netting.  
         [0039]     In the embodiments illustrated, the body portion  52  is defined by a generally planar contour of surfaces  78 ,  80 , although the body portion  52  may alternatively have a curvilinear contour. Additionally, the body portion may be made of polypropylene, ABS, polycarbonate, nylon, or any suitable material. The outer surface  80  of body portion  52  may also be covered in a complementary or contrasting material, as desired, such as leather or fabric. If the outer surface  80  is covered in a material, such as leather, the stitches  290  may pierce the leather to provide the hinge  288 . The body portion  52  is preferably a rigid panel, although the body portion  52  may be flexible, and may be about 3 mm in thickness between surfaces  78  and  80  when the length L of the body portion is about 250 mm and the height H is about 200 mm.  
         [0040]     The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe exemplary embodiments of the methods and systems of the present invention. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. The invention may be practiced otherwise than is specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope. The scope of the invention is limited solely by the following claims.