Abstract:
Systems and associated methods are disclosed for securing personal belongings to a seat or chair. The invention provides two locking mechanisms, one associated with a container having a locking door, and the second associated with a tether with a second lock for locking the container to the seat or chair. The preferred embodiments further provide a bracket for mounting the container on the seat or chair for more convenient access. The system may further include a slide assembly between the container and the bracket allowing the container to be positioned for more convenient access while remaining tethered to the seat or chair. The invention is applicable to virtually any type of seat or chair with appropriate modification. That is, the invention provides an article storage container that is secured to either a swivel, or straight-legged chair, or vehicle seat. The container may located in a stowed position that occupies space not normally utilized by the person sitting in the chair and is moveable to an accessible position that permits article to be stored and retrieved from the container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention in general relates to furniture and, in particular, to apparatus and methods for securing personal belongings in an office and other environments.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A long-standing problem for employees is how and where to secure their personal belongings at the office. Such belongings might include purses, lunches, books and magazines, walking shoes and personal supplies. Of particular concern is the secure storage of purses containing valuables, which are often placed under the worker&#39;s desk or in a drawer of the desk.  
         [0003]     When stored under the desk, a purse often interferes with the worker&#39;s leg room, may be damaged by accidental kicking, and is inconvenient to retrieve. Further, the purse is not secure from theft when the worker leaves the desk area. When stored in a desk drawer, the purse takes up valuable space which would normally be used for files or supplies, and unless the desk is locked every time the worker leaves the area, theft remains a problem.  
         [0004]     Some employers provide workers with lockable metal storage lockers, much like those used in schools for storing student&#39;s belongings. However, these lockers are expensive and take up significant office space.  
         [0005]     A similar problem arises in public places such as restaurants and automobiles, where it is desired to have a secure storage area in the interior of the car which is large enough to accommodate a purse, and yet is easily reachable by a seated passenger or driver.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     This invention broadly resides in systems and associated methods for securing personal belongings to a seat or chair. In contract to existing systems, the invention provides two locking mechanisms, one associated with a container having a locking door, and the second associated with a tether with a second lock for locking the container to the seat or chair. The preferred embodiments further provide a bracket for mounting the container on the seat or chair for more convenient access. The system may further include a slide assembly between the container and the bracket allowing the container to be positioned for more convenient access while remaining tethered to the seat or chair.  
         [0007]     The invention is applicable to virtually any type of seat or chair with appropriate modification. For example, where the seat or chair has a back rest with an upper edge, the bracket may includes a bent lip configured to hang over the top edge. Where the seat or chair includes a seat portion with opposing side edges, the bracket may have two ends, each terminating in a bent lip to engage with a respective one of the opposing side edges. In embodiments of this kind, the bracket may feature an adjustable length to accommodate seat portions of varying width.  
         [0008]     Where the seat or chair includes a seat portion with opposing side edges and a central post under the seat portion, the bracket may have two ends, each terminating in a bent lip to engage with a respective one of the opposing side edges, with a central aperture through which the central post extends.  
         [0009]     Where the seat or chair includes a plurality of legs, the tether may be adapted to attach to one or more of the legs. Where the seat or chair includes a seat portion with opposing side edges and a central post under the seat portion, the tether may be adapted to attach to the central post. In situations where the seat or chair includes a seat portion with opposing side edges and a central post under the seat portion attached to a plurality of radial caster supports, the bracket may mount the container to one or more of the radial caster supports. In cases where the seat or chair includes a seat portion with opposing side edges and a central post under the seat portion attached to a plurality of radial caster supports, the tether may be adapted to attach to one or more of the radial caster supports.  
         [0010]     Wherein the seat or chair includes a back rest with opposing side edges, the bracket may have two ends, each terminating in a bent lip to engage with a respective one of the opposing side edges of the back rest. If the seat or chair includes a back rest with opposing side edges, a back surface and a region between the back rest and a seat portion, the tether may be adapted to attach to the region between the back rest and the seat portion. The tether may be provided on a spring-loaded reel attached to the bracket, and the container may assume the form of a purse or handbag.  
         [0011]     Thus, the invention provides an article storage container that is secured to either a swivel, or straight-legged chair, or vehicle seat. The container may located in a stowed position that occupies space not normally utilized by the person sitting in the chair and is moveable to an accessible position that permits article to be stored and retrieved from the container. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional swivel or task chair used in an office environment;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a conventional, straight-legged chair;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the chair of  FIG. 1 , showing a first embodiment of the invention where a storage container is attached underneath the chair in a stowed position, and also showing how the container is secured to the chair by a locking cable;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the chair of  FIG. 3 , showing the storage container in an accessible position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the bracket for mounting the storage container of  FIG. 3  to the chair;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the bracket of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the bracket of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the storage container of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the storage container of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the chair of  FIG. 3  showing in detail how the storage container engages the bracket;  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of the chair of  FIG. 1  showing a second embodiment of the invention where a storage container is mounted to the back of the chair, and also showing how the container is secured to the chair by a locking cable;  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the chair and storage container of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation view of the chair of  FIG. 2  with the second embodiment showing a storage container mounted on the back of the chair, and also showing how the container is secured to the chair by a locking cable;  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is a front elevation view of the chair of  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  is a side elevation view of the chair of  FIG. 2  with the first embodiment showing the storage container attached underneath the chair, and also showing how the container is secured to the chair by a locking cable;  
         [0027]      FIG. 16  is a front elevation view of the chair of  FIG. 1  showing a third embodiment of the invention where the container is located on the legs of the chair, and also showing how the container is secured to the chair by a locking cable;  
         [0028]      FIG. 17  is a front elevation view of the chair of  FIG. 1  showing a fourth embodiment of the invention, and also showing how the container is secured to the chair by a locking cable.  
         [0029]      FIG. 18  is a front view in elevation of automobile driver and passenger seats, showing the attachment of secured storage containers in another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 19  is a side elevation view of the automobile driver&#39;s seat of  FIG. 18 , taken along the line  19 - 19 , showing a storage container mounted on the back of the seat, and also showing how the container is secured to the seat by a locking cable;  
         [0031]      FIG. 20  is a top view of the chair and storage container of  FIG. 19 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 21  shows an embodiment of the invention which includes a hook to hook over a chair back;  
         [0033]      FIG. 22  shows the embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 21  in conjunction with a chair and a user&#39;s purse;  
         [0034]      FIG. 23  shows the embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 21  with the cord in the retracted position; and  
         [0035]      FIG. 24  shows yet another embodiment of the invention, wherein a retractable tether is built into a specially designed locking purse. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0036]      FIG. 1  shows a “task chair”  8  of the type commonly used in an office environment. The chair  8  has a center post  10 , a seat  12 , a back  14  and four caster supports  16 .  
         [0037]     With reference to  FIGS. 3-10  a personal belongings storage system according to the invention is installed on the chair of  FIG. 1 . An adjustable bracket  18  ( FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 ) has mutually slidable parts  20  and  22  with a series of mounting holes  24 ,  26 , respectively. Bracket  18  has a slotted opening  28  through which center post  10  can pass ( FIG. 6 ). The underside of part  20  has guide tracks  30  ( FIG. 7 ) that engage guide rails  32  ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ) mounted on a slidable storage container  34 .  
         [0038]     To install bracket  18  it is positioned under seat  12 , and parts  20 ,  22  are pushed together until they firmly embrace seat  12 . Then fasteners represented at  36  are installed in overlapping pairs of holes  24  and  26  to hold parts  20  and  22  in place. The top of container  34  has a hinged door  38  in which a lock  40  is installed ( FIG. 9 ). Thus to gain access to the inside of container  34 , one must have a key to lock  40 .  
         [0039]     Container  34  has an eyelet  42  either attached in a non-removable fashion or is formed in a one-piece construction with the body of container  34 . A tether  46 , which is preferably made of steel, is attached to loop  42  at one end and to center post  10  at the other end in a manner so tether  46  cannot be removed from container  34  or center post  10 . One way to accomplish this uses a two-wire connector that will not permit removal of the wires after they have entered the connector.  
         [0040]     Loops are formed in the ends of tether  46  by use of the connectors. The size of the loop formed around the post  10  is made sufficiently small so that the cable cannot be slipped over the seat  18  or over the legs  16 , effectively locking the tether  46  and the container  34  to the chair  8 . Alternatively, the connectors can be replaced by a key or combination lock  47  in a manner similar to that use to secure a bicycle to a bike rack, whereby the user can remove the container  34  from the chair  8  using a key or combination.  
         [0041]     To place personal belongings or other articles in container  34 , container  34  is pulled out from under seat  12  to an accessible position as shown in  FIG. 4  and door  38  is unlocked. Then door  38  is relocked and container  34  is slid back under seat  12  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In summary, container  34  is permanently secured to chair  8  so that it cannot be removed under normal circumstances and only one in possession of a key to lock  40  can open container  34 .  
         [0042]     In a second embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a container  47  is mounted on the rear of seat back  14  of chair  8  by a bracket  48  which fits over the top of the back  14 . A tether  49  secures container  56  to center post  10  using a lock  51  in a similar manner to that described in the previous embodiment, whereby the container  47  cannot be removed from the chair  8  without a key. By making the tether  49  sufficiently short, it is possible to tightly secure the container  47  and the bracket  48  to the back  14  so that the container cannot be lifted off the back  14 .  
         [0043]     Alternatively, by making the tether longer, it is possible to allow the container  47  to be lifted off the back  14 , whereby the seated user can reach behind, remove the container, and swing it around to the front for access without getting up from the seat. The container can then be swung to the rear and replaced on the seat back. In either instance, the container  47  remains attached to the chair by the tether  49 . Container  47  has a hinged door with a lock and an eyelet formed in a one piece construction with container  47 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 2  shows a conventional straight four-legged chair  53  having a seat  50 , a back  52  and four legs  54 . In  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a container  56  is mounted on the chair  53  of  FIG. 2 , specifically on the rear of back  52  by one or more brackets  58  which fit over the top of the back  52 . An eyelet  60  is either attached in a non-removable fashion or is formed in a one-piece construction with container  56 . A tether  64  is placed around two of rear legs  54  and extends tightly across the junction of seat  50  and back  52  and is secured by a lock  65 . The tether  64  is made sufficiently tight so that it cannot be slipped over the back  52  or over the legs  54  without removing the lock  65 . A second tether  62  extends between eye  60  and tether  64  in an endless loop that is linked around the tether  64  before it is locked to the chair  53 .  
         [0045]     The ends of tethers to  62  and  64  may be configured in endless loops via one-way connectors, as described above. As a result, container  56  is secured to the chair and can only be removed from the chair by severing tether  62  or  64  or unlocking the lock  65 . As in the previous embodiment, the length of the tether  60  may be adjusted to either tightly secure the container  56  and the bracket  58  to the back  52  so that the container cannot be lifted off, or by making the tether longer, to allow the container  56  to be lifted off the back  52 , whereby the seated user can reach behind, remove the container from the back  52 , and swing it around to the front for access without getting up from the seat. In either instance, the container  56  remains attached to the chair by the tethers  62  and  64 .  
         [0046]     In  FIG. 15 , the slidable container of the embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4  is mounted on the chair  53  of  FIG. 2  by a tether arrangement as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . The same reference numerals used in the previously described figures are used to identify the same components.  
         [0047]     In  FIG. 16 , a lockable container  70  is mounted on one of legs  16  of the task chair of  FIG. 1 . Container  70  is secured by a tether  72  to center post  10  and/or by a tether  74  to leg  16 , and locked in place by one or more suitable locks  75 ,  77 . The tethers are made sufficiently tight to prevent them being slipped off the chair without removal of the respective locks  75 ,  77 .  
         [0048]     In  FIG. 17  an arcuate lockable container  76  is mounted on two of legs  16 , secured to center post  10  by a tether  78  and locked in place by a suitable lock  80 .  
         [0049]      FIG. 18  is a front view of typical automobile driver and front passenger seats  90  and  92 , respectively. Each seat comprises a back  94 ,  96 , a seat  98 ,  100 , rails  102 ,  104  for securing the seats to the car floor, and headrests  106 ,  108 . The seat backs  94 ,  96  are connected to the seats  98 ,  100  by steel connectors  110 ,  112  at either end of the respective seat. Typically, the connectors are hinged to permit reclining. As shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , which are side and top views of the driver seat  90 , a container  114  is mounted on the rear of back  94  by brackets  116  which fit over the top of the back  94  on either side of the headrest  106 . An eyelet  118  is either attached in a non-removable fashion or is formed in a one-piece construction with container  114 . A tether  120  extends between eyelet  118  and a connector  110  in a loop that is secured using a lock  122 . As a result, container  114  is secured to the seat connector  110  and can only be removed by unlocking the lock  122 . A lockable door  124  is provided on the side of the container, for example, at  114  facing the passenger seat to permit storing and removing belongings.  
         [0050]     In like manner to that described above, the passenger seat  92  may be similarly equipped with a container (not shown) mounted on the back  96  using brackets  126  and having a lockable door facing the driver seat. In use, the seated driver can reach behind the passenger seat with the right hand, and unlock and open the container door to store and retrieve belongings while seated. Similarly, the seated passenger can reach behind the driver&#39;s seat with the left hand, and unlock and open the container door  124  to also store and retrieve belongings while seated.  
         [0051]      FIG. 21  shows an embodiment of the invention  200 , which includes a hook  210  to hook over a chair back. The hook, which may be made of a rigid material such as plastic or metal, is attached to a spring-loaded reel  212  from which extends a retractable cord or band  214  of a strong flexible material, such as metal or a strong plastic, which is not easily cut by a would-be thief. The end of the cord  214  is formed into a loop  216  suitable for looping around the end of chair leg. The reel  212  includes a locking control button or lever  218  for releasing and retracting the cord.  
         [0052]     The operation of the embodiment  200  is shown in  FIG. 22  in conjunction with a chair  220  and a user&#39;s purse  222 . The hook  210  is hooked over the back of the chair  220 , and the cord is pulled out from the reel  212  using the release button  218 , and looped around the purse  222  and can also be looped through the purse strap  224 , if there is one. The chair is then tilted by the user so that the loop  216  can be slipped over one of the legs, preferably a rear leg  226 . Using the lockable button  218 , the cord  216  is then retracted so that the loop  216  moves up snugly against the bottom surface of the chair seat. The tension of the cord  216  thus established between the hook  210  and the loop  216  pulls the cord  214  tight, which holds the purse  222  snugly against the back of the chair, while also preventing a thief from easily opening the purse to remove its contents. The reel  212  may be locked in this tight position with a suitable key, which may be in the form of a combination lock.  
         [0053]     It may be seen from the above description that the embodiment  200  serves to secure conventional purses to a chair back using a portable device, and is thus useful for temporary venues such as restaurants and meeting rooms. A view of the embodiment  200  with the cord in the retracted position is shown in  FIG. 23 .  
         [0054]     The embodiment  200  is suitable for use with conventional purses, which in general do not have locking mechanisms for their contents.  FIG. 24  shows yet another embodiment  300  of the invention, where the apparatus of embodiment  200  is built into a specially designed locking purse  310 . In this instance, the hook  210  may be connected to the purse  310  with a flexible cord or chain  312 , so that when not in use, the hook  210  can be stored in a compartment  314  in the purse  310 . The spring loaded reel  212  is placed inside the purse  310 , and the cord  214  and loop  216  extend from a second compartment  316 . The operation of this embodiment is substantially the same as that described above for the embodiment  200 , except that there is no need to wrap the cord  214  around the purse  310 , and when the purse is securely in place against the chair back, it can be locked by a lock  318  provided, which secures the contents as well as the reel  212 .  
         [0055]     In each of the described embodiments of the invention, the tethers are secured by one means or another to both the chair and to the storage container so the container cannot be removed by an unauthorized person. The container is locked so it can only be opened by a key. As a result, the security of the contents of the container is ensured.  
         [0056]     The described embodiments of the invention are only considered to be preferred and illustrative of the inventive concept, the scope of the invention is not to be restricted to such embodiments. Various and numerous other arrangements may be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiment within the scope of the present invention.