Abstract:
Apparatus for retaining objects on the dashboard of a vehicle, comprising a planar rubbery base member having a bottom with a high friction surface characteristic is provided. The planar rubbery base member is made of a material which tends to conform to a shape of a curved surface upon which it is placed, such as the dashboard and a plurality of flexible walls extend upwardly from the rubbery base member. The walls define at least one compartment. A combination of high walls, and multifunction catching/gripping platforms configured and/or oriented differently and contained within the walls combine to effectively retain objects.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to devices for containing and/or localizing objects within the undistracted view of the driver of an automobile and within the driver&#39;s easy reach. 
       CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Today, there is an increasing awareness of the necessity for minimizing driver distraction during the driving of an automobile, while at the same time providing accessibility to modern conveniences and driving aids. The quality of driver performance while driving an automobile may be benefited by numerous devices, such as sunglasses, mobile phones, portable music players, access to change, access to a parking pass card, a GPS system, and so forth. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with the invention, a caddy for containing and/or stabilizing the position of a multiplicity of objects is provided. It may be placed on a car dashboard, center console or other convenient surface on a car or other vehicle or other surface. More particularly, the inventive caddy is configured for dashboard mounting, without the necessity for a permanent adhesive, although the inventive structure may be employed with such adhesive for added structural security. The inventive caddy is constructed in a manner which overcomes the instability associated with putting objects on downwardly oriented and curved dashboards. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the invention, apparatus for retaining objects on the dashboard of a vehicle, comprising a planar rubbery base member having a bottom with a high friction surface characteristic is provided. The planar rubbery base member is made of a material which tends to conform to a shape of a curved surface upon which it is placed, such as the dashboard and a plurality of flexible walls extend upwardly from the rubbery base member. The walls define at least one compartment. A combination of high walls and catching and gripping platforms contained within the walls combine to effectively retain objects. 
         [0007]    The inventive apparatus may further comprise a plurality of top surface gripper platforms disposed within the compartment. The top surface gripper platforms have an area substantially smaller than the area of the top of the planar rubbery base member. 
         [0008]    The top surface gripper platforms may be angularly oriented in a plurality of directions. 
         [0009]    The top surface gripper platforms may comprise a plurality of elongated members. 
         [0010]    The caddy may further comprise a plurality of bottom surface gripper platforms disposed on the bottom of the planar rubbery base member. The bottom surface gripper platforms have an area substantially smaller than the area of the bottom of the planar rubbery base member. 
         [0011]    The top surface gripper platforms may comprise a plurality of elongated members. 
         [0012]    The inventive caddy may further comprise a plurality of top surface gripper platforms disposed within the compartment. The top surface gripper platforms may have an area substantially smaller than the area of the top of the planar rubbery base member. 
         [0013]    A plurality of bottom surface gripper platforms may be disposed on the bottom of the planar rubbery base member. The bottom surface gripper platforms they have an area substantially smaller than the area of the bottom of the planar rubbery base member. 
         [0014]    Gaps may be defined between the plurality of flexible walls. 
         [0015]    The flexible walls may be flush with the edges of the planar rubbery base member. 
         [0016]    The bottom surface of the planar rubbery base member may be provided with a self adhesive material. 
         [0017]    The bottom surface of the planar rubbery base member may be provided with a perimeter wall. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The operation of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a caddy constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the caddy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the caddy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a left side elevational view of the caddy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a right side elevational view of the caddy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the caddy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the caddy of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom plan view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive caddy; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  illustrates a top plan view of another alternative embodiment of the inventive caddy with a space for receiving alphanumeric information in accordance with the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view of yet another alternative embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of still yet another embodiment of the caddy of present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is bottom plan view of an alternative bottom surface for a caddy constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  illustrates in top plan view yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention utilizing a series of internal retainer fences; 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  illustrates in perspective yet even another embodiment of the present invention without a perimeterial lip; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 16  is a detail view, in perspective, of the embodiment of  FIG. 15 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    Reference is first made to  FIGS. 1-7 , where it may be seen that in accordance with the present invention, the inventive caddy  10  comprises a base  12 . Base  12  defines a shoulder  14  on the periphery  16  of caddy  10 . Base  12  defines a top surface  18 . 
         [0036]    A plurality of walls is supported on top surface  18 . More particularly, L-shaped walls  20  are positioned at the corner of caddy  10 . T-shaped walls  22  are positioned at the forward and rearward ends  24  and  26  of caddy  10 . 
         [0037]    A plurality of gaps  28  are defined between the ends of adjacent walls. Gaps  28  form catches for engaging objects held within caddy  10 . Gaps  28  also allow a user to place an object like a cellular telephone or GPS in caddy  10  with the power cord, for example, passing through a gap  28 . These catches are dimensioned to be large enough to engage objects likely to be carried in a car, such as the shank  27  of arms  29  of eyeglasses  31 , or the operative and elongated portion of keys. At the same time, but catches must be small enough not to allow objects to through the gaps. 
         [0038]    In accordance with the invention, L-shaped walls  20  and T-shaped walls  22  are sufficiently high to anchor objects commonly kept in an automobile. In addition, certain even larger objects, such as gloves will be anchored by the inventive caddy to the extent that they conform or may come to conform to the shape of caddy  10 . 
         [0039]    Additional stability is provided by angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  32  and by angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  34 . Angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  32  and angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  34  are oriented to substantially transverse to each other. To the extent that angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  32  and angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  34  and engage portions of objects in caddy  10  which are positioned below the tops of angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  32  and angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  34 , they will tend to catch a variety of forms. This will be encouraged by their substantially transverse orientations, which effectively ensures that at least a portion of the gripper platforms will be oriented in a manner more likely to make such engagement. 
         [0040]    To the extent that portions of objects in caddy  10  are positioned above the tops of angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  32  and angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  34 , their smaller area will result in more weight per unit area of gripper platform surface, thus ensuring higher friction and thus a more effective gripping action, increasing the stability with which objects held in caddy  10  are maintained in a position. 
         [0041]    Angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  32  and angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  34  may have a thickness ranging between 0.1 cm and 0.5 cm. 
         [0042]    Similarly, because angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  32  and angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  34  are oriented substantially transverse to each other, on average they are more likely to effectively grip a variety of objects being subjected to substantially largely up-and-down vibrations and largely forward and rearward as well as leftward and rightward momentum was created by changes in the direction of the vehicle on the dashboard of which the inventive caddy  10  is positioned. 
         [0043]    The bottom surface  36  of base  12  is populated with angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  38  and angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  40 . Angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  38  and angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  40  are oriented substantially transverse to each other. The diversity of orientation of angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  38  and angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  40  ensures good positional stability during vibrations and during the application of momentum forces. Angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  38  and angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  40  may have a thickness ranging between 0.1 cm and 0.5 cm. 
         [0044]    In accordance with the invention, inventive caddy  10  may be made out of rubber or a similar synthetic material. Materials having relatively high density, flexibility, a high coefficient of friction and compressibility are preferred. Weight ensures that the bottom surface of the inventive caddy  10  is securely gripped by the dashboard. Accordingly, high density material is desirable. 
         [0045]    It is contemplated that the inventive caddy may have a width between 8 cm and 24 cm, and a length between 24 cm and 72 cm. Base  12  may have a thickness between 0.1 centimeters and 0.6 cm. L-shaped walls  20  and T-shaped walls  22  may have a thickness between 0.4 cm and 3 cm. Gaps  28  may range between 0.2 and 0.8 cm. 
         [0046]    in use, the inventive caddy  10  is placed on the top of a dashboard  41 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , where it is retained in place by friction, on account of the rubbery conforming high friction surfaces of gripper platforms  38  and  40 . 
         [0047]    In accordance with the invention, objects are placed within the rectangular areas defined between L-shaped walls  20  and T-shaped walls  22 . To the extent that the dashboard of the automobile on which the inventive caddy  10  is placed, the combination of vibrations (due to irregularities in the road surface over which a vehicle is driving) and slant may cause migration of objects within caddy toward the forward portions  30  of L-shaped walls  20  and T-shaped walls  22 . 
         [0048]    Turning to  FIG. 8 , it may be seen that in accordance with the invention, an alternative configuration or mechanism may be used to support the inventive caddy  110 . In this embodiment and in the other embodiments discussed below, parts performing analogous or similar functions are numbered with numbers which are different from the analogous parts in the earlier embodiment by multiples of a hundred, where this numbering convention is practical and convenient. 
         [0049]    Bottom  136  may be provided with a layer of self-adhesive material  140  in place of the gripper platforms  40  of  FIGS. 1-7 . Self-adhesive material  140  is manufactured with and continues to carry until used a protective member, of conventional design, made of polymer film or paper  142  coated with a release agent  144 , such as wax. The thickness of paper  142  and release agent  144  is illustrated larger than scale for purposes of illustration. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , another alternative in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. More particularly, caddy  210  has a top service including an unobstructed area  246  which is adapted to receive printed matter, such as the trademark of a manufacturer. 
         [0051]      FIG. 10  illustrates another alternative embodiment of the inventive caddy  310  including a bottom  336  having outer perimeterial wall  348 . Because of its reduced contact area  350 , wall  348  has more of a tendency to conform to and form around irregularities in the dashboard surface, accordingly improving stability of the caddy  310  on the dashboard. Wall  348  should be a height sufficient to maintain the large surface area of bottom  336  largely elevated above the dashboard. For example, wall  348  may have a height extending from bottom  336  of 0.2 cm to 0.6 cm. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , still yet another alternative embodiment of the inventive caddy  510  includes gripper platforms  532  which are elongated in the forward to rearward direction, but providing it a protection against momentum forces as the vehicle is turn to the right or to the left. Alternatively, elongated gripper platforms may be provided extending from the right to the left to provide better stability for objects in the caddy during acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle. This is particularly of value in the case of deceleration some account of sudden braking by the driver. Similarly, the bottom  536  of caddy  510  may be provided with elongated gripper walls  548 . 
         [0053]    Turning to  FIG. 13 , a caddy  610  similar to the caddy in  FIG. 11  is illustrated. Caddy  610  includes an open area  646  for receiving a printed imprint such as the trademark of a manufacturer.  FIG. 14  illustrates a caddy  710  constructed in accordance with the present invention and having an alternative bottom  736 . Bottom  736  is provided with a perimeterial wall  748  and gripper platforms  738 . 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , still yet another alternative embodiment of the inventive caddy  810  is illustrated. Caddy  810  is similar to the caddy illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 , except that shoulder  14  is absent. Accordingly, L-shaped walls  820  are positioned at the corners of caddy  810  and extend to the side  821  of base. T-shaped walls  822  are positioned at the forward and rearward ends  824  and  826  of caddy  810 . As in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-7 , additional stability is provided by angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  832  and by angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  834  which are the same as those used in the  FIG. 1  embodiment. Also as in the indictment of  FIGS. 1-7 , the bottom  836  of caddy  810  is provided with gripper platforms  840 . Gripper platforms  840 , angularly negatively oriented elevated gripper platforms  832  and angularly positively oriented elevated gripper platforms  834  have a height  850  which is the same as the height of the gripper platforms in the  FIG. 1  embodiment. 
         [0055]    While a number of illustrative embodiments of the inventive caddy have been described above, it is recognized that certain modifications will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention which is limited and defined only by the appended claims.