Abstract:
A flexible cargo restraining straps mounted on the sidewalls of the rear cargo area of an automotive vehicle to receive and restrain small cargo items from moving about the rear cargo area of the vehicle. The divider members are positionable along the longitudinal length of the restraining straps to permit the creation of a cargo receptacle that conforms to the size of the small cargo item being placed therein. Preferably, the divider members are slidable along slots formed in the sidewall of the rear cargo area and can be selectively locked into the desired position. Additional divider members can be added to the restraining straps as desired for creating cargo receptacles therein as needed. Alternatively, the cargo restraining straps can be mounted on the roof or on the interior of the door for the rear cargo area.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims domestic priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/569,107, filed May 7, 2004, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to the restraint of cargo within the interior of automotive vehicles and, more particularly, to cargo restraint devices that are engagable with small cargo items to limit movement thereof within an automotive vehicle cargo area.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The placement of cargo into the cargo area of an automotive vehicle, such as the rear cargo area of a van or sport utility vehicle, is typically placed loosely within the confines of the cargo area, allowing the cargo to shift from one position to another within the interior of the vehicle as the vehicle moves along the highway. A number of devices have been created to restrain the movement of such cargo, including netting and organizers.  
         [0004]     A typical usage of the cargo area would be to store groceries that have been placed in bags at the grocery store to transport the groceries from the store to the place of residence. In some instances, the items are small and would normally roll around within the rear cargo area, possibly damaging the item.  
         [0005]     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,581, issued to Charles Parkinson on May 1, 1973, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,716, issued to Richard Phelps on Nov. 16, 1993, door packets are taught for holding small items, such as maps and the like. In these door pocket devices, the exterior covering is expandable, such as in the Parkinson patent where the exterior panel is elastic in nature. The flexible pocket concept is extended into the inside of the glove compartment door in an automobile, as is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,115, issued to John Tiesler on Jan. 27, 2004. As with the door pocket devices, the exterior panel of the packet device has some flexibility to permit the expansion of the pocket to fit small items therein.  
         [0006]     Multiple door pockets forming receptacles for use in holding cassette tapes on the inside of the door for easy access by the operator of the vehicle are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,701, issued on Nov. 27, 1984 to Paul Frohn. The flexible barrier for restraining items on a shelf is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,198, issued to Doris Reed on Feb. 11, 1997. None of these prior art devices are operable to restrain the movement of small cargo items that are larger than the pocket on which the flexible panel is attached, and none have any flexibility with respect to the size of the restraining container for use with the small cargo items.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a cargo restraining device for use in the rear cargo area of an automotive vehicle in which the restraining devices do not interfere with the loading of cargo into the rear cargo area when not in use, and which can be sized to better engage and restrain small cargo items into engagement with the restraining device.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is an object of this invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the known prior art by providing flexible straps mounted to the sidewalls of the rear cargo area of an automobile to receive and restrain small cargo items placed into engagement therewith.  
         [0009]     It is another object of this invention to provide a cargo restraining straps that are flexible to accommodate the shape of small cargo items.  
         [0010]     It is still another object of this invention to provide a positionable divider operatively engaged with the cargo restraining straps to be movable to size a receptacle within the confines of the cargo restraining straps that would best engage a particular cargo item for restraint thereof.  
         [0011]     It is a feature of this invention that the cargo restraining straps are flexible to permit expansion thereof into the interior of the rear cargo area of an automobile to fit around the shape of small cargo items for restraint thereof by the cargo straps.  
         [0012]     It is another advantage of this invention that the cargo restraining straps prevent small cargo items, which would otherwise be rolling around within the rear cargo area, from moving about the rear cargo area of the automobile.  
         [0013]     It is another feature of this invention that the cargo restrain straps are provided with divider members that are positionably adjustable along the longitudinal length of the straps to vary the size of the receptacle formed for holding small cargo items therewithin.  
         [0014]     It is another advantage of this invention that the divider members can be positioned to tightly engage the small cargo item placed therein to prevent the small cargo item from becoming disengaged with the restraining straps.  
         [0015]     It is still another feature of this invention that the divider members can be slidably engaged with the sidewall of the rear cargo area with slots formed therein to receive the divider members.  
         [0016]     It is yet another feature of this invention that the number of divider members utilized on the cargo restraining straps can be varied by inserting or removing divider members in engagement with the restraining straps.  
         [0017]     It is a further feature of this invention that the divider members can be selectively locked into the selected position for creating the desired size of receptacle for the small cargo item to be restrained by the cargo restraining straps.  
         [0018]     It is yet another advantage of this invention that the cargo restraining straps can be utilized on the roof or on the interior of the cargo door, as well as on the interior sidewalls of the rear cargo area of the automobile.  
         [0019]     It is a further advantage of this invention that the utilization of straps allows flexibility in the amount of force applied to the cargo being constrained, thereby permitting the system to be utilized for delicate items.  
         [0020]     It is yet a further feature of this invention that the cargo restraining straps are positionable generally flush against the wall and, therefore, take up very little space within the vehicle cargo area when not in use.  
         [0021]     It is yet a further advantage of this invention that the straps constrain cargo with a minimum of interior space being utilized, compared to fixed size boxes or compartments.  
         [0022]     It is yet another object of this invention to provide cargo restraining straps with adjustably positionable divider members that can be utilized within the rear cargo area of a vehicle and which is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use.  
         [0023]     These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished according to the instant invention by providing a flexible cargo restraining straps mounted on the sidewalls of the rear cargo area of an automotive vehicle to receive and restrain small cargo items from moving about the rear cargo area of the vehicle. The divider members are positionable along the longitudinal length of the restraining straps to permit the creation of a cargo receptacle that conforms to the size of the small cargo item being placed therein. Preferably, the divider members are slidable along slots formed in the sidewall of the rear cargo area and can be selectively locked into the desired position. Additional divider members can be added to the restraining straps as desired for creating cargo receptacles therein as needed. Alternatively, the cargo restraining straps can be mounted on the roof or on the interior of the door for the rear cargo area. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]     The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is side elevational view of a representative rear cargo area of a vehicle having a cargo restraining straps incorporating the principles of the instant invention, representative movement of the divider members being shown in phantom;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is cross-sectional view of the cargo restraining straps taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  to depict a divider member mounted on the straps and engaged with a slotted configuration in the sidewall of the rear cargo area;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is an alternative cross-sectional view of the cargo restraining straps similar to that of  FIG. 2 , but depicting a configuration for the divider member than can be removed from the restraining straps to permit the addition or subtraction of divider members for the restraining straps, an optional locking device being representatively depicted at the top of the divider member;  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the rear cargo area with the cargo restraining straps being utilized to restrain movement of a package and of a bottle with the size of the receptacles therefore being selectively created by the appropriate movement of the divider members on the restraining straps;  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the rear cargo area depicting an alternative embodiment of the cargo restraining straps including only a single strap and a support shelf for cooperating with the restraining strap to secure items against the sidewall of the vehicle, this embodiment further being formed as a self-contained system that can be detached from the vehicle sidewall; and  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5  and corresponding to lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 , the support shelf being depicted in the deployed position with the stowed position being shown in dotted lines. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]     Referring to the drawings, the rear cargo area  12  of an automobile  10  having a cargo restraint apparatus  20  incorporating the principals of the instant invention can best be seen. While the cargo restraint apparatus  20  are depicted on the right sidewall  14  of the rear cargo area  12 , one skilled in the art will recognize that the cargo restraint apparatus  20  will be located on the left sidewall (not shown) as a mirror image of cargo restraint strap apparatus  20  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . Furthermore, one skilled in the art will realize that the cargo restraint apparatus  20  according to the principals of the instant invention can also be located on the roof, the back of the rear seat  16  and/or the rear door (not shown) defining the boundaries of the rear cargo area  12  of the automobile  10 , or on substantially any generally flat surface of the automobile  10 .  
         [0032]     The cargo restraint apparatus  20  is formed of longitudinally-extending straps  22  which are securely attached at the ends  23  thereof to the supporting structure, which in the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , is the sidewall  14  of the rear cargo area  12  of the automobile  10 . Preferably, two longitudinally extending straps  22  are provided to provide positional stability for the restrained cargo, although additional straps  22  can be provided as desired and the apparatus  20  can suitably operate with only one strap  22  as is depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and described in greater detail below. Furthermore, the straps  22  are depicted as covering substantially the entire longitudinal sidewall  14 ; however, the length of the straps  22  can be substantially less than that depicted in the drawings.  
         [0033]     The straps  22  are preferably formed of elastic material so that the straps  22  can expand to accommodate the insertion of cargo items between the straps  22  and the supporting structure  14 , as is depicted in  FIG. 4 , and have sufficient shape memory to urge the cargo against the supporting structure and return to a substantially flat orientation against the supporting structure  14  when not in use to restrain the movement of cargo engaged therewith. One skilled in the art will recognize that the straps could be formed of an inelastic material if a tensioning mechanism (not shown) were provided to maintain a positional force on items stowed within the straps  22 . Accordingly, the straps  22  are attached to the supporting structure  14  only at the respective ends  23  thereof so that cargo may be inserted between the straps  22  and the supporting structure  14  along the entire length of the straps  22 .  
         [0034]     To vary the size of the receptacle to be formed to restrain cargo items between the straps  22  and the supporting structure  14 , the cargo restraint apparatus  20  is provided with dividers  25 , best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Preferably, the supporting structure  14  is formed with a plurality of grooves  15  to receive correspondingly shaped nodes  26  for sliding relationship therewith. The dividers  25  include a body portion  27  that have slots  28  formed therein for passage of the straps  22 . The dividers  25  can either be mounted on the straps  22  permanently during the manufacturing process, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , or be capable of being mounted on the straps  22  as desired after manufacturing by permitting the straps  22  to be insertable through the openings  29  in the body portion  27  leading into the slots  28 . Preferably, the supporting structure will have a formed vertical slot (not shown) that will accommodate removal of the nodes  26  from the grooves  15 .  
         [0035]     One skilled in the art will understand that the dividers  25  can be fixed to the support structure behind the straps  22  so that the dividers  25  are not movable along the longitudinal length of the straps  22 , or in the alternative the straps could be selectively connectable to fixed attachment points on the sidewall. Furthermore, the dividers  25  could be flexible members, such as transverse straps, rather than rigid members as shown in the drawings. In fact, the straps  22  could be operable to restrain cargo stowed therein without the use of any dividers  25  whatsoever.  
         [0036]     Preferably, the relationship between the nodes  26  and the grooves  15  is such that the nodes  26  are free to slide within the grooves  15  to move along the longitudinal length of the straps  22 , but when tension is applied to the dividers  25 , such as through the biasing forces exerted by the extended straps  22 , the nodes  26  become frictionally engaged with the grooves  15  and sliding movement is restricted. Alternatively, the body portion  27  of the dividers  25  can be equipped with locking pins  30  that are preferably spring-loaded in an appropriate manner to engage a selected aperture in a row of apertures formed in the sidewall  14  above, and optionally below, the grooves  15  to provide a positive locking device to restrict sliding movement of the dividers  25  along the straps  22 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the locking pins  30  can be provided at the top and at the bottom of the body portion  27  of the divider  25 .  
         [0037]     For positional stability, the sidewall  14  will be formed with at least two grooves  15  oriented parallel to the straps  22 , as is depicted in  FIG. 3 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , a third groove  15  corresponding to the middle of the body portion  27  could be provided. This third groove  15  will provide additional frictional engagement with the nodes  26 , and provide the ability to utilize smaller dividers  25  that would correspond only to a single strap  22 , instead of both straps  22  as is depicted in  FIG. 2 . The dividers  25  can attach into longitudinal slots above the top of the upper strap  22  and below the bottom of the lower strap  22  to provide support for small items and can eliminate the need for nodes  26  in the dividers  25  and grooves  15  in the sidewall  14 .  
         [0038]     As is best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the cargo restraint apparatus  20  can be formed with a single strap  22  with optional dividers  25  cooperable therewith. A support shelf  19  can be positioned below the strap(s)  22  to support small items with the base thereof just below the level of the lower strap  22 . The support shelf  19  can be a fixed member projecting outwardly from the sidewall  14  of the vehicle  10 , or can be a pivotable, or slidable, member  19  that is movable between a deployed position, shown in solid lines in  FIG. 6 , and an inoperative position, shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0039]     Furthermore, the entire apparatus  20  can be constructed as a detachable system formed on a support panel  40  that is detachably mounted on the sidewall  14  of the vehicle  10 . With such a system, the cargo can be removed from the vehicle  10  as a bundle while still retained within the cargo restraint apparatus  20 . Alternatively, the apparatus  20  could be mounted on a structure (not shown) that pulls out from the sidewall  14 , or is hinged to the sidewall  14 , for ease of insertion or removal of the cargo from the apparatus  20 .  
         [0040]     In operation, the configuration of the divider  25  depicted in  FIG. 3  can be mounted on the straps  22  by fitting the individual straps  22  through the respective openings  29  in the body portion  27  to mount the divider on the straps  22 . The nodes  26  are then inserted into the grooves  15  through a vertical slot (not shown) that permits the insertion of the divider  25  into a sliding engagement with the supporting structure, such as the sidewall  14  of the rear cargo area  16  of the automobile  10 .  
         [0041]     As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the dividers  25  are located along the straps  22  to form a receptacle between the straps  22  and the supporting structure  14  that is sized appropriately to receive the cargo to be selectively restrained thereby. For example, a bottle  35  will be placed in a receptacle  32  that is sized by the sliding of the divider  25  into the desired location, while a grocery bag  37  will require a larger receptacle  34  formed between two dividers  25 . Clearly, the size of the receptacle can correspond to the specific cargo to be restrained by the apparatus  20  by appropriately moving the dividers  25  into the desired location. If frictional forces are not sufficient to maintain the divider  25  in the position selected, the locking pins  30  can be utilized to provide a positive engagement between the divider  25  and the supporting structure  14 . If many small objects, such as tools, are to be restrained by the apparatus  20 , a corresponding number of dividers  25  can be mounted on the straps  22 .  
         [0042]     It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.  
         [0043]     By way of example, the straps  22  could be formed of multiple layers, one on top of the other, with the layers attached to each other at longitudinally spaced places to provide a substitute for fixed dividers  25 . The straps  22  could be formed with a textured surface or with corrugations to provide an enhanced grip on the cargo restrained therein. The dividers  25  could also be equipped with structure, such as hooks, suction cups or cup holders, to provide added functionality for the dividers  25 . The straps  22  could be constructed with a lateral gradient of elasticity, for example, more elastic at the top of the strap  22  than at the bottom, which could facilitate the placement of cargo items within the straps  22  and to keep the cargo items restrained within the confines of the straps  22 . As additional examples, the entire system  20  could be vertically mounted, as opposed to the horizontal orientation depicted in the drawings, so that gravity would assist in pulling on the restrained cargo items into the receptacle formed within the apparatus  20  above a divider  25 . Furthermore, the multiple straps  22  do not have to be mounted in a parallel orientation as the straps could be angularly disposed to one another to provide a stable support for different sized objects.