Abstract:
An automobile accessory comprising an envelope that fits between the center console of an automobile and either the front driver&#39;s seat, or the front passenger&#39;s seat, for catching items that would otherwise end up between an automobile seat and the center console or under the seat.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/509,097, filed Jul. 24, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,162,189, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to automobile accessories. More particularly, the present invention relates to an envelope that fits between the center console of an automobile and either the front driver&#39;s seat, or the front passenger&#39;s seat, for catching items that would otherwise end up between an automobile seat and the center console or under the seat. In addition, the envelope may act as a convenient storage location for items intentionally placed inside it. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention involves multiple embodiments of an automobile accessory for catching items that would otherwise fall between an automobile seat and the center console or under the seat. In addition, the invention includes methods of using the accessory. 
         [0004]    The following description of the accessory begins at a high level of generality and increases in detail to define various embodiments. At the most basic level, the accessory comprises an envelope that fits between the center console of an automobile and either the front driver&#39;s seat, or the front passenger&#39;s seat. Within the context of this specification, the term “envelope” shall mean a pouch-like holder or sleeve with an open top, and not specifically a flat paper container with a gummed flap commonly used to send mail. The envelope opens at the top, with a width of roughly 1.5 inches. In some embodiments, the sides of the envelope flange outward at the top. The width of the envelope tapers down to approximately 0.5 inches at its base. The envelope is about 11.5 inches long, to accommodate an 8.5×11-inch document oriented horizontally in the envelope. One embodiment, targeted at small to mid-sized automobiles, is about 3 inches in height. Another embodiment, intended to be used in sport utility vehicles or trucks, is about 5 inches in height. While the aforementioned heights correspond to preferred embodiments, other embodiments could be of different heights such as between 2 and 10 inches. 
         [0005]    While the width of the envelope has been specified above, the envelope is actually somewhat compressible to allow it to be squeezed into place between the center console and seat. The envelope offers a measure of resistance against compression due to the material that the envelope is made of and/or because of one or more shape-retaining members incorporated into the envelope. The shape-retaining member is a bent strip of metal, plastic, or other resilient material that is a) sandwiched between an inner and outer layer of envelope material, b) affixed to the inside of the envelope, and/or c) affixed to the outside of the envelope. In addition, there is a strip of adhesive tape having the hook component of hook-and-loop adhesive tape (e.g. VELCRO®) on the side of the envelope that abuts the center console. The small hooks on the adhesive tape engage with the carpeted surface found on most center consoles, or with a strip of adhesive tape having the corresponding loops. The self-expanding property of the envelope and the strip of tape with small hooks allow the envelope to be securely situated into place between the seat and console. The material of the envelope is vinyl, plastic, rubber, or another material that is flexible, resilient, and dishwasher-safe. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the envelope includes an L-shaped or, preferably, a U-shaped extension that fits around the end of a center console that faces the rear of an automobile. The extension is preferably made of a rigid material such as hard plastic, metal, or wood. The extension is advantageous in that it provides additional security against the envelope becoming displaced in the event of a sudden stop. The extension could be incorporated with the material of the envelope as a single unit or affixed to the envelope with glue, tape, staples, tacks, screws, nails, or other suitable attachment means. Another provision for ensuring that the envelope stays in place even when sudden forces act upon the envelope is one or more hooks that connect the envelope to an adjacent surface inside the automobile. Such a hook is of rigid material, such as metal or hard plastic and is located anywhere along the sides of the envelope. Each hook is either integral to the material of the envelope or affixed to the envelope with glue, tape, staples, tacks, screws, nails, or other suitable attachment means. Instead of a separate means for attaching a hook to the envelope, a hook itself could include attachment means for both the envelope and the surface of the automobile. Included in the scope of this description is a double-ended hook that includes a first hook at a proximal end to engage with the material of the envelope and a second hook at a distal end to engage with a surface inside an automobile. Surfaces inside the automobile that a hook could engage with include the outside of a center console, a floor mat, a floor board, and the outside of a seat. 
         [0007]    In addition to the accessory itself, there are methods of using the accessory. At its most basic, a method of using the accessory is: 1) orienting the envelope above a space between a center console of an automobile and either a driver&#39;s seat or a front passenger&#39;s seat, with the side of the envelope with the adhesive tape facing towards the center console; 2) compressing the envelope to reduce its width to less than the width of the space; 3) inserting the envelope into the space; and 4) releasing compression on the envelope, allowing it to expand. After one or more items have collected inside the envelope, the user would either remove the envelope entirely and dump the contents out, or retrieve the items with the envelope still mounted between the seat and center console. It should be noted that items may collect in the envelope not only when they inadvertently fall into it, but also when they are intentionally placed there by a person. Another method for use with certain embodiments of the accessory includes the additional step of positioning an extension of the envelope to wrap around the end of a center console facing the rear of an automobile. Yet another method for use with certain embodiments of the accessory includes engaging one or more hooks with a side of the envelope and an adjacent surface inside an automobile. 
         [0008]    In one aspect, the present invention provides an automobile accessory comprising: 
         [0009]    an envelope of dishwasher-safe, resilient, flexible material having a length of approximately 11.5 inches and having a substantially V-shaped cross-section with an open top having a width of approximately 1.5 inches, a base having a width of approximately 0.5 inches, a proximal side, a distal side, a left side, and a right side; said envelope having a height of approximately 3 to 5 inches; and 
         [0010]    a strip of adhesive tape having small hooks, said strip adhered to either the left side or the right side of the envelope with said hooks pointing away from the envelope. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described wherein an uppermost section of said open top flanges laterally outward. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described wherein the material of the envelope is plastic. 
         [0013]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described wherein the material of the envelope is vinyl. 
         [0014]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described wherein the material of the envelope is rubber. 
         [0015]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described wherein the strip of adhesive tape is between 1 and 1.5 inches in height, is approximately the same length as the envelope, and is located at a lowermost section of either the left side or the right side of the envelope. 
         [0016]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described further comprising a shape-retaining member comprising a bent strip of resilient material that is sandwiched between an inner and outer layer of envelope material, affixed to the inside of the envelope, or affixed to the outside of the envelope. 
         [0017]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described wherein the envelope has a height of approximately 3 inches. 
         [0018]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described wherein the envelope has a height of approximately 5 inches. 
         [0019]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described further comprising at least one hook of rigid material connected to a side of the envelope. 
         [0020]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described wherein the material of the at least one hook is metal or plastic. 
         [0021]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described wherein the at least one hook is a double-ended hook including a first hook at a proximal end engaged with the material of the envelope and a second hook at a distal end. 
         [0022]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described further comprising an L-shaped or U-shaped extension of rigid material connected to the left side, the right side, or the proximal side of the envelope and projecting longitudinally outward from the envelope. 
         [0023]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described wherein the material of the extension is plastic, metal, or wood. 
         [0024]    In another aspect, the present invention further provides an automobile accessory as previously described wherein the extension is U-shaped. 
         [0025]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of using an automobile accessory comprising: 
         [0026]    an envelope of dishwasher-safe, resilient, flexible material having a length of approximately 11.5 inches and having a substantially V-shaped cross-section with an open top having a width of approximately 1.5 inches, a base having a width of approximately 0.5 inches, a proximal side, a distal side, a left side, and a right side; and 
         [0027]    a strip of adhesive tape having small hooks, said strip adhered to either the left side or the right side of the envelope with said hooks pointing away from the envelope, 
         [0028]    the method comprising: 
         [0029]    a) orienting the envelope above a space having a width between a center console of an automobile and either a driver&#39;s seat or a front passenger&#39;s seat, with the side of the envelope with the adhesive tape facing towards the center console; 
         [0030]    b) if the envelope is wider than the space, compressing the envelope to reduce the width of the envelope to less than the width of the space; 
         [0031]    c) inserting the envelope into the space; and 
         [0032]    d) releasing any compression on the envelope. 
         [0033]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of using an automobile accessory, as previously described, further comprising: 
         [0034]    e) after one or more items have collected inside the envelope, retrieving one or more of the items with the envelope still situated between a seat and the center console. 
         [0035]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of using an automobile accessory, as previously described, further comprising: 
         [0036]    e) with an L-shaped or U-shaped extension of rigid material which is connected to the left side, the right side, or the proximal side of the envelope and projects longitudinally outward from the envelope, positioning said extension such that it wraps around an end of a center console facing the rear of the automobile. 
         [0037]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of using an automobile accessory, as previously described, further comprising: 
         [0038]    e) engaging at least one hook of rigid material connected to a side of the envelope with an adjacent surface inside the automobile. 
         [0039]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of using an automobile accessory, as previously described, further comprising: 
         [0040]    e) after one or more items have collected inside the envelope, removing the envelope from the space; and 
         [0041]    f) dumping the items out of the envelope. 
         [0042]    These and other aspects of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0043]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an automobile accessory of the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the automobile accessory of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the automobile accessory wherein the uppermost section of the open top flanges laterally outward. 
           [0046]      FIG. 4  is a perspective, partial cutaway view showing an automobile accessory having an L-shaped extension fitting around the back of a center console of an automobile. 
           [0047]      FIG. 5  is a perspective, partial cutaway view showing an automobile accessory having a U-shaped extension fitting around the back and sides of a center console of an automobile. 
           [0048]      FIG. 6  is a plan view showing an automobile accessory having double-ended hooks engaging with the material of the envelope and the surface of an automobile seat and a center console. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0049]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an automobile accessory of the present invention  110 . The accessory  110  includes an envelope  112 , having a proximal side  114 , a distal side  116 , a left side  118 , a right side  120 , a base  122 , and an open top  124 . Along the bottom of the right side  120  is a strip of adhesive tape with small hooks (hereinafter “hook-tape”)  128 . The strip of hook-tape  128  can engage with the carpeted surface often found on the sides of a center console in an automobile. If a particular automobile does not have a carpeted surface on the sides of the center console, a piece of adhesive tape with minute loops or pile (hereinafter “loop-tape”) could be adhered to the center console for engagement with the hook-tape  128 . 
         [0050]    In other embodiments of the invention, either single- or double-sided tape could be used to secure the envelope to a surface of the center console. 
         [0051]    The accessory  110  shown in  FIG. 1  is intended for use with small to mid-sized automobiles. As a result, certain dimensions of the envelope  112  differ from an embodiment intended for use in large automobiles, such as trucks and/or sport utility vehicles. In this embodiment, dimension H 110  is approximately 3 inches. In an alternate embodiment designed for use in a large automobile, the same dimension would be approximately 5 inches. The envelope is intended to rest on the floorboard of the automobile. Larger automobiles can accommodate larger heights for the envelope, resulting in more storage capacity. The dimension L 110  is approximately 11.5 inches and the dimension W 110  is about 1.5 inches. 
         [0052]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the automobile accessory  110  of  FIG. 1 , taken along line II. Visible here are the left side  118 , the right side  120 , and the base  122  of the envelope  112 . Also visible in  FIG. 2  is the distal side  116  of the envelope  112 . Sandwiched between an inner layer  132  and outer layer  134  of the material of the envelope  112  is a shape-retaining member  130 , comprising a strip of metal bent to match the cross-sectional shape of the envelope  112  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The shape-retaining member  130  allows the envelope  112  to be compressed when a reasonable amount of compressive force is applied by hand, but is resilient enough to cause the envelope  112  to expand back to its original shape when the compressive force is released. In other embodiments, the shape-retaining member may be affixed to the inside the envelope, affixed to the outside of the envelope, or entirely absent. A shape-retaining member in other embodiments could be oriented differently than in  FIG. 2 . For instance, a shape-retaining member could be oriented at a degree of rotation along an axis running horizontally through the cross-sectional view shown in  FIG. 2 , or in other words, a transverse axis. Other embodiments may have multiple shape-retaining members. In embodiments that have no shape-retaining member, the material of the envelope is resilient enough to allow compression and re-expansion without the aid of a shape-retaining member. 
         [0053]    Also visible in  FIG. 2  is width of the base  122 , denoted as W 112 . The W 112  dimension is approximately 0.5 inches. Regardless of whether an automobile accessory of the present invention is designed for a small to mid-sized automobile, or a large automobile, the base would be approximately 0.5 inches in width. Along the bottom of the right side  120  is a strip of hook-tape  128 . It has a height, denoted as H 112 , of about 1 inch. Generally speaking, the height of the strip of hook-tape would range from approximately 1 inch to 1.5 inches, with the height being on the lower end of the spectrum for small to mid-sized automobiles and on the higher end for large automobiles. 
         [0054]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of an automobile accessory  310 , wherein the view is taken along the same cross-sectional line that  FIG. 2  is taken along. In the uppermost 0.125 inch section, denoted as dimension H 314 , the left side  318  and the right side  320  of the envelope  312  have flanges  326  that extend laterally outward. Also visible in  FIG. 3  is the distal side  316  of the envelope  312 . Sandwiched between an inner layer  332  and outer layer  334  of the material of the envelope  312  is a shape-retaining member  330 , comprising a strip of metal bent to match the cross-sectional shape of the envelope  312  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Similar to shape-retaining member shown in  FIG. 2 , shape-retaining member  330  allows the envelope  312  to be compressed when a reasonable amount of compressive force is applied by hand, but is resilient enough to cause the envelope  312  to expand back to its original shape when the compressive force is released. 
         [0055]    Also visible in  FIG. 3  is the width of the base, denoted as W 312 . As in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the W 312  dimension here is approximately 0.5 inches. Along the bottom of the right side  320  is a strip of hook-tape  328 . It has a height, denoted as H 312 , of about 1 inch. In other embodiments, the height of the hook-tape could range between about 1 inch and about 1.5 inches. 
         [0056]      FIG. 4  is a perspective, partial cutaway view showing an automobile accessory  410  having an L-shaped extension  436  fitting around the back of a center console  442  of an automobile. Automobile seat  440  is partially cut away to show the position of the automobile accessory  410 . As a precautionary measure to guard against displacement of the accessory  410  due to sudden braking, L-shaped extension  436  extends from the envelope  412  and wraps around the back of center console  442 . The L-shaped extension  436  in this particular embodiment is affixed to the right side of the envelope  412  with glue. It is emphasized that the extension  436  could also be incorporated with the material of the envelope  412  as a single unit or affixed to the envelope  412  with tape, staples, tacks, screws, nails, or other suitable attachment means. The L-shaped extension  436  in  FIG. 3  is made of hard plastic. Other materials may be used in alternate embodiments, but it is preferred that the material be rigid. 
         [0057]      FIG. 5  is a perspective, partial cutaway view showing an automobile accessory  510  having a U-shaped extension  536  fitting around the back and sides of a center console  542  of an automobile. Automobile seat  540  is partially cut away to show the position of the automobile accessory  510 . As a precautionary measure to guard against displacement of the accessory  510  due to sudden braking and/or lateral forces, U-shaped extension  536  extends from the envelope  512  and wraps around the back and sides of center console  542 . An advantage of a U-shaped extension over an L-shaped extension is the added protection against potential lateral forces against either side of the accessory  510 . A potential downside to the U-shaped extension is that, in order to be effective in protecting against lateral forces, it would need to fit the width of the center console  542 . While various configurations of the U-shaped extension could be manufactured to fit center consoles of different widths, an L-shaped extension would be more likely to fit any given center console. The U-shaped extension  536  in this particular embodiment is affixed to the right side of the envelope  512  with staples. It is emphasized that the extension  536  could also be incorporated with the material of the envelope  512  as a single unit or affixed to the envelope  512  with glue, tape, tacks, screws, nails, or other suitable attachment means. The U-shaped extension  536  is made of metal in this embodiment. As with the L-shaped extension discussed previously, other materials may be used in alternate embodiments of the U-shaped extension, but rigid materials are preferred. 
         [0058]      FIG. 6  is a plan view showing an automobile accessory  610  having double-ended hooks  638 , engaging with the material of the envelope  612 , the right side of automobile seat  640 , and the left side of center console  642 . The hooks  638  are shown in phantom at the portions that are embedded in the material of the seat  640 , center console  642 , and envelope  612 . Hooks  638  act as a restraining means to counteract forces that might otherwise displace the accessory  610 . The double-ended hooks  638  shown in  FIG. 6 , and hooks in general, provide for a more permanent and secure mounting of the accessory  610  than other embodiments discussed previously. A tradeoff of this configuration is that more effort would be required to remove the accessory  610  from between the seat  640  and center console  642  and dump its contents out, compared to previously-described embodiments. Additionally, repeatedly hooking and unhooking the accessory  610  from the automobile seat  640  and center console  642  could be deleterious to their surfaces. For these reasons, a suggested method of emptying the contents would be by reaching into the envelope  612  and removing the contents by hand, with the envelope  612  still hooked into place. 
         [0059]    The above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit its scope. Other embodiments and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.