Abstract:
A device for restraining parcels and other objects that are typically transported in an automobile on a passenger seat.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of 60/217,430, filed Jul. 10, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a device for restraining parcels and other objects that are typically transported in an automobile on a passenger seat. It is a common experience for such parcels and like objects to slide off of the seat onto the automobile floor when the automobile is brought to a halt. 
     Prior art devices for holding objects from sliding off of automobile seats suffer from several disadvantages, including that they need to be removed from the seat before the seat can be occupied by a passenger. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the present invention, a neoprene (or like elastic material) belt is designed to encircle the upright portion of an automobile seat and provide a bottomless pocket with the seat back into which parcels, such as handbags, books, water bottles and the like, can be conveniently stowed and which are restrained from falling off of the seat when the automobile is brought to a halt. The pocket-forming component of the belt covers the passenger seat back support and is free from any seams or protrusions that would cause discomfort to a passenger. 
     The restraining device of the present invention can also include a pocket into which a cell phone, for example, can be placed, provided the pocket is off to the side and not in a location where a seated passenger would contact the pocket. 
     The bottomless pocket formed between the belt of the present invention and the upright portion of the seat permits objects to be inserted into the pocket from below, as well as above. For example, the top of an open briefcase can be inserted under the belt, making the briefcase contents available to the driver while restraining the briefcase so that it is not discharged onto the floor, along with its contents, every time the automobile is brought to a halt. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a parcel restraint device for an automobile seat that is easy to install, does not have to be removed when the seat is occupied by a passenger and conveniently stows parcels from above or below. 
     The foregoing and other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of the belt restraining device of the present invention shown in relationship to an automobile seat with which it is designed to be used. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a parcel restraint belt  11  of the present invention is sized to encircle the seat back  17  of an automobile seat  16 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the belt  11  is formed from a single piece of elastic material such as neoprene. The belt  11  has four components: (1) a pocket-forming component  12  which has a width measured from edge  12   a  to edge  12   b  that is approximately the same as the width of seat back  17  and a height  23  of six to nine inches or more; (2) a first securing component  13  extending from edge  12   a  of pocket-forming component  12  to end  13   a  a distance sufficient to reach around to the back surface  17   a  of seat back  17 ; (3) a second securing component  14  extending from opposite edge  12   b  of pocket-forming component  12  to end  14   a  a distance sufficient to reach around to the back surface  17   a  of seat back  17 ; and (4) an access flap  15  that depends from the lower edge  12   c  of pocket-forming component  12 . Edge lines  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  are shown in dotted lines to indicate that they demark different areas (components) of what is preferably a single piece of material. The invention, however, includes a belt formed from multiple pieces of material sewn, glued or otherwise integrated into a single structure, so long as they do not include protruding seams or other elements that would cause discomfort to a passenger. 
     The securing components  13  and  14  can be joined around the back of the seat back  17  adjacent the seat back surface  17   a  to hold pocket-forming portion  12  in place to form a bottomless pocket  20  with the seat back surface  18  which is generally parallel to back surface  17   a . The pocket  20  can conveniently receive items commonly carried on a passenger seat of an automobile, such as handbags, water bottles, maps, books, etc., all of which are restrained from sliding off of the seat when the automobile is brought to a stop, as would be the case if these items were simply placed on the seat bottom  19 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the belt securing components  13  and  14  have affixed thereto interacting strips of hook and loop material  21  (VELCRO®) by which the ends  13   a  and  14   a  can be attached together behind seat back  17  holding the belt  11  in place. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the means of attaching end  13   a  to end  14   a  to secure belt  11  in place is not limited to the use of hook and loop strips. Numerous devices are known in the art for attaching two ends of material together, including snaps, buttons, hooks, and/or magnets, as well as adjustable straps with bayonet connectors. The advantage of the hook and loop strips  21  is that they provide adjustability for seats of varying width. 
     By having the belt  11  formed from a single piece of material, the pocket-forming component  12  which overlays the passenger back support surface  18  is free from any seams or other protrusions. Accordingly, when the belt  11  is emptied of its contents, a passenger can comfortably sit in seat  16  without the necessity of removing the belt  11 . Once again, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that pocket-forming component  12  of the belt  11  could be made from more than one piece of material while still avoiding any protruding seams or the like which would cause discomfort to a passenger seated in seat  16  while the belt  11  was attached. Thus, one aspect of the invention resides in a pocket-forming portion  12  free from protrusions or other elements that could cause discomfort to a passenger. 
     A pocket  22  can be formed at the extreme edge of pocket-forming section  12  so as to overlay that portion of the seat back component  17  which is not engaged by a passenger when seated in the seat. Pocket  22  could be used conveniently for storing a cell phone or the like. 
     It is advantageous to have an access flap  15  depending from the lower edge  12   c  of pocket-forming component  12 . Flap  15  allows parcels to be easily inserted from the bottom of pocket  20 , as well as the top when that is advantageous—such as in the case of a briefcase lid. Since flap  15  is in the area where a passenger contacts seat back surface  18 , it is preferred that flap  15  be integral with pocket-forming component  12  to avoid discomforting elements such as seams or protrusions. 
     In order that the belt  11  provide a pocket for storing a wide variety of items, in the preferred embodiment, the overall height  23  of the pocket-forming component  12  and flap  15  is at least six, and preferably at least nine, inches. 
     The upper edge  28  of pocket-forming component  12  is lower than adjacent upper edges  31  and  32  of securing components  14  and  13 , respectively, to facilitate the insertion and removal of parcels from the top of the pocket  20 . 
     From the foregoing, the invention is seen to be a parcel restraint device for use with an automobile passenger seat comprising in combination a generally rectangular pocket-forming component  12  of elastic material, such as neoprene, defined by a lower edge  12   c , an upper edge  28  and two side edges  12   a  and  12   b ; a first securing component  13  extending from edge  12   a  of pocket-forming component  12  and defined by a side edge  12   a , an upper edge  32 , a lower edge  27  and a distal end  13   a ; a second securing component  14  extending from edge  12   b  of pocket-forming component  12  and defined by a side edge  12   b , an upper edge  31 , a lower edge  26  and a distal end  14   a ; an access flap  15  extending from the lower edge  12   c  of pocket-forming component  12 ; and attachment means  21  (such as hook and loop fastener) for attaching the distal ends  13   a  and  14   a  of securing components  13  and  14  together. The lower edges  26  and  27  of securing components  14  and  13 , respectively, are relatively higher than the access flap  15  at the side edges  12   b  and  12   a  of the pocket-forming component  12 , while the upper edges  31  and  32  of securing components  14  and  13 , respectively, are relatively higher than the upper edge  28  of pocket-forming component  12 . 
     Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations in the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. 
     As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.