Patent Publication Number: US-2004040994-A1

Title: Hands free article support for supporting various articles in a vehicle and articles supported thereby

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention is directed to an article support for supporting various articles in a vehicle. Further, the present invention is directed to articles supported by an article support deployed in a vehicle. In its most preferred form, the present invention is directed to a hands free support for supporting a fast food product container or package (e.g. a french fry container or package) in an automobile allowing occupants of the vehicle to access the fast food product without supporting the container or package with their hands or any other portion of their body. In addition, another most preferred form of the present invention is directed to a french fry container or package adapted to be hung from an article support deployed in an automobile.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Inhabitants of industrial nations including citizens of the United States and many other nations are accustomed to the convenience and availability of automobiles. Occupants of automobiles including but not limited to the driver of the vehicle access various items while in the automobile. These items include fast food products, among other items. Numerous different fast food suppliers cater to the inhabitants of industrial nations. In fact, a number of different fast food suppliers have “drive-thru” windows allowing individuals to conveniently purchase various different fast food products without ever leaving their car. Fast food products are commonly provided to the consumer in variety of different packages or containers.  
       [0003] As a result of mobile societies, it has become commonplace for the occupants of automobiles to perform various daily tasks including eating while driving. This fact of mobile societies has led to the development of many different kinds of drink and food holders for use in automobiles. One example is specially designed trays developed to hold various fast food products. These trays may be supported in the lap of the occupant of the vehicle such as the tray disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,375. The tray disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,375 is provided with a specially designed clip to secure the tray to the seat belt of a vehicle. The tray disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,108 is a molded plastic tray having integrally molded compartments depending from a generally flat surface. The compartments are configured to receive various fast food products. The tray is provided with a supporting hook in order to mount the tray on a vehicle door.  
       [0004] Other devices developed to accommodate fast food products include food consoles such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. D456,761. Some devices such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,667,119 and D454,035 have been designed to handle a specific type of fast food, i.e., french fries.  
       [0005] Previously developed devices for supporting items (e.g., fast food products) accessed by individuals while driving suffer from numerous inherent disadvantages. For example, the tray type support devices are inordinately large thereby increasing the cost of manufacture of the device. Further, these large trays are unsightly and unnecessarily reduce the usable space in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Moreover, trays are difficult to store when not in use. Additionally, trays situated on an individuals lap unduly restrict movement of the individual.  
       [0006] Console type support devices are also inordinately large and unsightly. In addition, console type devices require a particularly configured passenger compartment having a suitable area for accommodating the console. Not all passenger compartments can readily accommodate console type devices. This is particularly true in small automobiles.  
       [0007] Devices mounted to various portions of an automobile door are undesirable for various reasons. First, the door cannot be readily opened and/or closed without risking spillage of the fast food product. Alternatively, the device must be removed before the door is opened or closed. Further, where the device is mounted to the window, the device must be removed before the window can be opened.  
       [0008] Previously known devices to support various items in an automobile are further undesirable because they cannot be readily and easily stored in the passenger compartment when not in use without taking up an inordinate amount of valuable storage space in the passenger compartment.  
       [0009] Accordingly, a significant need exists for a product that overcomes the numerous inherent disadvantageous of the prior art.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] An object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a novel and unobvious hands free article support for use in an automobile.  
       [0011] Another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a novel and unobvious container or package for use with a hands free article support.  
       [0012] A further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hands free article support that can be used in a variety of different size and styles of automobiles.  
       [0013] Still a further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hands free article support that can be readily and easily stored when not in use.  
       [0014] Yet still another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hands free article support that takes up only an extremely small space in a passenger compartment when being used.  
       [0015] Yet still a further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hands free article support that can be inexpensively manufactured.  
       [0016] Another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hands free article support that can be disposed of after use.  
       [0017] Still another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hands free article support that does not restrict the ability of occupants of a vehicle to open and close automobile doors.  
       [0018] Yet still another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hands free article support that does not restrict the ability of occupants of a vehicle to open and close automobile windows.  
       [0019] Yet a further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a hands free article support that does not restrict the mobility of occupants of a vehicle.  
       [0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container that can be readily mounted on a hands free article support deployed in an automobile.  
       [0021] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a container for use with a hands free article support that includes indicia corresponding to a game the fast food provider plays with its consumer.  
       [0022] It must be understood that no one embodiment of the present invention need include all of the aforementioned objects of the present invention. Rather, a given embodiment may include one or none of the aforementioned objects. Accordingly, these objects are not to be used to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention.  
       [0023] In summary, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to an article support for supporting an article in a motorized vehicle allowing occupants of the vehicle to access the article without supporting the article with the occupants hands or any other portion of the occupants body. The article support includes a body having an opening for receiving a predetermined portion of a vent of a vehicle. The body has an upper portion, a lower portion, a rear portion and a front portion. An attachment member extends forwardly from the front portion. The article support includes a release member for permitting the body to be removed from the predetermined portion of the vent of a vehicle.  
       [0024] Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus having an article support. The article support includes a body having an opening for receiving a predetermined portion of a vent of a vehicle. The body has an upper portion, a lower portion, a rear portion and a front portion. The article support further includes an attachment member extending forwardly from the front portion. The apparatus further includes an article supported by the article support. The article has a front surface, a rear surface, a left side surface, a right side surface and a bottom surface. The article further has an opening formed in one of the front, rear, left side, right side and bottom surfaces. The attachment member is inserted into the opening of the article whereby the article hangs from the article support.  
       [0025] A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus for holding a fast food product. The apparatus includes a french fry package for holding french fries. The french fry package has a front surface, a top, a rear surface, a left side surface, a right side surface and a bottom surface. The top is open thereby permitting french fries to be placed into the french fry package. One of the front, rear, left side, right side and bottom surfaces of the french fry package has an opening formed therein. The opening has a sufficient size to receive a portion of a support member whereby the french fry package can be readily supported in a hands free manner by the support member.  
       [0026] Still another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus for holding a fast food product. The apparatus includes a french fry package for holding french fries. The french fry package has a front surface, a top, a rear surface, a left side surface, a right side surface and a bottom surface. The top is open thereby permitting french fries to be placed into the french fry package. One of the front, rear, left side, right side and bottom surfaces of the french fry package has a removable section that forms an opening when removed. The opening formed upon removal of the removable section has a sufficient size to receive a portion of a support member whereby the french fry package can be readily supported in a hands free manner by the support member. The removable section has indicia for a game in which prizes are awarded by a fast food provider.  
       [0027] Yet still another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus including a vent of a motorized vehicle, an article support and a french fry package supported by the article support. The vent has a plurality of air distributors. The article support includes a body having at least one opening for receiving one of the plurality of air distributors. The body further has an upper portion, a lower portion, a rear portion and a front portion. The article support further includes an attachment member extending forwardly from the front portion of the body. The french fry package is supported by the article support adjacent the attachment member. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0028]FIG. 1 is a side view of an article support formed in accordance with the most preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0029]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the article support depicted in FIG. 1.  
     [0030]FIG. 3 is a side view of an initial step in the most preferred method of attaching the article support to the vent of an automobile.  
     [0031]FIG. 4 is a side view of a subsequent step in the most preferred method of attaching the article support to the vent of an automobile.  
     [0032]FIG. 5 is a side view of another subsequent step in the most preferred method of attaching the article support to the vent of an automobile.  
     [0033]FIG. 6 is a side view of a further subsequent step in the most preferred method of attaching the article support to the vent of an automobile.  
     [0034]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of many possible items supported by the article support depicted in FIG. 1.  
     [0035]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the article support depicted in FIG. 1.  
     [0036]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the most preferred form of an article supported by the article support depicted in FIG. 1.  
     [0037]FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternative form of the article support.  
     [0038]FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the article support depicted in FIG. 10. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION  
     [0039] The most preferred forms of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.  1 - 9 . The appended claims are not limited to the most preferred embodiments and no term used herein is to be given a meaning other than its ordinary meaning unless accompanied by a statement that the term “as used herein is defined as follows”.  
     FIGS.  1  through  9   
     [0040] Referring to FIG. 1, a hands free article support A is illustrated in one of many possible configurations. The hands free article support A may be made of any suitable material including but not limited to metal, plastic or rubber. The hands free article support A includes a body B, an attachment member C and a release member D. The body B includes an opening  2  for receiving a predetermined portion of a vent of a vehicle as explained in greater detail below. The body B further includes an upper portion  4 , a lower portion  6 , a rear portion  8  and a front portion  10 . The upper portion  4  has first end  12  and second end  14 . Similarly, the lower portion  6  has first end  16  and second end  18 . The first end  12  of the upper portion  4  is connected to the first end  16  by the front portion  10 . The second end  18  of lower portion  6  is spaced from the rear portion  8  thereby defining a passageway through which a predetermined portion of the vent of a vehicle passes when the article is mounted for use. Preferably, the rear portion  8  is substantially U-shaped.  
     [0041] The attachment member C extends forwardly from the front portion  10  a sufficient distance to space the article from the air distributor. Preferably, the attachment member C is substantially symmetrical as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and  9 . The attachment member includes a curved head  20 , a first reduced section  22 , a body section  24  and a second reduced section  24 . As seen in FIG. 7, the article E supported by the hands free article support A is preferably hung from the first reduced section  22 . The release member D is preferably connected to the lower portion  6  of body B. It must be understood that while the preferred forms of the body B, attachment member C and release member D are depicted in FIGS. 1 through 9, it will be readily appreciated that the configuration and orientation of these components may be varied. Further, various ones of theses components may be omitted in their entirety to accommodate any given circumstance.  
     [0042]FIGS. 3 through 6 depict one of many methods of attaching the hands free article support to a vent F of an automobile. The vent F is depicted as having four horizontally oriented air distributors  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32 . It will be readily appreciated that the number and orientation of air distributors may be varied. For example, and without limitation, the vent could include a plurality of horizontally oriented air distributors and a plurality of vertically oriented air distributors. Further, the air distributors could be fixed or adjustable. As depicted in FIG. 3, the hands free article support A is oriented relative to an air distributor such that the passageway or space formed between the lower portion  6  and the rear portion  8  is aligned with the air distributor. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the article support A is rotated upwardly and inserted further into the vent. As seen in FIG. 6, the article support A is then manipulated such that the substantially U-shaped rear portion  8  engages the back of the air distributor. In the installed position depicted in FIG. 6, the air distributor  30  is positioned in the opening  2  of body B. It will be readily appreciated that the hands free article support A could be mounted on any of the air distributors. To remove the hands free article support A, the release member is pushed upwardly toward the attachment member C causing the lower portion  6  to rotate downwardly away from the air distributor  30 . At approximately the same time, the hands free article support A is pushed into the vent slightly to dislodge the substantially U-shaped rear portion  8  from the back of the air distributor  30 .  
     [0043] In its preferred form the article supported by the hands free article support A is a french fry container E, as seen in FIGS. 7 and 9. However, it will be readily appreciated that many other items may be supported by the article support A including but not limited to fast food items other than french fries or non-food products such as note pads, telephones, signs, etc. The french fry container includes a front surface  32 , a top  34 , a rear surface  36 , a left side surface  38  and a right side surface  40 . Preferably, the rear surface  36  includes a removable section  42 . The outer perimeter of the removable section  42  is defined by one or more weakness lines  44 . While the removable section  42  is depicted as having a circular shape, it can be configured in any manner desired. Further, the removable section  42  may be provided with indicia corresponding to a game the fast food provider plays with its customers. The indicia cold be initially hidden and require the customer to scratch off a cover surface. Alternatively, the indicia could be readily visible. Once the removable section  42  is separated from the remaining portion of the rear surface  36 , an opening is formed of sufficient size to receive the head  20  of attachment member C. In this manner, the container E is readily hung from the hands free article support A. It should be noted that the head  20  could be configured in any manner and could take the form of a popular cartoon character or other recognizable symbol.  
     [0044] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, one of many possible alternative forms of the hands free article support is depicted. The hands free article support G includes a body H, an attachment member I and a release member J. The body H includes an opening  46  for receiving a predetermined portion of a vent of a vehicle as explained in greater detail below. The body H further includes an upper portion  48 , a lower portion  50 , a rear portion  52  and a front portion  54 . The upper portion  48  has first end  56  and second end  58 . Similarly, the lower portion  50  has first end  60  and second end  62 . The first end  56  of the upper portion  48  is connected to the first end  60  by the front portion  54 . The second end  62  of lower portion  50  is spaced from the rear portion  52  thereby defining a passageway through which a predetermined portion of the vent of a vehicle may pass when the article is mounted for use. Upper portion  48 , as seen in FIG. 11, includes an opening  63 . The area  49  of upper portion  48  is enlarged to allow an individual to squeeze that area with two fingers resulting in the legs  51  and  53  spreading apart to facilitate removal. Lower portion  50  also includes an opening similar to opening  63 . Although not shown lower portion  50  has an area similar to area  49  for the same purpose. The openings of the upper and lower portions of the body H can receive a vertically oriented air distributor so that the hands free article support G is mounted on the vertically oriented air distributor. Preferably, the rear portion  52  is substantially U-shaped. It will be readily appreciated that the rear portion  52  can be configured in any manner desired.  
     [0045] Referring to FIG. 10, the attachment member I extends forwardly from the front portion  54 . The attachment member includes a curved head  64  and a first reduced section  66 . The article supported by the hands free article support G is preferably hung from the first reduced section  66 . The release member J is preferably connected to the lower portion  50  of body H. It must be understood that while one of the preferred forms of the body H, attachment member I and release member J are depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11, it will be readily appreciated that the configuration and orientation of these components may be varied. Further, various ones of theses components may be omitted in their entirety to accommodate any given circumstance. The hands free article support G is mounted in a similar manner  
     [0046] While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that the preferred design can be further modified or adapted following in general the principles of the invention and including but not limited to such departures from the present invention as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains. The claims are not limited to the preferred embodiment and have been written to preclude such a narrow construction using the principles of claim differentiation.