Abstract:
A sling construction in the form of a hammock includes a number of panels stitched together in the form of an open top container for placement in the back seat of a motor vehicle to protect the interior of the vehicle and to further protect animals within the sling construction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a sling or hammock construction for maintaining a pet safely on a vehicle seat, particularly the back seat behind a driver and passenger. 
   When traveling with a pet, particularly a pet that may be large or sheds fur, placement of the pet in the back seat of a vehicle often results in rendering the back seat untidy and unclean. Fur which has been shed and dirt from the animal may result in making the back seat unsuitable or unusable by a subsequent passenger. Additionally, if a pet is placed in the back seat of a vehicle, the pet may be thrown forward and injured in the event of a sudden stop. 
   Thus, there has developed the need for means to not only protect the interior upholstery of a vehicle, including the seat and floor area behind the driver and passenger front compartment, but also a means to enhance the safety of a pet placed in the back seat of a vehicle. Merely attaching the pet to a safety belt by means of a leash may not be appropriate or safe. Retaining the pet in a seatbelt will, of course, not be feasible. Thus, the need described has become an important factor, particularly with people who have pets as their companions. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, the present invention comprises a sling construction which forms a hammock-type structure that is adapted to be suspended or attached into the back seat of a vehicle behind the front seat driver and passenger area. The sling construction includes a bottom panel which fits against the back seat of the vehicle and connected side panels which together form an open top, sack shaped protective enclosure for the pet. The sling construction is fabricated from a material such as a canvas or heavy cloth material and includes various fastening mechanisms which attach the sling construction or hammock-like construction to the backside of the front seat, and in particular the headrests as well as the headrest of the back seat. Side straps with magnetic attachment devices effect attachment of the sides of the sling construction to the vehicle chassis. Openings are provided in the panels for receipt of a vehicle seatbelt through the bottom of the sling construction enabling attachment of a leash for the animal. 
   Thus, the sling construction is generally made from a comfortable, flexible material which provides a safety compartment for the animal retained therein. Various straps attach the sling construction to the seat and to the chassis of the vehicle. Additionally, by providing openings in the bottom of the sling construction, seatbelts may be fitted through the sling construction to enable use by human passengers without necessitating total removal of the sling construction from the back seat. Various alternative strap and attachment assemblies are also available to enhance the utility of the sling construction. 
   Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide improved sling-type construction for placement in the back seat of a vehicle for use by an animal to enhance the safety of the animal and further to provide a means to protect the vehicle seat. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide an economical, yet easily usable, rugged sling construction for placement in a motor vehicle and, in particular, in the back seat thereof for protection and transport of an animal. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a portable or removable sling construction for use in the back seat of a motor vehicle wherein the sling construction may be at least partially detached from its typical service position to thereby enable a passenger to use the sling construction as a seat pad and further wherein the sling construction permits the utilization of seat belts through openings provided in the panels of the sling construction. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a sling construction for the back seat of a motor vehicle which protects the interior upholstery of the vehicle. 
   These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the detailed description which follows reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following Figures: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the sling construction of the invention positioned within the back seat of a motor vehicle; 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the sling construction of  FIG. 1  as installed in a motor vehicle; 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view similar to  FIG. 2  wherein a center panel associated with the vertical or generally vertical back portion of the sling construction is opened for placement of an arm rest; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged isometric view of the zipper construction associated with a seam in the back panel of the sling construction; 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the sling construction of  FIG. 1  wherein the sling construction has been detached from the vehicle front seat and folded in a manner to enable the seat construction to comprise a cover for the vehicle back seat wherein a passenger may sit on the cover and still utilize the seatbelts in the back seat of the vehicle; 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the sling construction of  FIG. 5  in a folded condition to enable a passenger to sit on the sling; 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation of the sling construction positioned for receipt of a pet; 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevation of the sling construction positioned for entry into the sling; 
       FIG. 9  is a side elevation of the sling construction wherein an infant seat has been positioned in the sling construction; 
       FIG. 10  is a side elevation illustrating the manner in which an individual would sit in the back seat of a vehicle utilizing the sling construction which has been opened in the manner depicted in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view of an alternative sling construction wherein straps are provided for attaching the vertical back panel thereof to hooks in that circumstance where there are no back seat headrests; and 
       FIG. 12  is an enlarged isometric view of a construction of the type depicted in  FIG. 11  for attaching the sling construction to hooks behind the back seat. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the figures, the sling construction or “hammock” of the invention includes a lower or bottom panel  10  which is sized and designed to fit on the generally horizontal seat portion of the back seat of a vehicle. The bottom panel  10  is typically a rectangular shape and dimensioned so that it covers the seat portion  12 . The bottom panel  10  is connected to a generally upright or vertical back panel  14 , which has a generally rectangular shape in a preferred embodiment, and which is sized to fit against the generally vertical back support section  16  of the back seat of a motor vehicle. 
   In a similar fashion, a front panel  20  is attached to the bottom panel  10 . The front panel  20  is generally rectangular in shape and is attached by binding and stitching to the front edge  22  of the bottom panel  10 . The front panel  20  is sized so that it will extend upwardly from the bottom panel  10  an appropriate height not exceeding the height of the front seat back rest, for example, front seat back rest  24 . 
   The sling construction further includes a first lateral side web or panel  26  connecting the front panel  14 , bottom panel  10  and front panel  20 . In similar fashion, the opposite side of the sling construction or hammock includes a lateral side web or panel  28  which, in like manner, is stitched and attached to the back panel  14 , bottom panel  10  and front panel  20 . Thus, a five-sided, open top compartment is provided forming a hammock or enclosure in which an animal may be retained. The configuration of the sling is generally that of a skewed parallelepiped. However, the arrangement of panels and shape of the panels may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, the side panels  26  and  28  may be detachably connected along one or more sides thereof. For example, in  FIG. 1 , sides  28 A and  28 B may be zipper seams. 
   The front panel  20  further includes straps such as straps  30  and  32  which may be connected together by means of buckle elements  34  and  36  and fitted around the headrest  38  of the passenger side of the front seat. Similarly, a strap and fastening mechanism  40  fits around a headrest  42  associated with the driver&#39;s side of the front seat of the motor vehicle. 
   In similar fashion, the back panel  14  includes straps such as straps  44  and  46  connected by a fastening or buckle mechanism  48  for fitting about headrest  50  associated with the backrest  15  of the back seat  16 . An additional fastening mechanism  52  attaches the opposite side of the back panel  14  to or around back seat headrest  54 . 
   Lateral side straps such as lateral side strap  58  are attached to the side edge  60  of back panel  14 . The strap  58  includes a magnet  62  retained within a pocket  64  attached to the end of strap  58 . The magnet  62  enables and secures attachment of the strap  58  to the steel chassis  66  of the motor vehicle. In similar fashion, a strap  70  attached to the lower side edge  60  of back panel  14  includes a magnet  72  which enables attachment of the strap  70  to the chassis of the vehicle. In this manner, the side of the back panel  14  is retained so as to insure maintenance of the sling construction or hammock in an open condition. Similar side straps such as side strap  76  are provided on the opposite edge or side  78  of the back panel  14 . 
   The back panel  14  includes zipper openings such as openings  80  and  82  in a seam  86  slightly above the seam  88  connecting the back panel  14  to the bottom panel  10 . The seam  86  may, in fact, be positioned within the seam  88  or above the seam  88  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
   It is to be noted that the lateral side panels  26  and  28  are of a reduced height relative to the front side panel  20  and back side panel  14 . This enables ease of access to the sling construction. Further, all of the panels are constructed or configured of a flexible or fabric material. This enables the front panel  20  and lateral side panel  26  and  28 , for example, to be folded down as depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6  to enable use of the sling construction as a seat cover for a passenger who would sit on the outside face  90  of the front panel. The sling construction otherwise, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , provides a means to protect the upholstery within the vehicle and protects an animal retained within the sling construction. Further, the animal may be attached to a seatbelt via a leash. This enables safe retention of the animal within the sling construction while permitting the animal to move appropriately. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the back panel  14  may include center access panel  100  attached, for example, by means of a zipper. The center access panel  100  may be opened as depicted in  FIG. 3  so that a center arm rest  102  may be lowered. Note also when referring to  FIG. 3  that a zipper  104  may be utilized to attach the front edge of a side panel  28  to a front panel  20 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates in greater detail the construction of a zipper seam  106  having first and second zippers  108  and  110  which enable opening and closing of the zipper seam  106  so that seat belts, for example, seat belts  112  in  FIG. 2 , to be made available for use. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate in greater detail the manner in which the bottom panel  10  may be folded, more particularly the front panel  20  may be detached from side panels  28  and  26  by operation of the zipper  104 . This enables the front panel  20  to be folded down on the floor of a vehicle and as depicted in  FIG. 6 , rolled up to fit under or adjacent the edge of the seat of the vehicle. 
     FIGS. 8-10  illustrate the various alternative modes of operation of the sling construction. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the sling construction is held in place between the front and back seat by virtue of straps which suspend it between the headrests.  FIG. 8  depicts the manner in which side panel  28  may be released or opened when the pet is initially placed in the back seat, for example.  FIG. 9  illustrates the manner in which the back seat may be used to accommodate a child&#39;s seat, for example, the child seat  113  which will be retained by seat belt straps on the sling construction. The combination of utilizing the sling construction along with a child&#39;s seat would potentially enhance the safety of a child in the seat should the child accidentally slip from the seat during travel. 
     FIG. 10  illustrates the manner in which an individual  114  would sit in the back seat in the event the sling construction is detached as depicted, for example, in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
   Next referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12  there are circumstances where the sling construction may not be attachable to a headrest of a back seat inasmuch as such headrests are not available. In such circumstance, the headrest of such a vehicle will generally include loops or hooks such as loops or hooks  116  and  118  to which a strap  120  could be attached. As depicted in  FIG. 12 , the strap  120  includes a buckle  122  which cooperates with and is attachable to a hook  118 . The strap  120  is adjustable by means of the adjustable length mechanism  124 . The strap  120  is attachable to a secondary strap member  126  attached to the edge of the vertical or nearly vertical panel  14  of the sling construction as depicted in  FIG. 11 . The strap  120  is also adjustable in length and may also be detached inasmuch as the buckle  128  may be disconnected so that the strap  126  will fit through a loop  130  defined in the strap  120 . 
   Various types of strap, buckle and loop mechanisms may be utilized in combination with the various panels forming the sling construction. The sling construction may be attached to the front and back seats themselves or to the headrests associated with the seats or the hooks which are somehow incorporated in the various seats. The side panels  26  and  28  are at least partially detachable and foldable so as to enable improved access to the sling construction and so as to enable, for example, a passenger to sit on the sling construction when it is in the condition such as exemplified by  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In the preferred embodiment, the various panels forming the bottom front side and back side of the sling are generally quadrilateral and designed to be foldable for storage when not in use. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , it is possible to provide a means for rolling or folding the front side panel and for retaining that front side panel in the rolled condition. For example, a hook and loop strap construction can be utilized to hold the rolled or folded panel in a manner which will facilitate placement against the back seat and underneath the feet of an individual sitting in the back seat. 
   Variations and modifications may be made to the construction as described. The shaping of the panels may be varied. The arrangement and attachment of straps and fastening mechanisms may be varied. Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.