Abstract:
A portable storage device and filing system is provided for use in a transportation vehicle. The system comprises a case which may be engaged with an interior trim component, such as an interior sidewall, and the device may appear to be part of the interior vehicle trim. The device may be accessed by articulating the sides of the case away from one another to expose the interior of the case. The interior of the case may include an expandable compartment having dividers or folders for storage and organizing of loose pieces of paper. The case may be trimmed to coordinate with the interior theme of the vehicle when stored in the vehicle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/804,120 filed Jun. 7, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if set forth fully herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the interior of transportation vehicles and, more particularly, to the storage and accessibility of loose papers therein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In the everyday operation of transportation vehicles, the occupants may interact with a plethora of printed information, particularly loose slips of paper such as gasoline or food receipts, parking ticket stubs, Post-It® notes, schedules and the like. In addition, the occupants may need to access maps, vehicle information, telephone listings, addresses, etc. If stored at all, this type of information may be found in the glove compartment, console, package tray, door bin, a purse or even slipped between the seats. 
         [0004]    People spend major portions of their day commuting or as a salesperson or “soccer mom” in their vehicles, and do not need additional distractions while driving, like trying to find loose items contained somewhere in the vehicle interior. 
         [0005]    In order to use this type of information, the driver and passengers may try to keep the loose items within easy reach, on the seat, over the visor or in a pocket. These loose items may then clutter the vehicle interior and attract unwanted attention. In addition, the loose items may become lost, damaged or even blow out an open window. 
         [0006]    These loose items may also need to be taken with the occupants upon departing the vehicle and may therefore have to be collected up each time and, often, not in an organized fashion. 
         [0007]    Present storage systems in vehicles are primarily directed at organizing the space for larger discreet articles, such as bags, boxes, cups, containers, etc. and are not focused at organizing loose paper or small paper articles. 
         [0008]    What may be needed is a device which may be integrated into an interior panel of the vehicle which may organize and store loose pieces of paper and paper items and which may provide easy access within the vehicle, as well as portability should one want to take the contents with them upon departing the vehicle. The device may thus act as a portable filing system for the interior of a vehicle. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention relates to a portable storage device and filing system for use in the interior of transportation vehicles. The device may comprise a case comprising two half shells which may be hinged along one edge and capable of expanding open along the opposite edge. When opened, the device may expose a series of partitions or dividers for organizing loose papers. The device may also engage with the vehicle by sliding into an interior sidewall panel such that when in place the outer surface of the case may be substantially flush with the outer surface of the panel. In such manner, the device may appear to be part of the vehicle interior trim configuration. The case may be finished in a design and of materials that fit into the theme of the vehicle and may conceal its purpose from view. 
         [0010]    The device may be further designed to slide on a track system into the trim panel for storage. As the case is extracted, it may be biased to open partially and expose its filing system and allow access to any stored contents. Upon extraction from the storage slot, the case may also be used as a writing surface and/or carried as a portable filing system. 
         [0011]    The case may be integrated into the side of the center console, however, other locations in the interior of the vehicle, such as the instrument panel, door trim, side trim, quarter panel or cargo space, are contemplated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following written description and accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary center console in a vehicle including the paper filing system of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary paper filing system according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are cross-sectional views of the tracking system of the exemplary console and case respectively along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary case of  FIG. 6A  along lines  4 - 4 . 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C are perspective views illustrating the use of the exemplary case according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate two exemplary locations for storing the case of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C are perspective views illustrating the use of the exemplary case in a second storage location. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The present invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention, may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0021]    In the drawings, the thickness of lines, layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, region, substrate, or panel is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “attached” to another element, it can be directly connected or attached to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly attached” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. The terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only. 
         [0022]    For elements common to the various embodiments of the invention, the numerical reference character between the embodiments is held constant, but distinguished by the addition of an alphanumeric character to the existing numerical reference character. In other words, for example, an element referenced at  10  in the first embodiment is correspondingly references at  10 A,  10 B, and so forth in subsequent embodiments. Thus, where an embodiment description uses a reference character to refer to an element, the reference character applies equally, as distinguished by alphanumeric character, to the other embodiments where the element is common. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary filing system  10  which may be inserted into a sidewall of a motor vehicle for storing loose papers and paper items.  FIG. 1  illustrates the system  10  as a case or removable enclosed file  12  capable of being inserted into an exemplary center console  14 . In  FIG. 1  the perspective view is from the passenger&#39;s side rear seat, looking forward in-car. The case  12  may be capable of insertion into the sidewall  16  of the console  14  by sliding the case  12  downward in the opposite direction of arrow A. To extract the case  12  for portability, the case may be moved in the direction of arrow A. The case  12  is illustrated in  FIG. 1  in an intermediate position with the inside  18  capable of being accessed by opening the hinged lid  20  and separating the sides  22 ,  24  around a hinge point  40  (see  FIG. 4 ). A strap  26 , or an accordion-like expanding file  30  which may include dividers or partitions, may be mounted on the inside  18  of the case  12  (see  FIG. 5C ) to limit the angle of opening. 
         [0024]    While illustrated in  FIG. 1  as built into a center console, the file system  10  of the present invention may be built into any surface of the interior of a vehicle, including, but not limited to, an instrument panel, door panel, side trim, quarter panel, seat back and cargo area. Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the system may be recessed into the panel to provide a substantially flush outer surface having styling, texture and color to harmonize with the adjacent panels. It may be understood herein that substantially flush contemplates that the exposed surface of the file system  10  may be recessed and/or protrude no more than 0.50 inches from the surface of the trim panel, including all values and increments between −0.50 to 0.50 inches. Reference to −0.050 inches is reference to a substantially flush but recessed condition. In  FIG. 1 , a style line  28  in the outer surface of side  22  of the case  12  aligns with a complementary style line  28 ′ in the sidewall  16  of the console  14 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the case  12  extracted from its storage space in the console (arrow A) and in a closed condition, ready to be carried as a storage device. The case  12  in this condition may then be turned on a side  22 ,  24  and into a substantially horizontal condition and used as a writing tablet. Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a tracking mechanism for positioning the case  12  in its storage space and which allows the tablet to be positioned at an intermediate position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , (between fully inserted,  FIG. 6A , and fully extracted,  FIG. 2 ) for access as a filing system. The tracking mechanism may comprise a tongue and groove, dovetail interface or other sliding or rolling mechanism capable of positioning the case at different positions in a storage space.  FIG. 2  illustrates a projecting member  32  which may have an “H” shaped cross section attached to the storage space wall, in the console  14 , which can be slidably engaged with a complementary shaped recessed opening  36  which may have a “T” shaped cross section located in the end walls  34  of the case  12 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate cross-sectional views of the exemplary “T” shaped opening  34  and “H” shaped member  32  taken along lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . The “H” and “T” shapes may be designed to frictionally engage and provide some resistance to sliding movement of the case  12  and promote intermediate positioning of the case  12  in the storage space for easy access. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the case  12  of  FIG. 1  fully retracted into the storage space, as shown in  FIG. 6A .  FIG. 4  is taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 6A  and illustrates hinging points  40  for the side walls  22 ,  24  of the case  12  to articulate around, as well as hinge point  42  for the lid  20 . The hinges may be of any construction that allows the lid  20  and sides  22 ,  24  to pivotally move relative to one another. These may include, but are not limited to, an integrally formed living hinge, a separately attached living hinge, a piano hinge, a torsion hinge and an attached flexible flap of material.  FIG. 4  further illustrates how the case  12  may be flush with the outer wall  16  of the exemplary console  14 . The console lid  15  may overlie the case  12  and provide security for the case  12  by being capable of locking. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C illustrate the use of the filing system  10  of the present invention.  FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the case  12  being extracted from its storage space in the side wall of an interior trim panel  16 A.  FIG. 5B  illustrates the hinging action (arrow B) to open the lid  20  of the case  12 .  FIG. 5C  illustrates the articulation (arrow C) of the side walls  22 ,  24  to access the contents inside the case  12 , in this instance, stored in an expandable set of file folders  30 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6A  illustrates an exemplary embodiment using the case  12  of the present invention to provide a filing system  10 , in the outer wall  16  of a console  14 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6B  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the filing system  10 A of the present invention where a case  12 A may be slidably engaged within a storage space in the bin area  50  of a console  16 B. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C illustrate the functioning of the filing system  10 A illustrated in a stored condition in  FIG. 6B .  FIG. 7A  illustrates the console  16 B with its lid  15 A open (arrow D). The case  12 B has been hinged open (arrow E) to allow access to the expanding file partitions/folders  30 A.  FIG. 7B  illustrates how the expanding file/folders may be used for storage and indexing of items, particularly paper items in an organized fashion.  FIG. 7C  illustrates the removal (arrow F) of the case  12 B for use outside the vehicle or as a writing tablet. 
         [0032]    The case  12 ,  12 A of the filing system of the present invention may further include such features as a hinge, latch, a lock, etc. 
         [0033]    The description and drawings illustratively set forth the presently preferred invention embodiment. We intend the description and drawings to describe this embodiment and not to limit the scope of the invention. Obviously, it is possible to modify these embodiments. Although the present invention has been illustrated using the specific embodiments described herein, it should be apparent that changes and modifications may be entered and other related embodiments may be prepared similarly incorporating the inventive features described herein.