Abstract:
An auto activity center with toy and baby bottle tether for providing an adjustable rod assembly adapted for use in the rear of a vehicle to suspend toys and bottles to occupy the infant during car travel. The auto activity center with toy and baby bottle tether includes a horizontal support member that is coupled to an interior of a vehicle adjacent to a top of the interior. Each of a plurality of vertical support assemblies has a first end that is coupled to the horizontal support member. Each one of the vertical support assemblies has a second end. A plurality of fastening means is coupled to the second end. Each one of the plurality of fastening means is for securing a children&#39;s accessory to the system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to activity centers and more particularly pertains to a new auto activity center with toy and baby bottle tether for providing an adjustable rod assembly adapted for use in the rear of a vehicle to suspend toys and bottles to occupy the infant during car travel. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of activity centers is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,054 describes a play center device for babies comprised of a resilient foam arch for suspending various play objects. Another type of activity center is U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,657 describing a baby bottle retaining device comprised of a fastening ring, strap and means that attaches to a bed, stroller or high chair. U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,951 describes a carrier device comprised of a number of loops for attaching to various toys. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for an automotive activity system that would occupy an infant during long trips. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing an adjustable rod assembly adapted for use in the rear of a vehicle to suspend toys and bottles to occupy the infant during car travel. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new auto activity center with toy and baby bottle tether that allows a user to choose toys that are current favorites so the child never becomes bored with the same things. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new auto activity center with toy and baby bottle tether that eliminates driving distractions and stress for caretakers while they are commuting around town or on long trips. 
     To this end, the present invention generally comprises a horizontal support member that is coupled to an interior of a vehicle adjacent to a top of the interior. Each of a plurality of vertical support assemblies has a first end that is coupled to the horizontal support member. Each one of the vertical support assemblies has a second end. A plurality of fastening means is coupled to the second end. Each one of the plurality of fastening means is for securing a children&#39;s accessory to the system. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new auto activity center with toy and baby bottle tether according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the strap assembly present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view of an intermediate coupling means and horizontal support member of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an intermediate coupling means of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new auto activity center with toy and baby bottle tether embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the auto activity center with toy and baby bottle tether  10  generally comprises a horizontal support member  12  that is coupled to an interior of a vehicle adjacent to a top of the interior. Each of a plurality of vertical support assemblies  14  has a first end  16  that is couplable to the horizontal support member  18 . Each one of the vertical support assemblies  14  has a second end  20 . A plurality of fastening means  22  is coupled to the second end  20 . Each one of the plurality of fastening means  22  is for securing a children&#39;s accessory to the system. 
     Each one of a plurality of ring members  24  is couplable to a first end  16  of an associated one of the vertical support assemblies  14 . Each one of the ring members  24  is for facilitating coupling to an associated one of the vertical support assemblies  14  to the horizontal support member  12 . Each one of the ring members  24  facilitates sliding an associated one of the vertical support assemblies  14  along a perimeter surface of the horizontal support member  12 . 
     The horizontal support member  12  has a first end  26  and a second end  28 . The first  26  and second  28  ends is adapted for engaging a coat hook  30  coupled to the interior of the vehicle such that the horizontal support member  12  has a spaced substantially parallel relationship with the top of the interior of the vehicle. 
     The horizontal support assembly  18  further includes a first horizontal portion  32  that has a first horizontal end  34  and a second horizontal end  36 . The first horizontal end  34  is adapted for engaging a coat hook  30  coupled to the interior of the vehicle. A second horizontal portion  42  has a third horizontal end  38  and a fourth  40  horizontal end. The third horizontal end  38  is couplable to the second horizontal end  36 . The second horizontal portion  42  has a longitudinal axis. The second horizontal portion  42  is positionable such that when the third horizontal end  38  is coupled to the second horizontal end  36  the longitudinal axis of the second horizontal portion  42  is substantially collinear with a longitudinal axis of the first horizontal portion  32 . 
     A third horizontal portion  44  has a fifth horizontal end  46  and a sixth horizontal end  48 . The fifth horizontal end  46  is couplable to the fourth horizontal end  40 . The third horizontal portion  44  has a longitudinal axis. The third horizontal portion  44  is positionable such that when the fifth horizontal end  46  is coupled to the fourth horizontal end  40  the longitudinal axis of the third horizontal portion  44  is substantially collinear with a longitudinal axis of the second horizontal portion  42 . The sixth horizontal end  48  is adapted for engaging a second coat hook  50  coupled to the interior of the vehicle. The second horizontal portion  42  is threadedly couplable to the first horizontal portion  32 . The second horizontal portion  42  also is threadedly couplable to the third horizontal portion  44 . 
     The plurality of fastening means  22  further includes at least one swivel clip  52  coupled to a second end  20  of an associated one of the vertical support assemblies  14 . The swivel clip  52  is for facilitating securing a children&#39;s accessory to the system, such that the accessory if accessible by a small child. 
     The plurality of fastening means  22  further includes at least one strap assembly  54  that is operationally coupled to a second end  20  of an associated one of the vertical support assemblies  20 . The strap assembly  54  is for securing a children&#39;s accessory to the system, such that the accessory if accessible by a small child. The strap assembly  54  further includes a strap member  56  that is substantially elongate. The strap member  56  has a first strap member end  58  and a second strap member end  60 . A first fastener portion  62  is coupled to the first strap member end  58 . A second fastener portion  64  is coupled to the second strap member end  60 . The second fastener portion  64  is complementary to the first fastener portion  62 . The first  62  and second  64  fastener portions is for selectively securing the strap member  56  around a children&#39;s accessory  66  whereby the children&#39;s accessory  66  is couplable to the system such that the accessory  66  is accessible by a small child. 
     A bottle tether assembly  68  is couplable to a baby bottle  70 . The bottle tether assembly  68  is couplable to one of the plurality of vertical support assemblies  14 . The bottle tether assembly  68  further includes a collar member  72  is resiliently flexible and is couplable to a baby bottle  70 . The collar member  72  is adapted to be positioned around a neck of the baby bottle  70 . The collar member  72  is substantially round. A connecting member  74  facilitates coupling the collar member  72  to one of the plurality of vertical support assemblies  14 . 
     The plurality of vertical support assemblies  14  includes  6  vertical support assemblies  14 . Each one of the plurality of vertical support assemblies  14  has a length in the range between  13  and  18  inches inclusive. The horizontal support member has a plurality of vertical support assemblies  14  includes  6  vertical support assemblies  14 . At least one of the vertical support assemblies  14  is substantially elastic such that a length of the vertical support assembly  14  is increasable with application of a expansive force applied longitudinally. Each one of the plurality of vertical support assemblies  14  has a length in the range between 13 and 18 inches inclusive. 
     The horizontal support member  12  has a length in the range between  40  and  47  inches inclusive. At least one of the vertical support assemblies  14  is substantially elastic such that a length of the vertical support assembly  14  is increasable with application of a expansive force applied longitudinally. 
     In a preferred embodiment the horizontal support member  12  further comprises and elongate portion  11  and a pair of hook members  13 . The elongate portion  11  is substantially elastic, and has a first and second end. The elongate portion  11  may be resiliently flexible and is designed to adjust a length of the system to correspond with a width of the interior of the vehicle. Each one of the pair of hook members  13  is coupled to an associated one of the first and second ends of the elongate portion  11 . 
     In a further embodiment, an intermediate coupling means  75  is used to facilitate securing the horizontal support member  12  to the vehicle. The intermediate coupling means  75  is an interface between the horizontal support member  12  and an interior of the vehicle. 
     Preferably the intermediate coupling means  75  further comprises a pair of bracket members. Each one of the bracket members has a first extent  76  with an aperture  77  extending therethrough. The aperture  77  is for facilitating coupling the horizontal support member  12  to the bracket member. The bracket member also has a second extent  78  integrally coupled to the first extent  76 , and designed for engaging a back side of a coat hook. Additionally, the bracket member has a third extent  79  with a bore  73  extending therethrough, for facilitating insertion of a portion of the coat hook through the bracket member such that a back side of the coat hook abuts the second extent  78 . The third extent  79  may be integrally coupled to the second extent  78 . The bracket member has a fourth extent  71  integrally coupled to the third extent  79 , which is used for engaging a front portion of the coat hook such that a portion of a lateral force applied to the first extent  76  towards a center of the vehicle is transferred to the fourth extent  71  urging the fourth extent  71  into contact with the front portion of the coat hook. 
     In use, the user would secure the horizontal support member at each end to the coat hooks in the back seat of a vehicle via the intermediate support means. The user then would attach children&#39;s 30 accessories to the strap members and attach the strap members to the horizontal support member. The child would then be able to reach and play with the accessories located at the end of the strap members. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.