Portable multipurpose desk container

• US 4,577,788 A
• Filed: 09/24/1984
• Issued: 03/25/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jennings R. Richardson
• Original Assignee: Jennings R. Richardson
• Inventors: Richardson, Jennings R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/653,568
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 224/311, 224/275, 224/273, 296/37.12, 108/44, 108/45, 108/46, 224/42.43, 224/42.44, 224/901, 312/231
• US Class Current: 224/483
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 99/008 Desk-receptacles for holding writing appliances
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/08 Disposition of racks, clips , holders, containers or the like for supporting specific articles B60R7/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/901 Carrier component having adherent surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/929 Article carrier for electrical device

Abstract

A generally rectangular-shaped container which can be removably mounted on a vehicle dashboard is disclosed that has upper and lower lids. The lower lid fits onto the container and is preferably cemented to the container. The upper lid has tabular extensions at one of its ends which removably engage apertures in the container. The other end of the upper lid is held in place by an elongated angled extension attached to the lower lid. Quick attach-detach surfaces or magnetic surfaces may be used to hold the lids together if desired. The container has a plurality of compartments and drawers for holding objects. Adjustable support arms and a hinged member are used in conjunction with quick attach-detach surfaces in order to mount the container to the vehicle dashboard. After the container is removed from the dashboard, it can be mounted on any substantially flat surface using T-shaped members which are part of the support arms. The container can be used with a hinged upper lid if desired.

Claims

1. A portable multipurpose desk container, comprising:

a body means having at least one side compartment integral thereto for holding a variety of objects, said compartment having at least one enclosure extending along the height of said side of said compartment;

an upper lid means operably and removably coupled to said body means for opening and closing said body means so that objects can be placed within and removed from said body means;

a lower lid means operably coupled to said body means for holding said upper lid means in place when said upper lid means is closed; and

a support means operably coupled to said body means for removably mounting said body means to a vehicle dashboard and for mounting said body means on a substantially flat surface after said body means is removed from said vehicle dashboard, said support means comprising (a) a hinged member coupled to the bottom portion of said body means for supporting one end of said body means while said body means is mounted to said vehicle dashboard, said hinged member has apertures passing therethrough and a quick attach-detach surface fastened thereto for operably and removably coupling said quick attach-detach surface to a corresponding quick attach-detach surface fastened to said vehicle dashboard; and

(b) at least one support arm operably and removably coupled to the bottom portion of said body means for supporting the other end of said body means while said body means is mounted to said vehicle dashboard, said support arm suitable for being bendable at a plurality of portions therethroughout said support arm.

2. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 1, wherein said body means comprises a generally rectangular-shaped container having a bottom, a front end, a rear end and two sides.

3. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 2, wherein said generally rectangular-shaped container has a plurality of partitions forming at least one internal compartment within said container.

4. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 3, wherein said front end has at least one aperture through it, said generally rectangular-shaped container has at least one drawer, each of said at least one drawer slidably engages one of said at least one aperture.

5. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 4, wherein said generally rectangular-shaped container has an upper extension attached to the top of said rear end, said upper extension has apertures passing through it.

6. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 5, wherein said lower lid means comprises a generally rectangularshaped sheet, said sheet of said lower lid means has elongated extensions at one of its ends and extensions attached to its bottom surface for operably engaging said partitions located within said generally rectangular-shaped container, said sheet of said lower lid means has an elongated angled extension at its other end, said elongated angled extension forms an acute angle with a vertical plane perpendicular to said sheet.

7. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 6, wherein said upper lid means comprises a generally rectangularshaped sheet, said sheet of said upper lid means has tabular extensions at one of its ends and grasping extensions near its other end, said tabular extensions operably and removably engage said apertures in said upper extension and said other end of said sheet of said upper lid means operably and removably engages said elongated angled extension when said upper lid means is operably and removably coupled to said body means.

8. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 7, wherein said support arm means comprises at least one support arm, each support arm includes:

two elongated members operably and slidably coupled to each other by fastening devices, one of said elongated members has an elongated slot through it so that the overall length of said elongated members when coupled together can be varied by loosening said fastening devices, adjusting said overall length and then tightening said fastening devices; and

two T-shaped members, one of said T-shaped members being operably, rotatably and removably coupled to one of said elongated members and the other of said T-shaped members being operably, rotatably and removably coupled to the other of said elongated members, each of said T-shaped members has a quick attach-detach surface fastened to it for operably and removably coupling one end of said support arm to said body means and the other end of said support arm to a supporting structure in a vehicle.

9. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 8, wherein said bottom of said generally rectangular-shaped container has a plurality of quick attach-detach surfaces fastened to it.

10. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 9, wherein said support means, comprises:

a hinged member coupled to said bottom of said generally rectangular-shaped container for supporting one end of said container while it is mounted to said vehicle dashboard, said hinged member has apertures through it and a quick attachdetach surface fastened to it for operably and removably coupling said quick attach-detach surface to a corresponding quick attachdetach surface fastened to said vehicle dashboard; and

support arm means operably and removably coupled to said bottom of said generally rectangular-shaped container for supporting the other end of said container while it is mounted to said vehicle dashboard.

11. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 10, wherein said support arm means comprises at least one support arm, each support arm includes:

two elongated members operably and slidably coupled to each other by fastening devices, one of said elongated members has an elongated slot through it so that the overall length of said elongated members when coupled together can be varied by loosening said fastening devices, adjusting said overall length and then tightening said fastening devices; and

two T-shaped members, one of said T-sahped members being operably, rotatably and removably coupled to one of said elongated members and the other of said T-shaped members being operably, rotatably and removably coupled to the other of said elongated members, each of said T-shaped members has a quick attach-detach surface fastened to it for operably and removably coupling one end of said support arm to one of said quick attachdetach surfaces fastened to said bottom of said generally rectangular-shaped container and the other end of said support arm to a quick attach-detach surface fastened to a supporting structure in a vehicle.

12. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 11, wherein said lower lid is cemented to said generally rectangular-shaped container and said acute angle of said elongated angled extension is about five degrees.

13. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 12 wherein said upper lid has a spring clip attached to its top surface.

14. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 13, wherein said upper extension of said generally rectangular-shaped container has a surface for attaching a name plate and other indicia.

15. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 14, wherein said partitions and said at least one drawer of said generally rectangular-shaped container have quick attach-detach surfaces fastened to them so that each of said at least one drawer can be kept shut.

16. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 15, wherein said lower lid has a quick attach-detach surface fastened to its top surface and said upper lid has a quick attach-detach surface fastened to its bottom surface in order to assist in holding said lids together.

17. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 16, wherein said quick attach-detach surfaces comprise VELCRO surfaces.

18. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 14, wherein said partitions and said at least one drawer of said generally rectangular-shaped container have magnetic surfaces fastened to them so that each of said at least one drawer can be kept shut.

19. The portable multipurpose desk container of claim 18, wherein said lower lid has a magnetic surface fastened to its bottom surface in order to assist in holding said lids together.