Variable position compact disc storage device for a vehicle visor

• US 5,762,246 A
• Filed: 04/22/1996
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Case Logic (Thule Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Case Logic (Thule Group AB)
• Inventors: Drew, Terrence Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Sholl, Linda J.
• Application Number:
  US08/635,603
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 224/312, 224/282, 224/572, 224/553, D12/417, 296/97.6, 206/308.1, 206/311, 206/312, 206/425
• US Class Current: 224/312
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/05 mounted on sun visor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/088 for stowing tape cartridges, compact discs, or the like

Abstract

The compact disc storage device of the present invention provides maximum storage capacity of compact discs while being interconnected to a visor, e.g. a sun-visor in an automobile. The invention allows the storage device to be temporarily pivoted on the sun-visor, for example, to expose a vanity mirror located on the sun-visor, without requiring the disconnection of the storage device from the sun-visor.

Claims

1. A compact disc storage device for attachment to a vehicle visor, said vehicle visor having a first side and a second side, comprising:

(a) a substantially flat support panel having opposed outer and inner surfaces;

(b) a plurality of non-rigid pockets positioned on said outer surface of said support panel, each of said pockets having a sufficient dimension to receive at least one compact disc; and

(c) attachment means for securing said storage device to said visor, said attachment means capable of moving between a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position said inner surface of said support panel is securely positioned against said first side of said visor and in said second position said support panel is pivoted upwards and away from said visor to expose said first side of said visor, and wherein in both said first and second positions said carrying device remains operatively interconnected to said visor in a position which does not obstruct a user'"'"'s field of vision.

2. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising an accessories pocket interconnected to said support panel and positioned on said outer surface of said support panel.

3. The storage device of claim 2, wherein said accessories pocket is comprised of a see-through mesh material.

4. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising a first complementary fastening means interconnected to said outer surface of said support panel and a second complementary fastening means for interconnecting to an interior ceiling surface of an automobile, wherein when said storage device is pivoted upward in said second position said first and said second complementary fastening means engage to temporarily hold said storage device in an upward position.

5. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said attachment means further comprises at least one strap interconnected to said support panel proximate a top edge, said strap having a first end, a second end, an exterior surface, an interior surface and a sufficient length to encircle said visor, said strap having first and second complementary fastening means interconnected on said first end and said second end for removable engagement and a third complementary fastening means operatively interconnected and positioned on the exterior surface of said strap between said first end and said second end for temporary attachment to a fourth complementary fastening means interconnected to said interior surface of said support panel.

6. The storage device of claim 5, wherein said fastening means is comprised of a hook and loop type material.

7. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said attachment means comprises at least one continuous loop interconnected to said inner surface of said support panel proximate said top edge, said continuous loop capable of extending completely around said visor and said continuous loop having an exterior surface with first complementary fastening means positioned for contact with second complementary fastening means interconnected to said inner surface of said support panel, wherein said support panel can be selectively secured or released from attachment to said exterior surface of said continuous loop.

8. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said attachment means comprises at least one pair of opposing straps, each of said straps having a first end, a second end, an exterior surface and an interior surface, said first ends interconnected to said support panel proximate said top edge and said second ends of said opposing straps comprising a first fastening means for mating with a second fastening means of said opposing strap, said opposing straps having a sufficient length to encircle said visor.

9. The storage device of claim 8, wherein one of said opposing straps further comprise third fastening means interconnected to said exterior surface for removably attaching to a fourth fastening means interconnected to said inner surface of said support panel, wherein when said storage device is in said first position said storage device is secured against said first side of said visor.

10. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said attachment means comprises a hingable clamp with a first end and a second end, said first end being interconnected proximate to a top edge of said support panel and said second end operatively sized for removable interconnection to a corresponding edge of said visor.

11. The storage device of claim 1, wherein each of said pockets have an opening oriented in the same longitudinal direction for insertion and removal of said compact discs.

12. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of non-rigid pockets are interconnected to said support panel by stitching a perimeter border material around the perimeter edges of said support panel.

13. The storage device of claim 12, wherein said pockets are constructed with a substantially non-scratching material in contact with said playing surface of said compact discs.

14. The storage device of claim 12, wherein said attachment means comprises:

(a) at least one strap having a first end, a second end, an interior surface and an exterior surface, said strap interconnected to said inner surface of said support panel proximate said top edge, said first end of said strap comprising a first complementary fastening means for mating with a second complementary fastening means interconnected to said second end, said strap capable of encircling said visor, and at least a third complementary fastening means interconnected to said exterior surface between said first and said second ends for selectively attaching to a fourth complementary fastening means operatively positioned on said inner surface of said support panel.

15. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising a loop interconnected to said outside surface of said support panel, said loop sized to receive and hold a pencil or pen.

16. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said pockets having an opening biased at an angle that is not 90°

relative to the longitudinal axis of said storage device.

17. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said support panel is substantially rectangular with four perimeter edges including a top edge, a bottom edge, a right edge and a left edge.

18. A compact disc storage device for use with a visor having a first side and a second side, said compact discs having a playing surface, a graphics surface, an exterior edge and a center aperture, comprising:

(a) a substantially flat support panel having opposed outer and inner surfaces and four perimeter edges including a top edge, bottom edge, right edge and left edge;

(b) a plurality of non-rigid pockets interconnected to said support panel and positioned on the outer surface of said support panel, each of said pockets oriented for opening in the same longitudinal direction and sized to receive at least one compact disc while exposing at least a portion of said exterior edge of said compact disc for grasping;

(c) at least one flexible accessory storage pocket positioned on said outer surface of said support panel, said pocket interconnected to said support panel on at least two of said exterior edges of said support panel; and

(d) attachment means interconnected to said support panel and positioned on said inner surface of said support panel, said attachment means capable of moving between a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position said inner surface of said support panel is positioned against said first side of said visor and in said second position said storage device is pivoted proximate said top edge of said support panel and extended upward and away from said visor to permit access to said first side of said visor, wherein in both said first and said second positions said carrying device remains operatively interconnected to said visor in a position which does not obstruct a user'"'"'s field of vision.

19. The storage device of claim 18, wherein said attachment means comprises at least one continuous loop interconnected to said inner surface of said support panel proximate said top edge, said continuous loop capable of extending completely around said visor and said continuous loop having an exterior surface with first complementary fastening means positioned for contact with second complementary fastening means interconnected to said inner surface of said support panel, wherein said support panel can be selectively secured or released from attachment to said exterior surface of said continuous loop.

20. The attachment means of claim 19, wherein said continuous loop is comprised of an elastic material.

21. A method for positioning a compact disc storage device in one of two different positions while the device is operably interconnected to a visor in an automobile, said visor having a first side and a second side, comprising the steps of:

positioning said device in a first position wherein said device is securely overlapping said first side of said visor and compact discs stored in said storage device may be accessed for insertion and removal; and

pivoting said storage-device upward and away from said visor, wherein said first side of said visor is exposed for access while said storage device remains interconnected to said visor of said automobile in a position which does not obstruct a driver'"'"'s field of vision.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said method for positioning said storage device from said first position to said second position comprises the step of releasing a first complementary fastening means interconnected to said storage device and a second complementary fastening means interconnected to said visor.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of positioning comprises encircling said visor with at least one strap, said strap having a first complementary fastening means for engaging a second complementary fastening means.

24. A compact disc storage device for attachment to a vehicle visor, said vehicle visor having a first side and a second side, comprising:

(a) a substantially flat support panel having opposed outer and inner surfaces;

(b) a plurality of non-rigid pockets operatively positioned on said outer surface of said support panel, at least some of said pockets having a sufficient dimension to receive at least one compact disc;

(c) attachment means for securing said storage device to said vehicle visor; and

(d) pivot means for rotating said substantially flat support panel between a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position said inner surface of said support panel is securely positioned against said first side of said visor and in said second position said support panel is pivoted upwards and away from said visor to expose said first side of said visor, wherein in both said first position and said second position said carrying device remains operatively interconnected to said visor in a position which does not obstruct a user'"'"'s field of vision.

25. The compact disc storage device of claim 24, wherein said pivot means comprises at least one substantially continuous strap positioned around said vehicle visor and interconnected to said substantially flat support panel proximate to an upper edge of said support panel, wherein said panel can rotate upwardly at said location where said strap is interconnected to said support panel.

26. The compact disc storage device of claim 24, wherein said attachment means comprises at least one strap substantially encircling said vehicle visor and interconnected to said support panel.