Seat back mounted cargo shelf

• US 5,931,527 A
• Filed: 05/02/1997
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Giulio D'Onofrio, Theresa M. Delpup-Smith
• Original Assignee: Giulio D'Onofrio, Theresa M. Delpup-Smith
• Inventors: Delpup-Smith, Theresa M., D'Onofrio, Giulio
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US08/850,843
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 297/146, 297/163, 297/165, 297/169, 297/188.04, 297/188.05, 108/27, 108/55.1, 108/55.3
• US Class Current: 297/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/004 of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/045 collapsible or transformable

Abstract

A shelf assembly is configured to be supported on a vehicular seat back. The assembly includes a shelf which is pivotably adjustable relative to the seat back. The shelf may be adjusted to retain items on its top surface, and it may also be angularly adjusted downward to retain items therebeneath. The assembly includes a cargo net for retaining loose items. When not in use it is folded into the seat for storage.

Claims

1. A shelf assembly which is supported on a vehicular seat back, said assembly comprising:

a guide member which is fixedly supported upon said seat back;

a pivot member which is movably supported by the guide member;

a shelf which is pivotably supported at a first edge by said pivot member;

a support brace having a first end pivotably attached to said shelf and a second end which is pivotably supported by said seat back;

positioning means for selectably immobilizing said pivot member relative to said guide member;

whereby an angular relationship between said shelf and said guide member may be selectably defined by selectably immobilizing said pivot member; and

a cargo net having a first end which is affixed to said shelf assembly, and a second end which includes means for selectably attaching said second end to, and releasably detaching said second end from, said shelf.

2. A shelf assembly as in claim 1, wherein said guide member is a track, and said pivot member is a pivot block which is configured to slide in said track.

3. A shelf assembly as in claim 2, wherein said positioning means includes a pin which operates to lock said pivot block in said track.

4. A shelf assembly as in claim 3, further including a handle disposed upon said shelf, said handle being in mechanical communication with said pin by means of a cable.

5. A shelf assembly as in claim 1, wherein a guide member is affixed to a flange which is configured to be attached to the frame of a vehicular seat.

6. A shelf assembly as in claim 5, wherein the second end of said support brace is affixed to said flange.

7. A shelf assembly as in claim 6, wherein the second end of said brace is affixed to said flange so as to be repositionable thereupon.

8. A shelf assembly as in claim 1, wherein said guide member comprises a toothed rack, and said pivot member comprises a gear which is engageable with said rack.

9. A shelf assembly as in claim 8, wherein said positioning means is operative to immobilize said gear.

10. A shelf assembly as in claim 1, wherein said shelf includes a lip portion which is biasable from a first position in which it is substantially planar to a top surface of said shelf, to a second position in which it is substantially perpendicular to said top surface.

11. A shelf assembly as in claim 1, wherein said shelf includes an extension shelf portion which is configured to telescopically extend therefrom.

12. A shelf assembly as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a surface of said shelf tray has a high friction coating thereupon.

13. A shelf assembly which is supported on a vehicular seat back, said assembly including:

a guide member which is fixedly supported upon said seat back;

pivot means which is movably supported upon said guide member;

a shelf pivotably supported at a first edge by said pivot means and supported upon said guide member thereby, so that an angle defined between said shelf and said guide member may be varied;

positioning means for selectably immobilizing said shelf in said pivot means;

whereby the angular relationship of said shelf tray to said guide member may be selectably adjusted; and

a cargo net having a first end which is affixed to said shelf assembly, and a second end which is selectably engagable with, and releasable from, said shelf.