Storage apparatus that attaches to a vehicle seat

• US 20030057747A1
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Collins & Aikman Holdings SA de CV
• Original Assignee: Collins & Aikman Holdings SA de CV
• Inventors: Johnston, Kent E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,629,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/188.06
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/004 of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat

Abstract

A storage apparatus is provided that attaches to a vehicle seat backrest and that includes a frame and a pair of elongated panels pivotally secured to the frame in adjacent, vertically spaced-apart relationship, wherein each elongated panel is movable between an operative, generally horizontal, position and a stored, generally vertical position. The elongated panels may be in adjacent, face-to-face relationship when in respective stored positions. The elongated panels may be in adjacent, generally coplanar relationship when in respective stored positions.

Claims

1. A storage apparatus that attaches to a vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat includes a seat portion and a backrest, the storage apparatus comprising:

a frame configured to be removably secured to a rear portion of the backrest; and

a pair of elongated panels pivotally secured to the frame in adjacent, vertically spaced-apart relationship, wherein each elongated panel is movable between an operative, generally horizontal, position and a stored, generally vertical position.

2. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the backrest includes a top portion and one or more headrests connected to the top portion via one or more respective support posts, and wherein the frame comprises s one or more hangers configured to removably attach the frame to the one or more headrest support posts of a respective headrest.

3. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a pair of spaced-apart side members that are configured to support each of the elongated panels in respective operative positions.

4. The storage apparatus of claim 3, wherein the side members have an arcuate configuration and are configured to pivot between a stored position and an operative position, wherein the side members bow towards each other when the side members are in the stored position, and wherein the side members bow in generally parallel directions when the side members are in the operative position.

5. The storage apparatus of claim 3, wherein the side members have an arcuate configuration and are configured to pivot between a stored position and an operative position, wherein the side members bow away each other when the side members are in the stored position, and wherein the side members bow in generally parallel directions when the side members are in the operative position.

6. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the elongated panels comprises one or more cup holders.

7. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises at least one projection extending therefrom that is configured to support articles suspended therefrom.

8. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the elongated panels comprises at least one projection extending therefrom that is configured to support articles suspended therefrom.

9. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the elongated panels comprises an opening formed therethrough and wherein the storage apparatus further comprises one or more hanging folders suspended from the elongated panel through the opening.

10. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated panels are in adjacent, face-to-face relationship when in respective stored positions.

11. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated panels are in adjacent, generally coplanar relationship when in respective stored positions.

12. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated panels, when in the stored position, are releasably secured to the frame and restrained from pivotal movement relative thereto.

13. A storage apparatus that attaches to a vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat includes a seat portion and a backrest, wherein the backrest includes a back portion, a top portion, and one or more headrests connected to the top portion via one or more respective support posts, the storage apparatus comprising:

a frame configured to be removably secured to the backrest rear portion, wherein the frame comprises one or more hangers configured to removably attach the frame to the one or more headrest support posts of a respective headrest; and

first, second, and third elongated panels pivotally secured to the frame in adjacent, vertically spaced-apart relationship, wherein each elongated panel is movable between an operative, generally horizontal, position and a stored, generally vertical position, wherein the first and second elongated panels are in adjacent, generally coplanar relationship when in respective stored positions, and wherein the second and third elongated panels are in adjacent, face-to-face relationship when in respective stored positions.

14. The storage apparatus of claim 13, wherein the frame comprises a pair of spaced-apart side members that are configured to support each of the elongated panels in respective operative positions, wherein the side members have an arcuate configuration and are configured to pivot between stored and operative positions, wherein the side members bow towards each other when the side members are in the stored position, and wherein the side members bow outwardly away from the rear portion of the backrest when the side members are in the operative position.

15. The storage apparatus of claim 13, wherein the frame comprises a pair of spaced-apart side members that are configured to support each of the elongated panels in respective operative positions, wherein the side members have an arcuate configuration and are configured to pivot between stored and operative positions, wherein the side members bow away each other when the side members are in the stored position, and wherein the side members bow outwardly in generally parallel directions when the side members are in the operative position.

16. The storage apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the elongated panels comprises one or more cup holders.

17. The storage apparatus of claim 13, wherein the frame comprises at least one projection extending therefrom that is configured to support articles suspended therefrom.

18. The storage apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the elongated panels comprises at least one projection extending therefrom that is configured to support articles suspended therefrom.

19. The storage apparatus of claim 13, wherein one of the elongated panels comprises an opening formed therethrough and wherein the storage apparatus further comprises one or more hanging folders suspended from the elongated panel through the opening.

20. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a seat portion;

a backrest portion attached to the seat portion, wherein the backrest portion comprises a rear portion; and

a storage apparatus attached to the backrest rear portion, the storage apparatus comprising;

a frame configured to be removably secured to the rear portion of the backrest; and

a pair of elongated panels pivotally secured to the frame in adjacent, vertically spaced-apart relationship, wherein each elongated panel is movable between an operative, generally horizontal, position and a stored, generally vertical position.

21. The vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein the backrest includes a top portion and one or more headrests connected to the top portion via one or more respective support posts, and wherein the frame comprises one or more hangers configured to removably attach the frame to the one or more headrest support posts of a respective headrest.

22. The vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein the frame comprises a pair of spaced-apart side members that are configured to support each of the elongated panels in respective operative positions.

23. The vehicle seat of claim 22, wherein the side members have an arcuate configuration and are configured to pivot between a stored position and an operative position, wherein the side members bow towards each other when the side members are in the stored position, and wherein the side members bow outwardly in generally parallel directions when the side members are in the operative position.

24. The vehicle seat of claim 22, wherein the side members have an arcuate configuration and are configured to pivot between a stored position and an operative position, wherein the side members bow away each other when the side members are in the stored position, and wherein the side members bow outwardly in generally parallel directions when the side members are in the operative position.

25. The vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein at least one of the elongated panels comprises one or more cup holders.

26. The vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein the frame comprises at least one projection extending therefrom that is configured to support articles suspended therefrom.

27. The vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein at least one of the elongated panels comprises at least one projection extending therefrom that is configured to support articles suspended therefrom.

28. The vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein one of the elongated panels comprises an opening formed therethrough and wherein the storage apparatus further comprises one or more hanging folders suspended from the elongated panel through the opening.

29. The vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein the elongated panels are in adjacent, face-to-face relationship when in respective stored positions.

30. The vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein the elongated panels are in adjacent, generally coplanar relationship when in respective stored positions.

31. The vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein the elongated panels, when in the stored position, are releasably secured to the frame and restrained from pivotal movement relative thereto.

32. The vehicle seat of claim 20, wherein the backrest is pivotally attached to the seat portion and is movable between an upright, substantially vertical position and a folded, substantially horizontal position overlying the seat portion, and wherein the elongated panels have a substantially horizontal orientation when in the operative position and when the backrest is in the upright position, and wherein the panels have a substantially horizontal orientation when in the stored position and when the backrest is in the folded position.

33. A vehicle seat, comprising:

a seat portion;

a backrest portion attached to the seat portion, wherein the backrest portion comprises a back portion, a top portion, and one or more headrests connected to the top portion via one or more respective support posts; and

a storage apparatus attached to the backrest rear portion, the storage apparatus comprising;

a frame configured to be removably secured to the backrest rear portion, wherein the frame comprises one or more hangers configured to removably attach the frame to the one or more headrest support posts of a respective headrest; and

first, second, and third elongated panels pivotally secured to the frame in adjacent, vertically spaced-apart relationship, wherein each elongated panel is movable between an operative, generally horizontal, position and a stored, generally vertical position, wherein the first and second elongated panels are in adjacent, generally coplanar relationship when in respective stored positions, and wherein the second and third elongated panels are in adjacent, face-to-face relationship when in respective stored positions.

34. The vehicle seat of claim 33, wherein the frame comprises a pair of spaced-apart side members that are configured to support each of the elongated panels in respective operative positions, wherein the side members have an arcuate configuration and are configured to pivot between stored and operative positions, wherein the side members bow towards each other when the side members are in the stored position, and wherein the side members bow outwardly away from the rear portion of the backrest when the side members are in the operative position.

35. The vehicle seat of claim 33, wherein the frame comprises a pair of spaced-apart side members that are configured to support each of the elongated panels in respective operative positions, wherein the side members have an arcuate configuration and are configured to pivot between stored and operative positions, wherein the side members bow away each other when the side members are in the stored position, and wherein the side members bow outwardly in generally parallel directions when the side members are in the operative position.

36. The vehicle seat of claim 33, wherein at least one of the elongated panels comprises one or more cup holders.

37. The vehicle seat of claim 33, wherein the frame comprises at least one projection extending therefrom that is configured to support articles suspended therefrom.

38. The vehicle seat of claim 33, wherein at least one of the elongated panels comprises at least one projection extending therefrom that is configured to support articles suspended therefrom.

39. The vehicle seat of claim 33, wherein one of the elongated panels comprises an opening formed therethrough and wherein the storage apparatus further comprises one or more hanging folders suspended from the elongated panel through the opening.

40. The vehicle seat of claim 33, wherein the backrest is pivotally attached to the seat portion and is movable between an upright, substantially vertical position and a folded, substantially horizontal position overlying the seat portion, and wherein the elongated panels have a substantially horizontal orientation when in the operative position and when the backrest is in the upright position, and wherein the panels have a substantially horizontal orientation when in the stored position and when the backrest is in the folded position.