US3815799A

US3815799A - Litter container in an automobile seat assembly

Info

Publication number: US3815799A
Application number: US00136063A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Trammell
Original assignee: EMT ENTERPRISES Inc
Current assignee: EMT ENTERPRISES Inc
Priority date: 1969-11-12
Filing date: 1971-04-21
Publication date: 1974-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-11

Abstract

A litter container in an automobile seat assembly having a Lshaped casing with a bottom container portion fitting under the seat and an upstanding front container portion extending forwardly of and adjacent to the front seat side, an access opening being provided in the top of the front container portion. A latch means carried by the container moves up under loading of a resilient means to engage the seat and hold the container in place under the seat.

Description

United States Patent [191 Trammell, Jr.

[ LITTER CONTAINER IN AN AUTOMOBILE SEAT ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: Earl M. Trammell, Jr., c/o E.M.T.

Enterprises, Inc. PO. Box 435, St. Louis, Mo. 63166 Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Dec. 7, 1988, has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Apr. 21, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 136,063

Related US Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. Nos. 875,753, Nov. 12, 1969, Pat. No. 3,598,232, and Ser. No. 881,415, Dec. 2, 1969, Pat. No. 3,625,347.

[52] US. Cl.... 206/l9.5 R, 206/D1G. 11, 220/31 R, 224/29 D, 224/4242 A [51] Int. Cl B60n 3/08, B60n 3/10 [58] Field of Search 206/195 R, 19.5 C, 44 B, 206/D1G. 11; 220/31 R, 31 S, 32; 229/DIG.

3; 224/29 D, 42.42 A, 42.42 R

1*June 11, 1974 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,120,955 12/1914 Martin 206/D1G. 11 1,375,794 4/1921 McSheehy 206/44 B 2,931,550 4/1960 Wood 224/4242 A 3,082,863 3/1963 Oharenko 224/4242 A X 3,497,119 2/1970 Beeck 224/29 D 3,625,347 12/1971 Trammell, Jr. 224/4242 A X Primary Examiner--Samuel B. Rothberg Assistant ExaminerSteven E. Lipman [57] ABSTRACT A litter container in an automobile seat assembly having a L-shaped casing with a bottom container portion fitting under the seat and an upstanding front container portion extending forwardly of and adjacent to the front seat side, an access opening being provided in the top of the front container portion. A latch means carried by the container moves up under loading of a resilient means to engage the seat and hold the container in place under the seat.

I 14 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 'TEUJUM 1 1974 FAWN SHEET 30? A LITTER CONTAINER IN AN AUTOMOBILE SEAT ASSEMBLY CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application, Ser. No. 875,753, filed Nov. 12, 1969 now US. Pat. No. 3,598,232, dated Aug. 11, 1971, and application, Ser. No. 881,415, filed December 2, 1969 now US. Pat. No. 3,625,347, dated Dec. 7, 1971.

BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to improvements in a litter container in an automobile seat assembly, and more particularly to an improved means for mounting such container to a forwardly, rearwardly, upwardly or downwardly adjustable front seat.

The heretofore conventional little containers either incorporated a gravity fit such as the common placement of a container across the transmission hump in the front seat floor, or have employed attaching means for the little container to the dashboard, kick pad, etc., of the automobile. These latter means of attachments necessitated different fixtures for each make of automobile. Also, both the gravity and fixed positions mentioned served to interfere at times with the movement of the driver and passenger. Litter containers have also been made in one piece with integral hooks under the front seat of an automobile to maintain a fixed position against the lower portion of the front seat. This is a desirable position since it is both accessible and out of the way of the occupants. However, there has been no general acceptance to date of this hook design since it is limited in practical attachment to the prevailing seat structures.

Those devices which could be hung from internal projections were usually constructed inexpensively of paper so that they could be thrown away when filled, and consequently were not readily available when the supply was depleted. Moreover, such containers are not convenient because they obstruct the use of the mounting projection and are usually located in the area where they interfered with the drivers or passengers movements and actions. Those containers which rested on the seat took up seating room and diminished the occupants comfort.

The containers which rested on the floor hindered the movement of the occupants legs and were not always in the optimum position for usage, especially when utilized in conjunction with a moveably mounted automobile front seat.

There are no general containers of this type that can be installed with a seat assembly as an accessory at minimal expense and yet achieve the desired functional advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present litter container is attached to an automobile seat by a special mounting means. The container is located under the front seat and is located under the occupants legs near the floor so that the container does not hamper the movements of the occupant. The container is in a relatively concealed position, yet is readily available for usage. The container does not occupy important and otherwise usable seat or floor space.

The invention positions the litter container in this convenient position by new attachment means which permits practical and easy installation on a front seat structure of any automobile including those with power seats. It provides a pressure fit against the front seat regardless of the structure variance that exists from one make of automobile to another.

The litter disposal unit, including the unique mounting means, is simple and durable in construction and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. It can be quickly and easily installed in any automobile by anyone without the need for any complicated instructions or special tools. Accordingly, the container is one that can be sold as an accessory and can be readily installed by the average automobile owner or user.

Because the container is retained to the seat side by the mounting means, the container will be carried by the seat during selective adjustment of the seat position, and will therefore be maintained in the appropriate position at all times.

The litter container is ofa substantially L-shape having an upstanding front portion extending forwardly of and adjacent to the front seat side, and having a bottom portion fitting under the seat, an access opening being provided at the top of the front container portion. A resilient means tends to expand the height of a latch means to engage the seat and hold the container in place under the seat. More particularly, in one embodiment, the resilient means tends to expand the height of the container under the seat and hence the height of the latch means carried by the container.

The litter container includes means adjustably mounting the latch means generally fore and aft of the container to accommodate the location of a rearwardly facing seat shoulder and insure movement of the latch means behind and engagement of the latch means with the seat shoulder when the container is placed under the seat.

The container includes telescopically related upper and lower parts, the walls of one part overlapping the walls of the other part. In one embodiment, the resilient means includes springs disposed operatively between the upper and lower container parts. In another embodiment, one container part includes integral resilient tongues engageable with the other container part, the resilient tongues constituting the resilient means. In still another embodiment, the resilient means includes accordian pleats in the sides of the container which enable the height of the container to be varied under the resilient loading of the side pleats.

The front container portion of the substantially L- shaped litter container includes a front wall, a rear wall pressed against the front seat side, and selectively expandable side walls for enlarging the top access opening defined by the front, rear and side walls. In one embodiment, the front wall of the front container portion is hinged and the side walls have overlapping, telescopically related wall portions. In another embodiment, the side walls of the front container portion are provided with accordian pleats that permit the selective enlargement of the top access opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a litter container located under and attached to a seat assembly;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, cross section view taken through the latch means connecting the container to the seat;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the litter container with one side of the front wall and associated spring socket broken away to show internal structure;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the litter container, the front and rear being broken away to show internal structure;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the contaienr shown in FIG. 5, the front wall of the lower container part being broken away to show internal structure;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the litter container;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the container shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of the litter container;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the front container portion as taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view as taken on line III1 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the litter container, the resilient pad being partially shown in cross section, and

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the containr shown in FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

Referring now the character of reference to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, it will be understood that the seat assembly includes an automobile front seat 10 having a front side 11, a bottom side 12 adjacent to the front side 11 and a rearwardly facing seat shoulder 13. Although not shown, it will be readily understood that the automobile front seat 10 can be selectively adjusted forwardly, rearwardly, upwardly or downwardly by suitable conventional mechanism.

The embodiment of the litter container disclosed in FIGS. 14 includes a substantially L-shaped container referred to by 15 having a bottom container portion referred to by 16 that fits under the seat 10 between the bottom seat side 12 and the floor, and a front container portion referred to by 17 that extends upwardly from the bottom container portion 16 and is located in front of and adjacent to the front seat side 11.

The L-shaped container 15 includes an upper container part indicated by 20 having an integral depending frontwall 21, rear wall 22 and opposed side walls 23. The lower container part indicated by 24 includes a front wall 25, a rear wall 26, and opposed side walls 27. The corresponding

walls

21 and 25, 22 and 26, 23 and 27 are located in overlapping telescopic relationship.

Formed on the projecting laterally from each of the side walls 27 of the lower container parts 24 is a substantially vertical cylinder 30, the chamber 31 of which is adapted. to receive a compression spring 32. The lower end of each spring 32 seats on a cylinder base 33, while a bearing pad 34 is seated on the top end. A pair of side flanges 35 are formed on and project from opposite sides of the upper container part 20, the side flanges 35 extending into the chambers 31 of the cylinders 30 through internal walls slots 36. The flanges 35 engage and seat on the bearing pads 34. The springs 32 act as a resilient means tending to expand the height of the container under the seat 10.

The front container portion 17 includes a rear wall 37 adapted to engage the front seat side 11, a front wall 40 that is integrally hinged at 41 to the front depending wall 21, and opposite side walls, each of which includes overlapping, telescopically

related wall portions

42 and 43. The wall portions 42 are connected to the rear wall 37 while the wall portions 43 are connected to the front wall 40. The uppermost margins of the rear wall 37,- front wall 40 and the overlapping side walls portions 42-43 define a top access opening referred to generally by 44.

When the front wall 40 and its'connected side wall portion 43 are moved inwardly to their fully contracted positions shown by full lines in FIG. I, the size of the top access opening 44 is at a minimum. In this position of the hinged front wall 40, the front wall 40 is inclined rearwardly to a position out of the way of the seat occupants feet so that there is no chance of interference or obstruction. Yet, the size of the top access opening is sufficient to enable the insertion of most common articles. When it is desirable to insert larger sized articles incident to disposal, the hinged front wall 40 can be swung open to the expanded position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 to increase the size of the top access opening 44.

A pin is carried by each of the wall portions 42 and projects inwardly to a cooperating, arcuate slot 46 formed in the associated and adjacent overlapping wall portion 43. The pins 45 and slots 46 act as guides to determine the limits of movement of the hinged front wall 40, namely, the full contracted position shown in full lines and the fully expanded position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1.

A latch body 47 constituting a latch means, best 7 shown in FIG. 3, is carried by the container and moves upwardly upon height expansion of the container under loading of the resilient means to a position behind the seat shoulder 13 to hold the container in place under the seat. More particularly, the body 47 includes a front surface 50 engageable with the seat shoulder 13,

and having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam surface 51 adapted to facilitate insertion under the seat. An uppercontainer wall 52 includes an elongate slot 53 extending generally in a direction fore and aft of the container. The latch body 47 is attached to the container wall 52 by a bolt and nut fastener 54, the nut of such fastener 54 being located between depending side flanges 55 to prevent turning and thereby facilitate loosening and tightening of the fastener while positioning the latch body 47 in a selected position along the slot. It will be understood that the latch body 47 can be selectively positioned and fixed along the slot 53 so as to engage the alternate seat shoulder 13a.

The assemble and install and litter container shown in FIGS. 14, the latch body 47 is located so that its front surface 50 is located behind the seat shoulder 13 when the rear wall 37 of the front container portion 17 is engageable with the front seat side 11. This adjustment can be made easily by the positioning of the fastener 54 along the slot 53. Then, the upper container part 20 is located within the lower container part 24 with the side flanges 35 disposed through the slots 36 and seated on top of the spring bearing pads 34, the

walls

21, 22 and 23 of the upper container part 20 being located inside of and telescopically related to the associated and corresponding

walls

25, 26 and 27 respectively of the lower container part 24.

The upper container part 20 is then depressed under the loading of the springs 32 to reduce the container height so that the bottom container portion 16 fits under the seat between the bottom seat wall 12 and the floor. As soon as the front surface 50 of the latch body 47 clears the seat shoulder 13, the upper container part will be urged upwardly under the loading of the springs 32 to expand the height of the container until the upper container wall 52 engages the bottom seat side 12. In this position, the latch body 47 has moved behind the seat shoulder 13 and the front surface 50 will engage the seat shoulder 13 to hold the container in place with the rear wall 37 of the front container portion 17 held against the front seat side 11.

As has been explained, the hinged front wall 40 of the front container portion 17 is located in the contracted position shown in FIG. 1 so as to minimize the projection of the container forwardly of the seat and yet provide a top access 44 of sufficient size to permit the insertion of most of the usual articles that are usually placed in such a container. When larger articles are to be disposed of, the hinged front wall 40 is moved outwardly to the expanded position shown in FIG. 1 to increase the size of the top access opening 40.

To remove the container in order to empty or clean it, the upper container part 20 is depressed under the loading of the springs 32 to contract the container height sufficiently so that the latch body 47 clears the body seat side 12, and the bottom container portion can then be easily withdrawn from under the seat. The

container parts

20 and 24 can be easily separated to empty the container of its contents, and can be quickly and easily reassembled and again installed under the seat for subsequent use.

The container embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 5-6 includes a bottom container portion 16 and a front container portion 17, the front container 17 being provided with the top access opening 44. The container includes an upper container part 20 having a depending front wall 21, a rear wall 22 and opposed side walls 23. The container includes a lower container part 24 having a front wall 25, a rear wall 26 and opposed side walls 27. When assembled, the upper container part 20 I fits into the lower container part 24 with the associated and corresponding

front walls

21 and 25,

rear walls

22 and 26, the

side walls

23 and 27 arranged in overlapping telescopic relation.

The resilient means tending to expand the height of the container under the seat 10 is provided by resilient, curved tongues 56 formed on the lower margins of the front wall 21 and the rear wall 22 of the upper container part 20. The tongues 56 engage the bottom wall 57 of the lower container part 24 and tend to expand the container height.

The means for mounting the container of FIGS. 5-6 to the seat assembly can be the latch body 47 previously described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, or can be the device shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 7-8. The latch body 47 of FIGS. 1-4 have already been described. The latch device of the embodiment of FIGS. 7-8 includes an elastic band 60 having its ends 61 attached to a pair of C-frames 62. The C-frames 62 are adapted to engage the rearwardly facing seat shoulder 13, and more particularly engage a shoulder ledge 14 constituting a part of the shoulder 13 and are secured in place by thump screws 63. The U-elastic band 60 is looped over the front container portion 17 and holds the rear wall 37 against the front seat side 11.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-6, a paper or plastic bag 64 is disposed within the container with the mouth of such bag 64 located at the top access opening 44. The bag 64 includes side flaps 65 that are pulled down over the outside of the front container portion 17 and located under the elastic band 60 to hold the bag 64 in place. The depression 66 in the top wall of the uppper container part 20 cooperates with notches 67 in the side walls 27 immediately behind the front container portion 17 to accommodate the lower front edge of a 6-way power seat which can move downwardly when the seat is tilted forwardly.

To assemble the litter container of FIGS. 5-6, the'C- frames 62 are clamped to the ledge 14 by the thumb screws 63, if the mounting means of FIGS. 7-8 is utilized. If the mounting means of FIGS. 1-4 are utilized, the latch body 47 is suitably adjusted as previously described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. Then, the upper container part 20 is located within the lower container part 24 with the resilient tongues 56 engaging the bottom container wall 57. If desired, although not necessary, a bag 64 can be inserted within the container as shown in FIG. 5 with the flaps 65 of such bag 64 being flipped over the top of the front container portion 17. Then, the upper container part 20 is depressed under the resilient loading of tongues 56 to contract the height of the container so that it can be slipped easily under the seat between the bottom seat wall 12 and the floor. When fully inserted with the rear wall 37 of the front container portion 17 urged against the front seat wall 11, the elastic band 60 is looped over the front container portion 17 to hold the container in place. When a bag is utilized, the elastic band 60 also engages the side flaps 64 to hold the bag 64 in place.

To remove the container from under the seat when the mounting means of FIGS. 7 and 8 is utilized, the elastic band 60 is slipped over and removed from the front container portion 17, and then the upper container part 20 can be slightly depressed under the loading of resilient tongues 56 and the container can be withdrawn from under the seat. When the mounting means of FIGS. l-4 is utilized, removal is obtained in the manner previously described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 14. After the container has been removed from under the seat 10, the upper container part 20 can be separated from the lower container part 24 to empty. the contents. When a bag 64 is utilized, such bag 64 can be removed and thrown away or emptied. The emptied bag or a new bag can then be inserted between the

container parts

20 and 24, and the container reinstalled in the manner previously described.

The embodiment of the litter container shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 includes a substantially L-shaped upper container part 70 having a rear wall 71 and opposed side walls 72. The side walls 72 of the upper container part 70 extend for the length of the bottom container portion 16 and the front container portion 17. The lower container part 73 includes a rear wall 74 and opposed side walls 75, the side walls 75 extending along both the bottom container part 16 and the front container part 17. When the upper and

lower container parts

70 and 73 are assembled, the side walls 72 and I 75 and the rear walls 71 and 74 are disposed in overlapping telescopic relation. The overlapping

side walls

72 and 75 of the front container portion 17 provide the selectively expanding side walls for enlarging the size of the top access opening 44. For example, the elastic band 60 disposed about the front container portion 17 normally holds the overlapping

side walls

72 and 75 in their contracted position as shown in full lines in FIG. 7. If it is desired to enlarge the top access opening 44 to permit insertion of larger articles, the lower container part 73 is gripped near the top access opening 44 at the front container portion 17 and is pulled outwardly to expand the telescopically

related side walls

72 and 75. At the same time, a spring 76 provided between the rear walls 71 and 74 holds the rear wall 37 of the upper container part 70 at the front container portion 17 tightly against the front seat side 11.

To assemble the container of FIGS. 78, the upper container part 70 is disposed over the lower container part 73 with the rear walls 71 and 74 and the

side walls

72 and 75 in overlapping telescopic relation. The C- frames 62 are secured to the ledge 14 by the thumb screws 63 as previously described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. -6. Then, the bottom container portion 16 is inserted under the seat 10 between the bottom seat side 12 and the floor. When fully inserted with the rear wall 37 from the front container portion 17 against the front seat side 11, the elastic band 60 is looped over the front container portion 17 as shown in full lines in FIG. 7.

When used, the lower container'part 73 can be pulled outwardly by grasping the front container portion 17 to expand the telescopically

related side walls

72 and 75 and thereby enlarge the size of the top access opening 44, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 7. When released, the front container portion 17 will assume the contracted position as shown in full lines in FIG. 7 automatically under the loading of the elastic band 60.

To remove the container of FIGS. 7 and 8, the elastic band 60 is slipped off of the front container portion 17 and the container withdrawn from under the seat.

The litter container. shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 9-11 is of substantially L-shape having a bottom container portion 16 and a front container portion 17. The bottom container portion 16 includes a top wall 77, a bottom wall 78 and opposed side walls 79. For reasons which will later appear, the end 80 of the bottom container portion 16 can be open or closed.

The front container portion 17 includes a rear wall 81 that is adapted to engage the front side 11, a front wall 82, and opposed side walls 83. Although the rear end of the bottom container portion 16 could be closed, it is desirable under some circumstances to leave such end 80 open and to close it with a bag 84 that is slipped over the bottom container portion 16 and held by an elastic band 85.

When the bag'84 is not used and the end 80 of the lower container portion 16 is closed, the mounting means for such container can be the adjustable latch body 47 previously described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. It will be understood, of course, that instead of the mounting means shown in FIGS. 1-4, the mounting means including the C-clamps 62-63 and the elastic band 60 of the embodiment of FIGS. 78 can be utilized.

The resilient means tending to expand the height of the container under the seat consist of accordian pleats 86 formed in the side walls 79 and in the front wall 82. If the rear end 80 of the bottom container portion 16 were closed by a rear wall, it will be understood that corresponding accordian pleats would be provided in such a rear wall. 1

The means for relatively expanding or contracting the opposed side walls 83 of the front container portion 17 consist of accordian pleats 87, such pleats 87 being resilient and normally holding the front container portion 17 in the contracted position shown in full lines in FIG. 9 in which the top access opening 44 is held to a predetermined minimum size. If it is desired to enlarge the size of the top access opening 44 for theinsertion of large articles, the front container portion 17 is expanded to the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 9, the expansion of the front portion 17 being permitted by the resilient accordian pleats 87.

To install the litter container of FIGS. 9-11, the bottom container portion 16 is depressed to reduce the height under the resilient loading of the accordian pleasts 86, and the bottom container portion 16 is slipped under the seat 10 between the bottom seat side 12 and the floor. As will be understood, when the latch body 47 of thetype shown and described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 is used, such latch 47 engages the rearwardly facing seat shoulder 13 when the height of the bottom container portion 16 is allowed to expand under the loading of the accordian pleats 86 whenthe container is fully inserted. Again, if the mounting means 60-63 of the type illustrated and described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 78 is utilized, the elastic band 60 of such mounting meane is looped over the front container portion 17 to pressed the rear wall 81 against the front seat side 11 and hold the container in place. When the above described container includes a rear wall that closes the rear end 80 of the bottom container portion 16, such rear wall is provided with corresponding accordian pleats. When the rear wall is omitted and the rear end 80 of the bottom container portion 16 is open, the bag 84 is slipped over the bottom container portion 16 and retained in place by the elastic band 85 before the bottom container 16 is slipped under the automobile seat 10. Economically, it may be desirable to utilize the natural friction between the bottom container portipn 16 and the bottom seat side 12 as provided by the expansion pressure, to maintain the litter container in its installed position.

To remove the container of FIGS. 9-11, when the latch means 47 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 is used, the bottom container portion 16 is compressed to reduce the height and is withdrawn from under the seat 10. When the mounting means 60-63 of the embodiment of FIGS. 7-8 is used, the elastic band 60 is removed from the front container portion 17 to release the container and the bottom container portion 16 is withdrawn. When the natural friction between the bottom container portion 16 and the bottom seat side 12 -is relied on, the bottom container portion 16 is compressed to relieve the pressure and is then withdrawn.

The litter container shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 12-13 is of substantially L-shape having a bottom container portion 16 and a front container portion 17. The bottom container portion 16 includes a top wall 90, a bottom wall 91, opposed side walls 92 and an end wall 93. I

The front container 17 includes a rear wall 94 that is adapted to engage the front seat side 1 1, a front wall 95 and opposed side walls 96. As stated previously, the walls 94-96 define the top opening 44.

The resilient means consists of a resilient pad 97 fixed to the top wall 90 of the bottom container portion 16. Attached to the upper surface of the resilient pad 97 is a protective, flexible metal strip 100 that carries an upstanding latch body 101 consisting of a series of serrations that frictionally engage the underside of the seat. The resilient pad 97 tends to move the latch body 101 upwardly. The flexible strip 100 is inclined rearwardly from the top of resilient pad 97 downwardly to the top wall 90 of the bottom container portion 16, whereby the strip 100 can ride on the bottom seat side 12 as the container is inserted and depress the pad 97.

To install the litter container of FIGS. 1213, the bottom container portion 16 is inserted under the seat between the bottom seat side 12 and floor. As will be understood, the latch body 101 will be depressed under the loading of the resilient pad 97 whenever the litter container is being installed under the seat and at the same time provide a sufficient friction catch under the loading of the resilient pad 97 to hold the litter container in the installed position.

To remove the container of FIGS. 12-13, the user pulls sufficiently to overcome friction grip between the latch body 101 and the bottom seat side 12.

I claim as my invention:

1. An automobile seat assembly comprising:

a. an automobile seat having a front side and a bottom side, the bottom side being provided with a rearwardly facing shoulder adjacent to the lower edge of the front side,

b. a substantially L-shaped litter container having a front portion and a bottom portion, both of which cooperate to provide a chamber adapted to receive litter, the bottom container portion fitting partially under the seat and the front container portion having an access opening to the chamber,

c. a latch means carried by the bottom container portion, and

d. resilient means tending'to move the latch means upwardly under the loading of the resilient means to engage the seat and hold the container in place under the seat.

2. An automobile seat assembly comprising:

a. an automobile seat having a front side and a bottom side, the bottom side being provided with a rearwardly facing shoulder adjacent the lower edge of the front side,

b. a litter container fitting partially under the seat and having an access opening,

c. resilient means tending to expand the height of the container under the seat, and

d. a latch means carried by the container that moves up under expansion of the container under loading of the resilient means to engage the seat and hold the container in place under the seat.

3. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 2, in which:

e. the container is of substantially L-shape having a bottom container portion and a front container portion extending forwardly of and adjacent to the front seat side,

f. the access opening is located at the top of said front container portion, and

g. the latch means moves up behind the seat shoulder under the loading of the resilient means and engages the seat shoulder to preclude unintentional withdrawal of the container.

4. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: i

h. the latch means includes a body having a front surface engageable with the seat shoulder and having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam surface adapted to slidably engage the bottom seat side under the loading of the resilient means during placement of the container under the seat.

5. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 3, in which:

h. means adjustably mounts the latch means generally in a direction fore and aft of the container to accommodate the location of the seat shoulder and assure close adjacency with and behind the seat shoulder when the container is placed under the seat.

6. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 3, in which:

h. the container is provided with a slot extending generally in a direction fore and aft of the container, and

i. the latch means includes a body selectively located along the slot and fixed to the container, the body having a front surface engageable with the seat shoulder when the container is placed under the seat.

7. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 6, in which:

j. the body includes a downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam surface adapted to slidably engage the bottom seat side under the loading of the resilient means during placement of the container under the seat.

8. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 3, in which:

h. the container includes telescopically related upper and lower parts, the walls of one part overlapping the walls of the other part, and

i. the resilient means includes springs disposed operatively between the upper and lower container parts.

9. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 3, in which:

h. the front container portion includes:

1. a front wall, 2. a rear wall pressed against the front seat side,

and 3. side walls having relatively movable wall por tions for selectively enlarging the top access opening defined by the front, rear and side walls.

10. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 9, in which:

i. the front wall of the front container portion is hinged, and j. the wall portions of the side walls are overlapping and telescopically related. 11. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: i

h. the container includes telescopically related upper and lower parts, the walls of one part overlapping the walls of the other part, i. one of the said container parts includes the front container portion, and

j. the front container portion has;

1. a front wall that is hinged,

2. a rear wall pressed against the front seat side,

3. opposite side walls, each of which includes overlapping, telescopically related wall portions, one of which is connected to said rear wall and the other of which is connected to the said front wall, and

4. the front, rear and side walls define the top access opening that can be enlarged by hingedly moving the said front wall.

12. An automobile seat assembly comprising:

b. a substantially L-shaped container, including a substantially upstanding front portion extending forwardly of and against the front seat side, and a bottom portion fitting under the seat,

c. the front container portion having a top access opening,

d. the front container portion including:

1. a front wall,

2. a rear wall pressed against the front seat side,

and

3. selectively expandable side walls for enlarging the top access opening defined by the front, rear and side walls, and

e. mounting means on the container end engaging the seat to hold the container in place under the seat.

13. An automobile seat assembly comprising:

a. an automobile seat having a front side and a bottom side, the bottom side being provided with a rearwardly facing shoulder adjacent the lower edge of the front side.

c. the front container portion having a top access opening,

d. the front container portion including:

1. a front wall,

2. a rear wall pressed against the front seat side,

and

3. selectively expandable side walls for enlarging the top access opening defined by the front, rear and side walls,

e. mounting means on the container and engaging the seat to hold the container in place under the seat, and

f. resilient means tending to expand the height of the container under the seat.

14. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 13, in which:

g. the front wall of the front container portion is hinged, and

h. the side walls have overlapping telescopically related wall portions.

Claims

1. An automobile seat assembly comprising: a. an automobile seat having a front side and a bottom side, the bottom side being provided with a rearwardly facing shoulder adjacent to the lower edge of the front side, b. a substantially L-shaped litter container having a front portion and a bottom portion, both of which cooperate to provide a chamber adapted to receive litter, the bottom container portion fitting partially under the seat and the front container portion having an access opening to the chamber, c. a latch means carried by the bottom container portion, and d. resilient means tending to move the latch means upwardly under the loading of the resilient means to engage the seat and hold the container in place under the seat.

2. An automobile seat assembly comprising: a. an automobile seat having a front side and a bottom side, the bottom side being provided with a rearwardly facing shoulder adjacent the lower edge of the front side, b. a litter container fitting partially under the seat and having an access opening, c. resilient means tending to expand the height of the container under the seat, and d. a latch means carried by the container that moves up under expansion of the container under loading of the resilient means to engage the seat and hold the container in place under the seat.

2. a rear wall pressed against the front seat side, and

2. a rear wall pressed against the front seat side,

2. a rear wall pressed against the front seat side, and

3. side walls having relatively movable wall portions for selectively enlarging the top access opening defined by the front, rear and side walls.

3. selectively expandable side walls for enlarging the top access opening defined by the front, rear and side walls, and e. mounting means on the container end engaging the seat to hold the container in place under the seat.

3. selectively expandable side walls for enlarging the top access opening defined by the front, rear and side walls, e. mounting means on the container and engaging the seat to hold the container in place under the seat, and f. resilient means tending to expand the height of the container under the seat.

3. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 2, in which: e. the container is of substantially L-shape having a bottom container portion and a front container portion extending forwardly of and adjacent to the front seat side, f. the access opening is located at the top of said front container portion, and g. the latch means moves up behind the seat shoulder under the loading of the resilient means and engages the seat shoulder to preclude unintentional withdrawal of the container.

4. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: h. the laTch means includes a body having a front surface engageable with the seat shoulder and having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam surface adapted to slidably engage the bottom seat side under the loading of the resilient means during placement of the container under the seat.

5. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: h. means adjustably mounts the latch means generally in a direction fore and aft of the container to accommodate the location of the seat shoulder and assure close adjacency with and behind the seat shoulder when the container is placed under the seat.

6. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: h. the container is provided with a slot extending generally in a direction fore and aft of the container, and i. the latch means includes a body selectively located along the slot and fixed to the container, the body having a front surface engageable with the seat shoulder when the container is placed under the seat.

7. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 6, in which: j. the body includes a downwardly and rearwardly inclined cam surface adapted to slidably engage the bottom seat side under the loading of the resilient means during placement of the container under the seat.

8. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: h. the container includes telescopically related upper and lower parts, the walls of one part overlapping the walls of the other part, and i. the resilient means includes springs disposed operatively between the upper and lower container parts.

9. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: h. the front container portion includes:

10. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 9, in which: i. the front wall of the front container portion is hinged, and j. the wall portions of the side walls are overlapping and telescopically related.

11. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 3, in which: h. the container includes telescopically related upper and lower parts, the walls of one part overlapping the walls of the other part, i. one of the said container parts includes the front container portion, and j. the front container portion has;

12. An automobile seat assembly comprising: a. an automobile seat having a front side and a bottom side, the bottom side being provided with a rearwardly facing shoulder adjacent the lower edge of the front side, b. a substantially L-shaped container, including a substantially upstanding front portion extending forwardly of and against the front seat side, and a bottom portion fitting under the seat, c. the front container portion having a top access opening, d. the front container portion including:

13. An automobile seat assembly comprising: a. an automobile seat having a front side and a bottom side, the bottom side being provided with a rearwardly facing shoulder adjacent the lower edge of the front side, b. a substantially L-shaped container, including a substantially upstanding front portion extending forwardly of and against the front seat side, and a bottom portion fitting under the seat, c. the front container portion having a top access opening, d. the front container portion including:

14. An automobile seat assembly as defined in claim 13, in which: g. the front wall of the front container portion is hinged, and h. the side walls have overlapping telescopically related wall portions.