Field of the Invention

[1] This invention relates generally to devices for securing objects in vehicles in transit. More particularly, this invention relates to a securement device configured to fit a vehicle passenger seat to secure various items whilst driving.

Cross reference to related applications

[2] Australian laid open Australian innovation patent AU 2018100646 A4 by the present inventor discloses a device for in-transit object securement of which the entire contents thereof are incorporated herein by reference.

[3] Advantageous functional improvements thereto however are desirous which are therefore disclosed herein, including improvements relating to enhancing securement of the device and securement of particular types of items.

Summary of the Disclosure

[4] There is provided herein a securement device comprising a rigid body having a major rectangular planar portion and a minor rectangular planar portion extending at an angle from a short side of the major planar portion. The minor rectangular planar portion defines a distal edge.

[5] Furthermore, an upper frictional pad preferably covers at least an upper surface of the major rectangular planar portion, but which preferably extends across the short side to cover both most of the upper surfaces of the major and minor planar portions.

[6] The securement device preferably further comprises a lower frictional pad covering at least a distal undersurface region of the major planar portion.

[7] In this way, when the securement device is placed atop a vehicle seat having a backrest and a seat base, the edge wedges between a juncture between the backrest and the seat base and the lower frictional pad engages a seat edge upper surface of the seat base at an opposite side of the securement device such that the securement device is secured at opposite sides both at the edge and the lower frictional pad, thereby enhancing the securement of the device.

[8] The lower frictional pad may extend in at least approximately 160 mm from the adjacent edge of the major planar portion to as to adequately contact the seat edge upper surface of the seat base of many commercially available vehicle seats.

[9] Furthermore, the major planar portion may comprise a length of approximately 425mm and the minor planar portion may comprise a length of approximately 109mm so as to reach between the juncture between the backrest and seat base and the seat edge upper surface of many commercially available vehicle seats. [10] Furthermore, the securement device may comprise a width of approximately 290mm which fits between the lateral rising edges of most commercially available vehicle seats.

[11] Furthermore, the minor planar portion may extend at an angle of approximately 133° from the major planar portion. This angle and the length of the portions allow the upper surface of the major planar portion to lie substantially horizontal when places atop many commercially available vehicle seats. Furthermore, the minor planar portion may leave a gap to the backrest for the wedging of various objects therebetween, especially non-flat edged objects such as soda cans and the like.

[12] In a preferred embodiment, the rigid body comprises recesses for the frictional pads thereby defining a peripheral boundary thereabout to the edges of the rigid body. The recesses preferably have a depth less than that of the thickness of the frictional pads such that the frictional pads may yet adequately engage objects laid across the fictional pad and the adjacent peripheral boundary.

[13] In an embodiment, the securement device further comprises at least one cup holder aperture through the major planar portion adjacent the short side and the minor planar portion. When engaged in a seat, the space under the at least one cup holder aperture is maximised such that a coffee cup, soda can, or the like may be held therein substantially upright and wherein the base of the coffee cup/soda can is accommodated within the space. In embodiments, the securement device may comprise a plurality of cup holder aperture arranged in-line along the shortage of the major planar portion. In this way, a plurality of pickups or the like may be supported upright with the bases thereof accommodated within the spacing under the apertures.

[14] In embodiments, especially for cylindrical drinking vessels such as soda cans, an arm may locate under the aperture to hold the base of the can to prevent the can falling through the aperture 110. In embodiments, the arm may be pivotally located in from an edge of the aperture to partially obstruct the aperture such that, the can is pushed into the aperture, the arm is deflected downwardly to a stopping point where it supports the can. The arm may be biased upwardly so as to be retained substantially flush with the undersurface of the board so as to not obstruct the undersurface thereof when not in use.

[15] In embodiments, the major rectangular planar portion comprises a wireless charging interface comprising an inductive wireless charging loop. The charging you may be located at a specific location of the major rectangular portion donated by way of a market indicating the appropriate placement of a device for wireless charging. The device may comprise a battery pack concealed under the junction between the major rectangular portion and the minor rectangular portion. Alternatively, the electrical leads may extend from an edge of the rigid body of the device for connection to a vehicle power point.

[16] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. Brief Description of the Drawings

[17] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[18] Figure 1 shows an exploded top perspective view of securement device in accordance with a first embodiment;

[19] Figure 2 shows an assembled top perspective view of the securement device of Figure 1;

[20] Figure 3 shows an exploded top perspective view of a securement device in accordance with a second embodiment;

[21] Figure 4 shows an assembled top perspective view of the securement device of Figure 1;

[22] Figures 5 and 6 show exemplary dimensions of the securement device in accordance with an embodiment; and

[23] Figure 7 illustrates the method of use of the securement device in accordance with an embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

[24] Figure 4 shows a top perspective view of a securement device 111 in accordance with an embodiment. The securement device 111 comprises a rigid body 103 having a major rectangular portion 106 and a minor rectangular planar portion 105 extending at an angle from a short side 117 of the major rectangular portion 106.

[25] The rigid body 103 may be made from plastic and heated at the short side 117 to bend the plastic into the configuration shown. Alternatively, the rigid body 103 may be made from carbon fibre.

[26] The minor rectangular planar portion 105 defines a distal edge 118.

[27] An upper frictional pad 101 covers at least an upper surface of the major rectangular planar portion 106. In a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 3 and 4, the upper frictional pad 101 is a single sheet of frictional material which falls over the short side 117 to cover the majority of both the major rectangular planar portion 106 and the minor rectangular planar portion 105.

[28] An upper surface of the rigid body 103 may comprise a recess 107 in from the peripheral edges of the body 103 within which the upper frictional pad 101 is seated which defines a boundary at the peripheral edges thereof. The recess 107 preferably has a depth less than the thickness of the upper frictional pad 101 such that the upper surface of the upper frictional pad 101 extends slightly above the peripheral boundary of the body 103 so as to yet be able to frictionally engage objects partially line across the boundary.

[29] In embodiments, the recess 107 has a depth of 2.5 mm. Furthermore, the peripheral boundary thereabout may comprise a width approximately 10 mm. [30] In embodiments, the upper frictional pad 101 may be made from silicon.

[31] In a preferred embodiment the securement device 111 further comprises a lower frictional pad 104. The lower frictional pad 104 covers at least a distal undersurface region 119 of the major rectangular planar portion 106.

[32] Figure 11 shows the utilisation of the securement device 111 which is placed atop a vehicle seat 120 having a backrest 112 and a seat base 113 for the frictional engagement of various objects.

[33] As can be seen from Figure 7, the distal edge 118 wedges between the juncture of the backrest 112 in the seat base 113 so as to be secured therein.

[34] Furthermore, the location of the lower frictional pad 104 frictionally engages a seat edge upper surface of the seat base 113.

[35] In this way, the securement device 111 is secured from opposite sides both at the distal edge 118 and the distal undersurface region 119 so as to retain the securement device 111 in place and prevent the securement device 111 from moving about when underway.

[36] Furthermore, when engaged in this way, the upper surface of the major planar portion 106 may be substantially horizontal for the placement and frictional engagement of various items thereatop, such as mobile phone devices 114.

[37] Furthermore, the upper surface of the minor planar portion 105 may leave a gap from the backrest 112 within which additional items may be wedged, such as cylindrical soda cans 116 or the like.

[38] With reference to the exemplary dimensions of Figures 5 6, the securement device 111 may comprise a width of 290mm. Furthermore, the major planar portion 106 may comprise a length of 425mm and the minor planar portion 105 may comprise a length of 109mm.

[39] Furthermore, the minor planar portion 105 may just at an angle of approximately 133° from the major planar portion 106.

[40] Furthermore, the lower frictional pad 104 may comprise a width of 160mm and may locate 265mm from the side edge 117.

[41] These particular dimensions are appropriately suited for most commercially available vehicle seats such that the lower frictional pad 104 is able to frictionally engage the edge of the seat base 113 when the edge 118 wedges between the backrest 112 and the seat base 113 and further such that the major planar portion 106 is substantially horizontal and the minor planar portion 105 leaves a gap to the backrest 112 for the wedging of objects therebetween.

[42] In embodiments, additional frictional pads may be provided on the undersurface of the securement device 111. In embodiments, additional undersurface frictional pad may run around the peripheral edges of the under surfaces on the major planar portion 106 to the minor planar portion 105. In one embodiment the lower frictional pad is substantially the same size as the upper frictional pad so as to cover substantially the entirety of the undersurface of the major rectangular planar portion and the undersurface of the minor rectangular planar portion.

[43] Figure 1 shows a further embodiment of a securement device 101 wherein the body 103 and the upper frictional pad 101 comprise at least one cupholder aperture 110.

[44] In the embodiment shown, the major planar portion 106 comprises a plurality of cupholder apertures 110, located along the short side edge thereof. In the embodiments shown, the securement device 100 comprises three apertures 110 but, in further embodiments, the securement device 100 may comprise less than three or more than three apertures 110.

[45] Furthermore, with reference to Figure 7, there is shown a coffee cup 115 engaged through the cupholder aperture 110. In this configuration, the coffee cup 115 is held substantially upright. Furthermore, configuration of the securement device 100 maximises the space underneath the apertures 110 when engaged to the vehicle seat 120 which may accommodate the base of the coffee cup 115.

[46] As commercially available coffee cups may comprise a minimum diameter at the bottom thereof of approximately between 50 and 60 mm and a maximum diameter of between 75 and 90 mm, embodiments, and with reference to Figure 5, the apertures 110 may comprise a diameter of approximately 70mm such that these types of coffee cups can wedged into the apertures.

[47] Furthermore, as the diameter of a conventional 375 mm Coke can is typically 60 mm, a Coke can may also fit within these apertures 110.

[48] In embodiments, apertures 110 of different sizes may be provided to accommodate drinking vessels of differing dimensions.

[49] Furthermore, especially for cylindrical drinking vessels such as soda cans, an arm (not shown) may locate under the aperture to hold the base of the can to prevent the can falling through the aperture 110. In embodiments, the arm may be pivotally located in from an edge of the aperture 110 to partially obstruct the aperture 110. As the can is pushed into the aperture 110, the arm is deflected downwardly to a stopping point where it supports the can. The arm may be biased upwardly so as to be retained substantially flush with the undersurface of the board so as to not obstruct the undersurface thereof when not in use.

[50] In embodiments, the major rectangular planar portion 106 comprises a wireless charging interface (not shown). Specifically, the wireless charging interface may comprise an inductive wireless charging loop thereunderneath which inductively wirelessly charges a mobile phone device or the like placed thereatop. [51] The inductive wireless charging loop may be located at a specific location of the major rectangular planar portion 106 and the location thereof denoted by way of a rectangular marking or the like indicating the appropriate placement of the mobile phone device or the like for wireless charging.

[52] Electrical leads may lead from an edge of the body 103 such as from an edge of the minor rectangular portion 105 for connection to a vehicle electrical outlet, such as a cigarette lighter socket, external battery pack or the like. In embodiments, the device 100 comprises an integral rechargeable battery pack therein, such as one concealed under the junction between the major rectangular planar portion 106 and the minor rectangular portion 105.

[53] In embodiments, the wireless charging loop may be recessed within the rigid body 106 such that the upper frictional pad 101 lies continuously flat thereacross.

[54] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, they thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

[55] The term "approximately" herein should be construed as being within 20% of the stated value, unless otherwise indicated.