US3870210A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container unit for an automobile
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-10-05
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A container unit in which a spring is detachable connected to the container and located between the container and a support surface in the automobile, and an anchorage connects the spring to the support surface in front of an angularly related abutment surface, whereby the spring exerts a pull on the container for holding the container against the abutment surface. The container can be a tissue dispenser, a litter repository, or a combination thereof or any like item. Specifically, the spring is a coiled band spring having a coil portion received in a container pocket to provide the detachable connection with the container, and an outer spring end on which the anchorage is carried for attachment to the support surface underneath the container. When used as a tissue dispenser, the container has a rear side that is open for introducing a tissue box into the container when the container is detached, the open rear side overlapping the abutment surface when the container is attached to preclude unintentional removal of the tissue box from the container. The container is provided with projecting lips about the container pocket for locating and scooping the coil portion to the pocket and thereby facilitating attachment of the container. The same spring can be utilized to retain a plurality of containers in tandem by providing a suitable detachable connection between such containers.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Earl M Trammell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:25
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R7/00; B60R7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A convenience container unit for attachment in an automobile having a support surface and an abutment surface disposed angularly to the support surface, the unit comprising: a. a container adapted to seat on the support surface adjacent the abutment surface, b. resilient means detachably connected to the container and located between the container and the support surface, c. an anchorage means connects the resilient means to the support surface in front of the abutment surface, the resilient means exerting a pull on the container for holding the container against the abutment surface, and d. a second container seating on the support surface adjacent the first said container, one of the containers being provided with a top-open socket, and the other container being provided with a tongue interfitting the socket to detachably connect the two containers in tandem.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A convenience container unit for attachment in an automobile having a support surface and an abutment surface disposed angularly to the support surface, the unit comprising: a. a container adapted to seat on the support surface adjacent the abutment surface, b. resilient means detachably connected to the container and located between the container and the support surface, c. an anchorage means connects the resilient means to the support surface in front of the abutment surface, the resilient means exerting a pull on the container for holding the container against the abutment surface, and d. a second container seating on the support surface adjacent the first said container, one of the containers being provided with a top-open socket, and the other container being provided with a tongue interfitting the socket to detachably connect the two containers in tandem.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
137 words
A convenience container unit for attachment in an automobile having a support surface and an abutment surface disposed angularly to the support surface, the unit comprising: a. a container adapted to seat on the support surface adjacent the abutment surface, b. resilient means detachably connected to the container and located between the container and the support surface, c. an anchorage means connects the resilient means to the support surface in front of the abutment surface, the resilient means exerting a pull on the container for holding the container against the abutment surface, and d. a second container seating on the support surface adjacent the first said container, one of the containers being provided with a top-open socket, and the other container being provided with a tongue interfitting the socket to detachably connect the two containers in tandem.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
137 words
A convenience container unit for attachment in an automobile having a support surface and an abutment surface disposed angularly to the support surface, the unit comprising: a. a container adapted to seat on the support surface adjacent the abutment surface, b. resilient means detachably connected to the container and located between the container and the support surface, c. an anchorage means connects the resilient means to the support surface in front of the abutment surface, the resilient means exerting a pull on the container for holding the container against the abutment surface, and d. a second container seating on the support surface adjacent the first said container, one of the containers being provided with a top-open socket, and the other container being provided with a tongue interfitting the socket to detachably connect the two containers in tandem.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
A convenience container unit for attachment in an automobile having a support surface and an abutment surface disposed angularly to the support surface, the unit comprising: a. a container adapted to seat on the support surface adjacent the abutment surface, b. resilient means detachably connected to the container and located between the container and the support surface, and c. an anchorage means connects the resilient means to the support surface in front of the abutment surface between the abutment surface and the connection of the resilient means to the container, the resilient means exerting a pull on the container for holding the container against the abutment surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
A convenience container unit for attachment in an automobile having a support surface and an abutment surface disposed angularly to the support surface, the unit comprising: a. a container adapted to seat on the support surface adjacent the abutment surface, b. resilient means detachably connected to the container and located between the container and the support surface, and c. an anchorage means connects the resilient means to the support surface in front of the abutment surface between the abutment surface and the connection of the resilient means to the container, the resilient means exerting a pull on the container for holding the container against the abutment surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
A convenience container unit as defined in claim 1, in which: d. the container includes a pocket, e. the resilient means is a coiled band spring having a coil portion and an outer end, the spring coil portion being received in the pocket to provide the detachable connection with the container, the coil portion of the band spring being uncoiled while retained in the pocket to exert the pull on the container, and f. the anchorage means is on the outer spring end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A convenience container unit as defined in claim 3, in which: g. the coil portion of the band spring is disposed in a substantially upright position from the support surface for alignment with and reception in the pocket, and the outer end of the band spring lies substantially flat on the support surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A convenience container unit as defined in claim 3, in which: g. the container pocket is defined by peripheral walls between which the spring coil portion is located and held, and h. the container includes a portion adjacent the pocket against which the spring coil portion bears under spring loading, and which uncoils the coil portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A convenience container unit as defined in claim 3, in which: g. the anchorage means for the coiled band spring is attached to the support surface underneath the container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
A convenience container unit as defined in claim 3, in which: g. the container includes a rear side that is urged against the abutment surface, the rear side being open for introducing an object into the container when detached, and the open rear side overlapping and being held against the abutment surface when the container is attached to the preclude removal of the object from the container through the open rear side.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
110 words
A convenience container unit as defined in claim 3, in which: g. the container includes a rear side that is urged against the abutment surface, and an opposed front side, h. the container pocket is located in and opens from the container front side, the pocket being defined by peripheral walls between which the spring coil portion is locatEd and held, i. the container includes a portion adjacent the pocket against which the spring coil portion bears under spring loading and which uncoils the coil portion, and j. the container front side includes projecting lips about the pocket opening for locating and scooping the spring coil portion into the pocket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |