Storage receptacle for use in automotive door lining

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to vehicular storage receptacles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a storage receptacle for subdividing a pocket in a vehicle door.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004] Most vehicles today have pockets disposed in the lining of the door, for storage of personal items such as maps, recorded music, umbrellas, trash, and other user-selected items. However, when storing small items in these conventional pockets, it is very difficult to locate a small item in a large pocket, especially while driving.

[0005] When storing something relatively small such as sunglasses or eyeglasses, there is no need for a large space-consuming storage receptacle. Conventionally, sunglasses and eyeglasses have been stored in compartments within the roof console, the center console or the glove box.

[0006] However, when stored in these conventional locations, the glasses may be scratched or damaged from contact with other items placed within the sane area. When glasses are stored in a roof console, and a vehicle is left in the sun with the windows up, the glasses may become too hot for the user to immediately wear after they are removed from storage. Under extreme conditions, sunglasses may melt or warp if exposed to excessive heat.

[0007] A number of different storage devices are known for use in automotive doors. Examples of some of the known storage devices include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,453,760, 4,619,477, 5,733,060, and 6,116,672.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,672, issued in 2000 to Cannon et al. discloses an insert for placement in the map pocket of a vehicle door. In one embodiment, the insert of Cannon is a comparatively large device which fills substantially all of the space within the map pocket, and which has at least one partition formed therein, to subdivide the space into multiple compartments. In another embodiment of an insert according to Cannon'672, an adapter ring is provided for placement in the top of the door pocket, and various configured storage bins may be selected for placement in a standardized opening formed in the adapter ring.

[0009] Although the known storage devices have some utility for their intended purposes, a need still exists in the art for a storage receptacle which is usable to conveniently subdivide a vehicle door pocket, and which is configured to conveniently store glasses therein. A need also exists for a storage receptacle which only uses part of the storage space within the map pocket, and which leaves the rest of the space therein available for maps or other personal items.

[0010] The present invention provides an improved storage receptacle which is usable in a map pocket without requiring an intermediate adapter ring. The storage receptacle hereof only uses part of the storage space within the map pocket, and leaves the rest of the space available for maps or other personal items. The receptacle may be dimensioned to use less than half the space of the vehicle door pocket.

[0011] The storage receptacle hereof is sized and configured to conveniently store glasses such as sunglasses or prescription eyeglasses therein, and may include a soft liner therein to protect delicate surfaces of the glasses. Where used, the liner may include a material such as foam padding, fiber batting, cloth, and/or flocking.

[0012] The storage receptacle hereof is provided for use with a pocket on a vehicle door, and includes a receptacle case having at least one side wall, and a floor formed integrally with the side wall and cooperating therewith to define a storage space within the receptacle.

[0013] The receptacle case also includes a lip extending substantially horizontally outwardly from a top portion of the side wall. The lip is provided for placement over an upper edge portion of the vehicle door pocket. Optionally, the receptacle case may include a dependent flange integrally formed with and extending downwardly from the lip.

[0014] It is a notable feature of the invention that in this first embodiment, the side wall has a gap formed therein, extending downwardly from said top portion thereof. The gap may extend from the top portion of the side wall down to the floor. Due to the presence of the gap, when the receptacle is installed in a door pocket of a vehicle, a vertical wall of the vehicle door pocket cooperates with the receptacle to define an edge portion of the storage space therein.

[0015] Optionally, the storage receptacle may include a partition for placement in the receptacle case to subdivide the storage space.

[0016] The receptacle case may be configured to taper inwardly from the top towards the bottom thereof. In one embodiment, the top edge of the receptacle case may ramp downwardly on one side thereof, to ensure that the space defined therein will be protectively disposed within the door pocket, below an upper edge thereof.

[0017] In another embodiment of the invention, the receptacle case is substantially box-shaped, and includes four integrally attached side wall portions. In this box-shaped embodiment, a first side wall portion is provided for placement at the vehicle front end of the door pocket with a second side wall portion attached to the first side wall portion and extending substantially transverse thereto. A third side wall portion is attached to the second side wall portion and extends substantially transverse thereto, parallel to the first side wall portion. A fourth side wall portion is attached to the third side wall portion and extends substantially transverse thereto, in a direction towards the first side wall portion, and with the gap formed between the first and fourth side wall portions.

[0018] Optionally, the fourth side wall portion may be spaced inwardly in relation to the back edge of the first side wall portion.

[0019] In another embodiment hereof, the receptacle case includes two integrally attached side wall portions. A first side wall portion is substantially flat and has a gap formed therein, and a second side wall portion is semi-cylindrical in shape, so that the case has an outline shape resembling a half-moon.

[0020] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage receptacle apparatus for use in conjunction with a pocket of an automotive door liner. It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus which is configured and sized to receive and protectively store a pair of glasses therein.

[0021] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the reader is referred to the following detailed description section, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description and in the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts.

[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, a door panel DP, for a vehicle door, is provided with a door pocket 10 formed therein. The door pocket 10 may also be described as a map pocket.

[0031] A storage receptacle 20 according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown inside of the storage area 18 of the map pocket, to divide the storage area and to reserve a portion thereof for storing particular items, such as glasses G (FIG. 5).

[0032] The storage receptacle 20 is made up primarily of a rigid receptacle case 22, but may also include an optional liner 24 (FIG. 5), for placement inside of the receptacle case.

[0033] As seen best in FIG. 2, in the depicted embodiment, the door pocket 10 includes a front wall portion 12, an inboard longitudinal side wall portion 14, an outboard longitudinal side wall portion 15, formed by part of the door panel DP, and a rear wall portion 16. The door pocket 10 has a hollow storage area 18 defined therein, to allow a user of the vehicle to store maps or personal items therein.

[0034] The storage receptacle 20 is provided for use with a pocket 10 on a vehicle door, and includes a receptacle case 22 having at least one side wall 30 (FIG. 2), and a floor 32 formed integrally with the side wall 30 and cooperating therewith to define a storage space 34 within the receptacle.

[0035] The receptacle case 22 may also include a lip 36 extending substantially horizontally outwardly from a top portion of the side wall 30. The lip 36, where used, is provided for placement over an upper edge portion of the vehicle door pocket 10. Optionally, the receptacle case 22 may include a dependent flange 38 (FIG. 3) integrally formed with and extending downwardly from the lip 36.

[0036] It is a notable feature of the invention that in this first embodiment, a portion of the side wall 30 has a gap 40 formed therein, extending downwardly from the top portion thereof. The gap may extend from the top portion of the side wall 30 down to the floor 32. Due to the presence of the gap 40, when the receptacle 20 is installed in a door pocket 10 of a vehicle, a vertical wall 15 of the vehicle door pocket cooperates with the receptacle to define an edge portion of the storage space 34 therein.

[0037] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-5, the receptacle case 22 is substantially box-shaped, and includes four integrally attached side wall portions 42, 44, 46, and 48. A first (front) side wall portion 42 is provided for placement at the vehicle front end of the door pocket DP. A second (inboard) side wall portion 44 is integrally attached to the first side wall portion 42 and extends substantially transverse thereto. A third (rear) side wall portion 46 is integrally attached to the second side wall portion 44 and extends substantially transverse thereto and parallel to the first side wall portion 42. A fourth (outboard) side wall portion 48 is attached to the third side wall portion and extends substantially transverse thereto.

[0038] The gap 40 may be formed in the inboard side or in the outboard side of the receptacle case 22. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5, the gap 40 is formed in the outboard side, between the first and fourth side wall portions 42, 48.

[0039] The receptacle case 22 may be configured to taper inwardly from the top towards the bottom thereof, as shown, to make it easy to remove glasses therefrom. In one embodiment, a top edge portion 37 of the receptacle case may ramp downwardly on one side 44 thereof, to ensure that the storage space 34 therein is disposed substantially entirely inside the storage area 18 of the door pocket DP, and to help protect contents of the receptacle 20.

[0040] The fourth side wall portion 48 may be spaced inwardly in relation to the outboard edge of the first side wall portion 42.

[0041] As noted above, a storage receptacle 20 according to the primary embodiment of the present invention is adapted to receive and store glasses G therein, such as eyeglasses or sunglasses. The storage receptacle may include a liner inside of the receptacle case, to protect glasses which may be stored therein.

[0042] The liner 24, where used, may include one or more materials selected from the group consisting of elastomeric foam, cloth, fiber batting, and flocking. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the liner 24 includes an intermediate cushion layer 26 and an inner cloth layer 28, attached to the cushion layer 26. The cushion layer 26, where used, may include elastomeric foam and/or fiber batting.

[0043] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which the receptacle case 22 has flocking 29 therein, attached to the inwardly-facing surfaces thereof. Also in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the receptacle case 22 includes an extension 31 for spacing the fourth side wall portion 48 inwardly from the wall 15 of the door pocket 10.

[0044] Optionally, and as shown in FIG. 7, the storage receptacle 20 may include a partition 50 for placement in the receptacle case 22 to subdivide the storage space 34 therein. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the partition 50 includes a pair of grooved support strips 52 and a panel 54 which fits between the support strips.

[0045] Referring now to FIG. 8, in another embodiment hereof, a storage receptacle 120 is provided in a different shape from the storage receptacle 20 according to the first embodiment. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the receptacle case 122 includes two integrally attached side wall portions. A first side wall portion 142 is substantially flat and has a gap formed therein, and a second side wall portion 144 is semi-cylindrical in shape, so that the case has an outline shape resembling a half-moon. A floor 134 is integrally attached to the lower edges of the respective side wall portions 142, 144. A lip 136 extends outwardly from a portion of the second side wall portion 144, for covering placement on a top section of the door pocket 10.

[0046] Although the present invention has been described herein with respect to a limited number of presently preferred embodiments, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art will realize that many modifications of the preferred embodiment could be made which would be operable. All such modifications, which are within the scope of the claims, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention.