BOOT TIDY This invention relates to a boot tidy, by which is intended to mean a device for placing in the luggage boot of a motor vehicle for the purpose of keeping at least some of the contents of the boot in place, and also clean and tidy when required.
Articles of value left on the seats of a motor vehicle are visible and therefore prone to being stolen, and in consequence, people often put such articles in the boot so as to be out of sight.
However, it may be undesirable to put some articles in the boot, for example because the boot may be dirty, or have dirty articles in it. It is known to provide boxes or other forms of container to be placed in the boot, into which articles may be placed to keep them from moving about, to separate them from other articles or to keep them from being dirtied by contact with the boot itself or other articles in it. However, unless such boxes or containers are relatively small, thereby limiting the size of article that can be placed in them, they are not suitable for placing in the boot of any vehicle. Boxes or containers that substantially fill a boot space must be tailored to fit the boot concerned. It is also known to provide flexible containers, e. g. of the string bag type, that attach to the rear of the rear seats of the vehicle, into which containers some articles can be placed. However, the range of articles that can be placed into such containers is very limited. For example, it is impracticable to put suits and dresses into such bag-type containers if creasing of the garments is to be avoided.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a boot tidy that can be fitted to the boot of any motor vehicle and avoids the disadvantages of the known devices.
The invention provides a boot tidy comprising a framework forming at least one article supporting surface and having at least one member extendable perpendicular to the plane of the supporting surface, and at least one member extendable laterally of the supporting surface.
The framework may have a substantially rectangular planform. The framework may have at least two laterally spaced perpendicular extendable members.
The framework may comprise tubular members, and the extendable members may be telescopic. Each extendable member may have a clamping arrangement connected therewith and operable to secure the extendable member in a predetermined position of extension.
Each extendable member may have an extendable part having at a free end thereof a foot adapted to minimise damage to a part of a boot into which the boot tidy is fitted. Each perpendicular member may have at its lower end thereof a foot adapted to minimise damage to a part of a boot into which the boot tidy is fitted. Each foot may be of rubber or of a plastics material.
The article supporting surface may be of a rigid or of a flexible material, and in the latter case may be of netting. The boot tidy may comprise two article supporting surfaces disposed one above the other. The boot tidy may also comprise at least one hook for attachment of a bag and preferably comprises a plurality of hooks laterally spaced along a front edge of the or of the upper article supporting surface.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which illustrates a boot tidy 10. The boot tidy 10 consists of a substantially rectangular three dimensional framework 11 forming upper and lower supporting surfaces 17, 18. The framework 11 has two front members 12 extending perpendicular to the plane of the supporting surfaces 17,18, two rear perpendicular members 13, upper and lower front members 14', 14"extending laterally of the supporting surfaces 17,18, upper and lower rear lateral members 15', 15", two upper longitudinal members 16'and two lower longitudinal members 16". Each of the members 12,13, 14,15 and 16 are tubular, and may be of steel, aluminium or other suitable material. The upper lateral members 14', 15'and upper longitudinal members 16'provide a frame for the upper article supporting surface 17.
Similarly, the lower lateral members 14", 15"and lower longitudinal members 16"provide a frame for the lower article supporting surface 18. The article supporting surfaces 17,18 are formed by string netting. Laterally spaced along the upper lateral member 14'are several hooks 19 for attaching carrier bags or the like.
The upper front lateral member 14'has, at each end thereof, a telescopic extendable part 20.
The upper ends of the rear perpendicular members 13 also have telescopic extendable parts 21. Each of the extendable parts 20,21 has at its free end a relatively soft foot 22 of rubber or a plastics material so as not to damage the boot into which the boot tidy 10 is fitted. In addition, the perpendicular members 12,13 have similar feet 22 at their lower ends.
Clamping devices 23 are located at the point of entry of the extendable parts 20,21 into the tubular members 13,14'to secure the extendable parts 20,21 at any desired position of extension.
The boot tidy 10 is placed in the boot of a motor vehicle with the lower feet 22 resting on the floor of the boot. The perpendicular extendable parts 21 are raised until the feet 22 at their free ends come into contact with the roof of the boot, for example the underside of the rear parcel shelf of the vehicle. The lateral extendable parts 20 are moved outwardly until the feet 22 at their free ends come into contact with the sides of the boot. The boot tidy 10 is then securely held in position in the boot. Articles may then be placed on the article supporting surfaces 17,18. By means of the invention, a boot tidy is provided that is adaptable for use in boots of various shapes and sizes. The boot tidy is readily installed and removed if required, without the use of any screws or adhesive. Suits, dresses and other garments may be placed on the netting surfaces without becoming dirty from contact with the floor of the boot or other articles in the boot, or creased. In addition, articles such brief cases are less likely to slide about in the boot when placed on a supporting surface than if placed simply on the floor of the boot.
Other embodiments of boot tidy in accordance with the invention will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art. For example, the support surfaces may be of a woven fabric or other textile material, or may be of a rigid material if required for the transport of certain articles. All of the perpendicular and lateral members may be extendable for added stability.
Only one, or more than two article supporting surfaces may be provided dependent on the amount required of segregation of the particular articles to be carried. The clamping and unclamping of the extendable parts may be by their axial rotation relative to the tubular members into which they are fitted, or by other clamping arrangements. The planform of the article supporting surface or surfaces may be other than rectangular. For example, if desired, the supporting surface (s) may be shaped to fit a particular boot, although this may render the boot tidy less suitable for use in some other vehicles.
