GB2420374A

GB2420374A - Hook device securable to vehicle support

Info

Publication number: GB2420374A
Application number: GB0523472A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas James Aarons
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-18
Filing date: 2005-11-18
Publication date: 2006-05-24
Also published as: GB0523472D0; GB0425387D0

Abstract

A hook device particularly intended for keeping take-away food bags upright in a vehicle is formed as a one-piece member of moulded plastics material, which is generally sheet form in construction and comprises a main body 2 having a hook 3, the main body 2 extending to securing arms 4a, 4b that can be positioned around the upright(s) 8 of the headrest 9 of the vehicle and releasably secured to one another, so that the hook device hangs from the support structure.

Description

Hook Device The current invention relates to a hook device and in

particular but not exclusively to a hook device for supporting bags that are being transported in vehicles Devices are known for supporting bags that are being carried in vehicles, for example W097/48575 discloses a received accessory hook for an automobile However, such known devices have to be secured to structures within the vehicle which is not desirable if the device has to be removed as it may damage the surface to which it is attached Further, devices are known such as those in W094/10006 where a separate support frame needs to be installed in the boot (trunk) of a car before being able to secure bags to the frame which is time consuming and the user needs to ensure that the support frame is of a size to fit in the boot.

JP2002-3695g discloses a hook device for supporting bags that are being transported in vehicles, the device comprising a strap which is formed into a loop and passed over the headrest of a seat in the vehicle. The strap is then tightened by sliding a hook up towards the headrest. The device is complicated in construction and can only be fastened to structures which allow the strap to be passed over them The current invention seeks to overcome problems associated with the prior art by providing a hook device that can be fitted to existing structures of a vehicle and which can be adjusted so that the hook device sits securely in place on that structure. In particular, the invention seeks to provide a device where in the case of food containers including liquid or semiliquid contents the containers are supported by the hook in a substantially upright position so avoiding spillage from those containers According to the present invention, there is provided a hook device comprising a main body having a hook, the main body extending to securing arms that can be positioned around a support structure in a vehicle and releasably secured to one another by securing members so that the hook device can hang from the support structure.

Preferably, the hook device is arranged to be secured to a support for a vehicle headrest which provides the support structure of the vehicle.

It is preferred that the main body of the hook device is provided as a crescent shaped structure with the hook being located towards the widest area of the crescent. By having a device where the hook is in the area of the hook device having the greatest mass this provides a structure where the centre of gravity is at the lowest point of the device, meaning that the hook will remain in one position despite movement of the vehicle By having a device where a pendulum effect ensures that the hook device hangs downwards, this again assists in preventing spillage of liquids from containers held in bags supported by the hook device In a preferred arrangement, the securing arms extend from the "horns" of the crescent shaped structure It is envisaged that the securing arms have complementary engaging securing members, so that the arms can be secured to one another to form a loop Preferably, the arms fasten together to close a generally circular or ellipsoidal self- supporting aperture in the device, through which the support structure extends: this arrangement allows the device to turn and swing freely about the support structure as the car manoeuvres and turns.

In a preferred arrangement, one securing arm has apertures, while the other securing arm has one or more pins insertable in an aperture in the first arm to form a loop of the desired dimension to fit around a supporting structure. This provides a "snap- lock" arrangement to secure the arms to one another at a desired position.

Alternatively, one arm may have a hook and loop material which is securable to a corresponding area of hook and loop material on the other arm.

It is envisaged that the hook device is formed of plastics material and is generally sheet form construction An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to and as described in the accompanying Figures, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a hook device according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a hook device as shown in Figure 1, attached to the headrest support of a vehicle, and Figure 3 shows a perspective view with a bag being supported by a hook device as shown in Figures 1 or 2 Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a hook device formed as a one- piece moulding of resiliently flexible plastics material The device comprises a generally flat main body 2, formed of a substantially crescent shaped structure very much the same shape as that of a baby's bib The main body has a lower portion from which a hook 3 extends. Securing arms 4a and 4b extend from the main body 2 The securing arms 4a and 4b each have securing members to allow the securing arms to be releasably secured, one to another In this case, the securing members are provided as apertures 5 on securing arm 4a On securing arm 4b, there is a pin that can be inserted in a selected aperture to secure the arms around a support structure, such as a headrest of a vehicle.

Figure 2 shows the hook device when secured around upright support posts 8 of a headrest 9 of a seat 7. The arms 4a, 4b extend around the two posts 8, supporting the headrest. The series of apertures 5 on arm 4a allow for the pin to be positioned to secure the arms in a position that will allow the hook device to hang down from the seat, in this case, the rear of the seat. The hook 3 is positioned at the largest part of the hook device.

Figure 3 shows a bag 10 attached to the hook 3 by its handles 11. The hook device hangs down from the back of seat 7 freely, which allows the bag 10 to swing freely.

By having the adjustable fastening arrangement on arms 4a, 4b, the height of the hook can be adjusted so that the bag hangs clear from the floor of the vehicle. The adjustability of the hook device enables the bag to hang freely and ensures that containers within the bag that comprise liquids and/or liquidous foods (such as a Indian or Chinese food purchased from take-away restaurants) do not spill when the vehicle brakes, accelerates or corners.

Claims

1) A hook device comprising a main body having a hook, the main body extending to securing arms that can be positioned around a support structure in a vehicle and releasably secured to one another by securing members so that the hook device can hang from the support structure.

2) A hook device as claimed in claim 1, in which the hook device is arranged to be secured to a support for a vehicle headrest which provides said support structure of the vehicle 3) A hook device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the main body of the hook device is provided as a crescent shaped structure with the hook being located towards the widest area of the crescent.

4) A hook device as claimed in claim 3, in which the securing arms extend from horns at opposite ends of the crescent shaped structure 5) A hook device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which one securing arm has apertures, while the other securing arm has one or more pins insertable in an aperture in the first arm to form a loop of the desired dimension to fit around said supporting structure.

6) A hook device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which one arm may have a hook and loop material which is securable to a corresponding area of hook and loop material on the other arm 7) A hook device as claimed in any preceding claim formed as a one-piece moulding of plastics material.

8) A hook device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the main body and arms are flat and sheet form in construction.

9) A hook device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the arms fasten together to close a generally circular or ellipsoidal selfsupporting aperture in the device, through which the support structure extends.

1O)A hook device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings 11) A vehicle comprising a hook device as claimed in any preceding claim 12)A vehicle as claimed in claim 11, the hook device being secured around the support of a head rest of a seat of the vehicle