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Patent Abstract
CD holders with musical content are within convenient reach in a
vehicle armrest, and this convenience is used to advantage for a
CD holder commingled with the musical variety, but with a substituted
first-aid contents; thus, first-aid treatment in a vehicle is made
as readily accessible as reaching for a CD.
Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of making readily accessible-to-use first-aid procedures
in an auto comprising the steps of: A. purchasing plural commercially
available plastic CD holders of an established uniform rectangular
shape and dimensional size correlated to an established uniform
circular shape and dimensional size of a CD content therein; B.
establishing a storage site between an auto driver and front passenger's
seats constituted of walls bounding a storage compartment with top
edges thereon bounding an opening into said storage compartment;
C. arranging for opening and closing movements in relation to said
storage compartment opening a cover for said storage compartment;
D. disposing in said storage compartment said plural CD holders;
and E. commingling with said CD holders in said storage compartment
at least one holder of said same size and shape characterized by
having first-aid-treating contents therein; whereby said cover serves
as an arm rest and when in an open condition a user has the same
extent of accessibility to said first-aid-treating contents as is
afforded to said CDs.
Patent Description
[0001] The improvements of the present invention contribute to facilitating
the administration of first aid treatment, primarily during or associated
with the operation of a vehicle in making accessible a first aid
kit to the driver of the vehicle.
EXAMPLE OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] There is recognized utility in a first aid kit for treatment
of minor injuries on the occasion of their occurrence, which hopefully
is infrequently. Thus, during periods of non-use, the first aid
kit is in an assigned storage location, such as preparatory to home
use, in a kitchen or bathroom cabinet, or even in a workshop-garage
location. Exemplary of this practice is U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,304
for "First Aid Kit And Method Of Replenishing" issued
to Hammond on Aug. 3, 1999, in which posted notices are used as
reminders of the storage location of the first aid kit.
[0003] The home-use first aid kit should also be taken along for
possible use during operation of the family car, but through neglect
this is often not done, possibly because there is no convenient
non-use location, except in the trunk in which it will undesirably
move about, in the glove compartment in which there might not always
be enough room for it to fit or other such circumstances which result
in the absence of a first aid kit in a vehicle.
[0004] Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome
the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art.
[0005] More particularly, it is an object to provide a first aid
kit primarily for vehicle use that is convenient to store during
non-use and having noteworthy accessibility on an occasion when
it is required to be used, all as will be better understood as the
description proceedings.
[0006] The description of the invention which follows, together
with the accompanying drawings should not be construed as limiting
the invention to the example shown and described, because those
skilled in the art to which this invention appertains will be able
to devise other forms thereof within the ambit of the appended claims.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art first-aid kit;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective of a portion of a vehicle seat having
an armrest used in the practice of the inventive method,
[0009] FIG. 3 is an "exploded" perspective illustrating
the armrest and the detached attachment;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a reduced-scale longitudinal section showing the
box and drawer therewithin;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a partial section looking down on the structure,
generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;
[0012] FIG. 6 is an "exploded" perspective view of a
disassembled commercially sold CD cassette illustrating the holder
component used in accordance with the present invention and the
CD component disregarded to make room for the first aid kit component
of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 7 is an "exploded" perspective view illustrating
the assembly of the first aid kit component in a CD holder component
as illustrated in FIG. 6 for practicing the method of the present
invention; and
[0014] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the practicing
of the inventive method of using the assembly of FIG. 7.
[0015] Referring first to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a prior
art first-aid kit 10 is seen. The first-aid kit 10 is carried in
a case 12 which has a top 14 and a base 16 having a bottom, two
sides 18, and two ends 20. The sides 18 of the base 16 are generally
rectangular and the ends 20 of the base 16 are generally square.
[0016] The top 14 is secured to a base 16 by use of a closure means
which consists of a pair of zippers 26 which secure the top 14 to
the sides 18. A first end of the top 14 is secured to the base by
a living hinge integrally formed with that end of the base 16. The
end of the top 14 opposite the living hinge is secured to the base
16 by a hook and loop style fastener 30 contained on an over-flap.
Thus, in use a user simply pulls the over-flap over the top 14 thereby
releasing the hook and loop fastener 30. On further pressure upward
and rearward, the zippers 26 are automatically opened thus providing
quick access to the content of the first-aid kit 10.
[0017] The base 16 of the first-aid kit 10 defines a plurality
of compartments 34. Each compartment 34 is sequentially oriented
in front of the subsequent compartment. By so orienting the compartments
34 in this manner, a card catalogue/file cabinet like effect is
provided in which contents can be carried in each compartment 34
in an easy to identify, upright position. Additionally, in each
of the compartments 34, flexible walls 36 are used such that contents
of different thicknesses can fit into each of the compartments 34.
[0018] The contents of the first-aid kit 10 include a plurality
of packs 38. The first-aid kit 10 further contains a detailed guidebook
44 which explains the use of the medical products in different types
of first-aid situations. In a further preferred embodiment, the
first-aid kit 10 contains an instructional video 46 which helps
train the user on the use of the first-aid kit 10. An overview card
48 is provided which contains an overview of the first-aid kit 10.
In addition, an extra pack 50 can be provided.
[0019] The first-aid kit further contains a magnetic card 52, which
includes magnetic identifiers, a locator for the first-aid kit,
and a card having background medical information regarding family
members. Further, a plurality of self-adhesive identifiers 54 are
provided which can be placed in various locations, such as in kitchen
cabinets, bathroom cabinets and the like, to quickly identify where
the first-aid kit 10 is stored.
[0020] Although generally useful for the purposes intended, the
typical non-use storage locations of the described prior art first-aid
kit 10, namely kitchen and bathroom cabinets and, in factory and
business office locations, typically necessitating the use of the
noted location-identifying self-adhesive identifiers 54, is a significant
shortcoming, particularly its inappropriateness for use by a motorist
in an automobile or like vehicle in which a first-aid emergency
will typically arise.
[0021] Addressing this shortcoming, there is proposed a method
of making readily accessible-to-use first-aid procedures in an automobile
using commercially available plastic compact disc (CD) holders and
an auto armrest storage site, all as will be bettor understood as
the description proceeds.
[0022] Reference will be had first to FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the
numeral 56 designates a typical vehicle front seat and the numeral
58 denotes a typical armrest (FIG. 3) conventionally provided centrally
of the vehicle front seat and thus in close proximity to whatever
tape, disc, etc., player (not shown) is used in the vehicle. The
attachment is indicated as a whole by the numeral 60 and includes
a fore-and-aft elongated box-like structure 62 (hereinafter a box)
having a top 64, opposite side walls 66, a bottom 68, a closed rear
end 70 and an open front 72, the walls, bottom and rear end cooperate
to bound a storage compartment 74, and the top edges on the open
front 72 bounds an opening 73 into the storage compartment 74. A
fore-and-aft elongated drawer 76 is received in the box 62 via the
front end 72 for selective fore-and-aft sliding movement between
open and closed positions. Alternatively in lieu of sliding movement,
a pivotally mounted cover (not shown) can be used as a closure for
the compartment 74 and, in its closed position serve as an armrest
similar to the top 64 of box 62. The drawer is fitted at its front
end with a handle 78 for convenience in opening the drawer. Any
suitable form of latch may be provided for holding the drawer normally
in closed position. Releasable stops 80 and 82 are provided interiorly
of the structure for preventing unwanted forward escape of the drawer
completely from the box.
[0023] The drawer is formed interiorly with dividers 86 for containing
CD holders subsequently to be described in detail in reference to
FIGS. 6-8. The top wall 64 carries at its underside a spring-loaded
strip 88 for engaging the tops of the CD holders to prevent them
from rattling in both the up and down positions of the armrest.
[0024] The attachment structure is held in place by sleeve-like
means 90 secured to a box bottom and depending therefrom. This means
(sleeve) is dimensioned to fit the armrest in such fashion as to
be capable of being slipped over the armrest from front to rear
(see FIG. 2). Opposite sides of the sleeve may be fitted with elasticized
gores 92 to enable the sleeve to more firmly grip the armrest in
order to firm up the attachment or mounting and to prevent unwanted
displacement thereof. As further augmentation of the mounting, the
rear or open end of the sleeve may be equipped with straps 94 that
embrace the rear of the armrest, being connected to the side of
the sleeve as by snap buttons 96; although, any other type of securing
means may be provided. The sleeve is closed at its front end as
at 98 so as to substantially completely enclose the armrest.
[0025] The inventive method, now to be described is practiced using
the described auto armrest construction 58, 60 or using any equivalent
construction, even an auto OEM armrest having an integral storage
compartment similar to compartment 74, and further using to advantage
jointly therewith standard sized and shaped CD holders, individually
and collectively designated 100.
[0026] More particularly, the inventive method has as its object
making readily accessible-to-use first-aid procedures in an auto
102 comprising the steps of: purchasing plural commercially available
plastic CD holders 100 of an established uniform rectangular shape,
as noted at 104, and a dimensionally sized insert 106 correlated
to an established uniform circular shape, as noted at 108, and dimensional
size 110 of a CD 112 content therein; mounting to partake of a pivotal
transverse or alternatively sliding closing movement 114 in relation
to the storage compartment opening 73 a cover 64 for the storage
compartment 74; disposing in the storage compartment 74 the plural
CD holders 100; and commingling with the CD holders 100 in the storage
compartment 74 at least one holder 100A of the same size 107, and
shape 104 characterized by having first-aid-treating contents 116
therein; whereby the cover 64 serves as an armrest and, when in
an open condition, a user has the same extent of accessibility to
the first-aid-treating contents 116 as is afforded to the CDs.
[0027] More particularly, a motorist in a first aid emergency situation
has ready access to the armrest storage compartment 74, and will
lift, as noted at 118, the CD holder 100A therefrom, and upon opening
the cover 120 will have available for use between a paper liner
121 two gauze pads 122, five 3/4" or three 1/2" band-aids
124, 126, headache medication 128, four wipes 130, four alcohol
pads 132 and adhesive strips 133, the foregoing having been found
to fit in the space in the holder 100A vacated by the removal of
the CD insert 106 with its CD 112.
[0028] While the apparatus for practicing the within inventive
method, as well as said method herein shown and disclosed in detail
is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages
hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative
of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that
no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or design
herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims. |