Device and method for entertaining a child in an automobile

Abstract

A device and method for entertaining a child in an automobile. The device includes a support member comprising two opposite ends with hangers for coupling to respective attachment members on respective opposite interior sides of an automobile. The attachment members may comprise clothes hanger hooks or emergency passenger handles, both typical standard features of automobiles. The device includes one or more suspension elements which couple to the support member, and corresponding toys coupled to each of the suspension elements. Each suspension element may be adjustable in length, thus allowing the height of each suspended toy to be adjusted. The device may be installed in an automobile such that one or more children in child safety seats situated in the back seat of the automobile may be entertained by the suspended toys. The device may be used whether a child is in a forward facing position or a rear facing position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An automobile, comprising: 
 an automobile structure having a first interior side and a second interior side, wherein the first and second interior sides define an interior portion;    a first attachment member comprised on the first interior side of the automobile structure;    a second attachment member comprised on the second interior side of the automobile structure;    a support member, wherein the support member comprises two opposite ends, wherein the two ends are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members on the first and second interior sides of the automobile interior;    at least one suspension element which is operable to couple to the support member; and    at least one toy which is operable to couple to the at least one suspension element.    
     
     
         2 . The automobile of  claim 1 , wherein the first interior side is opposite of the second interior side.  
     
     
         3 . The automobile of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises one of: 
 a bungee cord with hooks at each end, wherein the hooks are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members respectively;    a pole with a hanger at each end, wherein the hangers are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members respectively;    a strap and a buckle with a hanger at each end, wherein the hangers are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members respectively, and wherein the support member is adjustable in length via the buckle; or    a strap with a two-ring buckle at each end, wherein the two-ring buckles are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members respectively, and wherein the support member is adjustable in length via each of the two-ring buckles.    
     
     
         4 . The automobile of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one suspension element is adjustable in length, and wherein the at least one suspension element comprises one of: 
 a strap and buckle;    a Velcro™ strap;    a cord and a cinch lock; or    a chain of removable links, wherein the suspension element is adjustable in length by adding or removing links from the chain.    
     
     
         5 . The automobile of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment members comprise one of clothes hanger hooks or emergency passenger handles.  
     
     
         6 . The automobile of  claim 1 , wherein said automobile further comprises: 
 two backseat passenger windows, wherein the two backseat passenger windows are comprised in the first and second interior sides, respectively;    wherein the attachment members comprise two window clip hooks, wherein the two window clip hooks are each operable to clip onto an edge of a respective said backseat passenger window of said automobile.    
     
     
         7 . The automobile of  claim 1 , wherein said automobile further comprises: 
 two backseat passenger windows, wherein the two backseat passenger windows are comprised in the first and second interior sides, respectively;    wherein the attachment members comprise two window hooks, wherein the two window hooks are each operable to attach through adhesive means to a respective said backseat passenger window of said automobile.    
     
     
         8 . The automobile of  claim 1 , further comprising two attachment locks, wherein the two attachment locks are operable to attach to the two attachment members respectively, and wherein the two attachment locks are further operable to prevent the two ends of the support member from inadvertently detaching from the respective attachment members.  
     
     
         9 . A device for entertaining a child in an automobile, the device comprising: 
 a support member, wherein the support member comprises two opposite ends, wherein the two ends are operable to couple to respective attachment members on respective opposite interior sides of an automobile;    at least one suspension element which is operable to couple to the support member; and    at least one toy which is operable to couple to the at least one suspension element.    
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises one of: 
 a bungee cord with hooks at each end, wherein the hooks are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members respectively;    a pole with a hanger at each end, wherein the hangers are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members respectively;    a strap and a buckle with a hanger at each end, wherein the hangers are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members respectively; or    a strap with a two-ring buckle at each end, wherein the two-ring buckles are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members respectively, and wherein the support member is adjustable in length via each of the two-ring buckles.    
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one suspension element is adjustable in length, and wherein the at least one suspension element comprises one of: 
 a strap and buckle;    a Velcro™ strap;    a cord and a cinch lock; or    a chain of removable links, wherein the suspension element is adjustable in length by adding or removing links from the chain.    
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment members comprise one of clothes hanger hooks or emergency passenger handles.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising two attachment locks, wherein the two attachment locks are operable to attach to the two attachment members respectively, and wherein the two attachment locks are further operable to prevent the two ends of the support member from inadvertently detaching from the respective attachment members.  
     
     
         14 . A method for entertaining a child in an automobile, the method comprising: 
 attaching a first end of a support member to a first attachment member on a first interior side of an automobile interior;    attaching a second end of a support member to a second attachment member on a second interior side of an automobile interior;    coupling at least one suspension element to the support member; and    coupling at least one toy to the at least one suspension element.    
     
     
         15 . The automobile of  claim 14 , wherein the first interior side is opposite of the second interior side.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said coupling at least one suspension element to the support member and said coupling at least one toy to the at least one suspension element occurs prior to said attaching the first end and attaching the second end.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the support member comprises one of: 
 a bungee cord with hooks at each end, wherein the hooks are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members respectively;    a pole with a hanger at each end, wherein the hangers are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members respectively;    a strap and a buckle with a hanger at each end, wherein the hangers are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members respectively; or    a strap with a two-ring buckle at each end, wherein the two-ring buckles are operable to couple to the first and second attachment members respectively, and wherein the support member is adjustable in length via each of the two-ring buckles.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one suspension element is adjustable in length, and wherein the at least one suspension element comprises one of: 
 a strap and buckle;    a Velcro™ strap;    a cord and a cinch lock; or    a chain of removable links, wherein the suspension element is adjustable in length by adding or removing links from the chain.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the attachment members comprise one of clothes hanger hooks or emergency passenger handles.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 attaching two attachment locks to the two attachment members, respectively, after attaching the first and second ends of the support member to the first and second attachment devices, respectively, wherein the two attachment locks are operable to prevent the two ends of the support member from inadvertently detaching from the respective attachment members.