Apparatus and methods for storing and securing personal belongings

Abstract

Systems and associated methods are disclosed for securing personal belongings to a seat or chair. The invention provides two locking mechanisms, one associated with a container having a locking door, and the second associated with a tether with a second lock for locking the container to the seat or chair. The preferred embodiments further provide a bracket for mounting the container on the seat or chair for more convenient access. The system may further include a slide assembly between the container and the bracket allowing the container to be positioned for more convenient access while remaining tethered to the seat or chair. The invention is applicable to virtually any type of seat or chair with appropriate modification. That is, the invention provides an article storage container that is secured to either a swivel, or straight-legged chair, or vehicle seat. The container may located in a stowed position that occupies space not normally utilized by the person sitting in the chair and is moveable to an accessible position that permits article to be stored and retrieved from the container.

1 . A system for securing personal belongings to a seat or chair, comprising: 
 a container with a door having a first lock;    a bracket for mounting the container on the seat or chair; and    a tether with a second lock for locking the container to the seat or chair.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seat or chair has a back rest with an upper edge, and: 
 the bracket includes a bent lip configured to hang over the top edge.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further including slide assembly between the container and the bracket, allowing the container to be positioned for more convenient access while remaining tethered to the seat or chair.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seat or chair includes a seat portion with opposing side edges, and: 
 the bracket has two ends, each terminating in a bent lip to engage with a respective one of the opposing side edges.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seat or chair includes a seat portion with opposing side edges, and: 
 the bracket has two ends, each terminating in a bent lip to engage with a respective one of the opposing side edges; and    the bracket has an adjustable length to accommodate seat portions of varying width.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seat or chair includes a seat portion with opposing side edges and a central post under the seat portion, and: 
 the bracket has two ends, each terminating in a bent lip to engage with a respective one of the opposing side edges; and    the bracket includes a central aperture through which the central post extends.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seat or chair includes a plurality of legs, and: 
 the tether is adapted to attach to one or more of the legs.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seat or chair includes a seat portion with opposing side edges and a central post under the seat portion, and: 
 the tether is adapted to attach to the central post.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seat or chair includes a seat portion with opposing side edges and a central post under the seat portion attached to a plurality of radial caster supports, and: 
 the bracket mounts the container to one or more of the radial caster supports.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seat or chair includes a seat portion with opposing side edges and a central post under the seat portion attached to a plurality of radial caster supports, and: 
 the tether is adapted to attach to one or more of the radial caster supports.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seat or chair includes a back rest with opposing side edges, and: 
 the bracket has two ends, each terminating in a bent lip to engage with a respective one of the opposing side edges of the back rest.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seat or chair includes a back rest with opposing side edges, a back surface and a region between the back rest and a seat portion, and: 
 the tether is adapted to attach to the region between the back rest and the seat portion.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket and the tether are configured to mount the container on the back of a vehicle seat, and: 
 the tether is adapted to attach to the region between the back rest and the seat portion.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tether is on a spring-loaded reel attached to the bracket.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a purse or handbag.  
   
   
       16 . A system for securing personal belongings to a seat or chair, comprising: 
 a bracket; and    a tether coupled to a purse or handbag, the tether extending from a lockable, spring-loaded reel connected to the bracket; and    wherein the bracket and tether enable a user to perform the following functions: 
 a) mount the bracket on a first portion of a seat or chair,  
 b) attach the tether to a second portion of a seat or chair,  
 c) retract the tether into the spring loaded reel, and  
 lock the tether to prevent the removal of the purse or handbag from the seat or chair.  
   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the bracket is adapted to hang over a top edge of a seat or chair.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the tether terminates in a loop adapted to receive a leg of a seat or chair.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the lockable, spring-loaded reel is disposed within the purse or handbag.