A holder and vehicle storage system are provided for securely retaining objects, such as in the glove compartments of automobiles, trucks, boats, etc. The holder may be mounted to the inside of a glove compartment door such that it is out of sight when the glove compartment door is closed. The vehicle storage system uses a conventional latch mechanism to mount the holder to the door without the need for additional fasteners. An object may be retained within the holder through the use of two undercut tabs for snap-fit reception of the object. The holder and vehicle storage system may be used to hold electronic instruments having sensitive components that would otherwise be damaged during movement of a vehicle.
1. A vehicle storage system for holding an object, the vehicle storage system comprising:
a door with a latch extending therethrough for opening and closing the door; and
a holder comprising:
a retention member for holding the object, the retention member comprises:
a top surface including:
a support surface that supports the object; and
a non-support surface disposed adjacent on each longitudinal side of the support surface, each non-support surface being angled below a plane of the support surface thereby forming an acute angle between the support surface and each non-support surface;
a first set of tabs comprising a side tab disposed on non-longitudinal opposite sides of the support surface; and
a second set of tabs comprising an end tab disposed at each longitudinal end of the top surface such that the first set of tabs are substantially perpendicular to the second set of tabs;
an attachment member extending from the retention member and defining an opening therethrough;
wherein the opening of the attachment member of the holder engageably receives at least a portion of the latch of the door therethrough; and
wherein the latch has a first end operative to open the door and has a second end that mounts the attachment member between the second end and the door.
2. The vehicle storage system of claim 1 wherein the latch comprises a cylindrical portion extending through the door, and wherein the opening is substantially circular in shape to receive the latch therethrough and sized for the attachment member to contact the fastener to engageably receive the holder.
3. The vehicle storage system of claim 2 wherein the latch comprises a cylinder lock.
4. The vehicle storage system of claim 1 wherein the second end of the latch includes a latch release for opening the door when the first end of the latch is actuated.
5. The vehicle storage system of claim 1 wherein the first set of tabs comprises two undercut tabs.
6. The vehicle storage system of claim 1 , wherein a gap is defined between each non-support surface and the object to facilitate removal of the object from the retention member.
7. The vehicle storage system of claim 1 wherein the retention member further defines an aperture therethrough for receiving a fastener for mounting the retention member to the door.
8. The vehicle storage system of claim 1 wherein the retention member and attachment member together define a contoured surface for engagement with the door when the retention member and attachment member are mounted to the door.
9. The vehicle storage system of claim 1 wherein the retention member and attachment member are integral portions of a one-piece body.
10. The vehicle storage system of claim 1 wherein the retention member is adapted to receive one of a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a wireless handheld device, or a digital audio player.
11. The vehicle storage system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of tabs of the holder further comprises at least one moveable tab, and wherein the retention member further comprises one or more grooves and one or more slots such that at least one moveable tab of the first set of tabs is able to move outward by means of the one or more grooves and the one or more slots.
12. The vehicle storage system of claim 1 , wherein the door defines at least a portion of a compartment when closed, and the retention member and attachment member are internal to the compartment when the door is closed.
13. The vehicle storage system of claim 1 , wherein the support surface and the non-support surfaces are substantially planar.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first set of tabs and the second set of tabs include engaging distal edges that snap around the object.
15. A vehicle storage system for holding an object, the vehicle storage system comprising:
a door with a latch extending therethrough for opening and closing the door; and
a holder comprising:
a retention member for holding the object, the retention member comprises:
a first surface including a set of tabs for retaining the object; and
a second surface that retains an accessory operatively coupled with the object, the second surface having a projection at one end that extends substantially perpendicular to the second surface,
wherein the first surface and the second surface are longitudinally adjacent and offset from each other in substantially parallel planes such that a step is defined between one end of the first surface and an end opposite that of the projection of the second surface, whereby the projection and the step resist movement of the accessory in a longitudinal direction;
an attachment member extending from the retention member and defining an opening therethrough;
wherein the opening of the attachment member of the holder engageably receives at least a portion of the latch of the door therethrough; and
wherein the latch has a first end operative to open the door and has a second end that mounts the attachment member between the second end and the door.
16. The vehicle storage system of claim 15 , wherein the retention member and attachment member are integral portions of a one-piece body.
17. The vehicle storage system of claim 15 , wherein the retention member is adapted to receive one of a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a wireless handheld device, or a digital audio player.
18. The vehicle storage system of claim 15 , wherein the set of tabs includes at least one moveable tab, and wherein the retention member further comprises one or more grooves and one or more slots such that the at least one moveable tab of the set of tabs is moveable outward by means of the one or more grooves and the one or more slots.
19. The vehicle storage system of claim 15 , wherein the door defines at least a portion of a compartment when closed, and the retention member and attachment member are internal to the compartment when the door is closed.
20. The vehicle storage system of claim 15 , wherein the retention member further defines an aperture therethrough for receiving a fastener for mounting the retention member to the door.