School bus underseat storage container and method

Abstract

A container for installation under a vehicle seat, such as a bus seat is for storing articles restrained from movement during transport, and then easily removed by the user prior to exiting the bus. The container has a generally flat bottom panel, upstanding side panels, and a back panel extending generally normal to the bottom panel. A retainer ridge extends from the bottom panel across the front of the container, the retainer ridge being positioned generally parallel with the rear plane seat. In one embodiment, the forward portion of the container is raised off the floor of the bus and the bottom of the unit slopes downwardly in a direction toward the rear of the vehicle, and the bottom of the container has a plurality of perforations in order to permit dirt and small debris to fall therethrough. In alternate embodiments, either or both of the sides and back of the container may also be perforated.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for storing an article under a seat of a vehicle comprising the steps of: 
 attaching a container under a vehicle seat, the container comprising: 
 a generally flat bottom panel;  
 a pair of generally opposed upstanding side panels generally normal to the bottom panel;  
 a back panel extending generally normal to the bottom panel; and  
 a retainer ridge extending upwardly from a rear edge of the bottom panel and between the side panels;  
   placing an article into the container, the retainer ridge inhibiting the article from falling out during vehicle movement.    
     
     
         2 . The method recited in    claim 1   , wherein the attaching step comprises fastening the bottom panel to a floor of the vehicle under the seat.  
     
     
         3 . The method recited in    claim 2   , wherein the bottom panel has a plurality of holes therein for extending fasteners therethrough.  
     
     
         4 . The method recited in    claim 1   , wherein the attaching step comprises fastening the container to at least two legs of the seat.  
     
     
         5 . The method recited in    claim 1   , wherein the attaching step comprises fastening the container to an underside of the seat.  
     
     
         6 . The method recited in    claim 1   , wherein the side panels slope downward toward the bottom panel front edge.  
     
     
         7 . The method recited in    claim 1   , wherein the side panels each have a plurality of generally vertically extending ribs positioned in spaced relation therealong.  
     
     
         8 . The method recited in    claim 1   , wherein: 
 the attaching step comprises fastening the container to the seat in spaced relation from a floor of the vehicle;    a top edge of each side panel is positioned generally adjacent a bottom of the seat;    the bottom panel slopes downwardly from a front of the seat to a rear of the seat.    
     
     
         9 . The method recited in    claim 8   , wherein the bottom panel has a plurality of perforations therein.  
     
     
         10 . The method recited in    claim 8   , wherein the side panels have a plurality of perforations therein.  
     
     
         11 . The method recited in    claim 1   , wherein the container comprises a unitary member.  
     
     
         12 . The method recited in    claim 11   , wherein the unitary member comprises a molded plastic.  
     
     
         13 . A method for storing an article under a seat of a vehicle, the seat having a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs, the method comprising the steps of: 
 affixing a generally flat bottom panel under a vehicle seat;    affixing a plurality of elongated members between each front leg and rear leg of the seat in generally horizontal fashion;    affixing a plurality of elongated members between the front legs in generally horizontal fashion;    affixing a retaining member between the rear legs in generally horizontal fashion, the retaining member closer to the bottom panel than a bottom of the seat; and    placing an article into a space formed by the elongated members and the retaining member, the retaining member inhibiting the article from falling out during vehicle movement.    
     
     
         14 . The method recited in    claim 13   , wherein the elongated members and the retaining members comprise metal bars.  
     
     
         15 . The method recited in    claim 13   , wherein an upper surface of the bottom panel comprises a material having frictional properties for preventing article slippage.  
     
     
         16 . A bus seat comprising: 
 a seat member having a bottom, a pair of front legs, and a pair of rear legs; and    an article container affixed beneath the seat member in a space formed by the front legs, the rear legs, and a floor of the bus, the container comprising: 
 a generally flat bottom panel;  
 a pair of generally opposed upstanding side panels generally normal to the bottom panel;  
 a back panel extending generally normal to the bottom panel; and  
 a retainer ridge extending upwardly from a rear edge of the bottom panel and between the side panels.  
   
     
     
         17 . The bus seat recited in    claim 16   , wherein the bottom panel is fastened to the bus floor beneath the seat.  
     
     
         18 . The bus seat recited in    claim 17   , wherein the bottom panel has a plurality of holes therein for extending fasteners therethrough.  
     
     
         19 . The bus seat recited in    claim 16   , wherein the container is fastened to at least two legs of the seat.  
     
     
         20 . The bus seat recited in    claim 16   , wherein the container is fastened to an underside of the seat.  
     
     
         21 . The bus seat recited in    claim 16   , wherein the side panels slope downward toward the bottom panel rear edge.  
     
     
         22 . The bus seat recited in    claim 16   , wherein the side panels each have a plurality of generally vertically extending ribs positioned in spaced relation therealong.  
     
     
         23 . The bus seat recited in    claim 16   , wherein: 
 the container is fastened to the seat in spaced relation from the vehicle floor;    a top edge of each side panel is positioned generally adjacent a bottom of the seat;    the bottom panel slopes downwardly from a front of the seat to a rear of the seat.    
     
     
         24 . The bus seat recited in    claim 23   , wherein the bottom panel has a plurality of perforations therein.  
     
     
         25 . The bus seat recited in    claim 23   , wherein the side panels have a plurality of perforations therein.  
     
     
         26 . The bus seat recited in    claim 16   , wherein the container comprises a unitary member.  
     
     
         27 . The bus seat recited in    claim 26   , wherein the unitary member comprises a molded plastic.  
     
     
         28 . A bus seat comprising: 
 a seat member having a bottom, a pair of front legs, and a pair of rear legs; and    an article container comprising: 
 a generally flat bottom panel under the seat member;  
 a plurality of elongated side members affixed between each front leg and rear leg of the seat in generally horizontal fashion;  
 a plurality of elongated front members affixed between the front legs in generally horizontal fashion;  
 a retaining member affixed between the rear legs in generally horizontal fashion, the retaining member closer to the bottom panel than a top of the rear legs.  
   
     
     
         29 . The bus seat recited in    claim 28   , wherein an upper surface of the bottom panel comprises a material having frictional properties for preventing article slippage.