Interior space displacement device for an automobile

Abstract

An inflatable space displacement device conforms generally to the rear floor and rear seat configuration of an automobile to fill the volume of the rear passenger compartment below the level of the front seat headrests and the top of the rear seat backrest without obstructing the driver's view through the rear window. The space displacement device reduces the volume of the climate controlled airspace of the interior passenger compartment, thereby increasing the efficiency of the air conditioning and heating system, while also increasing fuel efficiency. The inflatable space displacement device may further serve as safety flotation in the event the automobile accidentally enters a body of water. The device can be fitted with a tube connected to a mouthpiece for breathing the air contained within the device in the event of an emergency. Pocket compartments are provided on the device for convenient storage and ease of driver access to articles, such as road maps, while driving.

1 . A device for installation within the interior compartment of an automobile, behind the front seats of the automobile, said device comprising:
 a shell formed of a flexible, air and liquid impervious material and surrounding an interior chamber, and said interior chamber being adapted to be filled with a gas to inflate said shell, and said shell being sized, structured and configured to fill a volume of space within the interior compartment of the automobile behind the front seats and below a driver's line of view through a rear window of the vehicle when said shell is inflated, and said shell including a top side and a front vertical side;   at least one pocket on said front side of said shell;   at least one pocket on said top side of said shell; and   at least one valve member on said shell and communicating with the interior chamber, and said at least one valve member being structured and disposed for filling the gas into said interior chamber in order to inflate said shell and for releasing the gas from said interior chamber in order to deflate said shell.   
     
     
         2 . The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said top side of the shell includes at least one cup holder for holding a beverage container. 
     
     
         3 . The device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a recessed container formed in said shell; and   a removable cover for closing the recessed container.   
     
     
         4 . The device as recited in  claim 3  wherein the recessed container is insulated. 
     
     
         5 . The device as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a flexible hose extending from said shell and communicating with said interior chamber; and   a mouthpiece on a distal end of said flexible hose for placement in a user's mouth in order to breathe air filled within said interior chamber.   
     
     
         6 . The device as recited in  claim 5  wherein said flexible hose and said mouthpiece are structured and disposed for allowing manual inflation of said shell by blowing air from a user's lungs through said flexible hose and into said interior chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said shell is formed of a durable elastomeric material. 
     
     
         8 . The device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said shell is formed of MYLAR.