Portable tray for a folding chair

• US 10,104,954 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamby, John
• Original Assignee: Hamby, John
• Inventors: Hamby, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): AYRES, TIMOTHY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US15/791,579
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 108 42, 10814411, 10814719, 1081472, 10814721, 108156, 108159, 10815717, 10815715, 10815713
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/063 combined with seats
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 37/04 Tables specially adapted for use in the garden or otherwise in the open air, e.g. with means for holding umbrellas or umbrella-like sunshades
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/02 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/06 with legs for supporting the table on the floor tables combined with cabinets A47B83/045
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/20 Telescopic guides

Abstract

The portable tray for a folding chair is a table. The portable tray for a folding chair is configured for use with a drink holder. The portable tray for a folding chair attaches to the drink holder such that a portion of the load path of the portable tray for a folding chair transfers through the drink holder to the supporting surface that supports the structure containing the drink holder. The portable tray for a folding chair comprises a tray, a telescopic stanchion, and a stabilizer. The tray is a horizontal surface that is used to support objects. The telescopic stanchion is a vertical support that raises the tray above the supporting surface. The stabilizer is a device that attaches the tray to the drink holder. The vertical span of the telescopic stanchion is adjustable.

Claims

1. A table comprising:

wherein the table comprises a tray, a telescopic stanchion, and a stabilizer;

wherein the tray forms a horizontal surface;

wherein the telescopic stanchion is a vertical support;

wherein the stabilizer is a device that attaches the tray to a drink holder of a chair;

wherein the table attaches to the drink holder of said chair such that a portion of the load path of the table transfers through the drink holder of said chair to the supporting surface that supports the chair;

wherein the telescopic stanchion is a vertical support that raises the tray above a supporting surface;

wherein the telescopic stanchion is a telescopic structure;

wherein the telescopic stanchion is a vertical support that creates a load path between the tray and the supporting surface;

wherein the telescopic stanchion directly transfers a portion of the load path created by the tray to the supporting surface;

wherein the span of the telescopic stanchion is adjustable;

wherein the stabilizer is an apparatus that attaches the tray to the drink holder;

wherein the stabilizer transfers a portion of the load created by the tray to the load path that supports the drink holder;

wherein the stabilizer inserts into the drink holder;

wherein the tray comprises a working surface, a plurality of apertures, and a rim;

wherein the plurality of apertures are formed in the working surface;

wherein the rim attaches to the working surface;

wherein the working surface is further defined with a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, a fourth edge, an inferior surface, and a superior surface.

2. The table according to claim 1

wherein the working surface forms the horizontal surface;

wherein the working surface is a plate structure;

wherein the rim is a ridge formed along the perimeter of the superior surface of the working surface.

3. The table according to claim 2

wherein each of the plurality of apertures is an aperture formed through the working surface from the superior surface to the inferior surface;

wherein each of the plurality of apertures is identical.

4. The table according to claim 3 wherein the telescopic stanchion attaches to the tray using an aperture selected from the plurality of apertures.

5. The table according to claim 4 wherein the stabilizer attaches to the tray using an aperture selected from the plurality of apertures.

6. The table according to claim 5

wherein the plurality of apertures further comprises a first aperture, a second aperture, a third aperture, and a fourth aperture;

wherein the first aperture is an aperture selected from the plurality of apertures that is proximal to the corner formed by the fourth edge and the first edge of the working surface;

wherein the second aperture is an aperture selected from the plurality of apertures that is proximal to the corner formed by the first edge and the second edge of the working surface;

wherein the third aperture is an aperture selected from the plurality of apertures that is proximal to the corner formed by the second edge and the third edge of the working surface;

wherein the fourth aperture is an aperture selected from the plurality of apertures that is proximal to the corner formed by the third edge and the fourth edge of the working surface.

7. The table according to claim 6

wherein two diametrically opposed apertures are selected from the plurality of apertures for the attachment of the telescopic stanchion and the stabilizer to the tray;

wherein the diametrically opposed apertures are selected from the group consisting of A) the telescopic stanchion attaches to the first aperture and the stabilizer attaches to the third aperture;

B) the telescopic stanchion attaches to the second aperture and the stabilizer attaches to the fourth aperture;

C) the telescopic stanchion attaches to the third aperture and the stabilizer attaches to the first aperture; and

, D) the telescopic stanchion attaches to the fourth aperture and the stabilizer attaches to the second aperture.

8. The table according to claim 7

wherein the telescopic stanchion further comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a first detent;

wherein the first detent connects the second arm to the first arm;

wherein the first arm is further defined with a first end and a second end;

wherein the second arm is further defined with a third end and a fourth end.

9. The table according to claim 8

wherein the first arm is a hollow first rigid prism;

wherein the second arm is a second hollow rigid prism;

wherein the first arm is further defined with an inner dimension and an outer dimension;

wherein the is further defined with an outer dimension;

wherein the first arm and the second arm are geometrically similar;

wherein the outer dimension of the second arm is less than the inner dimension of the first arm such that the second arm inserts into the first arm;

wherein the position of the second arm relative to the first arm is held in position using the first detent;

wherein the first detent is a mechanical device.

10. The table according to claim 9

wherein the telescopic stanchion further comprises a third arm and a second detent;

wherein the second detent connects the third arm to the second arm;

wherein the second arm is further defined with an inner dimension;

wherein the third arm is further defined with a fifth end and a sixth end.

11. The table according to claim 10

wherein the third arm is a third rigid prism;

wherein the third arm is further defined with an outer dimension;

wherein the second arm and the third arm are geometrically similar;

wherein the outer dimension of the third arm is less than the inner dimension of the second arm such that the third arm inserts into the second arm;

wherein the position of the third arm relative to the second arm is held in position using the second detent;

wherein the second detent is a mechanical device.

12. The table according to claim 11

wherein the span of the length of the telescopic stanchion is adjusted by adjusting the relative position of the second arm within the first arm;

wherein the span of the length of the telescopic stanchion is adjusted by adjusting the relative position of the third arm within the second arm.

13. The table according to claim 12 wherein the outer dimension of the first arm is lesser than the inner dimension of any aperture selected from the plurality of apertures such that the first end of the first arm inserts through the selected aperture.

14. The table according to claim 13

wherein the first end of the first arm is formed with the first exterior screw thread;

wherein the first cap is a capped tube;

wherein the interior surface of the first cap is further formed with the first interior screw thread such that the first cap can screw onto the first end of the first arm;

wherein the first exterior screw thread is an exterior screw thread formed on the first end of the first arm;

wherein the first interior screw thread is an exterior screw thread formed on the interior surface of the first cap.

15. The table according to claim 14

wherein the stabilizer comprises a bottle, a neck, and a second cap;

wherein the neck attaches the bottle to the second cap;

wherein the neck further comprises a second exterior screw thread;

wherein the second cap further comprises a second interior screw thread;

wherein the second cap is a capped tube that attaches to the neck of the bottle using a threaded connection.

16. The table according to claim 15

wherein the third end of the second arm inserts into the second end of the first arm and is secured in position by the first detent;

wherein the fifth end of the third arm inserts into the fourth end of the second arm and is secured in position by the second detent;

wherein the first end of the first arm through the selected aperture and screwing the first cap on the first end such that the combination of the first end and the first cap will not fit through the selected aperture;

wherein the bottle inserts into the drink holder.

17. The table according to claim 16

wherein the first detent is selected from the group consisting of a cotter pin, a G snap collar, a cam lock collar, a threaded clutch, a split collar lock, or a spring loaded ball lock;

wherein the second detent is selected from the group consisting of a cotter pin, a g snap collar, a cam lock collar, a threaded clutch, a split collar lock, or a spring loaded ball lock.