Tray and cup holder combination

• US 20040164215A1
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James K. Hudson
• Original Assignee: James K. Hudson
• Inventors: Hudson, James K.
• Application Number:
  US10/781,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20040164215A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/311.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/002 of trays
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/103 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/926 Vehicle attached carrier for beverage container or bottle

Abstract

The present invention is a tray assembly comprising a holder, at least one tray, at least one securement device, and at least one support element. The holder is designed to fit into the cup holder in an automotive car console and accommodates one beverage container. The trays are joined to and extend outwardly from the holder and accommodate at least one food item. At least one tray is downwardly recessed to better accommodate the food items. The tray assembly is designed so that a plurality of the tray assemblies can be stacked together vertically. The arrangement of the trays is asymmetrical in such a way that a plurality of trays can be placed in closer proximity to a person or object, but do not upset the overall balance of the tray. The tray assembly contains at least one aperture in at least one tray, wherein the aperture acts as a receptacle for at least one container and maintains the containers in the vertical position. The securement devices are joined to the holder and allow the tray assembly to conform to the shape of the automotive cup holder. The support elements provide structural integrity to the tray assembly. The support elements may extend either upwardly or downwardly from the tray assembly.

Claims

1. A tray assembly adapted for engagement within an automotive cup holder cavity comprising:

a holder extending downwardly from a tray plane, a holder cavity formed by an exterior wall and a bottom, a crushable extension extending outwardly from and of unitary construction with the exterior wall, and a tray extending outwardly in the tray plane.

2. The tray assembly of claim 1 wherein the crushable extension engages the automotive cup holder cavity when the holder is inserted therein.

3. The tray assembly of claim 1 wherein the tray comprises a first tray and a second tray disposed to form an interior angle less than 180 degrees in the tray plane.

4. The tray assembly of claim 1 wherein the crushable insert forms a part of a tray support and is of unitary construction with the tray.

6. The tray assembly of claim 4 wherein the first tray and the second tray are disposed asymmetrically so that the first tray and the second tray can be placed in proximity to a person or object without impeding the operation of the tray.

5. A tray assembly insert for an automotive cup-holder comprising:

a holder of generally circular cross-section configured to be disposed vertically inside the automotive cup-holder and defining a first cavity adapted to receive a cup, a first tray projecting laterally from the holder and defining a second cavity, a second tray projecting laterally from the holder and defining a third cavity, a crushable extension of unitary construction with an exterior wall of the holder that extends outwardly from the exterior wall of the holder and downwardly from a tray plane to a holder bottom;

wherein the first tray, the second tray and a top of the holder are in the tray plane and the holder bottom is located beneath the tray plane at a sufficient distance to allow insertion of a cup into the holder.

7. A tray assembly insert for an automotive cup-holder comprising:

a holder of generally circular cross-section configured to be disposed vertically inside the automotive cup-holder and defining a first cavity adapted to receive a cup, a first tray projecting laterally from the holder and defining a second cavity, a second tray projecting laterally from the holder and defining a third cavity, a crushable extension of unitary construction with and extending outwardly from an exterior wall of the holder and also extending downwardly from a tray plane to a bottom of the holder, a circumferential support extending downwardly from the holder, the first tray, and the second tray and disposed at a perimeter of the tray plane formed by the holder, the first tray and the second tray, a left inner support concentric with a top of the holder cavity, a right inner support concentric with the top of the holder cavity;

wherein the left inner support and the right inner support extend upwardly from the tray plane and are of unitary construction with the holder, the first tray and the second tray; and

wherein the first tray, the second tray and a top of the holder are in the tray plane so that a exterior wall of the holder extends downwardly from the tray plane;

wherein the first tray and the second tray form an interior angle less than 180 degrees; and

wherein the crushable extension engages the automotive cup holder cavity when the holder is inserted therein.