Seat or armrest attachment

• US 20060220423A1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caddy Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caddy Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Bergin, Peter W.A.
• Application Number:
  US11/301,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20060220423A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/160
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/624 located on side of seat, e.g. on armrest
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/70 of foldable type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/705 of detachable type

Abstract

A seat attachment is disclosed. In illustrated embodiments, the seat attachment includes a tablet arm and a tablet arm cupholder. The tablet arm includes a substantially flat work or utility surface and is assembled to a seat cupholder via the tablet arm cupholder. Once assembled, the tablet arm provides a writing surface and can be used to support a book, a laptop computer, a notepad or other items.

Claims

1. A tablet arm attachment comprising:

a tablet arm having a utility surface; and

a tablet arm cupholder configured for insertion into a seat or armrest cupholder to secure the tablet arm relative to a seat or armrest.

2. The tablet arm attachment of claim 1 wherein the tablet arm comprises a tablet body having a first end, a second end and opposed sides and the tablet arm cupholder is located closer to first end than the second end and closer to one side than the other side.

3. The tablet arm attachment of claim 1 wherein the tablet arm is generally “

L”

shaped and includes a generally rectangular shaped body portion and arm portion.

4. The tablet arm attachment of claim 3 wherein the tablet arm cupholder is proximate to the arm portion.

5. The tablet arm attachment of claim 1 wherein the tablet arm cupholder is insertable into a cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.

6. The tablet arm attachment of claim 5 wherein the tablet arm cupholder includes a perimeter flange which seats into a stepped rim surface about a perimeter of the cupholder receptacle.

7. The tablet arm attachment of claim 5 wherein the tablet arm cupholder includes a plurality of spaced ribs which abut a collar about a portion of a perimeter of the cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.

8. The tablet arm attachment of claim 1 wherein the tablet arm includes an undersurface opposite to the utility surface having a plurality of ribs.

9. The tablet arm attachment of claim 8 wherein the undersurface includes a plurality of ribs radially spaced from the tablet arm cupholder or a cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.

10. The tablet arm attachment of claim 8 wherein the undersurface includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending from the tablet arm cupholder or a receptacle on the tablet arm.

11. The tablet arm attachment of claim 8 wherein the undersurface includes a plurality of radially spaced ribs and a plurality of longitudinal ribs.

12. The tablet arm attachment of claim 5 including at least one latch to secure the tablet arm cupholder in the receptacle on the tablet arm.

13. A seat attachment assembly comprising:

a seat attachment having a cupholder receptacle; and

a cupholder having a portion sized to fit into the cupholder receptacle on the seat attachment and a portion sized for insertion into a seat or armrest cupholder.

14. The seat attachment assembly of claim 13 and including one or more latches to releasably connect the cupholder to the seat attachment.

15. The seat attachment assembly of claim 13 wherein the cupholder includes a perimeter flange which seats into a stepped perimeter rim of the cupholder receptacle on the seat attachment.

16. A method comprising the step of:

inserting a cupholder coupled to a tablet arm into a seat or armrest cupholder to secure the tablet arm relative to the seat or armrest.

17. The method of claim 16 and comprising the step of:

inserting the cupholder into a cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm prior to inserting the cupholder into the seat or armrest cupholder.

18. The method of claim 17 and further comprising the step of:

latching the cupholder in the cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.

19. The method of claim 17 and further comprising the steps of:

aligning one or more latch members with one or more latch openings prior to inserting the cupholder into the cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.

20. The method of claim 17 and further comprising the step of:

determining a cupholder size or configuration for the seat or armrest cupholder prior to inserting the cupholder into the cupholder receptacle on the tablet arm.