CONCESSION TRAY

• US 20080208694A1
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David I. Baggott
• Original Assignee: David I. Baggott
• Inventors: Baggott, David I.
• Application Number:
  US12/045,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20080208694A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/16 Holders for glasses, ashtrays, lamps, candles or the like forming part of tables
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/00 Suspended or hinged panels forming a table; Wall tables bed tables A47B23/00; adapted for use in vehicles A47B31/06; in combination with other furniture A47B83/00; arm-rest tables for chairs A47C
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/121 having tipping-up seats
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/622 Receptacles, e.g. cup holders, storage containers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/70 of foldable type
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements

Abstract

A concession tray that selectively supports a plurality of concessions or light-weight items in a substantially horizontal position relative to a stadium seat. Generally, the concession tray comprises a supporting tray portion, a transitional mechanism, and/or a coupling mechanism. The tray portion comprises a substantially planar surface configured to support light-weight items when in the horizontal position. The transitional mechanism allows the concession tray to be pivotally moved between a substantially vertical stowed position and the substantially horizontal use position. The coupling mechanism is configured to mount or selectively couple the concession tray to a supporting object, such as a one or more stadium seats. The concession tray may incorporate advertising thereon as a means to generate revenue for a stadium, theater, or arena in which it resides.

Claims

1. A concession tray apparatus comprising:

a supporting tray portion configured to selectively support concessions of a user when said supporting tray portion is in a horizontal use position, wherein the supporting tray portion comprises a supporting surface and a bottom surface;

a coupling mechanism configured to selectively and removeably couple the concession tray apparatus to a supporting object that is located in front of a stadium seat; and

a transitional mechanism configured to allow the supporting tray portion to pivot between a vertical stowed position and a horizontal use position, wherein the supporting surface of the supporting tray portion faces outwardly when in the vertical stowed position, wherein the transitional mechanism comprises;

a single pivoting means that pivotally connects the supporting tray portion to the coupling mechanism, wherein the pivoting means is configured to slide in a channel so as to engage a locking mechanism to selectively retain the supporting tray portion in the horizontal use position.

2. The concession tray apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting object comprises at least one stadium seat.

3. The concession tray apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bottom surface of the supporting tray portion is substantially adjacent to a backrest portion of the at least one stadium seat when the supporting tray portion is in the vertical stowed position.

4. The concession tray apparatus of claim 2, wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to selectively couple the concession tray apparatus to a portion of the stadium seat selected from a top edge of a backrest portion, a side edge of the backrest, and a back portion of the backrest.

5. The concession tray apparatus of claim 4, wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to support the concession tray apparatus from the top edge of the backrest portion.

6. The concession tray apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism further comprises a locking mechanism configured to selectively retain the concession tray apparatus coupled to the supporting object.

7. The concession tray apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to selectively couple the concession tray apparatus to at least one cup holder receptacle that acts to support the concession tray.

8. The concession tray apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting surface of the supporting tray portion comprises a substantially planar supporting surface having dimensions sufficient to support a plurality of concessions.

9. The concession tray apparatus of claim 7, further comprising advertising on the substantially planar supporting surface of the supporting tray portion to enable the advertising to be viewed in both the stowed and in the use position.

10. The concession tray apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting tray portion comprises a retaining lip disposed around at least of portion of a perimeter of the supporting surface.

15. The concession tray apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism further comprises a locking mechanism configured to selectively retain the concession tray apparatus coupled to the supporting object.

11. A concession tray apparatus comprising:

a supporting object;

a seat assembly, wherein the seat assembly is behind and faces the supporting object;

a supporting tray portion configured to selectively support concessions of a user when said supporting tray portion is in a horizontal use position, wherein the supporting tray portion comprises a supporting surface and a bottom surface;

a coupling mechanism configured to selectively and removably couple the concession tray apparatus to the supporting object; and

a transitional mechanism configured to allow the supporting tray portion to pivot between a horizontal use position and a vertical stowed position, wherein the bottom surface is substantially adjacent to and parallel with a closest surface of the supporting object and the supporting surface of the supporting tray portion faces outwardly when in the vertical stowed position, wherein the transitional mechanism comprises;

a single pivoting means that pivotally connects the supporting tray portion to the coupling mechanism, wherein the pivoting means is configured to slide in a channel so as to selectively engage a locking mechanism in order to retain the supporting tray portion in the horizontal use position.

12. The concession tray apparatus of claim 11, wherein the supporting object comprises at least one stadium seat.

13. The concession tray apparatus of claim 12, wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to support the concession tray apparatus from a top edge of a backrest portion of the at least one stadium seat.

14. The concession tray apparatus of claim 11, wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to selectively couple the concession tray apparatus to at least one cup holder receptacle that acts to support the concession tray.

16. A method of manufacturing a concession tray apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a supporting tray portion configured to selectively support concessions of a user when said supporting tray portion is in a horizontal use position, wherein the supporting tray portion comprises a supporting surface and a bottom surface;

providing a coupling mechanism configured to selectively couple the concession tray apparatus to a supporting object that is located in front of a stadium seat; and

providing a transitional mechanism configured to allow the supporting tray portion to pivot between a vertical stowed position and a horizontal use position, wherein the supporting surface of the supporting tray portion faces outwardly when in the vertical stowed position, wherein the transitional mechanism comprises;

a single pivoting means that pivotally connects the supporting tray portion to the coupling mechanism, wherein the pivoting means is configured to slide in a channel so as to engage a locking mechanism to selectively retain the supporting tray portion in the horizontal use position.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the supporting object comprises at least one stadium seat.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to support the concession tray apparatus from a top edge of a backrest portion of the stadium seat.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to selectively couple the concession tray apparatus to at least one cup holder receptacle that acts to support the concession tray.

20. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising advertising on the supporting surface of the supporting tray portion to enable the advertising to be viewed in both the stowed and in the use position.