"Stroller Trays and Methods of Mounting the Same on Strollers"

• US 20090039620A1
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kolcraft Enterprises Incorporated (Hasbro Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kolcraft Enterprises Incorporated (Hasbro Inc.)
• Inventors: Fine, Rachel, Oblak, Matthew James, Liviu, Iftinca Ioan, Thomas, Wesley E., Ryan, Christine A., Er-Jui, Chen, Carl, Ross
• Granted Patent: US 8,424,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/647
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/023 Beverage holders, e.g. for a cup, tin or bottle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 9/26 Securing devices for bags or toys ; Arrangements of racks, bins, trays or other devices for transporting articles

Abstract

Stroller trays and methods of mounting the same on strollers are disclosed. An example stroller tray mates with a tray mount mounted to the stroller frame proximate a seat. The example tray includes a tray portion and an arm. The tray portion is cantilevered on the arm to extend in front of or over a portion of the seat. When mounted to the stroller, the stroller tray does not extend completely from one side of the stroller frame to the other to facilitate egress to the stroller seat.

Claims

1. A stroller with a tray comprising:

a stroller frame having a first side, a second side, and a seat for the receipt of a child positioned between the first and second side;

a tray mount mounted to the stroller frame proximate the seat; and

a stroller tray operatively coupled to the tray mount and having a tray portion and an arm,

the tray portion being cantilevered on the arm to extend in front of or over a portion of the seat, but the stroller tray does not extend completely from the first side to the second side of the stroller frame.

2. A stroller as defined in claim 1, wherein the tray portion and the arm are integrally formed.

3. A stroller as defined in claim 1, further comprising a support arm coupled to an underside of the arm and to an underside of the tray portion.

4. A stroller as defined in claim 3, wherein the support arm includes a connector assembly which is operatively coupled to the tray mount.

5. A stroller as defined in claim 4, wherein the tray mount comprises a socket and wherein the connector assembly is dimensioned for mating engagement with the socket.

6. A stroller as defined in claim 5, wherein the connector assembly includes a spring button and the socket includes an aperture in a side wall to receive the spring button to establish a removable locking engagement of the stroller tray to the stroller.

7. A stroller as defined in claim 5, wherein the connector assembly is substantially prevented from rotational movement relative to the socket.

8. A stroller as defined in claim 7, wherein the connector assembly includes an oblong cross section.

9. A stroller as defined in claim 5, further comprising a projection proximate the connector assembly and adapted to engage the tray mount to substantially prevent rotational movement relative to the tray mount.

10. A stroller as defined in claim 9, wherein the projection provides structural support to cantilever the tray portion on the arm.

11. A stroller as defined in claim 1, wherein the stroller tray is removably mounted to the stroller.

12. A stroller as defined in claim 1, wherein the stroller tray extends approximately half the distance from the fist side of the stroller frame to the second side.

13. A stroller as defined in claim 1, wherein the tray portion is pivotal relative to the arm for movement between an in-use position and a collapsed position.

14. A stroller as defined in claim 13, wherein the arm further comprises a spring button shiftable between a locked position to prevent pivotal movement of the tray portion and an unlocked position to permit pivotal movement of the tray portion.

15. A stroller as defined in claim 1, wherein a distance between a bottom of the tray portion and a seating surface of the seat directly below the tray bottom is greater than four inches and is less than eight inches.

16. For use with a stroller having a stroller frame including a first side, a second side, and a seat for the receipt of a child, a tray comprising:

an arm; and

a tray portion cantilevered on the arm such that when mounted to the stroller frame, the tray portion extends in front of or over a portion of the seat of the stroller frame, the stroller tray does not extend completely from the first side of the stroller frame to the second side.

17. A tray as defined in claim 16, further comprising a support arm coupled to an underside of the arm and to an underside of the tray portion.

18. A tray as defined in claim 17, wherein the support arm includes a connector assembly which is operatively coupled to the tray mount.

19. A tray as defined in claim 18, wherein the tray mount comprises a socket and wherein the connector assembly is dimensioned for mating engagement with the socket.

20. A tray as defined in claim 19, wherein the connector assembly includes a biased push button and the socket includes an aperture in a side wall to receive the push button to establish a removable locking engagement of the stroller tray to the stroller.

21. A tray as defined in claim 20, wherein the connector assembly is substantially prevented from rotational movement relative to the socket.

22. A tray as defined in claim 21, wherein the connector assembly includes an oblong cross section.

23. A stroller as defined in claim 19, further comprising a projection proximate the connector assembly and adapted to engage the tray mount to substantially prevent rotational movement relative to the tray mount.

24. A tray as defined in claim 23, wherein the projection provides structural support to cantilever the tray portion on the arm.

25. A tray as defined in claim 16, wherein the stroller tray extends approximately half the distance from the first side of the stroller frame to the second side.

26. A tray as defined in claim 16, wherein the tray portion is pivotal relative to the arm for movement between an in-use position and a collapsed position.

27. A stroller as defined in claim 26, wherein the arm further comprises a spring button shiftable between a locked position to prevent pivotal movement of the tray portion and an unlocked position to permit pivotal movement of the tray portion.

28. A method of mounting a tray to a stroller comprising:

inserting a first end of a tray arm into a first socket associated with a stroller frame;

depressing a spring button;

inserting an extension associated with the tray arm into a second socket associated with the stroller frame; and

continuing to insert the first end of the tray arm and the extension into the first and second sockets until the spring button extends into an aperture to cantilever the tray from one side of the stroller frame.

29. A method of mounting a tray as defined in claim 28, further comprising pivoting the arm to move the tray between an in-use position and a collapsed position.

30. A method of mounting a tray as defined in claim 28, wherein the tray extends approximately half the distance from the one side of the stroller frame to an opposite side of the stroller frame.