Foldable tray table

• US 5,483,901 A
• Filed: 08/16/1994
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Euro United Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suncast Corporation
• Inventors: Tisbo, Thomas A., Whitehead, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/291,413
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 108/119, 108/118, 108/120, 108/115, 108/124, 108/132, 248/164, 248/432, 248/439, 248/588
• US Class Current: 108/119
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 3/02 with foldable cross legs adjustable for varying height of tops A47B9/16

Abstract

The present invention is a foldable tray table of modular construction with readily replaceable and interchangeable plastic molded components which can be assembled by hand and include a tray having an underside with a pair of first legs and second legs connected thereto. The upper end of each first leg has a journal pin operatively adapted for being disposed and snap-fit between one pair of journal mounting brackets formed on the underside of the tray. When its journal pin is so disposed, each first leg is pivotal relative to the tray. The second legs are joined together at their upper ends by an integral locking bar. A pivot plug is formed intermediate the ends of and extending from one of each of the first legs and the second legs for interconnecting with a pivot hole formed intermediate the ends of and in the other of each of the first legs and the second legs. Each pivot plug is operatively adapted for being snap-fit in one pivot hole such that each first leg and second leg so connected are pivotal relative to one another. Two clips are used to releasably connect the locking bar to the tray. Each clip is operatively adapted for being snap-fit in a snap-on hole in a clip mounting bracket formed on the underside of the tray opposite to the journal mounting brackets. The locking bar is releasably retained by each clip.

Claims

1. A modular foldable tray table comprising:

a tray having a top surface, an underside, a first edge, a second edge opposite to said first edge and two side edges, said tray having two pair of spaced journal mounting brackets and at least one clip mounting bracket formed on said underside, said two pair of journal mounting brackets being located one on either side of said tray adjacent to said first edge, said clip mounting bracket being located adjacent said second edge, each of said brackets being an integral part of said tray with an upper pivot hole formed in each of said journal mounting brackets and a snap-on hole formed in said clip mounting bracket;

a pair of first legs, each first leg having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of each of said first legs having a journal pin operatively adapted for being disposed between and snap-fit in said upper pivot holes of one of said pair of journal mounting brackets, when so disposed, each said first leg being pivotal about its respective journal;

a pair of second legs, each second leg having an upper end and a lower end, said second legs being joined together by a locking bar at their upper ends, a pivot plug being formed intermediate the ends of and extending from one of each said first legs and each said second legs for interconnecting with an intermediate pivot hole formed intermediate the ends of and in the other of each said first legs and each said second legs, each said pivot plug being operatively adapted for being snap-fit in one of said intermediate pivot holes such that each first leg and second leg so connected are pivotal relative to one another thereby; and

at least one clip operatively adapted for being snap-fit in said snap-on hole and thereby held to said clip mounting bracket, said locking bar and said clip being operatively adapted for said locking bar being releasably retained by said clip.

2. The modular foldable tray table of claim 1, each said pivot plug being formed by two spaced resilient locking prongs operatively adapted for being snap-fit in one of said intermediate pivot holes formed intermediate the ends of and in the other of each said first legs and each said second legs.

3. The modular foldable tray table of claim 1, said at least one clip having two resilient locking prongs operatively adapted for being snap fit in said snap-on hole.

4. The modular foldable tray table of claim 3, each prong on said clip having a leading barb and a trailing stop surface spaced therefrom, the prongs on said clip being operatively adapted for being snap fit in said snap-on hole such that a portion of said clip mounting bracket is wedged between the barb and stop surface of each prong on said clip.

5. The modular foldable tray table of claim 1, said at least one clip having two resilient clipping arms that together have a general C-shape, said clipping arms being operatively adapted for being deflected apart in order to either encircle and retain said locking bar or to allow the removal of the locking bar previously so retained.

6. The modular foldable tray table of claim 1, including an integral cross bar connecting said second legs above their lower ends, the lower end of each said leg being beveled.

7. The modular foldable tray table of claim 1, each said journal pin being operatively adapted for being snap-fit in the pivot holes of one of said pair of journal mounting brackets.

8. A modular foldable tray table comprising:

a molded plastic tray having a top surface, an underside, a first edge, a second edge and two side edges, said tray having two pair of spaced journal mounting brackets and two spaced clip mounting brackets formed on said underside, said two pair of journal mounting brackets being located one on either side of said tray adjacent to said first edge, and clip mounting brackets being located adjacent to said second edge, each of said brackets being an integrally molded part of said tray with an upper pivot hole formed in each of said journal mounting brackets and a snap-on hole formed in each of said clip mounting brackets;

a pair of molded plastic first legs, each first leg having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of each of said first legs forming a journal pin operatively adapted for being disposed between and snap-fit in the pivot holes of one of said pair of journal mounting brackets;

a pair of molded plastic second legs, each second leg having an upper end and a lower end, the upper ends of said second legs being joined together by an integrally molded locking bar, a pivot plug being formed intermediate the ends of and extending from one of each said first legs and each said second legs for interconnecting with an intermediate pivot hole formed intermediate the ends of and in the other of each said first legs and each said second legs, each said pivot plug being operatively adapted for being snap-fit in one of said intermediate pivot holes such that each first leg and second leg so connected are pivotal relative to one another about their corresponding pivot plug; and

two molded plastic clips, with each of said clips being operatively adapted for being snap-fit in one of said snap-on holes and have two resilient clipping arms formed in a general C-shape for releasably retaining said locking bar.

9. A modular foldable tray table comprising:

a molded plastic tray having a top surface, an underside, a first edge, a second edge and two side edges, said tray having two pair of spaced journal mounting brackets and two spaced clip mounting brackets formed on said underside, said two pair of journal mounting brackets being located one on either side of said tray adjacent to said first edge, said clip mounting brackets being located adjacent said second edge, each of said brackets being an integrally molded part of said tray with an upper pivot hole formed in each of said journal mounting brackets and a snap-on hole formed through a portion of each of said clip mounting brackets;

a pair of molded plastic outer legs, each outer leg having an upper end, a lower end and a pivot plug intermediate its ends with dual resilient locking prongs extending therefrom, the upper end of each of said outer legs forming a journal pin operatively adapted for being disposed between and snap-fit in the pivot holes of one of said pair of journal mounting brackets;

a pair of molded plastic inner legs, each inner leg having an upper end, a lower end and an intermediate pivot hole formed intermediate the ends of and in the other of each said first legs and each said second legs, said inner legs being joined together by an integrally molded locking bar at their upper ends and an integral molded cross bar intermediate their lower ends and their said intermediate pivot holes, the locking prongs of each said pivot plug being operatively adapted for being snap-fit in one of said intermediate pivot holes such that each outer leg and inner leg so connected are pivotal relative to one another about their corresponding pivot plug, the lower end of each said leg being beveled; and

two molded plastic C-shaped clips with each of said clips having two resilient clipping arms formed in a general C-shape and two resilient locking prongs, each prong on each said clip having a leading barb and a trailing stop surface spaced therefrom operatively adapted for being snap-fit in one of said snap-on holes such that the portion of one of said clip mounting brackets is disposed between the barb and stop surface, said clipping arms being operatively adapted for being deflected apart by said locking bar in order to either encircle and retain said locking bar and thereby releasably connect said locking bar to said tray or to allow the removal of the locking bar previously so retained.