Chair with self storable tray

• US 5,765,909 A
• Filed: 09/11/1997
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Catrinar
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Catrinar
• Inventors: Catrinar, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US08/927,764
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 297/146, 297/150, 297/154, 297/162, 297/173, 297/174
• US Class Current: 297/146
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/70 of foldable type

Abstract

A chair with self storable tray is composed of a chair component and a tray component. The chair component is composed of a chair, preferably folding, having a chair seat, chair back, a pair of front legs, a pair of rear legs, and a sheath. The tray component includes a pair of articulated arms, each composed of a first arm segment, a second arm segment and a pivot therebetween. The first and second arm segments are slidably received into a respective sheath. A tray is slidably interconnected with the second arm segments. Located within each of the second arm segments is a support rod which is pivotal from a received position to a support position wherein it is engaged with the chair seat. In operation, a user pulls upon the tray component so that it raises up from behind the chair back, wherein the articulated arms slide outwardly with respect to the sheaths until the pivots thereof are exposed. The user than pivots the second arm segments in relation to the first arm segments so that the tray is located at the front of the chair, while the support rods fall and are seatingly engaged with respect to the chair seat so as to thereby provide support for the tray. The user may slide the tray off the second arm segments to sit upon the chair and then slide it back on.

Claims

1. A chair with self storing tray comprising:

a chair component comprising;

a chair; and

sheath means connected with said chair for providing an interior hollow; and

a tray component comprising;

a tray; and

articulated arm means for supporting said tray with respect to said chair component;

wherein said articulated arm means is slidably receivable with respect to said interior hollow of said sheath means;

wherein said tray is placed into a stored position behind said chair by slidably receiving said articulated arm means into said sheath means, and wherein said tray is placed into a deployed position in front of said chair by selectively sliding said articulated arm means outwardly from said sheath means and articulating sailed articulated arm means.

2. The chair with self storing tray of claim 1, wherein said articulated arm means comprises:

a right articulated arm comprising;

a first right arm segment;

a second right arm segment; and

right pivot means for pivotally connecting said first and second right arm segments; and

a left arm segment comprising;

a first left arm segment;

a second left arm segment; and

left pivot means for pivotally connecting said first and second left arm segments;

wherein said tray is connected to said second right and left arm segments.

3. The chair with self storing tray of claim 2, further comprising selective release means f or removably connecting said tray to said second right and left arm segments.

4. The chair with self storing tray of claim 3, wherein said sheath means comprises:

a right sheath having a first portion of said interior hollow into which said right articulated arm is slidably receivable; and

a left sheath having said second portion of said interior hollow into which said left articulated arm is slidably receivable.

5. The chair with self storing tray of claim 4, wherein said chair comprises:

a chair seat;

a chair back connected with said chair seat;

a right front leg connected to at least one of said chair seat and said chair back;

a left front leg connected to at least one of said chair seat and said chair back;

a right rear leg connected to at least one of said chair seat and said chair back; and

a left rear leg connected to at least one of said chair seat and said chair back.

6. The chair with self storing tray of claim 5, wherein said right and left sheaths are oriented substantially parallel with respect to said seat back.

7. The chair with self storing tray of claim 6, further comprising tray support means connected with said articulated arm means for supporting said tray with respect to said chair component when in the deployed position.

8. The chair with self storing tray of claim 7, wherein said tray support means comprises:

a right support rod;

right second arm segment receptacle means formed in said right second arm segment for receiving therein said right support rod;

means for pivotally connecting said right support rod to said right second arm segment receptacle means;

means for enabling rotation of at least a portion of said right support rod with respect to said right arm segment receptacle means;

right flange means connected with said chair for supportably receiving said right support rod;

a left support rod;

left second arm segment receptacle means formed in said left second arm segment for receiving therein said left support rod;

means for pivotally connecting said left support rod to said left second arm segment receptacle means;

means for enabling rotation of at least a portion of said left support rod with respect to said left arm segment receptacle means; and

left flange means connected with said chair for supportably receiving said left support rod

wherein when said tray is at the deployed position said right second arm segment abuts in supportive relation to said right sheath and wherein said left second arm segment abuts in supportive relation to said left sheath.

9. The chair with self storing tray of claim 8, wherein said right support rod is threadably engageable with respect to said right flange means;

and wherein said left support rod is threadably engageable with respect to said left flange means.

10. The chair with self storing tray of claim 9, wherein said chair is a folding chair, wherein said chair further comprises pivot means connected to said right and left front legs, said right and left rear legs and said chair seat for pivotably connecting said chair seat with respect to said chair back.

11. The chair with self storing tray of claim 9, wherein said tray has an upper side and an opposite underside;

said upperside having a flat surface, said underside having rim means for retaining liquids within a predetermined area of said underside, said rim means having handle means f or a user to graspingly carry said tray.

12. The chair with self storing tray of claim 9, further comprising retainer means for preventing said right first arm segment from outwardly sliding from said right sheath beyond a predetermined length, and for preventing said left first arm segment from outwardly sliding from said left sheath beyond said predetermined length.

13. The chair with self storing tray of claim 9, wherein when said tray is at the stored position said tray is located substantially immediately behind said seat back.

14. The chair with self storing tray of claim 9, wherein said right sheath is connected to and oriented parallel with said right front leg, and said left sheath is connected to and oriented parallel with said left front leg.

15. A chair with self storing tray comprising:

a chair component comprising;

a chair; and

sheath means connected with said chair for providing an interior hollow; and

a tray component comprising;

a tray;

articulated arm means for supporting said tray with respect to said chair component, wherein said articulated arm means is slidably receivable with respect to said interior hollow of said sheath means, said articulated arm means comprising;

a right articulated arm comprising a first right arm segment;

a second right arm segment; and

right pivot means for pivotally connecting said first and second right arm segments; and

a left arm segment comprising a first left arm segment;

a second left arm segment; and

left pivot means for pivotally connecting said first and second left arm segments;

wherein said tray is connected to said second right and left arm segments;

selective release means for removably connecting said tray to said second right and left arm segments; and

tray support means connected with said articulated arm means for supporting said tray with respect to said chair component when in the deployed position;

wherein said tray is placed into a stored position behind said chair by slidably receiving said articulated arm means into said sheath means, and wherein said tray is placed into a deployed position in front of said chair by selectively sliding said articulated arm means outwardly from said sheath means and articulating said articulated arm means.

16. The chair with self storing tray of claim 15, wherein said tray support means comprises:

a right support rod;

right second arm segment receptacle means formed in said right second arm segment for receiving therein said right support rod;

means for pivotally connecting said right support rod to said right second arm segment receptacle means;

means for enabling rotation of at least a portion of said right support rod with respect to said right arm segment receptacle means;

right flange means connected with said chair for supportably receiving said right support rod;

a left support rod;

left second arm segment receptacle means formed in said left second arm segment for receiving therein said left support rod;

means for pivotally connecting said left support rod to said left second arm segment receptacle means;

means for enabling rotation of at least a portion of said left support rod with respect to said left arm segment receptacle means; and

left flange means connected with said chair for supportably receiving said left support rod;

wherein when said tray is at the deployed position said right second arm segment abuts in supportive relation to said right sheath and wherein said left second arm segment abuts in supportive relation to said left sheath.

17. The chair with self storing tray of claim 16, wherein said sheath means comprises:

a right sheath having a first portion of said interior hollow into which said right articulated arm is slidably receivable; and

a left sheath having said second portion of said interior hollow into which said left articulated arm is slidably receivable;

wherein said right and left sheaths are oriented substantially parallel with respect to said seat back.

18. The chair with self storing tray of claim 17, wherein said right support rod is threadably engageable with respect to said right flange means;

and wherein said left support rod is threadably engageable with respect to said left flange means.

19. The chair with self storing tray of claim 18, further comprising retainer means for preventing said right first arm segment from outwardly sliding from said right sheath beyond a predetermined length, and for preventing said left first arm segment from outwardly sliding from said left sheath beyond said predetermined length.

20. A folding chair with self storing tray comprising:

a chair component comprising;

a folding chair having a chair seat, a chair back leg means for supporting the chair, and pivot means for pivotably connecting said chair seat with respect to said chair back; and

sheath means connected with said chair for providing an interior hollow; and

a tray component comprising;

a tray;

articulated arm means for supporting said tray with respect to said chair component, wherein said articulated arm means is slidably receivable with respect to said interior hollow of said sheath means, said articulated arm means comprising;

a right articulated arm comprising a first right arm segment;

a second right arm segment; and

right pivot means for pivotally connecting said first and second right arm segments;

a left arm segment comprising a first left arm segment;

a second left arm segment; and

left pivot means for pivotally connecting said first and second left arm segments;

wherein said tray is connected to said second right and left arm segments; and

selective release means for removably connecting said tray to said second right and left arm segments;

tray support means connected with said articulated arm means for supporting said tray with respect to said chair component when in the deployed position;

wherein said tray is placed into a stored position behind said chair by slidably receiving said articulated arm means into said sheath means, and wherein said tray is placed into a deployed position in front of said chair by selectively sliding said articulated arm means outwardly from said sheath means and articulating said articulated arm means.