Vehicle seatback tray assembly

• US 5,813,354 A
• Filed: 12/17/1997
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard H. Scott
• Original Assignee: Richard H. Scott
• Inventors: Scott, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US08/992,703
• Time in Patent Office: 286 Days
• Field of Search: 108/44, 108/45, 108/152, 108/115, 108/1, 297/188.07, 297/188.04, 297/163, 297/146, 297/135, 312/235.8, 312/235.2, 312/313, 312/223.5, 224/275, 224/282, 224/553, 224/564
• US Class Current: 108/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/004 of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest

Abstract

A vehicle seatback tray assembly that includes a main tray assembly; a two-sided, two-way pivoting mirror assembly; two user formable, upper attachment hooks; and two adjustable length lower securing strap assemblies. The main tray assembly includes a main housing, a pivoting tray member and a tray member angular adjustment mechanism. The main housing includes a forward storage tray, a main housing compartment, a light compartment for housing a light bulb socket, and a light bulb socket controlling on/off switch. The pivoting tray member is pivotally connected to the main housing and includes a light opening that pivots over the light compartment of the main housing when the pivoting tray member is pivoted into a closed position blocking. The angular adjustment mechanism includes a curved locking bar and a locking pin assembly. The two-sided, two-way pivoting mirror assembly is positioned within the main housing compartment and includes a two-sided mirror, a first and a second pivot bar, a first and a second pivoting strip connector, and first and second pull straps.

Claims

1. A vehicle seatback tray assembly comprising:

a main tray assembly;

a two-sided, two-way pivoting mirror assembly;

two user formable, upper attachment hooks; and

two adjustable length lower securing strap assemblies;

said main tray assembly including a main housing, a pivoting tray member and a tray member angular adjustment mechanism;

said main housing including a forward storage tray, a main housing compartment, a light compartment for housing a light bulb socket, and a light bulb socket controlling on/off switch;

said pivoting tray member being pivotally connected to said main housing and including a light opening that pivots over said light compartment of said main housing when said pivoting tray member is pivoted into a closed position blocking access into said main housing compartment;

said angular adjustment mechanism being connected between said pivoting tray member and said main housing;

said two-sided, two-way pivoting mirror assembly being positioned within said main housing compartment and including a two-sided mirror, a first and a second pivot bar, a first and a second pivoting strip connector, and first and second pull straps;

said first and said second pivot bar each being U-shaped and secured at ends of thereof to a main housing compartment defining wall of said main housing;

said first and second pivoting strip connectors each being permanently secured to an inwardly directed mirror surface of said two-sided mirror;

each of said first and second pivoting strip connectors including a pivot bar insertion opening along an entire length thereof that is defined between two resilient wall sections that further define a resilient pivot bar gripping structure;

said first and second pivoting strip connectors being spaced apart a distance sufficient to allow said first pivot bar to be positioned within said resilient pivot bar gripping structure of said first pivoting strip connector while said second pivot bar is positioned within said resilient pivot bar gripping structure of said second pivoting strip connector;

each of said resilient pivot bar gripping structures having sufficient gripping strength against a respective said pivot bar to independently hold said two-sided mirror in a user set pivot position;

each of said two user formable, upper attachment hooks being constructed from a user bendable strip and secured to said main tray assembly with a securing eye-bolt;

said two adjustable length lower securing strap assemblies each including an adjustable length strap provided with an underseat attachment hook at one end thereof and attached to said main housing at a second strap end thereof.

2. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 1, wherein:

each of said two user formable, upper attachment hooks is constructed from a user bendable metal strip.

3. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 2, wherein:

said first and second pivoting strip connectors are constructed from a plastic material.

4. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 3 wherein:

said adjustable length strap of each of said two adjustable length lower securing strap assemblies is permanently attached to an underside of said main housing at said second strap end thereof.

5. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 4 wherein:

said angular adjustment mechanism includes a curved locking bar and a locking pin assembly;

said curved locking bar having a base portion secured to said tray member and a curved portion extending away from said pivoting tray member that has a number of spaced locking apertures provided therethrough;

said locking pin assembly including a locking pin shaft and a locking pin knob, said locking pin shaft being positioned through a sidewall aperture of said main housing and that is concentrically alignable with each of said locking apertures by pivoting said pivoting tray member, said locking pin knob being attached to an end of said locking pin shaft and positioned exteriorly of said main housing compartment.

6. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 3 wherein:

said angular adjustment mechanism includes a curved locking bar and a locking pin assembly;

said curved locking bar having a base portion secured to said tray member and a curved portion extending away from said pivoting tray member that has a number of spaced locking apertures provided therethrough;

said locking pin assembly including a locking pin shaft and a locking pin knob, said locking pin shaft being positioned through a sidewall aperture of said main housing and that is concentrically alignable with each of said locking apertures by pivoting said pivoting tray member, said locking pin knob being attached to an end of said locking pin shaft and positioned exteriorly of said main housing compartment.

7. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 2 wherein:

said adjustable length strap of each of said two adjustable length lower securing strap assemblies is permanently attached to an underside of said main housing at said second strap end thereof.

8. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 7 wherein:

said angular adjustment mechanism includes a curved locking bar and a locking pin assembly;

said curved locking bar having a base portion secured to said tray member and a curved portion extending away from said pivoting tray member that has a number of spaced locking apertures provided therethrough;

said locking pin assembly including a locking pin shaft and a locking pin knob, said locking pin shaft being positioned through a sidewall aperture of said main housing and that is concentrically alignable with each of said locking apertures by pivoting said pivoting tray member, said locking pin knob being attached to an end of said locking pin shaft and positioned exteriorly of said main housing compartment.

9. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 2 wherein:

said angular adjustment mechanism includes a curved locking bar and a locking pin assembly;

said curved locking bar having a base portion secured to said tray member and a curved portion extending away from said pivoting tray member that has a number of spaced locking apertures provided therethrough;

said locking pin assembly including a locking pin shaft and a locking pin knob, said locking pin shaft being positioned through a sidewall aperture of said main housing and that is concentrically alignable with each of said locking apertures by pivoting said pivoting tray member, said locking pin knob being attached to an end of said locking pin shaft and positioned exteriorly of said main housing compartment.

10. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 1, wherein:

said first and second pivoting strip connectors are constructed from a plastic material.

11. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 10 wherein:

said adjustable length strap of each of said two adjustable length lower securing strap assemblies is permanently attached to an underside of said main housing at said second strap end thereof.

12. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 11 wherein:

said angular adjustment mechanism includes a curved locking bar and a locking pin assembly;

said curved locking bar having a base portion secured to said tray member and a curved portion extending away from said pivoting tray member that has a number of spaced locking apertures provided therethrough;

said locking pin assembly including a locking pin shaft and a locking pin knob, said locking pin shaft being positioned through a sidewall aperture of said main housing and that is concentrically alignable with each of said locking apertures by pivoting said pivoting tray member, said locking pin knob being attached to an end of said locking pin shaft and positioned exteriorly of said main housing compartment.

13. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 10 wherein:

said angular adjustment mechanism includes a curved locking bar and a locking pin assembly;

said curved locking bar having a base portion secured to said tray member and a curved portion extending away from said pivoting tray member that has a number of spaced locking apertures provided therethrough;

said locking pin assembly including a locking pin shaft and a locking pin knob, said locking pin shaft being positioned through a sidewall aperture of said main housing and that is concentrically alignable with each of said locking apertures by pivoting said pivoting tray member, said locking pin knob being attached to an end of said locking pin shaft and positioned exteriorly of said main housing compartment.

14. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 1 wherein:

said adjustable length strap of each Of said two adjustable length lower securing strap assemblies is permanently attached to an underside of said main housing at said second strap end thereof.

15. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 14 wherein:

said angular adjustment mechanism includes a curved locking bar and a locking pin assembly;

said curved locking bar having a base portion secured to said tray member and a curved portion extending away from said pivoting tray member that has a number of spaced locking apertures provided therethrough;

said locking pin assembly including a locking pin shaft and a locking pin knob, said locking pin shaft being positioned through a sidewall aperture of said main housing and that is concentrically alignable with each of said locking apertures by pivoting said pivoting tray member, said locking pin knob being attached to an end of said locking pin shaft and positioned exteriorly of said main housing compartment.

16. The vehicle seatback tray assembly of claim 1 wherein:

said angular adjustment mechanism includes a curved locking bar and a locking pin assembly;

said curved locking bar having a base portion secured to said tray member and a curved portion extending away from said pivoting tray member that has a number of spaced locking apertures provided therethrough;

said locking pin assembly including a locking pin shaft and a locking pin knob, said locking pin shaft being positioned through a sidewall aperture of said main housing and that is concentrically alignable with each of said locking apertures by pivoting said pivoting tray member, said locking pin knob being attached to an end of said locking pin shaft and positioned exteriorly of said main housing compartment.