Folding chair tray

• US 6,017,085 A
• Filed: 10/14/1997
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kathleen I. Wilber, Tamara D. Lacroix
• Original Assignee: Kathleen I. Wilber, Tamara D. Lacroix
• Inventors: LaCroix, Tamara D., Wilber, Kathleen I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US08/950,027
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 16/50, 16/387, 16/343, 297/188.14, 297/188.15, 297/188.18, 297/173, 297/175, 297/170, 297/162, 297/161, 297/188.2, 297/188.01, 297/16.1, 248/643, 248/229.15, 248/229.25, 248/230.6, 248/231.71, 403/398, 403/396
• US Class Current: 297/173
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/624 located on side of seat, e.g. on armrest
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/70 of foldable type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/705 of detachable type

Abstract

A removable and pivotal tray which has a tray (22) for holding items on a top surface. A channel (46) with a pair of thumb screws (48) hold the tray to the arm of a portable folding chair and a hinge (54) is attached to the tray and channel. The hinge permits the tray to pivot 270 degrees from horizontal during use and then be lowered downward to the side of the chair when not in use. The tray swivels a full 360 degrees when horizontal to provide the most convenient location for the user. The pivoting is provided by the use of flanged bushing (68) disposed within a counterbore (70) in the channel, and a pair of resilient washers (72), provide controlled resistance to maintain the trays position. The tray may be flat or include upstanding flanges (32) and alternatively a lid (34) or spring clip (28). A kickstand (82) may be optionally utilized to tilt the tray angularly for reading or writing. A second embodiment omits the channel and thumb screws and incorporates a flange bushing directly into a chair arm (80) for a non-removable integral tray.

Claims

1. A removable and pivotal tray for a portable folding chair comprising:

(a) tray means having a top surface for holding food, beverages and other items,

(b) attachment means connected to the tray means for holding the tray means to an arm of the chair in a removable manner,

(c) pivot means connected to the tray means and juxtapositioned with the attachment means from a horizontal to a vertical position for storage contiguous with the portable chair when folded,

(d) swivel means, integral with the pivot means, for rotating the tray means horizontally in order to have access to the chair without disturbing items stored on the top surface of the tray means and to place the tray means in a convenient position for use, and

(e) hinged kickstand means forming a buttress support for angular disposition of the tray means.

2. The pivotal tray as recited in claim 1 wherein said swivel means further comprises a flanged-bushing having a countersunk bore therethrough, with said attachment means having a counterbore to receive said bushing with a portion protruding thereabove, a flat heat rivet means, and a pair of resilient washers positioned over the protruding portion of the bushing contiguous with both the rivet means and the attaching means, said pivot means having a countersunk hole in alignment with said bushing, and said flat head rivet disposed within the bore in the bushing and bucked into the countersunk hole compressing the washers together such that the bushing revolves with the pivot means when the tray is rotated.

3. The pivotal tray as recited in claim 2 wherein said flanged-bushing, washers and flat head rivet permit the tray to rotate a full 360 degrees.