Articulating tray assembly

• US 6,085,666 A
• Filed: 03/25/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prince Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Prince Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Norland, Leif A., Anderson, Rick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/276,046
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 108/44, 108/45, 108/47, 108/134, 108/135, 108/1, 108/7, 108/9, 297/146, 297/217.6
• US Class Current: 108/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/004 of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest

Abstract

A tray assembly for a vehicle, having an anchor member, a tray member, a first link pivotally mounted to the anchor member and pivotally secured to the tray member, and a second link pivotally mounted to the anchor member and pivotally secured to the tray member. The first and second links cooperate to guide the tray member during a deployment of the tray member from a stored position to a use position. The tray assembly also includes a stop member having a pin coupled with the tray member and a cam with a notch coupled to one of the first and second links. The two portions of the stop member engage each other and retain the tray member in a use position after the deployment of the tray member.

In one embodiment of the invention, the location of the pin of the stop member is selectively adjustable thereby allowing adjustment of the angle of the tray member relative to the anchor member. In another embodiment of the invention, the stop member allows further deployment of the tray member from the use position to a collapsed position during an application of an excessive force.

Claims

1. A tray assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

an anchor member attachable to an interior surface of a vehicle;

a tray member defining a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis;

a first link having one end pivotally mounted to said anchor member, the other end pivotally secured to said tray member at said first pivot axis;

a second link having one end pivotally mounted to said anchor member, and the other end pivotally secured to said tray member at said second pivot axis; and

a stop member having a first portion coupled with said tray member and a second portion coupled with one of said first and second links; and

wherein said first and second links cooperate to guide said tray member during a deployment of said tray member from a stored position to a use position, and wherein said first and second portions of said stop member engage each other and retain said tray member in a use position after the deployment of said tray member.

2. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein the location of said first portion of said stop member is selectively adjustable relative to said first and second pivot axes thereby allowing selective adjustment of the angle of said tray member relative to said anchor member when said tray member is in the use position.

3. The tray assembly of claim 1, whereupon application of a force greater than a predetermined threshold, said stop member allows further deployment of said tray member from said use position to a collapsed position.

4. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein said stop member includes a pin coupled with said tray member, and a notch defined by said second link.

5. The tray assembly of claim 4, wherein the location of said pin is selectively adjustable relative to said first and second pivot axes thereby allowing selective adjustment of the angle of said tray member relative to said anchor member.

6. The tray assembly of claim 4, wherein said pin is spring biased such that upon application of a force less than a predetermined threshold, said stop member resists further deployment of said tray member, and upon application of a force greater than said predetermined threshold, said stop member allows further deployment of said tray member from said use position to a collapsed position.

7. A tray assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

an anchor member attachable to an interior surface of a vehicle;

a tray member defining a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis;

a first link having one end pivotally mounted to said anchor member, and the other end pivotally secured to said tray member at said first pivot axis; and

a second link having one end pivotally mounted to said anchor member, and the other end pivotally secured to said tray member at said second pivot axis;

wherein said first and second links cooperate to guide said tray member during a deployment of said tray member from a stored position to a use position, wherein said tray member defines a left edge, a right edge, and a primary surface, and wherein said first link extends generally from said left edge of said tray member to said right edge of said tray member forming a support surface.

8. The tray assembly of claim 7, wherein said support surface includes a vanity mirror.

9. The tray assembly of claim 8, wherein said support surface further includes a vanity mirror light.

10. The tray assembly of claim 7, wherein said support surface includes a light.

11. The tray assembly of claim 7, wherein said support surface defines a recessed cavity for providing storage.

12. The tray assembly of claim 14, further comprising a cover member securable to said support surface over the recessed cavity.

13. The tray assembly of claim 7, further comprising a receiving member integrally coupled with said tray member and adapted to receive modules.

14. The tray assembly of claim 7, further comprising a foldout surface pivotally attached to said tray member.

15. The tray assembly of claim 7, further comprising an extendable surface slidably secured to said tray member.

16. The tray assembly of claim 7, wherein said tray member defines a recessed cavity for providing storage.