Stowable reading tray

• US 6,308,641 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian F. Kingbury
• Original Assignee: Brian F. Kingbury
• Inventors: Kingbury, Brian F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US09/567,793
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 108/42, 108/47, 108/48, 108/33, 108/35, 108/40, 108/39, 108/108
• US Class Current: 108/42
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 5/04 foldable

Abstract

A wall-mounted stowable reading tray assembly (10) suitable for placement in a bathroom or any other confined space. The tray assembly (10) has a tray (12) configured to require minimal room and wall space when stowed, yet provides ample surface area for supporting reading materials when deployed. The tray assembly (10) is legless, and therefore the tray (12) is cantilevered from its mounting wall when deployed. The tray (12) is stowed within a mounting frame (14) attached to the mounting wall, and recessed into the wall if so desired. The tray assembly (10) preferably employs means (38) for supporting the tray (12) when deployed, and which is also stowed with the tray (12). The tray (12) includes an extension (44) that can be stowed within the tray (12) when not needed. Consequently, the extension (44) does not occupy any additional room or wall space when the tray (12) is stowed.

Claims

1. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly for placement in a confined space, the reading tray assembly comprising:

a mounting frame having means for attaching the mounting frame to a vertical surface;

a recess in the mounting frame;

a tray member pivotably attached to the mounting frame near an edge thereof, the tray member being pivotably attached for stowing within the recess of the mounting frame and for cantilevered deployment from the mounting frame;

means for supporting the tray member when deployed from the mounting frame; and

an extension slidably mounted to the tray member for stowing completely within the tray member and deployed by sliding out of the tray member so as to be cantilevered from the mounting frame.

2. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means comprises cords attached to the mounting frame and the tray member.

3. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 2, wherein the cords are completely stowable within the recess of the mounting frame with the tray member.

4. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means comprises folding brackets attached to the mounting frame and the tray member, the folding brackets supporting the tray member from a location on the mounting frame away from the edge to which the tray member is pivotably attached to the mounting frame.

5. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 4, wherein the folding brackets are completely stowable within the recess of the mounting frame with the tray member.

6. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means comprises a single bracket that supports the tray member from beneath.

7. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 6, wherein the bracket comprises two bracket members pivotably connected to each other, the bracket folding up flush against the tray member and the edge of the mounting frame when the tray member is stowed within the recess of the mounting frame.

8. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a latch for locking the tray member within the recess of the mounting frame.

9. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 8, wherein the latch is a portion of the mounting tray contiguous with the recess.

10. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 8, wherein the latch is substantially flush with a surface of the mounting frame.

11. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a compartment in which an advertisement can be contained.

12. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 11, wherein the compartment is visible from a surface of the tray member that is visible when the tray member is stowed.

13. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 11, wherein the compartment is visible from a surface of the tray member that is visible only when the tray member is deployed.

14. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 11, wherein the compartment is defined by at least one of a surface of the tray member and a portion of the mounting frame located outside the recess of the mounting frame, so that the compartment is visible when the tray member is stowed within the recess.

15. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 11, wherein the compartment is defined by at least one of a surface of the tray member and a portion of the mounting frame located within the recess of the mounting frame so that the compartment is visible only when the tray member is deployed from the recess.

16. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 11, wherein the tray member comprises two compartments defined by transparent panels on oppositely-disposed surfaces of the tray member, the transparent panels defining slots into which advertisements can be installed and removed.

17. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 1, further comprising means for biasing the tray member away from the mounting frame when the tray member is stowed in the recess of the mounting frame.

18. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reading tray assembly is mounted to an interior room wall of a structure chosen from the group consisting of hotels, motels, airplanes and buses.

19. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly for placement in a confined space, the reading tray assembly comprising:

a mounting frame having oppositely-disposed first and second surfaces and oppositely-disposed first and second edges;

means associated with the first surface of the mounting frame for attaching the mounting frame to a vertical surface;

a recess in the second surface of the mounting frame;

a tray member pivotably attached to the mounting frame near the first edge thereof, the tray member being pivotably attached for stowing within the recess of the mounting frame and for cantilevered deployment approximately perpendicular to the mounting frame, the tray member having oppositely-disposed first and second surfaces, the first surface of the tray member being concealed within the recess when the tray member is stowed and visible when the tray member is deployed;

means attached to the mounting member for supporting the tray member when deployed cantilevered from the mounting frame;

an extension slidably mounted within the tray member for stowing completely within the tray member and for deployment by sliding out of the tray member so as to be cantilevered from the mounting frame;

a latch for locking the tray member within the recess of the mounting frame;

at least first, second and third compartments defined by transparent panels of the mounting frame and the tray member, the first compartment being visible from the first surface of the tray member when the tray member is deployed, the second compartment being visible from the second surface of the tray member when the tray member is stowed, and the third compartment being visible within the recess of the mounting frame when the tray member is deployed; and

means for biasing the tray member away from the mounting frame when the tray member is stowed in the recess of the mounting frame.

20. A legless wall-mountable reading tray assembly according to claim 19, wherein the reading tray assembly is mounted to an interior bathroom wall of a structure chosen from the group consisting of hotels, motels, airplanes and buses.