Tray and cup holder combination

• US 6,732,990 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2001
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James K. Hudson
• Original Assignee: James K. Hudson
• Inventors: Hudson, James K
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORRISON, NASCHICA SANDERS
• Application Number:
  US09/876,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 248/311.2, 248/310, 248/309.1, 248/313, 248/314, 248/544, 248/548, 248/900, 224/483, 224/926, 206/503, 206/515, 206/549, 206/562, 206/563, 206/564, 206/217, 108/25, 108/26, 108/44
• US Class Current: 248/311.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/002 of trays
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/103 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/926 Vehicle attached carrier for beverage container or bottle

Abstract

The present invention is a tray assembly comprising a holder, at least one tray, at least one securement device, and at least one support element. The holder is designed to fit into the cup holder in an automotive car console and accommodates one beverage container. The trays are joined to and extend outwardly from the holder and accommodate at least one food item. At least one tray is downwardly recessed to better accommodate the food items. The tray assembly is designed so that a plurality of the tray assemblies can be stacked together vertically. The arrangement of the trays is asymmetrical in such a way that a plurality of trays can be placed in closer proximity to a person or object, but do not upset the overall balance of the tray. The tray assembly contains at least one aperture in at least one tray, wherein the aperture acts as a receptacle for at least one container and maintains the containers in the vertical position. The securement devices are joined to the holder and allow the tray assembly to conform to the shape of the automotive cup holder. The support elements provide structural integrity to the tray assembly. The support elements may extend either upwardly or downwardly from the tray assembly.

Claims

1. A tray assembly adapted for engagement to an automotive cup holder comprising:

a holder having a holder axis;

a tray perpendicularly joined to the holder;

a crushable extension attached to an outside wall of said holder and oriented along a crushable extension axis, said crushable extension extending downwardly from said tray to the bottom of said holder and comprising;

a plurality of tier walls extending outwardly from said holder;

a plurality of tier faces perpendicularly joined to said tier walls; and

an extension face perpendicularly joined to said tier walls;

wherein said tier walls and said tier faces form a pair of stair-stepped sidewalls of said crushable extension;

wherein said holder axis is in a vertical position;

wherein an inside surface of said holder is sized to engage a beverage container; and

wherein said crushable extension allows the tray assembly to conform to the shape of the automotive cup holder.

2. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a circumferential support element extending upwardly from the tray assembly.

3. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a circumferential support element extending downwardly from the tray assembly.

4. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a circumferential support having a supplemental support.

5. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a left inner support and a right inner support.

6. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 1 where said tray is downwardly recessed.

7. The tray assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a second tray perpendicularly joined to said holder; and

wherein an angle created by said tray and said second tray is obtuse.

8. The tray assembly of claim 1 further comprising an aperture disposed within said tray;

wherein said aperture is sized to engage a food container.

9. The tray assembly of claim 8 wherein said aperture is hexagonal.

10. The tray assembly of claim 1 wherein said holder is substantially cylindrical and said holder axis and said crushable extension axis are substantially parallel.

11. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein said holder is shaped like an inverted, truncated cone and wherein said holder axis and said crushable extension axis form an acute angle.

12. The tray assembly of claim 1 wherein said crushable extension is a pad.

13. A tray assembly adapted for engagement to an automotive cup holder comprising:

a holder having a holder axis;

a tray perpendicularly joined to the holder and having a tray plane, wherein the tray connects to and extends outwardly from the holder and can support various items;

a crushable extension attached to an outside wall of said holder and oriented along a crushable extension axis, said crushable extension extending downwardly from said tray to the bottom of said holder and comprising;

a plurality of tier walls extending outwardly from said holder;

a plurality of tier faces perpendicularly joined to said tier walls; and

an extension face perpendicularly joined to said tier walls;

wherein said tier walls and said tier faces form a pair of stair-stepped sidewalls of said crushable extension;

wherein said holder axis is in a vertical position;

wherein an inside surface of said holder is sized to engage a beverage container;

wherein said crushable extension axis is perpendicular to said tray plane when said crushable extension axis is viewed in alignment with said holder axis; and

wherein said crushable extension allows the tray assembly to conform to the shape of the automotive cup holder or a general recess.

14. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a circumferential support element extending upwardly from the tray assembly.

15. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a circumferential support element extending downwardly from the tray assembly.

16. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a circumferential support having a supplemental support.

17. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a left inner support and a right inner support.

18. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said tray is downwardly recessed.

19. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising an aperture in said tray, wherein the aperture acts as a receptacle for a food container and maintains the food container in a vertical position.

20. The tray assembly of claim 19 wherein said aperture is hexagonal.

21. The tray assembly of claim 13 further comprising:

a second tray perpendicularly joined to said holder; and

wherein an angle created by said tray and said second tray is obtuse.

22. The tray assembly of claim 13 wherein said holder is substantially cylindrical and said holder axis and said crushable extension axis are substantially parallel.

23. The tray assembly of claim 13, wherein said holder is shaped like an inverted, truncated cone and wherein said holder axis and said crushable extension axis form an acute angle.

24. The tray assembly of claim 13 wherein said crushable extension is a pad.

25. A tray assembly adapted for engagement to an automotive cup holder comprising:

a main tray;

a holder perpendicularly affixed to said main tray;

a side tray extending downwardly from said main tray;

a crushable extension attached to an outside wall of said holder and oriented along a crushable extension axis, said crushable extension extending downwardly from said tray to the bottom of said holder and adapted to conform to the shape of the automotive cup holder;

wherein said crushable extension comprises;

a plurality of tier walls extending outwardly from said holder;

a plurality of tier faces perpendicularly joined to said tier walls; and

an extension face perpendicularly joined to said tier walls; and

wherein said tier walls and said tier faces form a pair of stair-stepped sidewalls of said crushable extension.

26. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 25 further comprising a circumferential support element extending upwardly from the tray assembly.

27. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 25 further comprising a circumferential support element extending downwardly from the tray assembly.

28. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 25 further comprising an inner support joined to said main tray;

wherein said inner support is arched in shape and concentric with said holder.

29. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said side tray is downwardly recessed.

30. The tray assembly as set forth in claim 25 further comprising:

at least one aperture in the side tray;

wherein the aperture acts as a receptacle for a food container and maintains the food container in a vertical position.

31. The tray assembly of claim 30 wherein said aperture is hexagonal.

32. The tray assembly of claim 25 further comprising:

a second tray perpendicularly joined to said holder; and

wherein an angle created by said main tray and said second tray is obtuse.

33. The tray assembly of claim 25 further comprising:

a support structure affixed to the main tray, said support structure comprising;

a circumferential support disposed at the perimeter of said main tray;

a supplemental support affixed to said circumferential support and said main tray;

wherein said supplemental support prevents said main tray from bending between said side tray and said holder; and

wherein said main tray connects said side tray, said holder, and said support structure.

34. The tray assembly of claim 25 wherein said holder is substantially cylindrical and a holder axis and said crushable extension axis are substantially parallel.

35. The tray assembly of claim 25, wherein said holder is shaped like an inverted, truncated cone and wherein a holder axis and said crushable extension axis form an acute angle.

36. The tray assembly of claim 25 wherein said crushable extension is a pad.