Beverage container holder supported tray assembly

• US 7,290,746 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2005
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nicky B. Macias, Raul A. Landa
• Original Assignee: Nicky B. Macias, Raul A. Landa
• Inventors: Landa, Raul A., Macias, Nicky B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman; Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCDUFFIE, MICHAEL D
• Application Number:
  US11/252,299
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 248/311.2, 248/314, 248/315, 248/298.1, 248/297.31, 248/286.1, 248/222.11, 248/309.1, 108/25, 108/26, 108/42, 108/44, 108/45, 108/134, 108/135, 297/135, 297/148, 297/149, 297/174.R, 297/160, 297/188.01, 297/188.11, 297/188.14, 297/188.16, 297/188.18, 224/926, 224/282
• US Class Current: 248/311.2
• 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

The multi-purpose beverage container holder supported tray assembly: includes a beverage container holder component and a tray component hingedly coupled to the beverage container holder component and provides one or more utilitarian support surfaces that may be used for various functions such as food and beverage placement, writing, and other activities where a stable, conveniently positioned surface is desired; and is adapted for use in theaters, stadiums, indoor and outdoor sports arenas, convention halls, home entertainment centers, and the like. The multi-purpose tray assembly is portable and removably supported in the seat arm beverage container holders (cup holders) normally found on the seating in the locations listed above. The position of the tray component of the tray assembly can be easily adjusted to suit the user and position the utilitarian support surface of the tray component in a location most convenient for the intended use.

Claims

1. A portable, multi-purpose, beverage container holder supported tray assembly, comprising:

a beverage container holder component;

the beverage container holder component having a top side and a bottom side, a beverage container holder means having depending means extending downward from the bottom side of the beverage container holder component for being removably received in a seat arm beverage container holder to removably mount the tray assembly on the seat arm;

a tray component;

the tray component having a top side and a bottom side;

the tray component having a first end and a second end;

the top side of the tray component providing a utilitarian support surface; and

coupling means joining the first end of the tray component to the beverage container holder component for supporting the tray component from the beverage container holder component in a first substantially horizontal utilitarian position wherein the tray component extends over a seating portion of a seat when the beverage container holder means is mounted in a seat arm beverage container holder of the seat and the utilitarian support surface is positioned for use by a person in the seat;

the coupling means having hinge means with a substantially horizontal axis for permitting the tray component to be pivoted about the substantially horizontal axis from the first utilitarian position to a raised position to permit seat ingress and egress by a person using the tray assembly while the beverage container holder means of the beverage container holder component of the tray assembly is still mounted in the seat arm beverage container holder of the seat; and

the coupling means permitting relative forward and rearward movement between the tray component and the beverage container holder component in a direction parallel to the substantially horizontal axis of the hinge means to adjust the tray component toward or away from a person using the tray assembly.

2. The portable, multi-purpose, beverage container holder supported tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the tray assembly includes a releasable locking means for selectively holding the tray component in a selected position relative to beverage container holder component.

3. The portable, multi-purpose, beverage container holder supported tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the tray assembly includes a releasable locking means for selectively holding the tray component in a selected position relative to beverage container holder component and at least partially supporting the tray component from the beverage container holder component.

4. The portable, multi-purpose beverage container holder supported tray assembly according to claim 3, wherein:

the beverage container holder means has an upper section with a receptacle for receiving a beverage container and the depending means of the beverage container holder means includes an upper depending section and a lower depending section extending downward from the bottom side of the beverage container holder component;

the lower depending section is sized for removable insertion into a seat arm beverage container holder to mount the beverage container holder component of the tray assembly on the seat arm; and

the upper depending section of the beverage container holder means is larger in diameter than the lower depending section of the beverage container holder means to thereby form, at a juncture of the upper and lower depending sections of the beverage container holder means, an annular flange for resting on an upper surface of a seat arm beverage container holder to support the beverage container holder component and the tray component of the tray assembly at a selected height.

5. The portable, multi-purpose beverage container holder supported tray assembly according to claim 4, wherein:

the lower depending section of the beverage container holder means includes means for enabling the lower depending section of the beverage container holder means to closely fit seat arm beverage container holders of different sizes.

6. The portable, multi-purpose beverage container holder supported tray assembly according to claim 5, wherein:

the tray component includes a support means, pivotally mounted to the tray component on the bottom side of the tray component, that is spaced inwardly from the second end of the tray component less than half the distance from the second end to the first end of the tray component for engaging and supporting the tray component by engaging a lap of a person sitting in a seat on which the tray assembly is mounted; and

the support means being pivotal from a first stored position where the support means lies along the bottom side of the tray component to an extended support position where the support means extends downward from the bottom side of the tray component.

8. The portable, multi-purpose beverage container holder supported tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the tray component includes a support means, pivotally mounted to the tray component on the bottom side of the tray component, that is spaced inwardly from the second end of the tray component less than half the distance from the second end to the first end of the tray component for engaging and supporting the tray component by engaging a lap of a person sitting in a seat on which the tray assembly is mounted; and

the support means being pivotal from a first stored position where the support means lies along the bottom side of the tray component to an extended support position where the support means extends downward from the bottom side of the tray component.

9. The portable, multi-purpose beverage container holder supported tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the topside of the tray component has flat-bottomed recessed receptacles therein for holding articles.

10. The portable, multi-purpose beverage container holder supported tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the top side of the tray component has flat bottomed recessed receptacles therein for holding articles; and

the tray assembly includes an adaptor plate having a first major surface that is planar and a second major surface with recesses therein for holding articles that is detachably mounted on the top side of the tray component to provide, at a user'"'"'s option, the top side of the tray component of the tray assembly with the first major surface or the second major surface.

11. The portable, multi-purpose beverage container holder supported tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the topside of the tray component has flat-bottomed recessed receptacles therein for holding articles; and

the tray assembly includes an adaptor plate with a planar top major surface that is detachably mounted on the topside of the tray component to provide the topside of the tray component of the tray assembly with a planar surface.

12. The portable, multi-purpose beverage container holder supported tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the topside of the tray component has flat bottomed recessed receptacles therein for holding articles wherein the receptacles are defined by low peripheral rims.

13. The portable, multi-purpose beverage container holder supported tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the depending means of the beverage container holder means includes means for enabling the depending means of the beverage container holder means to closely fit seat arm beverage container holders of different sizes.

7. A portable, multi-purpose beverage container holder supported tray assembly, comprising:

a beverage container holder component;

the beverage container holder component having a top side and a bottom side, a beverage container holder means having depending means extending downward from the bottom side of the beverage container holder component for being removably received in a seat arm beverage container holder to removably mount the tray assembly on the seat arm;

a tray component;

the tray component having a top side and a bottom side;

the tray component having a first end and a second end;

the top side of the tray component providing a utilitarian support surface; and

coupling means joining the first end of the tray component to the beverage container holder component for supporting the tray component from the beverage container holder component in a first substantially horizontal utilitarian position wherein the tray component extends over a seating portion of a seat when the beverage container holder means is mounted in a seat arm beverage container holder of the seat and the utilitarian support surface is positioned for use by a person in the seat;

the coupling means having hinge means with a substantially horizontal axis for permitting the tray component to be pivoted about the substantially horizontal axis from the first utilitarian position to a raised position to permit seat ingress and egress by a person using the tray assembly while the beverage container holder means of the beverage container holder component of the tray assembly is still mounted in the seat arm beverage container holder of the seat;

the beverage container holder means having an upper section with a receptacle for receiving a beverage container and the depending means includes an upper depending section and a lower depending section extending downward from the bottom side of the beverage container holder component;

the lower depending section being sized for removable insertion into a seat arm beverage container holder to mount the beverage container holder component of the tray assembly on the seat arm; and

the upper depending section of the beverage container holder means being larger in diameter than the lower depending section of the beverage container holder means to thereby form, at a juncture of the upper and lower depending sections of the beverage container holder means, an annular flange for resting on an upper surface of a seat arm beverage container holder to support the beverage container holder component and the tray component of the tray assembly at a selected height; and

the lower depending section of the beverage container holder means being adjustable in horizontal cross section to enable the lower depending section of the beverage container holder means to be selectively expanded and contracted to closely fit seat arm beverage holders of different sizes.