Portable customizable swiveling concession tray

• US 10,772,435 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 09/15/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moving iMage Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Caddy Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Bergin, Peter W. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P
• Application Number:
  US15/148,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20170318974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 29718814, 29718818
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/12 Theatre, auditorium, or similar chairs seats detachably mounted on stadium benches A47C1/16
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/62 Accessories for chairs
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/36 with moulded compartments or partitions

Abstract

A concession tray and container holder removably securable to a pre-existing container holder and which is connected to the container holder such that the tray and container holder can swivel or otherwise be movable about the connection of the tray to the seat. The connection comprises a customizable insert which can be of different heights such that the same tray can be connected to various different pre-existing container holders such as those of different seating configurations. The connecting insert is a generally cylindrical connecting portion having a first end configured for connection to the tray and a second end for inserting into the pre-existing container holder.

Claims

1. A tray and container holder comprising:

a first, generally flat tray surface configured for supporting one or more concessions thereon and a second, adjacent surface having at least one aperture therein wherein the tray surface and the second adjacent surface are integrally formed;

a cylindrical connecting portion comprising;

a first end configured to form a container holder portion of the tray;

a second opposing end configured for insertion into a pre-existing cup holder of a seat; and

a length connecting the first end and the second end wherein the length is configured for adjusting the height of the tray over the pre-existing cup holder; and

wherein the connecting portion removably connects the tray to the pre-existing cup holder of the seat by way of insertion of the connecting portion into the at least one aperture and wherein the connecting portion allows the tray to be raised and swiveled about the removable connection of the second opposing end of the connecting portion and the pre-existing cup holder of the seat, allowing the tray to be selectively moved from a first position to a second position and wherein the cylindrical connecting portion is an insert configured for removable connection with the at least one aperture in the surface of the tray.

2. The tray and container holder of claim 1, wherein the second end of the connecting portion is configured for insertion through the aperture of the tray and for insertion into the pre-existing cup holder of the seat and thus extends from a first surface of the tray.

3. The tray and container holder of claim 1, wherein the first end of the connecting portion is configured to receive a container for holding and thus extends from a second opposing surface of the tray.

4. The tray and container holder of claim 1, wherein the length connecting the first and second ends is a riser portion, the height of which may be varied.

5. The tray and container holder of claim 2, wherein the length connecting the first and second ends comprises a securing mechanism configured to secure the connecting portion within the aperture and to prevent vertical movement between the tray and the connecting portion.

6. The tray and container holder of claim 5, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a plurality of tabs integrally extending from the aperture and a corresponding plurality of openings positioned on the connecting portion and wherein when inserting the connecting portion into the aperture, the plurality of tabs and openings are configured for securing the insert to the tray.

7. The tray and container holder of claim 1, wherein the generally flat surface is bounded by a raised perimeter.

8. The tray and container holder of claim 2, the connecting portion having a varying length configured for raising the tray over the seat a selected amount, allowing the tray to swivel between a position raised over the seat portion of the seat and a position adjacent the seat portion of the seat.

9. The tray and container holder of claim 8, wherein the riser height is in the range of approximately two inches to approximately six inches.

10. The tray and container holder of claim 7, and further comprising a securable cover portion that is substantially flat and when secured to the tray, provides a substantially unbounded flat surface.

11. A method of removably and swivelably securing a tray and container holder to a seat comprising:

providing a generally flat surface configured for supporting one or more concessions thereon and having integrally formed aperture therein;

inserting a cylindrical connecting portion into the aperture and the connecting portion having a first end configured to form a container holder portion of the tray and a second end configured for insertion into a pre-existing cup holder of the seat and wherein a length of the connecting portion connects the first end and the second end wherein the length is removably positionable within the aperture and configured for adjusting the height of the tray over the pre-existing cup holder;

inserting second end of the connecting portion into the pre-existing cup holder of the seat such that the first end of the connecting portion is upright for receiving a beverage container therein; and

swiveling the tray about the connection of the second end and the cup holder to a selected position for use.

12. The method of claim 11 and further comprising:

swiveling the tray to a second selected position; and

removing the first end of the connecting portion from the pre-existing container holder of the seat.

13. The method of claim 12, and providing the connecting portion having a length configured for raising the tray over the seat a selected amount to allow the tray to swivel between a position raised over the seat portion of the seat and a position adjacent the seat portion of the seat.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a riser height is in the range of approximately two inches to approximately six inches.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the cylindrical connecting portion is an insert configured for removable connection with an aperture in the surface of the tray and further comprising inserting the first end of the connection portion into the aperture in the tray.

16. The method of claim 15, and further comprising securing the insert to the tray by engaging a securing mechanism configured to prevent vertical movement between the tray and the connecting portion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the length connecting the first and the second end comprises a securing mechanism having a plurality of tabs integrally extending from the aperture and a corresponding plurality or openings positioned on the connecting portion and wherein when inserting the connecting portion into the aperture, the plurality of tabs and openings are configured for securing the insert to the tray.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the generally flat surface is bounded by a raised perimeter.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the connecting portion has a riser height that is approximately 2¼

inches, approximately 3¼

inches, approximately 4¼

inches, approximately 5¼

inches or approximately 6¼

inches.