BREAKAWAY TRAY ASSEMBLY

• US 20090050659A1
• Filed: 08/22/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Marzolf, Lauren M., Chou, Warren J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,739,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42727 involving substantially rigid displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/002 of trays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention discloses a breakaway tray assembly for supporting items, the tray assembly having a first tray that is movably attached to a support structure and a second tray that is pivotally attached to and extends from the first tray. The first tray has a generally flat top surface, the top surface being operable to support an item when the first tray is in an extended generally horizontal position. The support structure has a bracket that supports the first tray in the extended generally horizontal position and can assist in holding the first tray in a generally vertical position when said first tray is placed in a stored-away position. The second tray has an upright position wherein it is generally coplanar with and semi-rigidly extends from the first tray. The second tray also has a breakaway position where it is not generally coplanar with the first tray. The first tray and the second tray have a breakaway mechanism that affords for the second tray to be held in the upright position and to rotate or fall into the breakaway position when sufficient force is applied to the second tray.

Claims

1. A breakaway tray assembly for supporting items, said tray assembly comprising:

a tray assembly having a stored-away position and a useable position, said tray assembly further comprising;

a first tray in a generally horizontal position when said tray assembly is in said useable position;

a second tray extending from said first tray, said second tray aligned in an upright position wherein said second tray is generally coplanar with and semi-rigidly extends from said first tray when said tray assembly is in said useable position, said second tray also having a breakaway position wherein said second tray falls away from and is not generally coplanar with said first tray in said generally horizontal position.

2. The tray assembly of claim 1, further comprising a support structure, said first tray movably mounted to said support structure.

3. The tray assembly of claim 2, wherein said support structure has a support member operable to support said first tray in said generally horizontal position when said tray assembly is in said useable position.

4. The tray assembly of claim 1, wherein said first tray and said second tray have a breakaway mechanism, said breakaway mechanism further comprising:

a spring-tab recess within said first tray, a tab recess within said second tray, a spring and a tab;

said spring and tab at least partially within said spring-tab recess, said spring pushing said tab in a generally outward direction from said spring-tab recess and at least partially within said tab recess of said second tray when said second tray is in said upright position;

said tab within said tab recess operable to hold said second tray generally coplanar with said first tray.

5. The tray assembly of claim 4, wherein said spring-tab recess is within said second tray and said tab recess is within said first tray.

6. The tray assembly of claim 2, wherein said tray assembly is operable to be placed in said stored-away position at least partially within said support structure.

7. The tray assembly of claim 6, wherein said stored-away position is a generally vertical orientation.

8. The tray assembly of claim 2, wherein said support structure has two guide rails, said two guide rails oppositely disposed from each other.

9. The tray assembly of claim 8, wherein said first tray is movably attached to said two guide rails,

10. The tray assembly of claim 9, wherein said first tray has two pins oppositely disposed from each other, each of said two pins at least partially within one of said two guide rails.

11. The tray assembly of claim 10, wherein said two guide rails each have a first section and a second section, said first section being generally vertical and having a top end, said second section extending from said top end of said first section in a generally horizontal direction, said first section and said second section operable for said tray assembly to be stored in a generally vertical orientation when in said stored-away position and removed placed in said useable position by sliding said tray assembly in an upward vertical direction and pivoting about said pins to a generally horizontal orientation.

12. A breakaway tray assembly for use in a motor vehicle, said breakaway tray assembly comprising:

a support structure having a guide rail,

a first tray having a first end movably attached to said guide rail of said support structure and a second end oppositely disposed and spaced apart from said first end;

said first tray slidable within said guide rail between a stored-away position and a useable position;

a second tray pivotally attached to and extending from said second end of said first tray, said second tray aligned in an upright position wherein said second tray is generally coplanar with and semi-rigidly extends from said first tray, said second tray also having a breakaway position wherein said second tray is not generally coplanar with said first tray.

13. The breakaway tray assembly of claim 12, wherein said guide rail has a generally vertical section and a generally horizontal section extending from said vertical section.

14. The breakaway tray assembly of claim 12, wherein said base has a support member proximate to and extending in a generally parallel direction with said horizontal section of said guide rail.