Abstract:
A reversible food and game tray device for use with a child safety seat includes a two-sided tray that is easily reversible between two sides. One side includes a generally flat surface on which books, toys, games, and the like may be rested for use by a child. An opposed side defines multiple recesses for holding plates, cups, napkins, food, and drink items. The tray includes coupling elements for holding the tray in place as well as for enabling the tray to be quickly and easily reversed between the game and food surfaces. The coupling elements include at least one pin cooperatively positioned for releasably engaging a track. Preferably, two pairs of pins are provided along with a control lever for selectively retracting a selected pair of pins. Operation of the lever enables the tray to be pivoted, slid, and thus reversed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to food and game devices and, more particularly, to a reversible food and game tray device for use with an automotive child safety seat.  
         [0002]     Enabling toddlers to neatly eat and providing them with adequate entertainment while riding in a vehicle are difficult but consistently needed tasks for parents or other caregivers. Providing food to toddlers seated in their booster or safety seats often results in a mess on the child&#39;s clothing or in a mess on the vehicle seat or floor. The mess may be the result of the child&#39;s inability and inexperience with managing multiple food items and drink at the same time without having a large flat surface on which to rest these items. The lack of entertainment is, again, frequently the result of not having an adequate surface on which to rest a picture book, coloring book, or other manipulatives like toy cars, trucks, or games.  
         [0003]     Various tray devices have been proposed in the art for supporting food items while traveling in a vehicle. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices either do not provide the dual functions of supporting food service usage and entertainment or they do not provide a quick and convenient means for selectively alternating these functional means.  
         [0004]     Therefore, it would be desirable to have a food and game tray device in which a tray includes a game and entertainment surface on one side and a food serving surface on a reverse side thereof. Further, it would be desirable to have a food and game tray device that includes coupling elements such as a track and pin assembly by which the tray may be selectively alternated between the two surfaces. In addition, it would be desirable to have a combination food and game device that may be quickly and easily attached to a child booster car seat.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A food and game device according to the present invention includes a tray having first and second sides and first and second ends. The first side includes a generally flat region upon which entertainment objects may be rested, such as reading/picture books, coloring books, toys, games, or the like. The second side presents a plurality of recesses having different configurations for holding food and drink items. In other words, the second side is configured for serving snacks and meals to a child in a stable manner that will avoid most spills.  
         [0006]     Preferably, the opposed ends of the tray include pins that are cooperatively positioned to engage a track. The device includes one or more a control levers for selectively retracting a particular set of pins, which allows a forward or rearward edge of the tray to pivot upwardly, and allows the tray to slide along the track on the unreleased set of pins. Then, the tray may be returned to the flat position but now the opposed surface faces upward. In other words, the tray may be slidably moved and then pivoted such that the current top surface becomes the bottom surface and vice versa. Therefore, the tray device may be inverted for its dual uses very quickly and easily.  
         [0007]     Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a food and game tray device for use with a child&#39;s automobile safety seat.  
         [0008]     Another object of this invention is to provide a food and game tray device, as aforesaid, having a two-sided tray that is easily reversible between two configurations.  
         [0009]     Still another object of this invention is to provide a food and game tray device, as aforesaid, having opposed sides with one side having a generally flat surface upon which books, toys, and game objects may rest and another side defining a plurality of recesses in which food items or containers may be held for food service purposes.  
         [0010]     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a food and game tray device, as aforesaid, in which opposed ends or end edges of the tray include coupling elements for quick and easy reversal of the tray.  
         [0011]     A further object of this invention is to provide a food and game tray device, as aforesaid, in which the coupling elements include a pair of pin sets and a track for selective slidable movement and inversion of the tray.  
         [0012]     A still further object of this invention is to provide a food and game tray device, as aforesaid, having a lever for selectively releasing a particular set of pins such that the tray may be pivoted upward, slidably moved forward or backward, and then pivoted back to a flat configuration.  
         [0013]     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a tray of a reversible food and game tray device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a food-side-up configuration;  
         [0015]      FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of the tray as in  FIG. 1   a  in a game-side-up configuration;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of a reversible food and game tray device according to another embodiment of the present invention in use with a child safety seat;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2   b  is an isolated view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the reversible tray device as in  FIG. 2   a;    
         [0018]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of the tray as in  FIG. 1   a  releasably mounted to a base according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;  FIG. 3   b  is a perspective view of the tray device as in  FIG. 1   a  in use with a child safety seat;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3   c  is a perspective view of the base as in  FIG. 3   a  removed from the tray device;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the tray device as in  FIG. 3   a;    
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the tray as in  FIG. 1   a  with the pins being exploded;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6   a  is another perspective view of the tray as in  FIG. 1   a;    
         [0023]      FIG. 6   b  is an end view of the tray as in  FIG. 6   a;    
         [0024]      FIG. 6   c  is a sectional view of the tray taken along line  6 C- 6 C of  FIG. 6B ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 7   a  to  7   d  are perspective view illustrating movement of the tray between food-side-up and game-side-up configurations;  
         [0026]      FIG. 8   a  is a perspective view of a reversible food and game tray device according to another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 8   b  is a perspective view of a reversible tray device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]     A reversible food and game tray device  100  according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 8   b  of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, a reversible food and game tray device  100  for use with a child safety seat  10  according to the current invention includes a tray  110  and first and second coupling elements  120   a ,  120   b.    
         [0029]     The tray  110  has opposed first and second sides  112   a ,  112   b  and opposed first and second ends  114   a ,  114   b . As shown in  FIG. 1   b , the first side  112   a  preferably includes a predominantly flat region  113   a . The second side  112   b  ( FIG. 1   a ) preferably defines a plurality of recessed areas  113   b  for holding various objects, such as plates, cups, napkins, etc. The tray  110  is attachable to the first and second coupling elements  120   a ,  120   b  so that both the first and second sides  112   a ,  112   b  may be respectively positioned at an upward configuration, and the tray  110  is preferably separable from the first and second coupling elements  120   a ,  120   b.    
         [0030]     As shown in  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b , and  3   a - 8   b , one or more pin  130   a  may selectively extend outwardly from the tray first end  114   a , one or more pin  130   b  may selectively extend outwardly from the tray second end  114   b , the first coupling element  120   a  may include a track  122   a  complementary to the one or more pin  130   a , and the second coupling element  120   b  may include a track  122   b  complementary to the one or more pin  130   b . Placement of the one or more pin  130   a  in the first track  122   a  and placement of the one or more pin  130   b  in the second track  122   b  may secure the tray  110  to the coupling elements  120   a ,  120   b . In other words, the first track  122   a  may selectively support the one or more pin  130   a , and the second track  122   b  may selectively support the one or more pin  130   b.    
         [0031]     As best depicted in  FIG. 6   c , it is currently preferred that one pin  130   a  extending from the tray first end  114   a  shares a first common axis with one pin  130   b  extending from the tray second end  114   b . The pins  130   a ,  130   b  sharing the first common axis are denoted by reference numeral  132  in  FIG. 6   c . Another pin  130   a  extending from the tray first end  114   a  may share a second common axis with another pin  130   b  extending from the tray second end  114   b . The pins  130   a ,  130   b  sharing the second common axis are denoted  134  in  FIG. 6   c . The pins  132  sharing the first common axis are preferably simultaneously retractable, and the pins  134  sharing the second common axis are preferably simultaneously retractable.  
         [0032]     A first control  135   a  (such as the sliding lever shown in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   c ) may be operatively attached to the pins  132  sharing the first common axis for causing the simultaneous retraction of the pins  132 . Sliding the control  135   a  in a predetermined direction, for example, may actuate a linkage  136   a  to cause the pins  132  to compress, effectively causing the pins  132  to retract into the tray  110 . Sliding the control  135   a  in another predetermined direction, for example, may actuate the linkage  136   a  to cause the pins  132  to separate, effectively causing the pins  132  to extend outwardly from the tray  110 . The pins  132  are shown extended in  FIG. 6   c.    
         [0033]     A second control  135   b  similar to the first control  135   a  may be operatively attached to the pins  134  sharing the second common axis for causing the simultaneous retraction of the pins  134 . Sliding the control  135   b  in a predetermined direction, for example, may actuate a linkage  136   b  (similar to the linkage  136   a ) to cause the pins  134  to compress, effectively causing the pins  134  to retract into the tray  110 . Sliding the control  135   b  in another predetermined direction, for example, may actuate the linkage  136   b  to cause the pins  132  to separate, effectively causing the pins  134  to extend outwardly from the tray  110 . The pins  134  are shown retracted in  FIG. 6   c . Springs  137  bias the pins  132 ,  134  toward the extended configurations.  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIGS. 7   a - 7   d , the pins  130   a ,  130   b  and the complementary tracks  122   a ,  122   b  may be configured such that: the tray  110  may be rotated upwardly about the pins  134  sharing the second common axis when the pins  132  sharing the first common axis are simultaneously retracted; the pins  134  sharing the second common axis may be slid along the tracks  122   a ,  122   b  between rearward and forward locations  124 ,  126  when the pins  132  sharing the first common axis are simultaneously retracted; the pins  132  sharing the first common axis may be coupled to the tracks  122   a ,  122   b  adjacent the rearward location  124  when the pins  134  are adjacent the forward location  126 ; and the pins  132  sharing the first common axis may be coupled to the tracks  122   a ,  122   b  adjacent the forward location  126  when the pins  134  are adjacent the rearward location  124 . The pins  130   a ,  130   b  and the complementary tracks  122   a ,  122   b  may be configured such that: the tray  110  may be rotated upwardly about the pins  132  sharing the first common axis when the pins  134  sharing the second common axis are simultaneously retracted; the pins  132  sharing the first common axis may be slid along the tracks  122   a ,  122   b  between the rearward and forward locations  124 ,  126  when the pins  134  sharing the second common axis are simultaneously retracted; the pins  134  sharing the second common axis may be coupled to the tracks  122   a ,  122   b  adjacent the rearward location  124  when the pins  132  are adjacent the forward location  126 ; and the pins  134  sharing the second common axis may be coupled to the tracks  122   a ,  122   b  adjacent the forward location  126  when the pins  132  are adjacent the rearward location  124 . The tray  110  may be completely separated from the first and second coupling elements  120   a ,  120   b  when all of the pins  132 ,  134  are retracted and separated from the tracks  122   a ,  122   b.    
         [0035]     As shown in  FIGS. 3   a - 4  and  7   a - 7   d , a base  140  may include the first and second coupling elements  120   a ,  120   b . The base  140  may have a lower portion  142  configured for placement below the child safety seat  10  and side portions  144  extending upwardly from the lower portion  142 . The respective side portions  144  preferably include the first and second coupling elements  120   a ,  120   b , and the side portions  144  may be height-adjustable. While a clamp  146  is shown for maintaining a respective side portion  144  at selected heights, other adjustment mechanisms may be used.  
         [0036]      FIG. 8   a  shows that the child safety seat  10  may include first and second arms  12 , and the arms  12  may respectively include the first and second coupling elements  120   a ,  120   b.    
         [0037]      FIG. 8   b  shows that an alternate base  140  may include the first and second coupling elements  120   a ,  120   b . The alternate base  140  may have a beanbag portion  149  or a similar portion made of foam or another form-fitting material for placement upon a child&#39;s lap.  
         [0038]     In use, the tray  110  may be initially attached to the first and second coupling elements  120   a ,  120   b  so that the second side  112   b  is facing upwardly ( FIG. 7   a ) to take advantage of the recessed areas  113   b . Without completely removing the tray  110  from the first and second coupling elements  120   a ,  120   b , the tray may then be inverted to display the first side  112   a  ( FIG. 7   d ). To do so, the pins  132  sharing the first common axis may be simultaneously retracted as described above by using the first control  135   a , and the tray  110  may be rotated upwardly about the pins  134  sharing the second common axis ( FIG. 7   b ). The pins  134  sharing the second common axis may then be slid along the tracks  122   a ,  122   b  between rearward and forward locations  124 ,  126  ( FIG. 7   c ). Finally, the pins  132  sharing the first common axis may be coupled to the tracks  122   a ,  122   b  adjacent the rearward location  124  when the pins  134  are adjacent the forward location  126  ( FIG. 7   d ).  
         [0039]     To then invert the tray  110  from displaying the first side  112   a  ( FIG. 7   d ) to displaying the second side  112   b  ( FIG. 7   a ), the pins  134  sharing the second common axis may be simultaneously retracted as described above by using the second control  135   b , and the tray  110  may be rotated upwardly about the pins  132  sharing the first common axis. The pins  132  sharing the first common axis may then be slid along the tracks  122   a ,  122   b  between rearward and forward locations  124 ,  126 . Finally, the pins  134  sharing the second common axis may be coupled to the tracks  122   a ,  122   b  adjacent the rearward location  124  when the pins  132  are adjacent the forward location  126  ( FIG. 7   a ).  
         [0040]     A tray device  200  according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  and includes a construction substantially similar to the construction previously described except as- specifically noted below. More particularly, the first and second coupling elements  120   a ,  120   b  of the tray device  200  respectively include a strap  210  having at least one end separable from the tray  110 . A first face  212  of each strap  210  has a hook fastener and/or a loop fastener. The tray  110  first and second ends  114   a ,  114   b  or a second face  214  of each strap  210  may have a complementary hook and/or loop fastener so that the first face  212  may be removably attached to the tray  210  or the second face  214 . While acceptable hook and loop fasteners are sold under the registered trademark “Velcro”, other hook and loop fasteners could also be used.  
         [0041]     In use, the first or second side  112   a ,  112   b  of the tray may be facing upward, and the straps  210  may secure the tray  110  to the arms  12  of the child safety seat  10  (or another similar structure) by the attachment of the hook and loop fasteners. The straps  210  may then be unattached to the seat arms  12 , and the other tray side  112   a ,  112   b  may be positioned upward and secured as described above.  
         [0042]     It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.