Abstract:
Tray tables adapted to support, among other things, certain portable electronic devices while in use are detailed. The tables may include multiple sections designed to move relative to horizontal bases. When not needed, the moveable sections may be stowed in recesses in upper surfaces of the bases.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/786,123 filed on Mar. 27, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to tables and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to tray tables commonly used in aircraft, trains, and other passenger transport vehicles.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,421 to Brennan, et al. illustrates a conventional tray table intended for use by commercial aircraft passengers. The table is of unitary construction and adapted to pivot along an edge remote from the passenger with which it is associated. When deployed, the table is pivoted to a substantially horizontal position so it may serve as a platform for a food tray or other object. The table additionally is connected to moveable arms extending rearward from a seat positioned in front of the passenger. When not in use, the table may be pivoted to a substantially vertical position for stowage in a space present in the back of that seat.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,398 to Bentley, et al. discloses additional tray tables stowable within or adjacent to seat backs. Although some of the tray tables of the Bentley &#39;398 patent are unitary structures like those of the Brennan patent, others are not. Some tables, for example, have a second pivot axis intermediate (between) the passenger and the first pivot axis at the moveable arms. These types of tables are typically called “bi-fold” tables to reflect that they are typically pivoted twice for deployment or storage.  
         [0005]     Detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,994 to Bentley, et al. are various tray table assemblies adapted for stowage within arm rests of passenger seats. Some of the table assemblies of the Bentley &#39;994 patent are adjustable vertically while remaining substantially horizontal platforms. Others of the assemblies include an upper section that itself may pivot relative to a base to a non-horizontal position. As noted in the Bentley &#39;994 patent, this upper section “may thus function not just as the horizontal platform of conventional tables, but also as a non-horizontal rest for books, magazines, computers, or other objects.” See Bentley &#39;994, col. 5, 11. 32-35.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides improvements to existing tray table designs, including but not limited to those of the Bentley &#39;994 patent. Included as part of the innovative tables are multiple sections designed to pivot, or otherwise move, relative to horizontal bases. These moveable sections cooperate to support such things as laptop computers, portable digital video disc (DVD) players, and books for use, with monitor screens of computers and DVD players, for example, being easily viewed by corresponding passengers. The moveable sections additionally may be designed to fit into a recess present on the upper surface of the horizontal bases of the tables.  
         [0007]     Preferred versions of the invention include a main object support and a stop positionable substantially perpendicular thereto. Such versions also may include a brace for the main object support and a secondary, or ancillary, object support. Advantageously each of these pieces may move relative to a horizontal base, although those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that movement of all such pieces might not always be necessary.  
         [0008]     Moveable sections of the invention may be made of plastic or other material as appropriate or desired. Preferably the materials are lightweight (particularly if used on-board aircraft) so as not to increase meaningfully the weight of any vehicle in which they are deployed. They nonetheless are sufficiently strong and rigid to support certain portable electronic or other objects.  
         [0009]     Alternate versions of the invention may include more or fewer moveable pieces than in preferred versions. Moreover, moveable pieces need not necessarily be stowed in a recess in the upper surface of a horizontal base. Yet additionally, in some embodiments of the invention, a first portion of the base itself may pivot at an angle to a second portion of the base so as to form part of the main object support.  
         [0010]     It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide innovative tray tables.  
         [0011]     It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide tray tables for use in passenger vehicles.  
         [0012]     It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide tray tables adapted for use with portable electronic equipment, books, or other objects.  
         [0013]     It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide tray tables capable of supporting laptop computers and portable DVD players so that their screens are readily viewable by passengers.  
         [0014]     It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide tray tables having one or more pieces moveable relative to a horizontal base.  
         [0015]     It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide tray tables in which moveable pieces may be stowed in a recess in a horizontal base.  
         [0016]     It is yet another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide tray tables having some or all of a horizontal base, a main object support, a stop, a brace, and a secondary object support.  
         [0017]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art with reference to the remaining text and drawings of this application. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a tray table of the present invention prior to deployment of any section moveable relative to a horizontal base.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2-3  illustrate the tray table of  FIG. 1  with moveable sections partially deployed in alternate configurations.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates the tray table of  FIGS. 1-3  as fully deployed.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  depicts two tray tables of  FIGS. 1-4  as fully deployed, with one such table supporting a laptop computer.  
         [0022]     FIGS.  6 A-C depict a first alternate tray table of the present invention.  
         [0023]     FIGS.  7 A-B illustrate a second alternate tray table of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  shows a third alternate tray table of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]     Detailed in  FIGS. 1-5  is assembly  10  of the present invention. Assembly  10  may comprise tray table  14  together with, optionally, means for connecting table  14  to a seat  18 . Such means may be conventional, comprising moveable arms  22  attached to table  14  and to seat  18 . Attachment of table  14  and arms  22  occurs in a manner permitting table  14  to rotate at least approximately ninety degrees about a first axis FA coincident with or parallel to its distal edge  26 , from a substantially horizontal position for use (as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 ) to a substantially vertical position for stowage within recess  30  of back  34  of seat  18 . However, persons skilled in the relevant field will recognize that table  14  instead may be stowed within an arm rest of a seat (or elsewhere) or may be connected to seat  18  other than in the manner depicted in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0026]     Consistent with its traditional uses, table  14  is designed to function as a stable surface on which to place food trays or similar items. Accordingly, table  14  comprises platform or base  38  which, when deployed, is positioned substantially horizontally with its upper face  42  being flat (or substantially so). This configuration is shown in  FIG. 1 . If desired, upper face  42  may include a small circular (or similar) recess  46  in which to place a beverage cup or can.  
         [0027]     Base  38  may comprise a unitary structure. Alternatively, it may have a bi-fold structure as appears in  FIGS. 1-5 . In this latter configuration, base  38  has a second pivot axis SA intermediate distal edge  26  and proximal edge  50  and which is parallel to first axis FA. Base section  38 A may pivot about axis SA so that its upper face  42 A abuts upper face  42 B of base section  38 B, thereby exposing its lower face  54 A. Such pivoting may occur to form a slim rectangular structure (in which lower face  54 A is the platform) or for stowage.  
         [0028]     Also included as part of base  38  is recess  58 . In a bi-fold base design, recess  58  preferably is present in upper surface  42 A of base section  38 A. In any configuration, however, recess preferably is present in a portion of base  38  adjacent proximal edge  50 .  
         [0029]     In the version of assembly  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , into recess  58  is fitted component assembly  62  designed to move relative to base  38 .  FIG. 1  illustrates component assembly  62  entirely fitted into recess  58 , in which case upper surface  42 A remains generally flat.  FIGS. 2-5 , by contrast, depict component assembly  62  with portions having been moved related to base  38 , so that upper surface  42 A no longer is substantially flat. Component assembly  62  beneficially may include some or all of main object support  66 , stop  70 , brace  74 , and secondary object support  78 . Collectively, the members of assembly  62  function to support laptop computers, portable DVD players, books, or other objects in positions facilitating their operation or use.  
         [0030]     Recess  58  may be defined, in part, by proximal wall  82  and distal wall  86 . Present in or adjacent proximal wall  82  is an axle or other structure  88  to which both main object support  66  and stop  70  may be connected. Brace  74  and secondary support  78  are connected to main support  66  and adapted to move relative to it.  
         [0031]     Secondary support  78  additionally may comprise cut-out  90  adjacent distal wall  86  when component assembly  62  is fitted into recess  58 . Cut-out  90  may function as a finger hole for initiating movement of the component assembly  62  when it is fitted into recess  58 . A passenger may grasp cut-out  90  with a finger and pull secondary support  78  toward him or her, thereby causing at least interconnected secondary support  78 , main support  66 , and brace  74  to protrude above upper surface  42 A.  
         [0032]     As such pulling occurs, hinges  94  connecting top portion  98  of brace  74  to main support  66  allow brace  74  to swing outward such that its bottom portion  102  contacts distal wall  86  of recess  58 . Distal wall  86  thus serves to anchor brace  74  against further outward swinging, causing component assembly to assume the configuration depicted in  FIG. 2 . In this configuration, both main support  66  and brace  74  protrude above upper surface  42 A at acute angles to that surface, forming a structure having a generally triangular cross-section.  
         [0033]     Thereafter, stop  70  may be pivoted about structure  88  so that it no longer lies in the same plane as main support  66 . Indeed, as shown in  FIG. 3 , stop  70  preferably is pivoted so that it rests against proximal wall  82 , in which case it is perpendicular (or substantially so) to main support  66 . As so pivoted, stop  70  may function as a base for the object to be supported, counteracting force of gravity and preventing downward motion of the supported object.  
         [0034]     If the object to be supported is taller than main support  66 , secondary support  78  may be deployed. As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , secondary support  78  may be pivoted one hundred eighty degrees about third axis TA from a first position (as appears in  FIG. 3 ) to a second position (shown in  FIGS. 4-5 ). As so pivoted, secondary support  78  protrudes above—but remains in the same plane as—main support  66  so as to provide additional support for an object.  
         [0035]      FIG. 5  also depicts an exemplary laptop computer  106  in use in connection with assembly  10 . With component assembly  62  configured as in  FIG. 4 , lower edge  110  of computer  106  bears against stop  70  while base  114  of computer  106  bears against main and secondary object supports  66  and  78 , respectively. The result is that computer base  114  is angled upward of base  38 , with the upward angling repositioning monitor portion  118  of computer  106  at a level closer to the passenger&#39;s eyes and orienting it higher and more vertically in space.  
         [0036]      FIGS. 6-8  illustrate various alternative designs for assembly  10 . Assembly  10 ′ of FIGS.  6 A-C, for example, uses a pair of main supports  200 A and  200 B which may be pivoted upward from recess  204  of base  208  of tray table  212 . If smaller main supports are needed, alternate main supports  216 A and  216 B may be pivoted upward instead. Table  212  additionally may include a proximal lip  220  capable of pivoting downward relative to base  208  so as better to accommodate laptop computers, with lip  220  including an upwardly-projecting stop  224 .  
         [0037]     FIGS.  7 A-B show an analogous pair of main supports  300 A and  300 B as part of assembly  10 ″. Such supports  300 A and  300 B may, however, include pull-ups  304 A and  304 B to provide greater support for tall objects or to place them at angles relative to base  308  greater than those typically provided by assemblies  10  and  10 ′.  FIG. 7A  also illustrates lip  312 , which may pull out (and potentially up) from proximal edge  316  of base  308 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 8 , finally, illustrates assembly  10 ′″ utilizing bi-fold tray  400 . Base section  404 A may be pivoted about intermediate axis IA to rest against main supports  406 A and  406 B and thereby form an acute angle relative to base section  404 B. So pivoting base section  404 A exposes its lower face  408 , in which recess  412  bounded by wall  416  exists. In this configuration an object to be supported may be positioned within recess  412 , with wall  416  acting to stop downward movement of the object. Assembly  10 ′″ also may include a rotating or other stop (not shown) located within recess  412  in the closed position. The stop may be rotated out of recess  412  by ninety degrees thereby providing a larger surface (as compared to solely the depth of recess  412 ) to counteract force of gravity and prevent downward movement of the item to be supported.  
         [0039]     The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Incorporated herein by this reference are the entire contents of each of the Brennan, Bentley &#39;398, and Bentley &#39;994 patents.