Adjustable seat tray

A seat tray for a vehicle is disclosed herein. The tray holds items and prevents items from falling off the seat. The tray may include a bottom and sidewalls creating a holding area. In one version, the tray be adjustable in length and/or width. The tray may be secured to the seat with an extended tail-end at the bottom configured to slide under the seat between the cushions. In some variations, the tail-end may include a wrinkle-like ridge to prevent items from sliding under the seat. The tray may be used to hold various items needed by a driver who often drives over long distances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tray that is mounted onto a seat and, more particularly, to a telescopic tray that is mounted onto the passenger seat of a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

Several designs for a seat tray have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a tray, particularly for a vehicle seat, that holds items and prevents items from falling off the seat. The tray may include a bottom and sidewalls creating a holding area. In one version, the tray be adjustable in length and/or width. The tray may be secured to the seat with an extended tail-end at the bottom configured to slide under the seat between the cushions. In some variations, the tail-end may include a wrinkle-like ridge to prevent items from sliding under the seat. The tray may be used to hold various items needed by a driver who often drives over long distances. It is known that individuals who often drive for long periods of time such as truck drivers often need to have an additional compartment to hold various components and items while driving. These items may include things like food such as pizza and snacks, cleaning items, and laptops and the like. Having a seat tray allows a driver to have these items readily available while they are driving. Therefore, there is a need for a seat tray to allow a user to store various items and food while they are driving. The device will aid users who drive long distances to have various items readily available. Additionally, the tray may also hold paperwork pertinent to a driver that they would have readily available while driving.

Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,709 issued for an automobile console. The cited disclosure comprises an automobile console which is adapted to hold various articles in an organized fashion adjacent the driver or passenger. Applicant believes that another related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,241 issued for a vehicle portable-office organizer. The cited disclosure comprises a vehicle portable organizer designed to be detachably mounted to the passenger seat of a vehicle. The organizer consists of a tray sized to accept a tray insert that can be divided into a selectable quantity of smaller trays by dividers selected from a divider set. However, the cited references differ from the present invention because the collectively fail to address the tray with and adjustable length and width and a tail end having a ridged portion to secure to the cushions of a seat. The present invention addresses these issues by providing these elements in and efficient and novel configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an adjustable seat tray that allows drivers who drive long distances to efficiently store items and food for later use.

It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable seat tray that is telescopic in nature allowing the area of the tray to be adjustable to fit any seat of a vehicle.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable seat tray that allows a driver to maintain focus on the road while still having various items readily available.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral10, it can be observed a vehicle seat tray10which basically includes a tray assembly20, a telescopic assembly40, and a tail end assembly60.

Tray assembly20includes a tray22having a first tray portion22A and a second tray portion22B. In one embodiment, tray22is made of a wooden material. Other embodiments may feature a tray22being made of other suitable materials such as metal, carbon fiber, and the like. Additionally, tray22may resemble the shape of a traditional tray and include sidewalls and a bottom to form a holding area. In one implementation, first tray portion22A is a rectangular tray member having a front sidewall23and first sidewalls25. First sidewalls25may be parallel sidewalls as seen inFIG. 2. In the present embodiment, the height of front sidewall23and first sidewalls25are the same height. Other embodiments may feature a front sidewall23and first sidewalls25having varying heights. Second tray portion22B includes a back sidewall24and second sidewalls26. In one embodiment, second tray portion22B is provided in dimensions significantly less than that of first tray portion22A. Additionally, just as first tray portion22A second sidewalls26may be provided as parallel side walls. In the present embodiment, back sidewall24is provided having a height that is less than the height provided for front sidewall23. Furthermore, second tray portion22B also includes a bottom surface also used to hold items therein. In one implementation, second sidewalls26include a back most end which includes a curved portion26A. Curved portion26A represents a distal end of the sidewall that curves and extends over the back sidewall24. This configuration provides protection to any surface that may come in contact with this back most end. Should these ends be sharp, the distal end may then poke and damage the surface it is in contact with. Curved portion26A removes this potential damage and allows the distal end to come into contact with various surfaces.

First tray portion22A further includes an interior space27that is accessed through an opening28. In one embodiment, interior space27extends the entire length within first tray portion22A. In another embodiment, interior space27only partially extends within first tray portion22A. Interior space27must be of suitable dimensions to comfortably receive second tray portion22B therein. In one implementation, opening28is located along a sidewall of first tray portion22A. This sidewall may be the one that is opposite to front sidewall23as depicted inFIG. 3. In the present embodiment, second tray portion22B is inserted within first tray portion22A through opening28to then form tray22. As a result, a tray22with an adjustable length is formed. This allows tray22to be fitted onto a variety of structures and may then be adjusted to suit a user's needs. In one implementation, tray22is mounted within a vehicle70onto a seat72. Seat72may be provided as a passenger seat located adjacent to a driver's seat. Tray22aids in carrying items that are particularly useful for a driver driving long distances such as a truck driver. In one embodiment, these items may include mobile devices such as phones, lights, lamps, and consumable food such as pizza and the like.

Telescopic assembly40includes a track member42extending partially along an outer side of each of second sidewalls26. In one embodiment, track member42is provided as a drawer slider track member mounted on second sidewalls26. Other implementations may include other various types of track members known in the art of drawers. Track member42may be any suitable track member that enables for an effortless telescopic configuration of tray22. Other embodiments may feature a track member extending across the entire length of second sidewalls26. Additionally, track member42may also extend within the interior space27of first tray portion22A as seen inFIG. 3. Telescopic assembly40allows a user to adjust the length of tray22and set it to adjust the area of space needed from tray22.

Tail end assembly60includes an extended tail end62that is integrally mounted to one of the sidewalls of second tray portion22B. In one embodiment, extended tail end62is mounted on an outer side of back sidewall24. Extended tail end62may be provided in the form of a substantially flat member made of the same material as tray22. Additionally, extended tail end62may further include curved sides64defining side ends of extended tail end62and a straight top edge. In one implementation, extended tail end62includes a top end having wrinkle ridges66located thereon. Wrinkle ridges66may be provided in the form of a triangular ridges mounted in a horizontal configuration along the top end. Additionally, wrinkle ridges66allow for a more secure attachment when tray22is mounted onto seat72. In one embodiment, seat72is provided as a passenger seat consisting of two cushions. Extended tail end62is then inserted into an opening located between these two cushions. Furthermore, wrinkle ridges66allow for the extended tail end62to then be securely attached within seat72. This configuration may be observed inFIG. 6of the provided drawings. In additional implementations, vehicle seat tray10may also be provided with additional LED lights and a battery charger built in.