Tray device

A tray device for mounting in a vehicle. The tray device includes a tray top and a pair of legs pivotally coupled to the lower surface of the tray top. The legs are positioned adjacent one of the end edges of the tray top. A mounting member is coupled to another of the end edges of the tray top. The mounting member has a pair of spaced apart elongate arm portions and a cross portion extending between the arm portions of the mounting member. Each of the arm portions has a hooked upper end which is adapted for insertion into a slot of a door of a vehicle between a window of the door and an inner door panel of the door such that the mounting member is positioned adjacent the inner door panel of the door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to trays for mounting in a vehicle and more 
particularly pertains to a new tray device for mounting in a vehicle. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of trays for mounting in a vehicle is known in the prior art. More 
specifically, trays for mounting in a vehicle heretofore devised and 
utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious 
structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs 
encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the 
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
Known prior art trays for mounting in a vehicle include U.S. Pat. No. 
5,427,292; U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,003; U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,677; U.S. Pat. No. 
5,413,035; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 344,625; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 360,183. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new tray 
device. The inventive device includes a tray top and a pair of legs 
pivotally coupled to the lower surface of the tray top. The legs are 
positioned adjacent one of the end edges of the tray top. A mounting 
member is coupled to another of the end edges of the tray top. The 
mounting member has a pair of spaced apart elongate arm portions and a 
cross portion extending between the arm portions of the mounting member. 
Each of the arm portions has a hooked upper end which is adapted for 
insertion into a slot of a door of a vehicle between a window of the door 
and an inner door panel of the door such that the mounting member is 
positioned adjacent the inner door panel of the door. 
In these respects, the tray device according to the present invention 
substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the 
prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for 
the purpose of mounting in a vehicle. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of trays 
for mounting in a vehicle now present in the prior art, the present 
invention provides a new tray device construction wherein the same can be 
utilized for mounting in a vehicle. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new tray device apparatus 
and method which has many of the advantages of the trays for mounting in a 
vehicle mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new 
tray device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even 
implied by any of the prior art trays for mounting in a vehicle, either 
alone or in any combination thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a tray top and a 
pair of legs pivotally coupled to the lower surface of the tray top. The 
legs are positioned adjacent one of the end edges of the tray top. A 
mounting member is coupled to another of the end edges of the tray top. 
The mounting member has a pair of spaced apart elongate arm portions and a 
cross portion extending between the arm portions of the mounting member. 
Each of the arm portions has a hooked upper end which is adapted for 
insertion into a slot of a door of a vehicle between a window of the door 
and an inner door panel of the door such that the mounting member is 
positioned adjacent the inner door panel of the door. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional 
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which 
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new tray 
device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the trays 
for mounting in a vehicle mentioned heretofore and many novel features 
that result in a new tray device which is not anticipated, rendered 
obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art trays for 
mounting in a vehicle, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new tray device 
which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new tray 
device which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new tray 
device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to 
both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low 
prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such tray device 
economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tray 
device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some 
of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the 
disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new tray 
device for mounting in a vehicle. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tray device 
which includes a tray top and a pair of legs pivotally coupled to the 
lower surface of the tray top. The legs are positioned adjacent one of the 
end edges of the tray top. A mounting member is coupled to another of the 
end edges of the tray top. The mounting member has a pair of spaced apart 
elongate arm portions and a cross portion extending between the arm 
portions of the mounting member. Each of the arm portions has a hooked 
upper end which is adapted for insertion into a slot of a door of a 
vehicle between a window of the door and an inner door panel of the door 
such that the mounting member is positioned adjacent the inner door panel 
of the door. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tray 
device that is mountable to a door of a vehicle. In particular between the 
window and the inside door panel. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new tray 
device that may be used to rest items such as food and work supplies (such 
as laptop computers) on so that a user may eat or work comfortably while 
sitting in the vehicle. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 
thereof, a new tray device embodying the principles and concepts of the 
present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 
will be described. 
In use, the tray device 10 is designed for mounting to a door 1 of a 
vehicle. The door 1 has an inner door panel and a window slidably mounted 
in a slot in the door 1. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the 
tray device 10 generally comprises a tray top 11 and a pair of legs 21,22 
pivotally coupled to the lower surface 13 of the tray top 11. The legs 
21,22 are positioned adjacent one of the end edges 14 of the tray top 11. 
A mounting member 33 is coupled to the other end edge 15 of the tray top 
11. The mounting member 33 has a pair of spaced apart elongate arm 
portions 34,35 and a cross portion 36 extending between the arm portions 
34,35 of the mounting member 33. Each of the arm portions 34,35 has a 
hooked upper end 37 which is adapted for insertion into a slot of a door 1 
of a vehicle between a window of the door 1 and an inner door panel of the 
door 1 such that the mounting member 33 is positioned adjacent the inner 
door panel of the door 1. 
In closer detail, the tray top 11 is designed for resting items thereon. 
The tray top 11 is generally rectangular and has substantially planar 
upper and lower surfaces 12, 13, a pair of end edges 14,15 and a pair of 
side edges 16,17 extending between the end edges 14,15 of the tray top 11. 
The end and side edges 16,17 of the tray top 11 define an outer perimeter 
of the tray top 11. The tray top 11 has a plurality of corners with a 
corner of the tray top 11 being formed at each intersection of an end edge 
and a side edge of the tray top 11. The tray top 11 has a length defined 
between the end edges 14,15 of the tray top 11. Preferably, the length of 
the tray top 11 is greater than about 12 inches. Ideally, the length of 
the tray top 11 is about 16 inches. The tray top 11 has a width defined 
between the side edges 16,17 of the tray top 11. Preferably, the tray top 
11 is greater than about three-fourths the length of the tray top 11. Even 
more preferably, the width of the tray top 11 is greater than about 8 
inches. Ideally, the width of the tray top 11 is about 12 inches. 
The tray top 11 preferably has a perimeter lip 18 upwardly extending from 
the upper surface 12 of the tray top 11 around the outer perimeter of the 
tray top 11. The lip helps keeps items on the upper surface of the tray 
top, especially when the vehicle is moving. The tray top 11 has a 
thickness between the upper and lower surfaces 12, 13 of the tray top 11. 
The perimeter lip 18 of the tray top 11 has a height extending upwards 
from the upper surface 12 the tray top 11. Preferably, the height of the 
perimeter lip 18 of the tray top 11 is about equal to the thickness of the 
tray top 11. Ideally, the sum of the height of the perimeter lip 18 and 
the thickness of the tray top 11 is about 1 inch. The upper surface 12 of 
the tray top 11 also preferably has a generally circular depression 19. 
The circular depression 19 is designed for holding a beverage container 
therein. The circular depression 19 is preferably positioned adjacent one 
of the corners of the tray top 11. Even more preferably, the upper surface 
12 of the tray top 11 further includes a generally oblong depression 20. 
The oblong depression 20 is designed for holding writing instruments 
therein. The oblong depression 20 is preferably positioned adjacent one of 
the side edges 16,17 of the tray top 11. 
The tray device 10 also includes a pair of telescopically extendable legs 
21,22 designed for helping support the tray top 11 above a surface such as 
a seat 2 or floor of a vehicle. Each of the legs 21,22 is generally 
cylindrical and tubular and has top and bottom ends 23,24, and top and 
bottom portions 25,26. The top portion 25 of each leg is positioned 
adjacent the top end 23 of the associated leg. The bottom portion 26 of 
each leg is positioned adjacent the bottom end 24 of the associated leg. 
The bottom portion 26 of each of leg is telescopically inserted into the 
top portion 25 of the associated leg. Ideally, as illustrated in FIG. 2, 
the top portion 25 of each leg has a collet ring holding device 27 for 
holding the bottom portion 26 of the associated leg in a position with 
respect to the top portion 25 of the leg. 
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the top end 23 of each of the legs 21,22 
is pivotally coupled to the lower surface 13 of the tray top 11. The top 
ends 23 of the legs 21,22 are positioned adjacent one of the end edges 14 
of the tray top 11 with the top end of one of the legs located adjacent 
one of the corners of the tray top adjacent the one end edge of the tray 
top and the top end of another of the legs located adjacent another of the 
corners of the tray top adjacent the one end edge of the tray top. 
Preferably, the lower surface 13 of the tray top 11 has a pair of 
generally U-shaped mounting brackets 28. The top end of the one leg is 
pivotally coupled to one of the mounting brackets and the top end of the 
other leg pivotally coupled to another of the mounting brackets. 
Each of the legs 21,22 is pivotable between a deployed position (FIG. 1) 
and a folded position (FIG. 3). The length of each leg is defined between 
the top and bottom ends 23,24 of the leg. In the deployed position, the 
length of the leg is generally perpendicular to the plane of the lower 
surface 13 of the tray top 11. In the folded position, the length of the 
leg is generally parallel to the plane of the lower surface 13 of the tray 
top 11. Ideally, as illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the legs 21,22 has a 
slot 29 therein that is positioned towards the top end 23 of the leg with 
the length of the slot extending generally perpendicular to the length of 
the leg. Each of the mounting brackets 28 has a holding pin 30 extending 
across the arms of the mounting bracket. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the 
slot 29 of each leg receives the holding pin 30 of the associated mounting 
bracket when the leg is in the deployed position to releasably hold the 
leg in the deployed position. In this ideal embodiment, the lower surface 
13 of the tray top 11 also has a pair of holding clips 31 coupled thereto. 
One of the holding clips is positioned adjacent one of the side edges 16 
of the tray top 11 and another of the holding clips is positioned adjacent 
another side edge 17 of the tray top 11. In use, each of the holding clips 
31 releasably holds an associated leg to the lower surface 13 of the tray 
top 11 when the leg is in the folded position. 
With reference to FIG. 5, the tray device further includes a mounting 
member 33 attached to the other end edge of the tray top. The mounting 
member 33 is generally H-shaped and has a pair of spaced apart elongate 
arm portions 34,35 and a cross portion 36 extending between the arm 
portions 34,35 of the mounting member 33. Each of the arm portions 34,35 
has a generally U-shaped hooked upper end 37 and a lower end 38, and, 
preferably, a plurality of spaced apart attachment rungs 39 extending 
therefrom. The attachment rungs 39 of each of the arm portions 34,35 are 
arranged in a row extending between the upper and lower ends 37,38 of the 
arm portions. Preferably, the other end edge 15 of the tray top 11 has a 
pair of spaced attachment clips 32 each having a generally C-shaped cross 
section defining an attachment space in each attachment clip. An 
attachment rung of each arm portion is removably insertable into the 
attachment clips 32 of the tray top 11 to attach the mounting member 33 to 
the another end edge of the tray top 11. The attachment rungs 39 thereby 
permit adjustment of the height of the mounting member 33 extending 
upwards from the tray top 11. In use, the hooked upper ends 37 of the arm 
portions 34,35 of the mounting member 33 are adapted for insertion into a 
slot of a door 1 of a vehicle between a window of the door 1 and an inner 
door panel of the door 1 such that the mounting member 33 is positioned 
adjacent and resting against the inner door panel of the door 1. As 
illustrated in FIG. 1, the bottom ends 24 of the legs 21,22 are restable 
on a seat 2 (or on the floor) of the vehicle when the legs 21,22 are in 
the deployed position and the mounting member 33 is mounted to the door 1 
of the vehicle. 
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the 
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. 
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and 
operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.