TRAY APPARATUS

Abstract: A tray to be suspended from a supporting structure, by means of a pair of spaced downwardly depending struts which are connected at respective lower regions to respective portions of the tray. The tray is pivotable relative to the struts to an operational position extending transversely to the struts; in the operational position respective securing formations associated with the tray and struts respectively are arranged to be co-aligned and biased into engagement with one another to secure the tray relative to the struts. Manual disengagement of the securing formations permits the tray to be pivoted relative to the support struts to a stowed position.

Description: Trav Apparatus The present invention relates to tray apparatus, and in particular to tray apparatus suitable for use in a vehicle. Tray apparatus suitable for use in a vehicle is known for example from GB-A-2272371. The tray apparatus disclosed has a support frame incorporating a saddle arranged to be hooked over a vehicle headrest to which frame a tray may be secured. Tray apparatus having improved constructional features increasing versatility and utility has now been devised. According to a first aspect, the present invention provides tray apparatus comprising a tray element and suspending means for suspending the tray element from a supporting structure, the suspending means comprising a pair of spaced downwardly depending struts arranged to be connected at respective lower regions to respective portions of the tray element, the tray element being pivotable relative to the struts to an operational position extending transversely to the struts, in which operational position respective complementary securing formations associated with the tray element and struts respectively are arranged to be co-aligned and biased into engagement with one another to secure the tray element relative to the struts. When the co-aligned formations are biased into engagement with one another, pivotal movement of the tray element away from the operational position (in both pivotal directions) is substantially inhibited. It is preferred that the suspending means comprises a saddle portion connected towards the upper ends of the struts, which saddle portion comprise an elongate element extending intermediate the upper ends of the struts and arranged in use to hook over a vehicle headrest such that the apparatus may be suspended therefrom. Advantageously, the saddle portion of the suspending means is pivotally connected to the struts to be movable to a stowed position in which the elongate element extends between the struts in the region of their lower ends. It is preferred that the tray element is pivotable relative to the struts to be secured in a plurality of differing operational orientations transversely to the struts. It is believed that this is a novel and inventive feature per se, and accordingly a second aspect of the invention provides tray apparatus comprising a tray element and suspending means for suspending the tray element from a supporting structure, the suspending means comprising a pair of spaced downwardly depending struts arranged to be connected at respective lower regions to respective portions of the tray element, the connection between the struts and tray element being such that the tray element is pivotable relative to the struts to be secured in a plurality of differing orientations extending tra ' nsversely to the struts. This enables the desired angular orientation of the tray element relative to the strut members to be selected for use with supporting structures of differing dimensions. Typically, as described above, the supporting structure comprises a vehicle headrest, the tray element extending outwardly from the rear of the vehicle seat provided with the headrest. Advantageously, each strut, and/or the respective portions of the tray element carries a plurality of the securing formations arranged in an array about the pivotal axis of the tray element. In a preferred embodiment each strut and the respective portions of the tray element both carry respective arrays of complementary engaging securing formations arranged such that the formations carried by the struts and the formations carried by the portions of the tray element are engagable in a plurality of different relative pivotal orientations of the struts and tray element. Preferably, the complementary securing formations comprise male and female formations such as projections and recesses (or lugs and bores) . Desirably, the biasing means comprises resilient biasing means such that, by the application of an external force to counter the biasing force, the engagement of the co-aligned complementary securing formations may be overcome, thereby permitting the tray element and struts to be relatively pivotally moved from the secured operational position. It is possible that inherent resilience of the struts may comprise the resilient biasing means, however it is preferred that the resilient biasing means comprises a spring element arranged to normally bias the securing formations into securing engagement with one another when co-aligned. Preferably, the struts are pivotable from the operational position to a stowed position in which the struts lie adjacent the general plane of the tray element. Advantageously, the struts are pivotable from the operational position to the stowed position through more than 180° (preferably through approximately 270° up to 330°) such that in the stowed position the struts lie adjacent the underside of the tray element. The invention will now be further described in a specific embodiment, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of tray apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a part sectional side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 2a is a view of a part of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the apparatus of Figures 1 to 2a; Figure 4 is a plan view of the tray element comprising the apparatus of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of a part of the tray apparatus of the preceding figures; and Figures 6 and 7 are exemplary exploded views from differing perspectives of an alternative embodiment of apparatus parts corresponding to the parts shown in Figure 5. Referring to the drawings, tray apparatus 1 comprises suspending means 2 and a tray element 3 arranged to be oriented transversely to upright plastics struts 4,5 (comprising the suspending means) when in an operational position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 particularly. Each strut 4,5 is provided with a lowermost boss 6 which is pivotally mounted within void formations 8 provided through tray element 3. A pivot pin 7 extends through respective bosses 6 and guide channels 9,10 provided in respective upstanding boss portions 11,12 of the tray element to permit relative pivotal movement of the tray element 3 and struts 4,5. Each pin 7 is provided with a projecting head 13 positioned above the surface of the tray element. Boss portions 12 of the tray element are provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting pins or lugs 15 spaced angularly around the pivotal axis defined by pivot pin 7. A plurality of correspondingly spaced receiving recesses or bores 16 are provided about the pivotal axis of respective strut bosses 6, recesses or bores 16 being arranged to co-align with (and matingly receive) the array of pins or lugs 15 in predetermined operational positions (such as that shown in Figures 1 and 2) . A helical biasing spring 18 is provided to normally bias the array of pins or lugs 15 into securing engagement with the array of recesses or bores 16 when co-aligned to secure the tray element 3 relative to the struts 4,5. (In certain less preferred embodiments the inherent resilience of the struts 4,5 may be sufficient to cause engagement of pins or lugs 15 with recesses or bores 16 when co-aligned) . By urging heads 13 of pins 7 axially outwardly (in the direction of arrow A in Figure 5) , bosses 6 move outwardly against springs 18 causing the array of pins or lugs 15 to become disengaged from the array of recesses or bores 16 thereby enabling tray element 3 and struts 4,5 to be pivoted to a stowed position, or an alternatively orientated operational position. Suspending means 2 is provided with a saddle portion 19 pivotally connected to the uppermost portions of respective struts 4,5 to be pivoted between the operational position (as shown in Figures 1 and 2) and a stowed position (as shown in the final dashed detail in Figure 2) . Saddle portion 19 comprises an elongate portion 20 extending the majority of the distance between struts 4,5 and perpendicularly extending terminal elements 21,22 connecting elongate portion 20 to the struts 4,5. In the operational position, terminal elements 21,22 abut shoulder portions 24 provided on struts 4,5 to ensure that the saddle is orientated at an angle of approximately 115° to the struts 4,5 (as shown in Figure 2). In use, the saddle portion 19 of the suspending means is hooked over a vehicle headrest (not shown) such that struts 4,5 extend downwardly adjacent the vehicle seat back, tray element 3 being oriented and secured in the operational position as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Depending on the desired inclination, the tray element 3 may be pivoted and secured as desired relative to struts 4,5. When the apparatus is not in use struts 4,5 and saddle 19 may be pivoted to the stowed position as shown in Figure 3 in which struts 4,5 and pivoted through approximately 270° to lie adjacent the underside of tray element 3. Elongate portion 20 of saddle 19 is, in the stowed position received in a resilient clip 23 provided on the underside of tray element 3. Tray element 3 may be provided with recesses or other formations on its supporting face for the improved retention of cups, plates or other receptacles. Peripheral lip 25 is suitably dimensioned and shaped to permit "clip on" accessories to be retained. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, there is shown an alternative means of connection between the tray element 3 and the struts 5. The arrangement comprises respective bosses 112, 106 carried by the tray element and struts respectively and interposed therebetween a locking element 113 which is held captive within tray boss 112 when assembled. Locking element 113 is provided with a series of radially projecting fins 130 each of which is received within a respective guide recess 131 defined in tray boss 112 such that as the tray element (and therefore boss 112) pivots about its pivotal axis, locking element 113 is forced to rotate together with tray boss 112 about the same axis. Spring 118 normally biases locking element 113 to a locked position in which individual fins 130 engage simultaneously with respective guide recesses 131 and also with respective recess formations 133 defined in boss 106. In such a position locking element 113 locks the tray boss 112 relative to strut boss 106 and consequently locks the tray element 3 relative to the struts 5. This is the situation for example when the tray element extends transversely to the struts, being locked in the operational position. In order to enable the tray element to be pivoted from the ' operational position to the stowed position, locking element 113 is depressed against the biasing spring 118 from the locking position (in which the fins 130 engage recesses 133) to a "free" position in which fins 130 are retracted from recesses 133. Strut boss 112 is in this way effectively de-coupled from tray boss 106 permitting relative rotation therebetween. Aperture 135 in strut boss 112 permits access to enable locking element 113 to be depressed in order for fins 130 to disengage recesses 133 in boss 112.

Claims: CLAIMS : 1. Tray apparatus comprising a tray element and suspending means for suspending the tray element from a supporting structure, the suspending means comprising a pair of spaced downwardly depending struts arranged to be connected at respective lower regions to respective portions of the tray element, the tray element being pivotable relative to the struts to an operational position extending transversely to the struts, in which operational position respective complementary securing formations associated with the tray element and struts respectively are arranged to be co- aligned and biased into engagement with one another to secure the tray element relative to the struts. 2. Tray apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the operational position, the securing formations are biased - into engagement with one another, such that pivotal movement of the tray element away from the operational position in either pivotal direction is substantially inhibited. 3. Tray apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the suspending means comprises a saddle portion connected towards the upper ends of the struts, which saddle portion comprises an elongate element extending intermediate the upper ends of the struts and arranged in use to hook over a vehicle headrest such that the apparatus may be suspended therefrom. 4. Tray apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the saddle portion of the suspending means is pivotally connected to the struts to be movable to a stowed position in which the elongate element extends between the struts intermediate the upper and lower ends of the struts. 5. Tray apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the tray element is pivotable relative to the struts to be secured in a plurality of differing operational orientations extending transversely to the struts. 6. Tray apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each strut, and/or the respective portions of the tray element carries a plurality of securing formations arranged in an array about the pivotal axis of the tray element. 7. Tray apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each strut and the respective portions of the tray element both carry respective arrays of complementary engaging securing formations arranged such that the formations carried by the struts and the formations carried by the portions of the tray element are engageable in a plurality of different relative pivotal orientations of the struts and tray element. 8. Tray apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the complementary securing formations comprise engageable male and female formations. 9. Tray apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein respective locking members carry securing formations, the locking members being held captive relative to one of the tray element or respective struts and in a locking position, being biased into engagement with complementary securing formations carried by the other of the tray element or respective struts. 10. Tray apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the locking members are movable against the biasing means to disengage the securing formations thereby permitting pivotal movement of the tray element relative to the struts. 11. Tray apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the biasing means comprises resilient biasing means such that, by the application of an external force, the engagement of the co-aligned complementary securing formations may be overcome, thereby permitting the tray element and struts to be relatively pivotally moved from the secured operational position. 12. Tray apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the resilient biasing means comprises a spring element arranged to normally bias the securing formations into securing engagement with one another when co-aligned. 13. Tray apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the struts are pivotable from the operational position to a stowed position in which the struts lie adjacent the general plane of the tray element. 14. Tray apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the struts are pivotable from the operational position to the stowed position through more than 180° such that in the stowed position the struts lie adjacent the underside of the tray element.

Inventors: KEARNS REFORD THOMAS, KEARNS, REFORD, THOMAS
Applicants: KEARNS REFORD THOMAS, KEARNS, REFORD, THOMAS
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B60N3
IPC codes: B60N3