Abstract:
A utility multi-function tray attachment for children&#39;s high chairs that provides an integrated insert retainment and display area for electronic entertainment computer based devices of tablet configurations. The tray has a perimeter lip formed thereon with a tray top surface having a transparent waterproof viewing and activation surface window for display and activation of a computer tablet selectively inserted into and retained in the tray. Chair adapted receiving brackets on said tray bottom provide for universal engagement and a pair of folding deployable legs provide for dependent and independent tray use with a variety of high chair designs.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/885,205, filed Oct. 1, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    This invention relates to children&#39;s high chairs and trays that provide a safe and secure environment for babies and small children. Such removable trays are used for both mealtime and play time. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0005]    Prior art devices of this type have relied on a variety of tray designs that provide a child accessible surface while also limiting the child&#39;s movement beyond the chair, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,991 and U.S. Publications 2006/0113342, 2009/0033118 and 2011/0240448. 
         [0006]    In U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,991 an attachment for a portable multimedia device is disclosed having an adjustable support arm with a tray assembly on which a device is secured by straps on its surface. 
         [0007]    U.S. Publication 2006/0113342 discloses a portable DVD holder that can be selectively secured by a pair of extending containment bands to a tray of a child&#39;s stroller. 
         [0008]    U.S. Publication 2009/0033118 claims an accessory tray for a stroller including a compartment for a portable entertainment device accessible through an opening in the bottom thereof. A clear cover may be used to enclose the compartment. 
         [0009]    Finally, in U.S. Publication 2011/0240448 illustrates a tablet computing device having a protective case in which a tablet computer can be held. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    An integrated tray housing for an electronic tablet for high chairs. The tray housing has a recessed compartment within the tray surface to receive, retain and display an electronic tablet. An access opening on the tray allows insertion and removal while a transparent waterproof sensory input cover overlies the tablet touch sensitive screen surface affording controlled input thereto. Universal chair attachment fittings are provided for high chair mounting and a pair of deployable support legs for independent use without the chair. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of the high chair tray of the invention with an electronic tablet positioned for insertion. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the high chair tray. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view thereof. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the electronic tablet receiving tray. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an end view with deployable legs illustrated. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an exploded front elevational view with deployable legs extended and insert tray positioned for placement. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the electronic tablet receiving tray illustrating support legs in stored position and chair attachment fittings. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of an insert activity cover for the tray. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4  of the drawings, an electronic tablet receiving tray  10  of the invention for use with a high chair, not shown, can be seen having a main body member with a top surface  11  and bottom surface  12 , said top surface has a contoured perimeter upstanding lip with an exterior depending continuous contoured sidewall  13  defining a front edge portion  13 A, a rear edge portion  13 B and oppositely disposed respective side edge portions  14 A and  14 B. 
         [0020]    In this example chosen for illustration, a perimeter contoured upstanding lip  15  is formed about the top surface edge as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0021]    A compartment  16  is formed within the top surface  11  into which an electronic tablet  17  is selectively inserted through an access opening  18  in the front edge portion  13 A indicated by directional arrows in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. The compartment  16  provides registerable retainment of the electronic tablet  17  therewithin as illustrated best in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. A viewing and control input opening at  19  in the top surface  11  overlies the compartment  16  and has a transparent touch sensitive thin waterproof flexible cover  20  sealed about its respective perimeter edge within an edge recess  21  in the top surface  11  as illustrated by broken lines. 
         [0022]    The cover  20  is flush with the surrounding top surface  11  affording a smooth continuous tray surface S. The edge recess  21  extends to cover oppositely disposed portions  17 A and  17 B of the electronic tablet  17  restricting user (child&#39;s access) to the main control button B illustrated in this example as would be positionably found in an Apple® brand electronic tablet. This orientation would allow the caregiver to select the tablet&#39;s entertainment application prior to insertion thus preventing the child from random access to the remaining apps on the device once inserted and positioned as described above. 
         [0023]    The compartment  16  extends generally from the front edge portion  13 A inwardly so as to position the tablet  17  within the user&#39;s field of both viewable and tactile access. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 7  of the drawings, the bottom surface  12  of the main tray body member can be seen having a pair of universal spaced parallel high chair rail/arm engagement fittings  22  and  23  which are configured to be engaged and retained on a high chair engagement and retainment surface arms and selectively locked into place as will be understood by those within the art. 
         [0025]    Such high chair tray engagement and retainment and release mechanisms are well known and would be in compliance with the current safety and release activation requirements and placements within the industry that further description and elaboration is not required. 
         [0026]    A pair of hinged leg assemblies  24  and  25  can be seen that are secured to and are deployable from corresponding hinge leg engagement fittings extending from tray member&#39;s  10  bottom surface  12  adjacent the hereinbefore described chair engagement fittings  22  and  23 . 
         [0027]    The leg assemblies  24  and  25  extend along the bottom surface  13  overlying the hereinbefore described compartment  16  indicated in broken lines. In this example chosen for illustration, each of the leg assemblies  24  and  25  has a U-shaped hinge leg  24 A,  24 B,  25 A and  25 B defining a pair of end leg portions. Each of the hinge leg assemblies  24  and  25  can therefore be extended from the tray bottom as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6  of the drawings to a fully deployed extended position allowing for independent support of the tray on a ground surface GS. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 ,  6  and  8  of the drawings, a tray top insert  30  can be seen of a corresponding nesting dimension to that of the upper surface of the tray member  10 . The tray top insert  30  is of a monolithic molded synthetic resin form having a perimeter upstanding edge contour  31 , best seen in  FIG. 6  of the drawings, allowing it to be registerably received and retained within the top surface  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  of the drawings in broken lines. 
         [0029]    The tray top insert  30  has, as noted, is a continuous surface  30 A with, in this example, a cup receiving area  32  defined by an annular upstanding rib configuration  33 . 
         [0030]    A pair of tray handles  34  and  35  are provided on the respective side edge portions  14 A and  14 B. Each of the tray handles is of a cross-sectional C-shape and are of a yielding resilient nature so as to be engageable over the respective side edge profiles. The handles  34  and  35  additionally act as a secondary retainment for the hereinbefore described tray top insert  30 . The handles  34  and  35  also provide for assistance in placing and removing the tray  10  from the high chair, not shown, as hereinbefore described so known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0031]    A self-powered speaker amplifier assembly  36  may be positioned within a mounting area  37  formed on the bottom surface  13  of the tray  10  adjoining the rear depending edge  13 B. Speaker amplifier assembly  36  is powered by an onboard battery that may be rechargeable and is interlinked to an inserted electronic tablet  17  in the compartment  16  by a communication wire and auxiliary plug adapted to be registerably in communication therewith. 
         [0032]    The speaker amplifier assembly  36  will therefore provide amplified sound output from the tablet  17  for the user while maintaining the electronic tablet  17  within its protective user assessable visible display configuration defined by the touch sensitive screen over the compartment  16 , as noted. 
         [0033]    In operation, once the child, not shown, is placed into the high chair, not shown, and secured, the tray  10  of the invention is placed over the child&#39;s lap and onto the high chair by the locking engagement of the universal chair rail and arm engagement fittings  22  and  23 . A remote release and lock indicated generally by M in this example located under the front depending edge  13 A provides the required safety access by the caregiver for tray positioning currently a standard in the industry. 
         [0034]    Once so positioned, the electronic tablet tray  10  aids in preventing the child from falling out of the chair and provides a usable utility play surface for the addition of direct access to the electronic tablet  17  which has been inserted and positioned within the tray for use as previously described. 
         [0035]    It will be evident from the above description that the electronic tablet  17  so provided and inserted is not only viewable through the touch screen surface by the child, but also is protected in a secure liquid resistant configuration enclosure therewithin. The view screen, as noted, is of a touch conductive activation material that allows the users to activate the tablet&#39;s touch screen therethrough having an electrical resistant inducing material composition which is currently commonly available within the industry as, for example, is used in waterproof touch screen smart phone covers. 
         [0036]    It will thus be noted that the child and caregiver may access the touch screen of the electronic tablet  17  while the critical controls on the tablet such as the enter button B are not accessible while within the electronic tablet tray  10 . 
         [0037]    It will be evident that as with any touch screen electronic device, a stylus may also be used to afford greater flexibility and accurate use which may be required in certain applications as is commonly known. 
         [0038]    The electronic tablet tray  10  can also, as previously noted, be removed from the high chair and used independently with the deployable leg assemblies  24  and  25  hereinbefore described. The leg assemblies  24  and  25  can be deployed as shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings and allowing the electronic tablet tray  10  to be placed on any compatible surface for independent use. 
         [0039]    It will thus be seen that a new and novel electronic tablet tray has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore I claim: