Abstract:
A concession tray for selectively supporting concessions in a substantially horizontal position relative to a stadium seat, thereby facilitating the comfort and enjoyment of a patron at a performance or event. A retaining flange is coupled to the concession tray and easily integrated with an existing stadium seat such that the concession tray may retain concessions in a fixed relationship with a stadium seat without requiring substantial modification of the stadium seat, if any. The concession tray may also incorporate advertising thereon to generate revenue for a specific performance venue.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/493,501 entitled, “Concession Tray,” filed on Aug. 8, 2003 by David I. Baggott, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a collapsible tray apparatus for supporting food and beverages and, more particularly, to a collapsible tray apparatus adapted for individual use in a stadium or arena. 
   2. Background 
   Patrons and spectators at sporting events, concerts and theaters are typically seated in multiple rows of seats arranged in an inclined or stepped-up stadium tier arrangement. Stadium seats typically comprise a seating portion and a backrest portion, each of which is supported laterally on either side by a seat standard having an armrest portion that may be shared between spectators. The seating portion may be pivotally attached to each seat standard to enable the seat portion to be stowed substantially adjacent the backrest portion when the stadium seat is not occupied. In between the rows or tiers are relatively narrow aisles that permit access to and from interiorly disposed stadium seats. Such aisles also provide space for a spectator&#39;s feet and legs when the spectator is seated. 
   Stadiums, theaters and arenas commonly provide concessions and encourage their patrons to purchase and enjoy such concessions during an event. Once purchased, however, a patron must take care to avoid spills or other mishaps that may occur as a result of the patron having to manually support or balance the concessions, or having to place the concessions in the aisle area near the patron&#39;s feet. As a result, a patron&#39;s attention is often diverted from the event to the care of the purchased concessions, thereby reducing the patron&#39;s enjoyment of the event. 
   This problem is exacerbated when a patron purchases more than one concession, or when the patron is a child. Indeed, although holding or balancing one concession may be uncomfortable for a patron, holding or balancing more than one concession is often impossible. Further, children may lack the coordination necessary to effectively hold or balance a purchased concession at all. The temperature of the concession may also make manual retention of the concession difficult or impossible. 
   Various food and beverage holders have been developed to reduce the problems described above. Most such holders, however, fail to provide surface area adequate to support more than one concession, and often require modification of stadium seats for proper implementation and use. As most stadiums, theaters and arenas house thousands of stadium seats, the costs associated with seat modification often preclude implementation of concession trays requiring such. Portable holders that do not require modification of stadium seats are often unstable and prone to unattachment upon repeated jostling and jarring, as commonly experienced at concerts, sporting events and other performances. 
   Accordingly, what is needed is a concession tray capable of easy implementation in connection with existing seats in a stadium, theater or arena. What is also needed is a concession tray that may be securely fastened to a stadium seat, and where such security is not compromised by untoward movement caused by patrons finding their seats or physically expressing their excitement, enjoyment or frustration relating to the event at hand. Finally what is needed is a concession tray capable of providing a source of revenue for the stadium, theater or arena in which it is implemented by incorporating advertising on or in connection with the tray. 
   Such methods are disclosed and claimed herein. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a concession tray for selectively supporting a plurality of concessions in a substantially horizontal position relative to a stadium seat, thereby facilitating the comfort and enjoyment of a patron at a performance or event. The concession tray may be pivotally articulated between a substantially vertical stowed position and a substantially horizontal use position via pivotal articulation means integral to either side of the concession tray. A retaining flange is coupled to each of the pivotal articulation means and also to a stabilizing portion of the stadium seat to enable retention of the concession tray in a substantially fixed position relative to a backrest of the stadium seat without requiring modification of the stadium seat. The concession tray may incorporate advertising thereon as a means to generate revenue for the stadium, theater or arena in which it resides. In this manner, a concession tray in accordance with the present invention may be easily and inexpensively implemented in a performance venue, and may also be used to generate revenue therefor. 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a concession tray capable of easy implementation in connection with existing seats in a stadium, theater or arena. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a concession tray that may be securely fastened to a stadium seat, and where such security is not compromised by untoward movement caused by patrons finding their seats or physically expressing their excitement, enjoyment or frustration relating to the event at hand. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a concession tray capable of providing a source of revenue for the stadium, theater or arena in which it is implemented by incorporating advertising on or in connection with the tray. 
   These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the manner in which the above recited and other features and advantages of the present invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that the drawings depict only typical embodiments of the present invention and are not, therefore, to be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, the present invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a concession tray in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a concession tray incorporating advertising in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a stadium seat assembly in accordance with the present invention that implements the concession tray of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a concession tray in a first horizontal position in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of a concession tray in a second vertical position in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of a concession tray stowed against the backrest of a stadium seat in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a concession tray in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a concession tray in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart delineating steps for providing a stadium seat assembly in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 
   As used in this specification, the term “stadium” refers to a stadium, theater, arena or other performance venue having seating accommodations for a plurality of spectators or patrons. The term “stadium seat” or “seat” refers to a structure capable of supporting the weight of a patron or spectator in an indoor or outdoor stadium, theater, arena, or other performance venue. The term “concession tray” or “tray” refers to a substantially planar structure for supporting food, beverages, and/or other concessions or lightweight items. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a concession tray in accordance with the present invention may comprise a substantially planar supporting surface  12  for supporting food, beverages and/or other concessions. A concession tray  10  may further comprise a back surface  14  opposite the supporting surface  12  and parallel thereto, wherein a perpendicularly disposed lateral surface separates the supporting surface  12  from the back surface  14 . A concession tray  10  may comprise metal, plastic, synthetic polymer, composite or a natural substance such as wood, other organic fiber, or any other suitable material formed to create a substantially planar supporting surface  12  for food, beverages and/or other concessions. A concession tray  10  may incorporate advertising on or in connection with its supporting and/or back surfaces  12  and  14 , as seen in  FIG. 1B , such that the advertising may be visible when the tray  10  is in use and/or when the tray is collapsed. Such advertising may comprise print advertisements, electronic advertisements, or advertisements in any other form known to those in the art. Advertising may comprise laminate applied to the supporting and/or back surface  12  or  14  of the concession tray  10 , print integrated into one or more surfaces of the concession tray  10 , paper or electronic advertisements inserted behind a transparent portion of a surface of the concession tray  10 , or any other means of advertising known to those in the art. Alternatively, advertisements may be applied or integrated into a backrest portion  34  of a stadium seat  30 , a beverage holder  70 , or any other location conducive to spectator viewing. 
   According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a substantially planar supporting surface  12  may comprise a substantially rectangular shape having a distal edge  26  configured to complement the shape of a backrest portion  34  of a stadium seat  30 . In one embodiment, a distal edge  26  curves inwardly to accommodate an outward curvature of a stadium seat backrest  34 . A proximal edge  24  of the supporting surface  12  may curve inwardly to accommodate a spectator&#39;s body. Alternatively, a proximal edge  24  may maintain a straight profile or bow outwardly to maximize a surface area of the supporting surface  12 . Alternatively, a supporting surface  12  may be configured to resemble any shape having any dimensions known to those in the art by which to accommodate concessions and/or spectators. A supporting surface  12  may further incorporate an elevated lip  44  around at least a portion of its outer perimeter to facilitate retention of items thereon. A lip  44  may comprise metal, wood, fiberglass, polymer, composite, or any other material known to those in the art capable of retaining concessions on the supporting surface  12  of a concession tray  10  in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, a lip  44  comprises the same material as the concession tray  10  on which it is implemented, and comprises an elevation of approximately one half inch. 
   A concession tray  10  in accordance with the present invention may further comprise a first and second lateral edge, wherein the first lateral edge corresponds to a first lateral surface  16 , and a second lateral edge corresponds to a second lateral surface  18 . According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the first and second lateral surfaces  16  and  18  may be configured to enable the supporting surface  12  to collapse from a first position  50  substantially perpendicular a backrest portion  34  of a stadium seat  30  to a second position  52  substantially adjacent the backrest portion  34  of a stadium seat  30 . Specifically, the first and second lateral surfaces  16  and  18  may incorporate pivoting means  20  coupled to or integral with the first and second lateral surfaces  16  and  18 , and coupled to or integral with a retaining flange  22  attached to a stadium seat  30 . Pivoting means  20  coupled to the first and second lateral surfaces  16  and  18  may comprise a bolt, a pin, a ball joint, or any other means known to those in the art. 
   A retaining flange  22  may comprise a stationary hinge, a bracket, a bolt, a pin, or any other means known to those in the art capable of operatively connecting a concession tray  10  to a backrest portion  34  of a stadium seat  30 . According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the dimensions and configuration of a retaining flange  22  correspond to existing hardware used to secure the assembly of a stadium seat  30 . In this manner, a retaining flange  22  may be attached to the stadium seat  30  without requiring substantial modification of the stadium seat  30 , if any. In addition, a concession tray  10  in accordance with the present invention may be implemented on a large scale basis in connection with a plurality of stadium seats  30  in a performance venue while substantially limiting costs associated with materials and labor. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a stadium seat  30  may comprise a seat portion  32  and a backrest portion  34  extending in a substantially vertical direction from the seat portion  32 . The backrest  34  and seat  32  portions may comprise metal, wood, fiberglass, plastic, composite, or any other durable, comfortable material known to those in the art. Typical stadium seats  30  implement a seat portion  32  which folds up, automatically or otherwise, when the seat  30  is not in use. This function maximizes space between rows of seats  30  to facilitate access to internal seats  30  via stadium aisles. 
   A stadium seat  30  may be supported on either side by a structural support  36  mounted to the floor or a stadium tier. A structural support  36  may be fabricated from metal, such as steel, aluminum, cast iron or any other material known to those in the art. The structural support  36  may serve a dual function in both providing a secure base for the stadium seat  30 , as well as providing an independent or shared armrest between neighboring spectators. A stabilizing element  38  may be attached to a distal end of a structural support  36  and to either of two neighboring stadium seats  30  to lend stability to a side-by-side relationship between the two neighboring seats  30 . 
   According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a retaining flange  22  may be connected to a stabilizing element  38  of a stadium seat  30  to facilitate implementation of the concession tray  10  relative to a backrest  34  of a stadium seat  30 . Specifically, a retaining flange  22  may comprise an aperture  28  that corresponds to an opening  40  in the stabilizing element  38  used to receive a bolt or other hardware to fix the stabilizing element  38  against a stadium seat  30 . The hardware used to secure the stabilizing element  38  against a stadium seat  30  may be adapted to also secure a retaining flange  22  against the stadium seat  30 . In this manner, the concession tray  10  of the present invention may be securely implemented against the backrest portion  34  of a stadium seat  30  while minimizing costs of hardware and labor associated with such implementation. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C, a concession tray  10  in accordance with the present invention may selectively pivot from a first position  50  to a second position  52 . Alternatively, where a concession tray  10  is independent of a stadium seat  30 , the concession tray  10  may be selectively shifted from a first position  50  to a second position  52 . A first position  50  may comprise retention of the supporting surface  12  of the concession tray  10  in a substantially horizontal position relative to a backrest portion  34  of a stadium seat  30 , and substantially parallel ground level. A first position  50  may further comprise a substantially adjacent relationship between a backrest portion  34  of a stadium seat  30  and a distal edge  26  of the concession tray  10 . A lock element  56  may secure the concession tray  10  in its first position  50 . A lock element  56  may comprise, for example, a spring, a toothed wheel, a bearing pin, or any other means known to those in the art by which to maintain a substantially perpendicular relationship between a supporting surface  12  of a concession tray  10  and a backrest  34  of a stadium seat  30 . The lock element  56  may be selectively released to enable the concession tray  10  to collapse adjacent the backrest  34  to preserve space when not in use. 
   A second position  52  may result from collapsing the supporting surface  12  of the concession tray  10  from a first position  50  such that a supporting surface  12  of the concession tray resides substantially parallel and adjacent to a backrest portion  34  of a stadium seat  30 . Alternatively, a second position  52  may comprise a substantially adjacent and parallel relationship between the back surface  14  of the concession tray  10  and the backrest portion  34  of a stadium seat  30 . A turn lock  54  may be rotatably connected to the backrest portion  34  to releasably lock the concession tray  10  in its second stowed position  52 . 
   According to one embodiment of the present invention, transition between a first position  50  and a second position  52  may be facilitated by pivoting means  20  adjoining both a lateral surface of the concession tray and a retaining flange  22  connected to a stadium seat  30 . Pivoting means  20  may be coupled to either of a first lateral surface  16  or a second lateral surface  18 , or may be coupled to both first and second lateral surfaces  16  and  18  for added stability. As discussed above with reference to  FIG. 1 , pivoting means  20  may comprise a bolt, a pin, a ball joint, or any other means known to those in the art. 
   According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a concession tray  10  may be independent of a stadium seat  30  such that at least one retaining flange  22  retains the concession tray  10  in a first position  50  by permitting the concession tray  10  to balance thereon in a substantially horizontal position relative to a backrest  34  of a stadium seat  30 , rather than by positively securing the concession tray  10  in position. According to this embodiment, a second position  52  substantially adjacent and parallel the backrest  34  may be achieved by manually lifting the concession tray  10  from its first balanced position  50  and placing it against the backrest  34 . A second position  52  may be facilitated by coupling to the backrest  34  retaining brackets configured to receive and retain the concession tray  10  in the second position  52 . Alternatively, a second position  52  may comprise stowing the concession tray  10  beneath the seat portion  32  of a stadium seat  30  by sliding the concession tray  10  into retaining brackets contained on an underside thereof, by simply placing the concession tray  10  on the floor beneath the stadium seat  30 , by stowing the tray  10  between stadium seats  30 , or by any other means known to those in the art. 
   Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a beverage holder  70  integrated into, coupled to, or implemented proximate the concession tray  10 . Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a beverage holder  70  may comprise a recessed portion  72  integrated into a supporting surface  12  of the concession tray. A recessed portion  72  may comprise a size and configuration appropriate to receive a standard sized beverage. For example, a recessed portion  72  may comprise a recessed circle having a diameter just larger than a standard drinking cup. Alternatively, a recessed portion  72  may comprise any shape that may function to receive and retain food and/or beverage products, such as a square, rectangle, oval, octagon, or any other appropriate shape known to those in the art. The depth of a recessed portion  72  should suffice to reduce the risk of a food or beverage product falling or tipping over, preferably within a range of two to four inches. A recessed portion  72  may further incorporate drain holes  74  to facilitate concession tray  10  cleaning. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a beverage holder  70  may comprise an independent holder receptacle  76  attached to the concession tray  10  or to a stadium seat  30 . Preferably, a holder receptacle  76  is connected to a distal edge of a structural support  36  residing between neighboring stadium seats  30 . In this manner, the holder receptacle  76  may be used independently of the concession tray  10  and may maintain a secure relationship with respect to a stadium seat  30 . Indeed, as the structural support  36  is directly mounted to the floor or a stadium tier, it provides stable and reliable support even under tumultuous conditions. Alternatively, a holder receptacle  76  may comprise a supporting rim  78  integrated into or coupled to the concession tray  10  such that a beverage may be retained by the supporting rim  78  proximate and substantially parallel to a supporting surface  12  of the concession tray  10 . One or more supporting brackets may be coupled to the supporting rim  78  to further stabilize a beverage placed therein. A holder receptacle  76  may be pivotally or slidably attached to a concession tray  10  or to a stadium seat  30  to facilitate stowing the holder receptacle  76  when the holder receptacle  76  is not in use. A holder receptacle  76  may also incorporate drain holes  74  therein to facilitate cleaning. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a method for providing a stadium seat  30  assembly in accordance with the present invention may comprise first providing  90  a stadium seat  30 , wherein a stadium seat  30  comprises a backrest portion  34 , a seat portion  32 , and a structural support portion  36 . A second step of the present method may comprise coupling  92  to the structural support portion  36  a stabilizing element  38 , wherein the stabilizing element  38  stabilizes a first stadium seat  30  in a side-by-side relationship with a second stadium seat  30 . A third step of the present method may comprise pivotally integrating  94  with the stabilizing element  38  at least one concession tray  10 , wherein the concession tray  10  may be selectively pivoted from a substantially horizontal use position to a substantially vertical stowed position. A fourth step of the present method may comprise selectively pivoting  96  the concession tray  10  to the substantially horizontal use position to support concessions thereon.