Abstract:
A vehicle tray for retaining food and/or drink items which includes a center slot for receiving a seat buckle in order to stably retain the tray during vehicular movement.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Most transportation vehicle seats are not horizontally level, and when a normal four or six cup drink tray is placed on them during transportation, the drink cups in the tray are therefore disposed at an angle with respect to the vehicle floor and/or a road surface. In this position the upper surfaces of the liquids in the drink cups may reach or exceed the upper rim of the cups, either while the cups are stationary or as a result of bumps or other motion experienced while a vehicle is moving. Because of this, the liquids have a tendency to spill when the vehicle accelerates, stops, or turns. Drinks held in trays may also spill due to the movement of the vehicle. 
     Drink trays used in today&#39;s market do not have the capability to adjust for the slope of a vehicle seat, or keep trays in a stationary position while being transported. Current drink trays placed on a vehicle seat for transportation are instead automatically positioned at the incline of the seat. 
    
    
     
       FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a conventional drink tray containing drinks, placed on a vehicle seat. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present drink tray buckled into a car seat. 
         FIG. 3  is a right side perspective view of the drink tray of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a left side perspective view of the drink tray of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of the drink tray of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the drink tray of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing the stacking of drink trays according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present drink tray buckled into a car seat. 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of the drink tray of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevation view of the drink tray of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a right side elevation view of the drink tray of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom plan view of the drink tray of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of a further embodiment of the present drink tray. 
         FIG. 14  is a front elevation view of the drink tray of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a right side elevation view of the drink tray of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 16  is a bottom plan view of the drink tray of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     Distracted driving has become a major issue in our society. With the present invention, a driver no longer has to use one of his hands to stabilize a drink tray while driving. The present “hands-free” designs keeps drinks secure while a driver keeps both hands on the wheel of a vehicle and concentrates on the road. 
     DESCRIPTION 
     Definitions 
     As used herein, the following terms and variations thereof have the meanings given below, unless a different meaning is clearly intended by the context in which such term is used. 
     “Concave” refers to an item or component having a surface or boundary that curves or bulges inward. 
     “Convex” refers to an item or component having a surface or boundary that curves or bulges outward. 
     “Downward” and “downwardly” mean in the direction of or toward a support surface on which the present drink tray is or can be positioned. 
     “Drink tray” refers to a container for retaining cups, such as coffee or soda cups, and/or for retaining other containers for liquids. Drink trays may also retain containers for food items. Drink trays include one or more receptacles shaped to retain the lower portion of a cup or other container, preferably by frictional engagement between the inner surface of a receptacle of the tray and a respective cup. Drink trays typically have at least two receptacles, more commonly four or six receptacles. 
     “Hook” refers to a curved or angular extension for catching, pulling, or holding something. 
     “Horizontal” refers to an orientation approximately parallel to (i.e., not substantially extending toward or away from) a support surface, in particular the floor of a vehicle and/or a surface on which the vehicle is supported, such as a road. 
     “Inner,” “inward” and “inwardly” mean in a direction or position located toward the horizontal or vertical center of the present drink tray or of a component part of the drink tray. 
     “Lower” refers to the relative position of a component in the present drink tray which is closer to or toward a support surface on which the present drink tray is or can be positioned. 
     “Pulp” refers to a cellulosic fibrous material prepared by separating cellulose fibers from wood, fiber crops or waste paper. 
     “Rectangle” and “rectangular” refer to a quadrilateral parallelogram in which both pairs of opposite sides are parallel to each other, whose sides preferably meet to form four right angles. A square is a rectangle having all four sides of equal length. 
     “Rim” refers to the upper or outer edge of an object. 
     “Tray” refers to a container, usually open at the top, for retaining drink items or food items. 
     “Upper,” “upward,” and “upwardly” refer to the relative position of a component in the present drink tray which is further from or away from a support surface on which the present drink tray is or can be positioned. 
     “Vertical” refers to an orientation extending toward or away from a support surface, in particular the floor of a vehicle and/or a surface on which the vehicle is supported, such as a road. 
     The term “comprise” and variations of the term, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” and similar referents used herein are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural unless their usage in context indicates otherwise. 
     Hook Trays 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the problem to be solved by the present drink trays. When a drink tray  100  carrying drink cups  5  filled with liquid is placed on the upper surface  9  of a vehicle seat  7 , the drink cups  5  are effectively tilted toward the rear of the seat  7 . Depending on the degree of tilt of the upper surface  9  of the seat  7  and on how full of liquid the cups  5  are, the upper surface of the liquid in each cup will approach or flow beyond the upper rim of the cup  5 , thereby either spilling the liquid or making it more likely that the liquid will splash out of a drink opening in the lid  3  attached to the cup once the vehicle is in motion. 
       FIGS. 2-7  illustrate one solution to this problem. The illustrated tray (a drink tray)  100  includes a projection  200  that extends downwardly from one end of the upper side  101  of the drink tray  100  to form a hook. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lower or lap portion  6  of a seat belt  8 , i.e. the portion which extends from one lateral side of the seat  7  to the other lateral side, passes between the projection  200  and receptacles  120  extending downwardly from the underside of the tray  100 . The projection  200  is thereby interposed or sandwiched between the back surface  8  of the seat  7  and the lap portion  6  of the seat belt  8 . In this way, the horizontal motion (forward and backward) of the tray  100  is limited, with forward motion being restricted by contact between the inner surface  203  of the projection  200  and the lap portion  6  of the seat belt  8 , and backward motion being limited by contact between the outer surface  201  of the projection  200  and the back surface  8  of the seat  7 . In addition, when the lap belt  6  is disposed so as to hold the drink tray  100  under tension, the lap belt  6  pulls the proximal side  112  of the drink tray  100  toward the back surface  8  of the seat  7  and also thereby supports the proximal side  112  above the upper surface  9  of the seat. The upper edge of the lap belt  6  may also assist in holding the proximal side  112  above the upper surface  9  by contacting the lower surface  103  of the drink tray  100 . 
       FIGS. 3-6  illustrate a four-receptacle drink tray of the present invention, though it is to be understood that other numbers of receptacles, in particular even numbers like  2  and  6 , can also be used. Such drink trays  100  conventionally comprise an upper surface  101 , a lower surface  103 , and two or more receptacles  120 . The receptacles comprise an interior surface  122  configured to receive and preferably retain a cup with a friction fit, and an exterior surface  124 . The exterior surface  124  is typically convex in shape, and when the tray is formed from a single layer of material the exterior surface  124  of the receptacle  120  forms a part of the lower surface  103  of the tray  100 . The present trays are preferably rectangular in shape, with a proximal side, a distal side  114 , a left lateral side  116 , and right lateral side  118 . 
     As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the upper surface  101  of the tray  100  extends horizontally away from the perimeters of the receptacles on the proximal side  112 , and at the periphery of the proximal side  112  a projection  200  extends downwardly. The projection  200  can take a number of forms, but in the illustrated embodiment is a panel having a proximal end  212  adjacent to or coextensive with the proximal end  112  of the tray  100  and a distal end  214 , with the distal end in this embodiment comprising a horizontal boundary parallel to the proximal side  112  of the tray. Preferably, the projection extends at right (90°) angle with respect to the upper surface  101  of the tray  100 , although other angles are also possible. In some embodiments a plurality of downward projections can extend from the proximal side  112  of the drink tray  100 . In one embodiment, the projection  200  extends downwardly approximately half the distance between upper surface  101  of the drink tray  100  and the convex lower surface  123  of each of the receptacles  120 . In other embodiments, the projection can extend about a third of this distance, or can extend as far as a horizontal plane passing through the lower surface  123  of one or more of the receptacles  120 , though intermediate or shorter distances are also possible. 
     The present drink tray  100  is particularly adapted to be used with cellulosic press-formed or molded pulp trays, though other materials can also be used to form the present tray  100 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a preferred method of stacking the present drink trays  100 . When approximately square drink trays  100  are used, a first drink tray  100   a  can be stacked within a second drink tray  100   b  by orienting the proximal end  112  of tray  100   a  so that it is aligned with left lateral side  116 , after which tray  100   a  is urged downwardly so that the lower end of the receptacles  120  fit within the interiors of corresponding receptacles of the tray  100   a , i.e. such that the lower surface  103  of tray  100   a  is placed into contact with the upper surface  101  of tray  100   b . In this way, the downward projection  200  of tray  100   a  does not contact or interfere with the projection  200  of tray  100   b . Preferably, the projection  200  of tray  100   a  is disposed at a right angle with respect to the projection of tray  100   b . Tray  100   b  is likewise stacked on top of tray  100   c  such that the projection  200  of tray  100   b  is at a right angle to that of tray  100   c . When trays  100  are stacked so that subsequently stacked trays are oriented at right angles, the trays  100  can be stacked without resulting in interference between the projections  200  of each tray. Preferably, the vertical extent of the projection  200  is equal to or less than four times the thickness of the material forming the trays, in particular when such material is a molded or press-formed material such as cardboard. 
     Center Slot Trays 
     In an alternative embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 8-16 , slotted trays  300  can be retained in a vehicle seat  7  using a center slot  310  provided in a middle portion of the tray  300 , preferably in the center of the tray. The slot  310  comprises a vertically extending space between opposing lateral side of the tray, extending upwardly from a lower portion of the tray  300  to an upper terminus. The slot  310  is sized to retain a seat belt within it. 
       FIGS. 9-16  illustrate a slotted, four-receptacle drink tray according to this embodiment, though it is to be understood that other numbers of receptacles, in particular even numbers like  2  and  6 , can also be used. Such drink trays  300  conventionally comprise a tray portion  305  having an upper surface  301 , a lower surface  303 , and two or more receptacles  320  located in respective openings  303  of the tray portion  305 , similar to the embodiments described above. The receptacles  320 , generally configured to retain a container such as a drink cup, each comprise an interior surface  322 , an exterior surface  324 , an upper end  321 , a lower end  323 , one or more walls  325 , and a floor  327  formed in a lower end of the receptacle  320 . The walls  325  extend downwardly from the upper surface  301  of the tray portion  305 , and the rim  326  of each receptacle at the upper end  321  is preferably contiguous with the upper surface  301  of the tray portion  305 . In the illustrated embodiments, the receptacle walls include openings  329 , generally to reduce the weight and material requirements of the tray, but such openings are optional. The interior surface  322  configured to receive and preferably retain a cup with a friction fit, and an exterior surface  324 . The exterior surfaces  324  of the receptacles  320  are typically convex in shape, with the interior surface  322  being correspondingly concave. Preferably, the interior surfaces  322  of the walls  325  of the receptacles are cylindrical or frusto-conical in shape, in order to better retain correspondingly shaped drink containers, but other configurations are possible. The receptacles  320  can be integrally formed with the tray portion of the tray  300 , for example when the tray is formed from a single layer of material. 
     In this embodiment, the tray  300  further comprises a slot portion  350  comprising an upper end  351 , a lower end  353 , one or more walls  355  extending downwardly from the upper end to the lower end, a base  357  in the lower end, and a first slot  310 , wherein the first slot comprises a horizontal longitudinal opening  311  in the base  357 , the opening extending upwardly from the base  357  at a proximal longitudinal end  352  and at a distal longitudinal end  354  of the first slot  310  to form two upwardly extending openings  313  in the walls of the slot portion  350 , wherein the slot bifurcates the base  357  into two lateral sides, right lateral side  356  and left lateral side  358 , and is sized to allow a vehicle restraining belt to fit within the slot. The belt is fitted in use from a lower end  319  of the upwardly extending openings  313  to an upper end  317 . The slot portion  350  is preferably in the center of tray, as shown in the illustrated embodiments, or alternatively can just be adjacent to the receptacles  320 . Although the slot portion  350  can be solid in some embodiments, it preferably is formed in the manner of a receptacle, i.e. with a wall or walls  355  extending downwardly from the tray upper surface  351  and with a hollow center portion to reduce weight and material use as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 13 . In one embodiment, the hollow interior of the slot portion can comprise a receptacle for a container. 
     In an alternative embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 13-16 , a second slot  360  is provided in the drink tray  300 . Like the first slot  310 , the second slot  360  is sized to retain a seat belt and comprises a horizontal longitudinal opening  361  in the base  357 , the opening extending upwardly from the base  357  at a right longitudinal end  362  and at a left longitudinal end  364  of the second slot  360  to form two upwardly extending openings  363  in the walls of the slot portion  350 , wherein the second slot  360  bifurcates the base  357  into two lateral sides, and divides the slot portion  350  into a proximal side  366  and a distal side  368 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8-16 , each of the slots  310  and  360  is preferably parallel to at least one lateral side, and more preferably parallel to two opposing lateral sides, which are themselves approximately parallel. Slot  310  is thus shown as being approximately parallel to lateral sides  316  and  318 , while slot  360  is shown as being approximately parallel to proximal side  312  and distal side  314 . Preferably, the second slot  360  is disposed perpendicularly to the first slot  310 . The second slot  360  is used with a seat belt in the same fashion as the first slot  310 . 
     The slotted drink tray  300  can be formed from cellulosic materials such as pulp or cardboard, though polymer plastics and other materials can also be used to form the tray  300 . In one embodiment, the trays are a press-formed or molded pulp trays. The slotted trays  300  are preferably square or rectangular in shape, with a proximal side  312 , a distal side  314 , a right lateral side  316 , and left lateral side  318 . 
     In use, the lower or lap portion  6  of a seat belt  8  in the depicted embodiment is passed between the center slot  310  and receptacles  320  extending downwardly from the underside of the tray  300 . The rear surface of the tray  300  is thereby interposed or sandwiched between the back surface  8  of the seat  7  and the lap portion  6  of the seat belt  8 . In this way, the horizontal motion (forward and backward) of the tray  300  is limited, with forward motion being restricted by contact between the inner opposing surface of the slot  310  (i.e., closer to the back surface  8 ) and the lap portion  6  of the seat belt  8 , and backward motion being limited by contact between the outer surface of center slot  310  (i.e., further from the back surface  8 ) and the back surface  8  of the seat  7 . In addition, when the lap belt  6  is disposed so as to hold the tray  300  under tension, the lap belt  6  pulls the proximal side of the tray  300  toward the back surface  8  of the seat  7  and also thereby preferably supports the proximal side above the upper surface  9  of the seat. The upper edge of the lap belt  6  may also assist in holding the proximal side above the upper surface  9  by contacting the upper terminus of the center slot  310 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments are possible. The steps disclosed for the present methods, for example, are not intended to be limiting nor are they intended to indicate that each step is necessarily essential to the method, but instead are exemplary steps only. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of preferred embodiments contained in this disclosure.