Abstract:
A portable and environmentally-friendly lap tray to support items for a seated individual includes a storage surface surrounded by retaining walls. The lap tray includes hinged support wings on the bottom surface to extend between a user&#39;s legs. The wings are set apart from one another in an ergonomically preferable position to allow any person to comfortably use the lap tray when seated. Alternatively, the lap tray may be used as a stand. The lap tray may be personalized or customized for particular events with various indicia and add-ons.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related generally to portable lap trays, and more particularly to lap trays for supporting food upon the lap of a seated individual. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Lap support trays are well known in the art for managing food, drinks and the like, or for supporting reading and writing materials upon a hard surface. Many such devices include a single, hard, flat, planar surface on which such items may be placed and supported. Users often use these trays when seated, using their laps to support such trays. 
     It is sometimes difficult to maintain the balance of a tray upon a user&#39;s lap, while preventing the tray from sliding off the lap or otherwise tipping and spilling its contents. Prior developers have attempted to design portable lap trays to help alleviate these problems. Some designs use high-friction materials that will essentially cling to clothing; others are molded to form-fit a user&#39;s legs when the users is seated. However, users come in different shapes and sizes, and such prior trays still cause many users discomfort when attempting to make use thereof. 
     Certain lap trays disclosed in the past feature designs that include a single- or double-wing design to assist support of a lap tray. These wings function to allow a user to engage the tray, usually by holding, resting, or supporting the tray on a lap, or between or around the user&#39;s legs. Single-wing designs provide an anchor to prevent major shifting. Double-wing systems contact the inner thighs of each of the user&#39;s legs, and have generally helped secure lap trays. No design has yet fully compensated for the ergonomics present in the human pelvis and hip joints, which require a modest separation between the user&#39;s legs. As yet, there has not been a lap tray available that is of simple design and construction, easy to manufacture, and which can be properly supported by the average human lap, while accounting for normal leg orientation. Furthermore, the art lacks a design for a lap tray that allows a user to easily adjust tray height and orientation. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lap tray for the support of items on one&#39;s lap. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a lap tray that accommodates a normal user&#39;s hip and leg orientation. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a recyclable lap tray. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ergonomic low-cost lap tray. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lap tray that is easy to use and support when seated. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a lap tray that may be securely converted to a standing table. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to maximize the utility of a seated individual by providing support for items, i.e. food and drink, reading materials, and the like. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a lap tray that is collapsible and easy to store. 
     It is an still another object of the present invention to provide a durable lap-tray for repeated uses. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the present description proceeds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a lap tray includes two planar bodies, one set atop the other. A perimeter wall extends upwardly above the top planar body to form a container. The bottom planar body includes two wing support members to engage a user&#39;s lap. Situated between the two wing supports is a central portion. The central portion is contained between two integral hinges, which are preferably oriented parallel to one another. The two integral hinges are set apart from one another at a predetermined distance, and the wing supports extend outwardly from their respective integrated hinges. The bottom planar body may further include a perimeter area, set around the wing supports, thus enlarging the overall size of the tray. 
     Each wing support includes an initially hidden interior surface. As each wing support is deployed, the interior surface is used to engage a user&#39;s inner thighs for support of the lap tray. The wing supports may include thumb handles formed as partial apertures at the ends of the wing supports. The lap tray may be made formed from a single piece of cardboard that is folded upon itself to provide both the top planar body and the bottom planar body. 
     In a second embodiment of the present invention, a lap tray device includes a first planar member. The first planar member has a first top surface and a first bottom surface. The first planar member is capable of supporting objects optionally set thereupon. A perimeter wall extends above the first planar member, primarily as a retaining wall surface. 
     The lap tray device includes a second planar member. The perimeter wall may be coupled directly to the second planar member. The second planar member has a second top surface and a second bottom surface. The second planar member is situated functionally parallel to the first planar member, whereby the top surface of the second planar member lies adjacent, and immediately below, the bottom surface of the first planar member. The second planar member further includes two wing supports hingedly coupled to its bottom surface. The first and second wing support members may both be integral with the second planar member. 
     The first and second wing supports of this second embodiment are each being hingedly coupled to the lap tray at a predetermined distance from each other. The first and second wing supports may each include a handle, possibly for being engaged by a user&#39;s thumb. The first and second wing supports can be moved between a stored position generally co-planar with the second planar member, and a deployed position extending angularly from the second planar member. The wing supports extend between and engage the user&#39;s legs. The lap tray device may be formed from a single body or piece of cardboard. The first and second wing supports may be hingedly coupled to the second planar member by first and second integral hinges; the first and second integral hinges are preferably situated generally parallel to one another. 
     In a third embodiment of the present invention, a lap tray device contains a first planar member capable of supporting objects optionally set atop the first top surface by a user. A perimeter may extend around and above the first top surface. The perimeter may include a generally rectangular border member arranged at least partially around the planar member. Two wing supports may extend downwardly from the first planar member to engage a user&#39;s lap. A central portion of the first planar member is formed between the wing supports. The first and second wing supports are coupled to the first planar member via first and second integral hinges, respectively. The hinges are set apart from one another at a predetermined distance thus forming the central portion. The wing supports are designed to extend downwardly and away from one another to engage the inner thighs of a user, and thus support at least a portion of the weight of the lap tray. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention may more readily be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a lap tray in-use upon a user&#39;s lap; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective underside view of the lap tray shown in  FIG. 1  in a deployed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective top view of the lap tray shown in  FIG. 1  in stored position; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along Line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view along Line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the lap tray shown in  FIG. 1  prior to assembly; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the lap tray shown in  FIG. 6  after partial assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates user  1  seated in a chair and using a lap tray  10  corresponding to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , user  1 , has first and second legs  2  and  3 , with right and left thighs  4  and  5 . Right and left thighs  4  and  5  have inner thigh surfaces  6   a  and  6   b , respectively, that can engage with lap tray  10 . Lap tray  10  includes storage area  11 . Storage area  11  displays up for user to set items thereupon. Lap tray  10  includes a first planar member  20  with top surface  21 . First planar member  20  may be surrounded by containing walls  30  extending upwardly about its perimeter to define storage area  11 . The containing walls  30  may fully surround first planar member  20 , or may merely partially surround first planar member  20 . Containing walls  30  preferably extend upward above top surface  21  at least ½″, and preferably between 1″ and 2″, with best performance at 1½″. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , second planar member  25  is set below first planar member  20 . Bottom surface  22  of first planar member  20  may be seen through cut-outs formed for wing supports  40 . Perimeter  28  extends beyond wing supports  40  to further support the wing supports  40  and the tray  10  and second planar member  25  when wing supports  40  are deployed. Perimeter  28  also increases the storage area  11  via enlarging overall area of the complimentary planar members  20  and  25 . 
     It is contemplated that retaining walls  30  may be tangentially connected to one or both of the first planar member  20  and/or the second planar member  25 . In the preferred embodiment, containing walls  30  extend about fold lines formed at the perimeter of second planar member  25 . It is also contemplated that the containing walls may not be directly coupled to either the first and second planar members  20  and  25 , being formed from an additional, or separate, piece of material. 
     Wing supports  40  engage user&#39;s inner thighs  6 , with user  1  preferably applying inward pressure to squeeze wing supports  40  together. Wing supports  40  function partially, along with hinges  41 , to transfer lateral forces supplied by the user, through the thighs, into vertical force thus supporting lap tray  10  against gravity at a preferred height. Lateral forces supplied by the user further contribute to the balance and maintenance of the tray and storage area  11 . These lateral forces allow wing supports  40  to be held at varied angles between a user&#39;s legs  2  and  3  to allow user  1  to set preferred angles for deployed wing supports  40 . 
     Lap tray  10  is preferably made from a single folded piece of cardboard, such as type  32  ECT B Brown cardboard, with a vertical corrugation direction. The tray may be created with a blank having initial dimensions of 22¼″×15¼″. Final dimensions of the lap tray after assembly are preferably 12″×7½″×1½″ (Length×width×height). The tray blank may require a total 248.5745 rule inches. The preferred embodiment may be created from materials supplied by and equipment to perform the cutting, stenciling and folding by THARCO of Tharco Containers Colorado, Inc., 13400 East 39th Avenue, Denver, Colo. 80239-0103. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-6 , hinges  41  are preferably integral with second planar member  25 . Hinges  41  are preferably parallel to one another and centered in bottom surface  27  of second planar member  25 . Central portion  42  is situated between wing supports  40  and is defined by spacing between hinges  41 . It is preferable that there be at least one-inch separating hinges  41 . It is also preferable that in an alternative embodiment of the invention, hinges will not align in parallel, possibly forming a V-shape, which can include a central portion that reaches at least two-inches at its greatest point. In the preferred embodiment, hinges  41  are generally parallel to one another and spaced approximately two-inches apart, thus defining a rectangular shaped central portion  42  with a width of about two inches. Wing supports  40  open outwardly as shown in  FIG. 2 . Wing supports  40  are preferably at least four inches wide, to properly engage with the user&#39;s thighs, and two inches tall (or long), for best support. In the preferred embodiment with a twelve inch long lap tray, wing supports  40  measure approximately 4.1″ by 5.4″ (Height by Width). It is also preferable to maintain a ratio between the height of wing support  40  and the length central portion  42 . In the preferred embodiment, the wing supports  40  are 4.1 inches long, the central portion  42  is about two inches long, and the preferred ratio of the wing height to central portion length is about 2:1. 
     Wing supports  40  include wing contact surfaces  48  to engage a user&#39;s inner thighs  6   a  and  6   b . When wing supports  40  are in their stored position (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), wing contact surfaces  48  are generally co-planar with second planar bottom surface  27 , and thus virtually hidden. In the preferred embodiment, wing supports  40  are partially cut from second planar member  25 . 
     Thumb inlets  43 , or apertures, are contained on the wing support outer edges  44  that allow for manipulation by a user who may alternatively deploy, or store, wing supports  40  in cut-outs  29 . Thumb inlets  43  are preferably in the shape of a half-circle for ease of use. Fold-over joints  31  may be formed when the lap tray  10  is folded from a single piece of material  90  in the design herein described. 
     In an alternative embodiment, wing supports may be fitted with locking wrap  45  that allows a user to set wing supports  40  at a particular predetermined deploy angle  46 . Locking wrap  45  acts to put inward force on wing supports  40 , in order to maintain wing supports  40  in a preferable predetermined deployed position. Once locking wrap  45  is engaged, lap tray  10  may be set on upon a flat surface, with wing support outer edges  44  providing a bottom surface to engage the flat surface, to form a stand or table. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the frame construction of lap tray  10  includes a doubled-over support bottom supplied by first and second planar members  20  and  25 . In the preferred embodiment, the reinforcement of storage area  11  ensures that when wing supports  40  are open/deployed, planar member  20  provides a complete bottom support for storage area  11 . Doubled-over bottom of storage area  11  is further supported by a doubled central portion  42  and perimeter  28 . 
     At short ends  35 , walls  30  may include a single or double layer of material for strength and ease of use. At long ends  36 , walls  30  are doubled or tripled, or further reinforced, to support integrity and strength of walls  30  and to provide an even greater support for items situated in storage area  11 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a single panel stencil  90  of cardboard is preferably used to construct lap tray  10 . Cut-outs  29  are displayed in solid lines, as are all full cuts  91 , and bends  92  in dashed lines. Wing support members  40  can be seen as partially cut-out from stencil  90  and held together through integral hinges  41  at bends  92 . Wing support hinges  41  may be set integral with second planar member  25 , in such a way that bends  92  are formed in second planar member  25  to form hinges  41 . Integral hinges  41  generally refers to hinges that are initially formed from the same piece of material, such that it may be possible to form wing supports  40  from the same material as second planar member  25  without fully severing second planar member  25  at hinges  41 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-7 , lap tray first planar member  20  is shown. Wing supports  40  are ghosted through first planar member  20  to show their position. Central portion  42  is viewable between hinges  41 . First planar member  20  extends along long ends  36  between fold-overs  31  of perimeter walls  30 . Long perimeter walls  30   a  include outer wall  32   a  that may be initially connected to second planar member  25  at fold-overs  31 . Fold-overs  31  include anchor portion  37  to fit through construction apertures  38  that are cut into the ends of first and second planar members  20  and  25  thus fitting long perimeter walls  30   a . At long perimeter wall  30   a , inner wall  33   a  includes nubs  39  to fit into construction apertures  38  of first and second planar members  20  and  25  to further anchor perimeter wall  30 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, indicia may be labeled on any surface of lap tray  10 . Preferably, indicia will be displayed upon first planar member top surface  21  and/or both sides of walls  30  (i.e.  32   a ,  32   b ,  33   a ,  33   b ), or as needed. It is contemplated that the designs and indicia set upon surfaces of lap tray  10  will cause such item to be a collectible, such that individual designs may be placed upon lap tray  10  for specific sporting, recreational, or entertainment events. Furthermore, in contemplation of race car and NASCAR events, further indicia may be placed on optional wheel panels  47  (preferably four) along the outer walls  32   a.    
     The present invention has been described in terms of selected specific embodiments of the invention incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to a specific embodiment and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in the embodiments chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.