Patent Publication Number: US-11638489-B2

Title: Apparatus and method for a drop tray

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/IB2022/053331, filed Apr. 8, 2022, which claims the benefit of priority from Australian Provisional Application No. 2021/901051, filed Apr. 11, 2021, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus and method for a drop tray used to catch falling debris and in particular but not limited to debris dropped by an infant while seated in a high-chair, including food and liquids. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Inclusion herein of any prior art or background discussion should not be taken as admission that any matter discussed, including problems identified and solved by the Applicant, were known to anyone apart from the Applicant, were public knowledge or common general knowledge anywhere. 
     Conventional high-chairs have four splayed legs, a seat, leg holes and some form of restraint or upper section formed with rails and usually a front table section. 
     Food, liquids, utensils, or plates may often drop or spill on the floor. Infants may be very messy in fun and in temper. The usual solution may be to provide a drop sheet or mat on the floor, the chair may be placed on top of the mat which may have sufficient margin around the chair to cater for the range of falling debris from the infant&#39;s activity. If one wants to move the chair, the mat must be moved separately with the chair where the mat may already be in a mess. Quite often baby food may not be that appealing so the mat may have to be cleaned before it can be moved. Movement of the mat may cause more mess. Moving the chair and the mat separately may create additional work for parents. 
     It would be desirable to provide a useful alternative particularly, a drop tray, that may be moved with the chair and that may be simple to install, easy to clean, and inexpensive. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a high-chair drop tray having an upper peripheral edge above and surrounding a base, a sidewall extending between the peripheral edge and the base, the base having means defining spaced apart openings for spaced high-chair legs. 
     Preferably, the tray is made from a blank of thin sheet plastics, the blank having a periphery corresponding to said peripheral edge, a base section inward of the periphery and corresponding to the base, the base section having means defining spaced apart openings preferably leg holes, there being a margin between the base section and the periphery, the margin corresponding to the sidewall, and there further being at least one joiner section adapted to engage and at the same time bias the sidewall to its operative position. 
     In one embodiment the tray is for use with a high-chair having four splayed legs extending from a seat region of the chair to the ends of the legs, the ends of opposed pairs of said legs being diametrically opposed at a leg end spacing between the opposed ends wherein the means defining spaced apart openings provide four leg holes as pairs of diametrically opposed holes corresponding to the legs of the chair, the spacing between the opposed leg holes being less than the said leg end spacing. 
     In another embodiment the tray is for use with a chair having two legs or uprights and in this case the means defining spaced apart openings provide two spaced slots for spaced apart square profile chair uprights or legs. 
     Where in one embodiment, the tray may be formed from a single material comprising a sidewall section pulled behind an adjacent wall section and having a releasable hand insertable catch to secure the wall sections together. 
     Where, in yet another embodiment, the tray may be formed by use of a joiner the joiner comprises a sidewall section pulled behind an adjacent wall section and having a releasable hand insertable catch to secure the wall sections together. 
     While the tray may have any shape suited to capturing dropped food it is preferred that the tray may generally be dished with a sloping sidewall defining an upper mouth wider than the base, typically it may be boxy in form. Where, in another embodiment, thin plastic may be used, and the sidewall may preferably be configured to be manually and usefully deformable and springs back to its operative position. It may be pulled to aid clearing or removing food from the tray. 
     While the means defining spaced apart openings may be cut openings they may be any form including but not limited to actual holes in the sense of closed loop, slots, sideway entry passages, clip in arrangements or means that may be formed into these including pushouts in the base. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments and, together with the description, explain the disclosed principles. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is an exemplary illustration of a drop tray with openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is an exemplary illustration of a drop tray with slot openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is an illustration of a cut blank sheet of a drop tray with openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is an illustration of assembling the corners of a drop tray corner, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is an illustration of a cut blank sheet of a drop tray with slot openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is an illustration of a cut blank sheet of a drop tray with diagonal slot openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure, 
         FIG.  7    is an illustration of a cut blank sheet of a drop tray with universal openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is an illustration a cut blank sheet of a drop tray that may be fitted without removing the legs of a high-chair, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  9    is an illustration of a molded or thermoformed drop tray fitted to a high-chair, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS.  10 A and  10 B  are illustrations of a drop tray on a two legged high-chair, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  11    is an illustration of a drop tray for a two legged high-chair with an open back with two slots for sliding onto a chair, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar parts. While several illustrative embodiments are described herein, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the components and steps illustrated in the drawings, and the illustrative methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, removing, or adding steps to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and examples. Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure relate to a drop tray that may be a removable attachment to childrens&#39; high-chairs to catch food mess or liquid spills, utensils, plates, and other debris dropped from the high-chair. The drop tray may be used with a high-chair where the high-chair may have one or more legs and a high-chair seat where a child may be placed upon. The drop tray may directly interface with or attach underneath the high-chair—immediately below the seat of the high-chair—without interfacing with one or more legs of the high-chair. The attachment or interface of the drop tray may include clipping, snapping, plugging, and/or integrating with a footrest, a car seat, a chair, a booster seat, or any other functionally similar devices for children. The drop tray may be disposed between the floor and the bottom of the high-chair seat where the drop tray is raised above the floor. The drop tray, disposed underneath the high-chair seat and above the floor, may have a surface area that encompasses and surrounds the bottom of the high-chair and/or the high-chair seat. The surface area of the drop tray may also extend and surround in all directions the high-chair where the drop tray may catch food mess or liquid spills, utensils, plates, and other debris dropped by an infant or child from the high-chair. The attachment (also including one or more legs) of the drop tray may also act as a footrest for the child. The drop tray may be a single material with one or more pieces joined and inseparable to a common piece where the one or more pieces may fold into themselves using deformable tab clips to create a secured and stable drop tray with raised walls and may attach to a high-chair, a footrest, a car seat, a chair, a booster seat, or any other functionally similar devices for children. The drop tray may also be one or more pieces separately connected together to fold unto themselves using deformable tab clips to create a secured, stable, and/or rigid drop tray with raised walls and may attach to a high-chair, a footrest, a car seat, a chair, a booster seat, or any other functionally similar devices for children. The drop tray may be a single apparatus made from a continuous single material with a base and raised walls and may attach to a high-chair, a footrest, a car seat, a chair, a booster seat, or any other functionally similar devices for children. The drop tray may be snuggly secured to or resting below a high-chair seat, a footrest, a car seat, a chair, a booster seat, or any other functionally similar devices by way of specifically placed holes or interfaces in which the high-chair frame may slot through or interface with the drop tray. The placed holes or interfaces may prevent food mess or liquid spills, utensils, and other debris dropped by an infant or child from the high-chair from falling to the floor. The drop tray may be used on high-chairs with or without feeding trays or footrests, or any other functionally similar devices for children. The drop tray may be made from waterproof and food safe materials. Moreover, the drop tray may be made from a food grade plastic material, thermoplastic material, thermoset material, injection molded plastics, silicone, or other material that may be deformable, molded, thermoformed, and/or dishwasher safe. The drop tray being thermoformed may mean that the drop tray may be made from a continuous single material without need of assembling parts of the drop tray. The thermoforming process may include any other similar manufacturing or plastic forming or molding process such as injection molding, silicone molding, polyurethane foam (PUR foam) molding, and/or any other functionally similar processes that would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Generally, childrens&#39; high-chairs may be composed of a high-chair frame, a seat, and a feeding tray. The seat may be for babies to sit on. The feeding tray may be used to put bowls, bottles, utensils, dishes or food. 
     Conventional high-chairs may not include a tray catching food or liquid spills, utensils, plates, and other debris dropped from the high-chair. Thus as a child may eat, food and utensils commonly spill or fall from the tray, front, sides and rear of the high-chair or from between the leg compartment of the high-chair, onto the floor. 
     The drop tray may catch the food or liquid spills, plates, or utensils so that the food may be salvaged or thrown away, the spills may be disposed, the utensils or plates may be reused, while protecting the floor below the high-chair from damage or dirty debris. The drop tray may also ensure that food and utensils may be retrieved from the drop tray at an appropriate height to ensure that guardians feeding the baby and helping to clean up during and after mealtimes may not have to repeatedly bend down to low uncomfortable positions. The raised height of the drop tray may also act as a footrest so that during meal times, the feet of a baby may be resting and not dangling in a way that may feel unsteady and uncomfortable. 
       FIG.  1    is an exemplary illustration of a drop tray with openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , a drop tray  100  with openings may comprise a base with raised sidewalls and an open top. The drop tray  100  may include a base  112  and a plurality of upper peripheral edges  114  positioned above and surrounding the base  112  to form an open top where the base  112  may be connected to the plurality of peripheral edges  114  by a plurality of raised sidewalls extending from the base  112  to the plurality of peripheral edges  114 . 
     The plurality of raised sidewalls may include a first sidewall  116 , a second sidewall  118 , a third sidewall  120 , and a fourth sidewall  122 . The first sidewall  116  may be equal in dimensions and shape as the second sidewall  118 . The first sidewall  116  may be positioned in a parallel and opposite location of the second sidewall  118  relative of the base  112 . The third sidewall  120  may be equal in dimensions and shape as the fourth sidewall  122 , The third sidewall  120  may be positioned in a parallel and opposite location of the fourth sidewall  122  relative of the base  112 . The first sidewall  116  may not be equal in dimensions and shape as the third sidewall  120 . In other embodiment, the first sidewall  116 , the second sidewall  118 , the third sidewall  120 , and the fourth sidewall  122  may be equal in dimensions and shape. 
     The plurality of raised sidewalls and the base  112  may each be in the shape of a square, a rectangle, a circle, a triangle, an oval, and/or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the plurality of raised sidewalls may also include a first corner sidewall  124  and a second sidewall  126  that may appear to have a triangular shape, an oval shape, a circular shape, a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, a round shape, or a square shape. The first corner sidewall  124  may be connected to the first sidewall  116 , the third sidewall  120 , and the base  112 . The second corner sidewall  126  may be connected to the first sidewall  116 , the fourth sidewall  122 , and the base  112 . Moreover, the plurality of raised sidewalls may also include a third corner sidewall  128  and fourth corner sidewall  130  that may appear to have a trapezoidal shape. The third corner sidewall  128  may be connected to the second sidewall  118 , the third sidewall  120 , and the base  112 . The fourth corner sidewall  130  may be connected to the second sidewall  118 , the fourth sidewall  122 , and the base  112 . 
     Furthermore, the first corner sidewall  124  and the third corner  128  may each share an edge with the third sidewall  120  having a direct connection with the third sidewall  120 . Moreover, the first corner sidewall  124  may include a deformable tab clip  132  where the deformable tab clip  132  may be inserted on approximately the upper corner surface of the first sidewall  116  via a deformable slit opening. Similarly, the third corner sidewall  128  may include a deformable tab clip  134  where the deformable tab clip  134  may be inserted on approximately the upper corner surface of the second sidewall  118 . 
     Moreover, the second corner sidewall  126  and the fourth corner  130  may each share an edge with the fourth sidewall  122  having a direct connection with the fourth sidewall  122 . Moreover, the second corner sidewall  126  may include a deformable tab clip  136  where the deformable tab clip  136  may be inserted on approximately the upper corner surface of the first sidewall  116  via a deformable slit opening. Similarly, the fourth corner sidewall  130  may include a deformable tab clip  138  where the deformable tab clip  138  may be inserted on approximately the upper corner surface of the second sidewall  118 . The deformable tab clip  132 ,  134 ,  136 , and  138  may be in the shape of a triangle, a circle, a rectangle, a trapezoid, an oval, a spade, an arrowhead, and/or any combination thereof. 
     The base  112  may include one or more openings  140  to interface or accommodate a high-chair&#39;s legs or stands, a footrest, a car seat, or any other functionally similar devices for children. The base  112  may be affixed to the high-chair&#39;s legs or stands, a footrest, a car seat, or any other functionally similar devices for children. The one or more openings  140  may each be in the shape of a square, a rectangle, an oval, a circle, a triangle, a star, and/or any combination thereof. The one or more openings  140  may be approximately placed near the corners, the edges, and/or the center of the base  112 . In one embodiment, the one or more openings  140  may be four circles approximately placed at the corners of the base  112 . The one or more openings may have a local surface area that may be raised above and connected to the surface of the base  112  to prevent food or liquid spills, utensils, plates, and other debris dropped by an infant from the high-chair to slip through the high-chair&#39;s legs or stands, the interface of the footrest, the interface of the car seat, or the interface of any other functionally similar devices for children. An opening may be in the shape of a square, a rectangle, an oval, a circle, a triangle, a star, and/or any combination thereof. 
     In another embodiment, base  112  may have in place of the one or more openings  140  one or more legs where the drop tray  100  may stand on its own below a high-chair a footrest, a chair, a booster seat, or any other functionally similar devices for children. 
     In yet another embodiment, the one or more openings  140  may be placed on the plurality of raised sidewalk instead of the base  112  where the one or more openings  140  may interface or accommodate a high-chair&#39;s legs or stands, a footrest, a car seat, or any other functionally similar devices for children. 
       FIG.  2    is an exemplary illustration of a drop tray with slot openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , a drop tray  200  with slot openings may comprise a base with raised sidewalls and an open top. The drop tray  200  may share all of the same features as the drop tray  100  in  FIG.  1   . The drop tray  200  may include a base  212  (also referring to the base  112 ) and a plurality of upper peripheral edges  214  (also referring to the plurality of upper peripheral edges  114 ) positioned above and surrounding the base  212  to form an open top where the base  212  may be connected to the plurality of peripheral edges  214  by a plurality of raised sidewalls  216  extending from the base  212  to the plurality of peripheral edges  214 . The plurality of raised sidewalls  216  may comprise the same first sidewall  116 , second sidewall  118 , third sidewall  120 , fourth sidewall  122 , first corner sidewall  124 , second corner sidewall  126 , third corner sidewall  128 , and fourth corner sidewall  130  as in  FIG.  1   , described above. 
     The base  212  may include one or more openings  218  to interface or accommodate a high-chair, a footrest, a car seat, or any other functionally similar devices for children. The one or more openings  218  may be two slots approximately placed near edge  220  of base  212  and centered between edge  222  and edge  224  of base  212 . A slot may be in the shape of a square, a rectangle, an oval, a circle, a triangle, a star, and/or any combination thereof. 
       FIG.  3    is an illustration of a cut blank sheet of a drop tray with openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , a drop tray  300  with openings may be in a collapsed configuration from which drop tray  100  of  FIG.  1    may be assembled. The drop  300  may include a base  312  (also referring to base  112  of  FIG.  1   ), a first sidewall  316  (also referring to the first sidewall  116  of  FIG.  1   ), a second sidewall  318  (also referring to the second sidewall  118  of  FIG.  1   ), a third sidewall  320  (also referring to the third sidewall  120  of  FIG.  1   ), and a fourth sidewall  322  (also referring to the fourth sidewall  122  of  FIG.  1   ). 
     Furthermore, the drop tray  300  may include a first corner sidewall  324  (also referring to the first corner sidewall  124  of  FIG.  1   ), a second corner sidewall  326  (also referring to the second corner sidewall  126  of  FIG.  1   ), a third corner sidewall  328  (also referring to the third corner sidewall  128  of  FIG.  1   ), and a fourth corner sidewall  330  (also referring to the fourth corner sidewall  130  of  FIG.  1   ). The plurality of raised sidewalls of  FIG.  1    may comprise the first sidewall  316 , the second sidewall  318 , the third sidewall  320 , the fourth sidewall  322 , the first corner sidewall  324 , the second corner sidewall  326 , the third corner sidewall  328 , and the fourth corner sidewall  330 . 
     Moreover, the drop tray  300  may include a deformable tab clip  332  (also referring to the deformable tab clip  132  of  FIG.  1   ) connected to the first corner sidewall  324 , a deformable tab clip  334  (also referring to the deformable tab clip  134  of  FIG.  1   ) connected to the third corner sidewall  328 , a deformable tab clip  336  (also referring to the deformable tab clip  136  of  FIG.  1   ) connected to the second corner sidewall  326 , and a deformable tab clip  338  (also referring to the deformable tab clip  138  of  FIG.  1   ) connected to the fourth corner sidewall  330 . 
     Furthermore, the drop tray  300  may include four openings  340  on the base  312 , a deformable slit opening  342  on the first sidewall  316  where the deformable slit opening  342  may be located near the deformable tab clip  332  for insertion of the deformable tab clip  332  into the deformable slit opening  342 , a deformable slit opening  344  on the second sidewall  318  where the deformable slit opening  344  may be located near the deformable tab clip  334  for insertion of the deformable tab clip  334  into the deformable slit opening  344 , a deformable slit opening  346  on the first sidewall  316  where the deformable slit opening  346  may be located near the deformable tab clip  336  for insertion of the deformable tab clip  336  into the deformable slit opening  346 , and a deformable slit opening  348  on the second sidewall  318  where the deformable slit opening  348  may be located near the deformable tab clip  338  for insertion of the deformable tab clip  338  into the deformable slit opening  348 . An opening may be in the shape of a square, a rectangle, an oval, a circle, a triangle, a star, and/or any combination thereof. 
     Moreover, the first corner sidewall  324  may share edge  350  with the third sidewall  320 ; the third corner sidewall  328  may share edge  352  with the third sidewall  320 ; the second corner sidewall  326  may share edge  354  with the fourth sidewall  322 ; the fourth corner sidewall  330  may share edge  356  with the fourth sidewall  322 . 
     In addition, the plurality of upper peripheral edges  114  of  FIG.  1    may comprise edge  358  of the first sidewall  316 , edge  360  of the first corner sidewall  324 , edge  362  of the third sidewall  320 , edge  364  of the third corner sidewall  328 , edge  366  of the second sidewall  318 , edge  368  of the fourth corner sidewall  330 , edge  370  of the fourth sidewall  322 , and edge  372  of the second corner sidewall  326 . The deformable slit opening  342  and  346  may be perpendicular to edge  358 ; and the deformable slit opening  344  and  348  may be perpendicular to edge  366 . In another embodiment, edge  358 ,  360 ,  362 ,  364 ,  366 ,  368 ,  370 , and  372  may be straight and/or curved lines. In yet another embodiment, edge  360 ,  364 ,  368 , and  372  may be curved lines that may create a dish shape for the first corner sidewall  324 , the second corner sidewall  326 , the third corner sidewall  328  and the fourth sidewall  330  in the assembled drop tray  100  of  FIG.  1    and drop tray  200  of  FIG.  2   . 
     Furthermore, the deformable slit opening  342 ,  344 ,  346 , and  348  may each be shaped in the form of two parallel lines spaced apart forming an opening where a circle may connect one end of each line on one end and another circle connects the other ends of each line on the other end. 
       FIG.  4    is an illustration of assembling the corners of a drop tray corner, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , in order to assemble a drop tray  400  (also referring to drop tray  100  of  FIG.  1 ,  200    of  FIG.  2   , and  300 ) deformable slit  438  (also referring to deformable slit  342 ,  344 ,  346 , or  348  of  FIG.  3   ) may be adapted to co-operate with a deformable tab clip  439  (also referring to deformable tab clip  332 ,  334 ,  336 , or  336 ) adapted to drag a corner sidewall  440  (also referring to the first corner sidewall  324 , the second corner sidewall  326 , the third corner sidewall  328 , or the fourth corner sidewall  330  of  FIG.  3   ) behind sidewall  441  (also referring to the first sidewall  316  or the second sidewall  318  of  FIG.  3   ). The deformable tab clip  439  may have its widest portion with a width greater than the deformable slit  438 &#39;s length. The deformable tab clip  439  may be deformably passed through the deformable slit  438  where the widest portion of the deformable clip  439  may be locked in as a neck  443  of the deformable tab clip  439  may come into register with the deformable slit  438 . The deformable slits  438  may be at an angle of 90 degrees from an edge  444  (also referring to edge  358  or  366  of  FIG.  3   ) of the sidewall  441  so that the corner sidewall  440  may be parallel with the edge  444  of the sidewall  441 . 
       FIG.  5    is an illustration of a cut blank sheet of a drop tray with slot openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , a drop tray  500  with slot openings may be in a collapsed configuration from which drop tray  200  of  FIG.  2    may be assembled. The drop tray  500  may also share all of the same features as the drop tray  300  in  FIG.  3   . The drop tray  500  may include a base  512  (also referring to base  112  of  FIG.  1   , base  212  of  FIG.  2   , and base  313  of  FIG.  3   ), a first sidewall  516  (also referring to the first sidewall  116  of  FIG.  1   , the first sidewall  216  of  FIG.  2   , and the first sidewall  316  of  FIG.  3   ), a second sidewall  518  (also referring to the second sidewall  118  of  FIG.  1   , the second sidewall  218  of  FIG.  2   , and the second sidewall  318  of  FIG.  3   ), a third sidewall  520  (also referring to the third sidewall  120  of  FIG.  1   , the third sidewall  220  of  FIG.  2   , and the third sidewall  318  of  FIG.  3   ), and a fourth sidewall  522  (also referring to the fourth sidewall  122  of  FIG.  1   , the fourth sidewall  222  of  FIG.  2   , and the fourth sidewall  322  of  FIG.  3   ). 
     Furthermore, base  512  may have edge  524 ,  526 ,  528 , and  530 . Edge  524  may be on the opposite side of edge  526 ; and edge  528  may be on the opposite side of edge  530 . Edge  524  may be parallel to edge  526 ; and edge  528  may be parallel to edge  530 . The first sidewall  516  may share the edge  524  with base  512 ; the second sidewall  518  may share the edge  526  with base  512 ; the third sidewall  520  may share the edge  528  with base  512 ; and the fourth sidewall  522  may share the edge  530  with base  512 . 
     Moreover, base  512  may include slot opening  532  and slot opening  534  (also referring to the one or more openings  218  of  FIG.  2   ). The slot opening  532  may include parallel edge  538  and  542  with their ends connected to semi-circle  536  and  540 , respectively. The slot opening  534  may include parallel edge  546  and  550  with their ends connected to semi-circle  544  and  548  respectively. The slot opening  532  and  534  may be centered between edge  528  and edge  530 . Furthermore, slot opening  532  and  534  may be biased to be positioned near edge  524  and further away from edge  526 , Edge  538  and  542  of slot opening  532  may be parallel to edge  528  and perpendicular to edge  524 . Edge  546  and  550  of slot opening  534  may also be parallel to edge  528  and perpendicular to edge  524 . A slot opening may be in the shape of a square, a rectangle, an oval, a circle, a triangle, a star, and/or any combination thereof. 
       FIG.  6    is an illustration of a cut blank sheet of a drop tray with diagonal slot openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , a drop tray  600  with diagonal slot openings may be in a collapsed configuration from which drop tray  100  of  FIG.  1    may be assembled. The drop tray  600  may also share all of the same features as the drop tray  300  in  FIG.  3   . The drop tray  600  may include a base  612  (also referring to base  112  of  FIG.  1   , base  212  of  FIG.  2   , and base  313  of  FIG.  3   ), a first sidewall  616  (also referring to the first sidewall  116  of  FIG.  1   , the first sidewall  216  of  FIG.  2   , and the first sidewall  316  of  FIG.  3   ), a second sidewall  618  (also referring to the second sidewall  118  of  FIG.  1   , the second sidewall  218  of  FIG.  2   , and the second sidewall  318  of  FIG.  3   ), a third sidewall  620  (also referring to the third sidewall  120  of  FIG.  1   , the third sidewall  220  of  FIG.  2   , and the third sidewall  318  of  FIG.  3   ), and a fourth sidewall  622  (also referring to the fourth sidewall  122  of  FIG.  1   , the fourth sidewall  222  of  FIG.  2   , and the fourth sidewall  322  of  FIG.  3   ). 
     Furthermore, base  612  may include diagonal slot opening  624 ,  626 ,  628 , and  630 . The diagonal slot opening  624  may be near corner  638  of base  612 ; the diagonal slot opening  626  may be near corner  634  of base  612 ; the diagonal slot opening  628  may be near corner  632  of base  612 ; and the diagonal slot opening  630  may be near corner  636  of base  612 . Moreover, the diagonal slot opening  624  may have a vertex  640 , and the diagonal slot opening  626  may have a vertex  642  where vertex  640  and vertex  642  may form an imaginary line that may be parallel to the imaginary line connecting corner  638  and corner  634 . In addition, the diagonal slot opening  628  may have a vertex  644 , and the diagonal slot opening  630  may have a vertex  646  where vertex  644  and vertex  646  may form an imaginary line that may be parallel or aligned with the imaginary line connecting corner  632  and corner  636 . A slot opening may be in the shape of a square, a rectangle, an oval, a circle, a triangle, a star, and/or any combination thereof. 
       FIG.  7    is an illustration of a cut blank sheet of op tray with universal openings, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG.  7   , a drop tray  700  with universal openings may be in a collapsed configuration from which drop tray  100  of  FIG.  1    may be assembled. The drop tray  700  may also share of the same features as the drop tray  300  in  FIG.  3   . The drop tray  700  may include a base  712  (also referring to base  112  of  FIG.  1   , base  212  of  FIG.  2   , and base  313  of  FIG.  3   ), a first sidewall  616  (also referring to the first sidewall  16  of  FIG.  1   , the first sidewall  216  of  FIG.  2   , and the first sidewall  316  of  FIG.  3   ), a second sidewall  718  (also referring to the second sidewall  118  of  FIG.  1   , the second sidewall  218  of  FIG.  2   , and the second sidewall  318  of  FIG.  3   ), a third sidewall  720  (also referring to the third sidewall  120  of  FIG.  1   , the third sidewall  220  of  FIG.  2   , and the third sidewall  318  of  FIG.  3   ), and a fourth sidewall  722  (also referring to the fourth sidewall  122  of  FIG.  1   , the fourth sidewall  222  of  FIG.  2   , and the fourth sidewall  322  of  FIG.  3   ). 
     Furthermore, base  712  may include an edge  724  that may be shared with the first sidewall  716 , an edge  726  that may be shared with the second sidewall  718 , an edge  728  that may be shared with the third sidewall  728 , and an edge  730  that may be shared with the fourth sidewall  722 . Moreover, base  712  may include universal openings. The universal openings may allow drop tray  700  to fit the interface for a variety of configurations for different high-chairs, footrests, car seats, or any other functionally similar devices for children. 
     The universal openings may comprise four first small circular openings  732 , four large circular openings  734 , and a pair consisting of two rectangular openings  736 . The universal openings may be of various shapes such as ovals, squares, triangles, trapezoids, stars, and/or any other combination thereof. Furthermore, the universal openings may be centered between edge  728  and  730 . Furthermore, the universal openings may be biased to be located near edge  724  and away from edge  726 . 
       FIG.  8    is an illustration of a cut blank sheet of a drop tray that may be fitted without removing the legs of a high-chair, consistent with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG.  8   , a drop tray  800  may be in a collapsed configuration from which drop tray  100  of  FIG.  1   . Furthermore, the drop tray  800  may be assembled to a high-chair without removing the legs of the high-chair. The drop tray  800  may have holes  860 ,  861 ,  862 , and  863  that may be in the same positions as drop tray  300  of  FIG.  3   . The holes  860 - 863  may be in the shape of circles, ovals, squares, rectangles, and/or any combination thereof. 
     Furthermore, passage  864  and  865  may allow for the legs of a high-chair to be inserted to drop tray  800  where a clipping action fitted in holes  860 - 863  secures the drop tray  800  under the high-chair. Region  866  may be under the high-chair seat to catch food, spills, plates, and/or utensils. Moreover, the periphery sidewalls or margins  867 ,  868 , and  869  may form a dished shape when the clipping action fitted in holes  860 - 863  may secure the drop tray  800  under of the high-chair and above the floor where clipping action fitted in holes  860 - 863  are performed on one or more legs of the high-chair without requiring disassembling the one or more legs from the high-chair. 
       FIG.  9    is an illustration of a molded or thermoformed drop tray fitted to a high-chair, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , drop tray  900  may be the drop tray  100  of  FIG.  1   , the drop tray  200  of  FIG.  2   , the assembled drop tray  300  of  FIG.  3   , the assembled drop tray  600  of  FIG.  6   , the assembled drop tray  700  of  FIG.  7   , and the assembled drop tray  800  of  FIG.  8   . The high-chair  911  may have four splayed legs  912 ,  913 , and  914  (the fourth splayed leg is not shown). 
     The high-chair may have a high-chair seat  915 , a backrest  916  and a table  917 . In relation to exemplary leg  912 , each leg may fit into a socket  918 . The socket  918  may be threaded or have a push button release so the splayed legs may be removed or separated from the seat. 
     Upon removal or separation of the splayed legs, the drop tray  900  may fitted to the high-chair. Holes  919 ,  920 ,  921  and  922  (also referring to one or more openings  140  of  FIG.  1   , one or more openings  218  of  FIG.  2   , four openings  340  of  FIG.  3   , diagonal slot opening  624 ,  626 ,  628 , and  630  of  FIG.  6   , the universal openings of  FIG.  7   , or holes  860 ,  861 ,  862 , and  863  of  FIG.  8   ) in the drop tray  900  may be sized to match the high-chair&#39;s splayed legs. The splayed legs may be removed or separated from the seat, may be fed through holes  919 ,  920 ,  921 , and  922  (not shown), and the high-chair and the legs may be reassembled where the drop tray  900  may be under the high-chair seat and above the floor. Drop tray  900  may be a simple and efficient design that may provide for a firm fit as there may be no complicated attachments to the high-chair that may fail. The splayed legs and the holes  919 ,  920 ,  921 , and  922  may be positioned such the drop tray  900 &#39;s height may be set in a wedge fashion. The drop tray  900  may be positioned high enough to provide a footrest for a child. The drop tray  900  outer periphery (also referring to the base and the plurality of raised sidewalls in  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  2   ,  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  6   ,  FIG.  7   , and periphery sidewalls or margins in  FIG.  8   ) when installed should be larger than imaginary cone, pyramid, cube, or volume determined by the reach of an infant to increase the likelihood of a high rate of capture food or liquid spills, plates, and/or utensils. Most food may fall from the sides of the high-chair. In one embodiment, the drop tray  900  may have an even margin (also referring to the base and the plurality of raised sidewalls in  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  2   ,  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  6   ,  FIG.  7   , and periphery sidewalls or margins in  FIG.  8   ) to catch food, spills, plates, and/or utensils around the chair, or the drop tray  900  may be biased to have more margin to catch food, spills, plates, and/or utensils around the high-chair seat  915  and the table  917 . The lower the drop tray  900  may be positioned, the wider the margin to catch food, spills, plates, and/or utensils. For example, the drop tray may be about 200 mm below the high-chair&#39;s high-chair seat  915 . 
     In one embodiment, the high-chair  911  may have one or more legs that may be separated from the high-chair  911 . 
     In another embodiment, the drop tray  900  may be affixed to the four splayed legs  912 ,  913 , and  914  (the fourth splayed leg is not shown) where the drop tray  900  may be integral to the high-chair  911  in that the four splayed legs and the drop tray  900  may not be separated. The drop tray  900  being integral with the high-chair  911  may mean that the drop tray  900  and the four splayed legs may be indivisible, or the drop tray  900  may be pre-formed with the four splayed legs of the high-chair  911  and/or the high-chair  911  where the four splayed legs of the high-chair  911  and/or the high-chair may be made from the same material. 
     In another embodiment, the high-chair  911  may have one or more legs that may be affixed to the drop tray  900  where the drop tray  900  may be integral to the high-chair  911  in that the one or more legs and the drop tray  900  may not be separated. The drop tray  900  being integral with the high-chair  911  may mean that the drop tray  900  and the one or more legs may be indivisible, or the drop tray  900  may be pre-formed with the one or more legs of the high-chair  911  and/or the high-chair  911  where the one or more legs of the high-chair  911  and/or the high-chair may be made from the same material. 
     In yet another embodiment, the range of the margin to catch food or liquid spills, plates, and/or utensils may be optimised by having a generally dished or curved configuration. In yet another embodiment, the sides of the drop tray  900  or margin (also referring to the plurality of raised sidewalls in  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  2   ,  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  6   ,  FIG.  7   , and periphery sidewalls or margins in  FIG.  8   ) may be at between 10 to 90 degrees from a horizontal axis parallel to the base  927  of the drop tray  900 . The angle of the sides of the drop tray  900  may vary around the high-chair where the back of the high-chair may not require an angle, and the front and sides of the high-chair may need an angle for the sides of the drop tray  900 . Also the sides  923 ,  924 ,  925  and  926  may form a dish about the base  927 , and the sides  923 ,  924 ,  925 , and  926  may serve additional function when using a thin flexible plastic sheet to form the drop tray  900 . In this form the drop tray  900  may be manually manipulated usefully. For example, a corner  928  (also referring to first corner sidewalls, second corner sidewalls, third corner sidewalls, or fourth corner sidewall of  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  2   ,  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  7   , and the periphery sidewalls or margins in  FIG.  8   ) may be pulled down to create an effective pouring spout for liquids caught in the drop tray  900 . The sides  923 ,  924 ,  925  and  926  of the drop tray  900  may be pulled down likewise, to aid removal of food or cleaning. Any downward pulling on the drop tray  900  may not damage the drop tray  900  because the sides  923 ,  924 ,  925  and  926  will spring back. In one embodiment, the drop tray  900  material may be a 1.2 mm food safe polypropylene but other material may be used. 
     In another embodiment, drop tray  900  may contain a drainage hole not located on holes  919 ,  920 ,  921 , and  922 . The drainage hole may have a plug that may be removed to pour spills, liquids, and/or food through the drainage hole to pour into a trashcan. 
     While the dished configuration on may provide an easy way to clean food trapped on the corner  928 , drop tray  900  may be cleaned by disassembling it in situ into its cut blank sheet form, and then after drying the drop tray  900  may be reassembled. 
     In other embodiments, the drop tray  900  in a cut blank sheet form may be placed in a dishwasher. In yet other embodiments, the drop tray  900  may be two or more pieces constructed together to fit around a high-chair, a footrest, a car seat, or any other functionally similar devices for children. 
       FIG.  10 A  is an illustration of a drop a two legged high-chair, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG.  10 A , the drop tray  1000 A may have holes  1031  and  1032  (also referring to the one or more openings  140  of  FIG.  2    and the slot opening  532  and  534  of  FIG.  5   ) to accommodate the squared leg  1035  and  1036  of high-chair  1037 . The drop tray  1000 A may be positioned on the high-chair  1037  below the seat  1038  and above the floor  1033 . 
       FIG.  10 B  is an illustration of a rear view of a drop tray on a two legged high-chair clipped onto a footrest of the high-chair, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG.  10 B , the rear view of  FIG.  10 A  may be shown. The drop tray  1000 B (also referring to the drop tray  1000 A of  FIG.  10 A , drop tray  200  of  FIG.  2   , and drop tray  500  of  FIG.  5   ) may accommodate the squared leg  1052  and  1054  of high-chair  1056 . The high-chair  1056  may include a footrest  1058 , a seat  1060 , and a back rest  1062 . The footrest  1058  may be positioned above the floor  1064  and below the seat  1060 , The drop tray  1000 B may be positioned below the seat  1060  on the high-chair  1056  and above the floor  1064 . The drop tray  1000 B may positioned to rest on top of the footrest  1058 . The drop tray  1000 B may include one or more tabs or clips  1066  connected to a base  1068  of the drop tray  1000 B. The one or more tabs or clips  1066  may contact or interface with a rear surface  1070  (and/or be side and from surfaces) and/or base  1072  of the footrest  1058  to prevent the drop tray  1000 B from sliding off the footrest  1058 . The one or more tabs or clips  1066  may be in the shape of a space, a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a hook, and/or any other shapes that may serve the function of contacting or interfacing with the rear surface  1070  and/or base  1072  of the footrest  1058 . 
       FIG.  11    is an illustration of drop tray for a two legged high-chair with an open back with two slots for sliding onto a chair, consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG.  11    a drop tray  1100  (also referring to the drop tray  100  of  FIG.  1   , the drop tray  200  of  FIG.  2   , the drop tray  300  of  FIG.  3   , the drop tray  500  of  FIG.  5   , the drop tray  600  of  FIG.  6   , the drop tray  700  of  FIG.  7   , the drop tray  900  of  FIG.  9   , the drop tray  1000 A of  FIG.  10 A , and the drop tray  1000 B of  FIG.  10 B ) may include a base  1102 , a front sidewall  1104 , a left sidewall  1106 , a right sidewall  1108 , a left-front corner sidewall  1110 , and a right-front corner sidewall  1112 . The drop tray  1100  may not have a rear sidewall, a left-rear sidewall, or a right-rear sidewall at the rear area  1114  of the drop tray  1100 . The left-front corner sidewall  1110  may include a deformable tab clip  1116  that may be inserted into a slit of the front sidewall  1104 . The right-front corner sidewall  1112  may include a deformable tab clip  1118  that may be inserted into a slit of the front sidewall  1104 . The deformable tab clip  1116  may connect the left sidewall  1106  and the left-front corner sidewall  1110  to the front sidewall  1104 . The deformable tab clip  1118  may connect the right sidewall  1108  and the right-front corner sidewall  1112  to the front sidewall  1104 . The base  1102  may be connected to the front sidewall  1104 , the left sidewall  1106 , and the right sidewall  1108 . The base  1102  may include one or more slots  1120  where each one or more slots  1120  may include a slit opening  1122  that may extend from the one or more slots  1120  to the rear area  1114 . The slit opening  1122  may allow the drop tray  1100  to slide and fit onto a high-chair, one or more legs of a high-chair, a footrest, a bumper seat, a car seat, and/or chair without the need to remove any legs. For example, drop tray  1100  may be the drop tray  1000 B in  FIG.  10 B  where the drop tray  1100  may be placed on top of footrest  1058 . Rear area  1114  of the drop tray  1100  may be facing the rear of the high-chair  1056  (referring to  FIG.  10 B ) so that the left sidewall  1106 , the right sidewall  1108 , the left-front corner sidewall  1110 , the right-front corner sidewall  1112 , and the front sidewall  1104  may surround and extend beyond the seat  1060  (referring to  FIG.  10 B ). The drop tray  1100  may also include one or more tabs or clips  1066  (referring to  FIG.  10 B ). The one or more tabs or clips  1066  may be connected to the base  1102  (referring to  FIG.  10 B ) of the drop tray  1100 . The one or more tabs or clips  1066  may contact or interface with a rear surface  1070  (and/or the side and front surfaces) and/or base  1072  of the footrest  1058  (referring to  FIG.  10 B ) to prevent the drop tray  1100  from sliding off the footrest  1058 . Each of the one or more slots  1120  may include foldings  1124  that may be attached to the base  1102  and the slit opening  1122  behind the one or more slots  1120 . Foldings  1124  may secure the drop tray  1100  to one or more legs, a footrest, high-chair, a bumper seat, a car seat, and/or a chair. 
     In one embodiment, drop tray  1100  may be thermoformed to be a single continuous material without the need of deformable tab clip  1116  because the left sidewall  1106 , the base  1102 , the right sidewall  1108 , the left-front corner sidewall  1110 , the right-front corner sidewall  1112 , and the front sidewall  1104  may be one continuous material. Furthermore, the drop tray  1100  may be thermoformed to include the one or more tabs or clips  1066  on the base  1102 . 
     The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Multiple modifications and variations of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein. 
     Certain features of the present disclosure, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be combined in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the disclosure. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.