Patent Publication Number: US-2002011196-A1

Title: Tray for use with a tripod or similar structure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application claims the benefit and priority of pending Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/189,117, filed Mar. 14, 2000, and incorporates the contents of same by reference. 
    
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of trays and shelves. More particularly, the invention includes a portable tray for use with a tripod or a similar portable stand.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The need to hold or display objects upon a horizontal surface at a convenient height above the floor or ground level has spurred the invention of a vast array of supportive devices, including tables, shelves, trays, and platforms.  
       [0004] There is a growing need for portable support devices such as equipment stands and tripods that are configured for temporary and easy assembly, separation, and storage. The increasing prevalence of such portable support devices has created a concomitant need for detachable assemblies for holding, carrying, or displaying related or incidental objects. It is desirable for such assemblies to be configured for temporary and easy attachment, removal, and storage.  
       [0005] Various trays and shelves configured to attach to devices such as tables and stools are known in the art. One example of a shelf-like apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,189 to Xavier entitled, “Portable Stool.” This reference describes a disc with an X-shaped central opening that rests upon matching shoulders cut into the legs of a stool. This apparatus requires the construction of shoulders on the stool legs to accommodate the disc-shaped shelf.  
       [0006] Because of the variety of portable support devices in use, as well as the variety of leg sizes and shapes for such devices, there is a need for easily detachable assemblies that do not require special construction or modification of the sides or legs of the support device. The design and creation of easily detachable assemblies involves a variety of technical challenges not encountered when designing a tray or shelf to be permanently attached to a stationary device or to a wall. Many devices currently in use are limited because of inadequate structural support, improper or inconvenient elevation, lack of universal fit among devices having only slight dimensional differences, unattractive appearance, and difficult or cumbersome installation and disassembly.  
       [0007] Adequate support of any detachable assembly is critical to safe and proper installation because a collapse or failure may damage expensive equipment or the objects being supported. Proper elevation is necessary because the user is often working in close proximity to the portable support device and the user may need ready access to the objects stored or held on the detachable assembly.  
       [0008] Easy installation and removal of a detachable assembly is important because a portable support device such as an equipment stand or tripod is, by its very nature, used in an environment where portability is paramount and items need to be assembled, disassembled, moved, and re-assembled quickly, often, and usually without tools.  
       [0009] Thus, there remains a need for an apparatus for holding objects at a convenient height on a variety of portable support devices such as equipment stands or tripods. There is a further need for such an apparatus that is portable and configured to permit quick and easy attachment and removal on a stand of any shape or size. Such an apparatus should accomplish these goals in a reliable, durable, attractive, low-maintenance, and cost-effective manner.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] The above and other needs are met by the present invention which, in one embodiment, provides a portable and readily-attachable apparatus for holding objects at a convenient height on a portable support device such as an equipment stand or a tripod.  
       [0011] In one aspect of the invention, the inventive apparatus comprises a tray with an opening of sufficient size to fit over the top of an equipment stand or tripod. The inner side of the opening rests against the stand or tripod, thus creating a shelf for holding objects. In one preferred embodiment, the tray is substantially flat. The tray may include a low rim. The tray may also include a textured surface.  
       [0012] In another aspect of the invention, the tray is held at a fixed angle when placed on the stand or tripod; usually horizontally, but not necessarily, because certain users may prefer a tray shaped to rest at a non-horizontal angle. Similarly, in another aspect of the invention, the opening is generally made through the center of the tray, but not necessarily. A particular use may make an eccentric opening preferable. It should be understood that a tray of any size and shape can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
       [0013] In an important aspect of the invention, the tray rests freely against the stand or tripod under its own weight, without fasteners of any kind, such that it may be freely lifted off the stand or tripod.  
       [0014] The stand or tripod generally has one or more sides capable of supporting the tray of the present invention. In another aspect of the invention, the stand or tripod includes a plurality of sides or legs that taper upwardly like a pyramid toward an apex. The angle of the sides or legs depends upon the particular size and shape of the stand or tripod. In the case of a tripod, the angular orientation of the legs will depend upon the height of the tripod and, of course, the number of legs. In one preferred embodiment, the inner side of the tray opening is shaped and aligned to fit closely against the angled legs of a tripod.  
       [0015] It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a portable tray for holding objects at a convenient height that is easy to place upon a portable support device such as an equipment stand or a tripod, and easy to remove.  
       [0016] It is a further object of this invention to provide a tray for holding objects on a stable, flat surface surrounding the legs of a portable support device such as an equipment stand or a tripod.  
       [0017] It is another object of this invention to provide a tray with an opening that is shaped to fit a wide variety of portable support devices such as equipment stands and tripods having sides or legs of different shapes and sizes.  
       [0018] These and other objects are accomplished by the method disclosed and will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like elements. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0019]FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a tripod stand  10  and a tray  20  resting thereupon. The tripod stand  10  is configured to support an object such as a mannequin head which may be used to support a wig or other similar object in order to provide ready access to same for the purposes of training or the like.  
     [0020]FIG. 2 is an isolated pictorial view of the tray  20 , showing the support surface  21  which surrounds a through hole  23  which itself includes radially-extending leg slots  26  which accept the legs of the tripod stand.  
     [0021]FIG. 3 is a partial, more detailed pictorial view of the tray  20 , in comparison to FIG. 2. This view shows in more detail the inner lip  31  which is extends continuously around the through hole  23  and includes a plurality of inclined planar support surface portions  29 , one of which is shown in FIG. 3.  
     [0022]FIG. 4 illustrates the placement of the tray  20  on a tripod stand  10  from an uninstalled position to an installed position (installed position is shown in dotted line).  
     [0023]FIG. 5A shows the general shape of the opening  30  through the tray  20  according to one embodiment of the invention which is shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 .  
     [0024]FIG. 5B shows the general shape of an alternate opening  130  through and alternate tray  120  according to an alternate embodiment of the invention, which is configured with leg slots  126  for tripods with round legs, and includes an inclined curved support surface.  
     [0025]FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment which includes a curved inclined surface  600  which is shown against an outwardly-facing inclined surface of a typical tripod leg  11 .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0026] Reference is now made to the figures, in which like elements indicate like elements throughout the several views. It should be understood that such orientational terms such as “upwardly” “downwardly”, horizontal, etc., are used for the sake of explanation and should not be construed as limiting. Such terms are used to describe the invention in one of its commonly oriented uses.  
     [0027] General Construction and Operation  
     [0028] In general reference to all of the Figures, generally described the tray  20  according to one embodiment of the invention includes a main horizontal supporting surface  21  which is defined by an outer edge from which an outer lip  22  extends upwardly, and also is defined by an inner edge defining a through hole  23  from which an upwardly extending inner lip  31  extends. Inclined portions of the upwardly extending inner lip  31  act as supporting surfaces  29 , which in one embodiment are inclined and are configured to rest in substantial surface contact with legs  11  of a tripod stand  10 .  
     [0029] More Detailed Discussion  
     [0030] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a pictorial view of a tripod stand  10  and a tray  20  resting thereupon. The tripod stand  10  is configured to support an object such as a mannequin head  12  (shown in phantom) which may be used to support a wig or other similar object in order to provide ready access to same for the purposes of training or the like. In use, the tripod stand  10  may support a variety of objects. The tripod stand includes a plurality of legs  11  for support.  
     [0031] The Through Hole  
     [0032] Referring now also to FIGS. 2 and 3, the opening  30  extends completely through the tray  20  and has its own inner lip  31  to retain items from sliding off the tray surface  21 . The through hole  23  itself includes leg slots  26 , which accept the legs of the tripod stand as discussed in later detail. The inner lip  31  extends continuously upwardly from the edge of the through hole  23 .  
     [0033] In one preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS.  1 - 4  and  5 A, the opening  30  has a generally triangular central portion with three generally rectangular leg slots  26  corresponding to the legs of a standard tripod having legs with rectangular transverse cross sections.  
     [0034] The Tray Surface and Its Inner and Outer Lips  
     [0035] As noted above, the tray surface  21  surrounds the through hole  23  which itself includes leg slots  26  which accept the legs of the tripod stand. Reference is now particularly made to FIG. 3, which is a partial, more detailed pictorial view of the tray  20 , in comparison to FIG. 2. This view shows in more detail the inner lip  31  which extends continuously around the through hole  23 , and includes an inclined planar support surface portion  29 . This lip extends to a height deemed suitable for keeping objects from sliding off the tray  10 .  
     [0036] The Leg Slots and the Inclined Support Surface Portions  
     [0037] As noted above, the tray  20  includes a tray surface  21  which surrounds a through hole  23  which itself includes leg slots  26  which accept the legs of a tripod stand. As may be understood, these leg slots  26  accept at least a portion of the cross-section of corresponding legs  11  of the tripod stand  10 . In practice, all of these leg slots  26  rest upon all the sides of the legs of the tripod stand  10  as discussed in later detail.  
     [0038] The embodiment shown in FIG. 5A includes leg slots  26  shaped to fit around the legs or sides of a tripod stand  10  which have outer surfaces that are generally rectangular in shape. This embodiment would, for example, accommodate the square legs of a tripod. However, it will be readily understood by one skilled in the art that the opening  30  can be made in any shape that is capable of engaging the sides or legs of the tripod stand  10  in use. An example of such an accommodation is shown in FIG. 5B, which can be used with a tripod with round legs. The inclined support surface portions of the tray in this embodiment could be understood to be cylindrically shaped in order to engage corresponding outer inclined cylindrical surfaces of the legs of the tripod, such that substantially surface-to-surface “cradling”-type contact is at least approximated.  
     [0039] Installation and Removal  
     [0040]FIG. 4 illustrates the two main steps involved in the placement of the tray  20  on a tripod stand  10 . Removal of the tray is accomplished by following the two steps in reverse. In one preferred embodiment, the tray  20  is releasably supported upon the tripod stand  10 , without any fasteners or attachment, allowing the tray  20  to be lifted free of the tripod stand  10  for quick and easy portability.  
     [0041] Second Embodiment  
     [0042] As noted above, FIG. 5A shows the general shape of the opening  30  through the tray  20  according to one embodiment of the invention which is shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 . FIG. 5B shows the general shape of an alternate opening  130  through an alternate tray  120  according to an alternate embodiment of the invention, which is configured with leg slots  126  for tripods with round legs. This alternate tray  120  has an inner lip which includes an inclined partial cylindrical support surface, which cradles a round-legged tripod as discussed below while still including a gap wide enough to allow the leg to be inserted and removed.  
     [0043] As noted above, each of the inclined planar support surface portions  29  of the tray  20  should be understood to engage an outer inclined surface of a corresponding one of the rectangular cross-sectioned legs of the tripod  10 , such that substantially planar contact with the legs is at least approximated. However, in the instance of the FIG. 5B embodiment, the generally cylindrical nature of the inclined partial cylindrical support surface of the second embodiment tray  120  provides for more of a cylindrical “cradling” desired effect in which the outer cylindrical surface of the tray leg conducts or approached cylindrical contact with the inclined partial cylindrical support surface of the second embodiment tray  120 .  
     [0044] Other Alternative Embodiments  
     [0045] It should be understood that a stand which has more (or if possible less) than three legs could also be used with an adaptation of the present invention.  
     [0046] The edge of the tray is circular in this example although other shapes are contemplated.  
     [0047] In one preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS.  1 - 4 , the tray  20  is generally round in shape. It will be readily understood by one skilled in the art that the tray  20  can be made in any shape that is particularly useful for the intended purpose and setting. For example, the tray  20  could be generally triangular to fit closely against the legs of a tripod, or generally large and square to provide lots of space, or generally free-form and of no particular geometric shape at all.  
     [0048] It should also be understood that in the embodiments shown in the figures, the opening is positioned through the center of the tray, although it will be readily understood by one skilled in the art that the tray can be configured to provide stable support without centering the opening.  
     [0049] The tray surface  21  of the tray  10  is generally flat, although it may be smooth or textured or otherwise tailored to the particular use intended. For example, it can include upwardly-directed or downwardly-directed dimples as desired or could include slots or other features as desired.  
     [0050] It will be further understood that the inner side  40  may or may not include a flange  50 , another shaped surface, or simply a plain edge; as long as the inner side  40  is capable of supporting the load on the tray  10 . However, the use of continuous inner and outer lips provide a desired containment effect should liquid spills occur, and the use of supporting surfaces are thought to provide improved surface contact with the tripod legs.  
     [0051] It should also be understood that the invention contemplates the use of inclined support surfaces in place of elements  29  which are not planar, but are curved to accommodate different slopes of differing tripod designs. Such curves could be about an axis which is parallel to the supporting tray surface  21  as well as perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the particular elongate tripod leg, as shown in FIG. 6.  
     [0052] Conclusion  
     [0053] It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a portable and readily-attachable apparatus for holding objects at a convenient height on a portable support device such as an equipment stand or a tripod.  
     [0054] Although the invention has been described in terms of one preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, substitutions, modifications, and deletions not specifically described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.