Patent Publication Number: US-2023146511-A1

Title: Suitcase Tray Assembly

Description:
(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     (c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     (d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     (e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
     Not Applicable 
     (f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
     Not Applicable 
     (g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to tray devices and more particularly pertains to a new tray device for supporting food items or a laptop computer on a suitcase. The device includes a suitcase and a pair of tracks integrated into the suitcase. The device includes a tray that slidably engages the tracks and a cup holder that is movably integrated into the suitcase. The tray is positionable in a deployed position to define a support surface for a food item or a laptop computer. The cup holder is positionable in a deployed position for supporting a beverage container. 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     The prior art relates to tray devices including a suitcase which has an external storage pocket and a tray that is stored in the storage pocket. The prior art discloses a variety of suitcases that each includes a telescopic handle and a tray that is pivotally disposed on the telescopic handle. The prior art discloses a suitcase that includes a tray which is mounted to a pair of pivotable arms which each pivotally engage the suitcase. The prior art discloses a suitcase which includes an external panel that can be positioned in an open position to define a support surface. 
     (h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a suitcase has a pair of tracks each is integrated into an outer wall of the suitcase. A tray is slidably integrated into the tracks and the tray is positionable in a stored position having the tray resting against the outer wall of the suitcase. The tray is positionable in a deployed position having the tray resting on the suitcase to support food items or a laptop computer. A cup holder is integrated into the outer wall of the suitcase and the cup holder is positionable in a stored position having the cup holder resting against the outer wall of the suitcase. The cup holder is positionable in a deployed position having the cup holder extending laterally away from the suitcase to support a beverage container. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       (i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a back perspective view of a suitcase tray assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure showing a tray and a cup holder each in a deployed position. 
         FIG.  2    is a back perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a tray and a cup holder each in a stored position. 
         FIG.  3    is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a tray being moved into a deployed position. 
         FIG.  4    is a left side view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a tray being moved into a deployed position. 
         FIG.  5    is a back phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     (j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS.  1  through  6    thereof, a new tray device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS.  1  through  6   , the suitcase tray assembly  10  generally comprises a suitcase  12  that has a pair of tracks  14  each being integrated into an outer wall  16  of the suitcase  12 . The suitcase  12  has a top wall  18  and a bottom wall  20 , and the outer wall  16  extends between the top wall  18  and the bottom wall  20 . The outer wall  16  has a rear side  22 , a first lateral side  24  and a second lateral side  26 . The suitcase  12  might include rollers  28  and a telescopic handle  30  that are conventional to suitcases which are commonly employed for commercial air travel. Additionally, the suitcase  12  may be a hard shell suitcase with dimensions that conform to carry-on requirements of commercial airlines. 
     Each of the tracks  14  has an upper end  32 , a lower end  34  and a first side extending between the upper end  32  and the lower end  34 , and the first side of each of the tracks  14  is open into an interior of the tracks  14 . Each of the tracks  14  is positioned on the rear side  22  of the outer wall  16  and each of the tracks  14  is aligned with a respective one of the first lateral side  24  and the second lateral side  26 . The upper end  32  of each of the tracks  14  extend upwardly beyond the top wall  18  and the first side of each of the tracks  14  is directed toward each other. Furthermore, each of the upper end  32  and the lower end  34  of each of the tracks  14  is rounded. 
     A tray  38  is provided and the tray  38  is slidably integrated into the tracks  14 . The tray  38  is positionable in a stored position having the tray  38  resting against the outer wall  16  of the suitcase  12 . Conversely, the tray  38  is positionable in a deployed position having the tray  38  resting on the suitcase  12 . In this way the tray  38  can support food items, a laptop computer or any other item that might be employed while a traveler is waiting in an airport to board an aircraft. 
     The tray  38  has a front surface  40 , a back surface  42  and a perimeter edge  44  extending between the front surface  40  and the back surface  42 . Furthermore, the perimeter edge  44  has a first lateral side  46 , a second lateral side  48 , an upper side  50  and a lower side  52 . The tray  38  includes a pair of pins  54  each extending away from a respective one of the first lateral side  24  and the second lateral side  26  of the perimeter edge  44 . Each of the pins  54  is positioned adjacent to the lower side  52  and each of the pins  54  extends into the first side of a respective one of the tracks  14 . 
     Each of the pins  54  rests against the lower end  34  of the respective track having the front surface  40  of the tray  38  resting against the rear side  22  of the outer wall  16  of the suitcase  12  when the tray  38  is positioned in the stored position. Conversely, each of the pins  54  rests against the upper end  32  of the respective track having the front surface  40  of the tray  38  resting against the top wall  18  of the suitcase  12  when the tray  38  is in the deployed position. In this way the back surface  42  of the tray  38  can support the food item or the laptop computer. The tray  38  has a handle  56  comprising a central member  58  extending between a pair of outward members  60 . Each of the outward members  60  is coupled to the upper side  50  of the tray  38  having the central member  58  being spaced from the upper side  50 . In this way the central member  58  can be gripped for urging the tray  38  between the deployed position and the stored position. 
     A cup holder  62  is integrated into the outer wall  16  of the suitcase  12  and the cup holder  62  is positionable in a stored position has the cup holder  62  resting against the outer wall  16  of the suitcase  12 . The cup holder  62  is positionable in a deployed position having the cup holder  62  extending laterally away from the suitcase  12  to support a beverage container  64 . The cup holder  62  comprises a frame  66  which includes a plurality of intersecting members  68  such that the frame  66  has a rectangular shape. The frame  66  is bonded to the first lateral side  24  of the outer wall  16  of the suitcase  12  at a point that is located closer to the top wall  18  than the bottom wall  20  of the suitcase  12 . 
     The cup holder  62  includes a panel  70  which has a primary surface  72  and an exterior edge  74 , and the exterior edge  74  has a coupled side  76 . The panel  70  has a lip  78  extending away from the primary surface  72  and the lip  78  is aligned with the exterior edge  74 . The lip  78  extends around the exterior edge  74  excepting the coupled side  76  and the lip  78  extends beyond the coupled side  76  to define a pair of connection points  80 . Each of the connection points  80  pivotally engages a respective one of the intersecting members  68  of the frame  66 . 
     The primary surface  72  rests against the frame  66  when the cup holder  62  is in the stored position. Conversely, the panel  70  extends laterally away from the first lateral side  24  of the outer wall  16  of the suitcase  12  having the primary surface  72  lying on a horizontal plane when the cup holder  62  is in the deployed position. In this way the beverage container  64  can rest on the primary surface  72 . The cup holder  62  includes a grip  82  that has a first end  84 , a second end  86  and an exterior surface  88  extending between the first end  84  and the second end  86 . The grip  82  is curved between the first end  84  and the second end  86  having the first end  84  being spaced from the second end  86  such that the grip  82  forms an open loop. In this way the grip  82  can be positioned around the beverage container  64 . 
     The grip  82  has a pivot  90  that is coupled to the exterior surface  88  and the pivot  90  is centrally positioned between the first end  84  and the second end  86 . The pivot  90  pivotally engages a topmost one  92  of the intersecting members  68  of the frame  66  such that the grip  82  is pivotally attached to the frame  66 . The grip  82  is positionable in a stored position having the grip  82  being positioned within the frame  66  and having the grip  82  resting against the first lateral side  24  of the outer wall  16  of the suitcase  12 . Conversely, the grip  82  is positionable in a deployed position having the grip  82  extending laterally away from the first lateral side  24  of the outer wall  16  of the suitcase  12  and having the grip  82  being spaced upwardly from the panel  70 . 
     In use, the tray  38  is positioned in the deployed position to facilitate food to be positioned on the tray  38  for eating, to position a laptop computer on the tray  38  for work or for supporting any object. In this way the tray  38  facilitates a work surface while a traveler is waiting in an airport to board an aircraft. Additionally, the cup holder  62  can be positioned in the deployed position to support the beverage container  64 , such as a cup, a bottle or any other cylindrical container. In this way a baby bottle, a soda bottle, a glass of water or any other type of beverage container  64  can be supported on the panel  70  and retained in the grip  82 . Each of the tray  38  and the cup holder  62  are positioned in the stored position when the traveler is boarding the aircraft or when the traveler is transporting the suitcase  12 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.