Patent Publication Number: US-10772435-B2

Title: Portable customizable swiveling concession tray

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a concession tray that can be mounted on the armrest of a seat. In particular, the present invention relates to a concession tray having a container holder, wherein the container holder can be removably mounted to the armrest of a seat by connection with a pre-existing container holder portion of the arm rest. 
     In stadiums, arenas and theaters, a common problem is the lack of a place to rest concessions, beverages and other items. Often, concessions are placed on the lap of the user or on the arm of a seat only to be accidentally knocked over or otherwise spilled. In the alternative, the occupant of a seat must hold the containers, thereby restricting the use of his/her hands. 
     A number of concession holders or trays have been used to alleviate the problem mentioned above. One type of holder is fixedly mounted to a seat. A second type of holder is a tray configured to rest on a user&#39;s lap. A third type of tray has extendable leg portions to provide a tray surface resting on a ground surface and positionable near a user. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a tray and container holder that is removably securable to a pre-existing container holder, for example, a container holder in an arm rest of a seat. The tray and container holder are also connected to swivel with respect to the pre-existing container holder such that the tray and the container holder can swivel or otherwise be movable about the connection of the tray to the pre-existing container holder. The tray is thus selectively positionable with respect to the seat. The tray and container holder comprises a generally flat surface configured for supporting one or more concessions thereon and having at least one aperture therein and the cylindrical connecting portion comprises a first end configured to form a container holder portion of the tray; a second opposing end configured for insertion into a pre-existing cup holder of a seat; and a length connecting the first end and the second end wherein the length is configured for adjusting the height of the tray over the pre-existing cup holder. The connecting portion connects the tray to the container holder of the seat and allows the tray to be raised and swiveled about the connection of the second opposing end of the connecting portion and the pre-existing container holder of the seat, allowing the tray to be selectively moved from a first position to a second position. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to the cylindrical connecting portion being a component separate from the tray itself. The cylindrical connecting portion may be forming as an insert that is configured for removable connection with an aperture in the tray. The first end of the insert is configured for insertion into a secured connection with the aperture of the tray. The second end of the insert is configured for insertion into, and for swiveling connection with the pre-existing container holder of the seat. The first end of the insert includes a cavity that when the insert and connected to the tray, the cavity serves as the container holder portion of the concession tray of the present disclosure. 
     In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the insert may be made as an integral part of the concession tray. Within this aspect, the insert is inserted into the pre-existing container holder of the seat, producing a swiveling connection with respect to the seat. 
     Yet another aspect of the present disclosure comprises further providing a cover to the concession tray where the cover provides a raised, substantially flat working surface. When the cover is secured to the top of the tray, any raised perimeter is eliminated, providing a substantially smooth and accessible working surfaces. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to the connecting portion, or insert. The length between the first end and the second is a riser that can have various heights. Different riser heights may be needed to accommodate different seats or different pre-existing container holder configurations. 
     Yet another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of removably securing a tray and container holder to swivel with respect to a seat. The method comprises providing a generally flat surface configured for supporting one or more concessions thereon and having a cylindrical connecting portion having a first end and a second end. Inserting the second end of the connecting portion into a pre-existing container holder of the seat such that the first end of the connecting portion is generally upright and configured to receive a beverage container therein. The method further comprises swiveling the tray about the connecting portion to a selected position for use and to a second selected portion different than the first position. The method then may further comprise removing the second end of the connecting portion from the pre-existing container holder of the seat when the tray is no longer needed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a concession tray and connected container holder of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the concession tray and the connecting container portion separated from one another. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the concession tray and connected container holder. 
         FIG. 4A  is a top plan view of the connecting container portion. 
         FIG. 4B  is a bottom plan view of the connecting container portion. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the concession tray. 
         FIG. 6  is front perspective view of the concession tray and connected container holder in use in a seat having a pre-existing container holder. 
         FIG. 7A  is a top perspective view of the concession tray and connected container holder with a cover portion for securing thereto. 
         FIG. 7B  is a bottom perspective view of the concession tray and connected container holder with the cover portion for securing thereto. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the concession tray and connected container holder with the cover portion in use. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the concession tray and connected container holder with the cover portion in use. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the concession tray and connected container holder with the cover portion in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A concession tray and container holder of the present invention is generally illustrated in  FIG. 1  at  10 . The concession tray and container holder  10  comprises a tray  12  and a connecting container portion  16 , also referred to throughout this disclosure as a container holder insert  16 . The tray  12  comprises a generally flat surface  14  providing a space for placement of concessions, containers, devices and/or various other accessories. The tray  12  also comprises a second generally flat surface  18  that is raised with respect to first flat surface  14  and is adjacent to the first flat surface  14 . The raised surface  18  is adapted with an integral aperture  20  that is configured to receive the container holder insert  16 . Additionally, a cover  74  is configured for secure attachment over the first generally flat surface  14 , providing a raised third generally flat surface  114 , which is substantially level with the second flat surface  18 . The cover  74  provides an alternative surface that does not have a raised perimeter. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the aperture  20  may be circular in shape or otherwise have a dimension corresponding to a perimeter dimension of the insert  16 . The aperture  20  in surface  14  is configured with a side wall perimeter  22  integrally extending away a selected distance from the aperture  20  and tray surface  18 . For example, the side wall perimeter  22  extends below the tray a distance beyond a bottom surface of the tray  12 . A distal terminal end  24  of the side wall perimeter  22  is configured with protrusions, or tabs,  26  that extend from the side wall perimeter a selected distance and are angled inwardly from the side wall perimeter  22  so that the tabs  26  are inwardly oriented. The tabs  26  are spaced apart along the perimeter wall  22 . 
     The container holder insert  16  is configured for insertion into aperture  20  and for connection to the tray  12 . In general, the container holder comprises a top or upper portion which is also referred to a “common insert”; a “riser portion” which can be provided in various heights and dimensions; and a bottom or lower portion which is a cup insert portion. The riser portion is a cylindrical length between the ends of the insert  16  and connects the common insert and the cup insert portions. The container holder insert  16  may be a generally cylindrical insert  16  having a diameter configured for slidable insertion into the aperture  20  and for secure connection thereto. The container holder insert  16  allows a user to secure the tray  12  to a pre-existing container holder  28  as the container holder insert  16  is configured for concurrent connection with the tray  12  and the container holder  28 . The insert  16  allows a user to removably secure the tray  12  to a seat having an arm rest and container holder or to a seat having a container holder connected thereto as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The insert  16  also allows for the user to be able to rotate or swivel the tray about the connection of the container holder insert  16  and container holder  28 , allowing the user to select the position of the tray  12 . Thus, the tray  12  can be secured to various seating configurations and the user can selectively move (swivel) the tray  12  from an elevated position elevated over the user&#39;s lap to an elevated position away from the user&#39;s lap (e.g. off to the side of the user). 
     As illustrated in further detail in  FIGS. 3-4B , the container holder insert  16  is for example, generally in the shape of a cylinder. A first portion  30  of the container holder insert  16  is an upper portion  30 , which is the common insert  30 . The common insert  30  has a generally flat recessed surface  32  on its top  42  and a corresponding side wall  34  extending upwardly from the recessed surface  32  providing a space  36  configured for receiving a container  38 . This portion is configured to allow the insert  16  to simultaneously connect the tray  12  to a seat while still providing a container holder  40  portion of the tray  12 . The tray  12  is removably connectable to a pre-existing container holder  28  without eliminating a holder for the user&#39;s beverage container. 
     The portion of the insert  16  below the common insert  30  is referred to as a riser portion. Integrally extending from an exterior surface of an outer facing side wall are a plurality of integral and spaced apart guide portions, or tabs  46 . The tabs  46  are spaced circumferentially around the perimeter of the side wall and the tabs  46  extend a length downwardly and away from the upper portion  30 . The tabs are connected by a ring  48  positioned behind the tabs  46  and connected to a back surface of each tab  46 . The ring  48  is also integrally connected to the body of the insert. The tabs  46  provide guide portions, each having a width and space therebetween. Between each tab  46 , as the ring  48  does not extend to a top portion of the insert, a space between the ring and the upper portion  42  of the insert forms a plurality of openings or spaces  50  that are circumferentially spaced apart around the area of the insert  16 . The openings  50  are generally positioned where an upper portion of the tabs  46  begin to extend from the side wall  34  and the recessed surface  32 . The openings or spaces  50  may be generally rectangular in shape (or have a shape otherwise configured for connection with the shape of tabs  26 ) and otherwise positioned between two adjacent guides or tabs  46 . As discussed further below, these spaces  50  form a securing mechanism  52  which allows the user to secure the container holder insert  16  to the tray  12  by way of connection with tabs  26 . 
     A lower portion  54  of the container holder insert  16  is configured for insertion with the pre-existing container holder  28 . As illustrated in the figures, the lower portion  54  is a generally cylindrical portion having a diameter substantially equal to the recessed surface  32  and a length extending from the recessed surface  32  to a selected distance below the terminal end of the tabs  46  and the ring  48 . The lower portion  54  thus integrally extends from the recessed surface  32 . The diameter of the lower portion is also less than the diameter of the ring  48  such that the tabs  46  extend around the lower portion  54 . The length  56  of the lower portion  54  is the length extending from the end of the tabs  46 . The lower portion  54  may be substantially hollow or otherwise hollow with structural reinforcement therein along length  56 . The length  56  may also be varied depending on the container holder with which the tray  12  will be used in connection with. Length  56  will fit into the container holder  28  and frictionally engage with an inner surface of the container holder  28 . The length  56  also prevents tipping of the tray  12  by providing a counter force within the container holder  28 . Thus, a longer length  56  as contacting the entire inner surface area of the container holder  28  further secures the tray  12  during use and rotation. 
     The mechanism  52  for removably securing the container holder insert  16  in the aperture  20  and to the tray  12  comprises tabs  26  and spaces  50 . When the container holder insert  16  is inserted into the aperture  20 , the lower portion  54  being inserted first through the aperture  20 , the tabs  26  will engage with the spaces  50  when aligned and an application of pressure will secure the tabs  26  by interlocking the tabs into the spaces  50 . The engagement of the tabs  26  and spaces  50  will securely attach the container holder insert  16  to the tray  12  effectively forming the concessions tray and container holder  10 . This device  10  can then be removable and swivelably inserted to swivel in the pre-existing container holder  28 . The securing mechanism  52  prevents vertical sliding of the tray  12  along the container holder insert  16  (or vice versa) when assembled. 
     The first flat surface  14  of the tray  12  will then be substantially horizontal to and positioned over a user&#39;s lap when the container holder insert  16  is connected to the tray  12  and the insert  16  is placed and secured into the pre-existing container holder  28 . The flat surface  14  may be a lowered or recessed portion that is bounded by a raised lip or edge  60  around its perimeter. The raised lip  60  provides a deep side wall and thus a walled perimeter to the flat surface  14 . The side wall may have a height in the range of approximately 0.5-2.0 inches and for example, a height of approximately 1.25 inches, the height being measured from the tray surface  14  to the upper rounded edge of the perimeter wall  60 . The perimeter wall  60  secures concessions and other goods on the surface  14  and contains spills to the flat surface  14  of tray  12 . One side length of the perimeter wall  60  may then smoothly blend along its upper perimeter edge into the second, raised surface  18 . The aperture  20  is disposed within the raised surface  18 . The raised surface  18  of the tray  12  may be further configured with at least one opening  62  wherein the opening  62  would also be integral to the tray  12  and the opening  62  being configured to provide a compartment  64  for receiving and supporting a device or small container, for example, a cell phone or similar device or a candy bar or food packaging container. 
     The tray  12  may have dimensions providing an overall polygon shape or other shape sufficient for supporting concessions on the flat surface  26  and for providing a beverage or container holder  34  and at least one compartment  64  for holding another container or device. For example, the tray  12  may be generally square in shape with rounded edges provided by the perimeter and having a triangular shape to the raised flat surface  18  configured with the aperture  20  for the container holder insert  16 . The raised surface  18  which is integrally connected with and adjacent to the tray surface  14  may for example have a triangular shape also with rounded edges. The overall shape of the tray  12  allows the concession tray and container holder to be easily positioned in a pre-existing container holder  28  and moved/swiveled. The tray  12  may also range in size wherein the width (W) of the tray  12  (perimeter edge to perimeter edge) is in the range of approximately 10.0 inches to approximately 16.0 inches and more preferably within the range of approximately 11.0 inches to approximately 15.0 inches, and more preferably within the range of approximately 12.0 inches to 14.0 inches. The tray  12  may also range in size wherein the length (L) of the tray  12  (perimeter edge to perimeter edge including surface  18 ) is in the range of approximately 15.0 inches to approximately 22.0 inches and more preferably within the range of approximately 17.0 inches to approximately 21.0 inches. For example, the tray illustrated in the figures has an overall width (W) of approximately 14 inches and an overall length (L) of approximately 21 inches. Thus, the tray  12  may have a larger size than previous trays as the container holder insert  16  is configured to sufficiently support the larger size tray  12  in a stable and substantially horizontal manner by connection with the pre-existing container holder  28  while allowing the tray  12  to swivel about the pre-existing container holder  28  and container holder insert  16 . 
     The concessions tray and container holder  10  may be formed of a plastic material or other suitable lightweight and durable material. Plastic compositions may be used as such compositions provide a device  10  that is easy to clean, is durable for multiple and repeated use and is light weight. Additionally, the tray  12  and the container holder insert  16  may be integrally formed through a molding process. The tray  12  and the container holder insert  16  may be formed separately as two interlocking pieces where the individual pieces reduce shipping costs for the device  10 . However, it is also contemplated that the tray  12  and container holder insert  16  may be molded or otherwise formed as a single unit or piece. The design and components are substantially identical however the pieces are molded concurrently as a single device before shipping. When the concessions tray  10  comprises two pieces for assembly shipping costs are reduced, especially in arrangements wherein the dimensions of the tray  12  are increased. The producing of two pieces  12  and  16  configured to interlock also allows for the use of a tray  12  with one or more container holder inserts  16 , where for example, the container holder inserts  16  have varying riser heights  65  or varying diameters or lengths  56  along the lower portion  52 . This allows the concession tray and container holder  10  to be customizable for use with various pre-existing container holders  28  while the customizable device  10  remains removable and rotatable within the various pre-existing container holders  28 . 
     The middle segment connecting the upper and lower portion of the container holder insert  16  is generally considered the “riser”  65 . The container holder insert  16  is customizable in that both the upper portion  30  and the lower portion  54  are connected by the riser  65 , which as discussed above, can be of varying heights and can be produced with varying dimensions while still being fully securable to the tray  12  and various pre-existing container holders. This allows the tray  12  to be securely and movably attached to container holders of different sizes (e.g. depths and diameters) such that the cup insert  54  is configured to fit into a pre-existing container holder  28  while the riser  65  provides a sufficient height to the tray  12  such that the tray is positioned above the container holder  28  and thus extending above the user&#39;s lap with sufficient clearance between the user&#39;s lap and the bottom of the tray  12 . The riser  63  allows the tray  12  to rotate or swivel to a position over a user&#39;s lap comfortably and without hitting or resting on an average adult&#39;s lap or knees given the size of the seat. For example, the lower portion  52  portion may have a riser height  70  ranging from approximately two inches to approximately six or more inches, and for example, may provide a riser height of approximately 2¼ inches, approximately 3¼ inches, approximately 4¼ inches, approximately 5¼ inches or approximately 6¼ inches. Riser height  70  is approximately the distance between a lower end or bottom of the tabs  46  and ring  48  to a bottom surface  72  of the tray  12 . 
     As illustrated in further detail in  FIGS. 7-10 , a cover  74  may be removably secured to the top of the tray  12 . The cover  74 , when secured to the tray  12  forms a substantially smooth surface  114  which eliminates the raised outer perimeter of the tray  12  and forms a substantially smooth and even upper facing surface as the cover  144  is substantially level with or only slightly raised above the second surface  18  of the tray  12 . The cover  74  may comprise an aperture  76 , which can also be used to remove the cover when it is no longer needed. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the aperture  76  is substantially centered in the cover  74 , however the location of the aperture  76  may be anywhere allowing for easy access by the user. The bottom surface of the cover  74  may comprise one or more lengths  78 ,  80  integrally extending therefrom. For example, lengths  78  form an outer perimeter wall extending from the bottom surface of the cover along the overall shape of the cover  74  where these lengths  78  prevent the cover from shifting or moving on the tray  12  when the cover is placed over surface  14  to form surface  114  of the tray. A second length  80  may also extend from the bottom surface of the tray around the aperture, providing further stability and/or for supporting the surface  114  when items are placed on top of the tray  12 . 
     A method of using a concession tray and container holder  10  comprises inserting a container holder insert  16  into an aperture  20  in a concessions tray  12  and securing the insert  16  therein by engaging a locking mechanism  52  comprising tabs  26  positioned in the aperture  20  of the tray  12  and configured to engage or connect with corresponding spaces  50  positioned in the container holder insert  16 . The lower end  54  of the insert  16  is then inserted into the pre-existing container holder  28 , which may be a container holder in an arm rest of a stadium or luxury seat in a suite or at a theater. The tray  12  is then selectively positionable by rotation about the connection of the lower end  54  of the insert  16  and the pre-existing container holder  28 . Rotating or swiveling the tray  12  allows for positioning of the tray over the user&#39;s lap or off to the user&#39;s side and the movement there between. The insert  16  is selectively removable from the pre-existing container holder  28  when the tray  12  is no longer required for use. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.