Abstract:
A chair arm bezel includes a table holder and a cup holder. The table holder is recessed into the chair arm and includes a passage for a table support. The cup holder is recessed into the chair arm and includes an open cavity for receiving a cup. Recessing the table and cup holders into the chair arm provide a stable platform for the bezel and for switches and/or USB ports attached to the bezel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates tray and cup holders and in particular to a bezel coupling the tray and cup holders to provide a stable base. 
         [0002]    Home theater seating often includes cup and table holders. The cup and table holders may be recessed into a chair arm of the theater seating, but may be difficult to securely attach to the theater seating. Further, some of the seats include switched for seat, audio, and video functions. These switches are small, and also difficult to securely attach to the theater seating. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a chair arm bezel which includes a table holder and a cup holder. The table holder is recessed into the chair arm and includes a passage for a table support. The cup holder is recessed into the chair arm and includes an open cavity for receiving a cup. Recessing the table and cup holders into the chair arm provide a stable platform for the bezel and for switches and/or USB ports attached to the bezel. 
         [0004]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a chair arm bezel which includes a table holder and a cup holder, and further includes switches. The table and cup holder reach into the chair arm, stabilizing the bezel, this providing a stable base for the switches. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a chair arm bezel which includes a table holder and a cup holder, and further includes a USB port. USB cables often require force to seat into the USB port, and a loosely attached USB port may. The table and cup holder reach into the chair arm, stabilizing the bezel, this providing a stable base for the USB port. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows theater seating including a chair arm bezel according to the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows the chair arm bezel according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the chair arm including the chair arm bezel, according to the present invention, taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4A  is a top view of the chair arm bezel according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of the chair arm bezel according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4C  is a front view of the chair arm bezel according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4D  is a rear view of the chair arm bezel according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of a table holder according to the present invention, taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4B . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the table holder, with a table support residing in the table holder according to the present invention, taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4B . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a cup holder according to the present invention, taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4B . 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0019]    Where the terms “about” or “generally” are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature&#39;s appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement. 
         [0020]    Theater seating  10  including a chair arm bezel  16  on a chair arm  12  is shown in  FIG. 1 , the chair arm bezel  16  is shown in  FIG. 2 , and a cross-sectional view of the chair arm  12  including the chair arm bezel  16 , taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 , is shown in  FIG. 3 . A cup holder  20  is recessed into a cup holder recess  12   b  and a table holder  30  recessed into a table holder recess  12   a,  both in the chair arm  12 . Cooperation of the cup holder  20  with the cup holder recess  12   b  and the table holder  30  with the table holder recess  12   a,  provides stable positioning of the bezel  16  on the chair arm  12 . 
         [0021]    The bezel  16  further includes switches  26  and a USB (or other electrical device) port  28  stably positioned by the cooperation of the cup holder  20  with the cup holder recess  12   b  and the table holder  30  with the table holder recess  12   a.    
         [0022]    A top view of the chair arm bezel  16  is shown in  FIG. 4A , a side view of the chair arm bezel  16  is shown in  FIG. 4B , a front view of the chair arm bezel  16  is shown in  FIG. 4C , and a rear view of the chair arm bezel  16  is shown in  FIG. 4D . The bezel  16  includes a substantially flat plate  18 , which may have some curvature to match a top surface of the chair arm  12 . A table holder bezel  38  of the table holder  30  resides on the chair arm bezel  16 , and a cup holder bezel  22  resides on the chair arm bezel  16 . A table holder base portion  30   a  and a cup holder base portion  20   a  reside below the bezel  18  in the recessed  12   a  and  12   b  respectively, and the table holder base portion  30   a  and a cup holder base portion  20   a  are preferably a tight fit into the recessed  12   a  and  12   b  respectively. 
         [0023]    The flat plate  18  has a length L of preferably between seven and twelve inches and more preferably about eight inches, and a width W of between four inches and five inches, and more preferably about four and one quarter inches. The table holder bezel  38  has a radius R 1  of preferably between ½ and 1.5 inches and more preferably about one inch. The cup holder bezel  22  had a radius R 2  between three and one half inches and five inches, and more preferably about four and one quarter inches. The table holder base portion  30   a  reaches a depth D 1  below the plate  18 , where D 1  is preferably between three and four inches and more preferably about three one half inches. The cup holder base portion  20   a  reaches a depth D 2  below the plate  18 , where D 2  is preferably between two and one half and three and one half inches and more preferably about three inches. A gap G between the table holder flange  38  and the cup holder flange  22  is preferably between 1/16 and ½ inches, and more preferably is about ⅛ inches. 
         [0024]    A cross-sectional view of the table holder  30  taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4B  is shown in  FIG. 5A  and a cross-sectional view of the table holder  30 , with a table support  40  of a table  42  residing in the table holder, taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4B  is shown in  FIG. 5B . The table holder  30  includes the table holder bezel  38 , a cylindrical tube  36  attached to the table holder bezel  38  and reaching into the table holder recess  12   a,  and a spring  36  supporting a plunger  32 . The plunger  32  is limited to rise to be about even with the bezel  38 , and can be depressed by the table support  40  when a table engages the table holder  30 . 
         [0025]    A cross-sectional view of the cup holder  20 , taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4B  is shown in  FIG. 6 . The cup holder  20  includes the cup holder flange  22  and a recessed volume  24  for accepting a cup placed therein. 
         [0026]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
         [0027]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.